City Engineer Brian Malm asked the Lanesboro City Council to approve two resolutions at their June 5 meeting. The first resolution was regarding improvements to Park Road, which is in desperate need of repair. Because of property lines, the project costs would be shared with Lanesboro Public Schools. Malm and the City of Lanesboro have been working together with the school administration to move things forward. The total cost of the project is estimated at $306,000, with the city covering approximately $192,000 of that. The school would be responsible for the remaining costs. The council passed a resolution receiving the report from Malm and setting the date for the public hearing for the July city council meeting. The project will be completed towards the end of the summer.
The second resolution covered the proposed improvements to the Pleasant and Sheridan alley. The sanitary sewer needs to be replaced and new pavement installed. The project would include the addition of some curb and gutter on the east side of the alley. As many of the properties lining the alley also face one or two streets, Malm recommended only assessing the homeowners for the cost of the sewer and reserving the right to assess them with regular rates for any future repairs or improvements to the streets. A resident of one of the properties asked the council to clarify that the new sewer line will not be moved from where the current one runs. He was concerned that anyone who had a bathroom in their basement would need to install a sump pump or lift station if the line was moved. Malm assured him that there was no intent to move it up.
The council passed the resolution accepting the report and scheduling a public hearing to be held at the July city council meeting. The Pleasant and Sheridan alley project will run on the same schedule as the Park Road project, meaning that it would also be completed this summer.
The council approved ordinance 70.43 which designates a portion of Elmwood Street as a one-way.
City Financial Advisor Mike Bubany from David Drown Associates reviewed the three bids received for the issuance and sale of the city’s GO Bonds.
“It’s a solid investment,” he noted. The council approved the bid from Northland Security.
Public Works Director Andy Drake informed the council that work had started on the walking bridge earlier that day. He is hoping to have it completed by the end of the week.
The Park Board re-installed the drinking fountain that used to sit by the gazebo in the park, but in a slightly different location near the gazebo.
Councilmember Tom Smith gave the Public Utilities report. They are currently in contact with Verizon Wireless. The company would like to put up three booster towers in town to resolve some of the data issues that area residents have. There will be more information on the proposal at a later date.
Lanesboro resident Ron Amdahl requested that the city remove the brush piles left on his parents’ property after they redid the adjacent road, North Valley Drive. The road project was completed sometime in 2011 and at the time, he agreed to temporarily let the city leave the brush piles there. As it has been six years, he would like them cleared out, and the council agreed that it was time to do so. Amdahl also asked that the city replace the approximately 300 feet of fence line that was removed during the road project. A motion was passed agreeing to remove the brush piles and replace the fence.
The city has entertained the possibility of allowing residents and visitors to pay utility bills, camping fees, etc with credit cards, but due to credit card fees, it was not deemed cost efficient. City Administrator Michele Peterson informed the council that she had found a company that works with other cities that might be a good fit for Lanesboro. Rather than charging the credit card fees to the city, they would instead be directed to the person paying. The minimal fee would be fully disclosed to anyone who chooses to pay by credit card. The council tabled the matter until City Attorney Thomas Manion can review the contract with the company.
The next Lanesboro City Council meeting will be held on July 3 at 5:30 p.m.