Crews work to demolish the former liquor store on the H&H Sport Shop property in December. The city had approved expansion at the site earlier in the year.

The following is a compilation of summarized Maple Lake City Council stories written by Katie Friedman.

January

•Agreed to reimburse resident Bob Randall for costs incurred in a compliance order that ultimately was determined to be unnecessary.

•Was introduced to Wright County Deputy Dusty Miller, a St. Cloud native and newcomer to the force, who will be on rotation duty in Maple Lake. Miller told the council members he likes to get out of the patrol car when on duty and walk around the town, visiting local businesses and getting to know the residents.

February

•Voted to approve a preliminary plat/site plan for expansion on H&H Sport Shop’s property that does not presently include a fast food restaurant, but leaves the door open for that possibility in the future.

March

•Voted to submit a purchase agreement to seller JP Chase for a house next door to city hall at 26 Maple Avenue South at a cost of $30,000. Staff had reported that ReMax realtor Brenda Pilger had contacted city hall with the information that the house, a foreclosed property, was for sale at $49,900. The council had discussed purchasing the lot for city hall expansion during a workshop Feb. 22.

•Approved the closing of Fund 415 –Birch Avenue Capital Improvement and the transfer of that fund’s negative balance of $215,851.93 to Fund 315 –Birch Avenue Debt Service. Fund 415 was established in 2008 when the city received bond proceeds for construction funds related to the Birch Avenue Improvement Project.

•Approved plans and specifications by Stantec for a 2012 sealcoat project. The street maintenance included crack filling and seal coating, and included streets were to be determined by Engineer Phil Gravel’s office and Public Works Director Jerry Sawatzke based on the city’s priorities and available budget.

April

•At its April 2 meeting, the Maple Lake City Council finalized a tax-abatement agreement with Airlift Doors, formalizing a tentative arrangement that had been reached in the fall. The agreement calls for an abatement period of five years, at an estimated amount of $56,500, and contains stipulations set by the city to which the business must adhere during that term.

•In the interest of citizens’ convenience, directed Public Works Director Jerry Sawatzke to leave the city compost site open on weekends. The council also requested that signage be installed to instruct as to acceptable items and indicate where various materials should be placed.

•Passed a resolution calling for the redemption of the Outstanding General Obligation Improvement Bonds of 2004B. The bonds, issued by the council in 2004 and totaling $725,000, will be subject to redemption and prepayment June 1, and the council voted to redeem $245,000 of that amount at 100 percent of the bonds’ principal amount plus accrued interest for each such bond called.

May

•At its May 15 meeting, the Maple Lake City Council heard the city’s 2011 audit report as presented by Mollie Thompson and John Archer of Schlenner Wenner & Co.

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