BLUE EARTH– Funding for the replacement of a fuel tank monitor at the Blue Earth Municipal Airport was top of the agenda at the Blue Earth City Council meeting on Monday.

City engineer Ben Rosol presented the council with a list of project updates, including news about potential funding from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for future projects at the Blue Earth Municipal Airport.

“We have been seeking to replace the fuel tank monitor at the airport for a couple of years now, but have not been able to undertake the project because there has been no federal funding available,” Rosol explained. “However, MnDOT has recently approved grants for funding this type of project, which means that we can now tackle this project.”

Rosol went on to explain that the project cost would be split 60/40, with the grant covering 60 percent and the city paying the remaining 40 percent of the cost.

“As of the cost estimates we received for this project a few years ago, the MnDOT grant would cover an estimated $80,000, while the local cost would be around $32,000,” Rosol commented. “However, it looks like the current local cost estimate for the project is coming in below $32,000, which is good.”

Mayor Rick Scholtes raised a question about the type of repairs that this project would entail.

“Would this project be replacing the current credit card reader on the fuel tank?” Scholtes asked.

“Yes; this project would replace the credit card reader, as well as the faulty monitor and any other necessary repairs,” Rosol replied. “We want to have the fuel tank monitor fully functional, so that pilots who land at our airport and need to purchase fuel can do so without running into any problems.”

Following further discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve funding for the replacement of the airport fuel tank monitor in the amount of up to $32,000. The motion was passed unanimously.

Other business discussed at the City Council meeting included:

— Mayor Scholtes presented Public Works director Jamie Holland with a certificate of appreciation, thanking him for his term of service as interim city administrator.

— A raffle permit for the Southern Minnesota Women of Worth was unanimously approved.

— A travel request for Rayne Hanevik and Echo Roggenkamp to attend the Software Solutions annual IMPACT Conference on Oct. 21-24 was unanimously approved.

— The second reading for Ordinance 25-02 authorizing charges for emergency services was held. Hearing no further discussion, a motion was made and seconded to pass Ordinance 25-02. The motion was passed unanimously.

— A request to approve a new list of authorized signers for the city’s bank accounts was unanimously approved. Jamie Holland was removed as an authorized signer, and new Blue Earth city administrator Dawn Collins was added.