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10'y• y S sue''- Noy
<br /> City approves preliminary plans for a
<br /> I.
<br /> :iverwalk, next phase of work to begin .
<br /> by Joni Astrup I Elk River Nadeau's Clothing Care a stuffy project
<br /> Associate editor Center on Main Street, raised Landscape architects from r
<br /> Ci Beat Inc., gton Koegler Group
<br /> A project to dress up the tY specific issues. Inc., the firm hired to design r
<br /> riverfront and establish a trail Testimony before the City Nadeau told the council that the riverwalk, took a whimsi-
<br /> system in downtown Elk River Council was mixed. at least 30 to 40 feet of river- cal approach c
<br /> got the green light Monday "A bank has been lost since 1971. PP oach and proposed
<br /> y pie in the sky," Gerald
<br /> night, but don't plan a picnic Palmer told council members He urged the city to address lightstotona nuts 'n bolts hfoun-
<br /> or lace up your walking shoes after stepping up to the micro- issue of erosion, taro–featuring water rushing
<br /> just yet '. phone. "They talk of grants. He also supported moving to over nuts, bolts and other
<br /> The 4-1 vote by the Elk River They talk of taxation. I want the next phase, "where the hardware – to commemorate tt
<br /> City Council just put its stamp you people to remember that serious questions are going to the hardware store that once 81
<br /> of approval on preliminary all money spent is your money, be discussed: funding, cost, stood at the corner of Main
<br /> plans and gave the go-ahead to one way or the other." etc."
<br /> Street and Jackson Avenue. g7
<br /> proceed with the next phases He said those who would "We tried not to get too seri- I
<br /> of the work. benefit from the riverwalk Cost still an issue ous with the project, knowing ai
<br /> A final vote on whether the should be prepared to pay the Preliminary estimates put that it probably has more '
<br /> riverwalk will be built is still major share of the cost the cost of the riverfront path- value if it has a little bit of fun Cl
<br /> in the future. Others,like Bob Minton,said way at $950,000. But Council integrated into it," said Paul n'
<br /> About $14,500 has been the riverwalk is something the Member Cecilia Scheel, who Paige,one of the project archi- al
<br /> spent on the project so far.The city needs. voted against proceeding any tects
<br /> next two phases authorized by "Downtowns are usually an further, said she thinks the Designers have also proposed gi
<br /> the council will cost about asset that people do not appre-
<br /> price tag would be closer to$3 recreating a flower garden on Pr
<br /> $11,000 and include refining date until they disappear and million with land acquisition an island in the Mississippi
<br /> the project plans,nailing down then they wish they had them and other costs. River to commemorate a nun gl'
<br /> the cost of the project and pur- and they try to redevelop do we stop and take a who once crossed a wooden fir
<br /> suing funding sources such as them," Minton told the coun- long, hard look?" she asked. footbridge to garden there.
<br /> ar
<br /> a federal grant. "I've had a lot of phone calls g
<br /> grant• Anything that we can The man, Abner Lero, may
<br /> 3th the Elk River Housing do to help along the rejuvena- fr°malotofpeople...that also be immortalized in a
<br /> .mod Redevelopment Authority lion of downtown I think extremely concerned about the sculpture on the island. •
<br /> (HRA) and the City Council would be extremely helpful." fires" The project also contains C
<br /> held public hearings on the Several others also testified But Mayor Hank Duitsman
<br /> m Monday night. said they won't know what the more conventional elements, ri
<br /> project Moada ni ht. in favor of the project, includ- includ'
<br /> Earlier the HRA,after listen- ing Jackie Schuelein of the Elk cost is unless they move for- le:
<br /> ing to all favorable testimony, ward with the next phase,dur-
<br /> ing •pathways for bik;nghn-line of
<br /> y River Area Chamber of which those costs will be skating and walking 2
<br /> had unanimously voted to sec- Commerce, Paul Ammerman •a fishing pier that could
<br /> ommend to the City Council a of United Power Association, determined. include an environmental test is
<br /> proposal to continue to refine Sharon Bromen of Buy the Council Member John Dietz ing center for students r
<br /> the project. Mayor Hank Book in the Elk River also expressed concern about a pavilion at the bottom of W
<br /> Duitsman, a member of the and Shelle Jewett Perleberg of ttse finances, but said he is King Avenue, overlooking the n
<br /> n, willing to move on to the next Z
<br /> HRA, seconded the motion. Natural Expressions florist in island and Abner Lero's gar-
<br /> Following the vote, BRA downtown Elk River.
<br /> phase to determine if the pro- den- Rs
<br /> member Duane Kropuenske Jewett Perleberg said the j�ct is feasible. •a plaza at what once was cli
<br /> stressed this project will bene- riverfront project would be an
<br /> "If we can get grants to help the hole in the ground at the Or
<br /> fit the entire community, and asset to businesses and bring
<br /> pay for this, I think it's worth corner of Main and Jackson. ed bri
<br /> in the transition the down- pride and joy to the communi- pursuing,"he said. . . . What The site would be transformed ed
<br /> town will be revitalized. ty."Elk River has so much her- it comes down to tonight is all G
<br /> "The entire community will i we have to decide is whether with the nuts `n bolts amphitheater
<br /> ty itage and beauty to tap into we want to spend $11,000. I and a grassy amphitheater
<br /> have a chance to see the river with the Mississippi River," overlooking a bandstand at
<br /> and use it,"he said. she said. don't think we should kill it at the bottom of the hill.
<br /> The HRA has conceptually Others simply wanted to see this point." •overlooks along the trails,
<br /> approved a$150,000 grant for the project proceed to the next possibly incorporating
<br /> the project if the council ' phase to see if it is feasible. The project stonework reminiscent of the
<br /> approves it. And some, like Al Nadean of The riverfront pathway is not_
<br /> Handke pit.
<br /> City attorney switches.to Doherty, Rumble and Butler-law firm and so di
<br /> by Joni Astrup years, has left the law firm of stay with him by-retaining the The'terms will be the lame hour
<br /> Associate editor Larkin Hoffman Daly 'and new law firm. for now—a$1,650 per month city I
<br /> k River has a new law Lindgren and joined the firm The council complied, voting retainer which covers routine legal
<br /> ....n, but the same city attor- of Doherty Rumble and Butler. 4-0 to_end its relationship city business. Special projects gene
<br /> ney'% r '^'c" .',, '! =Beck notifiedrthe"Eik'Rrver 'with ,, arkin 1-1offniab,,and will,,eontinue tn,be billed.-at As
<br /> `Peter Beck,who has been the City Council of the change ;retains f.oherty,Rumble and ;$90 an hour for lawyers who most
<br /> city's attorney for a'tmmber tlf 'recently"an'd"oiSited'the City't6 Butler. are associates and $110 an will 1
<br /> IRNITURE & THING J� f �r . t? V1PUmpkfr
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