Hugo Bits & Pieces
Not A Dead End—Yet
At its October 6 meeting, the Hugo City Council approved a motion directing staff to prepare a letter to Washington County, White Bear Township, the Met Council, and area school districts asking them to review the transportation section of the city of Grant’s latest draft Comprehensive Plan.
Residents living along Goodview Avenue in Grant and White Bear Township recently petitioned the two cities to close Goodview at the Hugo/Grant border. In response to the petition, Grant has converted Goodview Ave. into a ‘minimum maintenance road.’
But the Hugo City Council has consistently argued that Goodview Ave. should be adequately maintained and eventually paved, as the road is one of the main north-south thoroughfares in the area.
Council indicated that they hope the agencies that will receive the letter will work with the city of Grant toward a more satisfactory solution to the Goodview issue.
Market Thwarts Refinancing Effort
Council also rejected all bids for the sale of General Obligation tax increment refunding bonds due to unfavorable credit market conditions.
At a recent meeting, council approved a motion directing staff to try and refinance payments on $1,885,000 worth of bonds issued in 2000. The bonds were used to finance the construction of the city’s Bald Eagle Industrial Park.
The city’s financial consultant, Springsted, Inc., determined that the interest rates on the bonds could be lowered to between 4 and 5 percent. However, due to recent turmoil in the credit market, the lowest bid the city received for refinancing was 5.95 percent, a rate council deemed too high.
Otkin told council that he would continue to monitor market conditions in the hope of securing a more favorable rate.
In other action, the council:
• Directed staff to include discussion of the possibility of Hugo joining the Metro Transit Tax District on next I-35 W/E Coalition meeting agenda.
• Approved $7,850 in reimbursement payments to city employees for damage to their personal vehicles incurred as they responded to the May 25 tornado. The city will be seeking state assistance in covering the expenditure.
• Directed staff to review options for the construction of a new feeder distribution power line extending southwest from the Waters Edge neighborhood through Victor Gardens into Anoka County. Xcel Energy requested approval to construct the line in its right-of-way. More discussion will take place at the Oct. 20 council meeting.
• Approved the formal job description of the city’s Senior Engineering Technician and authorized staff to advertise to fill the position.
• Received a $3,485 donation to the Hugo Relief Fund from the Hugo Business Association. The funds were raised during a charitable golf tournament held on Sept. 13.
• Authorized a lawful gambling permit for the White Bear Lake Fast Pitch Association’s charitable fundraiser at the Hugo Legion on March 28, 2009.
• Approved the completion of the six-month probationary period for Community Development Assistant Dennis Fields and his appointment as a regular city employee.
• Approved the appointment of Brian Denaway as Temporary Permit Technician until Nov. 28. Denaway has been working as an intern for the city since April.
• Approved the appointment of Adam Greeder as an apprentice Public Works worker.
• Approved a variance for Bryan and Megan Schmidt, 12727 Homestead Drive, to construct a building addition 64.5 feet from the ordinary high water mark of Sunset Lake.
• Approved city sponsorship of the Hugo Health Fair, to be held on Nov.8 at Oneka Elementary School.
• Approved the ninth pay request from EnComm Midwest, Inc. for work completed on the city’s Well House No. 5 for an amount of $5,164.20.
Comments on our coverage? E-mail: Editor@ReadTheCitizen.com and let us know.