BLUE EARTH– A discussion about finding a new city kennel and a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the demolition of 525 East Fifth Street were both on the agenda at the Blue Earth City Council meeting on Tuesday.

City administrator Dawn Collins presented the council with information on the unexpected contract termination of Paws For Cause with the city, and the need to find a new city shelter.

“Ava Tvedten of Paws For Cause has terminated her agreement for service with both the city of Blue Earth and all of Faribault County, which went into effect in early August,” Collins explained. “This means that we currently do not have a designated city kennel for dealing with nuisance animals, and have not for the entire month of August.”

Council Member John Huisman confirmed this information, and shared that this unexpected contract termination has impacted other shelters in the area as well.

“New Chances Humane Society has been receiving more calls from other cities in Faribault County lately, now that Paws For Cause is no longer serving as a county kennel,” Huisman shared. “I recommend that we cancel the check to Paws For Cause for the month of September, and start work on a RFP to find a new city kennel.”

While no formal action was taken on the creation of a RFP at this time, a motion was made and seconded to exclude the check in the amount of $500 to Paws For Cause from the payment of the bills. This motion was passed unanimously.

City attorney David Frundt presented the council with the bids from the RFP for the demolition of the property at 525 East Fifth Street.

“We received seven bids for this project, with the low bid coming from Moore Construction at a price of $9,250, while the high bid came from Urban Companies LLC in the amount of $70,000,” Frundt explained. “I recommend that we accept the bid from Moore Construction for this demolition project.”

Hearing no further discussion, a motion was made and seconded to accept the bid from Moore Construction in the amount of $9,250. The motion was passed unanimously.

Other business discussed at the City Council meeting included:

— Frundt presented the council with a resignation letter from Amber Belaski, and two job postings for Public Works maintenance and Liquor Store clerk. Following some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve both of the job postings, as well as the resignation letter from Amber Belaski. The motion was passed unanimously.

— Scholtes presented the council with the sales comparisons data from the 2025 Blue Earth Community Pool season. There were a total of 238 family and 38 individual passes distributed as part of this year’s free swimming pass program for Blue Earth residents, for a grand total of 301 family and 48 individual passes. This is much higher than the 170 family and 18 individual passes sold in 2024. Total revenues for the 2025 pool season were $72,519.03, a decrease from the $82,952.42 in 2024.

— An event permit for Ryno Repair for the hosting of Hi Way Motor Fest on Sept. 7 was unanimously approved.

— An event request from the Senior Center to host a performance by the Armstrong Boulevard Brass Quartet at the fairgrounds on Sept. 17 was unanimously approved.