FAIRMONT– The city council meeting on Monday was the first for Fairmont’s new city administrator, Jason Baker. The council, in a fairly quick meeting, awarded a contract and approved a bid of $597,372 for the multiple overlay projects slated for 2026.

The 12 overlay projects include Budd Street from Home Street to Burton Lane, Burton Lane from School Street to Burton Lane, Cedar Creek Court from Amber Lake Drive to Deadend, Delu Street from Albion Avenue to Deadend, Government Street from Albion Avenue to Deadend, Home Street from Adams Street to Budd Street, School Street from Home Street to Burton Lane, TH 15 Service (East) from Adams Avenue to Victoria Street, TH 15 Service (West) from Torgerson Drive to Deadend, 12th Street from Park Street to Prairie Avenue and the Aquatic Park Parking Lot.

Also included in the contract is the overlay included in the reconstruction project for Orient Street from E. Blue Earth Avenue to 1st Street and 3rd Street to 4th Street.

The council at its meeting on Feb. 23 had approved ordering the preparation of plans and advertising for bids and on April 21 the five bids received were opened with the low bid coming in at $597,372 from WW Blacktopping out of Mankato. The low bid came in under the engineer’s estimate, which was $746,021.

Civil Engineer Tyler Cowning said, “We felt these bids were very competitive. The lowest two bids were within $500 dollars of each other.”

He said that references came in as part of the bid process and that staff had reached out to several nearby cities who were pleased with the work that WW Blacktopping did for them.

“We talked to the city of New Ulm as well as the city of Mankato. Both of them had good things to say about the quality of work,” Cowing said.

Council Member James Kotewa made a motion to award the contract to WW Blacktopping. The motion passed unanimously.

Moving to other matters, Council Member Randy Lubenow brought forth a discussion item concerning safe operations around E-Bikes.

“The biggest thing that I worry about in any of these new fads is do the parents, the individuals using these if they’re under 18, do they have the proper safety equipment and training?” Lubenow asked.

Fairmont Police Chief Mike Beletti, who was present, said that you need to be 15 to operate an E-Bike but he said there is no requirement for helmets under the age of 18.

“I think the state in itself is trying to catch up with the explosion of E-Bikes,” Beletti said. “There’s current legislation to further regulate these in the state of Minnesota.”

Lubenow asked whether officers on patrol are watching for this from a safety standpoint.

“I do just want everyone to be safe and these bicycles are moving at a pretty good clip,” Lubenow said.

Beletti told the council that an informational session hosted through Community Education and Recreation (CER) could be had at some point in the future. He also said that the school district is required by state statute to inform students on bicycle safety and that there’s a small component on E-Bike included in it.

“Part of the legislative changes that are trying to take place is a stronger educational requirement in our public school districts,” Beletti said.

In other business at the meeting:

— The council approved of a land lease agreement between the city of Fairmont and Advantage Aviation at the Fairmont Municipal Airport.

— The council approved to continue the public hearing on the Lake Avenue assessment objection for 1300 Lake Avenue until June 8. The hearing first opened at a regular city council meeting on March 23 and continued at a regular meeting on April 13. The hearing also continued on Monday for objections to the one assessment at 1300 Lake Avenue.