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Winona County asks staff to seek formal update from city on joint public-safety facility; no deadline set
Summary
The county board directed administrators to pursue staff-level discussions with the City of Winona and return with a formal update and timeline options about the joint public-safety facility; commissioners declined to issue a formal written request or deadline at this time.
Winona County commissioners asked county and city administrators to meet and provide a formal update about the joint public-safety facility and how the county should proceed, but stopped short of submitting a formal written request to the City of Winona or imposing a response deadline.
Board members said it is premature to issue ultimatums or conduct negotiations primarily through the media and that staff-to-staff conversations would be a more constructive next step. Several commissioners emphasized the need for a timetable so the county can plan capital expenditures; others cautioned the county to remain respectful of another elected body and to pursue staff-level coordination first.
The board's discussion reviewed past steps: a prior predesign effort, an earlier study that estimated major remodel costs, and the county's earlier set-aside of funds for potential facility work. Commissioners noted the city did not secure anticipated state bonding for the project this session, and said both city and county officials have competing priorities and limited staff bandwidth.
Rather than setting a formal written deadline, the board asked county administration to meet with the city administrator and relevant staff, gather an update on predesign and options, and return with a formal update including timelines and options at the next regular meeting. The board did not take a formal vote to compel a city response, but directed staff to report back.
Why it matters
The joint public-safety facility project involves large capital costs and affects where county services and city police functions would be located. Commissioners said an unresolved facility decision limits efficient use of county-owned space and could affect budgeting and long-term planning for county operations.
What's next
County administration will coordinate a staff-level meeting with city counterparts and present a formal update to the board with timelines and options; the board requested that update be placed on the next meeting agenda.
