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by MATT SILVER

Stacy City Council met December 9 for a regular meeting.  Mayor Mark Utecht was excused.

In an open forum, resident Rick Keller asked the council about remaining road funds that Lent had when it was merged with Stacy.  Keller told the council Lent had a perpetual $500,000 road fund every year and wondered if Stacy has the same plan.  Council member Jeff Barrtett told Keller the $532,000 that transferred in from Lent went directly in Stacy’s road fund.  Barrett added the city already had $250,000 in the road fund which brought it up to $782,000.  Barrett said the city used $600,000 of that for the road projects this summer but carried $182,000 over.  Barrett then said the city has budgeted another $400,000 for roads in the proposed 2026 levy. Barrett said the city’s plan is to raise the road budget by $50,000 each year until 2029. Then the fund will have $650,000.

Chisago County sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Jones then gave a brief rundown on calls during the month of November.  There were 341 self-checks, 76 traffic stops, 62 warnings issued and six citations written with two arrests.  Jones then introduced Deputy Andrew Haider who will be taking over the Stacy patrol area.  

Council then went over a road agreement with the City of North Branch for 360th Street.  Stacy and North Branch share .65 miles of road which they have both maintained over the years.  Council agreed that the shared costs should be officially documented and instructed attorney James Monge to create a formal agreement.

City engineer Dan Boyum next told the city the televising of Stacy’s storm sewer and sanitary has been completed.  Boyum then presented the proposed I35 CSAH 19 interchange that the county and MnDOT have designed. Boyum was asking for council’s feedback on the plan.  The plan calls for a tear drop roundabout on both sides of the freeway with a pedestrian bridge north of the existing bridge.  Boyum told council the bridge was deemed structurally sound for the next 10 years.

All of the council agreed the pedestrian bridge,  north of 19, makes no sense because the majority of residents live on the south side of Co Rd 19.  Boyum agreed to pass along the council’s concerns.

Council then unanimously passed the proposed 2026 final levy.  The levy will be $1,955,529  up from $1,797,368 in  2025.  That represents an increase of 8.8 percent. 

Council then approved the transfer of $32,087 to the park fund for future park improvements.

With the annexation of Lent Township the city had decided to eliminate the storm sewer maintenance fee to all residents. There was money in the enterprise fund which the council agreed to transfer to the capital road fund.  Any remaining receivables will go into the general fund.

Council then discussed an alcohol tobacco compliance failure by a business in the Stacy mall.  Last year the city had a similar issue with a different business and sent a letter letting the owner know of  penalties and fines that can be assessed if non compliant.  Council agreed again to send a letter.

Council then heard from Jared Ackmann from Reuter Walton.  Ackmann is interested in developing the land north of the Stacy Post Office and putting in a 60 plus units apartment building. The property is currently R-3A (townhomes) and would need to be changed to R-3B (apartments).  Ackmann has had an initial meeting with the planning commission.  He was there just to gauge the council’s opinion of the potential project. The proposed complex would be three stories, with two parking spaces for each unit.

If the project were to move forward, it would still be about a year and a half before breaking ground. Council agreed they would like to see more details but were not opposed to the potential project.

In the finance report, council member Barrett told the council the city wil earn $37,000 in interest for the month of November.  That brings the year to date earnings up to $195,000.  

Council adjourned at 8:34pm

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