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Blue Earth plans butterfly garden

BLUE EARTH — Blue Earth City Council on Tuesday discussed a plan to create a butterfly and rain garden park in Blue Earth.

The park will be located at the corner of Sixth and Main streets. The planting of trees in preparation for the park has already begun, and council members mentioned that low-growth grass and flowering vegetation will be planted.

Funds raised for the park equal about $10,400 and no city or EDA funding is necessary, though the approval of the council is required because the park will be located on city property.

The Blue Earth Foundation is responsible for all park maintenance; no city funding is required. If necessary, park maintenance workers will be hired by the Foundation.

Contacting property owners surrounding the location was discussed, as the council members wished to inquire about the possibility of benefiting the surrounding properties by re-routing the gutters on the buildings to create rain gardens for the park. If necessary for the rain gardens, nearby sidewalks will be re-done.

The council voted unanimously in favor of the park.

In other city news, it was reported that the state Department of Administration requires a provision regarding property taxes in relation to the annexation resolution. Blue Earth plans to purchase land around Interstate 90 and Highway 169, near Walmart. The council plans to expand the city onto the land north of town for the creation of new businesses in the future.

In other business, proposals to build new townhomes in Blue Earth were deliberated by the council. The townhomes would be located in the southern area of town on buildable lots to be purchased by the city. These lots are sized at a 10,000 square feet minimum and are priced, depending on the size of the lot, anywhere from $60,000 to $85,000.

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