Building to be used for Motor Vehicle, Land and Resource Departments

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

County government has purchased a building at 914 East Channing Avenue, Fergus Falls, formerly occupied by the Daily Journal which publishes the city newspaper in another location.

For the short term, in 2022 and possibly into 2023, the building on the east side of Fergus Falls near Minnesota Motor Company on Pebble Lake Road will be occupied by county employees who work for the Motor Vehicle and Land and Resource departments.

“This will be a temporary location while we remodel the Motor Vehicle and Land and Resource areas at the Government Services Center (GSC),” said Nick Leonard, deputy county administrator.

“The improvements at GSC will enhance our ability to serve the residents of Otter Tail County,” he added.

Leonard said that, during construction at the Government Services Center on the northwest side of Fergus Falls, the county will temporarily provide motor vehicle and land and resource services at 914 East Channing.

The county is making minor improvements and modifications to the building formerly used by the Daily Journal for close to 50 years.

Later, the county board of commissioners will announce a long-range plan for the building at 914 East Channing.

The old press at the former newspaper building will reportedly be shipped to Albert Lea. That’s where Boone Newspapers, the former owner of the Daily Journal in Fergus Falls, has a newspaper operation. The Daily Journal is now owned by Wick Communications.

The Daily Journal, which was originally located across from the post office in downtown Fergus Falls (owned by the Underwood and Adams families), is now located in the former public library building on North Union Avenue.