BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth City Council conducted a marathon of a meeting on Monday.

Under old business, the council revisited its discussion about the bleachers at Veterans Field.

The bleachers were deemed unsafe following an inspection conducted in early April. Citing needed repairs and safety updates to the backstop fence, stairway and concrete pad, the city declared the bleachers closed to the public.

Since then, the city has obtained a $23,000 estimate for repairs necessary to bring the bleachers into compliance.

At a previous meeting the council decided to put out a Request for Proposals for the construction of new bleachers, but city administrator Mary Kennedy informed the council that no proposals were received.

She suggested the council either repair the existing bleachers to pass a structural inspection, or remove the bleachers and consider alternative seating options.

Mayor Rick Scholtes observed, “We have some more time to research this before next year.” 

The council agreed, and directed Kennedy to look into budgeting the $23,000 for repairs next year.

The council also reviewed a potential design for a new tennis court facility at Putnam Park. The design allowed for six tennis courts, with three painted with pickleball court lines.

After deciding six pickleball courts are not necessary, the council directed engineer Wes Brown to allocate lines for just four pickleball courts.

In other business, the Blue Earth City Council:

— Reviewed a draft of a base fee schedule to be presented to Winnebago for coverage by the Blue Earth Police Department. The estimated fee for 240 hours of coverage per month, by three or four officers, is $30,806.68. Kennedy clarified Winnebago has not yet seen the base fee schedule draft. Now that the council has approved the draft on a 5-1 vote –with Ann Hanna opposed– it will be sent to Winnebago for the city’s consideration.

— Closed the meeting for preliminary consideration of allegations against city employee Tammy Davis, an office specialist. After discussing a complaint filed against Davis, the council determined no further action was necessary.

— Closed the meeting to discuss security matters.

— Conducted a public hearing for code violations at a Seventh Street property. Satisfied with the current condition of the property, the council decided not to issue an order for abatement following the hearing.

— Scheduled a public hearing for code violations at a property on 14th Street.

— Voted to condemn a fire-damaged property on Galbraith Street.

— Approved American Engineering Testing’s proposal for geotechnical services for a lift station on Highland Drive, estimated to cost $4,350.

— Approved Resolution 23-17 authorizing the city to submit a Point Source Implementation Grant application to the Public Facilities Authority, and authorizing city officials to execute a grant agreement on behalf of the city for the Faribault County Riverside Heights sewer extension project.

— Approved Change Order #1 for the 2023 Street Improvement Project in the amount of $24,340.10.

— Approved a bid from Pearson Bros., Inc, for seal coating services, estimated to cost $58,198.73.

— Approved Resolution 23-20 in support of an application to the U.S. Department of Energy for grant funding for Blue Earth Light & Water.

— Approved a variance request for a Fourth Street property.

— Approved a variance request for a property on Circle Drive. Council member John Huisman voted in opposition.