| With the passing of April 15th, the East shore of Langdon Bay has quieted down quite a bit. Sollie's Creek/Langdon Bay Creek has been temporarily renamed Fish Kill Creek. Over a hundred carp did not survive the Winter and their final resting place is the creek that flows into Lost Lake. The DNR was notified of the fish kill, but no alarms were raised, and can less carp really be a bad thing? No sunnies, crappies or bullheads washed up with the carp and we hope they survived the Winter. I can report that the minnow traps are active and productive. Now we are looking for some rain with the hope that that will flush the creek. The lake level is still good though.
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| It's official. April 6th is the Ice Out date for Langdon bay. I think the wind finished breaking up the ice on the South East side of the bay.
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| Today saw the return to the area of Sky Blue Waters. Lake Langdon is approaching its official Ice Out, which is defined as being able to navigate a pontoon boat around the edge of the lake within 50 feet of the shoreline and being able to cross the lake both east to west and north to south. Yesterday saw a huge flock of Seagulls doing whatever is they do on the remaining ice and making quite a racket. They may have been attracted to the lake by the 100 or so dead carp seen floating along the shore today. Lake Langdon is for the most part shallow, and may have ran out of oxygen as a result of global warming during the Winter.
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| It's official, Sollie's Creek which crosses under Commerce Boulevard just North of Green T Accounting is open and flowing into Lost Lake. The annual carp run can't be far behind.
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Here's a recent comment left on the blog:
"Back in the 1940's, as a kid, I used to lay down by the the water running out of a culvert and catch little minnows that would swim by. When I had enough of this I would go over to Pete Sollies store and he would give me a slice of meat or two and afterwards I would go the the next store and watch the blacksmith making something on his anvil.
There also would be a time or two when the Andrews Sisters would come to town in their 3 Cadillac convertibles and their secretary would have a Cadillac sedan. The sisters would also go roller skating upstairs at the building by Cooks bay. Some of the guys would roller skate with them but I was too shy. I graduated from Mound in 1948 so I have a few memories of the early days in Mound and it was a wonderful place to grow up in. I hope I can return this summer to see how everything has changed." - Jack Legus
I am sorry that I haven't spent much time with the blog lately as I've been busy. Check the recent comments please. The Westonka Blog is Head Quartered from 'The Sollie Store'.
One thing I've recently noticed is the shrinking of the Laker Newpaper. I wish them well and hope they continue to serve us as they have for so many years.
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As we know, we do have traffic in Mound that finds us waiting at the stoplight at Commerce and Shoreline/Lynwood. When driving North on Commerce Boulevard with the intention of going East on Shoreline, we often find ourselves waiting at the stoplight, trying to make a right turn on red, but are blocked by someone waiting to go straight on the green light. There wasn't room for a right turn lane there, and I'd say the person going straight is in their proper lane, given what happens further up the road. A way to avoid this wait is to take Auditors Road and cut across to Shoreline Drive. I am not sure what the speed limit is on Auditors, but you'll save time and see what changes have occurred to what I think is called, Mound's new main street.
I wonder what the grand plan is for traffic flow on this subject? Do the planners envision most people taking this short cut, or would they rather they go up to the stoplight and turn East there?
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| Landon Bay has froze over for the year. Sollie's Creek that runs from the bay into Lost Lake is dry and has been for quite some time. The bay's level was lower than average during the latter half of 2008.
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It seems like only yesterday, that work started on this improvement. Auditors looking North East as it runs into Shoreline.
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The Dakota Rail Regional Trail (DRRT?) at Shadywood looking East. This picture is from a few weeks ago. Beyond, the trail looked ready for paving.
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The Dakota Rail Trail crossing Seton Channel. They are still working on this bridge, and the guard rails are temporary.
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Recently this trail has had sections of it paved in Mound, Spring Park and Minnetrista. I think it's really transformed the areas it runs through. I've seen rollerbladers, skateboarders and cyclists using this new resource. It's ideal for biking because there really aren't any hills, and you're usually sheltered from the wind.
We are waiting for the part of the trail in Downtown Mound to be sorted out. Unfortunately, the drivers in Mound still don't seem to follow our Crosswalk rules. As I understand them, if any pedestrian or cyclist is in any part of a cross walk, all traffic must stop. What I see happening is drivers driving at 30 mph giving little thought to stopping. I can deal with this and accept it however, what about children? Are they going to be able to cross at a crosswalk safely, in Mound?
There are some drivers here and everywhere else too, that cause me to repeat almost daily to my son; "Never trust a car". "Even while in a cross walk, watch both ways and don't expect a car to stop." While I would like Mound to belong to the children, and not the reckless drivers, there isn't much I can do about it. The city could issue a few tickets, and perhaps it all ready does, and I am not saying they aren't concerned. We see the signs in the road near the crosswalks, and the police officer near Grandview during the school year, so I know there's some effort being made. Perhaps I am appealing to the reckless drivers here. Children have a different perspective, and aren't part of "driving competition" that sometimes occurs. They don't cut people off, they don't tailgate. they don't pass someone to save a minute of time, and they don't speed. They just want to get from one side of Shoreline or Commerce to the other. They don't always make decisions like we do. They need drivers to give them a break.
Also I've noticed on our newly paved trail something that has in occurred other localities as well. The trail has little stop signs for the cyclists in places. The meaning to me seems clear. Stop and proceed when safe to do so. Right next to the stop sign is a cross walk crossing the road, which implies traffic must stop for cyclists. So who has the right of way? It's confusing, even for an adult. If I had to go one way or the other, I'd say the cyclists should yield. I do understand painting a cross walk on the road probably makes things safer. I'd guess less confusing might have its own merits too. What to do? "Never trust a car."
OK, bad drivers aside, this is really an improvement to the area and the City had and has some role in accomplishing it. My son and I rode all the way out to the WRA Park last night, and it was an easy ride. The section going West of Mound is really nice and still rural. The fall colors ought to be great.
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Local author Tom Rockvam being interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation in front of Green T Accounting's building:
This building was owned by the Andrews Sisters uncles for many years who operated the Sollie Store that sold groceries. The BBC was in town this day filming a movie about the life and careers of the Andrews Sisters.
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Local author Tom Rockvam has announced that the British Broadcast Corporation will be in Mound filming a movie about the life and career of the Andrews Sisters. The date of the BBC's appearance in Mound will be June 10th.
The public is being asked to show up at 10:00 AM at "The Andrews Sisters Trail" that is South of old Shoreline in downtown Mound and runs along Lost Lake.
The Andrews Sisters spent a significant amount of time in Mound, and it seems the BBC recognizes this.
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This weekend saw the ice going out on Lake Langdon which is defined by being able to navigate a pontoon boat around the edge of the lake within 50 feet of the shoreline and being able to cross the lake both east to west and north to south. This year's winter kill includes a higher than average amount of carp which I predict will not impact their population or cause them to be placed on the threatened species list. The creek, (Langdon Bay Creek or Sollies Creek, take your pick.) is flowing into Lost Lake at a rate of about 10 gallons per second.
The ducks have returned and seem to be doing what ducks do every Spring, and there's a huge flock of white aquatic birds on the lake that are probably pelicans. And I am pleased to announce that about 5 loons have stopped by today and I am officially proclaiming there presence on the lake again. Their calls have also been heard.
And on this busy day, about 50 carp were seen moving upstream from Lost Lake into Landon Bay. Each year the creek is running, the carp will about this time, get confused and think they are Salmon, and fight their way upstream to spawn. While salmon die after they spawn, apparently carp do not.
This entry has been updated.
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Langdon Bay Creek is about half open with the ice melted off of some of it. It appears to be flowing at a minimal rate, but I can't be sure about that. Langdon Bay's level may be low enough so that it hasn't breached the berm that sometimes forms at its headwaters.
Also I have recently been informed that another name for the creek is: "Sollie's Creek". (I am uncertain about the correct placement of the apostrophe.) Named after the two Uncles of the Andrews Sisters. These uncles owned the Sollie Store located South of the Creek for many years.
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I'd like to thank the driver who passed me on the left while I was slowing to make a left turn off of Bartlett at Avon yesterday. Thank you for not running into the driver's side of my truck at around 2:00 pm Saturday when the roads were wet and it was snowing. I am sorry that my slowing down from about 25 mph to 15 mph in a residential area to make my left turn onto Avon could've delayed as long as 15 seconds, that surely wasn't my intent. Yes I was surprised to see you passing me in what I used to consider my neighborhood, until I realized I couldn't argue with physics and that Bartlett Boulevard between Shirley Hills and Shoreline belongs to those using it to get some place in a hurry. As I started my turn, there you were, like Richard Petty making that race winning pass. All I could do is stop in amazement and wonder, was that perhaps Jeff Gordon right here in Mound? A stock car racer once told me that their cars don't have rear-view mirrors, and it has something to do with never looking back. After I got over my shock at almost being in accident, I drove up to my house and tested my turn signal, thinking perhaps it was covered in that heavy wet snow that was falling or that it wasn't working? But that wasn't the case, it blinked OK. But all is well that ends well, and I am happy that you could continue on your way and know that you had saved yourself 15 seconds of travel time.
As I write this thank you to this unknown driver, I am reminded me of another near accident I was almost in. I was making a right turn off of Shoreline onto Chateau and was passed on the right. That taught me to block the break down lane of a road when making a right turn. Signaling a right turn may not count for anything. Physically blocking the break down lane where someone may try to pass, seems the safer thing to do. Some might say I am supposed to use the break down lane along that stretch of Shoreline, East of the old Hardee's, when making a right turn. I might say that it's too narrow to be a right turn lane given the width of my truck. Its narrowness might make things more dangerous if I use it as a turning lane. The reason I think it's not marked as a turning lane is not to save on paint, but because the road isn't wide enough to have a turning lane.
Unfortunately, I can't think of anything to make making a left turn in Mound any safer? Maybe I just won't make left turns anymore. I suppose it's normal to have differing opinions between people who live somewhere and people and who just want to get through somewhere as fast a possible. I am happy I haven't inconvenienced anyone by having an accident with them, as that might make them late for wherever it is they are going.
The following was added on 2/15/09: I think that people who speed through our town, are not respecting us. Most of us want our town's roads to be safe. We think it's a reasonable expectation that we are able to use the Cross Walks safely, and more importantly, that our children and grandchildren can. We like our town and are sorry if it's an inconvience to you to have obey our traffic laws.
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Barbara Blaha writes: "The next Westonka Horticulture Day will be held on April 5, 2008 at the Mound Westonka High School. This is one event you don't want to miss. Keynote speaker Jeff Gillman will dispel all those gardening myths and give you the answers you need to solve your garden problems. Over 16 workshops with topics such as lakeshore restoration, planting with annuals, beekeeping, septic mound plantings, native plants, and many more topics. We gather the best speakers available to bring a quality educational program." - Westonka Horticulture Day
Their website is at: http://www.westonkahort.org/
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| Local resident Tyler Hill recently passed away while on a trip to Japan. tylerhill.org
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Interns are wanted for the DNR's Watercraft Inspection program. Duties include:
Educate the public on invasive species program and issues
Distribute written information to watercraft users
Inspect watercraft for invasive species
Conduct a verbal survey & inspection inventory
Document and record research activities
These are paid positions, seemingly with the requirement that interns must receive college credit to be eligible for the job. The application is due by March 14th. See more
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From the StarTribune: "Residents sue Orono schools, claim referendum not conducted correctly"
"Seven Orono School District residents filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that the district's recent $39 million bond referendum should have been conducted by mail instead of at a polling place in the school district's main office.
The suit claims that the west-metro district's Feb. 12 vote violated a state law that requires any referendum not held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November be carried out by mail, unless a district is in statutory operating debt." More
Orono's voters approved a referendum by a vote of 1,845 to 1,713.
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| From the Bemidji Pioneer: "The agency has returned the 52-inch fish to a Mound angler who caught it through the ice of Lake Minnetonka on Jan. 13.
Tom James kept the muskie after checking the DNR's regulation booklet and finding the season was listed as closing Feb. 24. The agency actually had closed the season on Dec. 15, but James and many other anglers weren't aware of the change." More
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From the StarTribune: "Presbyterian Homes and Services has purchased a two-building apartment complex in Spring
Park and plans to rent the 75 units to its employees and the public.
The $5.4 million purchase at Shoreline and Island drives in Spring
Park was completed last month, said Mark Meyer, chief financial officer
of Roseville-based Presbyterian Homes, which provides senior housing in
the Twin Cities metro area." More
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"Of the ten district residents who sought to be considered for an open
seat on the Westonka School Board, seven have been selected to make a
face-to-face pitch to the panel next month." For more of the story about Westonka Schools: Laker
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| From Mound Crime Prevention: "The Mound Police Department is currently
auctioning a retired police squad car on ebay if you are interested in placing a
bid or following the auction. Go to www.ebay.com and type in item
#260187820594"
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 Emerald Lake. Picture by: GML4
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We are getting close to being able to tell the time from the new clocks downtown. Bigger image
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From Mound Crime Prevention: Winter Parking
Restrictions
Beginning November 15 through April 15
between the hours of 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM - - - - Parking is prohibited on all
city streets in accordance to Mound City Ordinance
#700.45.
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A reader asks: "There are huge piles of dirt in the parking area of the Andrews Sisters Trail.
Where is this from and what's the plan?" Any ideas?
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"We're going to hold them to the $300,000 they need and put the rest
into a reserve fund," said Tom Notch, who won one of the four seats up
for election on the seven-member board." StarTribune
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This is from the StarTribune's website:
Levy Referendum - $ 877,000 per year for 10 years:
Yes - 2154
No - 2052
So we have what might be called a "split result" when we take into account Hejna and Notch being elected.
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Here's what I copied from the StarTribune's site for School Board election results:
Ann Bremer 2126
Gary Hejna 1935
David Botts 1902
Tom Notch 1861
So we have 2 from each side getting elected. It will be interesting to see what effect this has on the Westonka School Board?
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It's been an interesting and far from dull, local campaign season. Good luck to the candidates for the Westonka School Board. They are: David Botts, Roger Bredeson, Ann Bremer, Gary Henja, John Johns, Tom Notch, and Ray Salazar
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In the recent Lakeshore Weekly News, the letters from readers run 3-0 favoring Tom Notch and his running mates: Lakeshore Weekly
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It's been an interesting School Board campaign so far with the recent charges of bias made by candidate Tom Notch. From the Laker: "Tom Notch of Minnetrista, an avowed opponent of the district’s levy request to raise $877,000 a year over a 10-year span, brandished a copy of the campaign manual distributed to all school board candidates and leveled his allegations during the visitor’s comment portion of the agenda at the Westonka School Board’s Oct. 22 meeting." Election It's difficult for the district to have to remain neutral in this situation, but I guess that's required.
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In this weeks Laker, a number of people reply to Tom Notch's letter to the editor. When I received the Westonka School district's recent mailing, I wondered about their data? I wondered if it was objective? I am reminded of the role of an accountant: to provide financial data that is useful to management. An accountant usually doesn't push a view that the numbers are good or bad, but rather that they are accurate and follow generally accepted accounting conventions. Numbers
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From the Laker: "Representatives for two of the best-known housing developments in Minnetrista were in front of the city council Oct. 1 to request preliminary plat or plan approval. Developers of the proposed Halstead Pointe project, a housing development set to be constructed at the site of the current manufactured home park, and those of the Park Place plan, the proposed 852-unit development to the northeast of Highway 7 and Kings Point Road both went in front of the Minnetrista City Council with their requests Oct. 1." Development
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From the Laker: "The city of Mound will hold a ribbon cutting event for the new Mound Transit District, Oct. 28. In connection with the ceremony, city officials will take part in the Western Communities Action Network (WeCAN) annual benefit event to aid the homeless. This year's event has been dubbed, "Give a Hoot for the Homeless - WeCAN's Treck to the Deck," a walk-a-thon to benefit the homeless. City officials say participants in the event will be able to get a first-hand look at the new facility, designed with some of the same kind architectural details that were found in the Lake Minnetonka hotels operating in the region during the late 1800's. "It will be a centerpiece and a meeting ground for the new pedestrian-oriented downtown Mound," a statement issued by the city noted recently." Treck to the DeckIt's my guess that the Mound Transit District is the new parking ramp and bus stop. It will be close to the Port of Mound, a name that I, and perhaps others have proposed for Lost Lake.
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 Gale's Woods has a little know North entrance from County Road 15 just across from Long Lake. It's a little over 2 miles West of Commerce and Lynwood. There is no official parking here, but I'd guess you can park along 15. You can walk or bike in here, and that would make a nice outing to see the fall colors. There is close to 2 miles of gravel roads that function as trails to walk or bike. These trails are a hidden gem of Westonka. Bigger image
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 This is along Manchester Road. The city has something on their website called: PW Project that talks about the issue of upgrading its facilities. Bigger image
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With some of the School Board in Westonka up for re-election, as well as what some are calling the Levy for Learning, the Laker editorial page is once again coming alive, and it should continue to be this way up until the election. This recent week, Kevin Borg, Jeff Bauer, Bill LaTour, and Sarah Reinhardt weigh in. The Laker
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The city of Mound has recently mailed its residents a Public Works and Parks Maintenance Facilities Open House Newsletter announcing that you can see these two buildings for yourself as Mound contemplates spending money for better ones. The dates are September 27th, 4-7 at the Lynwood facility, and September 29th, 10-1 at the Island Park facility. The Met Council is projecting about 1 percent growth per year for the next 23 years. While I am wondering where all these people will be living, since Mound doesn't have a lot of developable land, I can accept their numbers, while not understanding how they came up with them. This 1 percent growth per year means something to me. Any problem isn't getting a whole lot worse. It's similar to the number of students at the district increasing by 1 percent a year, or perhaps your bills going up 1 percent a year.  Here's a Chronology from the mailing, showing us a little history: Bigger image
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From the StarTribune: "Our community will be asked to cast an essential vote on Nov. 6. Please take this opportunity to show your support of all children in the district, those in school now as well as those whose first day will come years from now. Please vote in favor of the Levy For Learning." Levy
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From the Laker: "With the Sept. 15 deadline nearing for the city to approve its 2008
preliminary budget and levy, the Mound City Council made a decision at
the Sept. 11 meeting...
...With a 3-2 vote, the council approved the preliminary levy with an 8.6 percent increase over the final 2007 levy." Levy
This 8.6 percent increase is the maximum amount of the levy increase, we're hoping for a lessor amount. I know there's a good reason for this high number, but it isn't inflation or a population increase.
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In the Laker, Tom Rockvam tells a good story about growing up: "With no supervision or coaching staffs to guide us; we did our own planning, made our own decisions and used our own imagination to make up rules that fit the number of kids that we had to play the game, the amount of time we had to play, the size of the lot we were playing on and so forth." Rockvam
This reminds me of growing in Halstead Acres by County Roads 44 and 110. Baseball, football, and hockey games were organized by us, and everyone got to play as I recall. I guess kids grow up differently these days, for the most part. Anyway, Rockvam did a nice job here.
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 Here's what may be a loon from yesterday on Langdon Bay. Without my hearing its call or getting closer, it might very well be that this was a cormorant. Bigger image
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From the Lakeshore Weekly News: "For some time, the city of Excelsior has been exploring the option of building a fourth dock in the Port of Excelsior. The city council asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to explore the means and feasibility of adding the dock, which would be a half-residential, half-transient dock." Port
In the article, people are arguing over whether the city itself makes or loses money on their commercial docks? It sounds a bit like Mound's municipal liquor store. Does anyone know what the primary role of an accountant is? To provide numbers that are useful to management.
I do like the sound of, "The Port of Mound". Still there's the question of would it actually work? Lost Lake in Mound is not easy to change. It's my opinion that it's buffering Lake Minnetonka from Lake Langdon's poor water quality and other run off that would harm the big lake. On the other hand, we might only be talking about less than 10 percent of the current marsh that is Lost Lake. There are a lot of things to consider about the possibilities of there being a Port of Mound.
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 Here you can see where the clocks will be placed on one of the two towers of the new parking ramp in Mound. The opposite corner of the ramp should follow this design. Bigger image
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 Our Lady of the Lake's Incredibile Festival today. This runs through Sunday. For more information call (952) 472- 1284. Bigger image
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According to the Laker, Caribou Coffee may occupy part of a 3,131 square foot commercial building. This differs from a prior proposal of a 12,500 square foot building. Caribou currently has a shop at the Mound Marketplace. With this recent proposal, a potential tenant is identified. There are a few local residents that prefer that Mound's council deals only with identified parties.
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The Lynwood Facility in Mound.
