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The new city administrator may or may not deserve the credit, but last week’s city council meeting was very brief and one of the least contentious of any Lindstrom City Council meetings in recent memory. Administrator John Olinger was extended a contract unanimously by the council after the council had interviewed several applicants, and he attended his first full meeting last week.

Council approved (Council member Tom Warner absent) the annexation of 38 acres for the Haglof parcel adjoining the proposed new housing development by Ki-Chi-Saga Park, Shire on Linn Lake. There’s about five acres coming from Franconia Township and 17.5 out of Chisago Lake Township.

James and Nancy Schmidt, developing the Shire, reportedly have plans to include this Haglof parcel into their project.The annexation comes in zoned A-O.

Annexation of one lot by Grandstrand Funeral Home, that is already surrounded by city lots, was approved for Bob Maloney. Preliminary plan is for it to be zoned for Business.

The council accepted a feasibility study for a trail south of town but did not order specs for bidding it out.

City engineer Jack Griffin said there may be a DNR grant awarded yet (they announce late in June) for this trail and to encumber expenses prior to being awarded the grant would mean those expenditures won’t qualify for grant monies. (See map).

Griffin told city council members the next Highway 8 planning group meeting is March 28. He continues to work with citizens on the layout for the highway through town but said MnDOT’s contract with Lindstrom expired at the end of 2005.

“The city has told MnDOT it’s not on-board with the plan” that’s been presented so far, Griffin concluded.

The Turtle Lake, Wisconsin Fire Dept. was awarded the fire department’s old ladder rig with a bid of $21,500. The sale proceeds go into paying off the new aerial truck Lindstrom has acquired.

Lindstrom holds its Board of appeals and equalization at the Center City County Government Center April 11 at 7 p.m. Most cities are convening their appeals Board at the county government center so access to tax records is handy.

The council adopted a resolution opposing action to extend truck length and weight. The MN Alliance for Safe Highways had two representatives at the council session to take questions. The alliance has been gathering city, county and other resolution actions to show the legislature the state is not in favor of the standards being changed for truck weight and length.

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