Gaylord council gives staff direction to pursue pavilion restroom design and grants

Council members directed staff to move forward with design work and to pursue grant funding for a proposed two‑restroom addition at the Oaks Lakeside Pavilion, while emphasizing the need to maintain the structure's historic integrity.

Staff described a concept drawing for a 16‑by‑16 addition with two unisex restrooms and said a design reviewer at the Minnesota Historic Preservation Office indicated the project would likely be considered favorably if it preserved key elements: keep existing windows in place behind a ledger board rather than removing them, avoid changing roof monitor lines and retain under‑panel roof components. Staff said some adjustments—such as planning for future removal of the restrooms—could be included to preserve the building's original appearance.

Staff noted the small matching legacy grant program administered by the historical society (matching grants up to $20,000) and said the next feasible application round would be early July; the deadline for an earlier round had already passed. Council also discussed temporary options for restroom trailers for large events and agreed that event renters should generally be responsible for trailer costs.

Council members asked staff to prepare stamped architectural drawings (the building inspector indicated drawings would be required) and to investigate whether local architect Hagen Miller could prepare plans suitable for later stamping. Staff said SEH would oversee aspects of the project and that the city would return with drawings and a plan before soliciting bids.

Council direction was to continue planning and apply for the July grant round if feasible, prepare the required architectural drawings, and bring a draft for council review before proceeding to bidding or construction.