Council remembers 'Jiggs'

The Brainerd City Council on Monday held a moment of silence for a former council member, Howard "Jiggs" Blanck, who died Dec. 1 at the age of 73.

Council member Bob Olson, who served with Blanck on the city council in the 1970s, said the greatest tribute to Blanck was the full house at his funeral Monday at Zion Lutheran Church in Brainerd.

"I would say Mr. Blanck has left his mark on the city of Brainerd and I pray for Mr. Blanck and his family. He will be missed," Olson said. "God bless you, Jiggs, and we'll miss you."

Mayor James Wallin said Blanck was very concerned about and involved in the community. Council member Bonnie Cumberland remembered Blank helping the city's young people and for the things he did that many people didn't know about, such as secretly delivering milk to a neighbor in need and counseling people going through hard times.

Council President Kevin Goedker said it was Blanck who encouraged him to run for mayor in 2002, not because Blanck was opposed to the incumbent, Wallin, but because he felt no one should run for office unopposed.

Goedker wasn't elected mayor, but two years later he was elected Ward 3 council member.

"I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Jiggs," Goedker said.

Also Monday, the council:

Adopted an ordinance relating to on-sale liquor zones and license limitations to state that the bar area for a restaurant, eating or other eligible establishment will not be more than 49 percent of the size of the dining area or principle use of the establishment.

The previous ordinance stated a bar area for a restaurant, eating or other eligible establishment shall be not more than one-third of the size of the dining area or principle use of the establishment and said bar area shall be separated from the dining area or principle use by a floor-to-ceiling partition.

Adjourned to the 2010 levy and budget public hearing scheduled at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 followed by further council budget and levy discussion.

Approved the preliminary design and authorized final design for the $1 million South Eighth Street street/utility turnback project from Oak to Washington streets. The street reconstruction and a majority of the storm sewer replacement will be paid through state aid. Council members Olson and Mary Koep talked about the need to remove decorative streetlights, matching downtown streetlights, from the plan. Decorative lights cost about three times as much to operate as standard lights. Council member Lucy Nesheim said property owners along the project wanted the decorative lighting, as did the Main Street Advisory Committee.

Authorized eminent domain if needed for the College Drive project by a 6-1 vote, with Koep against. A public hearing on the proposed assessments for the $7 million project was rescheduled to Dec. 21 because it wasn't properly published in the Dispatch. The council also approved asking Central Lakes College for a commitment in writing for their $90,000 share of the assessments. By law, state institutions are not subject to assessments but can pay them if they so choose.

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