Upon further review, it was a quick meeting

Even the Brainerd City Council wasn't immune to the hype surrounding Monday's Minnesota Vikings showdown with the Green Bay Packers.

Council president Kevin Goedker started the council meeting about two minutes early - joking that he didn't even like baseball (that's what he said) but understood others might - and even with a short agenda council members alluded to the football game throughout the meeting.

During his regular report the council Mayor Wallin updated the game score, with the Vikings leading 7-0.

The council meeting lasted about 40 minutes. Garnering the most discussion and time at Monday's meeting, almost a half hour, was a discussion concerning a fence on 15th Street Southeast that had been built in the city's right-of-way.

"But I do want to get to the football game so I hope we get enough for the motion and go," council member Bob Olson said toward the end of the fence discussion.

For the record, the council in a 4-3 vote allowed the fence to stay as long as a wooden portion is converted to chain link and the property owners agree that if the city needs to access the right-of-way that the fence be moved at the homeowners' expense. Voting against were council members Anne Nelson Fisher, Lucy Nesheim and Bonnie Cumberland.

In other action, the council:

Held a moment of silence for former council member Frank Asplund, who died Sept. 29. "He served our council and city well," Goedker said.

Wallin served on the council with Asplund for 14 years.

"He was very compassionate and congenial," Wallin said. "He had good common sense when came to anything he dealt with and he had a good sense of humor, a way of making you walk away with a smile on your face.

"He was friend and God truly blessed this community with him. He will be missed."

Set a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 for proposed assessments for the South Eighth Street project, the downtown reconstruction project, sidewalk reconstruction, and northeast Brainerd street resurfacing projects.

Approved a two-way stop sign at G Street and 10th Avenue Northeast.

Adopted a resolution requesting a $1,305,000 advance of state aid construction funds.

Adjourned the Safety and Public Works Committee to 2 p.m. on Oct. 13 for the College Drive construction project.

Adjourned to a public meeting concerning the city's proposed hunting ordinance at 6 p.m. today at the Brainerd Police Department.

Was reminded that the next budget meeting would be 6 p.m. on Oct. 13 at city hall.

Was informed by Cumberland that downtown parking enforcement would be stepped up after business owners complained of people who should be parking in pay lots instead parking in front of businesses.

"People are going to have to get a few tickets first before they understand," Cumberland told the Safety and Public Works Committee.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.