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Lindstrom City Council met May 21 for a regular meeting.  Council member David Waldoch was absent.

The meeting opened with resident Kathy Kirvida speaking on behalf of the Chisago Lakes Foundation.  Kirvida gave a brief history of the foundation which is now 17 years old.  Kirvida said the foundation has given away over $170,000 in grants over the years.  The foundation is now offering a large-scale grant of up to $12,000 for a non-profit or 501c3 that would like to do something to improve the quality of life in Chisago Lakes.  Kirvida noted that if a group is not a non-profit, they can certainly partner with one.   Application window for grant application is August 1 thru September.

Gus Gulbranson of Northwest Camera Repair then spoke to the council about a June 21 celebration the downtown business group is working on.  The celebration will go hand in hand with the city’s unveiling of the new mural to be painted on the side of the liquor store and the steam starting on the city coffee pot/water tower.

Gulbranson told the council there will be vendor booths, kids activities at local churches, bands including an ABBA tribute band, food trucks, a dunk tank and potentially a beer garden. Stephanie Ross of Farmers Insurance, who was there with Gulbranson, told the council the event will also hold a GOAT contest.  The city has agreed to incorporate a goat design in the rebranding theme of downtown Lindstrom and the contest would tie the term in with four local people who represent Lindstrom with integrity.  The four candidates will be voted on at local businesses for two weeks prior to the event.  The four GOAT nominees are Donna Lunde, Gary Gerke, Karla Norelius and Bill Mack. Council thanked them for updating them on all of the festivities and expressed their excitement surrounding the day.

Brad Klatt then spoke to the council about the same event.  Klatt, who is a part owner of the Uncommon Loon, told the council the state has a statute that says breweries that produce under 3,500 barrels of beer per year may be allowed to serve as vendors for events. Klatt said the statute reads they can serve as a vendor 12 times per year and up to four days per time.  He told the council he would like to hold a small beer garden for the June 21 event in the Bean Counters Accounting parking lot.  The area would be fenced, patrons would be required to be banded and there would be no leaving the garden with alcohol.  

Klatt applied with the city and provided all the necessary paperwork he said.  He was asking the council if they could waive the required police officer due to the cost of $70 per hour.  Klatt told the council he would have to sell 200 beers just to pay for the officer.  After much discussion the council agreed that having an officer was city policy and urged Klatt to find sponsorship to help pay for an officer.  Klatt then told the council he was not looking for charity and pulled his request.

Council then asked Lakes Area Police Chief Bill Schlumbohm if he has been contacted about the June 21 event, Schlumbohm said he has not heard anything about the event and at this time he has no officers specially scheduled.

Tyler See from Abdo then presented the council with the 2024 audit.  See said the city had no compliance issues.  He told the council the city is sitting at 36 percent fund balance.  Lindstrom had always maintained a goal of 45 percent until the last council agreed to lower the goal to 40 percent of annual expenditures.  The city finished the year with a general fund balance of $1,310,941 up $58,669 from budgeted amounts of $1,252,272. See noted the capital project fund balance rose considerably in 2024 with the completion of the fire hall. 

The off sale liquor sales showed marked improvements which See noted were due to the city putting a freeze on the lease to help right the books.  Council member Brian Norelius asked See if the audit can show no rent being paid to be transparent with the community.  "If we are losing money at the liquor store, the residents should know that" he added. See said he would alter his final submission to show that.

The council then agreed on a motion by council member Greg Krueger to make June 21 officially Marlene Smith Day.  The family will be presented with the proclamation during the mural ceremony.

Council then agreed to sign the 2025 fire agreement with Chisago Lake Township.  The agreement will be for three years. The past agreements have been for 10 years each time.  Each year is a calculation of calls and percentages split between the city and the township.  For 2025, the township will be billed $129,798.

City administrator Dan Undem then notified the council the city did not secure a grant for flashing crosswalk beacons.  Undem told the council there were at least 20 other projects that got selected before Lindstrom.  Undem told the council the cost of the beacons if they decide to use the road fund would run close to $130,000.  Council agreed to purchase the beacons and hire Collins Electric for installation unanimously.

Council then agreed the June 18 meeting will be held at the site of the Chisago Lakes Chamber due to Harmony in the Park taking place at city hall grounds that evening.

The council then discussed the mural planned for the west side of the liquor store wall between the store and the bakery.  Mayor Chartrand said the city has received 182 suggestions for the mural.  The mural will be 15 feet high and 60 feet long.  It is planned to be completed for the June 21 event.  The council was presented three options for the mural before deciding on the one, pictured below.

City engineer Brian Bachmeier told the council work has begun on the Park Street parking lot project and everything is on schedule.  Undem told the council the bistro tables are on backorder and he has been unable to locate other tables from a different supplier.

The council was then told local metal sculpture company Unruly Acres has offered to make a free 12 foot high Dala Horse,  The council agreed to talk about potential locations at a future meeting.

Council adjourned at 9:30pm  

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