---

The Lindstrom City Council had two members out sick but they participated online from home,  and last week it was a 5-0 vote on finalizing next year’s levy and budget.  

The city will levy $3,284,402 to be put towards an overall city budget of $3,991,322.  The difference is made up as revenue from redistributed state and other governmental program aids, permits, liquor store transfer, fees etc.  

The 2023 budget was $3,641,838, for an expenditures (revenues) hike for 2024 of $349,484.

Lindstrom’s tax RATE dips to 41.7 percent from 43 in 2023.

The manufactured home neighborhood Lakeshore Terrace will finally get a storm shelter, after years of St. Bridget’s Church being designated as its inhabitants’ place to go to in severe weather.  One acre on the Olinda Trail side of the trailer park will house the shelter, to be 30 by 70 feet.  The acre required a variance for impervious surface and structure size allowable under city code.

City Engineer Jon Herdegen explained the new stormwater infiltration that is part of this sitework should accept some former run-off amounts as well as what it’s designed to handle from the new construction.  Impervious surfaces will come to 38 percent and 25 percent is the standard.

The vote was 5-0 on the variances.

Council agreed the water rate needs a boost and added six percent for 2024, as part of action that revised the city fee schedule in general.  Finance Director Kay Mattson said analysis illustrates the city “has to do something” and balances will be low soon.

Mayor Judy Chartrand noted the rates have been adjusted upwards recently and she gets comments.  Staff explained that earlier analysis showed rates could have doubled to become sufficient but city leaders opted for gradual, small-but-regular hikes instead of a giant increase.

The full new fee schedule is online.

Local manufacturer Plastic Products was approved to donate 5,000 replica miniature coffee pot water towers which will be for sale,  generating income to bring the steaming feature back to the tower.  Around 1994 when the coffee pot retrofit was complete the pot spout would emit steam periodically through the day.  Equipment to make this happen was removed over the years.

Marlene Smith, former owner of the plastics company, was the funder and motivator behind the obsolete water tower being re-fitted and painted to resemble a Scandinavian coffee pot.  

A current city council member and company officer Greg Krueger, abstained from the vote on the donation.  But he explained that the original mold was designed by Plastics employees and the forms to make the coffee pot tower pieces have been stored.   Employees were excited to be involved in bringing the mini water tower back to the public.  The Karl Oskar Days Ambassadors will be the group behind the items being sold.  Krueger said there’s a January meeting scheduled to better-outline the mini-water tower sales effort.

A used Vactor sewer cleaning truck was approved for purchase from the city of Edina.  Lindstrom Administrator Dan Undem said he was surprised when he came on-board recently to learn Lindstrom did not have one.  The equipment is invaluable for the sewer system operation and maintenance.  The 2013 truck is $65,100 including fees.

Deck setback for rear yard lot lines was decreased to 20 feet from 25 feet.  Planner Beth Richmond commented this brings city code more in line with actual circumstances in the city and lot sizes. The Planning Commission advised approval.

The Public Works staff contract was adopted at a three percent pay hike for each of two years, and some clothing/boot and on-call pay consideration this coming year and next.  Undem said it was a pleasure to negotiate with this group.

---