Kandiyohi Co. hosting open house at remodeled offices

WILLMAR - Kandiyohi County is hosting an opportunity to tour the newly-remodeled county offices at 400 Benson Avenue Southwest in Willmar.
The open house will be is scheduled from 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesday.
Many public and business professionals rely on the services offered in the office. This after-hours opportunity will allow them to become familiar with the new layout, and give it a sort of test drive, according to Larry Kleindl, Kandiyohi County administrator.
“This is an exciting time for Kandiyohi County and the improvements being made now will benefit county residents and businesses for years to come,’’ Kleindl said in a news release announcing the public event.
The new offices conclude a multi-year effort by the county to improve customer service and create a joint work environment at the site.
The Benson Avenue office building houses the offices for the license bureau, auditor-treasurer, recorder, assessor and environmental services departments.
The new design places all five departments on the same floor and provides a central information desk.
Thanks to the new design, the public will now be able to access the various county services without traveling to different locations in the building, Kleindl said.
The new arrangement should also promote increased dialog between workers in the various department.
The license bureau was moved to the location in 2013. The office area for the auditor-treasurer, recorder, assessor and environmental services was completed earlier this month.
David Unmacht of Springsted, St. Paul, was originally retained by the county in 2011 to review the offices in the Benson Avenue location. This represents Phase I of the project. Phase II involves the services in the Health and Human Services Building, 2200 23rd Street Northeast in Willmar.