Lake City City Council

City election filing period is May 21-June 4

Apr 10, 2024

The filing period for people who want to run for city council or mayor in Lake City will be May 21 until June 4 at 5 p.m., according to City Clerk Kari Schreck. Three city council members—Cindy McGrath, Megan Kramer, and Brian Quinn—and Mayor Mark Nichols have terms expiring this year. The Graphic...

Council presents longtime volunteers, restaurateurs Ron and Joan Schimbeno with ‘Key to the City’

Mar 13, 2024

Ron and Joan Schimbeno received the City of Lake City’s highest individual honor—a “Key to the City”— at the City Council meeting on Monday, March 11. In a written version of his remarks posted on Facebook, Mayor Mark Nichols said: “The tradition of awarding a key to the city is a symbolic gesture...

Don’t let public spaces go to pot

Mar 6, 2024

The Lake City City Council meeting on Feb. 12 was attended by 15-20 residents and four of them spoke to show support for the City to have a “Smoke Free Ordinance.” This request was made due to the concerns that legalized cannabis smoking along with the old issue of smoking can affect our City....

Smoking ban push stalls over questions of scope, necessity

Feb 14, 2024

An effort to ban smoking in parks and public areas of Lake City appears to have stalled over a failure to find consensus about what susbtances should be restricted, and where. At the Monday, Feb. 12, city council meeting, a motion to direct the city staff research and present a proposed public...

City could consider public smoking ban

Jan 24, 2024

After her dog was poisoned after ingesting what she believes was a marijuana cigarette laying on the ground at Hok-Si-La Park, a Lake City resident is advocating for a smoking ban in city parks and on city property. Mary Nelson said that her dog became ill after picking up the joint. “We had to...

City Council approves 9.92% levy increase and 2024 city budget

Dec 13, 2023

The City of Lake City’s property tax levy will rise 9.92% over last year to $4,596,601. It’s the largest increase in several years. The city’s tax rate is increasing by less—about 4.25%—due to an increase in property values. The City Council approved the levy and a corresponding budget at its Dec...

Council tours under-utilized former public safety building

Dec 13, 2023

At a workshop meeting on Nov. 13, Lake City Council members toured the building at 209 S. High St. Accompanying the council on the tour were City Administrator Keehn, City Finance Director Jerome Illg, and Assistant Public Works Director Travis Dunn. Keehn told the council the purpose of the tour...

City plans safety fix for downtown sidewalks

Oct 11, 2023

Changes are coming to the downtown sidewalks on South Lakeshore Drive. At the city council meeting on Oct. 9, City Public Works Director Scott Jensen asked for and received city council consensus to modify planters partially surrounded by raised curbs that business owners say have caused falls and...

Garrison flag flies on 9-11

Sep 13, 2023

The Lake City Fire Department had a few of its trucks parked outside Monday, the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which claimed thousands of lives, including those of many emergency workers responding to the attacks. From the extended ladder of the department’s ladder truck hung...

City prelimary levy increase set at 9.9%