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The Chisago City Council began 2024 with a special organizational meeting on Jan. 9. 

As required by statute, the council designated official depositories—MidwestOne Bank, 4M fund and RBC Wealth Management, and the official newspaper, the Chisago County Press. It named Council members Jeremy Dresel as acting mayor and  Marie Rivers as Dresel’s alternate. Mayor Bob Gustafson, City Administrator John Pechman and Fire Chief Zach Reed were named  municipal trustees to the Volunteer Fire Relief Association.

Regular council meetings will continue to take place at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month. A second monthly meeting will be held on the second Tuesday as necessary. Residents will find official notices posted at city hall and the Chisago City Post Office.

Annual appointments included: city attorney Patrick Doran of Miller & Stevens Law Office, city engineer Ryan Goodman of Bolton & Menk, Inc., city auditor services provided by Abdo, city financial consultant is Keith Dahl of Ehlers & Associates and Zach Reed as fire chief.

Council member Dresel was appointed to the cable commission, the Economic Development Authority (EDA), the finance committee, the police and joint sewage treatment commissions, and as alternate to the planning and park commissions.

Mayor Gustafson will serve on the police and sewage treatment commissions, the finance committee, the library board, as alternate to the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon committee, and weed inspector.

Council member Craig Meyer will continue as council liaison to the planning commission and the fire department, as alternate to the library board, and represent Chisago City on the Highway 8 Taskforce.

Council member Rivers was named to the EDA, the South Lindstrom Lake Association, the personnel committee, and as an alternate liaison to the police commission and tourism bureau.

Council member Nikki Battles will serve on the park commission, the Green Lake Association, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee, and as alternate liaison to the sewage treatment commission, the fire department, and the personnel committee. All appointments were unanimously approved. Council member Dresel was absent.

In other business, the council:

- approved $28,000 from  American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a study of Chisago City’s water capacity and water needs for the next 20 years. As part of the four-month study, city engineering firm Bolton and Menk will review current water storage and historical water usage data, project future water demand, evaluate adequacy of existing wells, determine if additional water sources are needed, and evaluate water quality and treatment. The study will assess  the implications of increased demand  if city water services are extended on Highway 8.

- set a special council meeting for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, to review a final plat request from developer Don Skelly.  Fire Chief Reed was unable to attend this Jan. 9 meeting, and the council postponed review of his annual report to Jan. 23 as well. 

Administrator Pechman told the council that two issues to be discussed Jan. 23 will be use of the one-time state distribution of $246,458 in public safety funds, which can be spent for fire department and police purposes, and the budgetary implications of becoming a paid on-call fire department.  

- After receiving no input at the required public hearing, council amended the city’s 2024 fee schedule. While the majority of fees remained unchanged, city water and sewer rates, plan review and Ojiketa rental fees were increased. 

Cost of renting cabins at Ojiketa Regional Park now range from $55 a night for the smallest cabin to $135 a night for the largest with a two-night minimum required on all of the larger cabins. Fees for renting Zonta Lodge and Strom Hall from 3 p.m. Friday to noon Sunday during the summer months are now $1,400 and $3,000 respectively. Strom Hall is available for winter weekend rental at half the summer rate. The cost to rent the entire camp for a summer weekend is $6,700 and will increase to $6,900 in 2025 and 2026.  Rates for use the tent campsites, chapel, marina slips, kayaks and canoes at Ojiketa remain unchanged.

Hourly fees for plan reviews by city staff, now range from $65 for review by the city planner, clerk or accountant up to $110 an hour for review by the city administrator.

Administrator Pechman reminded the council that 2024 water and sewer rates increases were based on results of a study that recommended a rate increase. Residents may view the new water and sewer rates and the entire fee schedule at city hall.

- A two-year lease agreement with Family Pathways, which occupies offices on the second floor of city hall. The city provides Family Pathways with office space in lieu of funding support for services Family Pathways provides to city residents. Per the new lease, Family Pathways will pay the city $230 a month for utilities which were expanded to include internet service.

- And,  a fifth public works employee (pending receiving results of a required background check) was hired. Five applicants interviewed.

 

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