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County commissioners gave the go-ahead to staff last week to send in an application to the MN Dept of Employment and Economic Security for financial help to demolish the old sheriff building (aka telephone office) and jail in Center City.  The estimate to raze the buildings and make the lakeshore site useable is $500,000.  The property only qualifies for a loan, not an outright grant, due to there being no redevelopment plan on deck. Loans are a maximum of $2 million and there was no amount put on what will be sought.

County Administrator Bruce Messelt said Center City is supportive,  and included a letter from Mayor Mark Wolcott in the commissioners’ meeting information that will accompany the loan application.  The loan MAY be forgiven should the site get redeveloped, Messelt added.

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