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The Chisago City Council on June 27 voted to establish Highway 8 as the boundary dividing its two new voting precincts. The decision to establish two precincts and two polling places within the city was made earlier this year after the Chisago Lakes Area Library was overwhelmed by long lines of Chisago City voters and congested traffic in the last general election.  

The two churches identified as polling places are located on the opposite sides of Highway 8. Voters in Chisago City Precinct A, located primarily on the north side of Highway 8, will vote at the Chisago Lakes Baptist Church, voters in Chisago City Precinct B, generally on the south side of Highway 8, will vote at Lord of the Lakes Lutheran Church. City Administrator John Pechman acknowledged that precinct lines won’t be perfect for every voter. 

Before making this recommendation, Pechman met with county election officials in an attempt to achieve a balance of voters in each precinct. Several options were considered but in every case a road would need to be “divided,” and using Highway 8 as the dividing line seemed to make the most sense. The council authorized Pechman and Mayor Bob Gustafson to sign the final wording of the resolution establishing the boundaries of the new precincts. Prior to the next election, a postcard will be sent to every Chisago City voter informing them of their new polling place.

July 11 workshop set on Highway 8 project

The Chisago City Council will hold a workshop meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, to begin detailed planning for Highway 8 reconstruction in Chisago City. County Engineer Joe Triplett will be invited to attend. 

Councilmember Craig Meyer, who represents Chisago City on the Highway 8  Task Force, said Triplett has recommended that the “Chisago City and Wyoming city councils get together and figure out exactly what we need and want” related to the project,  reconstructing the highway between Chisago City to Forest Lake.

“Now that the money is in place, the designs are gong to start tightening up,” Meyer said. Councilman Jeremy Dresel concurred, pointing out that they have discussed adding sewer lines to the project. The council will use the July 11 workshop meeting as a starting point in its final Highway 8 planning process.

In other business, the council:

- conducted the “first reading” of ordinances to resize the parks and planning commissions, and discussed ongoing problems with achieving a quorum at parks and planning commissions meetings. The proposed revised ordinances would reduce both commissions from seven members to five with two alternates. (This would also reduce the number necessary for a quorum to three)  The alternates would vote only if a quorum of regular members was not present.

The council also discussed the possibility of allowing the council representative on each commission to serve as a voting member.  Currently the council representative can attend but cannot vote. A public hearing on the ordinance revisions will be held at the regular July council meeting.

- reviewed five quotes for extension of water and sewer utilities to the south side of the city property occupied by the public works and fire departments. The council approved the low bid of $154,029 by CW Houle, which was the only bid lower than the engineer’s estimate of $175,000 for the work. Other bids ranged from $186,863 by Dresel Contracting to $277,420 by Forest Lake Contracting.

- accepted the notice of retirement submitted by Department of Motor Vehicles employee Dawn Meredith effective Sept. 28, 2023. The council also authorized Administrator Pechman to make a tentative job offer to the person who was second among applicants for a DMV position filled last spring.

- approved changes recommended by the city engineer to a detailed document known as the Standard Plates. The document outlines standards for a wide variety of construction elements for contractors and developers with projects in the city. 

The city engineer was not present at the meeting, and the council adopted the revised document (viewable at city hall) with minimal discussion. 

Council member Craig Meyer raised one question, asking whether the revised standards required swing-away arms on mailboxes to speed up snowplowing. Administrator Pechman indicated there was no city ordinance to that effect but that swing arms are encouraged for mailboxes located along on major thoroughfares. He told the council that more residential neighborhood with rural mail delivery were choosing a grouping of locked mailboxes rather than the old-fashioned flag style box. 

- approved a request for deferred street improvement assessments from a couple in their late seventies who own a home on Railroad Avenue. The deferral is determined on the basis of income and age for individuals over age 65. The principal assessment amount of $8, 254 will be deferred for 15 years or until the property is sold; however, $2,587 in interest will be collected with regular property taxes over the next 15 years.

- granted permission to Scooters Pub and Grill to block off a 20 by 20 foot area of their parking lot for a tent, table and chairs for bar patrons to watch the Ki Chisago Days Parade. Police Chief Schlumbohm said the area must be fenced, and patrons must enter and leave the fenced area only through the restaurant. Drinks cannot be passed over the fence. 

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