Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

In the first meeting of 2005, Forest Lake City Council started a new era.

Newly elected Mayor Terry Smith presided over the meeting with new council members Judy Bull and Dick Tschida.

The meeting had a new format, a new seating arrangement for council members and a new format for voting, with alternating order roll calls for council decisions.

In the past, the open forum, a venue for residents to address the council, was at the end of the meeting. Smith moved it to the beginning.

Appointments

As is traditional for the first meeting of a calendar year, the council updated its boards, commissions and appointments for 2005.

While Smith had recommended city council candidate and local businessman Bo Bogotty for the planning commission, he did not secure a seat on the board.

Councilwoman Susan Young suggested city council candidate and frequent city council attendee Ron Schaffer instead be appointed to the planning commission.

During the open forum of the meeting, Schaffer had expressed an interest in serving on a board. So too had city council candidate Eric Langness.

Young said it was important for attendance at planning commission meetings and pointed to Schafferís steady appearance at city council meetings.

Smith defended his recommendation.

ìHe does have a lot of experience in land development, a real good understanding of variances, he was the runner up in the election,î Smith said. ìI respect that.î

While Schaffer did earn a spot on the planning commission, his appointment was not supported by Smith nor City Councilman Rick Ashbach.

Another appointment questioned by Young was real estate developer Mike Muske.

Smith said he asked Muske, who is owner of ERA Muske Real Estate Company, to join the EDA because of his expertise in issues related to the board.

Young brought up conflict of interest issues.

ìIím very concerned Mike Muske would be required to abstain from many actions of the EDA,î she said. ìI see significant conflict of interest issues.î

Smith, saying he would like to see the EDA expanded to seven members, said Muske would be an asset.

ìI feel the city really needs to concentrate on economic developmentóI didnít say redevelopment,î he said.

While Young and Tschida voted against the EDA appointment, the council approvved it as presented with the EDA comprised of Chip Robinson, Terry Smith, Rick Ashbach, Jeannie McCarver, Robert Morehead and Muske.

Young added if more people wanted to be involved with the city, the park board should revert back to its former number and include more members.

The Human Rights Commisssion also has room for involvement, she added.

Services

When it came time to renew contract for services, Tschida questioned if the city requested bids for service or sent out Requests for Proposals before making suggestions on services.

ìAny of these services being rendered, have they been advertised,î Tschida asked. ìItís a verification of the fact youíre doing the job for the people you serve.î

Bull said she could support an annual reevaluation of services, it should be addressed in a workshop at a later date.

Smith said the companies doing business with the city often have been doing so for years and know the city.

ìThey have been recommeded again because they have served the city and they know the city,î Smith added.

The city approved the firm of Hebert, Welch and Humphreys, P.A. for attorneys. Dave Hebert remains civil attorney, Mike Welch remains prosecuting attorney.

City Auditor is Larson, Allen and Weishair.

Depositories are Wells Fargo Bank, Main Street Bank and UBS.

Engineering firms are Toltz, King, Duval, Anderson and Associates, Inc. (TKDA) and Bonestroo, Rosene and Anderlik and Associates.

Northland Securities is the new financial advisor. It is a change from Springstead and Associates. The city is following its consultant, John Sanders. The rates at Northland are significantly less than charged by Springstead.

Labor Relations, Inc. was retained for labor management.

The fiscal consultant for EDA and tax increment financing is Dan Wilson of Wilson Development Services.

The official newspaper for legal publications again is Forest Lake Times.

Donations

The city benefitted from three donations Monday night. The Forest Lake Police Department was the recipient of a $1000 donation from residents Tom and Kay Doherty.

Police Chief Clark Quiring said the department will use the donation to outfit officers with tape recorders to use in the field.

The Forest Lake Fire Department also accepted a $1000 donation from the Dohertys. In addition, the fire department benefitted from a $1125 donation form the Walmart Foundation.

Meetings

The Forest Lake City Council regularly meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of every month.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 24. A workshop is scheduled for a half hour prior to the meeting, at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Smith has indicated 6:30 p.m. workshops will be a regular thing on council nights. On Jan. 24, Fire Chief Gary Sigfrinius will give a presentation on the fire department.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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