BLUE EARTH– While there were no mosquitoes buzzing around the Blue Earth City Council meeting room, the insects were still a big topic of conversation at the start of Monday night’s council meeting.

During the public comment portion early in the meeting, Blue Earth resident Deb Weringa asked a lot of questions about the recent spraying for mosquitoes in the city.

“I question where the spraying is being done, on what streets,” Weringa said. “It seems like these last two times he did not do as many streets as usual.”

She also said she realized the spraying is not as effective as usual because of the rain.

City administrator Mary Kennedy said she had talked to the contractor last Friday and he explained his procedure and that he plans on doing more spraying this week.

“He is the same contractor we have had doing the mosquito spraying for quite a few years,” Kennedy explained. “He does have 47 years of experience with it.”

It is just an exceptionally wet year and there will have to be more spraying done to keep the mosquito population under control, the council said.

In other business, the council heard updates from staff members.

City engineer Ben Rosol of Bolton and Menk gave an update on various projects that included the proposed Riverside Heights Sewer Project, the Rice Street Project and the Putnam Park Tennis Courts.

Some current projects have seen some delays due to the wet weather, but are still moving forward, he said.

City attorney David Frundt presented a revised agreement between the city and the Blue Earth City Township concerning the city’s annexation of the Riverside Heights neighborhood.

The council passed the resolution for the five-year agreement, which should go into effect on Aug. 1.

Mayor Rick Scholtes brought up another matter dealing with the Riverside Heights annexation, which dealt with which City of Blue Earth Ward the neighborhood will be in.

Scholtes said it made the most sense to make it a part of Ward III. He proposed a special meeting for Monday, June 10, to vote to change the City Charter to make the new designation.

In other business at the meeting, the council:

— Passed some proposed changes in the operation of the Blue Earth Wine and Spirits municipal liquor store. They also accepted a letter of intent to retire from the store’s manager, Dave Olson.

— Voted to pass two resolutions which had to do with the transfer (sale) of property owned by the city to private ownership.

— Voted to pass a resolution for a five-year tax abatement on a proposed new home construction in the city.

— Briefly discussed the Three Sisters buildings now under city ownership. The back taxes on the properties is $5,551. The council learned of a State Demolition Grant Program they can apply for which would help with the cost of demolishing the structures.

— Also briefly discussed the need for doing even more repair work on the Green Giant statue than the current work, in the future, and the council decided to discuss it further at their next meeting. The current repair work should be accomplished by Giant Days.