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VOL. 44 NO. 23 www.quadcommunitypress.com $1.00
CENTERVILLE: Indoor soccer training facility a possibility PAGE 5
Lexington temporarily partners with the SBM Fire Department effective emergency response when it matters most.” Conversations about the possibility of the merger LEXINGTON — The city of began around a month ago, Lexington will temporally be according to Retka. He said a part the Spring Lake ParkSBM will provide adminisBlaine-Mounds View (SBM) trative services to Lexington, Fire Department after enterwith the goal ing into of full implean interim fire service “We are going to keep mentation. “We are agreement. running Lexington Fire going to keep Accord(Department) as is, as running Lexing to the of right now, just with ington Fire city, this transition different leadership, (Department) as is, as of marks an SBM, leading it,” right now, importjust with ant step Dan Retka different forward in SBM Fire Chief leadership, continuing SBM, leading to provide it,” Retka said. high-quality, reliable fire and The partnership closely folemergency services to Lexinglows the recent transition of ton residents. the Centennial Fire District “This partnership rep— serving Centerville and resents the next chapter in Circle Pines — into SBM Fire delivering exceptional fire (See “Centennial Fire District service to our residents,” taking ‘big step’ to integrate SBM Fire Chief Dan Retka with SBM,” Quad Communisaid. “By working together ty Press, Sept. 2, 2025). regionally, we can provide deeper resources, stronger staffing and faster, more SEE FIRE SERVICES, PAGE 2 BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
CONTRIBUTED
Lino Lakes firefighter receives first award of its kind Brian Finke, assistant chief of operations for the Lino Lakes Fire Department, has been named the Tim Bertz Firefighter of the Year. The award was presented to Finke at the department’s first-ever Awards and Commendations Ceremony, hosted by the Lino Lakes Volunteers in Public Safety. See more photos and a list of other recognitions on page 3.
Final phase of Old Mill Estates in the works in Centerville feedback on their respective project,” Fuerst said. Approvals of the first two phases of development occurred in 2019 and 2020. Since then, Fuerst said the developer has refined plans for the final phase and brought it to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission in 2024 and 2025. As the commission now has several new members, the developer has asked to bring the concept back for review to ensure there is support prior to proceeding with formal approvals. Fuerst said that based on his understanding, this would be the last addition of the development due to the presence of nearby wetlands. “There is a pretty sizable wetland on the property, which is really driving the location of the home sites and it’s also really driving the number of home sites proposed,” he added.
The third and final phase of development is in the works for the Old Mill Estates development. This third phase would be called Woods of Old Mill. The concept plan proposed by Elmcrest Vistas LLC includes four single-family residential lots on approximately 6.5 acres, according to Centerville City Planner Nathan Fuerst. Old Mill Estates encompasses about 20 acres along Old Mill Road in Centerville and has been subdivided into two plats. “Concept plan reviews are advisory. These are really helpful for us to have a discussion, ask questions and provide the developer with
Fa i rwaY
SEE WOODS OF OLD MILL, PAGE 12
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The future land use category for the site, which is low-density residential, requires two to four units per acre. Fuerst explained since there are four units proposed for the 6.5 acres, it’s about a gross density of less than one unit per acre. “That being said, we can net out the unbuildable wetland areas. So, in future submittals the developer will have to calculate what the area of wetland on the property is so we can get an accurate calculation of net density, not gross density,” he said. Once those numbers are in front of the city, Fuerst said they would probably be seeing something that is compliant with the two to four units per acre.
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