Council votes unanimously to appoint Taubert to fill vacant slot

CROSSLAKE - The city of Crosslake has a full council again.

Monday night, the council unanimously voted to appoint Rusty Taubert to fill the vacancy created by Terry Curtis' resignation. The city received five letters of interest for the council seat and Taubert was recommended following Personnel Committee interviews May 1.

Following the council's vote, Taubert was sworn in and took his seat with the council for Monday's meeting.

In other business, the council:

Approved registering a 2,000 gallon tanker truck and three or four firefighters to assist with the Ham Lake fire following a DNR request to register the equipment and staff. The firefighters could serve for about two weeks. With mutual aid in the lakes area, the fire department did not believe it would be a hardship for the city to send the truck. The only cost to the city is the fuel of driving to the fire zone. With about 30 fire departments assisting in the Ham Lake fire and serving as protection for structures, the call for additional help is expected.

The city will register the truck with the DNR if the state agency calls for help with any other fires in 2007.

"I think we better be good neighbors," Council member Steve Roe said.

Approved the concept of an assisted living project in Crosslake. Project applicants are requesting tax-increment financing and revolving loan funds to make the project financially feasible. Partners in the project are Chuck Lane and Kent Marthaler. Their company has a purchase agreement for a parcel on East Shore Road.

Lane attended the council meeting and addressed the council with Sheila Haverkamp, Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp. executive director. The assisted living proposal would build 28 assisted living apartments for senior citizens in a $3 million project.

Lane is requesting $300,000 in tax-increment financing for the project and $75,000 from the city's revolving loan fund. Lane said he moved to the area about two years ago and has assisted living units in Minnesota and Iowa. He described the proposed facility as one with large apartments and full kitchens, a community room and landscaped grounds with walkways.

Roe said he thought the project was an excellent TIF application and a desirable facility.

"You really don't lose anything, you gain in the long run," Roe said.

"I think this is needed in Crosslake," Council member Dean Swanson said, noting that the project will add jobs and join the city's sewer system.

The project is expected to create 15 to 20 jobs in the community and give seniors a choice to stay in Crosslake rather than move to Brainerd or Baxter, Lane said.

Haverkamp said a recently completed housing study for Crow Wing County indicated the need for senior housing in the Crosslake community.

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.