“Basically, all they have left is to finish laying the sod and the second layer of bituminous,” Pete Carlson, city engineer, said.
As of Wednesday night’s council meeting, the sod on First Street and Washburne Avenue had been laid. Crews were working on Augusta Avenue.
S. J. Louis, contractors on the project, will be watering the newly laid sod for 30 days, then it is up to the individual homeowners to water the sod.
The council approved a flat rate reduction to homeowners needing to water sod as part of the 1998 project. The reduction is not to exceed $20.
Carlson said the lift station on the west end was operational as of July 22. “Workers are already starting to prepare the street for paving,” he added.
In other business:
•The council authorized the preparation of a tax increment financing plan to assist Louis Industries with a $2 million expansion plan.
“Cecil and Leo Louis will also be applying for a $150,000 loan from the Economic Development Association of Paynesville (EDAP) revolving loan fund,” Dennis Wilde, city administrator, said.
“They would like to have the project completed by the first of the year,” Wilde added. A tentative date of Sept. 9 has been set for a public hearing on the proposed TIF district.
•The council approved the proposed setback requirements in the county feedlot ordinance if a three-mile conditional use area were established around the city.
Wilde met with Don Adams, Stearns County Environmental Director, and other city clerks to discuss the proposed ordinance.
“Thus far, the county has heard mainly from area farmers and feedlot operators, about the proposed ordinance,” Wilde said. The council wants to hear from others within the county. A meeting has been set up with various lake associa-tions, he added. Three more public hearings will be held in August, the closest is set for Cold Spring.
If a three-mile conditional use area is established by the county, this would mean that any application within the three-mile circle would require a conditional use permit, with the affected city being notified of the public hearing.
•The council approved a request from the Chamber of Commerce to use the city boom truck and an operator to help with installing brackets for the new Christmas lights and for hanging and taking down the lights.
•The council approved declaring the old pilots’ lounge surplus property. The lounge is a 10 by 12-foot insulated building with lights, outlets and a gable roof. The city will be advertising the building and accepting sealed bids.