Howard Lake is very close to getting grocery store

HOWARD LAKE, MN – During a special meeting last night, the Howard Lake City Council decided it would lease the old grocery store building from owner Mark Custer with the intention of making improvements to the building, and leasing it to a new grocer.
Many council members, including the mayor, stated that they had “a feeling” that a deal would “go through” at an upcoming meeting with the grocer.
The lease will be a six-month arrangement where the city will pay $1 per month, along with the last half of the taxes for 2009, which is $5,276, and pay the utility bill each month.
In order to make the building more attractive for potential grocers, the city council is proposing to improve the building by installing a new roof, a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC), electrical updates, and construct a new concrete front on the store.
No decision has been made as to whether all these improvements will officially be done, or what the time frame will be for any of the possible improvements.
Council Member Tom Kutz said, “The city has to play some part in this equation. Improving the building is one part of the puzzle.”
Mayor Richard Lammers replied, “I think it shows our commitment, and an act of good faith. It shows the citizens that we’re working hard to get a store, and it says that a lot of people in the community want a grocery store here.”
“Regardless,” Lammers said, “ I think we should take up the lease now, get in there, and make the improvements so it’s ready to move in.”
Council Member Jan Gilmer agreed that the city should lease the building from Custer, but he would rather wait to do any improvements until a grocer has made a commitment.