The MnDOT engineer's estimate, which is based on individual items in the plan and statewide historical data of the last year, was $44 million.

The other contractors who submitted bids for the project include Bauerly Bros. Construction of Sauk Rapids at $39.1 million, Central Specialties of Alexandria at $41.5 million and Riley Bros. Construction from Morris at $41.7 million.

MnDOT now has 30 days to analyze the apparent low bid to make sure there are no mathematical errors.

At the same time, utility and municipal agreements will be finalized and executed and signatures from various agencies must be obtained.

Once that is done, the contract can be awarded. Solsrud said the entire process could take 6 weeks.

Major road construction is scheduled to begin in mid-April, but some pre-construction work, including removal of more homes and buildings in the right-of-way, could begin shortly after the contract is awarded.

The project includes turning an 11-mile stretch of Highway 23 into a four-lane divided highway. The construction zone will begin at the junction of Highways 23/71 on the edge of Willmar and extend to just north of New London.

A highway interchange with Kandiyohi County Road 9 is also included in the project. A portion of the project right-of-way is located right next to, or even right on, gravel pits that are owned by Duinincks.

The action was taken shortly after the New London City Council voted 2-2 on motions to both deny and accept the GLSSWD's budget; and after the Spicer City Council members questioned the increase but reached a quiet resignation that the rates would go up whether they liked it or not.

The GLSSWD commission decides how much to charge cities for water and sewer services. The rates are ultimately approved by the Kandiyohi County Board. It's estimated the new rates will increase monthly costs to average homeowners by $2.25. Depending on how the two cities decide to pass on the increase to their residents, that cost could be more than $2.25.

The GLSSWD board increased rates last year, which Spicer chose to subsidize rather than pass on. Spicer Mayor Bill Taylor said local rates would have to increase 30 percent, to about $75 a month, to break even.

Trudie Dubord, New London city clerk, said it's not known how much rates will increase there to reflect the additional cost but said monthly bills to residents will go up.

Representatives from the GLSSWD had met with the New London City Council earlier this month to discuss the financial history of the new water and sewer project and the need to increase rates to cover operation and maintenance costs. On Wednesday, they met with the Spicer City Council to answer some of the same questions.

Taylor said there's a "big" difference between the projected rates that were presented before the new facility was constructed, and what the city is now paying in fees and subsidies to the GLSSWD. "Why did it get this way?" he asked. "Something is wrong," said Councilman Gene Wenzel.

Gary Danielson, Kandiyohi County Public Works administrator, said the cost of the sewage treatment facility was initially priced at $5.6 million in 1995 but ended up being $10.5 million in 2001 because of design changes, additions and upgrades.

The system has also been plagued with numerous leaks in new water lines around Green Lake and by lower-than-expected flows through the sewer plant, which has decreased revenue.

Danielson said, however, Spicer's monthly sewer fees are quite close to the original projections. Taylor said, however, that's only because the city is using reserves to offset actual costs.

Wenzel, who was on the GLSSWD commission, said a task force should be appointed to study the financial problems with the system.

Dubord said the two New London City Council members - Margaret Pederson and Bob Kessler - who voted against the GLSSWD budget Wednesday did so to "take a stand" and emphasize the need for more information from the GLSSWD.

Danielson promised to provide the city councils with more than 1,000 pages of documents analyzing the construction and financial changes in the GLSSWD project that would "zero in" on the detailed information the cities had requested.

The GLSSWD commission voted to implement the rate increase just moments after meeting with the Spicer council. Representatives from both cities are on the commission.

In other action the Spicer council:

• Approved the total 2003 levy of $492,867, which is a 3.64 increase from 2002. The tax rate decreased slightly. The city's general fund budget of $568,778 was also approved.
• Briefly discussed bonding for utility work that will be done at the same time as the state Highway 23 reconstruction project. The city could borrow about $1.3 million for the work. A decision will be made in February or March.
• Agreed to issue a burning permit for a bonfire that's being planned for opening night of the 2003 Spicer Winter Fest, which is tentatively set for Jan. 17.

Lowell Flaten, Minnesota Department of Transportation design engineer, said he's disappointed the report isn't completed yet but said the consultants needed more time to take samples.

Earlier this year, members of the Lake Region Preservation Society, a local watchdog group that opposes the Highway 23 four-lane plan, encouraged the Spicer City Council to request the study. They claimed noise levels were already high for residents living along the highway and that additional traffic on the four-lane would exceed safety standards.

Consultants from Interstate Engineering Incorporated in Fergus Falls took sound samples this summer. Pat Reisnour, office manager, said crews will do more monitoring after the holidays for comparison.

"We want to make sure the monitoring is correct," he said. "It's a verification process." Monitoring equipment may also be set up at additional points.

The data, along with actual traffic counts, will be used to develop a mathematical model to project noise levels and develop recommendations, he said.

Possible ways to reduce noise along the highway could include creating earthen berms, building walls or planting vegetation. Flaten said implementing any recommendations could be either added to the highway construction contract, the landscaping contract in the third year or completed in a separate contract.

Turning the existing two lanes on Highway 23 into a four-lane inter-regional highway will change how the community, especially Spicer, will look and handle traffic. The project, which is estimated to have a total cost of $52 million once land acquisition is factored in, has generated both community support and opposition.

The project is expected to attract a healthy number of bidders. MnDOT has sold 59 packets containing bid sheets and copies of the 2,000-page plan to "prime" bidders, subcontractors and suppliers. Other than a couple plan holders from North Dakota and Wisconsin, potential bidders are from Minnesota.

There's no telling how many will actually bid on the project. MnDOT Assistant District Engineer Todd Broadwell said he expects between 5 and 10 prime bidders to submit proposals.

Bids will be opened Friday morning, but the contract to the lowest responsible bidder may not be awarded for another week or two while the numbers are double-checked for accuracy. Broadwell said MnDOT is "comfortable" with the $39 million construction estimate.

Jim Christensen, MnDOT project engineer, said the type of questions he's fielded from contractors who have obtained the bid packets "convinced me we have a pretty good plan out there." Most of the inquiries were about where to locate certain information in the hefty document.

The official start date is April 14. Work will begin at various points along the 11-mile corridor, but the major concentration during the first year will begin at the Highway 23/71 junction and extend through Spicer.

There are 240 working days scheduled for the job, which means construction could be completed in two years if the weather is "perfect," said Christensen. "If the weather is normal, we'll definitely go into the third year."

Contractors will be required to complete all work south of 140th Street South by Nest Lake by the end of the second year.

Also, by June 27, 2003, contractors must complete a new intersection and storm water retention pond by Mel's Sport Shop in Spicer. The deadline will limit the impact on the community's Fourth of July celebration. "We knew Spicer would be concerned about that, and we put it in the plan," said Christensen.

In response to concern about water runoff into Green Lake, 43 new water retention and filtration systems will be built along the corridor. Ponds in each construction segment will be built before, or at the same time, as the road work begins, said Christensen.

In a separate contract awarded earlier this fall, Duininck Brothers Construction is currently piling sand in a ditch near the Dairy Queen in Spicer to compress peat and stabilize soil for a new roadbed.

A change order that requires MnDOT to collect water from the peat compression process and dispose of it upland could add an additional $20,000 to $30,000 onto the project. The change was required as part of the Army Corps of Engineers permit.

Paul Rasmussen, MnDOT design and hydraulics engineer, said that's the only item in the Corps permit that caused any changes to MnDOT's plan. Getting that permit approved, which happened later than expected, also caused MnDOT to delay the bid-letting twice. It was initially set for Nov. 22.

The informational meeting was held because a number of Chamber members either live or work in the New London and Spicer communities, said Dave Baker, board chairman. He said it's important for the Chamber to "be engaged" with this issue. "This is a big deal for the county."

Residents of the three communities are expected to vote sometime next spring on whether to erase existing boundaries and create one new town with a population of 5,300. All three entities would have to approve the referendum.

Denny Baker, chairman of the merger task force, gave an overview of the proposed consolidation plan before fielding questions.

Most of the questions dealt with nuts and bolts issues, like taxes, ordinances and what happens to the individual community reserve funds if the merger is approved.

Several individuals, including Tom Lindemann, a commercial real estate agent who lives in New London Township, said he supports a merger. He said towns like Spicer can't afford to keep paying for services, like streets, parks, libraries and ball diamonds, that nearby township residents use.

With a merger, taxes could increase from 5 to 6 percent over a three-year period in the township. That increase, however, only applies to the township portion of the taxes, which is about 20 percent of a person's total property taxes. "It's really a small percent," said Lindemann.

But Mike Kueppers, who also lives in New London Township, said merging is an "ill-conceived and ill-fated plan."

He said the task force committee, which has spent $50,000 so far on the year-long study, shouldn't waste more money by holding an election. He said township residents "are just not going to vote this through." He said it's not an issue of "if" the township will vote the referendum down, but "when."

Kueppers said the task force should take a straw poll now to "see where it sits."

Denny Baker, however, said he's heard from many township residents who have changed their minds and now support the merger. He said the proposal is a "good plan" that offers the best opportunity for self-directed growth for the communities for the future. Much of the residential growth in Kandiyohi County is occurring north of Willmar and in New London Township.

In his presentation, Baker said merging would reduce duplication of services, increase revenues by accessing state transportation funds and help the communities expand housing and utilities in a way that makes sense. He said it would also provide a "voice" for township residents, especially in zoning areas now controlled by the county.

Without a merger, Baker said, there's the possibility that the township and municipalities could spend considerable time and money on contested annexation cases.

New London has paused its attempts to forcibly annex a sizable residential area while the merger process is under way.

Kueppers said New London is "forcing" the merger proposal on the township and is "threatening" annexation if the referendum fails. "We don't take threats lightly."

Earlier, Willmar City Administrator Michael Schmit asked how the task force was going to convince township residents they will benefit. Baker acknowledged it might be a challenge but said once people read the final report, due in January, a lot of questions will be answered.

Residents of the three entities were initially scheduled to vote on the merger March 4. That date was changed to April 8 after comments were made during a public hearing about the pace of the project.

In a meeting Tuesday night, the task force agreed the special election should be delayed again, to sometime in late April or May. "But we don't have a firm date," said task force chairman Denny Baker.

The primary focus of the task force now, he said, is to expand segments of the consolidation plan and get copies of the full report to residents sometime in January.

Baker said the task force wants to augment several sections of the already lengthy consolidation report in order to clarify issues if a merger is approved.

There will be no changes made to the basic merger plan, but he said more information will be included to better explain tax implications, costs associated with state Highway 23, the ability to keep existing ordinances in effect and the implications of not merging.

"When they see the plan, it'll answer a lot of questions," said Baker. It may also raise some new ones, he said.

Project consultants Rusty Fifield and Dean R. Johnson are writing the new information, which must be reviewed and approved by the task force. The report will be printed and then made available to all residents in the three communities.

Baker said it hasn't been decided if the reports will be mailed to residents or if they'll be distributed in some other fashion.

He said the goal is to have the report to people by the first part of January, depending on how long it takes to complete the revisions and printing of the hefty documents.

The timing of getting the report to residents will also determine the date for the merger vote. Governing bodies for the three entities must approve a resolution to set the date of the election.

Task force consultant Rusty Fifield said based on the public response at the hearing, he and fellow consultant Dean R. Johnson have recommended that the task force slow the process down a bit. The "clear message" from the crowd was that "people were concerned that this was happening too fast," he said.

Fifield said the task force may need to re-evaluate how to give voters more time and more information to "become better participants" in this process. He said it's important the steps in the process are done "well, and not necessarily fast."

The original schedule called for the New London and Spicer city councils and New London Township board of supervisors to vote this month on a joint resolution to adopt the consolidation plan and to set the election date.

The city councils were informed this week that their vote could be delayed until February to allow time to clarify segments of the formal consolidation document.

It's possible the task force may consider holding the referendum later in April or in May, which would make it easier for "snow birds" to return home to vote but wouldn't affect the proposed merger implementation date of Jan. 1, 2004, said Fifield.

Task Force Chairman Denny Baker said the task force will meet next week to discuss possible changes in the timeline.

Fifield said the primary concern is to respond to questions and concerns the public has about the merger proposal and to allow time for people to have a "meaningful role" in the process. Fifield said it would be detrimental if residents felt the merger was being "railroaded through" and therefore didn't look at the proposal on its own merits.

Adjusting the timeline is "a genuine response on the part of the task force to give people that time so we answer as many questions as possible," he said.

Proposed merger to be topic of Willmar Chamber meeting

WILLMAR - Information about the proposed merger of New London, Spicer and New London Township will be presented Friday to the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce membership.

The luncheon meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Willmar Conference Center in Gallery 5. It's being sponsored by the chamber's government action committee.

Denny Baker, chairman of the merger task force, will present the findings and recommendations of the 10-month study. Copies of the summary of the consolidation plan will also be available.

In the spring of 2001, the two cities and township appointed a task force to study the possibility of merging the three communities into one city.

The county-wide chamber has members living and doing business in the affected area. Chamber President Ken Warner said the organization and its members are interested in learning more about the merger proposal.

For more information, or to RSVP, call :225-0300. The meeting includes a buffet lunch for $6.

Earlier this year the New London City Council questioned the rate increase for EDUs the district is charging the three member-entities. In 2003, the rate will be $33 per EDU. It's scheduled to increase $1 each year until 2008.

Gary Danielson, Kandiyohi County public works director, said a report issued in February of 2000 didn't adequately "warn" the City Council about the steady rate increases.

The original GLSSWD budget for the new facilities included EDU rates based on projections of healthy residential growth and usage of the GLSSWD system. Slower-than-expected growth in the community, along with less wastewater flowing through the system than expected, however, will mean more rate increases for EDUs, said Danielson.

He said a report also used a wrong figure for annual debt service in calculating the 10-year change in wastewater costs and EDU charges.

The debt service allocation of $352,473 that was accurate for the initial loan payback should've been increased to $596,000 for the remainder of the 10-year debt service finance schedule, Danielson said.

"That is the crux of some of the erroneous information that you were given," he said.

Danielson also said the GLSSWD project grew in size compared to the original plan that was presented to New London and Spicer city councils. He said, however, the costs to the entities is "not that far off" from original estimates.

Councilwoman Margaret Pederson asked what could be done if New London didn't pay the increased EDU rates. Danielson responded, somewhat lightheartedly, that perhaps the city would have to look for a new wastewater treatment facility.

The Corps permit pertains to wetlands that will be altered and water retention ponds that will be created along the 11-mile highway corridor. It allows MnDOT to conduct a soil preparation process called "surcharge" in which peat is compressed to make the future roadbed stable. The surcharge segment of the project is expected to begin Monday.

The permit was also needed to allow MnDOT to meet the Dec. 20 timeline for awarding $39 million in construction bids for the bulk of the highway reconstruction project, which will begin this spring and last two years.

Because of last-minute signatures and a review by the Federal Highway Administration on Tuesday, the Corps permit was finalized just 20 minutes before the bid notification deadline, said Paul Rasmussen, MnDOT hydraulics engineer.

Initially the bids were to be awarded today, but a delay in the Corps permit prevented that.

The delay was due, in part, to objections and questions raised by a group of citizens who formed the Lake Region Preservation Society.

The LRPS had submitted questions and research data to the Corps regarding environmental issues and the lack of a thorough study of an alternative bypass route east of Spicer.

"We put our guts into this for the last three or four years," said Pat Laib, an active LRPS member. "We've raised a lot of red flags, and they don't have the answers to them."

Laib said he was disappointed the Corps didn't attach provisions onto the permit to force MnDOT to do an environmental impact statement and research an eastern bypass route for the highway. "We were hoping for a better decision."

"We sent (the Corps) volumes of information of great research," said Bob Miesen, another LRPS member. "I believe they didn't read it very carefully, or they wouldn't have come to the same conclusion. If an EIS had been performed, there'd be a bypass going around town."

Miesen said he hopes "Green Lake doesn't have to pay the price" for the decision to build the four-lane on the existing corridor.

When asked if the LRPS would initiate a lawsuit to stop, delay or change the highway project, Laib said, "No. I don't think so."

The Corps permit does have several conditions, including a required review and approval of maintenance agreements MnDOT has with the city of Spicer for water retention and filtration ponds; pumping and collecting of water during the surcharge process; and monitoring wetland replacement sites, said Rasmussen. He said MnDOT can "live with" all the provisions.

Miesen and the LRPS want to review the provisions and "see if they'll serve the purposes of the environment and the people who live here."

Rasmussen said the involvement of the LRPS was good for the permitting process. "By having the controversy, things are looked at a little bit harder and you end up with a better project because of it," he said. "It certainly lengthens the project out, but everyone takes a second look to make sure everything is done correctly."

Rasmussen said, "The process works better when the public is involved with the process."

Miesen said, however, the "thousands of hours" LRPS members put into researching the Highway 23 project turned out to an "exercise in futility."

Laib said he believes MnDOT's process of spending $13 million to purchase and remove homes and businesses along Highway 23, before the permits were approved, set the stage for agencies to be politically pressured to approve the permits.

"It may be legal, but it's not ethical," said Laib of the process. "It's just not right."

During the 2½-hour hearing, residents who packed the New London-Spicer High School cafeteria expressed concern about the lack of opportunity to have input into the plan. Tuesday's hearing was the only time scheduled for that to happen. Some complained that informational brochures on the merger were sent out late last week, making it difficult to learn about the proposal before the hearing.

Under the current recommended plan, the governing bodies were expected to vote in December to accept the plan and call for the vote in March. If approved, the merger would go into effect Jan. 1, 2004.

Based on questions, comments and responsive clapping of the more than 300 people at the hearing, a merger could be a tough sell. Just about everyone who spoke identified themselves as township residents. The referendums would have to have a majority vote in all three entities for it to pass.

Township residents said they wanted to know what benefits would come from merging that would offset the proposed tax increases.

Over a three-year period, the tax rate in the township would double, while the rate in Spicer would drop 42 percentage points. Actual taxes in the township, however, would continue to be lower.

Merger consultants Dean R. Johnson and Rusty Fifield said as New London Township - which has more people than New London and Spicer combined - continues to grow, residents will demand more services.

With a merger, the resources to handle growth will be greater. Also, with a new, merged city council, land development issues in the township will be in local hands, instead of the county.

Another benefit of a merger, they said, is that it's a positive alternative to contested annexation. One of the reasons the merger study was initiated was in response to New London's efforts to annex 96 parcels of township property in 2001.

Annexation battles are expensive, said Fifield, and can sometimes be decided by one law judge. If annexation is approved, township residents have no voice in shaping their future and would be paying the same taxes as their city neighbors, he said.

With a merger, a seven-member city council, which could have a majority of township residents depending on the at-large election, would make decisions on everything from ordinances to taxes.

Some of the other questions concerned police protection, hunting, costs incurred by Spicer for the state Highway 23 four-lane project, and if township residents would have to pay for Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District.

The highway project, like all existing debt - even for unfinished projects like the highway - will remain with the specific jurisdictions. Regarding the GLSSWD, township residents wouldn't be forced to hook up, and they wouldn't pay for the facility if they didn't have service.

If the March 4 election date is maintained, more informational meetings will be held in January and February.

Residents received a 15-page summary of the consolidation report in the mail this week. At the hearing, details of the plan will be presented, with time allowed for questions and answers from the public, according to Rusty Fifield, who served as consultant on the study along with Dean R. Johnson.

After being immersed in the merger discussion for more than a year, Denny Baker, chairman of the task force, said he's eager for people to hear details of the report. "I'm happy to see the information flow out," he said. "We've collected the information and now it needs to go out."

Spearheaded by a nine-member task force, the recommendation for the merger was based on the work of nearly 40 volunteers who researched five basic areas: governance, land use/development, public works/utilities, public safety and community/facilities.

The report identifies existing services, facilities, debt, tax rates, ordinances and government structure, and lays out how those areas would change, or stay the same, if the merger takes place.

Baker said the plan provides a "road map for the future," by presenting an opportunity for the three separate entities to increase their "strength" and "have a greater voice" by functioning as one community.

Without the merger, the report states, "future annexation disputes are inevitable" as New London and Spicer attempt to expand their boundaries by incorporating more township property. That could cost townships and cities hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees if annexation becomes contested.

The report tries to answer just about every question and aspect a merger proposal could present, said Fifield. "The task force has been very thorough and has tried to put themselves in the shoes of the residents."

Governance

If approved, the merger would create a new seven-member city council. The new merged town would include all property in New London Township - which surrounds New London - and the city of Spicer, which extends into Green Lake Township.

The merged city, with a population of 5,249, would be divided into four wards. A transition board would be put in place from April 2003 until January 2004 to facilitate the merger.

Under the plan, a tax rate increase for New London Township residents would be phased in over a three-year period. The actual property taxes - at least for the city government segment - would still be considerably lower in the township than in New London and Spicer.

New London and Spicer residents would continue to pay for debt their towns already have incurred for street and utility projects. Existing debt would not be transferred to the new city or township residents, but remain in the current jurisdictions. Once their debts are paid, the actual taxes would become more equal for residents throughout the new city, said Fifield.

All entities are financially healthy and a merger wouldn't be a "bail out" for any jurisdiction, according to the report.

Development/land use

Based on information from the report, a merger would not result in immediate changes in land use plans or zoning ordinances, but it would transfer control over development in the township from the county to the new city government.

The merger could create a significant advantage for economic and community development by pooling resources instead of competing against one another. It would offer a better approach for environmental management and implement consistent building codes according to the report. "Without merger, annexation will continue to be an issue," it states.

Public works/utilities

A merger would not directly result in paving of streets in the township, unless property owners requested it or other circumstances, like installation of water and sewer, created a reason for it. Current city departments would be combined. The merged city would be eligible for state aid for streets of about $150,000 annually.

The merger also presents the possibility of acquiring and establishing control of the Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District from Kandiyohi County. Utilities wouldn't be extended to residents unless it's financially feasible.

Public safety

The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Department currently provides police protection for all three entities, with the cities purchasing contract hours. The township doesn't directly provide for police protection. Under a merger, the contracts would likely be combined with service extended over the combined area.

Existing fire and rescue squads would also be retained, but a merger could provide the "best basis for future efficiencies and cost savings," according to the report.

Community/facilities

There would be no new public buildings required as a result of the merger, according to the report. The city hall for the merged city would be located in Spicer.

Fifield said he hopes residents will come to meetings, read the report and "think broadly" before deciding how to vote on the merger. Copies of the revised, 62-page consolidation report will be available in January.

He encouraged residents to bypass the "skeletons in the closet" and any past or perceived misgivings about the neighboring entities. "Try to step aside from being parochial," he said.

Baker said residents should look beyond today and consider what a merger would do to help "the entire community for the future."

"A lot of work has been put into this," said Fifield. "I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the communities." If the proposal fails, Fifield said it may be years - if ever - before another merger vote would take place.

So far, Baker said he's heard mostly positive reaction to the merger proposal. Some, he said, are apprehensive and others are waiting to hear all the facts.

Population

According to the report, the 2000 Census shows the following population in the three entities:

New London Township: 3,057 with 1,173 households

Spicer: 1,126 with 528 households

New London: 1,066 with 415 households

The median age of the population in New London is 40.4 years; Spicer, 40.6 years and in New London Township, 38.6 years. All of the jurisdictions are older than Kandiyohi County, which is 36.9 years, and the state, which is 35.4 years.

Individuals 65 years and older make up 27.1 percent of the population in New London and 20.4 percent in Spicer, compared with 12 percent for the entire state.

(Figures weren't provided in the report for the ratio of elderly residents in New London Township.)

Net tax capacity

New London Township: $1,771,229

Spicer: $654,910

New London: $366,158

Total: $2,792,297

Values are for taxes payable in 2002.

Findings of the merger study task force

1. The three communities share many interests and concerns, including protecting the shared natural environment, guiding development, attracting jobs and businesses, maintaining an excellent public school system and guiding the expansion and operation of the sanitary sewer and water district.
2. Merger will provide the most effective approach to facing these issues and creating solutions that serve the best interests of the public.
3. Merger creates the most cost-effective form of governance. The merged city will be able to provide services, improvements and facilities needed by the community at the least cost.
4. The proposed merger provides the best form of municipal government to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the communities.
5. Significant portions of New London Township are currently urban or suburban in character. Additional land is likely to be developed to an urban or suburban character in the future.
6. Without a merger, annexation and other inter-jurisdictional issues will take time and money away from other community service and improvements.
7. Merger creates a unified approach to managing development. This approach will best enable the community to minimize the public costs of growth, create new jobs and tax base and protect the natural environment.

Approving the public hearing, which will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the New London-Spicer High School cafeteria, was the first step in the legal process that will likely result in a referendum this March.

Details of the merger plan are laid out in a comprehensive, 62-page document that will be available to the public prior to the November hearing.

The plan provides some very direct answers to some basic questions if a merger would occur. For example, the new town would be called New London Spicer.

It would be governed by a seven-member city council, with four council members elected from each of four wards and the mayor and two other council members elected at-large. The city office would be located in Spicer.

The plan also addresses complex issues like whose taxes would increase or decrease, who would pay for debts a specific entity already has, and what changes would occur in zoning, utilities and paving streets if a merger was approved.

Rusty Fifield, who worked with fellow consultant Dean Johnson on advising the merger task force, presented an overview of what the new town would look like and how it would function.

In regard to taxes, the report says taxes should decrease for residents in New London and Spicer and increase slightly for New London Township. Fifield said in the long run, however, the township taxes will not be higher with a merger than if it remained a separate entity, because increased services and costs will likely be in the township's future.

Because the merger will generate higher state aid than the cities are currently receiving, the tax increase will be lessened.

The report says all entities are financially strong and a merger would not be a "financial bail-out" for any of the three communities.

Debt would not be transferred with a merger. The report says an entity whose residents are currently paying for an improvement project, like a new street or utility expansion, would continue to pay for it.

A merger will not mean immediate changes in areas like zoning, enforcing new ordinances, paving streets or requiring hook-up to municipal utilities. Those changes, if they occur, would happen at the discretion of the new city council.

The merger would provide a stronger, unified voice in zoning and land development issues, as well as future control of the Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District, according to the report. Kandiyohi County currently controls the GLSSWD, and in the townships it controls the zoning and development decisions.

Denny Baker, chairman of the task force, said the volunteers who spent months studying the merger, are excited about the positive possibilities of a merged community and are eager for a referendum to be held.

Although the action Tuesday to approve the public hearing sets the merger process in motion, there are several crucial steps that need to happen before a merger would actually be implemented. Sometime before the end of the year, the three governing bodies will be asked to adopt a resolution approving the merger plan and calling for a special election.

Public information meetings will be held in January and February with a vote tentatively set for March 4, 2003. A majority of residents in the three separate entities have to approve the merger for it to take place.

If it is approved, the merger would go into effect in January of 2004.

Spicer Mayor Bill Taylor said the meeting should give the councils and townboard a good overview of the information that's been gathered.

The task force will present a summary of the process of the study. Consultants Dean Johnson and Rusty Fifield will then present the consolidation plan and answer questions. A $10,000 state grant, along with $13,000 from each of the three communities, was used to pay for the $49,000 study and consultants' fees, according to Kimberly Wothe, Spicer city administrator.

According to the meeting agenda, the cities and township will be asked to accept the plan for review and approve a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Sometime between Nov. 20 and Dec. 31, the cities and township will be asked to individually adopt a joint resolution which would approve the consolidation plan. That plan would include holding a special election on March 4, 2003 to vote on the merger referenda in each community.

Merle Gjerde, chairman of the New London town board said he believes leaders from all three entities intend to take action to put the merger issue on the ballot, but it's up to the voters to approve a merger or not.

A majority of residents from each entity would have to approve the merger for it to pass. It's possible a consolidated community could be in effect by Jan. 1, 2004.

"Hopefully the voters will be at the meetings and ask all the questions and get all the answers they possibly can, because this is totally up to the voters in how they want to handle the situation," said Gjerde. "We'll leave it up to the voters."

The idea to consolidate emerged about two years ago when the New London City Council initiated efforts to annex a large residential area without the approval of the residents. As a result of that conflict, it was agreed that a thorough study would be undertaken for a potential merger of the three entities.

John Mack, New London Mayor, said the city put "annexation on hold" because of the merger study. He said he was disappointed he didn't have a copy of the merger report several weeks ago to allow adequate time to review it before the meeting.

Copies of the report were provided to the councils and townboard just before the weekend. Task force members said it's important the elected officials hear the same information at the same time to prevent any misunderstandings. That information is expected to be laid out in detail at the meeting on Tuesday.

On Oct. 22, members of the New London and Spicer city councils and the New London Township board of supervisors will meet to hear details of how a new combined town could operate.

On Nov. 19, a public hearing is scheduled to be held.

The report is not being made public until the city and township representatives have been given a thorough review of the plan at the Oct. 22 meeting. There's concern, said Dean Johnson, one of the consultants who's been working with the task force for more than a year to study the merger, that segments of the report could be taken out of context and people could "jump to conclusions" if it isn't explained in its entirety.

Besides the task force members, about 40 other individuals from the entities participated in sub-committees that studied five different components of merging: land use and development, public safety (fire and police), public works, public facilities and governance.

The report gives specific details about how all those areas could be merged, said Baker during a telephone interview. One of the more "crucial" issues sure to draw the public's eye is the bottom line and "how it affects the communities financially."

Baker said the report includes information about how the merger could be implemented and what the new town would look like and how it would act.

He said he's eager for the public to see the report in its entirety "because it'll give to the community as a whole, a possible plan for developing the future. And we can do this together to make a good, solid community for the future."

Baker said he believes a March 2003 vote would allow enough time to educate the public about the plan.

Johnson said it's possible, however, the issue won't survive the process to get to the voting stage.

"I don't know if they'll get that far," he said during an interview from Metro area office. "The process has a lot of steps and each step carries onto the next." He said it's a matter of the three communities either wanting to go forward or not.

Baker said he's had "mostly positive feedback" from the community about a potential merger. Some people, he said, wonder why it wasn't done before, some want to see the report "before they pass judgement" and others "don't want to have anything to do with it."

If the merger is approved, it wouldn't be the first time three entities have combined. This spring, Rockville, Rockville Township and Pleasant Lake residents voted to merge. The three entities began functioning as one new town on June 1.

On Monday, young trees on the resort property will be transplanted.

The week after that, roads will be built, water and sewer lines installed and dirt moved to make a pond.

A few weeks after that, construction will begin on a high-end residential de-velopment featuring 21 townhomes and six exclusive - and very ex-pensive- lakeshore homes.

The quick pace of these e-vents follows a long and very rich history of Indian Beach Resort, which is one of the oldest and largest family-owned resorts in Kandiyohi County.

Located on the east side of Green Lake, Indian Beach has been used by the public since at least the 1930s. Back then, the DeLaske family operated a lodge that sold snacks. Kids could also rent toboggans with wheels to ride down the wooden water slide that emptied into Green Lake. Families would picnic there and buy gas for their fishing boats.

In 1952, the property was purchased by Dave Schmeidecker who built cabins and turned Indian Beach into a viable resort that has existed for the last 50 years. It was sold in 1965 to Vern and Verna Johnson and for the last 27 years has been owned and operated by Andy, Joyce and Donan Kroneberger.

Faced with increasing operating costs, like in-surance, ta-xes and u-tility assessments, the Kronebergers decided to end the resort's history and sold the property to Tim Carlson, a Willmar de-veloper. The development will be called Indian Beach Harbor.

"We're ex-cited about it," said Carlson, who signed an initial purchase agreement almost a year ago with the Kronebergers. "It's been a long time in the waiting. We're chomping at the bit."

On Saturday, every piece of resort property will be sold "right to the bare ground," said Don Fitzner, the auctioneer for the sale.

The two-ring auction begins at 9 a.m. All 27 cabins will be sold, starting at 11 a.m. Most will be sold completely furnished with beds, blankets, couches, tables, chairs and kitchen appliances. House movers will be available to give estimates on how much it will cost to have the cabins moved.

"There is a lot of merchandise," said Fitzner, who expects a large crowd. People are coming from as far away as Florida, he said, to attend the auction. Some may bid on a cabin for a hunting shack while others may be eyeing the resort's 6-foot-tall carved wooden Indian sculpture.

"They've got so much neat stuff and the cabins are cute," said Carlson, whose purchase from the Kronebergers included all the resort property. "I think it's just going to be a blast."

All three Kronebergers were watching on Thursday morning as the merchandise was being carried out from the buildings and placed on hay racks. There were rows of lawn chairs and boats already in place.

"Do we have mixed feelings? Of course we do," said Andy Kroneberger.

Indian Beach is one of about 60 resorts that will be closing this year in Minnesota. Fifteen years ago there were nearly 2,500 resorts in the state - now it will be about 1,100 licensed resorts and 900 viable resorts, he said.

Kroneberger said he's "relieved" that the transaction has been made and that he can "relax for a change" instead of making repairs to cabins and planning for the next resort season. He and Donan spent a couple hours around the campfire one night burning old brochures, notebooks and pages of "to do" lists. "It was therapeutic," said Donan.

The most difficult part of the process, so far, has been "saying good-bye to guests who won't be coming back," said Andy Kroneberger. "We've made some good friends."

Donan Kroneberger said he intends to keep track of who buys each cabin and where it's moved to. It's information that he wants to send to families who may have spent a week of their summer lives in a specific cabin every year for 50 years.

The greatest reward of operating the resort, said Andy Kroneberger, was providing a place for people to relax. "That has been fantastic."

During the midnight paper-burning spree, Donan said he and his dad "started talking and we decided that we'd done a good job."

There are also agreements that need to be finalized with the city of Spicer and utility companies. "Due to the size of this project, we need a little bit more time to make sure all the agreements are all put together correctly," said Paul Rasmussen, MnDOT hydrologist.

After that comes the review of the highway plans by MnDOT's central office before bids can be let. The later bid date will not delay construction, set for spring of 2003, said Rasmussen.

There are a number of loose ends that MnDOT is trying to tie up before construction begins.

For example, MnDOT has not reached settlements on all of the 280 parcels of land that are being taken for the project. Of the $52 million total cost, $13 million is set aside for purchasing land. Some of the parcels include entire residential and business lots, while some are slivers of land along the 11-mile highway corridor.

If negotiated settlements aren't reached, condemnation hearings will determine when MnDOT can take possession of the land, said Todd Broadwell, MnDOT assistant district engineer.

MnDOT has also not received a crucial permit from the Army Corps of Engineers that addresses issues of water quality, filling in wetlands, compressing peat in the roadbed and construction of a new bridge.

Tim Fell, project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers, said more information that needs to be reviewed was submitted just last week from MnDOT and a group that opposes the four-lane plan. He couldn't predict when a decision will be made on the permit.

Rasmussen said he's confident MnDOT has addressed environmental issues adequately and the permit will eventually be approved.

Also unfinished is the final report on how area lakes will be affected by the highway and the planned water retention ponds.

Preliminary studies from the water quality advisory committee indicate phosphorous and sediments will be reduced from area lakes, including Green Lake. Their studies show construction of water retention ponds and grit chambers will remove pollutants that are currently going into lakes.

A "minority report" being written by some members of the highway advisory committee challenges the rosy predictions and says MnDOT has "fallen far short" of its job of addressing "water quality and water quantity impacts due to the reconstruction" of Highway 23.

Both reports are expected to be completed in October.

A noise study is also under way along the corridor to determine if corrective measures, like vegetation, berms or sound walls, should be erected to reduce traffic noise for residents.

Lowell Flaten, MnDOT project engineer, said an independent contractor, Interstate Engineering of Fergus Falls, is monitoring traffic noise at about 30 locations during "peak traffic times" as well as other times of the day and night.

The data will be used to model predicted traffic flows for 2025 and determine if noise mitigation would be necessary and effective. The report is expected to be completed yet this fall, with public input possible before any action is taken.

At this late date, Flaten said it'd be difficult to incorporate measures, like berms and walls, into the current plan for bidding. Those kinds of changes would have to be done as a supplement or separate contract, he said.

Highway 23 is one of 18 road projects around the state to benefit from the early release of $296 million in federal gas tax funds, Sen. Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, said Friday.

The Legislative Advisory Committee approved the early release for the projects because moving ahead with the projects will save money by condensing construction time and avoiding inflation, Johnson said.

"In some cases, we've moved projects from eight years to three years for completion," he said.

The projects, distributed across the state, were chosen because preliminary work is done and they are ready to be bid, he said.

In addition to the $11.3 million for Highway 23, the list also includes $22 million for U.S. Highway 12 near Wayzata, to expedite work on the Long Lake/Delano bypass, Johnson said.

The Legislative Advisory Committee is a six-member committee appointed to make emergency decisions while the Legislature is not in session. Johnson, as chairman of the Senate Transportation Budget Division, was a member of the committee which met to discuss the release of funds on Thursday.

According to a news release from Johnson's office, the Department of Transportation requested the emergency decision because a delay would result in the loss of a construction season.

The federal money was scheduled to be distributed over the next five years, but a law change allows the state to request an early distribution, Johnson said.

The federal money could be available in about a month, he said.

- Linda Vanderwerf

Considering the small slice of land that'll be taken, Councilman Gerry Reierson said MnDOT's offer seemed "lucrative."

The other tract of land is located north of city hall and is owned by the Spicer Economic Development Authority and leased by the city. The price for the land purchase and easement is $102,400. The site will be used for one of the 41 storm water retention ponds that'll be built along the highway corridor.

About half of the EDA site is a wetland and cannot be developed for any commercial use, said Councilman Gene Wenzel. "We should be glad they're putting a pond there."

Jean Spaulding, EDA director, said the board approved the land sale at their meeting Wednesday morning. No decision has been made on what to do with the money, but she said it would be used to bring additional economic benefits to the city.

Meanwhile, MnDOT has nixed a last-minute request for another access onto Highway 23 in the downtown area.

Marv Peters told the council he's considering building a convenience store on the west side of Highway 23 in between Kandiyohi County Road 10 and Manitoba Street.

The area is somewhat inaccessible, however, because MnDOT isn't planning an access there on Highway 23 and County Road 10 will be moved, leaving a cul de sac. Mayor Bill Taylor said he inquired about adding another access to accommodate a new business there, but said MnDOT was "totally against it."

Part of the problem is because another access would mean crossing over the Department of Natural Resources' recreation trail, which would require another permit.

Taylor said MnDOT has also finished the design plans and has submitted them for final review.

The council agreed to have the EDA work with Peters to find an alternative location for his business.

In other action the council:

• Was informed that the merger task force has completed a draft of the final report on whether to merge Spicer, New London and New London Township. A joint meeting between the three entities is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Oct. 22 at the Dethlef's Center in Spicer.
• Agreed to have the city engineer develop a plan to solve a persistent storm water drainage and erosion problem that's plaguing several businesses in the Progress Circle development. The council also agreed to warn a business owner who plugged up a city culvert to prevent water and sand from flowing onto his property.
• Agreed to research land values and options for selling the old fire hall building and land, which is located along Highway 23.
• Agreed to inform the DNR that the city no longer wants the fishing pier that had been located in the city park on Green Lake.
• Heard from a resident in the Woodcock Addition who objects to a proposal to pave the streets and bring sanitary sewer services to the area. He said the assessments would be too high. If approved, the city would pay 50 percent of the cost.

The spigot was turned on full blast once summer arrived. New London recorded 21.2 inches of its rainfall total during June, July and August.

Lakeshore owners began calling the DNR's Spicer office long before all of those inches were tallied. Rising water levels have lakeshore residents worried about shoreline erosion, wet basements and declining water quality, said Wright.

Shoreline erosion problems could get worse if water levels remain high. Wind speeds and wave action increase as the chilly blasts of autumn arrive.

Wright said lake levels vary across the county according to how the rain fell this summer. Willmar and Foot lakes are both one-half foot higher than average for this point.

Florida Lake is only one-tenth of a foot above average.

While wet periods are hardly unusual, this year's experience has its own defining characteristics. The greatest share of rains came as summer storms rather than spring rains. And, the water came in buckets during short but very intense events.

The biggest recorded rainfall event this summer came July 27, when 3.75 inches was recorded in Hawick and 3.42 in New London. There were four rain events during the summer with greater than 2-inch totals.

Heavy, sudden rains and above-average totals are an especially bad combination when it comes to water quality in the lakes. The heavy rainstorms made the county's erosion and runoff problems all the worse, according to Wright. The waters washed nutrients and pollution from city streets and farm fields right to the lakes, feeding algae blooms and turning the waters murky with sediment.

There were a few lakes where the higher than average rains may have improved water clarity. The flushing effect of high water flows helped dilute the nutrient overload in lakes like Big Kandiyohi and helped improve clarity, he said.

There is no guessing what the weather ahead will be, but the high water levels give reason for caution. High water conditions can lead to dangerous ice conditions in the winter, as springs and waterways will continue to flow. High water and ice also mean a greater likelihood for shoreline erosion problems.

Many of the storm water systems, including the more expensive and extensive grit chambers and a large pond that'll replace two businesses, are located in Spicer.

"We wanted to do our part with cleaning up in the city itself," Taylor said, who wants the city to be positive example for other entities along the corridor.

Paul Rasmussen, MnDOT hydraulics engineer, presented the final figures from the water quality model used to come up with the net decrease findings. He said the total percentage of phosphorous will decrease 23 percent with a 12-inch annual rainfall. With a 24-inch rainfall it'll decrease 10 percent and with a 46-inch rainfall it'll decrease 3 percent.

The percentage of sediments will decrease by 31 percent for a 12-inch rainfall, 29 percent with a 24-inch rainfall and 6 percent with a 46-inch rainfall.

The council approved a resolution agreeing to financially participate with MnDOT in the project. The resolution outlined which costs the city will be responsible for, but didn't include any dollar amounts. That information, and another resolution, will be presented to the board later for their approval.

The council made reductions in their preliminary budget and levy that'll result in a decrease in the 2003 tax rate. The reduction will be just under one percent, said Kimberly Wothe, city administrator.

With the proposed budget, the general fund levy will be almost $13,000 less than last year.

The total levy, however, will increase slightly because of a $70,000 bond for utility improvements that'll be done in conjunction with the Highway 23 project.

Given the "mess" the town will be in for two years while the highway is being reconstructed, Taylor said he wants to give residents a break on their taxes. Creating a budget and levy that results in a decrease in the tax rate, he said, will help. Reserve funds will be used to help create the decrease.

The council can still make reductions to the final budget before it's approved in December.

In other action, the council was informed that filing for office closes Sept. 10. Council positions currently held by Gene Wenzel and Robin deCathelineau, and the position of mayor currently held by Bill Taylor, are up for election. Taylor is the only candidate who's filed so far.

The council was told that their share of the $52 million project will be about $40,309. That cost doesn't include utility replacement projects the city will do while roads are torn up. It also doesn't cover items like new "welcome to Spicer" signs.

The $40,309 city share does include $24,500 for street lights that carry a total price tag of $245,000, $15,000 of the total $300,000 cost for two traffic signals and $809 for sidewalks along the frontage road. Those city costs will be off-set by payments from MnDOT for right-of-way purchases, said Mayor Bill Taylor. The city has already received $55,000 and more payments will be forthcoming.

MnDOT has also allocated $400,000 for the city to use for highway beautification projects like trees and decorative lighting.

Of the $52 million (which includes the County Road 9 overpass), MnDOT will pay all costs for road construction, installing new storm water collection systems and the water retention ponds, and grit chambers and an infiltration system designed to keep pollutants out of area lakes. A new MnDOT policy that assumes the cost of drainage systems saved the city about $160,000.

The city and MnDOT are still negotiating an agreement on paying to maintain the ponds and grit chambers. The costs will be split between MnDOT and Spicer based on which entity is generating the storm water.

Rasmussen said MnDOT has never had an agreement of "no net gain" of phosphorous to lakes with previous highway projects. He said based on preliminary modeling of water quality, it appears the current design of storm water retention ponds will decrease the amount of phosphorous and sediments from Green Lake.

Using a model of a 12-inch rainfall, 24-inch rainfall and 48-inch rainfall, Rasmussen said it's estimated that phosphorous to Green Lake will be reduced by 25 percent, 21 percent and 11 percent, respectively. The amount of suspended solids will be reduced by 37 percent, 35 percent and 15 percent, again based on the 12, 24 and 48-inch rainfalls.

Taylor said even if storm water treatment ponds weren't built as part of the Highway 23 project, the amount of phosphorous that goes into Green Lake from local storm water is less than 2 percent of the total phosphorous that goes into Green Lake every year. The bulk of phosphorous, he said, is upstream and comes into the lakes from the Crow River.

The council was also informed that a noise abatement study should begin shortly. The LRPS requested the study because of concerns about increased noise levels for residents along the highway.

The LRPS had filed a petition with the Environmental Quality Board about MnDOT's plans to compress several segments of peat along the corridor. The petition requested additional environmental studies be conducted. The EQB turned the petition back over to MnDOT, which denied the request.

MnDOT said the LRPS failed to provide evidence that compacting peat in the road bed would the "potential for significant environmental effects."

He said a previous survey by the Spicer Commercial Club shows more than 80 percent of local businesses support the four-lane. "We're speaking for the majority," he said. "There's resounding support for it."

In a candid discussion following a Spicer Economic Development Authority meeting early Wednesday morning, about a dozen business and community leaders spoke passionately about the need to preserve Green Lake and improve the safety of Highway 23. They said they have no doubt both can be accomplished with the current plan to replace the two-lane highway with four lanes.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is scheduled to award bids on the 11-mile, $52 million project this fall. Construction should begin next spring and be completed in 2004.

There are, however, a few remaining permits yet to be approved before the project can proceed. Also, a local group called the Lake Region Preservation Society is attempting to delay or stop the project based primarily on environmental concerns for Green Lake.

The LRPS has requested an environmental study for a bypass to the east of Spicer. If the group's request is denied, the LRPS - which includes at least one Spicer businessman who opposes the four-lane - may file a lawsuit.

While praising the LRPS's dedication to details that has brought improvements to the Highway 23 project, EDA members say it's now time to stop the rhetoric and the roadblocks and let the project proceed.

"It's time to accentuate the positive and get off the negative," said Mike Thorson, from Lake Region Construction. Reluctant to get on a Highway 23 soap box in the past, Thorson said "it's important to get the message out that we want the highway" while at the same time preserving Green Lake.

Business people know the main reason people come to Spicer is because of Green Lake, said Buzzeo. "We'd be cutting our own throats," by risking the water's purity, she said.

Two businesses located on prime business properties, Food & Fuel and Wally's Water Slide, will be replaced with water retention ponds to remove sediment from storm water before it goes to Green Lake.

"The business community is very sensitive to preserving Green Lake," said Gerry Reiter, a Spicer banker. Green Lake is "our crown jewel," said Mark Milczark, president of the EDA and owner of Little Melvin's restaurant.

Yes, a four-lane highway will be good for businesses, but businessman and EDA member, Denny Baker, said he supports the project because it'll improve traffic safety and enhance the beauty of the entire community.

Plans to incorporate sidewalks, decorative lighting, trees and shrubs into the four-lane project will help Spicer improve its appearance and define its image as a fun resort town, said Jean Spaulding, Spicer EDA director.

Buzzeo said once the project is done "it'll look like you're coming into an affluent community instead of tin-shed alley." She said she's already making plans to improve her business property along the highway and expects more businesses to be "spruced up."

A four-lane highway is not the "evil demon" some portray it as, said businessman Doug Dietz, who said he's eager to have Spicer's tangled traffic straightened out.

The group agreed a bypass would only harm Spicer by chipping away at it's businesses. "We (businesses) have to do well to keep Spicer alive," said Dave Baker.

Jerry Reierson, a city councilman and manager at Perkins Lumber, said he gets weary of people who "don't have one dime" invested in Spicer's commercial future who oppose the four-lane and promote a bypass.

Dave Baker said he's prepared to weather a two-year decline in business during the highway construction project. It'll be worth it, he said, because the four-lane will bring future growth for his business and the Spicer community.

If there was a bypass around town, Milczark said the business decline wouldn't be temporary, but would stretch out for years and years.

Just breaking two hours on the still morning under a hot sun was an accomplishment.

Race director Phil Scheevel said the number of entrants taking over two hours to complete the 12-mile run were twice the number in an average year.

"I'm just glad everyone got back in safely,'' said Scheevel, who announced his plan to retire as race director following the race, the 27th straight year for the popular run around the lake. "The humidity was actually worse at 6 a.m. than at start time. Still, we had 186 registrations, 10 no shows, and 10 did-not-finish.''

No one felt more at home in the boiling heat then overall champion Tom Jacobs of Kansas City, Mo. The Montevideo native overtook race leader Terry Gendron of Davenport, Iowa, just before milepost 8.

Jacobs, 38, hit the finish line in Saulsbury Park in 1:13.26, the slowest winning time in the history of the race.

"I train in these kind of conditions every day at noon when I do a six mile run,'' said Jacobs, a city engineer for a Kansas City suburb.

Jen Hess, 19, of Paynesville, was a convincing winner in the women's division. The future Gophers' time of 1:20:49 stands up in any condition, but one indication of the heat's toll was that defending champion Denise Pietig of Olivia was seven minutes off her winning time of a year ago.

Several runners noted that the race was most brutal on the long stretch along the north side from County Park 5 to Ole Mill Inn. Runners were in full sun with no breeze, an only an occasional garden hose for cooling.

There was plenty of water, though, with volunteers hosting tables of fresh water every two miles, plus more water provided by supportive lake residents.

"I don't run well in the heat,'' said Gendron, a 36-year old Litchfield native and two-time winner of the race. "I run better in snow.''

n Dick Score, 49, of Spicer, who says he's run in 14 of the last 15 races, couldn't remember it being this hot at race time ever before. "That race was terrible,'' he huffed. "The first six miles were great; the last six I just gutted it out.''

n Hess, who won the 3,200 meter race in the Class A track meet this spring, said this is one of two races she's permitted to run over the summer prior to beginning her cross-country/track career at Minnesota. She has no plans to run another. "The last miles were shady; that helped,'' she said.

n Peitig, a nurse who was making her first competitive run of the season, said she walked about eight times. "I wanted to end this race vertical, not horizontal, she quipped.

Men's overall results

PLACE, NAME, AGE, TOWN TIME

1 Tom Jacobs, 38, Kansas City, Mo 1:13:26

2. Bruce Schalk, 40, Burnsville 1:13.53

3. Terry Gendron, 36, Davenport, Iowa 1:14.35

4. Zip Zupanski, 42, Sauk Rapids, 1:17.00

5. Monty Steffens, 43, Sartell 1:17.05

6. Joe Buckentine, 39, St. Cloud 1:17.53

7. Garrett Tomczak, 55, Golden Valley 1:18.00

8. Matt Prekker, 24, Minneapolis 1:21.26

9. Brian Regnier, 24, Willmar 1:22.10

10. Gene Boysen, 38, St. Joseph 1:22.24

11. Greg Martin, 40, Marshall 1:22.49

12. Bob Kovell, 49, St. Cloud 1:22.54

13. Riley Flanders, 18, Paynesville 1:23.19

14. Steve Schmaedeke, 34, Willmar 1:23:45

15. Blaine Schmidt, 37, Fremont, Neb 1:27:16

16. Stanley Horstmann, 58, Silver Lake 1:27:56

17. William Hohengarten, 41, Wash. D.C. 1:28.07

18. Craig Hertz, 16, Andover 1:28.18

19. Brian Anderson, 15, Andover 1:28:18

20. Tim Simonsen, 27, Willmar 1:28.19

21. Jeff Horstmann, 25, Silver Lake 1:28:45

22. John Cramer, 50, St. Paul 1:28:51

23. Gary Moyer, 38, Willmar 1:29:24

24. Doug Barrett, 37, Annandale 1:29:59

25. Larry McDonough, 46, St. Paul 1:30:13

26. Steven Lueders, 38, Kandiyohi 1:30:27

27. Jim Burnett, 56, Mora 1:30:36

28. Joel Leer, 33, Owatonna 1:31:04

29. Todd Larson, 42, Willmar 1:31:16

30. Dick Score, 49, Spicer 1:31:42

31. Mike Schoffman, 53, Spicer 1:31:59

32. Robert Britain, 44, Wayzata 1:32:05

33. Levi Weber, 20, Benson 1:32:14

34. Brian Heinen, 25, New London 1:32:25

35. Ron Monson, 36, New London 1:33:44

36. Shawn Webb, 23, St. Louis Park 1:34:10

37. Jeremy Johnson, 27, Lakeville 1:34:46

38. Wayne Panler, 45, Spicer 1:35:34

39. Tom Allen, 15, Marshall 1:35:35

40. Casey Link, 17, Renville 1:36:05

41. J.C. Pfeister, 27, Dakota Dunes, S.D. 1:37:02

42. Scott Ahrenholz, 25, Hinsdale, Ill. 1:37:02

43. Chad Wyffels, 16, Paynesville 1:37:07

44. Sven Steen, 14, Springfield, Ill. 1:37:25

45. Kelly Czech, 32, Chanhassen 1:37:33

46. Paul Prokosch, 31, St. Paul 1:37:56

47. Jeff Witherbee, 42, Annandale 1:37:59

48. John Hauge, 43, Sunburg 1:39:13

49. Bill Richardson, 44, Bloomington 1:39:19

50. Mike Hanson, 35, Willmar 1:39:51

51. Steve Fossen, 54, Plymouth 1:40:21

52. Adam Ailie, 24, St. Paul 1:40:29

53. Shawn Molenar, 28, St. Paul 1:40:29

54. Patrick Botz, 32, Burnsville 1:40:31

55. Robert Barden, 41, Granite Falls 1:40:44

56. Jeff Clayton, 45, Shawnee Mission, Kan 1:40:47

57. Lyndon Hanson, 50, Spicer 1:41:17

58. Mark Steen, 54, Springfield, Ill. 1:42:05

59. John Schroeder, 38, Marshall 1:43:33

60. Aaron Flint, 19, Richmond 1:43:55

61. Michael Kelly, 36, Stony Point, N.Y. 1:43:05

62. Scott Nelson, 15, Hector 1:43:12

63. Kurt Kuznia, 48, Olivia 1:43:19

64. John Deuhs, 57, Cold Spring 1:43:26

65. Nick Steffens, 16, Sartell 1:43:41

66. Scott Morison, 47, Brooklyn Park 1:43:47

67. John Dockendorf, 33, St. Stephen 1:44:38

68. Mark Quale, 50, New London 1:45:12

69. Dion Warne, 37, Willmar 1:45:44

70. Bruce Shuck, 49, Sunburg 1:46:00

71. Barry Jones, 48, Roseville 1:46:22

72. Trent Clausen, 33, Coon Rapids 1:46:44

73. Hal Gensler, 55, Glenwood 1:46:52

74. Glenn Voss, 43, Sioux Falls, S.D. 1:47:46

75. Greg Hedman, 37, New London 1:47:57

76. Eric Van Eps, 21, Kandiyohi 1:48:05

77. Robert Kern, 57, Osakis 1:48:09

78. Todd Frisvold, 42, Maple Grove 1:48:45

79. Jim Ruff, 46, Willmar 1:49:20

80. Ross Dahl, 43, Willmar 1:49:30

81. Doran Schoeppach, 39, Belgrade 1:49:37

82. Kevin Henslin, 40, Champlin 1:49:38

83. Keith Johnson, 28, Montevideo 1:49:39

84. Kellen Keymer, 20, town not provided 1:50:14

85. Kris Vosmider, 55, Bloomington 1:50:23

86. Jeremiah Lamphere, 18, Pwdr Spgs.Ga 1:43:26

87. Paul Lamphere, 19, Excelsior 1:53:27

88. Jerry Larson, 50, Montevideo 1:54:33

89. Anthony Hilbers, 20, town not provided 1:54:38

90. Gene Kalscheller, 65, Sauk Rapids 1:54:41

91. Micah Gorans, 21, Lake Lillian 1:55:38

92. Richard Jaenisch, 20, Spicer 1:56:49

93. John Prokosch, 26, Bloomington 1:57:31

94. Curt Mackedanz, 43, Spicer 1:59:44

95. Joe Schwartzbaner, 43, Circle Pines 2:00.08

96. Doug Prahl, 28, Monticello 2:00:53

97. Pat Zoller, 37, Oakdale 2:00:54

98. Corky Berg, 58, Willmar 2:01:57

99. Kory Keymer, 15, town not provided 2:02:01

100. Tom Snook, 35, St. Louis Park 2:02:09

101. Dane Kallevig, 35, Willmar 2:02:45

102. Ray Wageman, 32, Owatonna 2:04:01

103. Jim Coffield, 40, Willmar 2:05:54

104. Nate Gilman, 24, Plymouth 2:06:57

105. Roger Ahrenholz, 50, Prinsburg 2:07:40

106. Shawn Nelson, 14, Hector 2:08.15

107. Mark Copman, 42, Edina 2:10:14

108. Ken Ericson, 40, Eden Prairie 2:10:39

109. Dave Bushard, 65, Lake Shetek 2:13:20

110. Daniel Freedland, 39, Shorewood 2:16:08

111. Mark Bursgraff, 34, Sioux Falls 2:23:26

112. Mike Mulder, 51, Prinsburg 2:24:17

113. Rick Swenson, 52, town not provided 2:24:17

113. Nathan Swenson, 30, Sauk Rapids 2:24:18

Women's overall results

PLACE, NAME, AGE, TOWN TIME

1. Jen Hess, 19, Paynesville 1:20:49

2. Yvette Dockendorf, 32, St. Stephen 1:24:10

3. Cindy Lewandowski, 40, Sartell 1:28:36

4. Denise Pietig, 42, Olivia 1:28:54

5. Elizabeth Leer, 33, Owatonna 1:29:26

6. Janet Gensler, 49, Glenwood 1:30:23

7. Janey Mulder Duinick, 25, Bemidji 1:32:53

8. Cara Mulder, 27, Prinsburg 1:32:53

9. Sara Steiner, 40, Laramie, Wyo. 1:33:47

10. Stephanie Eckerman, 26, Lino Lakes 1:34:51

11. Danielle Pfeister, 25, Dak. Dunes, S.D. 1:35:36

12. Jenna Fischer, 36, Kerkhoven 1:37:03

13. Renelle Enevoldsen, 35, Montevideo 1:37:32

14. Niede Williams, 26, St. Paul 1:40:36

15. Nicky Gustafson, 29, Spicer 1:42:31

16. Kim Lindblad, 35, Dawson 1:43:03

17. Lindsay Kuznia, 19, Olivia 1:43:19

18. Jody Ann Barret, 23, Rochester 1:43:39

19. Laura Prasek, 19, Fridley 1:44:54

20. Nicole Flint, 17, Richmond 1:45:12

21. Laura Warne, 37, Willmar 1:45:43

22. Mindi Kvaal, 23, Willmar 1:47:28

23. Darcie Conway, 23, Willmar 1:47:28

24. Emily Rohloff, 30, Montevideo 1:47:57

25. Kristin Riedy, 33, Grand Island, Neb. 1:48:14

26. Karen Madden, 38, Marshall 1:48:26

27. Dawn Garlough, 43, Bloomginton 1:51:25

28. Sarah Hansen, 28, Aberdeen, S.D. 1:51:55

29. Amy Brown, 22, Spicer 1:52:00

30. Aimee Erickson, 23, Minneapolis 1:52:22

31. Rosa Zepeda, 43, Willmar 1:53:03

32. Christa Bahr, 22, Ames, Iowa 1:53:23

33. Andrea Swinhart, 25, St. Paul 1:53:24

35. Deb Schleper, 43, St. Cloud 1:53:54

36. Lynne Warne, 39, Coppell, Texas 1:54:33

37. Sheri TerWisscha, 35, Spicer 1:55:24

38. Ruth Steen, 42, Springfield, Ill. 1:55:29

39. Crystal Kauder, 26, Minneapolis 1:55:43

40. Kathy Lutz, 47, Willmar 1:55:58

41. Andrea Snook, 35, St. Louis Park 1:57:34

42. Melissa Anderson, 25, Willmar 1:57:42

43. Heidi Rogotzke, 19, Spicer 1:57:56

44. Jacqueline Baul, 38, Chanhassen 1:58:11

45. Sheila Gemar, 43, Spicer 1:59:35

46. Jody Schuman, 39, Waconia 2:00:06

47. Stacey Roberts, 36, Willmar 2:02:55

48. Nancy Wohnoutka, 31, Cottage Grove 2:03:01

49. Barbara Gjerde, 53, New London 2:04:05

50. Mary Jo DeCathelineau, 38, Spicer 2:05:04

51. Becky Walkden, 48, Starbuck 2:11:45

52. Mardi Knudson, 48, St. Cloud 2:14:44

53. Laura Simones, 20, Minneapolis 2:19:19

Men's top 5 by age group

Age 10-19: (1) Riley Flanders 1:23:19 (2) Craig Hertz 1:28.18.21 (3) Brian Anderson 1:28:18.75 (4) Tom Allen 1:35:35 (5) Casey Link 1:36:05

Age 20-29: (1) Matt Prekker 1:21:26 (2) Brian Regnier 1:22:10 (3) Tim Simonson 1:28:19 (4) Jeff Horstmann 1:28:45 (5) Levi Weber 1:32:14

Age 30-39: (1) Tom Jacobs 1:13.:26 (2) Terry Gendron 1:14:35 (3) Joe Buckentine 1:17:53 (4) Gene Boysen 1:22:24 (5) Steve Schmaedeke 1:23:45

Age 40-49: (1) Bruce Schalk 1:13:53 (2) Zip Zupanski 1:17.00 (3) Monty Steffens, 1:17:05 (4) Gene Martino 1:22:49 (5) Bob Kovell 1:22:54

Age 50-59: (1) Garrett Thomczak 1:18:00 (2) Stan Horstmann 1:27:56 (3) John Cramer 1:28:51 (4) Jim Burnett 1:30:36 (5) Mike Schoffman 1:31:59.

Age 60-69: (1) Gene Kalscheller 1:54:41 (2) Dave Buschard 2:13:20

Women's top 5 by age group

Age 10-19: (1) Jen Hess 1:20:49 (2) Lindsay Kuznia 1:43.19 (3) Larua Prasek 1:44:54 (4) Nicole Flint 1:45:12 (5) Heidi Rogotzke.1:57:56

Age 20-19: (1) Janey Mulder Duininck 1:32:53.40 (2) Cara Mulder 1:32:53.97 (3) Stepanie Eckerman 1:34:51 (4) Danielle Pfeister 1:35:35Riley Flanderss 1:23:19 (2) Craig Hertz 1:28.18.21 (3) Brian Anderson 1:28:18.75 (4) Tom Allen 1:35:35 (5) Casey Link 1:36:056 (5) Heidi Williams 1:40:36.

Age 30-39: (1) Yevette Dockendorf 1:24:10 (2) Beth Leer 1:29:26 (3) Jenna Fischer 1:37:03 (4) Renelle Enevoldsen 1:37:32 (5) Kim Lindblad, 1:43:03.

Age 40-49: (1) Cindy Lewandowski 1:28.36 (2) Denise Pietig 1:28:54 (3) Janet Gensler 1:30:23 (4) Sara Steiner 1:33:47 (5) Dawn Garlough 1:55:25

Age 50-59: (1) Barb Gjerde 2:04:05

Family results

1. Stan and Jeff Horstmann 2:56:41

2. Joel and Beth Leer 3:00:30

3. Monty and Nick Steffens 3:00:46

Pat Laib, representing the Lake Region Preservation Society, said he's afraid the advisory committee will be a "scapegoat for a project that fails."

He made the comment Wednesday during the monthly meeting of the task force. The committee was created to help make decisions on water retention ponds, and other highway construction issues that could affect the quality of Green Lake when Highway 23 is expanded to four lanes through Spicer.

Laib said the committee hasn't been given all the information they need, and may have been given inaccurate data on which they've based previous decisions. He said the committee could be making decisions on "skewed numbers."

Paul Rasmussen, Minnesota Department of Transportation design and hydraulics engineer, said in a later interview the committee has been "given everything we have, and everything we've given them we believe to be correct."

Since March, the committee has been studying various types of water retention ponds that are supposed to remove pollutants before water drains into Green Lake. The information was based on a technical formula called the P-8 model.

P-8 stands for Program for Predicting Pollutant Particle Passage through Pit, Ponds and Puddles. It's used for modeling pollutants in different watersheds and how different treatment systems can reduce pollutants.

The committee has seen a summary of the model, but not the actual P-8 report.

The Preservation Society requested and received a copy of the P-8 report from HDR, the consulting engineering firm for the committee. Instead of answering questions, the report prompted more concerns and questions.

Laib presented a list of 30 written questions pertaining to the P-8 report, the process and possible outcome of water quality on Green Lake once the four-lane and retention ponds are built.

The Preservation Society maintains that parts of HDR's P-8 report are "filled with inconsistencies and possible mistakes in data collection, manipulation and reporting" and should be analyzed by an independent hydrologist.

Rasmussen said that all the questions will be reviewed and written responses supplied. He said any errors will be corrected. "We're certainly not out to do this wrong."

Laib pointed out a discrepancy in the amount of existing phosphorous in Green Lake recorded in the P-8 report versus the handouts the task force has been working from. "Your numbers don't match up with what we're doing here," said Laib.

Bob Beduhn from HDR said the discrepancy would be investigated, but it was likely a typo.

Laib also said the type of soil condition in the P-8 report is the Estherville\Hawick complex, which is primarily gravel. Many areas in the Spicer area, however, are peat.

Rasmussen said the curve numbers relating to soils in the P-8 model will be examined further. "If we find there's a problem there, we'll get that fixed."

He said there are pockets and stretches of peat along the corridor, including an area of peat by Food and Fuel measuring 42 feet deep, he said. That business is set to be removed and replaced with a water retention pond.

Other questions dealt with properly sizing and maintaining ponds and how cold-climate conditions were factored into the P-8 model. Rasmussen said the P-8 model is a good formula, and he believes it was set up properly for the Highway 23 project. "If there's errors, we're glad to get them fixed up."

Several committee members were surprised to find out that the P-8 model report existed and that they weren't given a copy earlier. Promises were made to get a copy of the hefty report to each member before the February meeting.

Rasmussen said, in hindsight, the committee members should have received a copy of the report before it was sent to the Preservation Society, which is just one of several entities represented on the task force.

Laib and other Preservation Society members have raised numerous environmental and safety issues about the four-lane plan during the last two years. They've lobbied for an environmental impact statement for the project and want the highway to bypass Spicer.

Rasmussen said questions and concerns raised by committee members in the past have been a positive part of the process and have ultimately improved the water quality plan.

Portions of Lake Avenue South include cast iron water mains installed in 1935 and clay sanitary sewer lines installed in 1954. "It's reaching the end of its useful life," City Engineer Randy Sabart told the council.

The street has been a problem spot for many years. Cracked sewer lines cause groundwater to infiltrate the system, which increases the city's treatment cost, and cracked water lines leak drinking water. In December alone, it's estimated the city lost 1.3 million gallons of water, primarily because of breaks and leaks on Lake Avenue South.

Exactly when the project will be completed depends on the county's construction schedule, but it appears it will be done in 2005, just after the Highway 23 four-lane project is completed. Lake Avenue runs parallel to Highway 23 and will be a vital route through town during the highway reconstruction project.

The council agreed to reserve the city's one remaining on-sale liquor license for 60 days for a Spicer couple who are in the process of opening a new restaurant and bar.

Garmon and Annie Tipka intend to purchase and expand the former Sh-Boom's drive-in diner and turn it into a sports bar and casual dining establishment, with total seating of 225.

Garmon Tipka said the purchase process would be enhanced if he knew the liquor license was available. The number of on-sale liquor licenses allowed in a town is based on population. Spicer currently has one license not in use.

The council agreed to hold the license for Tipka for 60 days. Tipka also intends to seek licenses for charitable gambling and games like darts. Tipka said the goal is to have the business open by mid-May.

Mayor Bill Taylor advised Tipka that the business would be required to hook up to the municipal water and sanitary sewer services this year. The previous facility used a private well and septic system because municipal utilities didn't extend to that part of town at the time.

In other action the council:

• Was informed the city received $87,115 from the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust in partial payments for storm damage last summer.

• Approved a preliminary plat for Fred Roguske, who intends to construct a commercial and office building on land northwest of the city ball diamonds.

• Agreed to purchase a televising camera for $5,700 to document the condition of sanitary sewer lines.

• Was informed that the Spicer Economic Development Authority and Commercial Club will be sponsoring an awards night to honor the citizen and business of the year. The first of what is slated to be an annual event is scheduled for Feb. 21.

County Public Works Director Gary Danielson called 2002 an "interim year" and said rates might be adjusted again later in the year.

"Around the lake, we don't have a really good number on how much water we're going to sell," Danielson said, because some homes were connected to the system late last year. "This is another interim year before we really get full records."

Costs for operating the system have also been higher than expected. All costs for operating the system and paying for the nearly complete water and sewer system project must be covered by basic charges and usage fees of the system.

The board set different rate structures for the cities and the lake because the county's Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District bills them differently.

The district bills New London and Spicer for water and sewer based on the number of users and the flow of water and wastewater.

The cities use their own rate structures to bill individual households and businesses. Fees paid by city residents vary from the county's structure.

The county charge for basic residential charges in the cities this year will be $13 a month for water and $19 a month for sewer per household. The combined monthly basic fee will be $2 a month more than in 2001.

Those fees cover debt service and other costs of operating the system and its new water and wastewater treatment plants.

In all cases, users will be charged $1.85 for each 1,000 gallons of water used and $2.85 for each 1,000 gallons of treated wastewater. Last year, the rates were 73 cents per 1,000 gallons for water and $1.62 per 1,000 gallons of wastewater.

The district bills lake residents directly. The rate structure adopted Tuesday was developed by a committee of lake residents, Danielson said.

A fee of $566 a year will be added to property taxes to cover service availability charges, part of the monthly basic charges and other operating and maintenance costs. The fee is less than the 2001 fee of more than $800 and more than the previous fee of $368.

Lake residents will pay $12 each for monthly water and sewer basic charges in addition to paying for their use.

"The committee is satisfied this is the best way to go," said Commissioner Dennis Peterson, who represents the Green Lake area and worked with lake residents to develop the rate structure.

"At this juncture, it's for one year," said Board Chairman Harlan Madsen.

In the cities, the average household use is more than 5,000 gallons a month, but around the lake the average use appears to be 2,000 to 3,000 gallons a month, Danielson said.

Residents around Green Lake tend to be older and more affluent, and they are likely to live a different lifestyle from a younger family with children that might be more likely to live in Spicer or New London, Danielson said.

A committee, along with two professional facilitators, has been studying since June the possible merging of the three communities. Members of the various subcommittees will be meeting together for the first time next Tuesday in Spicer.

With "elbow room and enthusiasm" to offer potential residents and businesses, Mack predicted the New London-Spicer area could be "bigger than Willmar" in another 50 to 75 years. Merging into one governmental entity could make a difference in the community's future.

"We need to track the merger very carefully," said Mack. "This is big."

Mack said, however, decisions about city growth and maintenance shouldn't be put on hold while the merger is being studied.

City Clerk Trudie Amundson said if the merger proposal isn't approved, New London should negotiate an "orderly" annexation plan with New London Township. Last year, the city initiated a "contested" annexation plan that was opposed by the township and headed for the courtroom.

Mack noted a number of accomplishments in 2001, including a better-than-usual financial status for the city. But he cautioned that the Legislature may want to use city surpluses to offset state shortfalls. "We could be in for fiscal hard times," he said.

Other council members offered their assessments of the past and goals for the future, including a need to upgrade the infrastructure, improve operations of the newly created civic awareness committee and keep water and sewer rates manageable.

In her remarks, Councilwoman Margaret Pederson addressed a touchy subject by suggesting the council consider an ordinance that would prohibit spouses of city employees from being on the council.

Saying that Councilwoman Diane Beck and her husband, Public Works Director Corky Beck, both do a good job in their respective rolls, Pederson said the Becks' relationship has made it uncomfortable for the council to discuss certain issues at times.

Amundson said she didn't think the Becks' relationship was a conflict and that any discomfort was an issue the council members would have to learn how to handle.

In other action, the council briefly discussed utilizing a previously obtained $40,000 grant to offset proposed increases in water rates. A public hearing on the new water and sewer rates will be held Jan. 16.