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Lindstrom firefighters can look forward to getting some elbow room,  as city council members agreed 4-0, August 20,  to buy and remove the house directly behind and to the east of the firehall on Newell Ave.  (Council member Curt Flug was absent)

The plan is to develop a facility with drive-through truck bays, addressing situations where traffic has to be halted while equipment is backed-into the fire hall off of Highway 8.

City Administrator John Olinger said the house purchase is $160,000.  There won’t be immediate alterations to the site just yet-- the homeowner wants to lease back the residence until June 2016 to give him time to find a new place, and salvage architectural details from the older home, and council agreed.

Funding is available through account balances  in the city vehicle replacement fund, the planning fund and Fire Dept. Capital/Public Safety Buildings accounts, and an interfund transfer of $63,000 from an auxiliary utility capital account was approved-- to be reimbursed out of future General Fund revenue.

Olinger said the fire department had considered the vacant Smith Metals site, on the east side of Broadway near St Bridget’s.  This site, however, could very well be shaping up to become the next Lakes Area Police Department location. (Smith Metals relocated into the County Seat Business Park.)

Mayor Keith Carlson said a special workshop meeting of the Police Commission August 19,  called earlier to review the 50-50 funding formula,  included a site tour at Smith.  

Carlson commented that commission members seemed open-minded, but there has been no decision.  The former manufacturing facility has plenty of square feet and the floor plan is “open” with no special hurdles for retro-fitting for police operations, Carlson added.

This is only in the discussion stage, he stressed. Asking price is $800,000.

The police had been invited to participate in building a new multi-million dollar fire hall in Chisago City, with law enforcement operations designed into that facility.

But the police commission couldn’t find consensus: two Chisago City commissioners supported this and the two Lindstrom commissioners did not...and, the fire hall is moving forward in Chisago City, minus law enforcement accommodations.

However, the new law enforcement impound lot is now in Chisago City.

Lakes Area Chief of Police Kevin Stenson reported the new lot was storing cars as of last week,  and inventory held at the impound lot in Lindstrom is being shifted over as time allows.  The old impound lot soon returns to being part of Lindstrom’s Public Works operations.

Council also adopted a “Five Year Plan” for major public works projects on a 3-1 vote, Joe Wishy opposed.  

The council moved up the Newell Avenue (between Broadway and Olinda) resurfacing work to the year 2016, on recommendation of Olinger. Olinger said this approximately one block long roadbed is rated in desperate need of new bituminous on the city’s asphalt maintenance rating scale.  Plus, this way the whole length of Newell gets done all at once.  

Council member Joe Wishy said there was an “odor” about this.  

Council member AnnMarie Brink resides on this block.  Brink had explained in prior workshop meetings that her neighbors don’t want the curb and gutter and urban street amenities that were slated for 2018-- they just want the roadway replaced as-is.  The shifting to “maintenance” status,  from a full blown reconstruction status,  means this block can get done quickly and also would not carry assessments.

Wishy apparently felt the neighborhood is getting something out of the ordinary.

Mayor Carlson stated the city policy has always been that work meant to simply replace what’s existing,  carries no assessments.  If the project had continued to be slated for new urban design elements, then Lindstrom would assess for “improvements.”

Also on the Five Year Plan, are improvements to the gravel Morningside Court.  The council approved staff to complete a feasibility study so that engineering might yet be able to develop an assessment roll and get bids out this winter.

There will also be a neighborhood meeting, probably in October, with folks on 288th from Olinda to Lakeside Trail, to explain a project set for 2017 or so.  This could include sidewalk, curb and stormwater features and sewer extension.  Watch for your city notice if you reside in this area.

There is a 2019 project for the Lehigh Lane and Lincoln Ave. neighborhood calling for sewer and water;   but Olinger cautioned this “could be bumped up”  because there may be a viable offer to buy Rose Hill Resort.  The closed resort site must have city services in order to be developed-- as it was cited for being an imminent public health threat for surface discharge of sewer.
City Engineer Jon Herdegen also reported the fix at Pleasant Hill Park seems to be successful.  

There was a huge retention/filtration basin installed as a joint Soil & Water Conservation District and city project-- that was not draining. Runoff sat and killed the grass and as a shallow pond, this was an attractive nuisance.  The bill for $9,424 was unanimously  paid to R.E. Peterson for newly configuring the fore-basin and for draintile enhancement. The vegetation was re-seeded and will be monitored for successful regrowth.

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