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Stacy City Council met November 12 for a regular meeting. All members were present.  

The meeting began with Chisago County Commissioner Ben Montzka addressing the council.  Montzka thanked the council for their letter of support regarding the County Road 19 bridge.  Montzka told the council the county has allocated $400,000 for a focus study on the bridge and that he feels a public hearing may be beneficial to both the community and securing funding to fix the bridge.  Council agreed that a public informational meeting is a good idea.  Montzka did add the county was looking at all aspects on how to make the bridge safer adding they have looked at roundabouts on each side and potentially building up each side of the bridge to cut down on the dangerous sight-limiting hump in the middle of the bridge.  

Council then passed a motion for an easement to allow two driveways on a property that earlier had been limited to one due to zoning.  Attorney James Monge told the council there is a power pole and box located where the shared driveway would go.  The property is located in the  Deer Run development. 

City engineer Dan Boyum then discussed the potential of installing a new well to replace well #1 which is not and has not been used at all recently.  Maintenance supervisor Troy Nelson told the council that he will not switch over and begin running well #1 until he knows for sure what the condition of the water is. Nelson said the last time it was tested the water tested positive for radium and would need to mitigate and treat the water with tons of testing before he would consider sending it to homes.  Mayor Mark Utecht said before the city does any switching over he would like a written letter from the engineering firm stating the water has been tested and is safe to drink.  Nelson told the council testing takes anywhere from six to nine months for results.  

Boyum then went over a road feasibility study his firm compiled as requested by the city.  The study was broken into two parts, rural streets and core (city) streets.  The rural section includes Floral Avenue, Erie Lane, 340th Street, and 352nd Street. The study gave pricing for two options, mill and overlay and reclamation.  

Streets listed in the core include: Richland Meadows, Fenway Avenue, Finch Avenue and Fenway Court.  Council agreed to hold a public meeting on possible street improvements for public input on December 10 at 6pm.

Nelson then updated the council on some electrical corrosion in one of the well houses. He said there was extensive damage to some of the wiring and asked the council if they would like to submit an insurance claim.  The council decided to have Nelson make a list of all damages and their priority so the city can get estimates from an electrician before deciding on filing an insurance claim.  

Council then approved tax liens for delinquent water bills for five homes totaling $3,900.

Cannabis was again a topic as the council discussed locations where businesses may sell it.  A proposed ordinance prohibiting cannabis retail in Central Business and General Business (the two business areas in town in Stacy) and Utecht, Council member Tim Sawatzky, and Council member Carolyn Cagle voted no because they would prefer to see it as a conditional use in those districts. 

A few months ago, the Council did pass an ordinance allowing cannabis retail in the RTC (Rural Transit Center District) which is down at the 17/I-35 interchange.

Council adjourned at 9:48 p.m.

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