Koochiching County will soon own the former Army Reserve armory building in International Falls. This week the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Rep. Jim Oberstar’s bill to transfer the property to county control. Pres. George Bush is expected to sign the bill in the next two weeks.
The armory is expected to be used mainly for county business, Commissioner Wade Pavleck said. The building has four garage bays, a conference room and a large enclosed yard, which will be used by the Sheriff’s Office and Highway Department, he said.
County officials have considered buildings that could accommodate an animal shelter that could be used by the Borderland Humane Society, said Pavleck, adding that the armory building may be able to fill that need, Pavleck said.
BHS President Nikki Turenne said it was wonderful to hear news of the purchase, which is a step in the right direction. She said she hopes they can work effectively to get a shelter started.
Oberstar said the building is a good deal for taxpayers in Koochiching County. “They are getting a lot of good usable space for $30,000 and the cost of needed maintenance and repairs to the building,” he stated. “This is an excellent use for a piece of surplus government property.
“This bill would not have been introduced without the help of county board members like Kallie Briggs who brought the matter to my attention,” Oberstar continued. “The help of Sen. Amy Klobuchar was also critical. There is an old saying that the Senate is the place where good bills go to die, but Amy pushed her leadership to bring the bill up this week.”
Pavleck and Briggs said the county is pleased that it has received the building and anticipates discussing possible uses of the building.
Pavleck said the bottom line is the county saved the taxpayers money by purchasing an existing building instead of building a new facility. Briggs echoed that sentiment, saying it is a “great investment for the taxpayers.”
Briggs has spent a year working on the purchase of the building.