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Lindstrom City Council met June 20 for a regular meeting.  All members were present.

In open forum, resident Tony Fike who resides on 300th street told the council he was told multiple times by the former city administrator his road would be paved and is still gravel.  Fike told the council every rain event deposits piles of rock on his driveway which is a natural drainway for the road to the lake.  Fike said he has no issue with water draining into his yard, but cleaning up the gravel left after every rainfall is getting tiresome.  City Administrator Dan Undem told Fike he would speak to the maintenance department and take a look at the road.

Next, Dale Fredell had a similar complaint.  Fredell, who lives on Marine Court, was also told 12 years ago his road would be paved.  Rain is also depositing rocks and dirt in his yard.

Next, the council heard from Adam  Josephson of MnDOT, who presented an update on safety issues the city had submitted to MnDOT.The city had submitted six items it hoped MnDOT would address and potentially fix.

The first item was rapid flashing lights at four intersections in downtown.  These would indicate a crosswalk with yellow signage and a flashing light.  Josephson said MnDOT would approve the installation of the beacons but the city would have to fund and maintain the lights.

The second item the city had requested was a “right lane ends” cantilever sign eastbound Hwy 8 in front of Pizza Man.  Josephson told the city a cantilever sign would cost the city anywhere from 75-100K and suggested pavement arrows are just as effective at a zero cost to the city.

The city had asked for directional signs out of the Holiday parking lot on both east and west bound traffic.  Josephson said MnDOT has approved the request.

The city had also asked for a double white line at the turnaround on the west end of town to prevent cutting over to Linden Avenue.  Josephson said MnDOT does not support double white lines which are a ticketable offense.

Josephson then said MnDOT will approve a merge arrow on westbound traffic just past the turnaround.

Finally, the city had asked for a second speed readout sign eastbound prior to the bridge. In doing so, the city would like to see the speed reduced at that spot to 30mph.  Josephson said that would require a speed study and told the council the end results of speed surveys generally don’t bring expected outcomes and in some cases they have increased speeds.

Josephson then told the council MnDOT will be doing a road study from Karmel Avenue in Chisago City to the bridge in Taylors Falls.  The study will be done in July and data will be input into the planned mill and overlay scheduled for 2032.  Josephson was asked if he thought the four lane that is planned from Forest Lake to Chisago City would be extended through Lindstrom and beyond.  Josephson said his opinion would be the cost and the fact that traffic drops off in Lindstrom would probably eliminate the four lane extension.

The council thanked Josephson for his hard work and looked forward to the changes by the end of summer.

The council then discussed public safety dollars allocation for the Lakes Area Police Department.  Undem was asked to see if Chisago City would alter their donation of $115,300 to coincide with a greater population.  Undem told the council Chisago City council had discussed and decided to stay with the original  50-50 share.  The council then voted 4-1 in favor of allocating $115,300 to the LAPD with council member Dave Waldoch voting against.

Maintenance supervisor Matt Fraley then presented a quote for a new crane truck from Aspenson Equipment.  Fraley reminded the council Lindstrom will be assuming 100 percent of its own sewer services beginning in January of 2025.  Currently Veolia is under contract and Lindstrom now owns its own SCADA or emergency call out software. Fraley said his department is averaging 3-4 callouts a week with the new software.  

With assuming all of the sewer duties Fraley said a crane truck is imperative for pulling any of the 36 pumps Lindstrom has in its lift stations.  Fraley pointed out the truck can also be utilized for installing street lights as well as setting headstones in the cemetery.  Administrator Undem told the council the money was already in the sewer fund for the purchase of the $159,000 truck.  The council unanimously approved the purchase and order of the truck.

Undem asked the council to consider an operations study by Kornowski Consulting to analyze the municipal liquor store.  Cost of the study would be $15,000 and would begin as soon as the 4th of July weekend.  Council approved the study unanimously.

Undem then told the council he was working on creating a new financial policy for the city. The current policy was last changed in 2008.  Undem said he would like the new one to be more user friendly and easier to understand by consolidating all city policies into one umbrella.  Undem will be working with ABDO Consulting on the policy revisions.

Undem then told the council the city’s booth at Karl Oskar Days will be filled with informative literature for residents to peruse of all of the projects taking place and future potential projects.  

Council adjourned at 9pm.

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