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Lindstrom City Council met September 17 for a regular meeting.  Council member Greg Krueger was absent. 

The council heard from Tim Cryer from Lakes Center For Youth and Families.   Cryer explained how LCYF works with local schools assisting kids that are struggling with issues such as attendance, tardies, and grades.  Cryer told council LCYF assisted 20 Chisago Lakes students last year and the group spent over $35,000 helping students from local schools cover insurance lapses. Cryer thanked Lindstrom for their support in the past and asked for continued support in the future.

In an open forum, resident Ron Gruening spoke to the council about issues at Paradise Hill Park on Pleasant Avenue.  Gruening reminded the council that when there is heavy rain, the park fills with water for two to eight hours after a rain.  He had photos of people fishing in the water and kids playing in the water.  He told the council he has seen kids playing around the culverts and that is a serious danger because the current leaving the park could sweep a child into the culvert.  Council thanked Gruening and promised to look into the culvert situation.

Mike Hursh who sits on the Lindstrom EDA then spoke to the council.  He was there to voice his concern about the property the city owns at 12215 Lake Lane.  The property was discussed in a joint council/EDA meeting a few weeks back.  In the meeting , it was agreed upon to list the home as a commercial property.  The idea being that the old Elm Estates would sell as well as the next door home  and potentially two other residences thus making that large space enticing to a developer. Hursh felt the home could be sold as residential for a larger profit and asked the council to reverse their commercial listing decision.  Hursh made reference to items discussed in the closed meeting and was quickly reprimanded for speaking about the topics in said meeting.  

Later in the meeting, council revisited the discussion about potentially listing the home as a residential property instead of commercial that was agreed upon at the last EDA meeting.  Council member Brain Norelius spoke first saying yes his family did in fact make a bid on the house.  He said he could envision a hallmark property being built on the property of the Elms Estates including the three homes and his three acres adjoining the estates. He told the council his family didn’t care if the city sold to them or not, rather they just wanted to see the city put a nice development in that space.  Norelius then added that after the earlier discussion with EDA member Hursh, their three acre property is no longer for sale.  

He pointed out that when his family made the original offer for the Cable house the EDA could have counter offered, but chose not to.  Norelius told the council he will abstain from any votes on the property.

Council member Mike Hilber told the council he would like to see Hursh resign or be removed from the EDA for discussing a closed meeting publicly.  

Mayor Judy Chartrand told the council she would like to set a meeting up with all four of the property owners to gauge development interest. 

Council decided to keep moving forward with the Cable house as a commercial listing.

Council then proceeded with the regular meeting.  They agreed unanimously to pass the 2026 preliminary levy at $3,978,024.  This represents a 9.78 percent increase.  City finance manager Kay Mattson told the council the large expenditure is for the roads project along with the public safety increase and the EDA funding increasing to $210,000 that was attributed to the 9.78 increase.

Assistant city planner Kendra Ellner then told the council a property owner who has yet to build at the Chisago Lakes Golf Estates is requesting a utility easement vacation and a lot line adjustment.  Council granted the request at Ellner’s recommendation.

Ellner then told council the new homeowners of 29026 Glader Blvd. are requesting a driveway expansion due to the home being on a curve of Glader and thus becoming a safety hazard for anyone attempting to park in front of the home.  The homeowner has also asked permission to remove the prior patio and build a new deck with gravel below. Council had some issues with the home size on a small lot (lot size is 100 feet wide by 92 feet deep).  Ellner informed the council that with the new addition to the driveway (pavers), the deck would leave the lot at 33.7 percent impervious area. Council passed the request unanimously.

Council then discussed city planter beds again.  The maintenance department a while back asked for the current plant and flower beds surrounding trees along the downtown sidewalks be reduced in size to accommodate winter snow clearing.  City administrator Dan Undem told the council city architects Talali agreed to look into how to correct the snow issue. Council member Brian Norelius told the council the city has no data on how the current planter beds are hindering maintenance.  Norelius said “It takes time and energy to make a downtown look good”.

Undem then told the council he would like to see Assistant Liquor store Manager Tom Folske promoted to manager for a six month trial.  “Tom went above and beyond with the transition over the last year plus and we feel he will make a great store manager” Undem said.  Council agreed to hire Folske as manager with a $2.61 cent  per hour raise.

Council then agreed to purchase a new system for up to date pricing as well dual pricing for cash incentive payments.  The new software Folske said will save at least two hours a day.  Folske pointed out the city can discontinue the program at any time.  Council agreed for  purchase of the new system of up to $5,000, unanimously.

Council then heard from resident Adam Hanson.  Hanson works for the U of M and deals with solar energy for the school.  Hanson told the council two grants are available (one state and one federal) that he thought the city may have interest in.  Hanson said he envisioned the new fire hall as a possible location for a solar project.  The state grant would cover 70 percent of the installation costs and the federal grant (if it does not get shut down) would cover the remaining 30 percent, thus leaving the city with very little costs.  If the federal grant is terminated, the cost the city would have to pay would be around 36k of the 120-140k project.  Hanson told the council the savings would break even the costs in six years.  Average savings the city would see Hanson said were around $6363.  

Council gave Hanson the go ahead to apply for the grants.

The meeting adjourned at 10:10pm. 

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