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County looks to avoid laundry shutdown It seeks extension on decision for Brainerd Regional Human Services Center Senior Reporter Crow Wing County is seeking a 60-day extension on a state decision to shut down laundry facilities at the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Terry Sluss said the state gave St. Joseph's Medical Center notice that the state hospital will not offer laundry service after Feb. 1. The county is asking to begin the extension period on Feb. 1, giving time to locate a public or private entity interested in offering the laundry service here.
The Brainerd Regional Human Services Center campus, northeast of Highways 18 and 25, includes 14 main buildings. In 2006, the Legislature authorized the sale of the campus. The state's Department of Human Services is working with Crow Wing County to develop a master reuse plan. The master plan will entail one more public meeting this fall and is expected to be completed in January.
Originally, Sluss said the state Department of Corrections was interested in removing the laundry equipment and using it for spare parts in Moose Lake. But that plan appears to have been scrapped.
Sluss said the only other vendor for laundry facilities at this point includes transports from Duluth.
"Which makes no sense when we have facilities right here in the Brainerd lakes area," Sluss said.
Commissioner Dewey Tautges said the matter is complicated by rules saying the county cannot sell a building or lease it to a nonprofit for $1 but has to use an appraised value unless the buyer is a governmental agency. While Tautges said the concern is competing with private industry, in this case, there isn't someone here to take on the laundry contracts.
Sluss said the state has the ability to extend the Feb. 1 date if it so decides. Deborah Erickson, county auditor, said the state has indicated it was firm on that date.
"I think that's just garbage," Sluss said.
If the county cannot lease property to groups it wants to for $1 with the idea the tenants will maintain the buildings, why is the county involved at all, Sluss asked.
Board members agreed negotiating with state agencies appears to be a one-way street. Commissioners spoke of interest in continuing the laundry service, expanding the veterans services already there and adding methamphetamine treatment. They also noted interest from entities such as Mille Lacs Academy and Teen Challenge.
"We'll just keep beating it until the horse dies," Sluss said.
Sluss said the state wants to shut the facility down before the county takes over the campus. But the board was concerned that will leave the county with a facility that has fewer reuse options.
Board Chairman Ed Larsen said it appears that decisions in St. Paul are being made by looking at numbers from an accountant's view versus what makes sense.
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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