Price set for parcel

Prices have been set for the 61 acres of land the city of Brainerd purchased from the state on the west side of the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center.

The Brainerd City Council Monday set the price for its land at $150,000 per acre plus the cost of utilities.

Council member Gary Scheeler abstained from voting, though didn't publicly say why.

In other action, the council:

Awarded bid for transit operations to Brainerd Bus Lines for $596,686 per year.

Rejected a proposal from the Northern Pacific Center for use of one of the center's buildings for the Brainerd Street Department. Council members Gary Scheeler and Jim Dehen voted against rejecting the proposal.

Invited residents to the July 1 Brainerd City Council meeting at city hall to discuss the proposed northeast Brainerd fire substation that could be located on N Street between Ninth and 10th streets.

Directed staff to aggressively pursue fixing the sidewalks in the city, starting in north Brainerd and asked anyone with broken sidewalks to contact city hall at 828-2309.

Directed staff to meet with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to have the frontage road in front of Burger King in west Brainerd redone.

Directed staff to meet with MnDOT to discuss options for a mill and overlay on Oak Street from S. Sixth Street to S.12th Street.

Adopted an ordinance annexing five acres of land in Unorganized Territory belonging to Mark Brandl.

Adopted an ordinance annexing 1.73 acres of land in Oak Lawn Township owned by Gilbert VanSteenwyk. The annexation is being contested with Minnesota Planning by Oak Lawn Township, which claims the parcels don't meet annexation requirements.

Directed staff to organize a joint city council and Crow Wing County Board meeting to discuss the city being bought out of the Law Enforcement Center.

Directed staff to set up an ad hoc committee to assist with the organization of the comprehensive plan.

Accepted a letter of resignation from Engineering Technician Eric Pratt.

Had first reading on a proposed ordinance amending the Brainerd City Code making it a petty misdemeanor to store, park or leave dismantled any vehicles on private or public property. Exceptions include vehicles stored within a building on private property of a vehicle held in connection with a business enterprise lawfully licensed by the city.

Had first reading on a proposed ordinance amending the Brainerd City Code stating that anyone caught placing graffiti on a private or public exterior surface shall face a petty misdemeanor charge.

Had first reading on a proposed ordinance amending the Brainerd City Code to include the housing maintenance code. Changes include: Registration of all rental units, inspections by building inspectors, as well as trained firefighters, authorization of building inspectors to issue petty misdemeanor citations and Implementation of a crime-free multi-housing strategy.