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Lindstrom City Council met January 15 for a regular meeting. Council member Brian Norelius was absent and Council member Greg Krueger attended virtually. 

The council began the meeting with a scheduled public hearing on road improvements to 295th Street and a portion of Akerson from the new fire hall to Highway 8.  There were 18 residents in attendance. City engineer Brian Bachmeier gave a presentation showing the city’s plan for a new road as well as curb and gutter and  a sidewalk that would run on the south side of 295th. Akerson would be replaced, as well as curb and gutter and a trail is proposed on the west side from St. Croix Avenue to Lions Park. The project would begin in May and be completed late September of this year.  

Pam Schultz who lives on 295th told the council she was against sidewalks and noted there are no sidewalks along Neal Avenue so a sidewalk would accomplish nothing.  Schultz then asked how wide the road will get into the resident's yards.  City engineer Brain Bachmeier said the road will widen by three feet on each side.  If a sidewalk were included, the width from centerline to the back edge of the sidewalk would be 12 feet. 

Resident Dana Helm asked why the south side of the road when sidewalks in the neighborhood north of 295th all have sidewalks.  Bachmeier replied it just wasn’t feasible on the north side.  Other residents pointed out the flashing crosswalk is located on the north side of the road (that crosses Olinda Trail).

Mayor Judy Chartrand told the audience the crosswalk is a county road and that is a topic for the county to address.

Resident Andrew Finsness then loudly told the council that they dropped the ball by not applying for a Safe Route To Schools grant. Finsness went as far as to say the council should be voted out for not applying for the grant.   “If you didn’t apply for it, we shouldn’t have to pay for a sidewalk’ he said.  Mayor Chartrand explained that Chisago Lakes as a whole has applied for the Safe Route to School grant and it would look odd if Lindstrom were to file for a grant basically pitting Lindstrom against the Chisago Lakes application.  

Council member David Waldoch told the audience the city applied for the same grant for the 288th Street project and it took three years to get it.  

Mike Francis, who runs Classtique Upholstery along Akerson, thanked the council for fixing the street. 

Council member Krueger said the council should take heed of what the residents are saying  and that there are no sidewalks at this time.  Mayor Chartrand echoed Krueger’s statement.

In the assessment hearing that followed, no residents spoke. Bachmeier gave a presentation showing the total cost of the projects at $2,780,035.  The city will absorb 87 percent of the cost using city funds and money from the Minnesota Gas Tax.  Assessments for 295th Street would come to $107,937 for curb and gutter and $174,941 for sidewalks.  Curb and gutter assessments for Akerson would be $72,875.  Bachmeier told the council average assessment for 295th Street would run from $2,500-$3,000 for curb and gutter and $5,000-$8,000 for sidewalks.  Akerson assessments for curb and gutter will range from $2,000-$18,000.  The larger assessment would be for Plastic Products due to the linear footage along Akerson. Bachmeier pointed out residents can elect to pay off over 10 years at an interest rate of four percent.

Council member Mike Hilber then made a motion to accept the assessment roll for curb and gutter for Akerson which passed 4-0.  Council member Waldoch then made a motion to accept assessments for curb and gutter for 295th Street which also passed unanimously.  Waldoch then made a motion to accept assessments for a sidewalk along 295th Street which failed by a 1-3 vote with Waldoch being the lone yes vote. Mayor Chartrand then clarified to the audience that a sidewalk will not be going in on 295th street.

The council then decided to wait for voting on the ordering of the project until next month when a full council is present.

Council then passed a resolution approving Municipal State Aid (gas tax) advance of $961,595 for the project. 

Council then passed a resolution of support for the city’s application for an Active Transportation grant that will be used towards the flashing beacons on the Highway crosswalk project on Park and Maple streets.  Estimated cost of the project is $201,300.  The grant has up to $50,000 available to municipalities and is awarded due to need.

Maintenance supervisor Matt Fraley then asked the council for permission to close out the Lindstrom Senior Living project. The business has been open for over three years and Fraley said the company has met all of their requirements.  Council agreed unanimously to close the project.

Council then approved the appointments of the official newspaper - Chisago County Press, official depository - First Resource Bank, City attorney - Campbell Knutson (Soren Mattick), city planner  - Hoisington Koegler Group and city engineer Bolton and Menk.

The council then agreed to amend a restaurant liquor license ordinance to obtain a liquor license in Lindstrom, one must operate a restaurant with a full kitchen. City administrator Dan Undem told the council this ordinance hinders the city from attracting business that would like to serve liquor without being a full-scale restaurant.  The minimum seating requirement will remain at 30 interior seats.  Council voted unanimously to approve.  

Undem then told the council the city has an agreement with concert promoter Woody McBride to take over the Harmony in the Parks scheduling.  Rusty Johnson had been at the position for years and recently stepped down from that role.  Council agreed on the contract that will pay McBride $10,700.  The cost does not include fees paid to bands.  Johnson has agreed to stay on as a fundraiser for the event.

Council adjourned at 9:12 p.m.  

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