The mid-November deadline for Sturgeon Lake residents to settle past due utility bills has come and gone. At its regular meeting on November 24 the city council moved to certify the assessment roll of delinquent accounts to the Pine County Auditor for collection on taxes payable in 2010. “For some, this is their third year on the list,” said city clerk Elizabeth Cisar.

The list includes about 25 residents who owe the city roughly $27,000 in back payments and two businesses that have unsettled accounts hovering at $54,000. In September, when the assessment roll was announced, about 40 property owners were on the list showing unpaid balances.

This is the third year council has certified an assessment roll to the county since enacting Ordinance No. 90 in September of 2007, which “empowers the city to levy an assessment for the collection of unpaid amounts.” Accounts are considered delinquent if they are both $200 or more in arrears and at least 60 days late.

Mayor Tom Helfman reported that the Sturgeon Lake Township agreed in early November to allow 83 acres of township land owned by developers Art Underhill, Ron Mlaskoch, and Ron Kohner to be annexed into the city of Sturgeon Lake. The request to annex the parcel into the city was initially brought before council by the partners in June.

At last week’s city meeting Helfman presented a letter of understanding from the partners, Sturgeon Lake Pines, LLC, regarding the annexation as it pertains to the city. The group plans to develop and subdivide the parcel into 28 lots, located from Cathedral Pines Drive (north of Denham Crossing Road) along Market Street. According to the proposed letter, Sturgeon Lake Pines, LLC expects to provide for a new 80-foot wide road easement within the subdivision and will construct the new road with a graveled surface in compliance with county and city specifications.

The group plans to also provide for utility easements but anticipates that the city will not require city sewer and water be installed on the individual lots as a condition of subdividing the parcel. The partners expect, however, that the city will allow for individual sewage treatment and drilled wells on the subdivisions.

In a brief discussion, Helfman stated that he wants to ensure the document specifies that when water and sewer does come available in that area, future property owners will need to hook into the system. “Part of the preliminary plan should read that future buyers of plots be informed in writing that eventually they’ll need to hook to utilities,” he said.

The particulars of the annexation and letter of understanding are expected to be finalized during meetings with the city’s engineer and the Sturgeon Lake Pines, LLC. Council is expected to approve the annexation at a future meeting.