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The Lindstrom EDA met August 2 to further ongoing discussion about the possibility of a split pair section of Highway 8 through the city.

Barry Petit, who has been working with the EDA, spoke first telling the crowd of around 25 business owners and citizens that the plan before them was a plan that will out live anybody in the area. He asked, “What is the kind of environment that will attract people to Lindstrom?” Lindstrom Hardware owner Jeff Blessner added: “You realize there will be businesses that will close because of the construction?” To which Petit answered, “There will be businesses that go out of business before the construction begins.” Petit explained that obviously there will be business disruption due to construction, but that is one of the pitfalls of change.

When asked about the existing NAPBCO building Petit said that the idea is to keep the building existing in the city, whether it means to relocate or move it on its axis.

Dr. Hursh spoke next stating “ If we look at the five year picture, we have the potential to double our retail space and it could potentially be a good thing and become a magnet for people to shop”.

Chris Eng from Chisago County HRA-EDA asked if the plan does infact incorporate the Swedish Immigrant Trail. Eng said that some day there will be a world class trail from Wyoming to Taylors Falls through Lindstrom. Petit answered that at this point the trail has not been factored into the plan but could definitely be looked at down the road.

Don Dreckman, owner of NAPBCO, then took the floor. He gave a ten minute speech on the history of downtown and his building. He passed around photos of various businesses around town with weeds growing out of control suggesting if we would like to beautify the city we could start there. Dreckman addressed the post office, with the amount of senior citizens that visit each day. He also addressed the fire station showing that the fire trucks would then be forced to take a right turn, forcing longer response times to fires in the western portion of Lindstrom. Dreckman said he was asked by City Administrator Olinger and EDA member Jerry Miller if he were to relocate, where would he like to go. To which Dreckman said nowhere. After thinking about it, Dreckman said there is one place he would consider relocating to. He said that if the City would swap the Municipal Liquor Store with his property he would agree to relocating. “If I am going to take a chance, then so should the city” Dreckman stated.

When asked to define what kinds of business the city is trying to lure, Petit answered, “We can’t define it at this time, but we will be setting up the framework for the future.”

Councilperson Stacy Pearson spoke “The city can choose to do nothing, but our infrastructure (sewer etc,) will need to be addressed soon. This allows us to relieve the burden to the city and the tax payers by doing the work while the road is being constructed. Otherwise if nothing is done, the city will be forced to dig up the road (to fix the infrastructure) and the cost will be taken on by the city and ultimately the citizens and the businesses”.

The EDA group then thanked everyone for coming and discussed how to present their plan to the City Council.

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