BLUE EARTH– There was an unusual topic discussed during the Blue Earth City Council’s meeting on Monday– dinosaurs.

The ancient beasts became relevant once more when Blue Earth Community Library Board president, Chuck Hunt, brought forth a proposal and business plan crafted by local Paleontology enthusiast Jim Pollard.

The proposal suggested an initiative to re-brand the Blue Earth Community Library as the Blue Earth Library and Fossil Discovery Center.

Hunt shared, ”He (Pollard) is willing to donate, he’s got display cases, fossils, and right now we are looking at about $19,000 worth of donations to the library.”

Pollard has specifically pledged to donate the cast of an Acrocanthosaurus skull, valued at $8,250, five display cabinets, valued at $8,500, and a Giant Visitor Center exhibit for tourists valued at $2,000.

Pollard, who has many influential contacts in the Paleontology field, plans to build the collection further via networking.

While Pollard has already spoken for much of the project’s funding himself, and plans to continue fundraising for more exhibits, he and the library board requested the city’s assistance in obtaining insurance for the exhibits.

Council member Glenn Gaylord suggested city administrator Mary Kennedy look into the cost of insuring such an exhibit for future reference.

Council member John Huisman was dissatisfied with Pollard’s business plan, and suggested he collaborate with the Small Business Development Center in Mankato for fine-tuning.

Huisman also requested Pollard consider setting up a 501c3 non-profit fund which outside donors could contribute to.

Huisman argued he would like to slow down the project until more research and planning is conducted.

Hunt disagreed, seeking permission to pursue action. ”We want to get this ball rolling, because we want to know what we have to do,” he said.

Discussion concluded with plans for further action implied once Kennedy has researched insurance options and Pollard has further honed the business plan.

The City Council also addressed the following agenda items:

— How to proceed in light of feedback from the Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and Blue Earth Area School District regarding potential plans to construct recreational facilities on an HRA-owned lot on the corner of 14th and Moore Streets.

While the School District would prefer for the tennis facilities to be constructed on school grounds, they still pledged to participate in a financial partnership with the city regardless of the courts’ location.

The HRA shared they have long planned to use the lot for housing development, and are uninterested in using the property for recreational purposes.

The council requested city engineer Wes Brown conduct more feasibility studies regarding options for the construction of recreational facilities within the bounds of Putnam Park.

— The Blue Earth Fire Department’s donation of rescue equipment, which was purchased via funds from the Firemen’s Relief Association. The equipment includes an ASR 155 rescue boat, two Ice Commander rescue suits, as well as safety items such as flashlights, battery wrenches, window punches, and seatbelt cutters. The council voted unanimously to accept the donation.