Abby Nadeau
Staff Reporter

After spending an estimated 86 years in the Forest Lake community, the city is taking bids to remove the water tower at the north end of town.

City Administrator Chip Robinson asked the council on Monday to grant their approval to start receiving bids to remove the structure.

ìThe tank should be removed, there hasnít been water in the tower for four years,î Robinson said. ìThe water makes the tower more structurally sound and without the weight the structure is unsafe.î

The 100,000 gallon water tower could cost roughly $12,000 to be removed, while a new paint job to make is aesthetically pleasing would cost $50,000 to $60,000.

The council approved Robinsonís request for bids to remove the structure with council member Susan Young voting no.

ìI learned from the trees,î Young said.

New Construction

The council approved the comprehensive plan, rezoning, preliminary plat, final plat, planned unit development amendment, conditional use permit and site plan review all in one evening for Wesley Investments.

The plan is to create an assisted senior living center called Comforts of Home and a commercial building on the corner of Everton Ave. North and 19th Street.

While the council doesnít normally approve all the steps to creating a development in one evening, the plan has been seen by the council several times over the last couple years.

Young was the main proponent against the development being built.

ìThis plan was evaluated extensively in 2003,î Young said. ìThe whole concept that was presented was of a planned community integration. We wanted the pieces to all come together.î

Young went on to say that she disapproves of a developer coming to the council saying ìI canít make a profit on this and you need to help me out so I can...î

Though the comprehensive plan was first denied 3-1, the council voted to reconsider and the plan was approved.

ìI donít think it is very good for the city, but I also do not support a lawsuit on the city either,î Young said. ìI will approve the comprehensive plan on those grounds.î

Young voted against the remaining six .

The council also approved the city engineers to start the ìpreparations of plans and specificationsî of both TH-97 intersection improvement at Everton Ave., TH-61 intersection improvements at Headwaters Parkway, and the west leg of Highway 61 and 202nd street.

Roughly $1.5 million would be spent putting in a signal light, only on TH-97, turn lanes and shoulders, among others.

City engineer Phil Gravel stated that most of the cost would be covered through state aid and from ìarea transportation charges from adjacent developments.î

Parking at Lakeside

As the summer boating season begins, the parking in and around Lakeside Memorial Park worsens.

City Attorney Dave Hebert brought forth a newly constructed ordinance to help alleviate the problems in the municipal parking lot.

The ordinance basically states that people with trailers are required to only park in spaces allowed for trailers and no vehicle can be left standing in the parking lot, for more than a half hour, from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Currently the parking lot supports 20 trailer spots.

If people choose to leave their trailer in the parking lot over night a fee of $35 could be assessed and the person would be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

Mayor Terry Smith brought up the idea of having people apply for a permit to park over night on the weekends.

Robinson brought up the fact that 60 to 70 percent of people who put their boat in at Forest Lake, are not from Forest Lake.

Robinson mentioned that the city was going to meet with the owner of the Holiday station to discuss a possible purchase agreement.

However, no decision was ever made on the topic. It is expected to be brought back for further discussion.

The council will meet again on Monday, June 19 for a Recreation Committee and City Missions and Goals workshop at 6 p.m.

In other news, the council approved Fire Chief Gary Sigfriniusí request to start the interview process for a fire inspector.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605