By Anne Thom

In Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes, we are all about water. In the city of Stacy, the city council meetings are frequently about water issues as well. The July 12 meeting was no exception.

Stacy residents Pat and Barb Cummings took time during the public comment period to ask the council about their current water bill and their previous lack of a water bill. The Cummings cited city ordinance; they are to be billed every three months for water and sewer service. They said they had received two bills in 2005. The couple said in the past when the occupant read the meter and returned the postcard, this had worked fine. City Clerk Sharon Payne responded first. She said there had been a computer crash at the city offices.

The result was that the council authorized Payne several weeks back to purchase a new computer after making the determination the equipment could not be repaired. The radio readers are new to the city and as with the implementation of any new technology, there are bound to be some issues that will need to be worked out. Both the computer and technical issues following installation has resulted in billing problems. Payne told the Cummings and the council she had received perhaps 10 to 12 complaints regarding billing. Public Works Supervisor Tom Archibald supported what Payne said noting he has received information of radio read problems at approximately 10 households.

Barb Cummings's first request was a return to the old system. Mayor Michael Carlson said that system has been abolished and unfortunately since ìthe technology has advanced; we have to work with the technology.î The council then went on to ask how they could help in this situation. The Cummings had been billed on both occasions for going over the 10,000 gallon minimum use. The council agreed to have Payne or Lynda Schmidt, Stacyís utility billing/account clerk make an adjustment to the Cummings's bill.
Finding addresses

Councilman John Daher asked if the fire department could receive a copy of the plat on all new developments. The Stacy-Lent Fire Department has had a concern with new developers not following the Chisago County grid system when naming streets. Under that grid system, north-south streets are to be named alphabetically and east-west streets are to be named numerically.

Daher said that not knowing where a new street may be routed can delay the response of emergency vehicles two to three minutes which is significant when there is an emergency.

It was also brought to the councilís attention that a developer had not followed the grid system and had named a street out of sequence, after a family member. The city has spoken to that developer and he has said he will change the name to fit the system as required. City Planner Samantha Crosby suggested that the city needs an ordinance that requires developers to follow the street naming system employed by the county. The council agreed to have a draft ordinance prepared.

Near the end of the meeting, disagreement ensued over the issue of personnel for the new bar and liquor store. Mayor Carlson said this had already been discussed and he didnít want to go into it any further at this public meeting. Daher persisted in speaking on the issue. Carlson removed himself from the discussion and the table, visibly frustrated. He turned the meeting over to Daher.

Carlson did not return to the table until after the council had adjourned. Councilman Mel Aslakson, Daher, Attorney Grundhoefer, Councilpersons John Walz and Barb Otterson continued speaking. Otterson had been trying to figure out how to accomplish writing new and updated job descriptions. Aslakson suggested she contact Lindstrom, where separate bar and municipal liquor stores are run. Grundhoefer said employee reviews, which are upcoming, should be handled before staffing needs are looked at. Walz concurred with this. Those reviews were scheduled for a closed meeting Tuesday, July 19. A special meeting to discuss liquor store issues may be scheduled.

Information on city meetings as well as contact information can be found on www.stacymn.org. The council has plans to upgrade the Web site. Meetings dates and times are posted there. The public notice will continue to be posted on the Community Bulletin Board outside City Hall. Payne will be posting a change to city hall hours that was agreed upon. Effective July 18, city hall will be open:
Monday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday ñ 11a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday ñ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday ñ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday ñ Closed
The council was adamant about keeping evening hours.

Stacy briefs
Stacy Days begins Aug. 6 with a parade. City maintenance will begin posting No Parking signs in the area of Genesis Avenue, Forest Boulevard, 311th Street and 314th Street. No parking will be allowed from Saturday morning, until two hours after the parade.
The Lionís Club has asked, and the council has agreed to judge the parade. In turn, the council approved a motion to rename ìStacy Parkî as ìStacy Lionís Park.î A rededication will take place during Stacy Days.

Park bell missing
What happened to the bell? The park bell was vandalized and city maintenance has temporarily removed it for fear it would fall on someone.

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