TRUMAN– The Truman City Council received good news on Monday when it learned that the city has been awarded a grant through the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) Local Partnership Program (LPP) for Highway 15 sidewalk improvements

Troy Nemmers, an engineer with Bolton & Menk, has been working with the city on securing the funds for several months.

“MnDOT did select Truman’s project for this funding,” Nemmers said on Monday.

He said now that the application has been submitted and accepted, the project can really get started.

“My understanding is that they will pay for the design engineering, the improvements within the trunk highway system and a portion fo the construction,” Nemmers said.

He said the total project cost will be about $500,000 and that there will be a cost to the city but he didn’t know how large the portion will be.

“The initial engineering will be covered by MnDOT,” Nemmers said.

He provided the council with a copy of task order #1, which is for the design phase of the project and carries a cost of $58,000, which is covered by MnDOT.

Nemmers said it will be a lengthy project and that they’re looking at a 2025 construction timeline.

The council on Monday approved of the task order.

Moving to other matters, Lynn Brownlee was there to speak about two matters that pertain to fixing up the city.

First, she said that the Spruce Up Committee has been in conversation with the school district about doing some art work on the west side of the bathroom walls at Graf Park.

“It will hopefully get kids to appreciate art and take pride in something,” Brownlee said.

She said that the group will supply the paint and that the art class would largely be in charge of executing the design. The council approved of the plan.

Next, Brownlee said that one of the projects this year for the Truman Lion’s Club is that the district has ordered 500 trees to plant and that each club will get about 15 Silver Maple trees. She asked if the club had permission to plant them.

Utility Foreman Brent Brown noted that the city has removed two Ash trees infected with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and that there are still more around the city to remove.

“We were thinking we could plant some around the campground,” Brownlee said.

She said that the trees were just ordered and that they will likely come in May. While talking to the council Brownlee mentioned that the Burger Bash, held by the Lion’s Club this coming Saturday, is a free will donation and that all proceeds will go to the Truman Swimming Pool.

In other news:

— Mayor Jake Ebert shared that four people have applied for the Police Chief position and that interviews will soon be done.