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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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| 7/15/2010 9:48:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Council sees Center City Cty. Rd. 9 project plans, drainage street work bill paid and information shared about parks board memorial bench program
BY COLLEEN KASTANEK
Correspondent
All council members were present for Center City's July 6 meeting Norma Anderson, who has previously served as Center City's clerk, stepped in as clerk for the meeting and has been working while City Clerk Terrie Trudeau is on vacation.
One item on the consent agenda raised questions. Council member Mark Wolcott brought a $1,214.29 check on the fire department's claims list to the council's attention as being inordinately high. The council members punched some numbers, and the amount to Frontier for communication services appears to be a typographical error. Assuming such, the council unanimously approved the claims list within the consent agenda, pending verification of the correct amount for the phone/Internet bill with the city clerk, when she returns from vacation.
County Engineer Joe Triplett reported on the CSAH 9 construction project. Planning the 10-ton road reconstruction "had lots of good public involvement," he said, adding that the resulting plan is in keeping with Center City's character and historic and scenic preservation objectives. For example, the capped sandstone retaining wall was selected to coordinate with the church. The plans can be viewed at the county website, http://www.co.chisago.mn.us. Addressing lake water quality, Triplett commented that the boulevard maintains pervious area and the new road will have only slightly more impervious area than the old road. Mayor Jill Behnke added that she is confident that the city will receive storm water management project grants.
Under that agenda item Council member Will Pennings made a motion to video scope the First, Second and Lake Street sewer lines (Courthouse Loop) and start a maintenance schedule to coincide with CSAH 9 construction. The council assumed that the Minnesota Rural Water Association would provide the best price, but city staff was directed to contact a local sewer service to get a second quote. A second motion and vote on this topic put a $1,500 cap on the work.
The council unanimously approved partial pay estimate #9 for utility extension construction to the county site for $29,115. Although City Engineer Les Mateffy was absent Tuesday evening, paperwork he submitted for the council packet states that the project is 95.7 percent complete.
Council members wondered if the final payment for the Busch Avenue drainage improvement, approved last month, had been contested. Mayor Behnke stated that as far as she knows, City Hall has received no correspondence from the company that did the work, Wild River Contracting. The council also wanted to know if the improved area is draining correctly. Council members who have driven past the site during the substantial rains of the past few weeks reported that the it is draining well. Wolcott added that he checked Busch Avenue after Center City received four inches of rain on Sunday and noted minimal water standing in the area. City Attorney Peter Grundhoefer's quip, "No one is at the meeting tonight," drew a hearty laugh.
The council approved a change order for the contract with Second Generation Builders to reroof City Hall. Mayor Behnke reported that the company recommended "additional supports to prevent problems down the road," at the cost of $400. Behnke said, "I cannot see spending the amount of money we are investing in this (last month the council awarded the contract to Second Generation for $23,500) and not doing this correctly." The council unanimously approved council member Lloyd Vetter's motion for the change order not to exceed $400.
There was good news and bad news for the council regarding the city's ongoing grant applications. Center City was reapproved for the Community Growth Options Grant. The $12,000 will allow the city to continue updating its ordinances. On the other hand, state budget cuts to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency funds that finance the Stormwater Environmental Assistance Grants have resulted in those grants being closed for this year.
The council made a tough decision holding the pay for the election judges to $8 per hour. The council reviewed the city clerk's findings that the pay rate for judges in cities under 1,000 residents ranges from $8 to $11 per hour. The letter included a request for a fifty-cent increase. By motion and vote, the council unanimously decided, considering budgetary constraints, to deny the increase for this election. Pennings asked that city staff send a respectful letter explaining the decision to the judges.
A brief recap of Center City Days concluded that, despite the rainy weather, the event was successful. Interest in the craft show and car show picked up this year. Two park benches have been purchased and installed under the Parks Committee Memorial Giving Program. The Historical Society spearheaded a community fundraiser to purchase a bench dedicated to the memory of Lloyd Hackl who actively researched and recorded area history. The plaque on the bench in Water Tower Park reads, "In honor of Lloyd Hackl a friend of Center City." The Kapell family dedicated a bench to Leslie's mother. The bench adjacent to the bike path overlooking North Center Lake, is in memory of Emily Jansen Hamilton, whose favorite movie was "Grumpy Old Men," filmed in Center City. The Parks Committee Memorial Giving Program offers many possibilities for personalizing memorial gifts, including, but not limited to equipment and plant material purchases. Details of the program are on the city website. Contact City Hall and a Parks Committee member will assist you in a meaningful memorial to a person or event.
The council unanimously approved Kelly Harris' request to serve on the Heritage Preservation Committee.
Upcoming
• Summit Avenue Road Project meeting is August 25, at 5 p.m.
• August meeting rescheduled to Wednesday August 4 at 7 p.m.
• EDA precedes the monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m.
• Water and Sewer bill delinquency hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. during the August meeting
Center City will be actively participating in National Night Out on August 3. The Chisago County Sheriff's Department will be conducting a K-9 demonstration. The time and location will be announced closer to the event.
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