Posted: 1/15/03

New FL council members take seats

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Rick Ashbach and Susan Young were sworn in as new members of the Forest Lake City Council Monday, Jan. 13.

Ashbach and Young, who live in the former township, were elected in November. Ashbach was a key member of One Great Forest Lake which led the fight for a unified city. Young, the second top vote getter, has been an involved citizen before taking her seat behind the table.

Incumbent Mayor Ray Daninger, who beat challenger Richard Tschida by just 20 votes, also was sworn in Monday.

Community center

Alan Bakke, representing the recreation task force, requested a $5000 budget for the community center.

ìWeíre especially interested in getting a survey out to the community to see what they want,î Bakke said. ìObviously we donít want to build a community center and find out we put in the wrong stuff.î

The money will be used for postage on a community survey to see what people want in a community center, advertising and miscellaneous items.

Since the Forest Lake School District likely will be one of the main users of a community center, Councilman Bruce Carlson suggested they should in part fund the survey.

ìI think we should have some shared expense with the district,î he said.

However, Bakke countered with since the school district is a potential user, they are being surveyed as well.

The council unanimously approved the $5000 budget for this fiscal year.

The funds will be managed by City Administrator Chip Robinson.

Speed race

Pete Paider is planning a snowmobile speed race on First Lake Saturday, March 1.

The council approved the race provided it is a fundraiser for a non-profit group, such as the Forest Lake Explorers group.

Paider said he has touched base with the Forest Lake Police Department and another charity.

ìWe really want to do it as a non-profit thing, we want to get it going again,î Paider said.

Appointments

The council made its yearly appointments for services Monday.

The city renewed Hebert, Welch and Humphreys as attorneys and renewed two engineering firms, Toltz, King, Duvall, Anderson and Associates, Inc and Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates.

Forest Lake Times was renewed as official city newspaper and Wells Fargo Bank, Mainstreet Bank, and Lakes Area Bank were named depositories. Dan Hartman of Springstead is the fiscal agent and Mike Lyonais of Larson, Allen and Weishair was named city auditor.

Dan Wilson of Wilson Development Services was named the fiscal consultant for EDA and Tax Increment financing. Labor relations consultant is Cy Smythe of Labor Relations, Inc.

Meetings

The Wyoming Town Board of supervisors regularly meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of every month. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 27.

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