By Aaron Vehling

A few minutes into the first city council meeting of the year Tuesday, Jan. 11, Stacy Mayor Michael Carlson announced that councilwoman Katie Davidson, who was absent from the meeting, had resigned.

Davidson pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to theft by swindle for depositing a $9,667.41 check intended for her former employer, The Minnesota Project in St. Paul, into her own account. She is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 18 in Ramsey County court.

Carlson would not comment on the issue any further.

Also at the meeting, Jason Palme, president of the Stacy Lions, presented a plan for advertising on the ball fence at Rick Doyle field. In addition, he mentioned looking into a sign that reads ìWelcome to Stacy.î

ìIt would make a good fund-raiser,î he said.
City Attorney Pete Grundhoefer recommended that Palme file a variance request. A public hearing about the signage will be held some time next month.

City Engineer Chuck Schwartz discussed a variety of development issues with the council.
One issue that came up at the meeting was Chisago Countyís 2005 Stacy Trail (CR-19) Street Improvement project.
Schwartz said the primary purpose of the project is to mill and overlay Stacy Trail from the freeway to Forest Boulevard and to install and/or replace concrete curbs.

ìI would like to see sidewalk from one side to another,î he said.

Before the mill and overlay project, Schwartz said the city needs to look into water problems in the area. There have been several occurrences of low water pressure to Stacy Trail homes.
He said that he also wants to investigate a possible gunking up of the water main and thinks the city should open up and clean the sewer system.
The council tabled the issue and will look further into it at their Jan. 25 work session.

Schwartz also discussed a letter he received from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regarding the wastewater abandonment plan.
One thing that was recommended for the city was to conduct a sampling of the storage columns. Schwartz said that such sampling could be done by a Type-4 operator from his engineering firm, Bonestroo and Associates.

In other council business:
ï Councilman John Daher presented some options regarding upgrading the cityís phone system.
Stacy currently has three lines: one for city hall (with call waiting), a fax line and a phone line for the maintenance staff.
He said that one company, Lakes Telecom of Forest Lake, proposed a system that would allow the mayor, council members, city clerk Sharon Payne and the maintenance crew to have voice mail with remote access.

Other companies with similar services have also offered quotes. The cost is an estimated $3,000 to 6,000.
Daher said he wanted to avoid the delay that happened when the council ìspent a lot of time going back and forthî on deciding whether or not to purchase a truck. Instead, he wants the council to be ready to choose a service when he presents all the quotes to the council.
Council members agreed to go ahead with pursuing an upgrade of the phone system.

ìI am in favor of going forward,î said Councilman John Walz.
Carlson and and Councilman Mel Aslakson also agreed.

ìI think itís time we upgrade the system,î Aslakson said.

ï The council looked at a variance request from St. Johnís Lutheran Church.
In October the church applied for a variance because they planned on installing a new, lighted sign on Stacy Trail. It would be lit in such a way so that there would be no bothersome light reflected.

ìIt looks like itíd be a fairly attractive sign,î Daher said.

Grundhoefer suggested that the cleanest way to address the issue would be to change the ordinance to allow certain types of signs for churches.

The council voted to turn down the variance and to forward the request to the ordinance committee to see if the ordinance can be changed.

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