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The full Chisago City Council Feb. 25 worked its way through an inch-thick stack of  agenda documents. These ranged from revised personnel policies and lawn mowing contracts, to a new massage therapy ordinance, a gas franchise fee dilemma, and time-sensitive plans and advertising for bids for the Old Towne Road Trail Extension Project.

City Engineer Nate Stanley of Bolton & Menk presented details on the Old Towne Trail Extension, seeking plan approval. He explained that Chisago City has an existing trail on the east side of Old Towne Road. The city had plans to extend the trail to Ojiketa Regional Park and beyond, with the help of a $250,000 regional trail connection grant. A variety of factors, historic preservation issues that have resulted in changes to the project. The revisions required review by Chisago County staff (currently underway), and the Department of Natural Resources, which has given its approval. 

“Our backs are up against the wall with the clock ticking—we are up against the grant deadline,” Stanley told the council, explaining the project must be completed this summer.   

Specifications call for the 10-foot-wide trail extension of the existing trail to cross a handful of driveways and the roundabout south of Chisago City.  “We are able to weave the trail around utility poles and existing street lights,” said Stanley. “We’re staying within the county’s right-of-way because we don’t have time to negotiate with property owners and, when it comes to more right-of-way, we don’t really need it.”  

Stanley assured the council that he will confer with property owners whose driveways will be crossed by the trail “well in advance” of the planned construction, which he hopes can begin in May.

The council unanimously approving engineering plans and specifications for the Old Towne Trail Extension and authorized advertising for bids. The total estimated project cost is $443,165 with bids to be opened March 18 and potentially awarded at the March 25 city council meeting. Detailed trail plans and specifications can be viewed at city hall.

Xcel Energy informed the city and new apartment developers that an existing three-inch pressurized gas main running along Highway 8 is inadequate to serve three new apartment buildings being constructed at Sportsmen’s Drive and Highway 8. Extending a new four-inch pressurized gas line from Xcel facilities in Lindstrom west to Chisago City will cost $200,000. 

Xcel projects future gas customers will cover $164,835 of the gas line upgrade. On Feb. 25, City Administrator Pechman received council approval to use $35,165 from Chisago City’s gas franchise fees to pay for the remainder. He said the gas franchise fund currently contains more than $100,000 with $1,000 earmarked for installing LED lights in the public works building. Pechman also stated that as upgrades to other city gas mains are required, they will be extended from the Sportsman’s Drive upgrade.

In other business, the council:

- passed Municipal Code Chapter 210 regulating Therapeutic Massage businesses in Chisago City. Their action ends a moratorium on massage facilities implemented on Oct. 22, 2024. No public comment was received at the required public hearing.

The new ordinance limits massage therapy business hours to 8 a..m. to 9 p.m. on any day of the week, requires massage therapists be licensed and properly attired, and facilities to be locally owned and appropriately advertised. Children under 18 cannot be on the premises of a massage therapy business unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. The ordinance becomes effective upon the date of its publication as required by law.

-  contracted with Paradise Lawn Services and SBC Outdoor Services to mow city parks and public property in 2025 and 2026. The two firms were among four that responded to a request for proposals (RFP) issued by the city in January with a Feb 3 submission deadline.  LawnPro Grounds Maintenance and Ground Force Property Maintenance also submitted proposals. Companies were asked to provide hourly rates for mowing in 2025, 2026, “and possibly 2027” as part of their proposals, which were also to include information on equipment, insurance and other criteria. Administrator Pechman said RFPs were initially sent to five local lawn care companies and then to three more at the request of one of the lawn care company owners. That owner also appeared during the public comment portion of the council meeting to express dissatisfaction with the RFP process. 

The council approved a two-year contract with Paradise Lawn Services to mow the city’s 13 parks and boat landings weekly for 24 weeks between midApril and midOctober each year for $47,430. SBC Lawn Services was contracted for the same time frame to provide weekly mowing of an estimated 25.5 acres of city-owned property across 24 locations for $55,350. The 24 sites include street and highway rights of way, sewer lift stations, and public works and fire department property. These sites have previously been mowed by seasonal employees and public works staff using city equipment.  

Administrator Pechman said the decision to recommend these two lawn care companies was based on how well they met the criteria outlined in the RFP. The contracts include litter removal, trimming and edging as well as lawn mowing at each site.

- entered a 20-year lease agreement with Midco to rent a little over a half acre of city-owned land at 29810 Sportsman Drive for a 15’x18’ building. The agreement allows for two additional 10-year extensions. The MIdco building will serve as a fiber head end for telecommunications services to the community. Midco asked that the property be surveyed and agreed to reimburse the city for the $1,900 survey as well as pay $2,500 a year in rent, $1,550 for lawn care and snow removal, and any increase in real estate taxes resulting from their improvements.

- On the recommendation of Finance Director Cassie Gemuenden approved an extensively edited and updated personnel policy. Revisions are intended to make the city personnel policy more consistent with a recently approved labor agreement for public works and parks maintenance workers who belong to the Local 49ers Union.  

The updated personnel policy allows employees to accumulate more unused sick leave hours and increases days of paid vacation leave allowed annually.This ranges from a base of 10 days vacation in the first two years all the way up to 22 days paid vacation after 15 years. A new policy on employee use of city equipment was also approved.

- authorized Mayor Jeremy Dresel and City Administrator Pechman to sign a resolution accepting the updated countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan was developed over the past 18 months by Chisago County’s emergency management director working in collaboration with all local units of government. Pechman said having this will make Chisago City eligible for Federal Emergency Management Administration disaster relief in the future.

- unanimously approved the Chisago Lakes Hockey Association’s permit to conduct charitable gambling at Clutch Golf, a new bar, restaurant, and golf simulator business opening later this year at 29173 Karmel Ave. 

- approved the Park Commission’s request to reappoint park commissioners Dan Lydon and Bill Mack for four years.

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