City Committees have been working to move their specific missions forward. The Housing Redevelopment Authority has been reviewing finance and maintenance reports and clarifying some of the committee’s business processes from the past few years. There was apparently some disorganization from the previous HRA Director’s tenure. They are reviewing HUD (Housing and Urban Development) requirements and are reviewing progress that has been made on the committee’s five year plan. The HRA is planning for an upcoming audit and is getting ready for a strategic planning meeting that is coming up later this month.
The Library Board reported that registered library usage has increased. There are currently about 3900 library card holders using the facility. This represents an increase of 900 patrons over the past year. Additionally, there have been over 60,000 web site hits to the library’s Internet system. The Summer Reading Program gets underway on June 9th and kids will have access to online support from library staff. Volunteers have played a major role in supporting both library staff and users with over 1100 volunteer hours from community members.
The Trees and Trails Commission has been dealing with the continued fight against the Emerald Ash Borer. The Council voted to enter into a contract with Rick’s Tree and Stump Removal to treat ash trees for the pests.
The Public Arts Board reported that they are in the process of looking at proposals from the various artists that have expressed interest in the public mural project. Artist proposals will be forwarded to City Administration prior to final selection. The mural project is on track and on budget.
The Board considered four possible options for extending city utilities at the west end of town along Highway 61 as part of MnDOT’s reconstruction project. The project has been broken down into phases with the first option involving extending the utilities from their current location, approximately 600 feet southwest along the highway and crossing under the highway with sanitary sewer and watermain and the construction of a sanitary sewer lift station to provide service to the area. The estimated cost of this option is $2,286,400. The second option involved the extension of utilities from the proposed sanitary sewer lift station, approximately 1,500 feet southwest along highway 61 near Scenic Drive. Estimated cost of this option is $1,550,300. Option three involved extending utilities from the proposed lift station, approximately 2,000 feet along the southerly rear property line of city owned property to near Scenic Drive. The cost of this option is estimated at $1,859,700. Option four calls for extension of a carrier pipe under Highway 61 so that future utility extensions will not require digging up the road after MnDOT has completed the reconstruction project. The cost of option four is estimated at $235,000. The Council voted unanimously to adopt option four.
In other business the Council approved an Emergency Facilities and Land Use Agreement between the USDA Forest Service and the City for use of the Airport facilities for the Camp House fire response.
The next Two Harbors Council meeting will be held on June 9th at 5:30 PM.
