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Lindstrom City Council met September 16 for a regular meeting.  Council member Greg Krueger  and Brian Norelius attended virtually.

The meeting began with Mayor Chartrand praising the Lindstrom Fire Department for voluntarily attending a block party for Pleasant Street recently.

Council next heard from Jessi Sturtz of Abdo and Associates.  Sturtz gave a brief rundown of the city finances and the proposed 2027 Levy.  Levy pointed out the general levy will decrease by 22.73 percent due to transfers to the capital  funds.  The proposed Levy for 2027 is $4,176,628 up 4.99 percent from 2026.  Key expenditure spendings for 2027 will be city administration increase, planning fee increases and an increase of $38,121 to the Lakes Area Police contract.

Sturtz pointed out the increase on a home valued at $100,000 would be $14, while a $200,000 home’s taxes would increase by $40.  A $300,000 home’s taxes would go up $67 and a $400,000 would increase by $93 per year.

A $500,000 commercial building would see an increase of $219 per year.

Council member David Waldoch made a motion to accept the preliminary Levy of $4,176,628 which passed unanimously.

City Administrator Dan Undem next spoke on behalf of Brian Bachmeier of Bolten and Menk, the city engineering firm.  Undem told council North Valley Inc. is seeking the first payment for the North Olinda Trail road project.  The cost of the first payment is $116,776.20.  Council passed unanimously and praised North Valley for their speedy work.

Undem next asked council for direction in regards to the 12215 Lake Lane property the city owns. Currently the area is owned by the city and is unoccupied.  The city has had discussions in the past as have the EDA in potentially developing the old Elm Estates property owned by the Meehan family and include the properties owned by Grams, Dufresnes and Caroline Norelius.  

Council member Mike Hilber stated the home has been sitting for eight years and would like to see it off the tax roll. 

Council member Greg Krueger who sits on the EDA said they have discussed the property and are ok selling it either as commercial or residential.  

Council member Brian Norelius told council that his mother Caroline has decided to sell her 2.3 acre lot if the city has plans for a development.  Norelius told council he would really like to see the entire plot of land used for a feature development that would be a potential springboard for future developments in the city.  

The city has not spoken with a commercial realtor to get an estimate what the entire property could be valued at, and after much discussion, council agreed to table for 30 days  while seeking out the counsel of a commercial realtor.

Council discussed a reduction of city street speed limits to 25 miles per hour.  Currently the speed limit is 30 mph.  Administrator Undem told council the city took a poll during Karl Oskar Days and 64 percent were in favor of the reduction. Undem added many asked if Highway 8 speed limit through downtown could be reduced to 25 mph as well.

Council member David Waldoch told council he thinks Lindstrom would have a tough time with reduced speed limits because surrounding communities are all at 30 mph.  No action was taken but the council agreed to discuss more at a later time.

Council adjourned at 8:24pm.

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