Abby Nadeau
Staff Writer

Snowmobilers who like to cut across Lakeside Park to get into town may be met on the other side by Forest Lake Police officers.

On Monday, Jan. 23 the Forest Lake City Council passed an amendment to the current snowmobile ordinance.

The new ordinance states that ìsnowmobiles and All-Terrain Vehicles shall not be operated in any city public park or public grounds except in areas specifically designated and posted for their operation.î

The decision to change the ordinance came after park board member Kris Martin approached the council on Monday, Jan. 9. She explained how snowmobilers were racing through the park when children were sledding.

ìIf some child gets hurt in one of our parks we are all going to be sorry,î Martin said. ìI am just concerned about these children.î

The council also approved the first phase of the new Headwaters project which is being planned in concert with development of the community center parcel south of the airport.

Phase I will start with the preparation of street and utility construction plans, as well as grading.

The Headwaters project includes a new community and government center, each slated to break ground in May.

Other Business

The first topic on Mayor Terry Smithís report was appointments to the planning commission.

Smith wanted to re-appoint Richard Damchik and Marc Mayne but leave out Paul Girard.

He went on to recommend Sean Butts to replace Girard, and Angela Schreader and Cherry Broecker to replace Pat Justice and Carolyn Ferrazzi. Both Justice and Ferrazziís terms had expired on the planning commission and each had decided not to return to their positions.

Council member Judy Bull was concerned by the fact that the only person the mayor didnít want to reappoint was Girard.

ìHe has been there the longest, and I want to open the option to other people in Forest Lake,î Smith said.

Smith made the motion to approve the appointments as presented and Council member Rick Ashbach seconded.

However, the motion failed when both Judy Bull and Susan Young disagreed. Council member Dick Tschida was absent.

ìI have two concerns,î Young said. ìI think Mr. Girard provides a very important role. I think there is a value to being in a community for a longer period of time.î

Bull commented that not re-appointing Girard was unfair and the mayor commented that it wasnít a question of fairness.

The council will re-visit the appointments at the Monday, Feb. 13 meeting.

The council went on to discuss a piece of property that sits on the east side of third lake as a park site.

Young has been exploring the idea of turning the former Mueller property, and possibly the Johnson property, into a regional park.

ìI wished the property could be preserved in undeveloped land,î Young said. ìI want to look at other cities and how they work with the same type of land.î

The fate of the property is yet to be decided but Young is starting pre-applications to keep the land from being developed.

The council on Jan. 23 also had brief discussion on a Smith proposal to design a new city logo, but no action was taken.

Special meeting

On Tuesday of this week, City Administrator Chip Robinson announced that two special city council meetings have been called to discuss the Duffy-HSI, Inc. lawsuit against the city.

The council will meet in closed session at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6 to discuss the matter.

A public meeting will follow at 7 p.m. to review the Duffy-HSI matter.

Both meetings will take place in the council chambers at Forest Lake City Hall, 220 N. Lake St.

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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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