BLAINE – Blaine City Officials have decided to go ahead with a plan to upgrade a dangerous intersection, but council members are still unhappy that the city is shouldering so much of the cost. The intersection of Xylite Street and Radisson Road will get safety upgrades that include a stop light. But since it is an intersection shared with a county road, city council members believe Anoka County should pay half the cost of the light, instead of just 25 percent. Despite what they see as an unfair formula, council members believe the project is so important, they voted to go ahead with it and work with the county later on adjusting the formula for cost sharing.
“I agree that the county is not treating us fairly,” said Blaine Council Member Dick Swanson. “But this project, the safety of our citizens at this point in this project, is more important than the fight with Anoka County.”
Council Member Andy Garvais agreed the project is important, but he also wanted to send a message.
“I think it’s important for our residents to be safe, but we need to send some type of message to the county,” said Garvais. ” I don’t think they’re willing to budge on this I don’t think they think they have to budge on this.”
Garvais hopes to continue conversations with Anoka County on changing the formula.
