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Lindstrom Council members welcomed Roger Lindgren back to work after an absence the past few meetings recuperating from a series of health setbacks. Lindgren also celebrated his birthday sharing cake with council at the end of the meeting.

In regular business, the council expressed mixed emotions about having to extend city water service to a homesite in Allemansratt Park.

The city had always planned to rent the home to generate revenue, but soon after purchase of the acreage it was learned sewer and water systems were non-compliant and insufficient. Sewer installation was handled last construction season. Last week council had to award a contractor a project to install water. R.E. Peterson had the lowest of three quotes at $15,785.

Council member Joe Wishy said he hasn't seen any "hard plans" for the property and he feels this is a money pit. He asked if there could be a cost-benefit analysis presented showing what the property needs to have done to it to get it into shape and what kind of income the city can expect in return.

Council member Curt Flug said, "That's where I'm sitting too." Flug wondered if the city's going to have to start budgeting annually for expenses related to this property soon.

City Administrator John Olinger said a long term renter is interested and monthly rental income would be sufficient to recoup some of these expenses in a relatively short timeframe. Olinger explained it's preferable to have a resident in there, but it has to be habitable.

Council member Lindgren was not gung-ho, but he observed that even if the site turns into just a park shelter/restroom facility some day, there's a need for water service.

Lindgren made a motion to supply city water and it passed unanimously.

The council also approved an expenditure for doing research on a possible American Indian artifact mound, in the area of the middle school. The city cost is about $2,500.

A biking/ped trail is planned for a location where the topography and soils type, plus known history of this area has resulted in the property being "flagged for archeological field review," according to a MNDOT memo.

The firm Strata Morph Geoexploration will first investigate with "geo probes" versus digging at the site. The city won a grant to construct the trail section and native people burial mound and artifact research is required to use the funding.

The Linden Street stormwater project is being expanded to include a watermain and hydrant replacement. As crews got underground and started doing the stormwater work, it was discovered four properties are served by a one-inch shared line, and this is to be replaced by a two-inch service to each individual property.

The council agreed to $28,070 for the work by R.E. Peterson. The money comes from an account built by water availability charges (WAC) that have been paid by new hook-ups.

Cedar Ridge is also getting some public works action...the streetwork in that neighborhood has been identified as a priority. Council approved a transfer of $10,000 of $10,000 into the street repair fund (which is at $26,000) from the reserve fund to help cover the costs.

The waterline project across the channel on Hwy. 8 by the Dinnerbel was wrapping up nicely late last week.

The contractor was connecting the under-the-lakebed watermain to pipes on either side of the channel. Still to do is the sewer relocation west of County Road 14. Staff is waiting for the sewer commission's engineering plans in order to finish this utility work-- all in preparation for the 2012/2013 highway split pairs project.

~ Council okayed a fire hall and fire service subcommittee to work with Chisago City on fire hall project sharing and related issues. Mayor Keith Carlson, Roger Lindgren and a yet-to-be-named citizen will serve.

~ A part time city hall receptionist position was extended to Kathy Dunn.

~ Council also okayed the cable television franchise contract to transfer over to Midcontinent Communications which is purchasing local service from U.S. Cable.

The sale is being finalized for September and changes to city franchises have to be approved by councils.

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