BLUE EARTH– A small crew represented the Blue Earth City Council on Monday, but they accomplished plenty of business after calling the meeting to order at 5 p.m.

In response to recent concerns about the condition of the bleachers at Veterans Field, city administrator Mary Kennedy and public works director Jamie Holland explained why the bleachers were recently closed to the public.

“There was a requirement of the bleachers to be approved by a structural engineer when they were built (in Blue Earth), and a certificate of certification needed to be on file,”  Kennedy explained. “This step was not properly followed or provided by the group that built the bleachers and we were notified during our loss control meeting that this needed to be completed before the bleachers could be used any further.” 

The city enlisted a structural engineer to inspect the bleachers in early April, and several deficiencies were identified.

The city obtained a $23,000 estimate for repairs necessary to bring the bleachers back into compliance.

However, it is arguably the timeline for the repairs which poses a greater problem, as Veterans Field is scheduled to host two tournaments this season. The first is slated for mid-July.

Holland has obtained an estimate from SAAFE, LLC, but the company will most likely be unable to complete the repairs until September.

However, Holland added he has also contacted HB Construction for an estimate. He hopes they will be able to complete the repairs more quickly.

In the event that repairs cannot be completed before July, the council and Legred agreed it may be possible to erect portable bleachers as a temporary solution.

Holland will look into ordering portable bleachers before the council’s next meeting on June 20.

In other business, the Blue Earth City Council:

— Passed Resolution 23-14 for the issuance and sale of $5,025,000 in general obligation bonds to TD Securities. The bonds will be paid over a term of 15 years with a 3.49 percent interest rate.

— Agreed to return items currently on display at the Blue Earth Community Library to donor Jim Pollard, including a dinosaur skull cast and a mural, as well as several display cases.

The council decided to leave the back room’s Pteranodon exhibit in tact, as the display was funded by many community donors.

— Approved Task Order No. 4 for professional services from Bolton & Menk to design a tennis court facility at Putnam Park.

— Approved the replacement of the Senior Center sidewalk along both Seventh Street and the center’s parking lot. The project’s cost estimate is $19,524, and it will be completed as part of the 2023 Street Improvement Project.

— Approved Blue Earth Light & Water to apply for the 2024 Capital Bonding Bill.

— Approved the Blue Earth Police Department’s new Community Camera Registration Program, which offers residents and businesses the option of registering their security video cameras with the police department so the footage could be used in the event of a criminal investigation.

— Allocated $7,370 in Fitness Center funds to the Blue Earth Active Living Coalition to finance signage for a city-wide bike route.

— Approved a routine Airport Maintenance and Operation Grant Contract with the state.