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Lindstrom City Council met February 21 for a regular meeting.  All members were present.  

While preparing to pass the agenda, Council member David Waldoch asked Police Chief Bill Schlumbohm why there was a payout from the city to the Lakes Area Police Department called court fees.  Schlumbohm told the council that by law the fees have to be collected by a town or city and then distributed to its police department. The person who requests an officer to testify pays the fee.

The council then had a discussion about authorizing funds for the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.  Mayor Judy Chartrand asked for clarification on how much the city actually gives the Chamber.  City Administrator Dan Undem told the council the city owns the building and charges the Chamber around $400 a month. Undem pointed out the city also pays the building utilities.  Council member Waldoch added the city sets aside around $11,000 for repairs to the building.  Undem pointed out the Chamber has a signed lease until the end of 2025, so any changes the city chooses will have to wait until then.  

The council tabled the request for funds in the amount of $525.

The council then heard from City Planner Beth Richmond on the subject of docks at the Shores of Forest Ridge located on North Lindstrom Lake.  

Richmond told the council the homeowner association is asking for permission to place another dock at the lot that is designated lake access for homes in the neighborhood not on the lake.  The lot currently has one 40 foot dock.  Richmond also noted the amended CUP would like to see both dock lengths increased to 50 feet.  One dock will be used specifically for motorboats and the other for fishing, kayaks and canoes.  The lot is 106 feet wide.  The council passed the CUP amendment with the stipulation only one dock would be allowed to have a T or L at the end, to prevent congestion.

The council then addressed the water tower coffee pot replica models.  There had been some talk about whom gets to sell the models and for how much.  Administrator Undem told the council the plan is to wholesale to non-profit groups for $10 and those groups will be allowed to resell the models at a cost of $20 unassembled or $25 assembled.  The extra $10-$15 will benefit the non-profit groups.  

The council passed a motion to accept the new sales plan for the models with Council member Greg Krueger abstaining. Krueger is an employee of Plastic Products who manufactures the water towers.

Undem then told the council the city’s general fund balance is sitting at 34 percent.  Undem said he would prefer to see the fund at 40 percent of annual expenses at minimum.  

To best address this shortage until the second half of property taxes is paid to Lindstrom, Undem is asking that interest earned from the capital fund be transferred to the general fund. With the increase of the fund balance, if the city were to bond for a project or equipment, it would receive a more favorable interest rate.  Undem is asking for $128,403 to be transferred which would bring the fund balance percent up to just over 37 percent.  The city would then continue to transfer interest from that fund as it is earned until 40 percent of annual expenses is reached.  Once achieved, interest would go back to the capital fund as before. The council passed a motion unanimously.

City attorney Soren Mattick then told the council he would like to see an ad-hoc committee formed to discuss the police contract.  Mattick noted the committee would be meeting outside of the police commission.  The council agreed to have Mayor Chartrand and council member Brian Norelius serve on the ad-hoc committee.

The council then heard from Public works Director Matt Fraley.  Fraley presented them with bids for a new SCADA system.  SCADA systems alert municipalities when there is a failure in the sanitary lift station.  Currently the city uses the system at the Joint Sewer station.  The new system will eliminate nuisance call outs and maintenance can access live information digitally.   Cost for the new system is $121,649 which the council  approved. 

The council then viewed some artist renderings of a potential new trail head for the Swedish Immigrant trail.  The proposed site is on the corner of Maple and Highway 8 westbound.  The council was shown four options and all featured a bathroom, bike parking, some local art feature, and green space.  Three of the four featured parking on the premises, with the other providing parking on Highway 8 and Maple.  The council had some disagreement as far as parking spaces, but all were in agreement the concept looked good.   

The council then welcomed new city engineer Brian Bachmeier. Bachmeier works for Bolton and Menk. Bachmeier gave a brief rundown of his work history which included Fairmont and Oakdale cities.

Council adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

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