Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

The Forest Lake City Council Monday night voted to scale down its engineering bill.

With the resignation of TKDA engineer Paul Hornby, the city opted to consolidate its engineering services to use primarily Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates.

The city has utilized both firms since the township was annexed to the city. TKDA has been providing services for the former city area. Bonestroo has been providing services in the former township.

With the change, Bonestroo will be responsible for all general engineering services. TKDA will remain the engineering firm for water infrastructure improvements.

City Administrator Chip Robinson said the city would save money by having just one engineer at city council meetings and city staff meetings.

Robinson said 90 percent of future development will be located in the former township. Bonestroo has been the engineering firm in the township since 1979.

Still, Robinson said there was no dissatisfaction with the work of TKDA.

ìI can say nothing bad about them because they have done a wonderful job,î he said.

Assessing

Following a report in Sundayís Pioneer Press, the city council voted unanimously to suspend assessing duties from city assessor Ken Tolzmann.

The article pointed to reports from Washington County citing errors in the work done by Tolzmann and Patrick Poshek and Frank Langer, who assess properties in neighboring communities.

ìI think we have no choice,î City Councilwoman Judy Bull said.

Robinson said the staff will consider its options and bring the matter back to a future council meeting in the coming weeks.
Park standards

Dan Zarembinski of the Forest Lake Park Board came to the city council to discuss park standards.

The city plans to adopt uniform standards for park equipment, earthwork, surfacing, fencing and other amenities.

ìThe goal is to eventually bring every single park in the city up to the same standard,î Zarembinski said. ìThis is good stuff. Is it Cadillac? No. But itís not a Pinto either.î

Zarembinski said the goal was not to create cookie cutter parks where all look the same.

Councilwoman Susan Young suggested the standards should dictate the use of recycled content lumber and more ergonomically friendly trash receptacles.

The park board will work in Youngís concerns and bring a revised plan back to the next city council meeting.
Meetings

Forest Lake City Council regularly meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month in Forest Lake City Council chambers.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 28. That meeting will be preceded by a 6 p.m. workshop regarding the Pratt development.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
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