Those who enjoy deer hunting with a bow may have a new option this fall – the Alexandria city limits.

At its meeting Monday night, the Alexandria City Council directed city staff to take steps to establish a municipal archery deer hunt. They'll work with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to organize the hunt and set timelines.

The council has discussed the possibility of authorizing a deer hunt for months after residents raised concerns about the growing number of deer in the city limits and the damage they're causing to gardens, trees and other property.

On April 26, the council took input from members of the public regarding the possibility of deer hunt. About a half-dozen residents favored the idea, although they raised some concerns about trespassers, deer baiting and the possibility of wounded deer running across city streets.

Since that meeting, the council continued to accept input through email: publicinput@alexandriamn.city.

The city received 13 emailed comments. Eight supported a hunt while five were against it, according to City Administrator Marty Schultz.

The council offered another opportunity for the public to speak at the May 10 meeting but no one stepped forward.

City staff has researched how other cities conduct municipal deer hunts. Representatives from the Viking Sportsman and the Minnesota DNR also attended a meeting to offer their insights.

Detective retires after serving city 25 years

A new police officer will be hired soon to fill a vacancy that will be left by Detective Jay Halverson’s retirement on May 31.

Halverson has served the city for 25 years as a patrol officer, drug task force agent and his role in the investigative office, according to Police Chief Scott Kent.

“I would speculate that he has conducted hundreds, if not thousands, of cases of child welfare, interviewed thousands of people and conducted hundreds of search warrants on cases involving narcotics, robbery, homicide, and the full spectrum of person crimes,” Kent told the council.

Halverson plans to spend a lot more time with his wife, Angie, and his two daughters, Hadyn and Jalyn.

Halverson told the council that it was a pleasure to serve the Alexandria community and that he and his family will be staying in the area. He plans to spend some time as a "freelance" hunter and fisherman.

The council authorized Kent to begin the hiring process.

The Edge Company gets liquor licenses

The council issued on-sale liquor and wine licenses to The Edge Company – a new boutique retail store and coffee bar that is opening at 624 Broadway in the building that once housed the Ben Franklin store.

Owners Mick Miller, and his daughter, Kiyanna Miller, said they plan to serve coffee, beer, wine and fresh deli sandwiches, such as oven-roasted turkey, ham, salami and chicken salad.

Sandwiches will be served with a bag of chips, pickle and, during the winter, soup. They also plan to offer pastries, bagels, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt and other items.

This is a change from their original plan to serve pre-packaged foods heated in a microwave. At its April 12 meeting, the council voted to table the liquor license request because it didn't meet city ordinances for serving alcohol. The ordinance requires meals to be prepared on the premises instead of pre-packaged food.

The Edge Company’s new seating plan accommodates more than 50 people and includes tabletop, bar, private and lounge seating. The Millers said the layout is designed to offer people the flexibility to have a private work meeting, a casual coffee date or a quick lunch.

Food trucks and other licenses

Two food trucks received licenses from the city – Bark ‘n Pig Smokehouse BBQ, owned by Dean Clausen, and The Back 40 Woodfire Pizza, owned by Alan Arends.

The council also approved a transient merchant license to Craig Berg, doing business as Cooler Treats.

A transient merchant license request from Tracy Hayes was tabled. In his application, Hayes said he planned to sell bottled water, pop, chips, candy and other items. The council wanted to know what the "other items" included. "It's a little vague," said council member Bill Franzen.

Several other licenses and permits were approved:

• A special event permit for the Alexandria Jaycees “Ole Oppe Fest” on May 28-30 at Big Ole Central Park. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on May 28, which includes set-up. It will continue from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on May 29 and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 30. Second Avenue from Broadway to Kenwood will be blocked off. The celebration will include music, a car show, vendor fair, children’s activities, bean bag tournament and possibly a motorcycle show. Alcohol won’t be served this year.

• A special event permit for West Central United Basketball’s “Battle on the Blacktop” on June 5-6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will take place at the Matt Kjelland Memorial Courts.

• Outdoor fireworks sales for TNT Fireworks to operate out of a tent at 209 Nokomis St.

• Reserved off-street parking for Kvale Real Estate. Three parking stalls behind his business at 609 Broadway will be reserved.

• A temporary one-day on-sale liquor license for the Legacy of the Lakes Museum for its annual "Music in the Gardens" event on Aug. 6.

• On-sale beer and wine licenses to Great Hunan.

Traffic will get calmer at intersection

Drivers who speed through the intersection of North Park Street and Agnes Avenue will soon be forced to slow down.

The council voted to install a temporary traffic calming island at the intersection.

Council member Scott Allen, City Planner Mike Weber and City Engineer Tim Schoonhoven met with residents in the area who were concerned about the speeding problem.

The residents were worried about the safety of walkers, children and bicyclists in their neighborhood.

City staff conducted a traffic speed study at the location and found that about 76% of the drivers were traveling over the speed limit of 30 miles per hour.