The St. Michael City Council Tuesday, June 23, adopted a water shutoff policy that affects residents who do not pay their water bill.

City engineer Steve Bot said warning letters that were sent out to delinquent water and sewer accounts were successful, with many residents either paying their accounts or contacting the Joint Powers Water Board to set up a payment plan.

Bot said that at the last Joint Powers meeting, there was discussion about a shut-off policy, with the consensus to use Albertville's policy, since it has been working well. Albertville shuts off water after 60 days of non-payment, with a 24-hour notice and $35 shutoff and $35 turn-on fees.

Bot said Hanover, also in the Joint Powers, indicated it would be supportive of a policy if Joint Powers authorized it.

Mayor Jerry Zachman and councilors Kevin Kasel, Joe Hagerty and Dean Eggert recommended adoption of the shutoff policy as presented.

HOUSING

IMPROVEMENT

In other news, the council conducted a public hearing to adopt an ordinance establishing the Bailey Park Housing Improvement Area (HIA) and to impose a fee for housing improvements to the HIA.

This is for the Fields of St. Michael townhome area near the Hanover border.

The final pavement lift was never installed and the road is breaking up.

It was explained to the council that 72 units of the development were part of the CSS Builders development, and that 76 are part of the Better Living Homes/Harstad development.

Community development director Marc Weigle explained the history of legislation that allows cities to complete the necessary street repairs in a development and assess the homeowners for the project. He said the repairs for the CSS Builders units on the east side of the project are necessary because CSS declared bankruptcy and the letter of credit could not be drawn upon.

Weigle said Harstad, the developer for the other 76 lots, petitioned for the final lift to be included with the project for the east side, with assessments applied to the vacant lots left in their development.

The total estimated cost for the improvements is $212,500. The assessment is proposed for 10 years with 6% interest.

A resident suggested the city require Harstad to cover the entire improvement area, but city attorney Nate Allen said Harstad would have legitimate defense not to be responsible because the city returned its letter of credit in 2003. Weigle said Harstad indicated it would not be willing to pay for improvements to the east side because those lots were sold to CSS Builders.

The council ended up unanimously adopting the ordinance to establish an HIA for the Bailey Park Homeowner's Association, and adopted a resolution imposing fees in the Bailey Park Housing Improvement area.

PROJECT UPDATES

In further developments, city engineer Bot updated the council about road construction projects.

He said the crews are working to have County Rd. 19 opened before July 4. He said the pipe is in the ground, and that weather permitting, the curb would be poured Saturday or Monday, with paving Wednesday and striping Thursday.

Further, Bot said all the seeding is completed for the SE Downtown Reconstruction project.

Bot said the Jamison Avenue pavement project began Tuesday and is under a tight construction schedule (with the northern half to be completed in time for opening the new high school).

Lastly, Bot said most of the streetlights at the One-Way Pair project have been installed.

In other action, the council:

RESCHEDULED the July 21 work session for July 14, since Mayor Zachman and councilor Kasel will be lobbying in Washington, D.C.

REACHED consensus to check with the River Lanes bowling alley to see if there would be lanes available for a St. Michael vs. Albertville bowling tournament during the St. Michael Daze & Knights event Friday, Aug. 21.