By Mollee Francisco 

Facing a $500,000-plus deficit for 2011, city staff is hoping to rely on taxes and deferments to balance the budget. The Chaska City Council met in a work session Monday night to review the five-year forecast for the general fund.

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

*Presentation of 2011 prosecution contract

*Bids for West Creek Corporate Center Street

** A work session will be held at 6 p.m. to discuss the five-year general fund budget.

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.

Those interested in running for Chaska City Council or the District 112 school board can begin filing today.

Affidavits of candidacy are now being accepted for council and school board positions. The filing period runs from Aug. 3 through Aug. 17.

On the Chaska City Council, the mayor's seat, a two-year term, as well as the Ward 1 and Ward 3 council positions, both four-year terms, are up for grabs.

Homeowners expecting to see their city taxes go down as their home values continue to fall, may be in for a surprise.

Monday night, the Chaska City Council met in a work session to discuss the city’s five-year forecast, including a proposal to raise taxes.

Market values have dropped an average of 5.5 percent in Chaska, reducing the city’s tax capacity by $300,000 for 2011.

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

*Preliminary plat for Nickel Creek 

*Final site/building plans for United Health Group data center

** A work session will be held at 6 p.m.

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.

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

*Public hearing for amendments to capital improvement plan

*Livable communities demonstration account funding

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.

Ward 1 Councilor Gino Businaro has announced his intention to file for re-election to the Chaska City Council in August. Businaro was first elected to the position in 2006.

According to a press release, Businaro stated “Being proud to have worked in government for 30 years, with 15 years directly for cities, and a combined 15 years as an elected official of the City of Chaska and the local School Board, [I am] in a position to contribute greatly to the Chaska community.”

While the northwest corner of Highway 41 and Chaska Boulevard has sat vacant for nearly two years, the future looks a little brighter for those hoping to keep the corner green.

At its June meeting, the Park Board approved a motion to “strongly recommend” to the council that the corner be preserved for recreational use only, extending the scope of the existing Firemen’s Park.

Monday night the Chaska City Council voted 4-1, with Councilor Greg Boe dissenting, to lease water tower space to rival Internet provider Clearwire.

The Clover Ridge water tower is one of three locations Clearwire wants to install an antennae for its Wi-Max service. It has lease agreements with District 112 for the other two locations.

Several councilors, including Boe, expressed concerns about entering into a lease agreement because Clearwire will compete with the city-run Wi-Fi Internet service Chaska.net.

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

*General obligation improvement bonds

*Governmental refunding bonds for the Carver County CDA

*Lease agreement with Clearwire for water tower space

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.