City hears about broadband upgrades, approves adult day care facility
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GLENWOOD CITY—The City Council heard a request from Nextgen asking for support of their plan to upgrade citywide Broadband fiber optics. In another matter the council approved a conditional use permit to allow the development of an adult day care in the former Jehovah’s Witness building on First Street.
Nextgen representative Tim Kusilek appeared before the City Council at their regular monthly meeting being held at the fire station. He asked for city support for their plan to upgrade broadband service with in the city.
Kusilek told members of the Council that Nextgen plans on spending $1.3 million on the upgrade project and that they will be applying for a grant to help fund the upgrades. “It’s a good grant and it’s better if you partner with us,” Kusilek told the council. He continued, “I want you guys to think about it and respond by your next meeting.” The deadline for applying for the grant is just after the Council’s July meeting that will be on July 12th.
It was learned that Glenwood City has already applied for a grant in the amount of $120,000 and according to City Clerk/Treasurer Sharon Rosenow that grant can be used for broadband or water an sewer improvements. The city has three years to decide on what project they want to use that money on. Kusilek suggested that the city help fund the project with $10,000 or $20,000 investment. The council took no action on the matter except to have the Clerk work with Nextgen and they will look at the project at their next meeting.
Adult Day Care
The council accepted the recommendation of the Planning Commission and granted a Conditional Use Permit to Jodi Main and Jessica Knops to turn the former Jehovah’s Witness church building located at 810 First Street into an adult day care facility.
Both Knops and Main appeared before the council and explained what they have been planning to do to that the facility and a hand out on the council table indicated that the Adult Day Care will be certified by the state and will provide services for up to 16 men/women, 18 years of age or older with Advanced Age, developmentally disabled, physically handicapped, traumatic brain injury, and terminally ill participant groups.
The two also run a similar facility in the Town of Glenwood, and the council learned that the facility would be open for day care activity from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In other action, the council heard a request for financial assistance for a sewer lateral repair from Bonnie’s Café.
The council approved the request from Fiddler’s Green Bar and Grill for outdoor music during the summer and allowed the music to go on until midnight on weekends.
The council accepted a resolution on the annual Compliance Maintenance report to the DNR for the wastewater treatment facility. Mayor John Larson noted that it was a perfect A report. They also reaffirmed the City’s support for Fair Housing.
Mayor Larson made the following appointments to the Summer Rec Committee: Kevin Fry, Cindy Drury, Mindi Standaert, Lisa Berends, and Rob Ohman; and appointment of Julie Anderson and Betsy Schug to three year terms on the library board.
Approval was given to a new ordinance to allow chickens in residential zoning which passed the council on a three to two vote. The new rule allows for up to three hens on residential property after a permit is obtained from the city. No roosters will be allowed.
The council approved the granting of Liquor, Tobacco and Operator’s licenses for the coming year ending on June 30, 2022, and granted a temporary Class “B” license to the St. Croix County Fair for July 14 to 18th.
At the end of the meeting, Council Member Ken Peterson brought up that he would like to have a list of city-owned properties. He noted that some of them could be sold and returned to the tax roll. He singled out the former Saddle Club grounds along Highway 128 south of the community. He hoped that by the next meeting a list could be made all city-owned properties.
Mayor Larson reported he received an email from vacationing Chief of Police Robert Darwin, that informed him that Officer Adam Malean has resigned from the police force.
