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Center City Council met July 7 for a regular meeting.  Council member Sally Swanson was absent.

In an open forum, resident Deb Johnson questioned where the city was at with the relocation of Hursh Ironworks.  Mayor Jill Behnke told the audience they were told Taylors Falls has all the paperwork and is reviewing the plans for Hursh to relocate to Taylors Falls.  Behnke added the next step would be to go before Taylors Falls planning commission and ultimately the council.    City attorney Ted Alliegro told the council he would be monitoring the progression of the potential build and move.

Next Behnke told the council she was made aware of a couple of new grants potentially available to help aid the trailhead of the Swedish Immigrant Trail.

Talk next turned to the failing rain garden/catch basin behind Bayview Apartments.  The HRA and the city received three bids for the project.  Gervais Construction was the low bid of $16,600 for the north basin and $5,900 for the south basin.  Council member Lloyd Vetter told council he thought the city was going to have a meeting with the HRA/EDA and the Soil and Water Conservation District about the project to determine who exactly is responsible for what costs and who is responsible moving forward.  As it stands right now, the city is responsible for 88 percent of the north basin which would come to $14,608.  All members of the council agreed they would like to sit down with the other groups before approving any contract.

In the public works report new maintenance supervisor Jeffery Anderson submitted a list of work completed including a hydrant repair on Per Road, a new meter installed and street sweeping.  Anderson was not present and Behnke told the council the lift station by the Chisago  County Sheriff’s Office was continually running. Behnke eventually got a hold of Nelson Pump and the company informed them bearings wore out on the pump.  A new pump would run anywhere between $8,000 and $10,000.  Behnke said Anderson will meet with Nelson Pump this week to learn options.

Council was told candidate filings will begin July 14 with the mayor seat up for election as well as council members Lloyd Vetter and Garrett Bolineau seats.

Mayor Behnke said the planning commission has met with developer Don Skelley of High Pointe Realty about the old jail site on North Main Street.  He has three public hearings scheduled for public comment, July 20.  The proposal includes four detached homes with attached two stall garages. There are variances sought.  

Council adjourned at 8:37pm.

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