Centerville Tidbits
P&Z Commission Now Fully Staffed
There will be a new face at the next Planning & Zoning Commission meeting in Centerville. Council members voted to appoint candidate Roland Parrucci to the commission at the council meeting on Nov. 14.
Parrucci, who has lived in the city since 2000, was interviewed by the five city council members prior to the meeting.
He told the panel, "Since I have moved to the city, the community has exploded and I think you are facing probably two conflicting portions of the city.
"You have the new residents who are looking at development, and you have your old residents who say, 'Let's leave things as they are.'"
His appointment completes the Planning and Zoning Commission, which was left with two vacancies last month. One vacancy was immediately filled by Darrin Mosher, who agreed to leave the Parks & Recreation Committee for the new appointment.
Parrucci added, "I think the upcoming years are going to be a real test for Centerville with the strong communities of Hugo and Lino Lakes on either side."
Pumphouse Makeover Approved
City council members also voted to authorize the repair and upgrading of the pumphouse at Well No. 1 in Tracie McBride Memorial Park. A budget not to exceed $14,500 has been set for the project.
City Administrator Dallas Larson told the council, "It has a roof issue from hail this summer. The insurance company is going to pay $1,000 for the roof, though it may be a little more because a window was also broken.
"It's a rather tired-looking building."
A proposal to upgrade the pumphouse using 480 square feet of cultured stone was rejected as that portion of the project alone would have cost more than $12,000, putting the total cost at almost $25,000.
In other action, the council:
. Approved the City of Centerville's claims for $138,456.32 for the period Oct. 25-Nov.14.
. Approved the claims submitted by Centennial Fire District for $13,846.48 through Nov. 7 and the Centennial Lakes Police Department for $22,683.77 through Nov. 7.
. Agreed to renew its contract for tornado siren maintenance with Embedded Systems Inc. for 2008 at a cost of $37.95 per siren per month.
. Voted to renew its contract for secretarial services with TimeSaver for 2008 at an increase of approximately 3 percent over its charges for 2007.
. Approved a successful performance review for city Finance Director John Meyer.
. Passed a resolution certifying to Anoka County delinquent sewer, water and garbage services from the third and fourth quarters of 2006 and first and second quarters of 2007. Delinquent utility charges will be assessed to those responsible residents through their 2008 county property tax statements.
. Resolved the city's grass mowing services certification/assessments for 2008.
. Heard a request from a member of Eagle Pass Townhome Association for additional street lighting within the development. Council members asked the association to make a formal request and were interested to know if the association would be prepared to share the associated costs.
. Approved a request to schedule a public hearing on the question of the vacation of easements at 1588 and 1580 Sorel Street, and granted preliminary plat approval to the Hanson/Marshall lot line adjustment.
. Resolved to accept proposals on the sale of $2.6 million G.O. improvement bonds to finance the city's projects to improve CSAH 14, Old Mill Road and Fairview Street.
. Authorized the mayor to sign an application for a grant under the Safe Routes To School program regarding the construction of a pedestrian and bike trail underpass at CSAH 14 to benefit the students of Centerville Elementary School.
. Acknowledged the receipt of a petition and letter received from the residents of Chauncey Barett Gardens addressing rental rates at the development.
. Received a draft copy of the city's Wellhead Protection Plan. The 38-page document will now be finalized and presented to the city council for adoption at a subsequent meeting.
. Viewed the initial results of the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) associated with the city's downtown redevelopment project. City Engineer Mark Statz told the council that the formal 30-day public comment period had now closed and all remarks would now be collated. He added, "The EAW lays out what our plan is as to how we are going to keep dust down during the project and how we are going to make sure turtles can get across the road and so on."