Forest Lake council recognizes long-serving prosecutor, swears in police appointments and approves public‑engagement, watershed letters

At its April 13 meeting the Forest Lake City Council honored longtime city prosecuting attorney Mike Welch for 43 years of service and swore in two new police officers, then acted on several administrative items including community engagement for a proposed Public Works facility and watershed rule comment letters.

Mayor Roberts presented a formal recognition for Mike Welch, noting his four decades-plus of service and partnership with the police department; Welch accepted the recognition and thanked staff, family and officers he worked with over his tenure.

The council administered the oath of office to Luke Handcraft as police chief and to John Gladder as a peace officer; both recited the standard oath to support the U.S. and State constitutions and to faithfully discharge their duties within the City of Forest Lake.

On capital planning, staff recommended engaging Goff Public for community outreach and education around a proposed Public Works facility to improve transparency and solicit resident input during final design stages. The council approved a professional services agreement not to exceed $20,000 to be funded from the Public Works facility debt service fund.

The council also reviewed staff‑drafted comment letters to the Comfort Lake–Forest Lake and Rice Creek watershed districts seeking more aligned rulemaking, exemptions for linear utility replacements, consideration for low‑intensity development exemptions and a regional stormwater credit bank. Council authorized Mayor Roberts to sign both letters prior to staff transmission.

Staff updates included notice that the city audit was completed, a new financial analyst has started, ongoing heavy development activity in planning and zoning, and that a House tax committee hearing is scheduled Thursday on the city's local-sales-tax bill. Separately, staff advised that a pre‑application neighborhood meeting regarding a proposed Cooling Camp Park cell tower (developer in consultation with AT&T) is scheduled April 30 at 4:30 p.m.; staff said the tower company paid certified‑mail costs for the neighborhood notice and that the company must return with a CUP application for city consideration.

The meeting concluded after additional council discussion and routine business.