March 3rd Council Update

A couple points from last nights Council meeting. We informed the Council about the Pedestrian bridge funding, Neighborhood Stabilization Program and 2nd Downtown Mural Approval. All told these projects to date will bring in $1.5 million dollars of federal and regional dollars to Isanti with more to come. These are dollars that have been approved at the federal and state level and we are making sure that Isanti gets its share of the resources that are being spent.

I swore in Police Officer Adam Gau as he has completed his year long probation. Officer Gau is an asset to the community and I am working hard to make sure we will be able to keep ever officer we have during these difficult budgeting years ahead.

The Council approved the hiring of two more part time officers. This simply increases the pool of officers to schedule hours with and will not cost more as the hours served do not increase. It will actually let us save money on less overtime hours for full time officers.

The youth member for the Park and Recreation Board was approved by the Council. The student must be in high school student between the ages of 14-18; a resident of the city of Isanti and has an interest in local government and/or park and rec issues. The position will be a one year commitment and the student must be able to attend park board meetings held on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 5-6 p.m. at Isanti City Hall. For more information contact City Planner Lisa Krause at 763-444-5512 or email lkrause@cityofisanti.us.

We passed terms of office for Planning Commission and Park and Recreation Board members. This is not a term limit but sets specific terms so that potential new members can join. This makes it a more open and inclusive process.