Posted: 8/11/04
By Barbara Brown
With little fanfare, the Harris City Council extended the cityís 2 a.m. closing time for bars.
At the Aug. 5 meeting, two residents in the audience said they have had no trouble since Heartbreakers asked for and received a 2 a.m. closing time.
The city is allowed to set the bar closing time, according to state law. It can revoke the 2 a.m. closing time at any time.
Neighbors of Heartbreakers spoke at the Aug. 5 regular council meeting and told the council noise control had actually improved from when there was a 1 a.m. closing.
They said the owner of the bar had been helpful on all occasions and had ensured that his staff was courteous to the neighbors.
Councilmembers Kathy Olson and Dan Walton both said they spoke with the Chisago County Sheriffís Office to inquire about complaints about the 2 a.m. closing and whether the Sheriffís Office had responded to more calls than when the city had a 1 a.m. closing.
Both said the department representatives said the incidents had not increased over the 1 a.m. closing time.
The council extended the 2 a.m. closing for another six months at which time it will be reviewed.
Gladstone drainage
The council discussed the drainage problems on Gladstone Avenue during the Aug. 5 meeting.
City Engineer Chuck Schwartz presented two options to the council for repair of the problem.
He said the city could either spend about $65,000 to repair the storm sewer lines and re-ditch the culverts on the street or Harris could spend about $100,000 to run new storm sewer lines all the way down Gladstone.
Waltonís opinion was that the city should do the best job it can the first time around instead of running the risk of simply cleaning out the ditches and then being in the same position five or 10 years down the road.
The council will weigh the options, develop a plan and present it to the residents. Property owners on the street could expect assessments from the project.
During the meeting, the council also:
ï Approved a request from Duane Palme to open a flea market under a conditional use permit for the storage facility property. Palme said he had not yet finalized all the details, but he would open the flea market in the spring and run through September. The flea market would take place in a new pole building Palme built and would run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the latest, except for special barbecues or dinners.
The council approved the request contingent upon approval of the parking layout by engineer Chuck Schwartz, comments from the county on whether a turn lane would be needed and fire department review of the parking plans;
ï Approved a request from Boulder Creek Stone for a height variance so the company could add a third concrete silo to the building. Increased business has made it necessary, a representative of the company said. The third silo will be the same color as the other two and will blend in to the building;
ï Agreed they liked the concept plan for a body shop to be located at the intersection of CR 30 and CR 10.
Tim Eyton presented the proposal to the council and said he would be tearing down an old storage building across the street from the gas station to complete the project.
He said he is awaiting financing approval before construction can begin, but that he hoped to have the shop open in the spring;
ï Approved spending up to $700 to buy a new central processing unit for the cityís financial bookkeeping. The cityís current finance computer has been in for repairs three times and still does not work.
ï Hired Greg Lions on a part-time temporary basis to help maintain and repair some of the cityís old sewer lines on the verge of failure. Lions previously worked for the city of North St. Paul.
ï Heard about a potential residential development project in the south end of the city. Councilmember Kathy Olson is under contract to sell about 70 acres of her personal property to Char-Mar Corp. The developer wants to build 37 single-family homes with wells and septics expected to be priced in the $300,000 range. The cityís current ordinance does not allow a house using well and septic to be built on less than five acres.
The council must decide whether it wants to amend itís zoning rules, require the developer to hook into the cityís water and sewer system or require the developer to build on five acre lots.
The council also could consider approaching the city of North Branch to discuss hooking into the North Branch sewer treatment system as a partner to better accommodate future Harris development.
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