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The Center City Council was only too happy to approve a resolution to address the street light situation, spending about one sixth the cost that was anticipated.  

The streetlamp lenscovers in town consisted of plastic material,  that was yellowing drastically, and the effectiveness of having lights at all twas diminished. The city council heard about the problem at the December meeting.  Public Works Director Eric Garner had an expensive option at the last council session; to replace the now darkening lamp housings at hundreds of dollars a piece.

Since last month, Lindstrom’s Plastic Products Company Inc.  came forward offering to replicate the covers using a three-D plastic printer technology.  Garner told council last week the sample prototype lens cover has been working well for a while, with no warp or other defects noticed.

The local plastics company was approved to make 20 new clear covers at approximately $50 each (includes a few spares) and Sogard Electric was okayed for the installation of the replacements into 17 light poles, at $1,600.

Mayor Mark Wolcott commented for the council, saying this is “...alot better than the numbers we were seeing.”

Neighboring Lindstrom sent along its extra-territorial zoning map to be reviewed and Center City has a couple issues with the map proposed.  
Lindstrom adopted the special temporary zoning authority for an area (state law allows two-miles, the map is smaller area) beyond its existing border for future planning needs.  

The review authority also involves a nine-month moratorium on  map area subdivisions and permit applications while Lindstrom revises ordinances and lays plans for extending infrastructure routes, etc.

Lindstrom distributed the map of the area it wishes to have this extra-territorial review authority over, and adjacent governing bodies are providing feedback.
Center City council decided to have the map on the next available city planning commission agenda, and council may see a recommendation sent up by its meeting next month.

The council’s main issue with the zoning authority sought by Lindstrom is that earlier negotiations among Center City and surrounding entities were no infringement on fire service areas would happen, as a city annexed in parcels and expanded.  The new extra-territorial review approach eats into a couple land sections that Center City assumed to be Center City’s growth area.

The presidential primary is new to Minnesota,  and happens March 3.  Council was told the state will reimburse local costs to run a primary, but one problem was described:  no new election judge trainings are scheduled to be provided in the interim, and judges must be trained to serve.

Center City is lucky to have four trained people who offered to be election judges, Mike Dodge, Pam Anderson, Butch Johnson and clerk Norma Anderson.  Public Works Supervisor Garner is also trained and serves as an alternate for election judge.

Council also approved use of city hall by GOP locals for precinct-specific party caucus night Tuesday, February 25.  Caucus night continues for discussion of platform issues but there will no longer be a “straw poll” that historically was used to determine candidate preference in Minnesota.  The state has joined the Super Tuesday primary balloting.

Council also okayed an expense of up to $4,000 to have “American Legal” organize and update ordinances and provide a digital and print copy.  Council member Madonna Higgins said the city really needs to get its “rulebook” on-line and available to the public, as it’s been years since a complete set of ordinances has been compiled.

Rotary representative Chris DuBose presented the plan for Celebration of Lakes on North Center Lake  in February.  (See graphic.)  He received  permission for event signage and for beer and wine to be available-- and announced the “carousel” rotating ice ring will be attempted again.  Last year the ice conditions were not conducive to placing the rotating ice circle on the lake and it was scrapped.

Celebration of Lakes has a new date, February 14, 15 and 16.

And, much further above sea level-- the A T & T water tower communications antennae array is a topic of discussion again.

The Water Tower Park water standpipe holds cellphone (and other antennae systems) which  A T & T Mobility LLC  leases space for.  The company has put out a legal notice asking for comment on any impact on “historic property” expected from expanding the array.

Center City is not convinced the standpipe has the load capacity to add equipment and the debate now is over who does the structural study and who pays for it.

The consensus was to have city engineer Les Mattefy work out an escrow account of some agreement to have a load study done at the company’s cost.  Council will wait to hear back.  The engineer was unable to attend last week’s council meeting.


 






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