Centerville Tidbits
Council Makes 2010 Appointments
The Centerville City Council made its 2010 appointments at the last meeting of 2009.
Appointed once again as acting mayor was Council Member Jeff Paar; council members Linda Broussard Vickers and Ben Fehrenbacher will serve on the Centennial Fire District Steering Committee; Mayor Mary Capra, Paar, Fehrenbacher and City Administrator Dallas Larson will have check-signing authority; Fehrenbacher will serve on the North Metro Telecommunications Commission; Capra and Broussard Vickers will represent the city on the Centennial Lakes Police Commission; Capra will serve as liaison to the Parks & Recreation Committee and Council Member D. Love to the Planning & Zoning Commission; in addition to other appointments.
Residents Jenny Dosch and Michelle Lakso will join council members on the Economic Development Authority.
The Planning & Zoning Commission will consist of: Roland Parrucci, James Wekseth, Jesse Lange, Thomas Wood, Mark Pangell, Eric Larson and Darrin Mosher.
The Parks & Recreation Committee will consist of: Kevin Selander, Kevin Amundsen, Brian Peterson, Patrick Branch, Suzanne Seeley, Jon Grahek and Mark Haiden.
Smith & Glaser will continue as city attorney; Bonestroo as city engineer; Ken Toltzman as assessor; Abdo, Eick and Meyers, Inc. as auditor; Otter Lake Animal Care Center and the Centennial Lakes Police Department as animal control; The Citizen as the city’s legal newspaper; and Central Bank as the city’s legal depository.
In other action on Dec. 29, the council:
• Was apprised of the monthly Centennial Lakes Police Report by liaison Sgt. Pat Aldrich. Aldrich said that several incidents of vandalism have occurred, one at LaMotte Park and several involving parked vehicles, one of which was a “smash and grab” operation where a purse was stolen from a locked car during business hours. The council was also notified that Monique Sahlstrom is the department’s newly appointed Community Service Officer.
• Approved successful performance reviews for Kim Stephan, city secretary/receptionist, and Teresa Bender, city clerk. Council also acknowledged Bender’s milestone of 10 years of service to the citizens of Centerville.
• Approved an updated Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Lino Lakes for ongoing municipal water interconnection.
• Following discussion at several council meetings, authorized the expenditure of up to $4,778 to provide emergency power hookup capability for the city’s Well No. 2 in the event of a widespread power outage. Although the city will not purchase a generator at this time, the electrical work—to be provided by Aid Electric Corp. of Blaine—will make it possible to use one if necessary. “It’s not uncommon for cities to take that extra precaution,” Larson said.
• Granted a special event permit, temporary liquor license and temporary charitable gambling permit for the 2010 Centerville Lions Ice Fishing Contest.
• Approved a Community Development Block grant application to pursue municipal water connections in certain areas of the city.
• Agreed to provide a letter of support to Anoka County as it pursues increasing the availability of high speed broadband and fiber-optic connectivity within the county.
• Acknowledged Larson’s comment that dealing with the issue of snowmobiles on the new city sidewalks along Main Street was a “work in progress.” The city has been plowing the new bituminous trail, but not all areas of the sidewalk have been shoveled by private property owners as is required by ordinance. Snowmobilers are using the sidewalk for travel, which will ultimately result in damage to the concrete. Property owners were also asked to keep fire hydrants clear of snow, which is in “everybody’s interest,” Larson said.