A few different individuals spoke during the open forum part of the recent Big Lake City Council meeting. They raised concerns over the progress of the streets project.

Karl Lepping spoke before the council regarding the lack of street lights on Maple Ln. He spoke to Raeanne Danielowski when she was the mayor of the city about adding street lights, and she directed him to city engineer Layne Otteson, who, according to Lepping, said streetlights would be added when the street was fixed. Lepping was concerned because the street construction just wrapped up and there are still no street lights. He said he’d heard from his neighbor the original contractor was supposed to put in lights when the street was first constructed, and that could possibly be an avenue for the city to pursue.

After a recent conversation with Otteson, Lepping said he was told the lights would be put in next spring, but Lepping was concerned for his wife and other older residents who need to cross the street, for example, to collect the mail, during the dark winter months without lighting. He pressed the council and Otteson to get the lights in sooner. 

Mike Gloudemans spoke next regarding the alley system along Lakeshore Dr. He spoke with Otteson about the alleys being in disrepair for some time, leading to snow plows being unable to do a sufficient job of clearing out the snow. He said historically the residents have had to take care of any issues without help from the city, but given the street projects on the west side of the lake it may be a good time for the city to look into maintaining those alleys. Understanding that this is not a project that was originally budgeted, Gloudemans suggested the city consider a plan to possibly share some of the costs with the residents to get the alleyway fixed up. 

Roger Stang spoke to agree with Gloudemans, saying he’s been maintaining his alleyway for more than 50 years during his residency at his Hennepin Ave. home. 

Street Improvement Project

Residents of Area B of the street improvement project, which includes Park Ave., Birch Ave., and Vernon St., has expressed a desire to not have work done on their streets, and so alternative areas are being considered. Otteson is working on a preliminary engineering plan for other areas, and an open hearing would be held in Nov. should the plan progress.

Council member Ken Halverson asked about addressing the alleyway situation brought up in open forum. Otteson said he thought it best to discuss that possibility during the council workshop following the meeting.

Mayor Paul Knier was concerned that the roads were being included in the project despite the fact that they hadn’t been considered bad enough to include in the original plan. Halverson disagreed, saying that work done sooner would be more cost-effective than roads that were put off. Council member Kim Noding added that the roads in question were all more than 20 years old and were clearly deteriorating. Council member Paul Seefeld agreed with the mayor, concerned that the project was growing exponentially. Otteson maintained that the roads in question were in poor enough shape that it was worth it.

The council approved adding the roads to the plan, with the knowledge that an open house and engineering report would determine whether the project is viable.

Police Dept. News

As part of the consent agenda, Sgt. Sam Olson was named acting chief of the police dept. as Chief Matt Hayen is under a complaint investigation. The city has not yet been forthcoming about the nature of the complaint. At the end of the meeting, Mayor Paul Knier reminded the audience that Olson’s appointment to acting chief does not mean anything is decided (presumably regarding the Chief Hayen case.)

Also as a part of the consent agenda, Kyle Rossberg, formerly of Golden Valley, was hired as a new patrol officer, contingent on a successful background check and psychological review. 

Olson later gave the department update for September. 

Security Cameras Purchase

City staff has been looking into purchasing security cameras for the liquor store and the wastewater treatment facility. The total cost could be up to $77,440,40, though staff may choose to install fewer cameras. The technicians who originally looked into installing the cameras had an incorrect diagram of the store, so it is possible, which more research fewer cameras will be needed. 

The cameras in the liquor store are being installed as a result of some recent thefts. An organized group of criminals who targeted liquor stores was recently caught in Wayzata. Store manager Greg Zurbey stated that one theft the store recently faced resulted in over $300 of products being stolen.

Zurbey also noted that the cameras will also help in the case of insurance claims, should a customer slip and fall, for example. Outside cameras will also be replaced. Recently, an unidentified person dumped an old mattress behind the store and drove off. With new cameras, staff and law enforcement would be able to identify anyone committing a similar crime. 

Fire Dept. Update

Fire Chief Seth Hansen reported there were 38 calls for service for the previous month, including one where a homeowner who was moving decided to burn some unwanted items, unattended. Hansen assured the council the individual received several hefty fines and a bill for service.

Hansen thanked the members who reached out with goodies on 9/11, and the liquor store who held a fundraiser for the department.

In Other Business, the Council:

• Issued a change order for the streets project due to delays caused by lack of materials and truck drivers;

• Gave board and committee reports.