Details of Chippewa Electric land purchase detailed

Changes should be coming soon, both to the downtown as well as Chapman Park, Fandry Park, and the City’s West Industrial Park in Stanley.

As to the downtown area, Todd and Misty Wundrow of Wundrow’s Auto Repair plan to rebuild, although they’re not ready to share yet. The new construction would take place on the same side of the tracks as their current building, declared a total loss in the De- cember tornado. A certified survey map by Rick Denzine was approved at the March 21 Council meeting.

Also heard at the March 21 Coun cil meeting, meanwhile, was news of a possible tank move.

“We’d like some buy-in before we spend a lot of time and energy on this,” Legion member Lyle Swartz told the Council, with the clarification that the Legion wasn't asking for money, but

The American Legion showed up to the March 21 Stanley Council meeting to discuss the pos – sibility of moving a tank at Fandry Park to Soo Line Park, potentially via McKnight Street. From left are Lyle Swartz, Tony Goettl, and Bruce Wozniak. Photo by Joseph Back.

The M60A3 tank now on display at Fandry Park might be getting moved to Soo Line, although no definitve plans have been made at present. Image from March 21 Council packet.

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was looking to figure out the move. One potential route from Fandry to Soo Line would see the tank be moved down McKnight Street to First Avenue, then east. Greater visibility and protection from potential vandalism were among the reasons for the move. Finally for the March 21 Council meeting, there was the Highway 29 solar farm for Chippewa Electric to consider, the purchase agreement contained in the Coun- cil. Located north of Highway 29 but moved from east of its initial location to make way for Northside Elevator off 345th Street, the solar farm will have access from Janicki Road, with the purchase agreement being for 12.04 acres of land in total.

“The total purchase price to be paid to Seller by Purchaser for the Property shall be Five Thousand Five Hundred and 00/100 dollars," the agreement states, equaling a total pur- chase price of $66,220 for the site, with $1,000 earnest mon ey to be deposited within three days of the sale.

As to the changes to city parks, it’involves chainsaws, though future generations will likely appreciate the efforts. First though, there was a disclaimer to make.

The city wasn’t picking on anyone with regard to its junk ordinance enforcement, Jason Meyer wanted known at the March 21 Council meeting.

“All of these citations were cited before the tornado,” the Ward 2 representative said at the Council meeting of totals ranging from $800 to $1,200 and involving several city residences with junk issues, per ordinance.Seeking at the same time to ensure citizen’s due process, affected landowners can request a public hearing from the Council, per ordinance. The public hearing must be put on the meeting agenda, as opposed to simply speaking during public comment.

In the meantime, and with a motion by Ward 3 alderman Jacob Huff that was seconded by Laurie Foster, the Council approved Stanley police chief Lance Weiland to seek legal advice on the next steps in the enforcement process for junk removal, with fees going on the end of year tax roll if left unpaid.

In the meantime, pending ash tree removal was also cov- ered at the March 21 Council meeting. With the Emerald Ash Borer confirmed in the area, the city has been looking to cut liability with regard to the potential for dead branches falling in the years to comes and that would have consequences in the short term. Mayor Haas announced the agenda item.

“Approve or disapprove the recommendation of the Parks and Cemetery Committee to put ash tree removal out for bids once city crew has gotten an inventory of trees for professional removal,” Haas said. While the FFA had done an ash tree inventory in the past, there was no current or exact knowledge of affected trees in the city parks. Ward 2 alderman Meyer had a question.

“Do the organizations that support the parks realize what the parks are going to look like?” He asked of tree removal to avoid legal liability on the city’s part. “If all the ash trees are cut down, certain areas are going to look like they’re clear cut,” he said.

“Yes,” Kevin Hendrickson said. “And in fact we’re really proposing implementation of planting too,” with report by Foster that the Rodeo Committee was supportive of the matter. Meyer appreciated the clarification.

“I support getting the trees taken care of at the parks, I just don’t want people to be shocked at what’s happened,” he said of the ash tree removal to come. The Council had received a prior presentation from Joe Karlen of Argonne Timber, with Karlen saying that he wanted to help out his com- munity and offering to finance the project at zero percent, a deal he couldn’t give to everyone. At the same time, the city plans to have an Arbor Day tree planting April 29 at Chapman Park, a celebration being held the week before for schools to emphasize the importance of trees to the environment, while a needed change in biodiversity due to the Emerald Ash Borer is soon to take place at city parks. As to the damage from the ash borer, Travis Wellner of Wellner Arboriculture had more to share for the private homeowner on what to look for as signs of an Ash Borer infestation, while clarifying that only ash trees were susceptible to the pest as such.

“Signs and symptoms include Crown dieback from the tips of the canopy,” he shared via email, along with “Excessive sucker/water sprouts, bark fleck, and stem/trunk wood dis coloration, and “D” shaped exit holes on the stem tissue.” With many possible issues faced by trees, not everything could be reduced to the ash borer. In the meantime, new trees are set to replace the ash at some point, adding to biodiversity and preventing liability on the part of the city from dead wood.

Highlighted in this photo-based ID by Wellner Arboriculture, the city parks in Stanley have a high percentage of ash trees, meaning that replacement with other species could give an initial appearance of devastation, while future generations would get to enjoy the shade of trees planted today. Photo by Joseph Back.