$7.7 Million Detroit Lakes City Hall Remodel Project to Move Forward

DETROIT LAKES —  The Detroit Lakes City Council approved a $7.7 million Detroit Lakes city hall remodel project, Friday despite construction costs soaring.

The low bid of $6.6 million, submitted by Bristlin Construction was approved 8-1 by council members with Aaron Dallmann the only dissenting vote. An additional $1.1 million of soft costs will bring the total project cost to $7.7 million.

Preliminary project costs in December 2021 were $4.35 million, those costs rose to $5.7 million in June of 2022 and again when the city put out bids for the project largely due to increased material and labor costs

City leaders, believe they’ll be able to fund the majority of the project using the city’s liquor fund and electric utility fund.

The 18,000 square foot building, which was originally a bottling warehouse was built in the 1950s with the last major renovation occurring in 1979. The renovation will increase the building’s size by 3,400 square feet.

The new city hall is expected to open in the spring of 2024.