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Several major reports and a couple of predicaments dominated the agenda of Chisago City’s April 22 council meeting, with all council members present. 

The council came to the meeting prepared to consider a variance and design review for Clutch Golf and All Ways Automotive at 29173 Karmel Avenue, but encountered a predicament.

Property owner Shane Banwarth was seeking approval to build additions to his automotive repair business in order to add golf simulators, food and alcohol sales. Following an April 3 public hearing, the planning commission recommenced approval of variances for number of parking stalls, exterior building materials, screening, and setbacks from rear property line and highway right of way. However, , Banwarth came before the council to tell them he’d encountered an unexpected problem. He said he had just learned that the addition, as proposed, is four feet short of  space needed between the screens and the projectors for the golf simulators. Expanding the building to the rear is challenging as the topography is steep.  The council felt Banwarth’s overall concept was sound and would be of benefit. They recommended he work with city staff to resolve the building issue. 

Council member Craig Myer moved to approve the variance contingent “with the ability to adjust the rear portion of the building to stay within the variance requirements to be worked out with city staff.”  The council also approved the design review for Banwarth’s planned building additions.

In other business, the council:

- appointed the law firm of Flaherty and Hood P.A., of St. Paul, as Chisago City’s new legal counsel. The firm  rated highest of the three that responded to the city’s request for proposals (RFPs) by the April 15 deadline. 

Pechman noted the city had prior experience with Flaherty and Hood, which had been hired for contract negotiations with Public Works Local 49. He described their assistance with the new union contract as “invaluable,” adding, “Chris Hood was one of our attorneys so we do have a relationship with him.”

The three attorneys named in the contract are: Christopher M Hood, Robert T. Scott and David Assaf. “They’re going to use a three-headed approach depending on what the issue is, as each of the three attorneys has a little different specialty,” Pechman explained.

- authorized spending $25,500 to improve ADA accessibility at several city park locations and update lighting in Strom Hall at Ojiketa Park. Projects include: $10,000 to replace the walking apron around the Moberg statue at Moberg Park and connect it to sidewalk on Isabel Ave. to provide wheelchair access;  $8,500 to provide a wheelchair accessible asphalt walkway to the fishing pier at Paradise Park, $4,000 to extend an ADA accessible cement sidewalk at the end of Stinson Ave. to the city dock on Little Green Lake, and $3,000 to update lighting in the basement of Strom Hall. Developer paid dedication fees will provide $16,500 of the total cost and Gas Franchise fees $9,000. Pechman reported the Gas Franchise fund has a balance of over $75,000 and the Park Dedication fund $300,000.

- heard a report from Chisago County Engineer Joe Triplett updating them on the Highway 8 Construction Project. He said they were hoping to get a finding of no significant environmental impact and then get the project going in 2026-27.  

“There’s plenty of moving parts,” said Triplett. “We’re still moving in the right direction but moving a lot slower than we expected.”

One of MNDOT’s conditions is that the highway can’t be closed during construction which will be challenging at the “pinch points.”  Work will be staged.  “The first year we will be looking at getting local systems in, right of way purchased and trees cleared,” said Triplett. When Council member Mark Anderson asked why there was not a roundabout at Highway 8 and County 23, Triplett said MNDOT doesn’t like multi-lane roundabouts and Highway 8 will become a four-lane highway. Triplett said there will be a roundabout at Karmel. Triplett concluded by telling the council, “If there are any questions, don’t wait to ask. Don’t wait to compile a list.”

- passed a resolution approving the 2024 annual audit provided by Abdo, the city’s certified public accountants. Justin Nilson, CPA, presented the audit by video. The 2024 audit showed city revenues of $3.1 million exceeded expenditures of $3.07 million. General Fund reserves were below budget but consistent with prior years and within the fund balance policy of 35 to 50 percent of expenses annually. Chisago City’s outstanding debt totals $3.45 million. Operating disbursements slightly exceeded operating receipts in the Water Fund. The opposite was true in the Sewer Fund.  

    The good news was that the city’s cash and investments rose to $7.5 million up from $5.7 million in 2023. When it comes to key performance indicators, Chisago City taxes per capita are higher than other cities in the county but consistent with other Class 4 cities across the state. At $627, Chisago City’s debt per capita is lower than other cities in the county and significantly lower than other Class 4 cities in that state. At $643, the expenditures per capita are slightly higher than other cities in the county.

- accepted an analysis of the city’s water system prepared by Engineer Jakob Pichelmann of Bolton & Menk. The extensive analysis examined the city water system from existing wells, storage and distribution systems to predicted future need and recommendations for future improvements. 

The report is intended to be reviewed annually and to serve as the basis for future planning, funding and implementation. Pichelmann said that Chisago City currently pumps 320,000 gallons of water per day and 20 years from now will pump 440,000 gallons a day. As residential and commercial uses continue to grow, existing wells will be inadequate. He recommended that bringing the Liberty Lane well online as a primary well will provide sufficient capacity to support projected demands. 

- approved amendments to Zoning Chapter 6 regarding use of shipping containers for storage on properties mainly in residential districts. Hearing no public comment at an April 3 public hearing, the planning commission recommended approval of the amendment to allow shipping containers and semi-trailers to be used for storage as temporary structures to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and to require an Interim Use Permit if they will be there longer than days.

Three community members spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting:

Mark Legan of 10875 Stinson Ave., who again came to the council to discuss the predicament with his buried curb stop. He thanked maintenance supervisor Jason Lind for helping locate the curb stop, which apparently was buried during street construction.

Lind explained that he used hydrovacing across Legan’s property to find copper. He then traced the copper pipe to the missing curb stop  buried four feet below grade in the grassy portion of Legan’s yard.  

Maintenance Supervisor Lind explained that the State of Minnesota requires property owners provide a readily accessible curb stop that can be closed to protect the municipal water supply in case of an emergency. He also said, “It’s a private service and it’s on private property. Many, many people have done this repair on their own. I did advise him in writing what needs to be done next, which is hire a contractor.” Lind said he didn’t feel authorized to go further.

Legan asked for the city’s help with the cost of hiring a contractor to correct the problem, at an estimated cost of $3,000 to $4,500.

Mayor Dresel told Legan, “Typically we don’t help out (with curb stops), but we did help out here. The hydrovacing bill was very large.” Council Member Marie Rivers also felt that the city had done its fair share to help resolve Legan’s problem. No further action was taken.

A representative of the Unexpected Company choral group came forward to invite the council to its upcoming “Bon Voyage” concerts, 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, at Chisago Lakes High School Performing Arts Center, in Lindstrom, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at Chisago Lake Lutheran Church, Center City. The concerts are in preparation for the group’s concert tour to Sweden, departing May 8. The choir member said one purpose of the trip is to “rejuvenate” relations between the local communities and their sister cities in Sweden,” which includes Chisago City’s sister city Algutsboda. “We hosted them while they were here, and they are hosting us when we go to Sweden,” the spokesman said. Administrator John Pechman confirmed that Chisago City had some T-shirts ready to send with the choir for gifts.

    Noel Stensrud of the Chisago Lakes Area Community Foundation announced that the Foundation this year will again offer a “Big Idea” grant up to $12,000.. The grant competition is open to non-profits, and individuals and business groups with a qualifying fiscal sponsor. She said projects should be: innovative, enhance quality of life, leave a lasting impact, build community pride, strengthen community connections, enrich lives of residents and fill an unmet need. Applications will be accepted from Aug.1 through midnight Sept. 15 with details available at scvfoundation.org/chisagolakesareacf.

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