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SHERBURN -- The Sherburn City Council met on Monday evening. The first order of business for the council was to approve the tax abatement policy for Sherburn. Discussion was held about the policy for new construction for single and multi-family housing. They agreed that they should be encouraging those who would like to build in the City limits. The abatement is a 5-year abatement which must meet building codes. The property tax is paid normally and then at the end of the year a percentage of the amount the housing was improved is paid. Since the council approved the policy it goes into effect right away. There are applications at city hall and more information for those interested.
The meeting about the assessments on the 2022 street projects went well and the council approved the assessments concerning the Osborne St., Lynn St., South Main St. and Cargill St. improvements.
The Highway 4 project was discussed at length and the council approved having a public hearing prior to the council meeting at 5 p.m. on Oct. 16. This project will be part MnDOT and some expenses are the City's. There will be a bond schedule and tax abatement. The amount for the project has gone up as has the price of everything. The amount mentioned was $683,700+. The highway and sewer, lights and water upgrades, and also sidewalks and the path north of town were included. Travis Winter, an engineer from Bolton and Menk, explained and answered the council's questions and concerns. The council was concerned about the need to raise taxes. A payment of $80,000 each year was mentioned. This project is not going to be assessed to individual owners like the Osborne Street project was. The state will pay some and the City will be issuing bonds. There were five bidders to the state for this project and the lowest bid was approved.
In other news, Public comments included Representative Bjorn Olson introducing himself to the council. He stated that he supports local groups and asked if there was a specific problem he could help with. The council asked about housing and Olson stated that housing was a large share of the legislature's job. He also agreed with the council that there is too much red tape around legislature about housing.
In other news:
-- The Economic Development group would like to sell some properties. The council approved the sale of the old clinic building for $10,000 and the triangle property north of the Kum & Go station for $30,000. The sale of the property at 205 W. Third Street was tabled until the next meeting since there are assessments on the property.
-- The Administrator's report mentioned the flushing of hydrants which is about half done and the report from the leak protection part of the job. There were three leaks reported so far none of which are catastrophic. One is on South Lake Street, another on West Third Street, County Road 13 and a hydrant leak on 4th Street and Prairie.
-- The council heard that the second part of the emerald ash borer funds has been applied for and is in the works.
-- City employees that have not signed the City Employee Handbook will be asked to sign that as soon as possible.
-- A request for a cigarette butt container near the outside of the liquor store was reported.
The next meeting of the Sherburn City Council is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Oct. 16, at Sherburn City Hall, and will start with a public hearing concerning the Highway 4 project.