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Crosslake up a tree on nuisance dog issue Crow Wing County will no longer provide services; Crosslake says it's not equipped to handle dogs Senior Reporter CROSSLAKE - How Crosslake will respond to nuisance dogs is now up in the air after Crow Wing County determined it will no longer be providing services to the city.
Police Chief Robert Hartman said he's contacted Crow Wing County Commissioner Paul Thiede on the issue of the dog ordinance. Hartman said the city is not equipped to handle the nuisance dogs.
Council member Steve Roe asked if a business in the area was willing to provide the service but Hartman said no one has indicated an ability at this time to provide what can be an expensive venture in a dog holding facility.
Hartman said an option will be to start at square one and see if the county's ordinance can accept cities as well as townships. In February, the county informed Crosslake that its dog ordinance did not permit service to cities and the service was previously provided to Crosslake because of a clerical error.
In other business, the city:
Approved the fire department's purchase of a portable multi-use tool typically used to extricate victims following auto crashes. Keith Anderson, fire chief, said the department's present tools are more than 20 years old. In December, the fire department responded to a crash involving a firefighter's wife and had a lot of difficulty releasing her from the vehicle, Anderson said.
He said the cutting power on the new tool is five times more powerful and the new tool has many advantages. The council agreed with the purchase, which will cost about $22,455. A Lions Club donation of $15,000 will be earmarked for the tools along with $100 from council member Irene Schultz's family in thanks for the department's response to a medical emergency and $20 from Stanley and Arvilla Johnson.
Anderson said the fire department's budget will fall short of paying for the tool. The council agreed to take $2,000 from the hovercraft fund. Anderson said the department hopes to raise money at a Saturday pancake breakfast.
City Administrator Tom Swenson said the fire department will have to try to cut its budget where it can and "shake the bushes" for additional donations to help make up the difference.
Considered requiring a license for landscape contractors and excavators. Ken Anderson, community development director, showed the council photos of major erosion issues to a lake and another where non-permitted rock work and construction of a sand beach area encroached on a lake. Another violation example was a patio being constructed 5 feet from a lake.
"I could go through probably 40 pictures like this," Anderson said.
Anderson said a lot of work is going on in violation even after previous education sessions with contractors. Roe said he was concerned people could bid the cost of a violation into the contract.
A Crosslake resident said it was a great plan but he wondered how the city was going to enforce it.
"I don't think there is any question this is new ground and it's going to be a challenge," Roe said. "But I believe we need a new tool like this. ... Right now we can't seem to stop it."
Council member Dean Swanson questioned what was gained with a license as there would be an enforcement problem either way. Swanson and Mayor Jay Andolshek wanted to bring the issue back next month.
The ordinance has increasing financial penalties for violations and by the fourth violation the penalty involves license revocation. Information sessions for contractors are expected. This does not prevent landowners from doing landscaping work on their own with proper permits.
Granted Maucieri's Catering request to sell food and incidental alcohol at the Whitefish Lodge and Suites parking lot during the March 15 St. Patrick's Day Parade. Customers need to purchase food as the primary sale in order to buy incidental alcohol.
Heard the Crosslake Communications Advisory Board recommends the city upgrade the cable TV this year in the Mission area and the first half of the Melinda Shores area up to the Boyd Lodge area.
Approved seeking bids for 2008 road and drainage projects including the Anchor Point Road drainage project estimated at $15,125, the Lake Street Rock Spillway of about $9,625 and improvements to the Ox Lake Landing for about $79,750. The council approved a Widseth Smith Nolting's proposal to provide engineering design and construction phase services for the improvement not to exceed $10,500.
Approved a revised location for a proposed storm shelter/pavilion at the Wilderness Park planned unit development from an addition to the existing laundry/shower building to a site that currently serves as the recreation building/pool house. The plan calls for that building to be demolished as part of the storm shelter construction. The council asked that the pool chemical storage area have a lip to prevent liquid spills from flowing out of the room.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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