Dear reader,
Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Now more than ever, your Quad Community Press newspaper needs your support. We need 659 more paid subscribers to reach our sustainable goal of 20%. Last chance to be entered in our $250 gift card drawing. See page 11 for more information. Thank you,
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
Carter Johnson, Publisher
8121 Lake Drive, Lino Lakes Mon - Thurs 8am - 6pm Fri 8am - 5:30pm LENFERAUTO.COM (651) 784-6328
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 VOL. 40 NO. 30 www.quadcommunitypress.com $1.00
FOOD SHELF: Looks for ways to better serve the community PAGE 2
Project Banjo: ‘Still a lot of what ifs’ BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
FILE PHOTO
Get ready to fish
For serious anglers in Minnesota, the fishing opener is a sacred holiday and the unofficial beginning of summer—a day that roughly half a million anglers eagerly await each year. Some think of it purely as the walleye opener, but the season opener includes a number of species that reside in Minnesota waters, such as northern pike, trout, and—in some areas of the state— bass. This year’s fishing opener will occur one week later than usual on Saturday, May 14. That’s because Minnesota state statute requires the opener to occur precisely two weeks before the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.
CENTERVILLE — A proposal from a business code-named “Project Banjo” will move on to the City Council later this month with a lengthy list of conditions and “what ifs.” Project Banjo has submitted zoning applications for a 141,000-square-foot fulfillment center on the 40 acres of land (Rehbein property) between 20th and 21st avenues and north of Fairview Street. The facility would include a large covered loading area for delivery vans and could employ approximately 600 people. The business has asked the city to sign a nondisclosure agreement to protect its identity and “trade secrets” from competitors. The Planning Commission recently considered a site plan review, preliminary plat and conditional use permit (CUP) for a planned unit development as well as a few other CUPs related to the project. The applicants are RJ Ryan Companies and current owner R & R Leasing Inc. “You decided to consider project as a PUD,” said City Planner Phil Carlson. “There are enough issues, and it is complex enough, that city code does allow you to consider it a PUD. That way, the city city can negotiate with the applicant and come up SEE PROJECT BANJO, PAGE 10
Lino Lakes seeking short-term and long-term solution for fire fleet BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
LINO LAKES — The public safety department is looking for both a short-term and long-term solution after one of its apparatuses had to be taken out of service. Aerial 11 had its annual Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Fire Protection (NFPA) inspection last month. The inspection found that the vehicle’s frame has catastrophic rust jacking. Rust happens
when iron and oxygen react, usually in the presence of water. Public Safety Director John Swenson said the problem was first found during the annual inspection that was completed shortly after Lino Lakes took possession of the vehicle from the Centennial Fire District in 2016. Each year, the apparatus has been inspected and monitored for rust, but this year the rust was too great, and the truck failed the inspection. The main benefit of having Aerial 11 in the city’s SEE FIRE FLEET, PAGE 15
WE DON’T JUST PROMISE QUALITY...
CONTRIBUTED
Project Banjo has submitted zoning applications for a 141,000-square-foot fulfillment center on the 40 acres of land (Rehbein property) between 20th and 21st avenues and north of Fairview Street in Centerville.
WE GUARANTEE IT, FOR LIFE!
24408 Greenway Ave | 651.464.6477 | www.BillsAutoBodyMN.com NEWS 651-407-1227 quadnews@presspubs.com
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
A FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED AUTO BODY SHOP IN FOREST LAKE, MINNESOTA.
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 artmanager@presspubs.com
736505
certified collision repair, hail damage repair and auto body services