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Blue Earth talks go-kart track

BLUE EARTH — A plan to reopen the former go-kart track in Blue Earth is progressing, according to an update given at last Monday night’s Blue Earth City Council meeting.

Brett Osborn, a member of the group starting up the go-kart racing, told the council the plan is to open the track later this spring. He also said the name of the track will be the Golden Spike Speedway.

The go-kart speedway is located on the Faribault County Fairgrounds. Part of the area for the track is owned by the city and part is owned by the fair board.

Osborn reported the fair board is on board with the area being used as a go-kart track again.

“The next step is to finalize the lease agreement with the city,” Osborn said. “Our group has questions about the mowing of the area, the cost of the water and electricity for lights, and how much the rent will be.”

Mayor Rick Scholtes, city attorney David Frundt and city administrator Mary Kennedy are working on the details of the lease.

“We plan to have the track ready by May 8, which will be a test and tune date,” Osborn said. “The actual season opener will be on May 22 and the season will run through Sept. 11.”

The 11 races are expected to be held on every other Saturday night and the Tuesday night of the fair.

In other business on Monday night, the City Council:

— Heard an update from fire chief Roger Davis during the work session before the regular meeting.

Davis reported there were 126 calls during 2020, which was up from previous years. There were fires of all types as well as a lot more accidents than usual.

— Had the first reading of an ordinance change which would make animal licenses good for three years. There was also the first reading of an ordinance which would abandon city ownership of a small triangle piece of land at the intersection of First and Holland streets.

A third item was a resolution declaring the street into the fairgrounds from the north as an official city roadway named White Oak Road.

— Discussed a Request for Proposals (RFP) for roof inspection on city-owned buildings, but postponed a decision on moving forward on it until the next meeting.

— Raised the city storm water and waste water rates by about a five-percent increase for each of the next three years.

— Went into closed session at the end of the meeting to hold the six month review of city administrator Mary Kennedy.

When they came out of closed session mayor Scholtes reported Kennedy was given a rating of 7.66, averaged out from the seven council members.

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