ELR to open for Spud Fest

     Eagle Lake Road will have its new coat of blacktop, striping and be ready to carry traffic in time for Spud Fest, City Engineer Layne Otteson told city officials at their regular meeting Tuesday.
 He said sidewalk and trail work continue, and a final coat of blacktop will be done in the coming days. Accesses to neighbors’ driveways are being completed and retaining walls adjacent to sidewalks are      nearing their finish. He said some Eagle Lake Road mailboxes will have to be switched from the east to the west side of the roadway to accommodate an existing fiberoptic conduit. “It’s a reconstruction issue,” he said. “We will have mailboxes on both sides of the road.” A final completion date for all the work will be mid-July, he said. There have been issues with motorists traveling around barricades on the road, coming into contact with workers, Police Chief Joel Scharf reported. “People shouldn’t be in a construction zone,” he said. “When it’s open, the barricades will be down.” (Eagle Lake Road residents are the only motorists who should travel the street, so they can access their homes.)
    Otteson said his new intern, Bryce Heller, a student at the University of Minnesota, has been on the job, helping as an inspection assistant. Meanwhile, his staff has begun planning for the first of a 10-year streets renovation program, the first leg of which will be set for 2018. Public meetings on those affected streets will be set for this fall. Tuesday’s meeting consisted of a number of department head reports. Scharf reported Big Lake City continues to rank as among the safest cities, given their low occurance of violent crimes. Their daily call rate continues to escalate, however. With 34 calls daily. A few years ago, they answered or instigated 2,585 calls; they are now up to 5,194 calls on an annual basis. Chief Scharf concluded with a fun note - another challenge to the Big Lake Fire Dept. to have their best hitting shoes on come 5 p.m., the Friday of Spud Fest.
  That’s when the police will again take on the firefighters in their annual “Guns and Hoses” softball game at the softball complex. “The BLPD will smoke the fire department,” he challenged.  Ken Halvorson of the BLFD reminded him who won last year’s first matchup. “We’re planning on beating the cops again in our Spud Fest game,” he said.  “But I caught your popup,” Scharf mused.
 Farmers Market
    Hanna Klimmek, community development director, gave good grades their first Farmers Market at Lakeside Park last week. She counted 208 cars into the market that night, whereas 175 cars were tops for all of 2016. There were 14 vendors, and four more will come when produce is ready. She reported receiving over $7,000 in cash donations from firms and businesses to help with the Farmers Market. They include SHIP, $1,000; Minnesota Limited, $2,000; Spud Fest, $2,000; CentraCare-Monticello, $500.
 The city’s new comprehensive plan committee met June 5, discussing land use, parks and trails and natural resources. They will continue to regularly meet. So far this year, 38 single family home construction permits have been let; LGI has four homes under construction in Sanford Select Acres and another 17 are planned for Northland Park. Casey’s General Store and LISI Medical commercial projects are underway.
    In 2017, there have been 244 total permits aned 550 inspections.
Public Works
    Public Works Director Mike Goebel reported a number of ECFE and other classes, including paddle board instruction, going on at Lakeside Park and other parks in the city. Residents can research those case on the city website. He also gave a shout-out to Theresa Spike and Jane Ramunno for their volunteer time with gardens around the city.  He also noted receipt of a $3,500 grant to fund a seasonal worker by the Central Minnesota Jobs Service.