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Center City Council met April 2 for a regular meeting.  Mayor Jill Behnke attended via Skype.

The council began the meeting with discussion on the old jail property.  The property is owned by the county but Center City has the jurisdiction to decide what the property is zoned.  The council was told there was interest in the property and the potential buyer was looking to transform the lot into four residential lots and homes.  At the suggestion of city attorney Ted Alliegro, the council agreed to zone the property dependent on what the buyer would seek if it meets city standards and codes.

The council then heard from maintenance supervisor Eric Garner on the subject of AT&T.  AT&T is looking to replace three existing antennas and 12 radios atop the water tower.  Garner said the work will not be started until AT&T submits escrow for the project. 

 The new equipment will take up the same space as the existing equipment. The council then had a discussion about Hursh Iron Works.  The company is moving to Taylors Falls in the next year or two but needs water and sewer to its existing building in order to sell it.  Garner said the city and Hursh met with Olson Sewer and came up with a tentative plan and drawings would need to be the next step.  Owner Joel Hursh told the council the existing plan calls for 650 feet of sewer line and would require digging up 140 square feet of the County’s Maintenance Building’s driveway to access the hydrant water supply.  Hursh asked if the city would be willing to pay for 350 feet of the sewer line to alleviate the costs and for future city expansion.  Hursh said his submission for water hook up was rejected by the city.  City engineer Marcus Johnson told Hursh the reason it was rejected was because he failed to show a plan for a sewer. Johnson said Hursh could put a mound system or approved drain field on the property but would need to show that on the application for water.  Hursh agreed to resubmit the application showing the plan for the sewer.

The council then was told by Johnson the city’s application for the Local Road Improvement Program grant was rejected.  Johnson noted most projects that were awarded the grants were for much larger jobs.  Center City’s application was for $1.5 million.

The council then was told by City Clerk Dana Miron the current web provider has not returned phone calls inquiring about the current provider contract.  Miron told the council she thinks there is no current contract and Alliegro suggested sending a letter stating the city is going with another provider.  The city has agreed to have Well Optimized create and host the city’s new website.

The council then passed an ordinance amending zoning of off sale liquor sales.  The change in the ordinance is to acommodate the soon to open Nordic Harbor Market (formerly the ice cream shop) on the south side of Highway 8 on Grand Avenue.

The council then agreed to pass the parking lot site plan for Nordic Harbor with the exception of removing one parking spot. The removal of the spot will then allow a wider turning radius in the parking lot.  

The council then discussed the Chisago County communications system user agreement.  Commissioner Rick Greene told the council the current cost of a radio is $30 per radio and next year the cost will rise to $100 per radio and that cost will escalate to $125 in 2026. Council member Mark Wolcott said he spoke with fire chief Travis Greene and was told the cost to replace all 22 radios will be around $220,000.  Council member Lloyd Vetter asked Greene why the city has to upgrade. Greene said the state has mandated the system change statewide and Chisago County had no choice in the matter.  Greene did point out the county is paying 94 percent of the cost which will come out to nearly $2 million.  The council then passed a motion to sign the agreement.

Council adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

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