BLUE EARTH– A discussion regarding the final assessment roll for the South Linton Area Street and Utility project was held at the Blue Earth City Council meeting on Monday.

City Engineer Ben Rosol presented the council with the draft final assessment roll for the South Linton Area Street and Utility project, along with Resolution 26-13, which would approve final assessment roll and set a public hearing date for the project.

“Before we can approve this resolution, we have to decide a few things – we need to determine the interest rate, as well as the earliest date when people can start to pay off their bonds,” Mayor Rick Scholtes explained. “I would like to suggest that we set the repayment date for Jan. 1, 2027.”

Following some discussion regarding the specifics of the interest rate, a motion was made and seconded to approve Resolution 26-13 and set the public hearing date for 5:05 p.m. on Monday, May 4. The motion was passed unanimously.

Other business discussed at the City Council meeting included:

— Blue Earth Light & Water manager Tim Stoner presented the council with the 2026 audit report for BELW.

— Tristan Peitz, head of Business Development at TalusAg, attended the meeting virtually and presented the council with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for their green ammonia production plant, which will be located in the West Industrial Park in cooperation with BELW. Following the presentation, the MOU was approved unanimously.

— A kennel license for New Chances Humane Society, a garbage license for Hansen Sanitation, and a food truck license for Bummy’s BBQ were all unanimously approved.

— Resolution 26-11 approving a state grant agreement in the amount of $30,800 for the painting of the three hangars at the Blue Earth Municipal Airport was unanimously approved.

— Rosol presented the council with the bids for the North Watermain Loop. There were two bids for the North Watermain Loop project, with GM Contracting as the low bid. Following some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to award the bid for the North Watermain Loop to GM Contracting in the amount of $1,142,349.23. The motion was passed unanimously.

— Rosol also presented the bids for the Riverside Heights project. The project received four bids, with Holtmeier Construction as the low bid. A motion was made and seconded to award the bid to Holtmeier Construction in the amount of $5,180,691.15, contingent on the approval of BELW. The motion passed unanimously.

— Resolution 26-12 approving the task order for the Riverside Heights project was unanimously approved.

— The first readings for Ordinances 26-04, 26-05, 26-06, and 26-07 were all held. Following the readings, motions were made and seconded to set the public hearing date for each ordinance at 5:05 p.m. on Monday, April 20. The motions all passed unanimously.