Sauk Rapids City Council Recap

(KNSI) – At Monday’s Sauk Rapids City Council meeting, the group unanimously approved a bid from Tom Kraemer Incorporated for 20,000 dollars to demolish the home at 1313 River Avenue North.

The city initially bought the home in 2010 and leased it back to its previous owner. She was responsible for taxes and utilities with the agreement that when she could no longer manage on her own the city would take control.

Sauk Rapids Finance Director Jack Kahlhamer says the arrangement probably saved the city at least $100,000 as property values have appreciated significantly since the deal was reached. It will now become a park. Administrator Ross Olson has floated the idea of a gazebo, but nothing has been agreed to yet.

Kahlhamer says the city directly purchased two other properties and now owns all of the lots along the Mississippi that it believes are feasible to convert into park land.

Sauk Rapids is in the initial planning stages to redo Division Street between 2nd Avenue and 8th Avenue, with the work hopefully occurring next summer. City Engineer Scott Hedlund proposed having a paved road for most of the section and restoring the gravel surface between 7th and 8th Avenues. That block is prone to flooding, which makes an asphalt surface difficult to maintain.

The last major road project on the stretch was over 50 years ago, so significant improvements are in store. Better drainage, an underground chamber to treat stormwater runoff, and new sidewalks are all being proposed.

The total project is estimated at over 4.6 million dollars, with about $400,000 in special assessments being planned for the lots that front where the work is set to take place. The assessments can be phased into tax bills for as long as ten years.

The meeting started with a presentation by Carter McClure on a proposed Boy Scout project. He hopes to add new signage at the entrance of Municipal Park letting visitors know where to find different activities. Another display would go near the boat launch reminding people of proper etiquette on the water. McClure is 13 years old and will be an 8th grader at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School in the fall.

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