By Patrick Tepoorten

In Rush City, the Olson Funeral Chapel wants to expand. It isn't sure how or where just yet, but owner Mike Carroll asked for and received approval from the Rush City council to pursue vacating an unused portion of Avenue C, directly to the west of the chapel's current location.

The portion of Avenue C directly to the north of the piece in question has already been vacated. The council scheduled a public hearing on Carroll's request for Aug. 13. In the meantime, Carroll was asked to determine if any infrastructure, such as gas, water, sewer, or electrical lines are buried along the roadway.

The Olson Chapel also owns property west of Avenue C, and the vacation would give the chapel contiguous property between the railroad and Forest Blvd. How Carroll might use the property for expansion has not yet been determined.

In other city news:

• Members were appointed to the Rush City Economic Development Authority. Named were Tim McDonald, Dennis Kaufmann, Dave Chmiel, Rick Hurley, Bob Oskarson, and council representatives Nic Malchow and Nancy Swanson.

• The state demographer's office estimates the population of Rush City at 3,056 as of April, 2006. There are an estimated 801 households in the city.

• A closure of Dana Ave., from 2nd Street to 4th Street, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Aug. 7, was approved. The closure is to accommodate National Night Out, which will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

• Resolutions ordering the preparation of final plans and specifications for road improvements on both Jay Avenue and in the Rush Landing development were approved.