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Lindstrom City Council met May 20 for a regular meeting.  All members were present.  

The council began the meeting with open forum with two representatives from the Chisago County Senior Center.  The Senior Center asks yearly for contributions from municipalities in Chisago County.  Council approved a $400 donation to the center unanimously.  

Karen Tenerowicz, who runs the flower shop in Lindstrom then told the council she has created a new website dedicated to downtown Lindstrom.  The website “Lindstrombythelake.com” features Lindstrom businesses as well as maps of downtown.  Tenerowicz said the website is free and businesses can pay a $20 subscription that would allow them to post weekly, daily and monthly specials.  

Council next heard from Tyler See from Abdo and Associates.  Abdo does the auditing for the city and See was presenting his annual report.

See said there were no glaring errors or areas of non-compliance with Lindstrom.  See pointed out that Lindstrom’s General Fund unassigned had increased to 48.3 percent.  The last few years the city had been hovering in the mid 30 percent for the fund.  It is recommended that a municipality keep a 40 percent fund balance which Lindstrom has exceeded by eight percent.  See said the General Fund budget to actual comparison came back favorably with an overall increase of $237,000.

See told council Lindstrom finished in a good position among comparable cities with similar populations.

Mayor Judy Chartrand thanked See and proceeded to thank City Administrator Dan Undem for his hard work correcting the city’s financial stance.

City planner Kendra Ellner next addressed the council about a variance at 27925 Lakelawn Drive.  The owners are looking to build a new home on a lot that currently holds a cabin.  The owners are asking to keep the existing structure and construct a new one on the same property.  The variance is due to the new home combined with the existing will push the property over allowed impervious surface coverage by three percent.  

The planning commission has approved the application and also approved a second application for a second well on the property.  

Council agreed to the variance with the stipulation if the second well can not be installed the existing cabin may not be inhabited.

Ellner’s associate Carolyn Shumaker next discussed another variance request from the owners of 29990 Norelius Drive. The applicant is requesting variances to reduce

the required front yard setback for accessory structures from 35 feet to 16 feet to build a new detached garage, exceeding the 25 percent impervious surface threshold at 25.23 percent.  Council approved the request unanimously.

Council also passed a variance for 30075 Norway Drive for the construction of a new home on a non-conforming lot.  With the new home, the impervious surface coverage would be at 30 percent, but Ellner pointed out the homeowners agree to pervious driveway and sidewalks which would bring the number closer to the Lindstrom threshold.

Ellner told the council a resident at 12492 Mentzer Trail has applied for a stone retaining wall along the lake and also for a driveway.  The homeowner has agreed to utilize pervious pavers as well as a catch basin.  Council passed the variance with council member Brian Norelius abstaining due to owning the abutting property.

New maintenance supervisor Payton Hills told the council he crunched the numbers and it would benefit the city to hire Top Notch Fence to install the newly powdercoated cemetery fencing.  Hills reminded the council the city had allotted $25,000 for the installation and Top Notch’s quote was for $15,000.  Council agreed to hire Top Notch which will install the fence next week.

Council then approved Brian Bachmeier of Bolton Menk for construction management services associated with the downtown parking lot resurfacing/striping and crosswalk rapid flashing project not to exceed $40,000.

Council also agreed on construction management services associated with the Olinda Trail North mill/overlay project not to exceed $31,000.

Council then discussed the installation and land agreement with the Chisago County Press of a brass bust of Vilhelm Moberg.  The bust will reside on a stone pedestal located in front of the existing Karl and Kristina statues.  Council member Mike Hilber suggested as a “good will gesture”,  the city maintenance department clean up the depleted area around the statues.  Council approved of the land use agreement.

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