The city of Chaska has long been determined to keep a grocery store downtown, and now city staff is trying to get creative about how they do it.

“We view it as one of those anchor uses necessary to drive people downtown on a regular basis,” said City Administrator Matt Podhradsky.

“You saw this in Victoria,” he continued. “A grocery store has a positive impact on other businesses.”

Podhradsky said that it is “critical” for Chaska to have a grocery store downtown.

It’s back to the drawing board for Chaska as a plan to streamline garbage service was trashed during a council worksession Monday night.

Last fall, the council met in another worksession to look at garbage service in an attempt to improve aesthetics and safety, while reducing wear and tear on streets by standardizing the service.

It’s out with the old and in with the new this week at Chaska City Hall. Tuesday morning, new audio visual equipment was delivered to replace pieces that went kaput earlier this spring.

The cable equipment dates back to 1987 when the current City Hall was constructed.

“Everything is original,” said City Administrator Matt Podhradsky.

Very light agenda for June 7. No decision items apart from the consent agenda.

** A worksession will be held at 6 p.m., prior to the regular council meeting, to discuss garbage haulers, the Carver County CDA and upcoming bond refunding action.

Chaska City Council meetings are held the first, third and fifth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at Chaska City Hall, One City Hall Plaza.

To celebrate River City Days, the city of Chaska is inviting residents to participate in a contest to create a list of the 10 best reasons to live and work in Chaska.

“It is our desire to highlight the reasons Chaska residents and workers are proud of our city. It’s simple, so join the fun! In ten words or less, submit one creative, genuine reason that you love living or working in Chaska to be considered for the top 10 list,” states a city of Chaska press release.

Visitors to Firemen’s Park have noticed something absent from the lake this spring.

Tasha VanBrocklin wrote on the Herald’s Facebook page inquiring about where the “diving dock” had gone. “It is missing,” she wrote. “I don’t see it anywhere.”

VanBrocklin’s eyes aren’t deceiving her. The swimming platform was removed from the lake earlier this year. Chaska Parks and Recreation Director Tom Redman said that it will be replaced.

Chaska’s wind turbine was scheduled to be back in operation this week after being shut down for maintenance work following an incident with Faribault’s wind turbine last month.

Hometown Wind Power Asset Manager Mark Tressider said that the turbine in Faribault experienced a hydraulic disc brake malfunction on May 14. The brakes were trying to stop the machine during “extremely high winds” when a piece flew out of the casing, landing about 20 feet from the base of the tower, Tressider explained. The piece weighed around 15 pounds.

For Dan Kane, his first real fire as a member of Chaska’s volunteer fire department was anything but text book.

It was Memorial Day and Kane was with other firefighters participating in a service at Chaska’s City Square Park when his pager went off signaling a fire call. At the time, he was just 19 years old.

“We had the trucks there so we just took off,” Kane recalled.

They made their way to a mobile home ablaze in town.

“I was the second guy in,” he said.

At least part of the plan for the redevelopment of the former Chaska Building Center has been approved. Monday night, the Chaska City Council voted unanimously to approve the concept plan for the western portion of the 11.4 acre site to the east of the intersection of Yellow Brick Road and Chaska Boulevard.

Discussion on the eastern half of the site was tabled until work on the Downtown Master Plan is complete.

Among the items on tonight's Chaska City Council agenda are:

* Environmental impact study for Chaska Creek Corporate Park

* Chaska Building Center concept

** A worksession will be held at 6 p.m., prior to the regular council meeting, to discuss the Chevalle development.

Chaska City Council meetings are held the first, third and fifth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at Chaska City Hall, One City Hall Plaza.