City seeks to expand up Riverside Drive

Brainerd is looking to expand its boundaries up Riverside Drive.

The Brainerd City Council on Monday directed City Planner/Economic Development Coordinator Mike Brethorst to contact residents along Riverside Drive about annexing into the city.

The direction was made in conjunction with the Riverside Drive water and sewer project that is scheduled to start this year and finish in 2003.

The reason for the annexation, said Brethorst, is to provide sewer and water to those residents along Riverside Drive and some adjacent roads. By law, properties outside the city cannot be assessed by the city for sewer and water. They could be charged a hook-up fee, however.

The city council directed Brethorst and City Engineer Jeff Hulsether to draft a letter to the Crow Wing County Board about annexing Riverside Drive and the road right-of-way to run sewer and water lines up Riverside Drive.

The council also directed Brethorst to construct several ordinances for annexing a variety of properties that are completely surrounded by the city. Such properties cannot contest annexation.

"It allows planning for future improvements to areas, like roadwork and sewer," said Brethorst, noting some residents will contest such annexation. "I understand their concerns, a lot of them just put in new water and a new well. The city will be reasonable."

The Riverside Drive project is part of a 10-phase, $18 million sewer and water project in north Brainerd. The cost of the Riverside Drive project is $4.6 million and is being done in conjunction with a Crow Wing County plan to improve Riverside Drive.