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Great Northern Trail Master Plan Study <br />The public is encouraged to attend the GNT public engagement event on Wednesday, April 20 at the <br />Princeton Railway Depot from 4-7 pm. Commission members are also encouraged to take the online <br />survey. Details on the event and survey are attached to this report. <br />Senior Center Memberships <br />As of April 8th, we have 443 senior center memberships. Last year we had a total of 470 members. The <br />average attendance for March was 76. Most popular activities include trips, entertainment, guest speakers, <br />card playing, and billiards <br />Fireworks on Independence Day <br />Our Fireworks company, RES PRO, has committed to shooting this year’s show on Independence Day. <br />The shooting location will be the Oak Knoll Athletic Complex following concerns from ISD #728. We <br />plan to have the same fireworks show as 2021, but it will look different to some residents because of its <br />changed location. RES PRO does all the fireworks shows for the Twins, Vikings, and Saints. <br />William H. Houlton Conservation Area and Bailey Point Nature Preserve Riverbank Restoration <br />The applications to the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) were submitted for the Bailey Point <br />and W.H. Houlton riverbank restoration and are in a 30-day comment period. The Houlton site has <br />significant historical importance, with many artifacts near the shoreline and are in danger of being <br />damaged or lost due to erosion. Unfortunately, the restoration cost estimates came back extremely high. <br />Houlton is now estimated at $131,000, an increase of $51,000 over last year. <br />Bailey Point came in at $51,000, $21,000 higher than last year. Due to the regulatory delay, overall cost, <br />and project timeline our focus is on the Bailey restoration. Friends of the Mississippi River has funding for <br />this project, and we are hopeful they can cover the full cost. <br />The Houlton riverbank adjacent to the dam is deteriorating daily. We will hold a work session discussion <br />with City Council after the SHPO review is complete to determine priorities and budgeting. SHPO is <br />concerned about losing the historic mill foundation at the top of the riverbank, which needs significant <br />restoration, or we will risk losing the entire foundation due to erosion. <br />Trott Brook Park Tennis Court Project <br />On February 22, the City Council approved the Trott Brook Park Tennis Court project. We expect work <br />to begin on this project early next month. All work shall be substantially completed before Friday, July 1. <br />Skate Park Grant <br />In April of 2021, we applied for a $125,000 skate park grant from the Minnesota Amateur Sports <br />Commission (MASC). That November, we were awarded $25,000 of the allotted grant funds. In <br />December it was discovered that prevailing wages were required even though the Spohn Ranch contract <br />was included in the application showing prevailing wages are excluded and they are part of the Sourcewell <br />cooperative which is a state-approved purchase. MASC informed us that the prevailing wages requirement <br />can be met after project completion. Spohn Ranch would need to conduct a self-audit of their wages <br />during construction. If back wages were required, they would be reported and paid. Our city attorney <br />indicated that the time, money, and effort needed to engage Spohn Ranch would minimize the impact of <br />the grant so we have declined the skate park grant.