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Stacy City Council met February 11 for a regular meeting. All members were present.   

The meeting began with Nic Kirvida speaking to the council. Kirvida was inquiring about a lot in the Stacy Ponds industrial park.  The lot in question has a purchase agreement with XPress Trucking but the earnest check has expired and there has been no communication with the city as far as future expansion plans.  The city ha reached out multiple times with no response.  City attorney James Monge told the council he would reach out to XPress and notify them the city needs to know asap.  The council asked Monge if the city could pursue litigation to end the purchase agreement. Monge told them there were a few options the city can pursue, both involving the courts.  The council then thanked Kirvida and told him the city would keep him abreast of the situation.

In the engineer’s report, city engineer Dan Boyum discussed, with input from  maintenance supervisor Troy Nelson, on televising and jetting as part of the 2025 street improvement plan.  Nelson told the council he should have bids within the next few weeks. He asked the council if they would like to televise the storm sewer at the same time.  Nelson said he spoke to other cities and that is usually the protocol.  Council questioned the added cost and Nelson said he would get bids for both storm and sanitary sewer line televising jetting.   

Boyum then told the council the city needs to hold a street improvement public hearing to proceed with any improvements.  Council agreed to hold a public meeting March 10 for 7 p.m.   Streets included in the proposed improvement plan are: Floral Avenue, Erie Lane, 340th Street, 352nd Street, Fenway Avenue, Fenway Court, Genesis Avenue, Gable Avenue, Finch Avenue and Finch Court.

Next Chisago County HRA EDA Director Nancy Hoffman and Stacy Hardware owner Nick Simpson addressed the council.  Hoffman told the council the store  owner is considering building a new store on the north side of County Road 19 across from Kwik Trip on the west side of the freeway.  The new building will be 12,000 square feet.  Hoffman said they are in favor at the county level of assisting Simpson by  tax abatement. The abatement would allow the county to tax the property only for the next five years and not the business, thus allowing for Stacy Hardware a little wiggle room financially.  Hoffman noted Stacy Hardware will pay taxes including the business, but the business taxes would be returned each year.  Council agreed unanimously to approve the tax abatement contingent upon holding a public meeting. This  will be prior to the street improvement hearing on March 10.

Council approved the purchase of a new fire chief truck for $94,000.  Funds will come out of the city’s LG555 Fund.  

Lindstrom Mayor Judy Chartrand then spoke on behalf of the Chisago County Historical Society.  Chartrand explained how the History Center is working on a Digital Memories Trail for all cities and towns in Chisago County.  The Digital Memories Trail when complete will feature a sign with an explanation and a QR code that will directs user’s phones to stories about each town.  There will be no cost to the municipalities, the project is grant funded.  Mayor Utecht  said he would like to see two signs (one in Lent and one in Stacy at Lion’s Park). Chartrand told the council most cities are allotted one sign with purchase available for more, but Stacy should get two due to the recent annexation, she added. Council thanked Chartrand and okay’d the project.

City Clerk Angela Comstock brought the subject of site plan reviews.  Comstock said in order to streamline approval for both the residents and the council she has discussed with the Planning Commission allowing administrative approval of certain site plans.  In depth site plans would still need to go before the council and commission.  

The Planning Commission reviewed this information at their January meeting and agreed that there was not a need for the Commission to review site plans, and that if there was a land use application needed for the project, the Commission could review site plan as a portion of the land use request.  Council approved and thanked Comstock and the Planning Commission.

Council member Jeff Barrett then gave an update on the investments the finance committee has taken over.  Barrett mentioned that the Money Market interest income has accumulated to approximately $24,000 since they started investing in Oct. The city will also have a number of short-term CD's that will be maturing in April that will yield approximately $38,000. This combined with two more months of interest, which should be around $12,000, would bring a total accumulated return of $74,000 by April.

Council adjourned at 9:48 p.m.

 

 

  

  

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