ABOVE: Blue Earth Avenue in Fairmont is getting work done this summer and the city council discussed whether it wanted to add trees as part of beautification to the project at its meeting this week. Sentinel file photo.

FAIRMONT– Landscape design options for this summer’s Blue Earth Avenue project were discussed by the Fairmont City Council at its meeting earlier this week. Specifically, the council looked at some potential beautification aspects that could be added to the project.

At its core, the project is a mill and overlay from roundabout at the start of Downtown Plaza to Highway 15, but the city has been looking to incorporate some improvements in the process. A traffic study was done in 2024 and discussions began in earnest in early 2025 and in the spring of 2025 the city put out a survey to residents to gather input and held an open on house on April 30, 2025 to show potential design options.

Public Works Director, Matthew York, said on Monday that Bolton & Menk had come up with two different scenarios for the landscaping of the properties, a turf and tree parkway design, and an ornamental landscaping in the boulevard, both of which carry their own costs.

“We would also need to discuss the rain garden structure that was requested as part of this project that would be installed on the southwest quadrant of Blue Earth and Park Street. That cost would be about $26,000,” York said.

He said that if it’s desired to have beautification along the roadway, which had previously been discussed, he would suggest that the city be responsible for all parkway maintenance within the area of the Blue Earth Avenue project.

“If we’re going to spend a lot of money on beautification, we don’t want to leave it in the hands of requiring residents and/or business owners to maintain that property,” York said.

Earlier in the meeting, during the public comment portion, an affected business owner and residential property owner spoke out against some of the proposed features. The main complaints were losing street parking spaces and having trees that would shed and drop berries, littering the yards and parking lots.

Troy Nemmers with Bolton & Menk then spoke more about some of the specifics to each scenario for the council to consider.

“Previously, beautification pieces were added. Some boulevards were added. Bump-outs were added at crosswalks for ADA compliance. We’re kind of looking for some direction from the council on what kind of aesthetic you’re looking for,” Nemmers said.

He said the areas they’re looking at are from Downtown Plaza to South Hampton and that there is a proposed mini roundabout at Prairie and at South Hampton there is a bump out area where the intersection is being improved.

Visuals and maps were provided to the council.

Mayor Lee Baarts asked about the type of trees as he was concerned about semi trucks and visibility.

“There’s a whole variety. These are shown as standard trees. Part of the maintenance requirement that’s going to go with trees is trimming,” Nemmers said. “Trimming the trees will be an ongoing maintenance piece of that option.”

Council Member James Kotewa brought up the people who had spoken up at public comment against the idea of trees. Kotewa said he was leaning toward the ornamental landscape option and asked if that would be lower maintenance than trees.

“I think in the long term it would be a little less maintenance but you’d still have at least annual removal of dead plantings,” Nemmers said. “They would still collect a little bit of garbage and leaves that would need to be reviewed monthly if not more often.”

He said there would also be mulch that would need to be taken care of with that option as well.

“It’s really what kind of look are you going for. Either one is going to require additional maintenance by city crews,” Nemmers said.

Kotewa expressed additional concern about the trees and said he was worried about visibility around the crosswalk areas.

“It reduces the ability to see a pedestrian in that area,” Kotewa said.

Council Member Jay Maynard said a citizen had told him they felt like the trees were a bad option. He said he also opted for the ornamental landscape design.

Council Member Randy Lubenow said he must have “amnesia” because he thought the citizens had already said they did not want beautification as part of the project and would rather have a low maintenance roadway.

“I guess I’m miffed at why this is on the agenda. I’ve had three people, and two are city staff, who have said they want beautification,” Lubenow said.

York acknowledged that the project has taken a roundabout. He said some citizens requested streetlights at Prairie and Park and that beautification has been discussed at length.

“If you want the downtown area to look nice and you want it to be appealing for people to come into the downtown area, some of these things need to be done,” York said.

He then said that if the council wants grass only and no tress that could be done, but that he thought making it look different than a normal street in town was the goal.

Acting Administrator Paul Hoye said his understanding was that there was a prior motion made by the council to pursue beautification options on Blue Earth Avenue.

“I believe we were following council’s direction to bring forward beautification options so that’s what we did,” Hoye said.

Nemmers added that the third option, which was not visually in the packet that council was provided, was to just put sod in.

In closing, Lubenow said that he did not think city staff had the time to keep up with extra maintenance of more tress. He made a motion to just put in grass.

When Baarts asked what else was needed, York said the plans need to be finalized so that they can be reviewed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation so that the city can get some of its funding sources secured.

Maynard seconded Lubenow’s motion to go with just turf in all needed areas. Lubenow then made an amendment to include the rain garden/storm water quality feature. The motion passed with all three present council members in favor. Councilors Britney Kawecki and Wayne Hasek were absent.