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Lindstrom City Council met July 17 for a regular meeting. All members were present.  

In the open forum, Lake Improvement District Administrator Ben Elfelt spoke to the council.  Elfelt was there to update the council on the channel that connects North Lindstrom and North Center Lakes.  Elfelt said the channel improvement is closer than ever  with a few significant hurdles in the near future including costs and DNR permitting.  “We can not make the channel deeper” Elfelt told council, “We can widen it and that’s the plan right now”.  Elfelt told the council that to widen to 30 feet would require the acquisition of property along both sides of the channel on North Center Lake.  Elfelt said the LID has put aside money this year to address the project.  When asked what the cost of the project would be, Elfelt told the council they would not know until all of the modeling and the scope is completed.  Elfelt said they hope to acquire an easement on both sides of North Center’s portion.  

Elfelt was at the meeting hoping for written support of the project which the council agreed to.  

Talk then moved to the potential locations for a donated 12 foot high dala horse from Unruly Acres. Maintenance supervisor Matt Fraley told the council the base will need to be engineer designed and will cost around $3,500.  The horse will require a six foot wide by 12 feet long concrete pad.  Council discussed a few sites for the horse including a city owned property adjacent to Nick and Drews Discount Foods and another at the empty Oak Street lot the city owns.  The council ended the conversation with the intention of looking more into the Oak Street lot across from Domino’s Pizza.

Fraley then told the council he has been asked by downtown business owners about removing the planter beds along Highway 8 that were installed when the split pairs were constructed.  Fraley said businesses have told the city the plants impede foot traffic from automobiles and are also a hindrance to the maintenance staff when plowing.  Fraley proposed leaving a four foot by four foot opening around boulevard trees and concreting the remaining open areas.  Fraley said the city has been working with local artist Ian Dudley in creating bronze goat footprints that would be set in the new concrete.  Fraley told the council the concrete work is in the budget and the city would only replace planters from Virga Chiropractic to the Lindstrom Antique Mall this year.  There are 30 total planters downtown.  

Council approved the planter work by a vote of 3-2 with council members David Waldoch and Brian Norelius voting against.

City Administrator Dan Undem then gave an overview of the Lindstrom EDA.  Undem shared numbers on where EDA money is spent.  The budget is close to $100,000 of which 26 percent is wages, 40 percent is debt service, 19 percent is operations, and 15 percent is property hold costs.  The city currently has three properties in the debt service: Cable House $19,339, Panel 1 building $10,000 and the Holmquist building $16,000, which has been razed. 

Undem explained if the city is ok with remaining where it is right now with minimal growth the budget can remain  the same.  But if the council would like to see more competitive growth the city should seek ways to increase the EDA budget.  Council member Norelius said he would be in favor of increasing the levy to add EDA funds.  Undem pointed out the max the EDA can have is $133,000. Undem also added that if the council agreed to increase the levy it would go up from 9 to 12 percent.  Mayor Judy Chartrand told the council she would like to see the Cable house sold.  The home is zoned B1 commercial and she believes a commercial business would have interest in purchasing the home.  

Council agreed to discuss more at future meetings.

Council then directed Fraley and maintenance to continue with tree trimming in downtown.  

Council then was updated on the LAPD future facility.  Undem said analysis is still being weighed as far as a new build vs a potential remodel of city hall.  Norelius said the group has been working diligently on the project and to “bear with us as we are working through this. We want what’s best for our police,” he added.

Undem then gave kudos to Peterson Companies for finishing the Park Street Parking Lot project on time. Undem said the cafe tables have been ordered and they are hoping for a fall install.  

City engineer Brian Bachmeier told the council the flashing beacons are due the first week of August with installation the following week.

Council then was notified that the Dinnerbel/Meredee’s site had been sold to the same developer who purchased the OJ Juice building.  Undem said the owner is working on some concepts and will be in contact with the city soon.  

Council member Norelius told the council the liquor store had record sales over the Fourth of July weekend and he feels the new management is starting to turn it around.

Council adjourned at 9:04pm.

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