FAIRMONT — An open forum sponsored by the city on Saturday morning drew about two dozen residents and covered topics ranging from child care to street repairs. Held at the Gomsrud Park shelter house, this was the third Saturday morning gathering held since March, with the first focusing on city code and the second covering streets and parks.

Linsey Preuss, Fairmont economic development coordinator, opened the session with a rundown of growth in the city. She cited the 2017 comprehensive report she compiled which covered Fairmont Realty Group’s construction of seven three-bedroom rental units at First Street and Prairie Avenue, Zierke Built Manufacturing’s move with 35 jobs from Winnebago to Fairmont and the $3 million expansion at Fairmont Foods, which has doubled its workforce over the past three years.

In 2016, only two new home building permits were issued by the city, but that number grew to five in 2017. Already this year, five new home permits have been issued, and another two are anticipated.

“We just issued our first $1 million home building permit,” City Administrator Mike Humpal added.

Also this year, work on the new Cemstone plant continues, the Marina Lodge cabins opened, eight of 20 residential lots at White Tail Ridge have been sold, a new Tractor Supply store opened and McDonald’s opened a brand new restaurant. Mayo Clinic Health System is moving forward with the Lutz Cancer Wing, the site of the former Lutz Wing Nursing Home. The $1.5 million renovation will increase the infusion therapy department from its current 2,000 square feet to 9,000 square feet.

Preuss said there are other projects in the works, but due to confidentiality, she was unable to be specific.

“I know there are a lot of things that are happening. Our building and planning departments have been very busy,” she said. “There are things going on, but you can’t always see them.”

Preuss has been marketing an industrial site the city has an option on at Interstate 90 and Bixby Road. Two of the advantages she holds in marketing the area are the Interstate location and the Fairmont school district’s curriculum which includes an expanding trades program that is ahead of other schools.

“The No. 1 concern is workforce,” she said.

One resident asked about going to college job fairs and doing recruiting at that level.

“I’ve never been presented with that, but I like that idea,” Preuss said.

Mayor Debbie Foster added that the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce uses class reunions as a venue for encouraging alumni to move back.

“But we need them to go for a while because that will help them realize what we have here,” Foster said.

“We’ve had people come back to Fairmont that didn’t know all that we have here now, like the trails and work on a community center,” said Ruth Cyphers, Ward 2 council representative.

Attracting a qualified workforce wasn’t the only issue.

“We also have a major lack of child care in this town and this county too,” Preuss said.

A grant she wrote will study how to make child care profitable in the area. A core team of business owners, financial professionals and others will evaluate solving the shortage which has become so dire that some people are forced to take extended leaves from work because they are unable to find infant care.

Tom Hawkins, councilman at-large, also serves on the board of directors for Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center which became the new home for Building Blocks when the child care center, with 85 children, had to move from its previous site.

“It opened my eyes as to how crucial child care is,” he said.

“I’m confident we’ll get something done on child care this year,” Preuss said.

Next week, Preuss will be in Chicago, working with the Minnesota Marketing Partnership, a group of communities that join forces to market the state on a nationwide platform.

“We can’t get them (businesses) in Fairmont unless we can get them to Minnesota first,” she said.

One resident commented on the poor condition of the city’s streets, especially Fourth Street which runs past one of the city’s largest employers, Fairmont Foods.

“When somebody does come into town, their first impression is the streets they drive on,” the resident said.

City officials and staff said a new and perhaps more equitable method for funding street repairs is being explored. Instead of bonding or borrowing the money and assessing homeowners on the impacted streets, a franchise fee is being considered. This would involve imposing a fee on a utility which would then charge the customer and give the money to the city. The process is being scrutinized to work out logistics for residents who have recently been assessed under the existing method.

It was noted that the cost of a total street reconstruction, including new infrastructure, is $850 per foot, but the city assesses only $85 per foot. Through its share of property taxes, the city finances its annual bond payment of $1 million.

The city’s next listening session will be held in November at the Southern Minnesota Educational Campus. Paul Hoye, city finance director, will talk about the 2019 budget.