Background

Owatonna: Where Community Members and Businesses Thrive

The City of Owatonna is a place where community members and businesses thrive. With more than 90 City-owned buildings and structures and their surrounding sites requiring maintenance and long-term investment, the City is implementing plans to preserve and enhance these assets to meet the needs of community members – today and into the future.

Preserving Our Assets. Preparing for Growth.

In 2022, the City of Owatonna launched Imagine Owatonna, an initiative that looks ahead to prepare for future community growth. As part of this initiative, a facilities assessment was conducted and community input was gathered to plan how best to preserve the City’s assets while making thoughtful investments for current needs and future growth. Imagine Owatonna includes two efforts:

The Long Range Asset Plan ensures the City is serving taxpayers by investing in facilities the community needs for the services community members prioritize.

The 2050 Comprehensive Plan is a guiding framework to help city leaders, developers, business owners and citizens make decisions about how to grow over the next 20+ years. It provides a long-term road map for the City of Owatonna's future including land use, housing, downtown, businesses and jobs, parks and public space, transportation, utilities, environment and natural resources and market and demographic information.

Together, these two plans aim to use resources efficiently, meet community members’ expectations and ensure a high quality of life in Owatonna.

Process Timeline

2025:

The City launched phase two of the facilities planning process for the City’s police and fire departments, which includes the scope, design, location and cost for a joint public safety center. The City is committed to funding this project responsibly and is seeking additional funding sources to support the project. The City received grant funding to support the energy systems that would be used in the new public safety center. The City worked with local lawmakers to request an initial $1.5 million in state bonding dollars for the project. The City is also seeking community grant funds on the federal level through the offices of Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Tina Smith and Representative Brad Finstad.

The Community Center Task Force is entering a planning phase. This includes continuing to assess community feedback, touring area community centers to learn more about existing models and amenities and working to evaluate possible design features to ensure a new facility would support residents of all ages while balancing cost and long-term value for the community.  

2024:

The City renovated Merrill Hall and completed phase one of a facilities planning process for the City’s police and fire departments. The City also launched the Our Community, Our Center initiative to explore building a new community center in Owatonna.  This included forming a Community Center Task Force to guide the City in this process.

2023:

ICS gathered data from community listening sessions to help City staff and elected officials develop a plan to improve City-owned facilities. This process led to the Long Range Asset Plan which prioritizes essential investments in City-owned buildings. The City upgraded and renovated the Council Chambers area.  

2022:

A Government Buildings Task Force was formed to evaluate the immediate and long-term needs for City-owned facilities. This assessment revealed that 90+ City-owned buildings and structures and their surrounding sites require ongoing maintenance and investment. Based on this assessment, the City Council approved the development of a Long Range Asset Plan.

2019:

ICS, a construction and facilities planning leader with extensive experience partnering with local governments, was hired to evaluate City facilities.

Priority Projects in the Long Range Asset Plan

Council Chambers: Renovate this space to better serve the community’s needs.

Merrill Hall: Repair and update critical infrastructure to preserve this facility and ensure its continued support of a broad range of community services.

Public Safety Facilities: Create a modern, safe and efficient public safety center that will serve the community for decades. 

Community Center: Conduct a community-driven planning process to explore building a new community center.

In 2022, the City Council earmarked capital funds for a $2.1 million renovation of the Council Chambers area. The City worked closely with the West Hills Commission on planning the renovations and with the State Historic Preservation Office to incorporate original architectural elements. 

Renovations included:

  • Updated the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system to improve air quality and energy efficiency.

  • Enhanced safety and security.

  • Added accessible entry points and restrooms.

  • Enhanced capabilities to broadcast public meetings live online and through the Public Access, Education and Government Channel.

  • Added a new multi-purpose public meeting space.

Merrill Hall was identified as the highest-priority improvement project in the City’s 2022 facility assessment process. In October 2023, the City Council approved a $5.3 million project to upgrade and improve Merrill Hall. 

Renovations included:

  • Upgraded the aging HVAC system to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

  • Added a drop-in ceiling to improve ventilation. 

  • Added a fire sprinkler system.

  • Installed energy-efficient lighting.

The City of Owatonna's police and fire department facilities have served the community well, but the buildings are aging and do not meet modern public safety standards, the needs of first responders, and the essential services they provide. 

The City appointed a Public Safety Task Force in early 2024 to conduct a detailed assessment of its public safety facilities to identify deficiencies and evaluate options for modernization and improvement.

Priorities include:

  • Police Department: Secure holding areas, appropriate spaces for processing evidence, private and secure areas for interactions with victims and suspects, sufficient training and wellness spaces, and space to accommodate the future growth of the department.

  • Fire Department: Safe and efficient parking for emergency vehicles, designated areas for decontamination, and adequate space for equipment storage, training rooms, private living quarters, mental health spaces, and space to accommodate the future growth of the department. 

  • Both facilities require upgrades and repairs to structural and mechanical issues, including water leaks, sewage line problems, and outdated roofing, windows, and HVAC systems.

On December 17, 2024, the City Council allocated $2,946,315 to further refine the project's scope in 2025.

Phase two of this project includes reviewing site location and facility design options to identify a recommended solution that addresses facility deficiencies, enhances operational efficiencies, provides a safe work environment and ensures effective service delivery to the community. The City is also working to secure additional funding sources, including grant funding to support energy systems, working with local lawmakers for an initial $1.5 million in state bonding dollars and seeking community grant funds on the federal level.

The City of Owatonna is also conducting a facilities planning process to explore building a new community center. Our Community, Our Center is a community-driven initiative to gather input and feedback on the services, activities and amenities in a new community center that would meet the needs and priorities of residents and the community.