Posted: 12/20/06
‘No parking' in place, speeding on hold
Stacy business district gets new restrictions
 Outgoing Stacy council members John Walz, Barbara Otterson and Mayor Michael Carlson received plaques for their service at the Dec. 7 meeting. |
By Anne Thom
The look of the general business district in Stacy is about to undergo a change. The city council approved a resolution Dec. 7, restricting parking from Forest Blvd. to the freeway - on both sides of the street, but not all the way on both sides.
Although some councilmembers wanted a complete parking ban on both sides of Stacy Trail, consideration was given to the impact on residential property. No parking signs will soon be posted in those sections where parking is now prohibited.
Speed limit stays
The council received word that the speed limit will not be lowered on Forest Blvd. within the city limits. Chisago County Commissioner Ben Montzka sent a letter to the council to advise that the Mn/DOT area manager Nick Thompson would not be granting the city's request. Several citizens had come to council meetings as far back as June to request that the council pursue a lower speed limit. The 55 mph they said was fine for many years, but now with more dense housing developments to the south and north of Stacy and many young families with small children, traffic speed is becoming a public safety issue.
Montzka's letter stated that Thompson had advised that the council could try making the request for a lower speed limit "within a few years."
Attached to Montzka's letter was correspondence from Nancy Daubenberger, Mn/DOT district traffic engineer. Daubenberger's letter was addressed to Chisago County Engineer Bill Malin and said, "Speed samples indicate current speed limits have substantial compliance and are consistent with existing speed patterns."
Continued from front
This comment prompted Councilman John Daher to ask what is substantial compliance? "Every 1 out of 50 cars?"
Mayor Michael Carlson asked, "Did they take data on weekends when traffic was at a standstill?"
The Mn/DOT report was also attached, so the council tried to decipher the scientific hash marks that constituted the study.
Traffic speeds were logged on two dates, Thurs., Oct.19 between 10 a.m. and 11:50 a.m., again at 12:25 p.m. and 2 p.m. and then on Fri., Oct. 20 between 10 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. One vehicle was clocked at 67 mph at the high end and at the low end one vehicle was clocked at 39 mph in the 55 mph zone.
The council was disappointed in the result of the study. They felt the study was not an adequate representation due to the hours of the day. They also faulted Mn/DOT for failing to adequately define what is acceptable and what is not on a road that borders a densely populated area.
Levy approved
The 2007 tax levy was passed by the council, a total levy of $329,573.50. This is a reduction from the original figure up for resolution in September, $397,073.50. Adding to the levy were costs for infrastructure to the Chisago Lakes Joint Sewage Treatment Commission (CLJSTC) and a $65,000 levy for the new water tower. It is an approximate 30 percent increase over last year's levy, even after making cuts to the city clerk's office, legal and maintenance. Those cuts are not enough to offset rising costs for the fire department, public safety and maintenance due the rising price of fuel. Expenditures in the city budget were up by $7,470 to a total of $482,576.
The evening closed with cake and a few tears. Mayor-elect John Daher presented the outgoing council; John Walz, Barbara Otterson and Michael Carlson with plaques acknowledging their public service. A small celebration was held for the outgoing council members.
Outgoing Mayor Carlson has expressed interest in staying on the Park commission. Otterson had no specific plans but told City Clerk Sharon Payne, "You're not getting rid of me." The new council and mayor-elect John Daher will be sworn in Dec. 26. The council will hold the ceremony and a short meeting that evening at 7 p.m.
In other business, the council:
• Learned from City Engineer Chuck Schwartz that the footings for the new Stacy water tower have been poured. The contractor is now working on pouring the wall foundation and backfill foundation. Plans are to cease work until spring. Some preliminary work will be done on the tank and water main connections.
• Learned from Schwartz that the Stacy Bar and Grill may finally be near completion a year after the grand opening. The interior was completed some time ago however, the grounds were still awaiting some work. Greystone has now finished up work on the parking lot and landscaping. The project pay list is about to be closed out and the contractor has submitted the final pay request and the final acceptance notice were received by the city.
• Learned that Kramer Mechanical will be withdrawing its request for a variance in the city's general business district. The Kramer brothers had asked for a conditional use permit. At issue was the structure that would house the expansion- a pole building. The Kramer's had indicated at their last appearance that perhaps they need to rethink their business plan, in view of the fact that the city seemed inclined to deny their CUP request.
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