BLUE EARTH — At their meeting on Monday night the Blue Earth City Council received the preliminary engineer’s report on the second major street and utility project the city has planned for the 2021 construction season.

The project will encompass about seven blocks, including all of West 10th Street, the south end of Nicollet Street, as well as some work on Bartels Drive.

Total estimated cost of the project is $2,152,641. That breaks down to $1,105, 570 for street improvements, $351,175 for storm sewer costs, $427,316 for water main improvements and $268,580 for sanitary sewer improvements.

The council approved accepting the engineering study, as well as setting a date for a public hearing on the project. That public hearing will be Monday, Dec. 7, at 5:05 p.m. at the Public Safety Center.

This is the second $2 million plus project slated for 2021. The other one involves work on Walnut, Third and Hood streets improvements. The estimated cost for that project is $2,016,910.

The public hearing for this Walnut, Third and Hood project is Monday, Nov. 30, at 5:05 p.m., also at the Public Safety Center.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council:

q Heard an update from members of the Faribault County Humane Society concerning their efforts to raise funds to build a new animal rescue shelter.

The humane society has raised $90,000 towards the project.

Next step is to determine who will own the building and where it should be built.

Mayor Rick Scholtes suggested a one acre lot owned by the city, located near the current animal shelter. He also suggested it would be better if the humane society owned the building.

q Met with members of the Blue Earth Community Library Board to discuss the roles of the library board and the City Council when it comes to the operations of the library.

Discussion centered on whether the library board is a governing board or an advisory board. As a governing board they have more control over much of the operations of the library than does an advisory board.

q Authorized renewing to contracts involving the operation of the Blue Earth City Airport. Those include the airport management agreement (which includes maintenance such as mowing and snow removal) and the F.B.O. (Fixed Base Operator) lease between the city and Blue Earth Flying Service.

q Discussed an issue with parking on Main Street and decided to send out a survey to downtown businesses concerning possible changes in parking rules.