---

Lindstrom City Council met April 17 for a regular meeting.  Council member Greg Krueger was absent.

The council had held an open house prior to the council meeting with over 50 residents attending. The open house had displays of projects both planned and  potential for the city and were laid out along tables.  Residents were encouraged to place stickers on the projects they felt were more pressing than others.  

The council then discussed the contract renewal agreement with the Chisago County Senior Center.  City administrator Dan Undem gave the council a brief rundown of the Senior Center’s services. Undem pointed out the center is located in North Branch but any and all seniors living in  Chisago County can partake in any of the events offered.  Mayor Judy Chartrand said the center seems a bit North Branch centric? Chartrand also said she notices a bit of unevenness donated compared to Chisago City.  Council member Dave Waldoch made a motion to sign the agreement worth $400 which passed unanimously.

The council then passed a contract for the new ARMER radio system. The contract has been mandated by the state and Chisago County municipalities are signed up.  Currently the county is subsidizing the majority of the costs and Lindstrom will recognize a budget increase of $2,310.

The council discussed the allocation of a Minnesota  one-time Public Safety Dollars. 

Lindstrom got $215,301.  The funds can be used for violence prevention programs, community engagement, victim services, mental health crisis response, training programs, equipment related to fire, rescue and emergency services.  Undem  told the council after speaking with the Lindstrom Fire Department and Lakes Area Police, he recommends allocating $100,000 to the fire department and $115,000 to the Lakes Area Police Department.  Council member Waldoch added he would like to see Chisago City kick in 53 percent of their public safety dollars to be even with Lindstrom. The council agreed to table the topic until Undem could speak with Chisago City.

Undem then told the council there was money that needed to be allocated from the Lakeview Motel purchase   as well as $251,000 from Xcel Energy  totaling funds available to $1,093,000. Undem told the council the ballpark cost of the Park Street parking/bike trail head project is around $884,000.  Undem recommended allocating funds towards the Park Street project and undergrounding of power lines to Lindstrom businesses.  The council agreed unanimously to re-allocate the funds as suggested.

The council then heard from Maintenance Supervisor Matt Fraley about a Beach Park clean-up plan.  Fraley told the council the trees and bushes that have grown into and along the shoreline will be cut and treated with herbicide.  

Fraley said the plan has been approved by the DNR, the LID and Chisago SWCD.  Council member Waldoch asked if there was a plan to retrieve the large rocks that were moved from the shore.  Fraley said he had no idea there were rocks in the water. Waldoch suggested maybe a Boy Scout project or a football team community service.

Fraley then said a street light to be installed at the intersection of Lincoln Road and 316th Street would run $2,258 with a $13 monthly power charge.   Fraley was asked if Xcel or the county would be willing to kick in monies for the project and he told the council he spoke with both and they said they would not. The council approved installation of a street light unanimously.

The council passed a temporary liquor license to the Chisago Lakes Lions for the Lakes Renaissance Fair this summer.  

The council then recognized this year’s Karl Oskar Days organizer Darin Straub and thanked Pauline Hinsch for her hard work the past few years.

Council adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

---