ISANTI— The Isanti City Council opted to continue the possible implementation of a school speed zone near Isanti Intermediate School at their Jan. 19 city council meeting.

The council made a motion asking the county to continue their investigation to provide for a school speed zone in the area as supported by resolutions passed by Cambridge-Isanti school board and the city of Isanti after City Engineer Brad DeWolf presented the results of a MnDOT formal speed study conducted along County Road 5 from Highway 65  to the east approximately 4,000 feet.

Dewolf informed that the results were verbally with him in a conversation with Assistant County Engineer Jerry Schleicher. Dewolf shared that the speed study was conducted along this segment will recommend reducing the existing 55 mph speed limit to 40 mph from Highway 65 east 1,300 feet to the west property line of the cemetery.

Dewolf also said that the speed study does not recommend the establishment of a school speed zone or speed zone change on either side of Eighth Avenue Northeast.

Council Member Ross Lorinser feels a school speed zone is an obvious necessity.

“To me it’s a no brainer—If there’s a school there, put a school speed zone there,” he said.

Committee appointments

Council Member Susan Larson was elected as the alternate representative for Isanti city for the Fire District commission at the Jan. 19 meeting. Larson replaces Council Member Jeffrey Kolb, who is a firefighter. Kolb was replaced due to conflict of interest. At the meeting, Kolb stated that he felt this was not a conflict of interest and asked to be placed as the representative of the Fire District commission with Council Member Jim Kennedy as the alternate.

“The fire department is a complex position,” said Kolb. “I’ve worked hard to become a firefighter and understand what is going on over there.”

Kolb’s request to be elected as the representative for the commission failed in a 3-2 vote. The commission now stands as Kennedy as the representative and Larson as the alternate.

Pedestrian bridge project

The council approved a resolution authorizing to proceed with the pedestrian bridge project, the funding sources for the purchase of 236 Broadway Street Southeast and the release of funds for purchase prior to inclusion on the accounts payable list.

The bridge project is estimated to cost $2.8 million, with 80 percent from federal assistance and 20 percent local match. The current federal match is estimated at $2.15 million, and the current federal funding shortfall is estimated at $144,400.

The funding sources for the purchase of 236 Broadway Street Southeast are from the following: 8.4 percent trail- from the park and recreating dedication fund, 24 percent water-from the water fund, 25 percent sanitary sewer-from the sewer fund and 42.6 percent street.