By Anne Thom

Five residents of Fenway Court seated themselves in the back row of the Stacy council chambers last week. Lynette Meadow spoke on behalf of the neighborhood. "We have several issues..." she began.

The first is the new My Ex's Thrift Store on Stacy Trail. Meadow noted the "junk out back" saying the store's proprietor not only stored items back there but that people simply dropped things off on the premises that were unwanted. The residents nodded as Meadow said the property owners then have to look at it until it is moved or disposed of. Meadow then mentioned as the next issue a recurring problem in that area: water. "We took video of our children playing in the pool out front, and we don't have a pool." she said. Prior to construction on the lot, Meadow said water would pool to an ankle deep level. Following last week's rain the water stood knee deep.

A second recurring complaint was the lighting attached to the store. Residents reported to the council it seems to be extremely bright. Mayor John Daher acknowledged that building inspector Jack Kramer had taken a reading and that the light was indeed brighter than allowed by city code. Meadow humorously explained how she is currently saving on her electric bill. "We don't have to turn on the light when we go into the kitchen at night." She said. Fenway Court resident Mario Schlecht complained about the lighting at the adjacent bank for the second time within a year. Schlecht described the banks lighting as "stadium lighting." He also explained that there is no buffer between Fenway homes and the drive-thru. All night long the interior of his home is illuminated by drive through customers.

Residents wanted the council to know that traffic is a problem from the Heading North Heading South Mall also that borders the freeway. Drivers leaving the mall are not obeying the stop sign. The residents told the council they have been honked at and cussed out as they have kept driving south on Fenway from Stacy Trail by mall patrons who simply assume they are going to turn into the mall, not that they might be headed to their own homes on the street itself. The council promised to have Kramer and City Engineer Chuck Schwartz follow up on the complaints.

In other business:

Craig Moline of the North Branch Hockey Association told the council the association's goal is to build a facility in this area "whether it's North Branch, Harris or Stacy." The association has raised some funds, they are requesting help financing the remaining cost through the sale of non-obligation bonds through the city. Non-obligation bonds would not encumber a responsibility for payment by the city in the event of a default. They are also seeking donation of the land and water and sewer hook up. The Hockey Association would like to start construction in the spring of 2008.

A check for $8000 was sent to the city by the Fire Department Charitable Gambling Association to pay for more than half the $12,000 cost of a new siren to be installed on the east side of the city. The existing siren will be refurbished for installation in the Sunrise Mobile Home Park.

The city and Wyoming Township have been embroiled in a legal battle over annexation. Attorney George Hoff will now attempt to bring the matter before the MN Supreme Court. Wyoming Township recently rejected the city's proposed settlement offer that would allow residents of the township to decide for themselves if they wanted to be annexed by Stacy.