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FAIRMONT-- At the start of the Fairmont City Council meeting on Monday, Mayor Lee Baarts announced that two items regarding the request to rezone a portion of a parcel at 800 E. Margaret Street in Fairmont to be entirely B3 General Business would be removed from the agenda.
At the Oct. 23 council meeting, the council turned down the request, which came from property owner, Dale Wedel, with the support of Martin County, which had intended to build a public safety center on the land. Prior to the council turning down the request, the Fairmont Planning Commission had recommended approval of it at its meeting on Oct. 3.
At its meeting on Nov. 7, the Martin County Board of Commissioners shared that it intended to send a letter voicing dissatisfaction with the council's decision to the city of Fairmont.
In other business on Monday, the council was tasked with approving the community center design proposal.
At a work session on Nov. 1, members of the Fairmont Area Community Center Foundation provided information on the latest design and associated cost estimates for the project.
Finance Director Paul Hoye said that the community center design committee has been working with construction manager RJM, architect JLG and the YMCA on a design that fits the budget.
"They have been working for awhile now on the design of the facility... the cost has gone up since the last estimate that we put together, just over $26 million is the latest estimate for the community center," Hoye said.
He said the next step is for the council to approve the design which was discussed on Nov. 1, which will help the Foundation on its next steps in fundraising and financing efforts for the community center.
Jeff O'Neil, the city's interim city administrator, said that he believes the design is similar to other designs that he has seen of successful community centers in other communities.
Council Member Michele Miller said that since the Nov. 1 meeting she's had various conversations about the design with people in the community and that she's heard feedback expressing a lot of disappointment in the design, even from people who are in favor of a community center.
"Basically the design is strictly a YMCA. They're disappointed in the pool. They're disappointed that there isn't a kitchen and I said that I would share that with the council," Miller said.
However, Council Member Britney Kawecki said she has heard overwhelmingly positive support for the design.
"People are excited that there is... finally the design and that we're moving forward. People are looking forward to the future... and tired of all the stalls and delays," Kawecki said.
She made a motion to approve the current community center design, which passed 3-2 with council members Miller and Wayne Hasek opposed.
Finally, Public Works Director, Matthew York, shared that the city had put in a request for $1.5 million in funding from the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) for the reconstruction of Lake Avenue from County Road 39 to N. Fairlakes Avenue.
"Currently we have no estimates for this project, but what we need to do is get this resolution passed so that we can get the LRIP funds," York explained.
The council approved of the resolution.