BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth City Council met on Monday to discuss past and future Joint Powers Boards, filling vacant officer positions on the Blue Earth Fire Department and street improvement projects.

City administrator Mary Kennedy presented the council with a Joint Powers Agreement draft between the city and the Blue Earth Area (BEA) School District. The proposed board would govern the joint maintenance of the baseball fields located on the Fairgrounds, the ballpark on 14th Street and a new tennis court facility which is expected to be constructed in 2023.

The board would include two members of the BEA School Board, two City Council members and one Parks and Recreation Commission member.

The City Council voted to approve the agreement as written. The School Board, meanwhile, has reviewed but has yet to approve the proposed agreement.

Kennedy also informed the council the Faribault County Joint Powers Animal Control Board has been dissolved as of Oct. 4.

The board was rendered unnecessary when the City Council decided to no longer open the city’ s impound building to outside organizations.

The council was then updated on the status of the Faribault County Humane Society (FCHS)’s new facility, which is currently being remodeled.

The FCHS was given a Nov. 1 deadline for the building’s completion, but it recently ran into issues while installing the building’s drainage system.

“It’s a drainage problem. They’ll have to remove the entire floor instead of just the drains,” council member John Huisman explained. ”That deadline that we set is not working for them.” 

The council agreed to offer the FCHS an extended Dec. 1 deadline for completion.

The council also approved the hire of three new fire department officers to fill positions which were vacated when three officers resigned last August.

Andrew Willner will be the fire department’s new assistant chief, Ryan Vereide will be the department’s captain and Jeffery Nowak will serve as lieutenant.

The council received extensive updates from city engineer Ben Rosol, who shared all concrete work for the city’s 2022 street improvement project has been completed. The area will be paved on Thursday, Oct. 20, when warmer weather is expected.

Additionally, Rosol brought forth Professional Engineering Agreement Addendum No. 5, which approves Bolton & Menk to provide professional survey services required for a proposed 2023 street improvement project.

The council also approved Bolton & Menk’s recommendation to engage televising and jet vacuuming services from Empire Pipe Services, estimated to cost $14,620.

Apart from surveying sanitary sewer slated for improvements in 2023, the services will also be used to survey a separate portion of the city which is eligible for mill and overlay.