Councilors approve tax levy

CROSSLAKE - Crosslake City Council members Monday approved a tax levy of $2,461,374 for 2007.

The council also approved its 2007 budget totaling $3,675,595. The council will meet in a special year-end session at 3 p.m. Dec. 20 at city hall to approve bills and complete year-end fund transfers.

In other business, the council:

Agreed to have an outdoor skating rink this winter near the Community Center when the weather stays cold enough to allow staff members to create a sheet of ice. The city will not use the hockey rink because of deteriorating board conditions. Next year, the city may consider using a nearby shallow pond for skating.

Learned work on the library continues, with the fund drive reaching $452,041. Alden Hardwick, library committee, reported the recent volunteer painting effort went well. Donated funds, material and labor will create a fireplace and nearby seating area for reading. The library is expected to open to the public in March.

Hardwick said there are few independent libraries in the state and fewer still built by a community and volunteers. Donations of books continue with more than 12,600 received to date at an estimated value of $200,000. Decorated boxes throughout the city serve as collection sites for the Christmas book drive, and people are asked to buy a book for the library while they are out doing holiday shopping.

Hardwick thanked the council and city staff for their efforts on the project.

"The whole community really came together on this, but you spearheaded it," Council member Dick Phillips told Hardwick.

Tabled action on an animal control ordinance until more information on costs is available from Crow Wing County.

Heard a reminder from Police Chief Robert Hartman that no ice is safe and snowmobilers should take extra caution when approaching lake ice.

Learned efforts are continuing with manufacturers to work out problems with filters at the city's sewer treatment plant. The city has expended about $6,000 in an effort to correct the problem and is looking to be reimbursed for those costs.

Approved an ordinance amendment to reduce required building setbacks in the downtown commercial zoning district from 35 feet to 15 feet regarding city roads and private roads.

Heard that residents can dispose of their Christmas trees a few days after the holidays at a drop-off site in the parking lot near the Crosslake picnic shelter.

Departing council members Phillips and Dean Eggena took an opportunity to thank residents for allowing them to serve on the council.

Eggena said he wished the new council the best of luck. Phillips urged people to get involved and said he was "looking forward to see how the new council works out."

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