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The third time was the charm last week, when the Lindstrom City Council voted 3-2 to authorize the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to move forward on applying for funding to help the city acquire about 60 acres on the north edge of town. The motion adopted came after two-plus hours of debate in a public hearing.

It was the third motion put forward.

Two previous motions failed due to the level of city contribution, beyond what was supported by the majority. The item began as a discussion about buying 100 acres. But the final decision was for TPL to proceed on "phase one" which encompasses just 64 acres. The pricier "peninsula" of 30 acres on North Center Lake would possibly be pursued in "phase two" council decided.

Lindstrom Council agreed in the vote that Lindstrom will contribute not more than $500,000 towards the potentially $2 million-value parcels.

Dubbed the "Anderson Wilderness Park" for the purpose of the public hearing the land being sought is undeveloped and offers old growth forest, a myriad of ecosystems and will connect to the Norelius property which the city bought in 2007.

TPL is working with the landowners (the Mark Anderson Family and Concordia College) and has begun the process of appraising these parcels, that lie alongside Bull Lake and the north edge of the Cedar Ridge neighborhood. TPL spokesperson Bob McGillivray said appraisals need to be completed by the end of this month so he can submit funding requests through the legislature, and also have time to seek out contributors through TPL membership/supporters.

TPL (McGillivray) worked with Chisago City in acquiring Camp Ojiketa on Green Lake. Chisago City Parks Coordinator Doris Zacho told Lindstrom Council she could find nothing negative to say about this partnership.

Several citizens also spoke in favor of the purchase, two citizens vocalized concerns about the plan. Don Bluhm and Don Dreckmann said there are other priorities for city funds. They stressed the urgency for development of industrial and commercial properties.

Council member Curt Flug was adamantly opposed to the idea, saying, "I'd like to make a motion to send this thing down the street."

Flug claimed he was blindsided by this and chastized staff for not getting more council input before the public hearing. (Flug did not attend last month's council meeting when the public hearing date was set.)

Flug added that he doesn't see how the space can feasibly be opened up to public use. He noted the surrounding established neighborhood, and restricted road access into and out of the TPL sites.

Shari Bachman, Lindstrom business owner and city park board member, observed that homesites built someday on these acres would generate as many or more vehicle trips daily.

City Administrator John Olinger explained that in Mahtomedi (where he worked previously) he managed a similar city asset and it was left relatively primitive and required little from the city resources, and this is his impression of how the TPL parcels will be used. He added, local environmental groups can help maintain walking and ski trails and Sentence To Serve crews may also be called upon for future manual labor tasks.

All or nothing

Council member Roger Lindgren, who voted no with Flug, but on a totally different basis.

Lindgren supported acquiring all 100 acres stating he wouldn't support any action that didn't pursue that, so he opposed even the phased-in concept. Lindgren maintains that having the peninsula lakeshore, with the woods, creates a more desireable asset for Lindstrom to attract tourists and local users.

Lindgren read aloud some financial information supplied by Two Harbors, MN staff about its city campgrounds, the budget, and the revenue it generates for Two Harbors. Lindgren's vision is that a city campground will easily re-coup any investment and could even become a reliable revenue stream for the parks system. This proposal, however, was Lindgren's lone plan, the park board has not recommended any major improvements to the land.

Two non-residents who spoke agreed that Lindstrom will benefit. by preserving the sites. As Swedish tour guides, the two reside in Roseville and Edina, but drove up to this hearing just to advocate for this purchase.

How Lindstrom can do this

The city finance director and administrator reported that the city currently has cash flow to support debt service on a bond for $500,000 as its share of the potential purchase.

The on-sale liquor store is projected to be able to transfer $10,000 for this debt service, along with the new utility franchise fee ($19,000 will be collected annually with $10,000 directed to this), the existing park fund account has $22,000. The estimated payment Lindstrom needs to come up with is $46,000 annually on the bonding. (Had the full 100 acres moved forward the bond debt service would be closer to $100,000.)

McGillivray said it is absolutely necessary that the city contribute at least 25 percent in order to demonstrate the city's commitment and to position this for public open space preservation monies.

Negotiations will continue with the parties who hold the properties, plus the appraisals will be finalized. TPL will report back on the final acquisition price agreed to. The city council would then authorize this process to continue, or could decline to participate.

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