As recommended by the park board, the Pequot Lakes City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 5, approved the following design options for Trailside Park improvements that are scheduled to begin in the spring:
• Multi-purpose building on a 3-2 council vote with council members Scott Pederson and Jerry Akerson opposed to the building design.
• 4-foot deep pond with aeration feature on a 4-1 vote with Akerson opposed, citing safety reasons.
Fire Chief Tom Nelson said the fire department is opposed to any standing water for safety reasons, especially near the playground. Public works supervisor Mike Loven questioned maintenance for a pond, needed water volume and general safety.
Pederson said it's a multi-use park and there are many other parks with ponds.
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• Flag display with flags on both sides of walking paths.
• Splash park on 4-1 vote with Akerson opposed.
• Metal tree design for a trellis.
In other business Dec. 5, the council:
• Learned Shannon Schmidt and his brother want to open an off-sale liquor and convenience store on the corner lot of Gravdahl Street and County State Aid Highway 11 near city hall, which was his grandfather's property. He was told city ordinance doesn't allow off-sale liquor licenses within 500 feet of a school or church, and that he should measure how far the property is from St. Alice Catholic Church.
• Heard a presentation from Sheila Haverkamp from the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp. and accepted a 2018 agreement with BLAEDC for $7,500 (the same as 2017). Haverkamp explained BLAEDC's work and how it is helping the city, including with the city's 80 acres south of the business park.
• Approved the Kitchigami Regional Library System 2018 service contract, where the KRLS will give the Pequot Lakes Library $5,000 to acquire materials. This is a $1,000 decrease in funding from this year.
• Approved the 2018 fee schedule with several changes.
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• Adopted a special event banner policy.
• Agreed to hire Joshua Cameron, Evan Hayes, Lillie Pearo and Nathan Schwankl as firefighters.
• Learned police had 321 calls for service in October.
• Discussed a quote from Anderson Brothers of $123,442 to pave North Sluetter Road. Last month, the council agreed to obtain the cost to bring Sluetter Road to city standards, with plans to then agree to pave the road if residents on that street pay for the Loon Lake Township portion ($62,500) of cost. The city could then budget for this road improvement in 2019. The council will wait to hear back from Sluetter Road residents.
• Appointed a Rasmussen Road improvement project committee of city staff and council members.
• Approved a Pequot Lakes community logo for the slogan "The Heart of the Good Life."
• Agreed to meet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 to prioritize projects for 2018.
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