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Taylors Falls council adopted a resolution Monday night this week on a 5-0 vote officially designating the burned-down Springs Inn as a “hazardous building.”  This starts the clock ticking on abatement of piles of debris remaining at the site, and notifies the property owner the city has set a deadline for seeing a demolition/cleanup application, by April 28.

Minnesota pollution control agency regulators and environmental health inspectors with Chisago County have been involved in assessing the site since a fire leveled the old motel February 7.  There was a 21 day ‘waiting period’ following the fire required by statute.  The property items that are left behind and visible due to the collapse of walls and rooftop,  need to be secured and a removal plan presented to city officials.   The property owner did not attend the council meeting.

 City Zoning Administrator Elizabeth Haas, who had been advised not to discuss the case much due to an enforcement action pending,  said a copy of the resolution passed by council will be delivered to the property owner “within days.”  

Cleanup work that had been initiated was put under a   stop work order awaiting a plan and demo application being filed.  As of Monday this week council was advised the timeline calls for  property clean “final inspection” tentatively scheduled for May 6.  

Council also approved the new fire rig and rescue truck acquisition to proceed.

Council agreed to pursue sale of bond debt not to exceed $950,000 in total.  

The public hearings have been held and financing consultants now require the official okay to write up a bonding package and see who is interested in submitting bids for the bonds and under what  terms.

The rigs are being ordered through Rosenbauer, and the city should be taking delivery in summer 2026.  The chassis payment is made ahead of the unit being built and there was some discussion about what the discount might be and from which city accounts the pre-payment might come.  Fire department spokesperson Dan Boyer told council there are three trucks being eliminated as part of this equipment plan and it is possible the department could see proceeds from these sales of $100,000-plus, helping to reduce the total expenses of the $820,000 fire rig and $100,000 rescue truck.  Boyer said these vehicles will be marketed immediately, as it sometimes takes a year to find buyers.

The council’s goal is to keep tax impacts neutral, and  time the debt service payments to show up on property taxes, as old debt gets retired in 2027-2028. 

In another public safety item— the severe weather siren at the elementary school is in need of repair.  Council approved $2,500 for the Federal Signal Siren company to do the work.

And, a compromise has been developed to address concerns about the roofing/HVAC project authorized by council.  The original plan had Garland Roofing handling the design/bid/install process.  Council member Robert Bayer voiced concerns the materials and services in this project could be costlier than normal because of the proprietary contract with Garland.

Council member Tim Grote presented an “alternative” process to try and address the  issues.  The consulting engineering firm used by Taylors Falls Public Works,  ISG, will be inserted into the upcoming bid process and assist in plans/specs and materials evaluation.  This way— if a bid comes in consisting of substantially equivalent products that are not controlled by Garland;  ISG will get involved and assess the appropriateness of the bid package(s). The services of ISG in total will be capped at $25,000.  Grote said this will help solidify the bid process should any non-Garland projects be proposed.  

If there is no “handing off” of consulting tasks as the work commences (inspections, on site conferences, etc) ISG will basically receive about $12,000 for involvement in bid review.

Council member Bayer responded this is a “great strategy” and he appreciated his concerns about getting a second set of eyes being addressed.

The city hall roofing upgrade, windows, exterior, HVAC and water damage repairs are estimated to run anywhere from $375,000 to $600,000.  The plan is to perform the work this year.

The smelt fry May 3 was approved for a liquor license.  Taylors Falls Fire Dept. serves up a terrific smelt fry meal,  from the lower garage space at city hall that afternoon.

Council voted 5-0 to send a letter in opposition to a movement being formulated into state law in St Paul that will have the net effect of reducing municipal powers.  City Attorney Fritz Knaak, a former state legislator, explained the legislators are changing some of what cities have power over in regulating building permits, materials, zoning, and a host of other factors that are involved in the costs of housing.

Council members were asked to sign onto a letter drafted by the League of MN Cities in support of “retaining” city zoning authority.

Meanwhile, there is a vacancy on the planning commission, and council stressed any resident is welcome to apply to be appointed.  The planning group meets monthly at this time, but could go twice a month if things get busy. Information is at city hall.

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