Alexandria City Council plans for 2012 street projects

Talk about it

In addition to making a decision about Thomas Drive (see related story), the Alexandria City Council acted on a variety of other issues at its meeting Monday.

The council:

--Approved a $42,588 engineering agreement with Widseth Smith Nolting and Associates for city street projects next year. The projects include Lake Street (from 3rd to 4th Avenue), Geneva Drive (from Lake Crest Drive North to Geneva Drive), Terrace Court (from Lake Crest Drive to the south end of the cul-de-sac), Meadow Court (from Lake Crest Drive to the east end of the cul-de-sac), Sara Avenue (from Birch Avenue to the east end of the cul-de-sac), South Oak Knoll (from McKay Avenue to Park Place), East Oak Knoll (from Oak Knoll Drive to Thomas Drive) and Park Place (from Oak Knoll Drive to Cranberry Lane). Survey work is expected to begin immediately. The cost of the agreement was based on a total project cost estimate of $279,196.

--Listened to reports from the street department and park department. (Follow-up stories are planned for Friday’s issue.)

--Issued a conditional use permit to Daniel Thorud’s used car dealership, Lakes Area Country Motors, allowing it to display up to 65 vehicles west of the building once known as The Barn, next to the Holiday Inn.

--Applied for a $10,000 grant to design and construct an informational kiosk at Big Ole Central Park. Park Director Bill Thoennes requested the action.

--Agreed to temporarily block off 2nd Avenue from traffic one block east of Broadway for the Runestone Museum’s Christmas in the Fort celebration on Friday, November 25 from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. A section of North Broadway from Downtown Liquor to Big Ole Central Park will also be blocked for the event.

--Agreed to sell three city trucks, once used by the Runestone Community Center and the park department, to the highest bidders. City Administrator Jim Taddei noted that the city received a high number of bids – 25 for a 1988 Chevrolet four-by-four with plow (it was sold to Oliver Buse for $3,555); three for a 1989 Ford utility truck (sold to Bill Bursch for $1,500); and seven for a 1992 Chevrolet four-by-two (sold to Jerry Anderson for $800).

--Authorized Deputy Clerk Kathy Summer to apply for a state grant to purchase handicapped-accessible voting booths, along with signs and transfer cases. The overall request is for $19,903.

--Heard about a cooperative agreement that’s in the works to apply for a grant through the Small Cities Development Program that would fix up houses and apartments in Alexandria, Glenwood, Osakis and Starbuck. The grant would provide up to $10,000 per housing unit with the state picking up 70 percent of the cost and the owners the rest. The Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Authority would be the lead agency for the grant. Details about the dollar amount of the grant and other specifics will be presented at the council’s November 14 meeting. A pre-application is due November 17.

Tags: local news, alexandria city council, news