Posted: 6/11/03

Sidewalks for southeast area of FL OKíd

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

The Forest Lake City Council Monday, approved the plans and specifications for a sidewalk project on the cityís southeast side.

Discussion on the sidewalk began in April, 2002 when residents filled the city council chambers to plead for the sidewalks in order to keep their children safe when going to Bayview Park, the tot lot park on Bay Drive and 11th Ave. S.E.

The sidewalk will extend from 12th Street S.E. to 11th Ave. SE. by Bayview Park.

The sidewalk will be standard, five feet wide sidewalks. This will reduce the width of Bay Drive from 30-31 feet to 25-26 feet.

Councilman Bruce Carlson questioned if the sidewalk should be more narrow, about four feet with six inches for the curb, to retain width in the street.

ìWe are trying to make something good out of a bad situation,î Mayor Ray Daninger said.

ìThe thing I think we need to keep in mind is the people in the area petitioned for the sidewalks,î Councilman Tom Lynch said. ìIf we want to do anything to keep the children and parents out of harms way we have to put a sidewalk in.î

Budget cuts

While the writing was on the wall, the Forest Lake City Council Monday night saw how the state budget crunch will affect the city.

Since the city is losing all of its Local Government Aidóto the tune of $321,915 over the next two years, city staff proposed the following cuts, which were approved by the council.

Of the cuts, the city will see cuts:

ï $8200 in the Administration department (capital outlay).

ï $16,000 in the City Clerks department (capital outlay).

ï $3500 in Planning and Zoning (capital outlay).

ï $14,000 in Government Buildings (capital outlay).

ï $90,000 (2 new hires and vehicle)

ï $147,000 in Streets (capital outlay, gravel, calcium chloride, blacktop, sealing and overlay and parking lot maintenance).

ï $55,450 in Parks (reduction of advertisements, capital outlay and no new full time employee)

ï $35,000 to Cable television.

ï $3000 to reduce hours and workers on Rid Litter day.

$5000 in Compost and Chipping (no commercial service.

$20,000 to Forest Lake Fire Department.

Daninger added adjustments to the above cuts could be made as need fits.

While there is growth in the community, the city will not be able to levy more in 2004 than it did in 2003.

ìThere is no growth factor which hurts in growing communities like we have,î City Administrator Chip Robinson said.

He said staff is starting on the 2004 budget early.

ìWeíre starting early this year because we do know it is going to be a tough road, there is going to be some pain,î he said.

Councilwoman Susan Young said that with more residents comes more services to be provided and more expenseófor the same tax dollars.

ìWhere do you want the cuts to be made,î she questioned. ìAnybody that wants to talk to me you know where to find me.î

Noise complaints

A handful of residents used the Open Forum session to list their complaints regarding noise from outdoor music at Willows on the Water, 8241 North Shore Trail N. on Third Lake.

Darlene Kowalski brought in a sampling of the music, recorded on her deck.

ìThe music is absolutely atrocious,î Kowalksi said. ìWe canít enjoy our property. We canít go to sleep.î

In addition to the bands, Kowalski spoke against vehicle noise, karaoke, foul language, motorcycles and boat traffic.

ìThe major concern I have is the amount of liquor going on,î she said.

John Bass lives behind Willows on the Water.

While he said he was pleased with the improvements made to the property by new owner Kevin Tacheny, the bands are too much.

ìWe donít mind on special occasions having bands, but every weekend?î he said. ìThereís no way you can sit on your deck and carry on a conversation.î

Bass suggested Tacheny should have consulted with neighbors before launching such a program.

ìThe owners have never once cared about the neighbors, they never once said hey, what do you think of this,î Bass said.

Doug Fisher, who recently moved to the area from Dallas, said his stint here will be short if the noise continues.

ìI will never eat there again if they continue that,î he said. ìI will sell my house before I listen to that every weekend.î

Tacheny, however, said there are people on both sides. The business owner said he has received his share of positive feedback for the weekend music.

ìIíve invested my whole life to make this a place the lake should have,î he said. ìLook at what we did to the place. It cost me a fortune.

ìI canít control who pulls out of the parking lot. I canít control how loud the stereos are on the boats. Iím not trying to do any harm to anybody.î

Chiefís comments

Forest Lake Chief of Police Dave Schwartz, speaking before residents expressed concern about Willows on the Water, said the city needs to look at the problem of bar noise.

ìThere is nothing that really specifically addresses it,î Schwartz said. ìThe complaints are escalating every year.î

The 2 a.m. bar closing, set to start in August, also will bring problems, Schwartz warned.

ìMy concern is Iím sure youíre going to have every bar in town want it,î Schwartz said.

While the bill paved the way for extra State Troopers, that gives little benefit on the local level.

ìWeíre going to be four (officers) down by 2004,î Schwartz said, speaking of the impact of Pawlentyís plan to the police department.

ìIt is a very big concern to me. There are a lot of changes coming very quickly and I think you have to be very cautious where you proceed in that,î he told the council.

Meetings

The Forest Lake City Council regularly meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month in the Forest Lake City Council chambers.

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