Politics & Government
Watershed District, Minnetonka Look to Collaborate on New Headquarters
Plans for the joint effort are still in the information-gathering phase, but the city and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District have proposed to split the cost of a design.
The city of and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) have proposed to split the $40,000 cost of a design for a building on Minnetonka property that overlooks Minnehaha Creek.
The building would become the headquarters for the Watershed District and a site for public use and nature-conservation initiatives.
The discussion about the potential of a new building grew out of the Watershed District’s need for a larger space, said Telly Mamayek, communications manager for MCWD.
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The MCWD currently leases office space in Deephaven, but the district has recently been outgrowing that space. The process of exploring other options evolved into a potential partnership and joint facility with the city of Minnetonka.
The grounds for the proposed site are home to a number of mature tree types and wetland habitats. The Watershed District works to improve the quality of water in the area that drains into the creek while keeping creek flooding under control. At the Minnetonka site, it could work on creek maintenance and wetland restoration.
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The new headquarters could also be good for the Minnetonka community. Geralyn Barone, assistant manager of the city of Minnetonka, said that Minnetonka expects that by agreeing to help finance a new headquarters for the MCWD on city property, the joint facility will serve a more public purpose, as well, be it educational, cultural or recreational.
Specific public benefits could include local business opportunities, nature-education initiatives by the Watershed District, creek accessibility for local people, public meeting space and public park space.
A preliminary design by an architect would provide a sketch of the building and grounds along with cost estimates.
Both Mamayek and Barone maintain that plans are still in the information-gathering phase, and no final decisions have been reached regarding moving forward with this collaboration. Plans would eventually also require public approval before moving forward.