Posted: 4/16/03

FL Chief Schwartz will retire

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

The city of Forest Lake is on the hunt for a new police chief. Dave Schwartz has announced he will retire December 31, 2003.

City Administrator Chip Robinson, stressing ìThe importance of filling this position with a very highly qualified person can not be understated,î suggested a national job searchto find a new director of public safety.

The city council Monday night agreed, and gave city staff the authorization to go shopping for a search company to find qualified candidates and get bids from those search companies.

Schwartz was not at Mondayís city council meeting, as he was attending a conference.

He has served the city since 1969 when he was hired as a part time police officer.

He was promoted to full time in 1972 and became chief of police in 1979 when then-chief James Trudeau was elected Washington County Sheriff.

Gander Mountain

A contingent from Columbus Township came to Mondayís meeting looking for assistance from the city.

Columbus Town Manager Elizabeth Mursko, Chairman Mel Mettler and Vice Chairwoman Pat Preiner requested the cityís help with temporary water service to their freeway district for as many as 5 years.

Mursko said Gander Mountain, a new sporting goods superstore set to open mid-September, has looked into a private well to sustain them until Columbus erects a water tower, but the cityís help would ease the project.

Since Columbusí sanitary sewer service will not be completed until November, Gander Mountain plans to use temporary holding tanks in the interim.

Columbus Township would pick up the tab for engineering costs incurred by the city for the project.

ìThere would be no additional cost for the city of Forest Lake,î Mursko said. ìWe would essentially be buying water from the city of Forest Lake on a temporary basis.î

She said the water lines constructed would be permanent, as the ability to share water in emergency situations would be a benefit to both communities.

Councilman Bruce Carlson, while saying he didnít want to annex Columbus Township, said the city has not given water to areas it did annex in the past.

ìIn the past, we turned down water without annexation,î Carlson said. ìThatís basically what weíve told several developers.î

Mayor Ray Daninger, and other council members, questioned exactly what Columbus was looking foróin terms of usage and timeóbefore a decision could be made.

ìI think what we first off need from you is what you want,î Daninger said. ìBefore that itís going to be a crap shoot.î

While the town plans to install a water tower, Mettler said the speed of development in the freeway district would dictate when that tower would go up.

The Columbus request will be discussed by the city council at a workshop meeting Monday, April 21.

Broadway Commons

On a 3-2 vote, the council gave the go-ahead for construction of Broadway Commonsí second building.

Parking has been a sticking point at Broadway Commons. The council and planning commission approved the parking plan with the stipulation Norman Quacks, a restaurant located in Building A, not be open for lunch.

Gordie Skamser, owner of Norman Quacks, said the restaurant opened for lunch to bring in more profits. He added he thought he was permitted to be open for lunch since the second building was not complete.

He added he brings in triple the business on Friday nights as he does for an entire week of lunches.

Businesses in Building B will close at 5 p.m., leaving parking available to evening diners.

ìIím clearly the fly in the ointment in the process,î he said. ìWeíre using parking space for a building that isnít built. I had no idea that wasnít proper.î

He has made it a habit to check parking availability at lunch and said there usually are about 20 spare slots at the height of lunch.

He asked to stay open lunch until Building B is occupied. He said he plans to use the time to find alternative parking agreements with adjacent businesses.

Council members Bruce Carlson and Susan Young voted against the motion, saying ordinances need to have some teeth.

ìI think itís important if weíre going to have permits and certificates of occupancy that they actually mean something,î Young said.

Meetings

The Forest Lake City Council regularly meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month in city council chambers. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 28.

A workshop session, to discuss planning, goals and the Columbus Township request, is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, April 21.

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