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by DENISE MARTIN
The cleanup of the burnt-out Springs Inn property in Taylors Falls took a step forward this week— when city council members learned the city zoning administrator and pollution control officials are cooperating on abatement of the site, and there are cleanup contractors who are interested. The process is going as well as might be expected.
A spokesperson at the state fire marshal’s office told the Press the February fire’s cause is not determined and the case remains open.
Taylors Falls Zoning Administrator Elizabeth Haas explained at this week’s council meeting the property owner did not outright decline to fund the cleanup, however the city is following a state authorized process allowing Taylors Falls to do the work and assess costs of cleanup as a lien on property tax, if necessary.
The tests done on the debris pile are clear of asbestos so far, Haas explained. The cleanup quotes the city is receiving, in consultation with the MNPCA, are addressing hazardous and non-hazardous abatement measures.
The next step is a court hearing where the city would be granted legal permission to move ahead with work on the private property. The court date is not on the schedule yet. Meanwhile the owner will continue to be communicated with.
The city council was cautioned the site will require more attention or ‘stabilization’ once the remains of the motel are gone, so this upcoming removal phase is a start.
Council met an hour earlier than regular council meeting time, to go over a proposal from consultants Mike Darrow and Todd Streeter to stay engaged in a community “strategic planning” process. The outline for a community action plan was developed in a public meeting and tasks and projects were identified by citizens and business owners, the consultants explained. Their next step is to implement the “easy wins” as they were described.
Streeter will tackle the city website which he said does not comply with Disabilities Act standards. The city comprehensive plan needs to be updated as well. Other tasks the consultants were hired to provide were more opaque, such as developing “people power” and creating consideration of the city as a year-round destination, and better definition of the city identity. They offered to create a new logo minus the Devil’s Chair and coordinate signage and “branding” as well.
The mayor suggested a logo contest with entries from the public and see how that goes. There were two members of the city Economic Development Commission in the audience who volunteered to work on this.
The two men were unanimously contracted for $2,600 per month —for part time hours, in an agreement for a year— that can be cancelled month-to month.
In action revising the city cannabis ordinances, council aligned the text with newer state actions. Zoning Administrator Haas reminded council when the rules were adopted it was. understood updates would be needed. The no manufacturing clause was changed to allow “light” manufacturing like the making of lotions or tinctures, etc out of cannabis. The council also tightened business exterior standards so security and other equipment are not visible to the passer-by.

Lynn Longnecker gave a Wannigan Days report. The celebration is in July over the weekend of 18,19 and 20 and is coming together nicely. Expenses are up somewhat, so Longnecker welcomed any and all donations.
No kiddie parade is scheduled for this year due to lack of past participation.
The tug-of-war event is returning to Lions Park, but it won’t span the riverway. It will be at 3 p.m. Saturday if you are interested in forming a 10-person team. Currently there are officials from St Croix Falls and Taylors Falls signed up, the high school football teams and probably firefighters will be there.
More details will be announced closer to the events.

Buyers of a property west of town off County Road 37 were granted a waiver of connection fees for city sewer and water. Fees are $2,750 and $2,500. The council was advised this issue has been on the city radar for about two years and there has been no one entity the buyers can hold accountable for the utility hook-up stubs NOT being installed, years ago when the service lines were extended. Findings supporting allowing the fees to be waived included “unintentional’ erroneous information on the availability of sewer and water on the city’s part.

In a rather archaic requirement (which staff and council agreed they will eliminate as soon as possible), council unanimously approved Classic Construction Inc. to be a sanctioned contractor inside the city.
This complies with a policy calling for this designation which Zoning Administrator Haas suggested can be eliminated.
~ The elementary school playground will be unlocked for enjoyment this summer, from 3 to 8 p.m. Kevin and Carol Schumann at the church across the street, have agreed to provide the opening and closing of the access. The school district secured the playground years ago during a time of intense vandalism.

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