BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth City Council wrapped up a busy year at their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday.

Per usual, an important item on the agenda was setting the 2022 property tax levy for the city of Blue Earth. Though the council had discussed and tentatively decided upon a levy amount at their previous meeting on Dec. 6, they tabled the official vote until Dec. 20.

The council unanimously voted to set Blue Earth’s 2022 property tax levy at $1,795,033.64, representing a technical 4.1 percent increase over last year’s levy.

Members of the council wished to make clear that most Blue Earth citizens will, in fact, see the effects of a 3.5 percent increase. Some of the funds are being levied via new duplexes which have recently been constructed in Blue Earth, which make available approximately $11,000 in additional funds for the city.

”It’s our way of capitalizing on what we have, to make sure we have the funds we need in our budget,” explained Blue Earth mayor Rick Scholtes.

The council addressed other financial matters through passing a litany of agreements and resolutions which were necessary to facilitate funding via grants for public works equipment and a brand-new fire truck for the Blue Earth Fire Department.

A USDA community facilities grant will provide funding in the amount of $64,500 for a Bobcat compact track loader, while the rest of its cost will be covered by a USDA loan in the amount of $52,916. The total cost of the equipment will be $117,416.

Meanwhile, the city will receive a community facilities grant in the amount of $55,000 to help fund the purchase of the new fire truck.

The truck costs a total of $555,000. The city plans to fund the remainder of the cost through a federal loan of $450,000 borrowed at an interest rate of 2.165 percent, which will be paid back over the course of 20 years.

Other business discussed by the Blue Earth City Council on Dec. 20 included:

— Conducting a public abatement hearing regarding nuisance conditions at the property located at 405 N. Moore Street, which is owned by Andres Pascual Andres and Noeli Carolina Garcia Ortega.

Upon concluding the hearing, the City Council passed a motion requiring Andres to remove furniture items which are in violation of city codes from his lawn before Jan. 1 of next year.

— Correspondence from the Blue Earth Economic Development Authority (EDA) expressing their concerns after the council went against an EDA recommendation regarding the local Three Sisters Project on Blue Earth s Main Street.

The EDA communicated their intention to no longer provide recommendations to the council regarding city-owned property unless the EDA is the recorded owner of said property.