The Rum River Rods are gearing up for their weekly summer car shows to be held in downtown Isanti.
During the Isanti City Council meeting May 17, the council approved a special event permit for the car shows to be held in downtown Isanti on Wednesdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. beginning June 1 through Aug. 31. Council Member Dan Collison is president of the Rum River Rods Car Club.
It’s estimated between 100 and 200 people will attend the event each week. A section of Main Street will need to be closed from the railroad tracks to its intersection with Third Avenue. Cars will be located in these areas for showing.
Visitors to the car show are asked to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the Family Pathways food shelves.
The special event application also includes holding a car show finale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, on Main Street in downtown Isanti. It’s estimated between 300 to 600 will be present for this event.
The Aug. 13 show will include a pie eating contest, muffler rap contest and awards presented to the winners. The Aug. 13 finale event also coincides with the city’s downtown street dance from 7-11 p.m. featuring the band “Jonah and the Whales.”
Several streets will be closed for the finale event, including Main Street West from the railroad tracks to its intersection with Third Avenue; and First and Second Avenues, one block north and south of Main Street to the alleyways on either side will also be closed for the event. Cars will be located in these areas for showing.
Setup for the Wednesday shows will begin at 5 p.m. and setup for the Aug. 13 show will begin around 8 a.m.
Trans Mississippi Biological Supply
Economic Development Director Sean Sullivan explained in his staff memo that an application has been submitted by Trans-Mississippi Biological Supply to access $15,000 in the city revolving loan fund to help finance the acquisition and build-out of the middle four condo units at 101 Isanti Parkway NE.
The project will involve the purchase of the four vacant units, totaling 9,000 square feet, which will fill the building. Total project costs are estimated at $360,000 and the applicant estimates that two positions will be created.
Isanti Mayor George Wimmer noted Trans-Mississippi is a “fantastic company.” The company is currently based out of Shoreview, but will relocate to Isanti in the fall. The company supplies living material, preserved material, instruments, equipment and supplies, field biology, aquarium supplies, owl pellets and foss material sets to school districts.
Wimmer noted the company is the largest supplier in Minnesota, services the entire Midwest and provides some services throughout the country.
Following discussion, the council approved the $15,000 loan from the revolving loan fund for a term of seven years at a 3 percent interest rate.
In other action the council:
• Approved a lease agreement and operating policy between the city of Isanti and Redbirds Baseball for the use of Sportsman Field.
• Approved a resolution to repair the damaged playground equipment at Bluebird Park. The rope tree climbing structure has frayed at a connection point and temporary repairs continue to be damaged. This causes a weak point in the structure and a safety hazard to users. The total cost of the repair is $4,546 and the new part will take 10 to 12 weeks to ship.
• Approved a conditional use permit request from Jim Bergman to operate a motor vehicle sales office with vehicle displays within the building at 11 Heritage Boulevard NW.
• Approved a request from Minnco Credit Union for an interim use permit to allow for temporary motor vehicle sales on the properties at 309 and 311 Credit Union Drive NE. The sales event will occur from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, June 17, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 18. A number of local used and new car dealerships will be bringing product for display on the property. The inventory on side will consist of 100 cars and trucks.