Board eyes rec park bid package
The Annandale District 876 School Board was scheduled to meet after the Advocate’s deadline on Monday, March 28, for its monthly meeting. Coverage of the meeting will be included in the Wednesday, April 6, Advocate. The school board was expected to:
■ Consider approval to start preparing a bid package for the most recent Annandale Recreation Park design. There will be discussion about doing the project in two phases, or over two years, rather than completing it all this summer, as was originally thought.
■ Consider approval of recommended teacher contracts for 2016-17.
■ Consider approval of 2016-17 capital fund expenditures.
■ Consider a request to add a special education teacher at AES.
■ Consider approval of a comparable worth study.
■ Recognition of student achievement: Annandale-Maple Lake wrestlers and the Annandale boys basketball team, both for reaching the state level of competition.
■ Review of the early childhood program in District 876.
■ Review long term capital facilities revenue and needs.
■ Hear an update on the Annandale Recreation Park.
■ Hear an update on enrollment for 2016-17.
■ Hear an update on general fund projections for 2016-17.
Crash at stoplights in Annandale
A two-car collision at the only stoplights in Annandale occurred around 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening, March 30, but there were no serious injuries.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a Chrysler 300 driven by 72-year-old Sandra Hanbleib of Buffalo was heading east on Highway 55 and a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by a 16-year-old juvenile male was making a left turn off Highway 55 west to Excelsior Avenue when the collision occurred.
Hanbleib had a green light to proceed through the intersection and did so, while the juvenile had a blinking yellow arrow to turn left. The juvenile failed to yield and turned in front of Hanbleib’s vehicle, striking the left front section with the front of the PT Cruiser.
Hanbleib was evaluated from some minor injuries but did not require transportation to a hospital. The juvenile driver was cited for failing to yield the right of way, but no injury was reported.
City officials to consider solar site
The Annandale City Council and planning commission members were scheduled to hold a joint meeting on Monday evening, March 28, to consider a rezoning application from Ameresco and GreenMark Solar that would pave the way for a 5-megawatt community solar garden just north of the Annandale Business Park on land currently owned by Trace Development.
The site includes two 40-acre parcels, and Ameresco and GreenMark are proposing to build a 32-acre solar facility. The companies propose that the remainder of the site will be eventually be used for residential development.
Last month council members discussed proposals for the project during a special meeting. There was general concensus that the land ought to be preserved for residential development, and a recommendations from city staff is to deny the rezoning request.