Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

HL City pursues more land along highway for bank development



Two subjects highlighted the Howard Lake City Council
meeting Tuesday: another dispute over land value, and the hiring of a new
city employee.

The council passed condemnation proceedings against property
owned by Allan and Donna Munson on Block 17, which is where Donna’s Salon
is located between the Howard Lake Ridgeview Clinic and Milo’s Restaurant.

Previously, informal negotiations came close – but failed
– when the city offered $140,000 for the one-and-a-half lots owned by the
Munsons. The Munsons asked for $145,000, refusing to compromise on this
figure.

The appraised value, ordered by the Munsons, was about
$70,000, City Administrator Doug Borglund said.

The lots are located in the middle of where a potential
new bank development is planned.

Allan Munson expressed optimism despite the city’s action,
saying that there will most likely be a settlement of some kind, he said.

Previously, the city purchased Milo’s Restaurant for $125,000,
next door to Donna’s, which takes up half a lot on Block 17.

Mayor Gerry Smith noted that when the city bought Milo’s,
it essentially purchased the business, for that price. The city does not
plan to purchase Donna’s business, Borglund said.

The value of the property will be determined by a committee
of two or three appraisers, appointed by a judge Borglund said. The property
value is determined by a judge, who accepts a recommendation from the committee,
he said.

The last step in the development along those Blocks is
the purchase of a lot from Jim and Tom Peterson of Lakes Area Realty. This
should not be an issue, Smith said.

The city turned its attention to hiring new city maintenance
employee Tim Kosek. Kosek will assume the position of assistant sewer and
water operator/building and grounds.

Kosek worked for five years at the City of Winsted and
lives there with his family. He replaces Todd Anderson, who worked for
the city of Howard Lake for about four years prior, Borglund said.

Kosek has experience in heavy equipment, construction,
and some wastewater treatment experience, Smith said. He is also a volunteer
firefighter and a licensed first responder.

He was chosen out of five applications. Previously, there
were 26 applications the last time that the city hired on.

Resident and Parent-Teacher Association member Curt Levang
asked the council to draft a letter to MnDOT asking for an alternative route
for truck traffic. Levang gave two reasons for the letter, which would
support the PTA’s efforts for the same purpose, out of guilt if any accident
should happen with trucks, and for liability reasons, he said.

Smith indicated the city asked about this a long time ago,
but was turned away. MnDOT made it very clear that it will not tolerate
two detours, Councilor Shelly Reddemann said.

The original detour was planned for Ninth, which would
have looped the ball field into the picture, Smith said. At least where
it is now has a parking lot between the street and students at the school,
he said.

“That one was extremely bad,” Levang said of
the original detour. The current detour is not much better, he said.

There also is an issue of trucks taking improper routes
due to confusing signage, the council noted.

Councilor Shelly Reddemann noted that the stop signs slowed
traffic considerably along the detour.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.