City staff adjusts following fire
Posted 4/5/02

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times

The fire which caused extensive damage at the Milaca Government Center on Friday, March 15 has forced city employees, including the police department staff, to work out of temporary trailers.

The trailers will have to suffice as "home away from home" for several months.

According to Milaca City Manager Greg Lerud, the cause of the fire is still uncertain. It appears to be electrical as the fire had been burning in the ceiling for quite some time.

It will be at least two weeks before the cost of the damage can be determined.

The city is unsure as to whether it will be rebuilding the Government Center or if the city will build somewhere else. If itís too cost prohibitive to rebuild, the city may look elsewhere.

Deloris Katke, office manager at the Milaca Police Department said, "It would be nice to be downtown."

Downtown is currently where the deputy registrar, drivers license renewal and exam station are located. Those offices opened on March 28 at 145 1st Street SW, across from Caseyís and near Auto Value.

The city had a lot of damage to paper files and the employees are still trying to determine what was actually lost. All computer records were saved, along with two or three computers.

No furniture was salvageable from the city offices, though some cabinets and counter tops from the deputy registrarís office may be usable.

The police department believes they have all their paper files intact at this time. Theyíve been able to retrieve all their computer files, which were backed up and in a fire-proof safe.

The employees are handling the damage, the inconvenience, and the cramped quarters with positive attitudes, according to Lerud. Many have stated, "It could have been a lot worse."

"Weíre pretty much back to normal," Lerud said.