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Council seeks more opinions on downtown street options BRAINERD CITY COUNCIL Staff Writer Downtown business owners and residents will once again get the chance to voice their opinions on what improvements should be done to downtown streets.
The Brainerd City Council Monday set a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on April 16.
In August the council approved a mill and bituminous overlay with curb and gutter replacement where necessary for downtown city streets. However, last month it was learned that such an action required a two-third majority vote according to city charter. The August motion passed with only a simple 4-3 majority.
With a new public hearing scheduled, the city will be looking at all options for the project, including a complete street and utility restoration that could cost $1.4 million to $2 million. The mill and overlay would cost about $120,000.
Downtown property owner David Pueringer on Monday asked council members to delay the public hearing until it was determined how much the assessments would be for the project. Previously the council set assessments at 40 percent for property owners. Council member Bob Olson, who also is a downtown property owner, suggested the assessments should be 20 percent of the project cost.
Nila Patrick, downtown property owner and member of Downtown Restoration, said she just wanted a project started so the decorative street lamps could be installed.
The affected streets would be Laurel Street from South Sixth to South Eighth streets, Front Street from South Sixth to South Eighth streets and South Seventh Street from Maple to Front streets.
Nesheim said no council action would be taken on the project at the April 16 meeting.
"After that we'll get the ball rolling," Nesheim said.
In other action, the council:
Took no action on a motion by Olson to reject a $558,339 bid previously awarded for the purchase of a fire truck. Olson made the motion to reject the bid because it didn't include 2007 emission standards. However, his motion died without a second. Council member Mark O'Day said the fire truck could be retrofit once the emission equipment becomes available.
Approved continuing the fire inspector position with a review in July. City Administrator Dan Vogt had recommended suspending the full-time position after the city received complaints from the city of Baxter and private businesses about the inspection process. The fire inspector, Keith Bachman, defended his inspection process, saying he is only enforcing the fire code. Olson commended the council for continuing the position because inspections were needed.
Heard a presentation on the city's municipal separate storm sewer system permit application with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Denied with a 4-3 vote a conditional use permit application for a planned unit development and the preliminary plat for a portion of the Stonebridge subdivision. Voting against approval were council members Kelly Bevans, Kevin Goedker, Anne Nelson Fisher and Olson.
Removed the two-hour parking limits on Rosewood Street between South Sixth and South Seventh streets with parking issues to be re-evaluated in May.
Approved a bid from Wells Fargo for $900,000 in equipment certificates.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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