By Anne Thom

In Stacy, accountant Amy Joslin, city operations manager Brian Hachey and Stacy Bar and Grill assistant manager Lori Dahle joined forces to present some good news to the Stacy City Council: in March, the bar financially had its best month since opening in October 2006.

The financial document showed that both the off-sale and on-sale operations had turned a profit of $8,000. "I think it's very encouraging," Hachey told the council. He added that even after Joslin had made some adjustments to the books regarding invoicing and inventory he was relieved the profit was in place.

Joslin indicated trends in the accounting show the bar on track for approximately $55,000 in business in April. She told that council that a figure of $60,000-$65,000 would keep the bar profitable.

The council then moved forward with the plan presented at the end of March by Hachey and contractor Joe Bradick to install acoustical panels in the bar and grill.

Hachey had researched the fire rating of the materials as the council had requested and had spoken to city inspector Jack Kramer to make sure this was adequate.

The motion to go forward, not to exceed $7,000.

Spring cleaning

Spring cleaning in the form of road repair and maintenance will soon begin. Maintenance director Tom Archibald presented his plans. The worst areas were cited as the Stacy Ponds Business Park, where manhole covers have cracked the pavement, and portions of road surrounding Tim's Country Cupboard. Other problem areas were Genesis Ave. and 307th. Councilor Mel Aslakson suggested that 314th be looked at promptly. He said, "It really needs it or we're going to lose that block real quick."

The council had requested in 2006 that Archibald and city engineer Chuck Schwartz start to formulate a plan to deliver routine maintenance and repair to city streets. At this point there still is no formal plan. The city is working off of a spreadsheet Schwartz has created. The council was told they are looking at around $26,000 that would need to be spent to take care of all areas. Mayor Daher looked over the maps and asked how much the city had budgeted. City clerk Sharon Payne said, "I know we didn't budget $26,000."

The 2007 levy was passed to include approximately $6,750 for highways, streets and roads. Daher reiterated the need for a plan so the city can budget.

Archibald plans to start sweeping streets in the middle of May to coordinate with Chisago County's schedule. Councilor Barbara Avalos asked if the owners of the mobile home park could be compelled to clean the streets which she said are never cleaned. Grundhoefer said the question would have to be answered is it a health or safety issue. Daher felt the city could not otherwise compel the owners to sweep the streets of the park but the council agreed to send its inspector to check for code violations.

Signs of Contention

Residents Brad and Melissa Davis spoke to the council on the issue of signage. Mayor Daher asked Archibald to remain for this discussion. B. Davis started by asking for clarification on what types of signs city ordinance allows. M. Davis then took over explaining she had put up some signs for a garage sale and those had been taken down quickly by the city, but that there are numerous real estate signs that have been placed in the same area at the corner of Foster Ave. and Stacy Trail.

B. Davis said he understood that if a sign had been there for 5 days that might be excessive or if the sign was on an easement or in the right of way, but didn't understand the almost immediate removal. M. Davis said the Coldwell Banker sign is allowed to sit there.

Archibald said he had asked city crews to take the garage sale signs down because they were in the county right of way. Archibald said, "I don't like taking down signs. It takes up a lot of my time."

The couple also said they had put up a sign on their property to advertise their door and window business and that had been removed too. B.Davis said when he had called about his sign he was told by Archibald, "It might be between the two sheds if it wasn't thrown away yet." Attorney Peter Grundhoefer asked if there had been any county authorization to post the signs.

M.Davis said no, but again politely asked why then were signs for real-estate agents and developers allowed to stay. She said she felt there was inconsistency. "It should be all or none." She said she did understand the city and county ordinance.

Mayor Daher asked Archibald why the city was removing a sign from the county's right of way. Archibald responded, "if I left it there, there would be a dozen in a week." Councilor Avalos said, "if you're going to do it for one (remove a sign) you should do it for all."

Daher proposed then that the city go to a policy of notifying businesses that place signs inappropriately that they have 24 hours to remove a sign or the city will remove it.

He added to the city policy the suggestion that any sign taken down would be held for a week after the owner was notified and then disposed of.