Sauk Rapids Council Holding Two Public Hearings Monday

(KNSI) – The Sauk Rapids City Council will have two public hearings at Monday’s meeting.

The site of the former Old Capital Tavern is under new ownership and hopes to open as the Lost Times Tavern as early as August 8th. The business is looking to get several licenses that would allow alcoholic drinks to be sold on-site, the taps to flow on Sundays, and permits for tables set up in an outdoor dining space. The licenses would be valid until June 30, 2024.

The second hearing is on proposed work along 2nd Avenue South from Benton Drive to 10th Street South, plus nearby side roads. It is expected to cost $5.2 million with a special assessment to homeowners picking up a portion of the bill. It is a complete rebuild, including the installation of new storm and sanitary sewers, water main, lighting, and curbs, plus the repaving of the road.

The council will also hear from the engineering firm SEH on preliminary steps to try and restart work at Mayhew Creek Park. The concept was initially approved in 2021 with fundraising ongoing since then. Attempts to get bonding money from the state legislature have been unsuccessful and the city hopes to team with the local little league association to build four baseball diamonds as part of Phase One of the development.

SEH is proposing almost $80,000 in fees to retain Braun Intertech for a geotechnical evaluation and then using that information to create a site grading and stormwater plan for the 86-acre site. The work will allow the firm to develop plans for parking and retention ponds, a traffic flow analysis, and other first steps that could facilitate future development.

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