Lino plans street fix

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER INTERIM EDITOR

LINO LAKES — Two major street improvement projects are planned for neighborhoods near Reshanau Lake in 2023.

The first is a street rehabilitation project that will affect Black Duck Drive, Crystal Court, Mallard Lane, East Shadow Lake Drive, Lantern Lane, Lantern Circle and Partridge Drive. Part of Black Duck Drive will undergo a fulldepth pavement reclamation, while the other areas will get a mill and overlay. The project will also include curb and gutter repairs, repairs to the water system, and repairs to the storm sewer.

The full-depth reclamation will be a complete replacement of 4 inches of blacktop material. The excess loose material will be hauled away to public works for use in trails and maintenance, explained City Engineer Diane Hankee. The mill and overlay will serve to replace the “crown” of the roadway that has been worn down over time, adding about 1.5 inches of pavement.

Part of this neighborhood has an older-style street foundation that Hankee referred to as a “burrito,” or heavy sand wrapped in geosynthetic fabric.

“A reclamation wouldn’t have worked with that structure there, because we would have been reclaiming into that material,” she said. After assessment, a mill and overlay was determined to be the

SEE STREET FIX, PAGE 5

Safety (LLVIPS), police volunteers

Why do we have fish fries during Lent?

For Christians, Lent is a season of solemnity, where people practice self-denial and atonement leading up to Easter, when they commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So how do allyou-can-eat-with-allthe-fixings fish fries at local restaurants and churches figure into that?

The fish fry tradition is most strongly associated with the Roman Catholic community, but churches and organizations of all denominations (or none at all) have participated.

(the Guns, that is) have so far held an unbroken winning streak. But event organizer Wes Pederson suspects this may be the year the fire division breaks the pattern. The

SEE GUNS -N-HOSES, PAGE 5

According to Wikipedia, the ritual of fasting during the Lenten season dates back to the first century CE. The practice has changed quite a bit over the centuries, but it started as a fast and was eventually established as a 40-day abstinence from the meat of warm-blooded animals. This form of penance was meant to recognize the suffering and forbearance of Christ's 40 days in the desert while he was tested by the devil. This year's Lenten season begins Feb. 22 and lasts until Easter Sunday, April 6. Fish fries are also a way to celebrate Midwestern roots, since many places in Minnesota and Wisconsin were settled by German and Polish Catholics who did not typically eat meat on Fridays. Proximity to freshwater lakes means that a fish fry might feature fresh walleye, bass, perch, bluegill or even catfish, in addition to the more widespread choices, cod and tilapia.

SEE BUSINESSES OFFERING FISH FRIES, PAGE 6

• Volunteer opportunities abound for citizens seeking to play an important role in the running of their city. A City Council seat is still vacant, after council tabled appointing a candidate to fill that opening to give more people the opportunity to come forward. The seat remains open for another two weeks. Contact City Hall at 651-429-3232 with questions or visit the city's website at www.centervillemn. com for an application. Council meets in council chambers at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.

• For those who prefer to work their way up the leadership ladder, two opportunities are available to do just that.

Open seats remain on the Planning and Zoning Commission, which meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in council chambers, and on the Parks and Recreation Committee, which meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month in council chambers.

• The city is doing due diligence to maintain its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit by fulfilling the education and outreach portion of its requirements. To this end, Centerville is partnering with the Anoka Conservation District to teach about stormwater stewardship by producing a short animated video about rivers. With council approval, the city is contributing $250 to cover production costs of the video, using money from the stormwater utility fund.

• City Hall will become more secure, after council approved the installation of a security camera system in the amount of $6,417.80 using three providers. During the planning and design phase of the City Hall project, the city decided to delay installation of the system until the project was complete to better evaluate how the system would function with the actual finished product. All State Communications will install the system for $1,785; Marco Technologies LLC will provide the equipment for $3,507.80; and Metro I-Net will provide the software for $1,125. The total cost will be paid for from the general fund.

• The Centerville Elementary Medallion Hunt in Laurie LaMotte Park held during the week of Feb. 6 already happened but was made entirely legal, after council approved the park use permit for the event. This summer, kids sports camp and evening soccer are already made official, now that council approved the park use permit for ISD No. 12 Community Education summer programming in the same action that approved the medallion hunt.

• Property owners benefitting from the 2022 thin overlay project did not get out of their fiduciary responsibilities, after council tabled action on approving the assessment rolls at its Jan. 25 meeting.

• Uncertainty about the cost per household came up after a homeowner thought the amount was $600.

In the meantime, city staff confirmed that the cost per household is $650 and that amount was indicated on the notices mailed to residences. This was an important delay because the city may lower or adjust interest rates or the length of repayment to be more favorable to residents, but it may not raise assessments from those proposed and already communicated in writing. Therefore, since the public hearing was already conducted at the previ- ous meeting, council quickly approved the assessment rolls. Each household will pay $650. The city will receive $111,605 in assessment income for the city's street fund.

• The good news for Curtis Ventures LLC is that the developer of the American Roofing Supply project at 2050 and 2070 Main Street doesn't have to pay $5,850.75 in park dedication fees. The bad news is that it does have to pay $2,000 in park dedication fees now that council made that ruling. When the property owner questioned the validity of the fee, the City Council, granted authority by city code to act as the appeal board, gave the business due process and rendered the park fees valid. Council settled on $2,000 for the fee, rather than the fee assessed on the building permit. Mayor D. Love told the business owner, “ I know it's not exactly what you were looking for, but we try to take care of our businesses.”

• Elliot Engen, newly elected state representative for District 36A, stopped by council chambers to greet council members and to provide his contact information so that the city government and the public can reach him to talk about issues important to them. Several council members promised to do just that.

Some of the issues raised already include correcting the Local Government Aid funding formula so that small cities such as Centerville, for which the program was designed, can receive financial benefits from the state. Other funding concerns include funding for the Centennial School District, the loss of the market homestead exclusion and local transportation assistance for small cities. “At the end of day, this is most rewarding job I've ever had — even being on the wrong side of the (majority) aisle. I report to the voters, regardless of which party is in control,” Engen said.

• Keep your hair on, there could be a beauty salon coming to Main Street very soon. The owners of Guys and Dolls, who have been active in the industry for more than 20 years, stopped by council chambers to say hello and to signal their intent to construct a building that would house more than a dozen stylists to serve the beauty needs of the community.

• The city's mobile app has launched, said Assistant Administrator Athanasia Lewis. Look for it in your Google Play Store and Apple Store links.

The council next meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at City Hall, 1880 Main St.

Loretta B. Harding

CONTRIBUTED WINTER SEED SOWING WITH NATIVE PLANTS

When: 6-7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23

Where: Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 County Rd. F

Details: Learn the steps to kickstart your seed collection. Limited seeds available. Free.

Contact: 651-204-6070 or vlawmo.org/ events

FISH FRY

When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24

Where: St. John's Church, 14383 Forest Blvd. N., Hugo

Details: Annual Lenten fish fry with sponsored by the St. John's Men's Club of the Church of St. Genevieve. Free drawing for a bike, youth ages 6-12.

Contact: 651-429-7937

• A knock on your door might be the road to eco-friendly energy in the coming months. The city of Lino Lakes has issued a solicitor’s license to Everlight Solar, a Brooklyn Park business. Several company representatives plan to travel through Lino Lakes’ neighborhoods going door to door offering solar panel sales to interested potential clients. The license was issued for a period of six months, commencing Feb. 14, 2023.

• The City Council has approved the hiring of nine new part-time employees at The Rookery. The positions include aquatic instructors, child care attendants and lifeguards.

• The Lino Lakes Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has received permission to conduct a raffle at its school carnival event. The event is scheduled for April 22.

• City advisory boards and committees are filling out with citizen servants, as the city council has approved its 2023 appointments. Perry Laden, Patrick Kohler and Sara Jo R. Stewart will serve on the Planning and Zoning Board; William Kusterman, Kellie Schmidt, and Kathy Ballering will serve on the Parks Board; Alexander Schwartz, Shawn Holmes and Julie Nelson will serve on the Environmental Board; and Patrick Kohler, Chad Wagner and

Snowshoe Tour Of Franconia

When: 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Where: Franconia Sculpture Park, Intersection of highways 95 & 8

Details: Guided tour of the park followed by hot chocolate and cider around the fire pit. Includes snowshoeing howto and history lesson. Registration required.

Contact: franconia.org

SAM REEVES CONCERT

When: 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Where: Lakewood Worship Center, 2080 Woodlynn Ave., Maplewood

Details: Well-known Gospel and Jazz pianist performs. Liberian Dinner served following concert; call for reservations.

Contact: 651- 779-9177 or 651-226-4289

PETER MAYER

When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Where: Mahtomedi High School Fine Arts Center, 8000 75th St. N.

Details: All-ages show with songs about interconnectedness and songs for children. Tickets information online.

Contact: wildwoodartistseries.com

CRIBBAGE

When: 12:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27; the 4th Monday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Senior citizens from Hugo and surrounding area are invited to an afternoon of cribbage. Coffee and refreshments served.

Contact: 651-429-4413

CENTENNIAL BOOK CLUB FOR ADULTS

When: 6:45-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27

Where: Centennial Library, 100 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines

Details: Drop-in for a book discussion or become a regular member. This month's book is “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig.

Contact: 763-324-1540

LAKESHORE QUILTER'S GUILD

When: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28

Where: Shepherd of the Hills Church, 3920 Victoria St. N., Shoreview

Details: Learn about the first-ever member-owned quilt shop co-op in Minneapolis. Contact: quiltshopcoop.com

Nathan Vojtech will serve on the Economic Development Advisory Committee.

• The City Council has approved its 20232027 financial plan. Key highlights included that the tax levy is projected to increase from $12.9 million to 16.8 million over the duration of the five-year plan. The tax rate is projected to increase to 37.744% in 2027 from 34.935% in 2023. The increase can be attributed to several factors, including annual increases to the capital equipment replacement fund (Fund 402) operating tax levy, funding the replacement of two fire water tenders in 2023 and the addition of a debt service tax levy for the 2024 street reconstruction project. Construction of a new public works facility has been discussed by the council for many years, and this plan includes the project in 2026. Plans and specifications for a water treatment plant are scheduled in 2024. Financing will need to be obtained once final timelines and cost estimates are known.

• The city of Lino Lakes has hired new police officer Spencer Baldwin to fill one of three vacant police officer positions in the Lino Lakes Public Safety Department. Baldwin previously served as a correctional officer for Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office and will start with the Lino Lakes department March 6.

• Lino Lakes-based construction company