Keep the recycling center where it is, most Nisswa survey respondents say

NISSWA — Nisswa’s recycling survey garnered 417 responses with nearly 80% indicating they want the recycling center to remain behind the fire hall.

People also want the city to promote curbside recycling.

The council had been exploring a different location - at the existing demolition gravel pit near the new sewer plant off Lower Roy Lake Road. The city’s public works committee agreed to explore options after residents at a public hearing in April objected to moving recycling from downtown to the new proposed location.

The city council learned at its regular meeting Tuesday, July 19, that an update and/or possible recommendation from the public works committee could come in August for council consideration.

Expanding and relocating the city recycling area has been discussed for nearly two years because the current site is showing its age, needs repair, is undersized and interferes with fire hall operations.

There are also safety concerns.

City Administrator Jenny Max talked to the council about legislation that makes it legal in Minnesota to sell certain edibles and beverages infused with tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the cannabis ingredient extracted from hemp.

Max brought up questions and the potential impacts to the city and sought guidance or ideas from the council.

Specifically, she questioned possible impacts for police/public safety, planning and zoning and municipal liquor operations.

Questions include how enforcement procedures should be handled, regulation from a planning and zoning perspective and whether such products should be allowed to be sold in municipal liquor stores.

“I do not believe the city can legally prohibit this activity outright (without a solid legal rationale), but we can regulate this activity to certain zoning districts and other methods of licensing,” Max wrote in a memo.

City council member Mark Froehle said he’d like to prohibit the sale of this in the downtown district.

Council consensus was to get business feedback.

Police had 303 incident reports in June. Activity included 164 traffic violation warnings; 38 vehicle equipment violations; 20 citations for various violations, including speeds of 100 mph and 95 mph; and five traffic arrests, including fleeing in a motor vehicle, driving after cancellation inimical to public safety, two warrants and one DWI.

Other calls included 39 agency assists, 19 medicals, seven property damage crashes, two personal injury crashes and three thefts.

Firefighters had 51 calls in June, including 41 emergency medical services calls, three grass fires, three alarms, one car crash, one tree on powerline, one vehicle fire and one storm cleanup where 19 firefighters worked for two hours.

In other business July 19, the council:

• Met an hour before the regular meeting for a discussion about the 2023 budget.

• Accepted a $27,000 donation from the Nisswa Lions Club for an eight-person capacity rescue boat for the Nisswa Fire Department. Nisswa Fire Chief said Brainerd and Crosslake are the only area cities with a rescue boat.

The council heard from Shawn Hansen, of the Nisswa Lions Club, who said that between July 2021 and June 2022 the club donated more than $230,000 to communities.

• Heard from Jon Lubke, Jenkins mayor for nearly 15 years and candidate for the Crow Wing County District 2 commissioner seat.
• Moved City Planner Bethany Soderlund off probationary status and approved a pay adjustment effective Aug. 1. Soderlund began her job Jan. 31.
• Increased pay for Nisswa election judges to $15 per hour, up from $12 per hour in 2020.
• Adopted a proposed ordinance amendment as a result of updated brewery packaging and distribution legislation. The council first held a public hearing on the amendment, where no one commented.

The new legislation allows expansion of brewer liquor licenses and pertains to off-sale brewer taproom licenses for growlers and nongrowlers.
Roundhouse Brewery sought the amendment.

• Approved the preliminary plat of Nisswa Crossings, a proposed development of 22 single-family residential building sites on 15.7 acres off County Road 18 that would be served by a shared private water system and municipal sewer system.

Thomas Dehn is the applicant and Terra Vista Developers, Inc. is the owner.
The city’s planning commission previously approved a conditional use permit for a planned unit development and recommended approval of the preliminary plat.

Regarding concerns about Pine Haven Road, council consensus was that construction trucks should use County Road 18.

• Learned a parks master plan survey remains open until the end of July at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NisswaParks .

Find recordings of Nisswa City Council meetings on the city's YouTube channel.

Nancy Vogt, editor, may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com . Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.