ALEXANDRIA – A new business coming to town, Hook and Slice, received an on-sale and Sunday liquor license from the Alexandria City Council on Monday, Oct. 23.
It will be located at 2921 Highway 29 South, between Edina Realty and Anytime Fitness, in the former Viking Office Supply location.
Hook and Slice will offer guests an upscale golf simulator experience with a lounge to enjoy brick oven pizza and appetizers along with cocktails, beer and soft drinks.
Matt Geiselhart and family partner of Alexandria and Jordan Yaggie and family of Wahpeton, North Dakota, Hook and Slice is set to open to the public on January 2, 2024.
Before the council voted to grant the license, a public hearing was held and no one objected. Geiselhart told the council he has lived in the area for 10 years. He said the goal is to bring a different experience to the Alexandria community.
According to the license application, the dining space will occupy 1,798 square feet and have a seating capacity of 120.
The business will be open from Monday to Monday from 8am to 10pm.
In another licensing measure, the council approved a wine license application that will allow the Alexandria Blizzard to sell strong beer and wine during hockey games. The license will be good for the duration of the season, from October 7, 2023 to March 2, 2024. There is the potential for an additional three to four home games if the team makes the playoffs, so the license has been extended to April 30.
‘Christmas in Alexandria’ gets approval
A special event permit has been granted to the Runestone Museum Foundation for “Christmas in Alexandria” on Friday, November 24th from 3pm to 6pm.
The application was submitted by Amanda Seim, director of the museum, and Dave Gibbons, owner of Copper Trail Brewing Company. They also asked to close Broadway between Second and Third avenues to hold the event.
The council also approved a temporary public festival liquor license that will allow patrons to buy beer at the 205 Broadway brewery and take their purchases outside from 3 to 6 p.m.
Seim said the free outdoor event includes family-friendly activities and a lighting ceremony during the holiday season.
It is estimated that 7000-10000 people will participate in the event. Customers will be checked for proper identification and wristbands.
On November 24, Alexandria will be abuzz with other holiday events – Christmas in the Castle at the Runestone Museum, the Parade of Trees at Heritage Lakes Boathouse, the Holiday of Lights Parade on Broadway and a new event, Friends. Christmas light display at Legacy of the Lakes Gardens.
The nature trail is moving forward
A plan to develop a new section of the Alexandria Nature Trail took a step forward Monday night.
The council directed city staff to prepare a letter of intent to receive funding for Section 3 of the road through the state’s Transportation Alternatives Program.
According to City Engineer Tim Schoonhoven, Section 3 is designed as a paved, 8-foot-wide trail that runs approximately 4.1 miles from Nokomis Street on Pioneer Road, loops around Lake Connie and ends at Victor Street at Seventh Avenue.
Schoonhoven said the council’s action in no way obligates the city to proceed with the project. There is no cost to the city.
According to Schoonhoven, the cost of the Trail 3 project was estimated at about $730,000 in January.
“The letter of intent is a tool used by the funding agency to pre-screen projects before full applications are submitted,” Schoonhoven said in a memo to the board. “Its goal is only to get that funding if the city decides to proceed.”
If the agency allows the city to proceed, the full application will be filed in mid-January and will require a separate council action.
The TAP grant will be built in 2028.
A group called Friends of the Alexandria Nature Trail supports the plan, which could eventually create a 13-mile recreational trail connecting Alexandria’s residential and commercial areas from north to south.
The trail is a nature-based solution that will provide multiple benefits to nature and society, including clean water, clean air and reduced risk of flooding and drought, the group says. The project will relieve pressure on existing infrastructure and reduce the city’s long-term stormwater management costs. According to the group, the trail will provide greater access to nature and incorporate interpretive signage so the community can learn about wetlands, climate change, biodiversity and more.
They said it could be an economic boost to the community because it would attract visitors to the area.
Some fees are increasing in Alexandria.
The Board has finalized the 2024 fee schedule.
The increases include: a garbage collection license will increase from $100 to $300; annual tobacco and other related licenses will increase from $140 to $250; an annual mobile food truck/vendor license will increase from $100 to $300; fire protection systems, private fire service mains and tents and other membrane structures will increase from $60 to $150; temporary trade licenses will increase from $100 to $200. Also, fees for short-term vacation rental owners are set to increase in line with increases approved by the Douglas County Board.
To learn more about police body camera technology
The board approved a request for four Alexandria Police Department officers to travel out of state to learn more about body cameras and squad camera technology.
They will travel to Evansville, Wyoming, a suburb of Casper, where a company provides the same type of cameras and systems used by Alexandria police.
“Our staff was impressed with the project from a simple demo in the office,” Chief Scott Kent said in a memo to the board. “This vendor recently launched in our area and there aren’t many police departments close enough for us to go see it from a feature user and endpoint.”
Kent added that the company has time to “work out the kinks” and will be able to give his department a working knowledge of the system. Alexandria staff will also meet with the police chief in Wyoming.
The trip is expected to last two to three days.