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Stacy City Council met January 10 for their first meeting of 2023.  All members were present.  The meeting began with the swearing in of Mayor Mark Utecht and council member Marie Lawrence and newly elected council member Dennis Thieling.

City engineer Dan Boyum told the council the city has received a site plan for the completion of the ice arena.  The conceptual layout is being reviewed by the hockey association and there is some question on the parking which may need a variance when attendance is high.  There is some questions as to how many seats there will be and how much parking will be needed for teams and staff.  

Boyum also said he was in communication with the association as far as permitting.  

Boyum was told by council member Thieling that light was still being cast on his house from the mini storage.  Boyum agreed to visit Thieling’s home to review his concerns.

The council then passed an ordinance amending the city’s fee schedule.  The city added a building permit review fee for city review at $50 and an engineer review at $175.  A sign permit fee and a fence permit fee were also added which the cost is the same as the building permit review by the city and the engineer.

Some notable deletions of fees included a water meter deposit of up to $1,400 for a 2 inch meter, $431 for a one inch meter and $245 for a 5/8” meter.  

The council then discussed a contract proposal by current clerk Sharon Payne for clerk services performed after her retirement.  The city will agree to pay $75/hr with a minimum billing rate of 15 minutes.  Simple phone calls less than 15 minutes will not be billed to the city.  The contract will be effective February 24, 2023 to December 31, 2023. The council approved the contract unanimously.

The council then was told restaurant Tomatoes did submit a liquor license application.  Mayor Utecht made a motion to approve which passed.

The council then made committee appointments.  Mayor Utecht and council member Tim Sawatzky were appointed to the emergency plan. Utecht and Lawrence on parks and recreation, Thieling on public information, Sawatzky on history, Sawatzky and Thieling on CLJTC, Sawatzky on the planning commission, council member Jennie Carlson and Lawrence on the EDA, Carlson and Utecht on the personnel, Sawatzky and Thieling on maintenance, Sawatzky and Utecht on liquor, Michele McLane on the Rushline and Thieling on the fire relief committee.

The council then made city appointments as follows:  offical bank - First State Bank of Wyoming, official newspaper - Chisago County Press,  legal counsel - Campbell Knutson, insurance - SF Insurance Group, financial consultant - Baker Tilly, city engineer - Stantec, city planner - Stantec, building inspector - Chisago County, civil defense director - TJ Potrament, acting mayor - Tim Sawatzky, weed inspector - Mark Utecht and assistant weed inspector - Allen Anderson.
 
Council member Lawrence asked for an update on the annexation, Mayor Utecht said as far as he knows the agreements between Lent, North Branch and Chisago City have been submitted to the state.  Once approved, the agreement between Stacy and Lent can be submitted.
  
The council scheduled a meeting January 17 to interview a candidate for the Deputy City Clerk position.
    
Council adjourned at 8:49 p.m.

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