Posted 8/23/01 Mayorís cell phone remains a hot topic By Jason Sileo The Stacy City Council met at length Aug. 14 to discuss a range of topics, the most heated of which was debate over the merits of a cellular phone account for use by the mayor in the handling of city affairs. The cell phone has been a topic of debate among the city councilors for two months now ó but again little progress was made inside the council chambers. Mayor Kathi Lawrence has said she would like to have the cell phone in order that her home phone not be tied up at all hours of the day as she handles routine city business. City councilors Barb Otterson and Katie Davidson have argued that the cost for the mayorís phone outweighs its necessity, and a block has apparently been put on the cell phone unit in question. Despite heated discussion last Tuesday, there remains no closure on the debate. ìIt was kind of just left up in the air again,î Mayor Lawrence said of the cell phone issue during talks Aug. 15. The city council did approve the appointment of former city clerk Connie Donahue to an open position on the city council. Seats remained vacant in wake of the passing of Cindy Frich and the resignation of councilor Mike Haehnel last month. Amanda Stelmack was appointed to an open chair on the cityís planning commission. The council discussed ongoing discussions of the Stacy-Lent Joint Powers Board for the fire protection agreement between the city and the township which is set to dissolve in less than two years. The Joint Powers Board met Aug. 13 and approved a budget for fire protection in the coming year, but it appears both parties are comfortable with the scheduled 2003 demise of the joint fire protection agreement. ìWe are still set to separate,î Lawrence said of the joint powers parties. She said the people of the city and of Lent Township, particularly their elected officials, need to ìcheck into the good of the entire community.î (Continued from front) ìWhat is in the best interest of the community?î the mayor asked. ìWe need to break down the barriers and decide what the real issues are.î The Stacy council approved a new contract agreement for credit card purchases made at the municipal liquor store as the previous agreement was ìnot panning out,î according to Lawrence and bar officials. Head of city maintenance Tom Archibald approached the board and gave his thanks to the state Department of Transpor-tation, the city of Forest Lake, ACE Solid Waste, the Stacy Lions, Boy and Girl scouts, and the Stacy-Lent Fire Department for their contributions toward another successful celebration of Stacy Daze Aug. 4. Archibald noted a continuing trend of vandalism at the Stacy Park along County Road 19 and brought a list of required repairs and associated costs before the council. ìWeíre going to have to get tougher on curfew,î Mayor Lawrence said. ìThere are rules that need to be followed, and we need to figure out what the kids are missing that is causing them to behave the way they are,î she said of the wayward vandals. Empty beer bottles had apparently been found in the vicinity of some recent hooliganism, including about $900 in damage to a plastic slide, and additional damage to a set of bleachers. A basketball rim which had been deliberately hung on and bent. ìJust stupid things,î Lawrence said. ìWe need to figure out what it is that we can get for them to doî instead of property destruction, she suggested. It was reported that the clerkís office will be closed between Aug. 27-31 while Clerk Sharon Payne attends the annual state Clerkís Conference. A watering ban limiting the hours of use for city water outdoors remains in effect. The ban limits outdoor watering operations to between 7 and 11 p.m. at least through the month of August. That situation will most likely be addressed again at the councilís next meeting, Tuesday, September 11. ©Post Review