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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2025 VOL.22 NO. 19 www.readthecitizen.com $1.00
WHITE BEAR SCHOOLS: ISD 624 board approves preliminary tax levy PAGE 13
Block 7 shows signs of life after years of dormancy BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER
HUGO FIRE | CONTRIBUTED
Hugo Fire kicks off Fire Prevention Month The Hugo Fire Department will host its annual open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at the fire station. The event coincides with Fire Prevention Week, which will be observed Oct. 5-11. See calendar listing for more details.
During a recent workshop on wheels prior to a regularly scheduled meeting, Centerville’s city staff gave city leaders a tour of city-owned locations due to receive attention within the next 10 years. Block 7 was a stop on that tour. The grassy, 1.6-acre parcel on the west side of Main Street between Sorel and Heritage streets has remained vacant after Centra Homes abandoned its plans to develop the site into 26 townhomes. This corner parcel was originally part of the 2006 Downtown Redevelopment Plan and had attracted a developer, the Beard Group, which pulled out of development during the 2007 economic crash. Over the years, several developers have almost been to the finish line before dropping their plans to develop the parcel. There is some urgency to get this corner developed, as the city has already accepted a $400,000 federal grant to provide infrastructure for the parcel’s development. City staff fears the city may have to return the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money if development doesn’t happen soon. Using some of the grant funds, the city has already installed a 42-inch sewer pipe on the property. With a substantial investment already baked into the property, the city held out a beckoning hand to developers and put the parcel on the market for $1. SEE BLOCK 7, PAGE 13
Council adopts assessments for 2025 street project HUGO — One property owner is hoping the City Council will reconsider a proposed assessment for street improvements. The council recently held an assessment hearing for the 2025 street improvement project. The roadway reclamation/repaving project included the neighborhoods of Duck Pass and Palmes Long Lakes
be certified to Washington County for taxes payable in 2026. John Dostal, whose family owns approximately 100 acres on the northwest corner of Jody Avenue and 122nd Street, asked the council to reconsider the proposed assessment for the property. Dostal explained that about 16 acres of property abuts the Long Lake Estates neighborhood.
Estates as well as Ingersoll Avenue. The total project cost came in at $1,296,232. Of that amount, $177,378 (or 13.7%) will be assessed to benefiting property owners at a rate of $3,400 per unit. City Engineer Mark Erichson explained that assessments can be paid over a 10-year period at an interest rate of 5.05%. Assessments can be prepaid without interest before Nov. 15. Assessments that are not prepaid will then
SEE ASSESSMENTS, PAGE 15
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