LAKELAND — Fire has destroyed a city hall under construction east of the Twin Cities, a building project that had divided public opinion.

Washington County sheriff’s officials said firefighters were called to the construction site in Lakeland about 11:30 p.m. Sunday and found the partially-completed structure fully involved.

The new city hall had been debated in the community of about 1,800 for more than a year before the City Council decided to go ahead with construction.

The project was also an issue in the mayor’s race.