Baxter City Council: Seeks funds for Cypress Drive project

BAXTER -- Baxter City Council members recently approved a resolution requesting capital funding from the state for a portion of the 2018 Cypress Drive improvement project.
The Cypress Drive project was described as serving as an alternative, parallel transportation corridor to Highway 371 as a way to increase safety and efficiency on the state highway and promote economic development in the city’s industrial park.
In other business, the council last week:
Approved disposal of miscellaneous items stored at the North Water Tower, which the city described as older, outdated or damaged office items, including file cabinets, desk pieces, plastic chairs, a drafting table, map stands, and particle board conference room tables among other items. Plans are to recycle metal items and dispose of other things at Hengel’s Construction or the Crow Wing County Landfill.
Approved purchasing a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado from Ranger GMC for $29,934 and agreed to place the 2000 Ford Ranger on the Mid-State Auto Auction, along with two public works vehicles -- a 2004 and 2005 Chevy Silverado with 93,727 miles and 74,208 miles respectively.
Designated buildings in the city’s development district No. 1 as structurally substandard. As part of the plans for Excelsior Road improvements, the city reports it is looking into the potential to establish a tax-increment financing district to finance part of the project. “To meet the requirements of a renewal and renovation district, a certain percentage of parcels and buildings within the district must qualify as structurally substandard,” the city reported. Based on a recent inspection by the city’s contracted inspector for the potential TIF district, a building at 7301 Excelsior Road met the qualifications.
Met in closed session for labor negotiations. After closed sessions last month, the council reported a settlement with the AFSCME labor contract for a 3 percent increase.
Officially mapped Dakar Road. The road is east of Kimberly Drive and west of Cherrywood Drive. The city hosted a public hearing in December. One resident of Cherrywood Drive, Darren Devries, asked when construction may start to build the road. He was told there wasn’t a plan to construct the road at this time but the city wanted to preserve the corridor for future construction. A request for a new home in the area prompted the desire to keep the space needed for the future road.
Noted recently the finance department received the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in financial reporting presentation for its annual financial report. This is the finance department’s fifth year in a row to receive the award, which was established to encourage comprehensive financial reports that go beyond minimum requirements. The award was presented to Jeremy Vacinek, finance director, and Susannah Jensen, assistant finance director at the council’s meeting in late December.
Also in December, the council:
Approved conditional use permits for joint access/parking for four existing industrial properties on College Road. Navillus Land Co. requested the permits for a vacant lot about .86 acres south of the 7900 block of College Road.
Appointed Keith Binsfeld to the public works maintenance position, which was vacant due to a retirement. The appointment was effective as of Monday.
Amended the city’s ordinance licensing theaters, which was established in 1979. Staff reported there is no need to license theaters at this time as they are inspected through the building permit process and existing theaters are inspected through the fire protection process.
Appointed Joshua Ewald to the list of seasonal employees staffing the city’s warming houses for this season at $10 per hour. There are six warming house attendants.
Adopted a 2017 fee schedule. There was no increase in the water fees and sewer utility rates were not changed. A 5 percent increase in the stormwater rates was adopted as part of the budget. Stormwater rates were updated to $27.84 annually or $2.32 per month for residential properties. The cost for commercial is $.0116 per impervious square foot annually.
Adopted a mileage reimbursement fee of 53.5 cents per mile based on the IRS regulations.
Ordered preparation of the report for the 2017 Elder Drive improvement project. The engineer’s estimate for the cost of improvements was $147,416.
Approved the Central Lakes Crossing retail development agreement for the retail center to be constructed on Elder Drive south of Costco.
Approved the WSB professional engineering services contract for the Elder Drive improvements not to exceed $42,800 and services for the Excelsior Road/Fairview Road and Edgewood Drive project and the 2016 Excelsior Road project not to exceed $835,269.
Approved the Bradford Northwoods Development agreement, contingent upon a positive review by the traffic engineer.
Approved the 2018 Cypress Drive project geometric layout and accepted the traffic study for the 2018 project. A Short Elliott Hendrickson contract, not to exceed $22,420, was approved to begin environmental review and documentation for the Cypress Drive project.
Approved a Bolton & Menk agreement for engineering services of $1,200 for the 2016 Golf Course Drive project.
Accepted a feasibility report from Widseth Smith Nolting regarding the County Highway 48 silent railroad crossings improvements.
Approved an Anderson Brothers change order to set the final completion date for the 2016 Golf Course Drive project to June 30, 2017.
Approved the Recreation Joint Powers 2016 operational contribution of $31,000 to the Brainerd School District.