Centerville Tidbits
Park Pay Request is Reduced, Then Passed After Lively Remarks
At its July 25 meeting, the Centerville City Council approved a $62,413.50 payment to Veit & Company for work completed at Hidden Spring Park after rejecting the company's request for a larger payment of $119,785.65.
The 3-1 vote in favor of the lowered payment followed a presentation by Kevin Amundsen of the Parks and Recreation Committee detailing construction problems he's observed at the park site.
While all parties acknowledged that on the whole the park looks great, Amundsen's concerns about the park's shoreline restoration, rain garden, and artesian well were seconded by Council Members Tom Lee and Jeff Paar, both of whom voted against a compromise resolution that would've paid Veit & Company $75,187.40.
"[Additional] payment will be very forthcoming as soon as it's proved to me that that rain garden drains as it's supposed to," Lee said, referencing one of the specific construction issues detailed by Amundsen.
Paar voted against the final resolution, and Mayor Mary Capra was absent from the meeting.
Beard Group Purchases Chunk of Downtown Property
Council approved a purchase agreement with Centerville Mainstreet, LLC, the working name of the Beard Group, for the sale of "City Block 7" to the private company as part of the first phase of the city's downtown redevelopment.
"City Block 7" extends from Sorrel Street in the north to Heritage Street in the south, and from Centerville Road in the east to Goiffon Road in the west.
This purchase agreement represents the first instance of the city officially selling publicly owned property to the Beard Group as part of the redevelopment project.
According to Mayor Mary Capra, who wasn't at the meeting but was reached for comment afterwards, the city owns about two-thirds of the property in the block, with private homes on the other third.
Capra said that the Beard Group is approaching some of the private property owners to gauge interest in selling those properties.
Downtown Redevelopment Environmental Study Approved
Council authorized Bonestroo engineering to begin work on a $41,577 Environmental Assessment Worksheet that will look at how the city's downtown redevelopment will affect the surrounding area.
Along with the infrastructure study, which was approved by council at its July 11 meeting, the EAW is one of two major studies that have to be completed before construction on the first phase of the project can begin.
"We really need to push [the EAW] forward in order to get street construction out for bid next spring," said City Administrator Dallas Larson.
Linda Broussard Vickers voted against the EAW without explaining her opposition. With Mayor Mary Capra not in attendance, the final tally was 3-1 in favor.
In other action, the council.
- Approved the submittal of a grant application to Anoka County's Department of Employment and Economic Development. The grant money would help cover some of the costs associated with the second phase of the city's downtown redevelopment. Earlier in the year, the city was awarded a grant of $588,000 from the same department to help pay for the first phase of the downtown project.
- Denied Bobby and Steve's Auto World's request for a Conditional Use Permit to operate an auto repair business at 7137 20th Avenue South. A CUP request was filed last spring on behalf of Bobby and Steve's by Jason Snyder, but Snyder hasn't provided the city with the information necessary for the CUP to be approved, nor has he attended the meetings and public hearings during which his application has been discussed.
- Approved Ashley Jenkins' request for a transient merchant, peddler permit. It isn't entirely clear what products or services Jenkins will be peddling, as the city's peddler permit application doesn't require applicants to specify what they will be selling.
- Approved the first pay request from Gustafson Excavating, Inc., for work completed on the Fairview Street improvements for an amount of $149,785.65.
- Approved the successful performance reviews of Public Works maintenance employee Allen Anderson and Account Clerk Kris Sweeney.
- Approved a $200 budget for city-provided refreshments at the upcoming sesquicentennial celebration.