Quick Update on Tonights Council Agenda

The Council voted to move forward with the Pedestrian Bridge Project with 80% federal funding, roughly 8% from MnDot and 12% from the City Park and Recreation Fund. City park and recreation funds by state statute can only be used on new acquisitions. The City is waiting for the remaining federal funds to be approved. It will still be several years I think before a bridge will be built assuming all the federal dollars are allocated. It would be difficult if not impossible to build this regional project without the remaining federal dollars.

I shared some stats from a recent poll I asked the Chamber of Commerce to conduct on opening the City liquor Store on more holidays. The results were quite strong.

66% felt there is enough business traffic to justify opening the Liquor store on more holidays.

58% believed that other area businesses would benefit from the Liquor store being open more

82% stated that even if we were not sure if the store being opened helped - the City should at least try it this year.

We received an update on two speed studies the City has been contemplating. It has been a long term goal to lower the speed limit on Whiskey going south out of Isanti. We have received information that if we asked for an official speed study MnDot - yes MnDot controls the speed limit on this road - will RAISE the speed limit going south from 5 on Whiskey to Dogwood to 35 from 30 then change the speed from 55 to 50 to the S curve. So MnDot would raise the speed limit by the Church and School crossings which would be very difficult to accept. If the speed limit is raised to 35, drivers will go 45 which is to dangerous. The Council decided to drop this request.

The second speed zone issue we looked at was highway 5 heading east from 65 to the S curve on your way to Spectacular Events. MnDot will lower the speed limit to 40 from highway 65 to the cemetery on Highway 5 but then bring it back up to 55 by 8th which the major north south street leading to the Middle School. It also looks like there will be no support for us placing a school zone in this area either.

It is frustrating when the major roads in our City are controlled by the state. The City has no control over these roads and like a beggar with a tin cup we have to beg for a few crumbs of common sense.