Ellsworth big winner in state bonding bill with funds for city building

A $1 million grant to the city of Ellsworth will help to replace a building destroyed in a January 2019 fire.
The project was among hundreds of construction and renovation projects in the $1.9 billion bonding bill Gov. Tim Walz signed Oct. 21.
Ellsworth’s grant will fund a multi-purpose community center to be added to the city hall currently under construction on the city’s main thoroughfare.
“We were pretty surprised,” said Ellsworth City Clerk Dawn Huisman.
At their Wednesday night meeting, council members will discuss the construction timeline.
The former Ellsworth City Hall, built in 1915, and attached maintenance shop was destroyed by a Jan. 15, 2019, fire.
The bid to rebuild the city hall was awarded to Swift Construction Inc. of Sioux Falls and was scheduled to be finished earlier this year, but remains under construction.
The new city hall is being constructed at the site of the former structure on Broadway Street.
The new maintenance building is partially constructed near the fire hall on East Seventh Avenue.
The delay means city business continues to operate out of the Zion Lutheran Church basement.
When ground was broken for the new city hall in August 2019, plans included a future attached multi-purpose community facility.
A community fundraising committee was formed along with the request for state funding.
 
Other local projects included in bonding bill
The new bonding bill is the largest passed in Minnesota history, according to the governor’s office, and it’s intended to create thousands of jobs for Minnesotans and provide tax cuts for farmers and small businesses.
Funding for other local projects included an additional $250,000 for a dental clinic in Pipestone.
According to Sen. Bill Weber, the additional amount adds to the $500,000 the dental clinic received in a previous bonding bill to finish the green building project that will serve people enrolled in state insurance programs.
Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water System will receive $5.7 million for water source development including new wells, a water softening treatment plant and distribution pipes.
While no other local projects were earmarked for funding, Rock County can apply for the $1.87 million set aside for transportation and water infrastructure projects and for safe and affordable housing.