4/4/2009 10:55:00 AM Packed house busies council agenda
STUDENTS STEPPING UP. Four Big Lake students announced a benefit concert planned for May 8th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. to raise awareness of teen suicide and depression. L to R: Michael Adams, Sabrina Feister, Morgan Whitacre and Sam Mason. (Photo by Bill Morgan)
By Bill Morgan, Staff Writer
The City of Big Lake held their monthly city council meeting Wednesday and dealt with an issue unplanned and not on the agenda.
Not enough seating.
It was a packed house as over 30 people showed up to hear the issues related to the Big Lake/Becker Ice Arena, a subdivision addition, liquor store restructuring, workshop discussion recap, a status report on city projects from the city engineer and a proclamation recognizing the legacy of a great man.
Council Workshop
City Administrator Scott Johnson gave a rundown of the items discussed at the city's March 18 workshop meeting. Some of the items highlighted were an encroachment issue regarding the thrift store property, an update on the 2010 budget, a request to start up a municipal liquor store satellite from On The Run For The City organization, funding for the BBLIA, notification to residents of an upcoming Metropolitan Council public hearing, and proposed Hwy. 10/25 intersection improvements.
Habitat for Humanity
Mayor Lori Kampa read aloud a proclamation resolution recognizing the life and legacy of Millard D. Fuller and proclaiming the 28th of March to be Habitat for Humanity Day in the City of Big Lake.
Fuller was a father of four and a husband who, along with his family re-evaluated his priorities and sold all his possessions to give the money to the poor. At that time he began searching for a new purpose in his life.
Fuller eventually created the independent organization called Habitat for Humanity which he and his wife devoted their time and energy to for over 29 years. Fuller strived to eliminate poverty housing and crusaded to make decent shelter available to all.
Fuller died Feb. 3.
The City of Big Lake has scheduled a kick-off at Saron Lutheran Church, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to announce the construction project of their first Habitat for Humanity home built in Big Lake.
Ice Arena Project
Kent Vickerman of the BBLIA discussed a grant application to be submitted to the Sherburne County Landfill Abatement Legacy Grant Program for the proposed Big Lake Ice Arena. The grant money would be used for building the Big Lake ice arena in the Big Lake MarketPlace property.
The funds available to the city of Big Lake is approximately $830,000, but Vickerman noted the application needs to be submitted to the county by April 27 to be eligible.
Bauer Addition
Senior Planner Katie Larsen requested the city approve a resolution to combine three lots into one to create one residential lot. The purpose is to provide for single family redevelopment located primarily within the Shoreland Management area adjacent to Big, Mitchell and Keller Lakes.
The city is informed by Larsen that the simple subdivision plat conforms to the requirements of the zoning and subdivision ordinance and is consistent with the comprehensive plan. It was also noted the impervious surface limits shall not exceed 25% unless a CUP is applied for and approved and that a grading plan addressing erosion control was submitted along with the building permit.
Larsen this time asked council to consider amending an ordinance to chapter 10 of the Big Lake city code regarding Shoreland Overlay District impervious surface limits and then to consider a resolution approving the summary publication of the ordinance amending chapter 10.
She also noted the planning commission held a public hearing to consider this amendment and that no public comments were received regarding the proposed provisions.
Liquor Store
Manager Jan Kostrzewski asked council to consider her resolution to a request to restructure the staff at the store.
Kostrzewski first recommended to schedule Assistant Manager MaryLou Wright to the night shift, working the hours of 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. That would mean that night Supervisor Patrick Zdunich would be laid off from his position, then offered a part-time position as a liquor clerk.
Kostrzewski is also looking at staffing levels for part-time help and have cut back on electric usage for signs. She says she will continue to look into other cost-saving, revenue-generating options.
Laptops for Council
Johnson asked council to approve the ordering of seven laptop computers for use by the city council, planning commission and BLEDA meetings to help reduce future copying costs for the city.
The total cost to the city for the equipment would be $5,100, based on information they received from DataSuccess.
Johnson noted the city generates approximately 7750 copies per month for council meetings, workshops, EDA meetings and planning commission meetings. To eliminate the need for having printed copies, the city could save approximately $5,195.54 annually.
City Project Report
Jared Voge from Bolten Menk, filled in for City Engineer Brad DeWolf and gave a run-down of the city's numerous projects.
He highlighted the Co. Rd. 43 interceptor improvements and said the project will be completed this spring. He mentioned the locomotives for the Northstar Commuter Rail were currently at the Maintenance Facility and the coach cars are anticipated to be delivered to the station by May.
Voge talked about the Hwy. 10/Co. Rd. 5 intersection and said all the remaining work - which includes concrete work for sidewalks and medians - should be completed in the early spring. He said the contractor for Well #7 anticipates completing the raw watermain installation in April. Appraisals for Hwy.
10/Hwy. 25 intersection improvements are to be completed by the end of March. And, they are currently preparing preliminary plans for the installation of a signal system at the intersection of 168th St. and Hwy. 10.
List of Claims
Finance Director Corey Boyer presented the list of claims which was voted on and approved. One payment due to AutoStop for the amount of $3054.42 was pulled for consideration and approved by council. The total is an amount for services rendered by AutoStop for work done on eight Big Lake Police vehicles.
Benefit Concert
The Big Lake Student Council would like to sponsor a benefit concert benefitting To Write Love on Her Arms and the Big Lake Food Shelf. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit organization that raises awareness for teen depression and suicide.
"We are inviting the public and want to have the benefit at the fire dept. versus the school because it is a more controlled environment," said Mason. "Plus, we feel we could get more people there rather than the school."
They feel the public would be more open to the idea if it were held at the fire dept. and would give them the best possible way to raise money for the cause.
"We do have a speaker coming to talk about teen suicide and depression," said Mason.
They also have scheduled three bands, More Like the Movies, The FastTrack and Push Play, and one DJ for the event. It's an all age acoustic show with a 20% proceed from the event going to the food shelf.
The event is scheduled for May 8, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. School teachers, parents, two Big Lake reserve officers and two Sherburne County sheriff reserves will act as chaperones.
