Nisswa to erect signs directing motorists to downtown

Nisswa will receive two new signs directing motorists to downtown after extensive road construction last year altered the entrances to the city.

The city council on Wednesday, June 18, approved requests for two signs with an arrow pointing toward downtown - one located at the roundabout just east of the stoplight at Highway 371 and County Road 18, and the other on County Road 18 before Lakers Lane.

Cost is $250 per sign, with the chamber and city paying for one each.

The decorative "Nisswa Welcomes You" sign that formerly was at the city's entrance at Main Street and Highway 371 before road construction will be put up at the roundabout, the new city entrance.

The council discussed erecting another type of "Nisswa" sign on the west side of southbound Highway 371. The city will continue discussion of that sign with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

Surveillance cameras

After researching the possibility of installing surveillance cameras in downtown Nisswa after an act of vandalism at the new chamber Welcome Center building several months ago, the council decided June 18 not to install any system now.

Council member Joe Meyer said he obtained four bids, ranging from $8,000 to $30,000 with recurring monthly costs.

"So this has grown legs that I didn't expect," Meyer said, noting a surveillance camera system is not a 2014 budgeted item. He wants to explore funding options for the future, and said the Nisswa Lions Club had indicated it may contribute toward a system.

When asked about vandalism, police chief Craig Taylor said there has been no recurring incidents, but there have been some events where a surveillance system would have been useful.

Public safety

Police had 190 calls for service in May. Activity included 67 traffic warnings, 35 traffic citations, 29 agency assists, eight medicals, eight alarms and one arrest.

Fire Chief Richard Geike said firefighters had just a few fire calls in the past month, but kept busy with 25-30 medical calls.

In other business June 18, the council:

• Approved a resolution asking Crow Wing County to act as the fiscal agent for $91,930 in grant money for the Lower Cullen Road bridge replacement project. Estimated project cost is $177,153, with the city responsible for $85,223.

• Learned the Lending Library given to the city will temporarily be located at the Welcome Center building.

• Received a list of Nisswa Lake Park Steering Committee members put together by Loren Wickham, city planner. The committee first met June 19. Its role is the create a master plan for Nisswa Lake Park, connecting Lake Nisswa to downtown.

• Set a public hearing for the 2014 street reconstruction plan for Lower Cullen Road and Main Street for July 16.

• Adopted a land use ordinance amendment regarding fences.

• Entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation regarding maintenance of recent landscaping along Highway 371 and South Main Street.

• Approved an on-sale/off-sale taproom license for Gull Dam Brewery.

• Appointed election judges.