Minutes - 2002/07/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 22, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 3 City Administrator Miller indicated that Mr. Kesel was originally awarded unemployment benefits but that was appealed and won by the City. Mr. Kesel then appealed that decision and the City won that appeal. City Administrator Miller indicated she wanted to remind Council that the decision of Judge Dixon was simply to award unemployment benefits and said nothing of the merits of the termination. Mr. Jahnke said he has never been a big fan of the golf course because he was afraid that it would cost taxpayers money and it has. He then said that it bothers him that someone can stand up and say that they were fired and were doing a good job of managing the golf course when the golf course, over the course of the last 7 years, has lost from $39,000 to $200,000 every year. Mr. Jahnke then said he liked the former administrator as a person but nobody was watching what was going on and that is what led to the current legal fees to get out of the situations created. He further commented that the bare facts are that the City has to pay all these attorney's fees right now to get out of the hole that was created because the business of the City was not being attended to properly. Mr. Jahnke commented that every Mayor has said that the golf course would not cost citizens any money but that was before finding out what was going on out at the golf course. • Naja Werner of 2765 Sherwood Road commented that there is a statement in the article that the golf course fund took an interfund loan of $250,000 from the water fund and $306,000 from the vehicle and equipment fund. She then commented she assumes that when the City needs funds for the water fund and vehicle and equipment fund the City will go to the taxpayer and ask for them. She further suggested that the City call the golf course Linke's folly, abandon it and pay the bond because it looks like the City will be forever funneling money into the course especially in light of the current economy because people may not have money to spend on amenities like golf. Julian Sprunck of 2649 Louisa Avenue addressed Council to give a brief update relative to what has been happening in regards to the Harstad development on H2 and Long Lake Road. He then explained that since the last Council meeting two weeks ago he had the opportunity, at the Mayor's request, to survey a number of residents relative to their positions on the matter. The question was asked of the residents to brainstorm all available land use ideas for the Harstad property. Mr. Sprunck indicated that he represents 33 people who responded to the surveys and were unanimous in their objection to an R-3 zoning and to any townhouses. He then indicated that the three suggestions of the residents were keep the land zoned as R-1 and build single-family homes with attached garages, a combination of twinhomes on H2 and single-family homes on Greenwood, or twinhomes throughout zoned R-2 not R-3. Mr. Sprunck then indicated that there had been one other suggestion and that was to ask Mr. Harstad to sell the lots and let other people • build single-family homes on them.