The Blue Earth City Council heard a proposal to build a new Public Works building on the site of the former city liquor store, pictured above, instead of the replacing the current building, shown off at the right. The old liquor store is used to store some vehicles and materials and would be torn down.

They have been talking about it for over five years, but last Monday the Blue Earth City Council finally took a first step towards building a new Public Works building.

The council voted unanimously to proceed with hiring Brunton Architects of Mankato to proceed with plans for the new building.

The city will need to pay a $5,000 retainer fee to get the planning started, with an eventual cost for the plans and specs and engineering fees to be approximately $52,000.

Total estimated cost of the building at this time is between $620,000 and $635,000.

The council also heard an update from city administrator Tim Ibisch concerning the location of the new building. In the past the council has been considering tearing down the current Public Works building and constructing a new one in virtually the same location.

“When the folks from Brunton were here to do a site location visit, they came up with a different recommendation,” Ibisch said. “They suggest the old liquor store building be torn down and the new building be put on that spot.”

Ibisch said that would mean the current Public Works building could still be used during the construction of the new one, and could also be used for storage, wash bay, etc., into the future.

“And if we build it where the current one is, it would be very close to the cold storage building,” Ibisch explained. “And they say we would have to consider the two as one large building which would mean putting in a sprinkler system into both buildings.”

And that would mean a possible extra $80,000 in cost, Ibisch added.

After the council voted to proceed, Ibisch said the plan would be to bond for this project combined with the Safe Routes to School project, this fall, with construction beginning next spring after the council approves the final steps.

In other business at last Monday’s meeting, the council:

Spent some time discussing a proposed rental ordinance.

Mayor Scholtes said he felt the ordinance would be too restrictive, especially since it calls for yearly inspections. He asked what the goal was with the ordinance.

“I believe it is to make sure the house or apartment is suitable for renting out,” city attorney David Frundt said. “Some towns in the area have lost control of their rentals and they have now found them to be in bad shape.”

Councilman Glenn Gaylord and John Huisman both spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying it would make the places safe and look good as well.

Scholtes felt it was discriminating against rental property owners, as homeowners are not asked to do the same thing. But Huisman said he did not see any discrimination.

One proposal was to drop the yearly inspection requirement and make the inspection only necessary when a tenant moves out and before a new one moves in.

But, no action was taken on the ordinance at this time.

Held an abatement of nuisance hearing as part of the meeting for a property at 1030 E. Sixth St.

The council then decided a letter be sent to the property owner ordering him to clean up the property by June 1. After that the city will clean it and put the cost onto the taxes.

Discussed the vacation of property in Valley Highlands known as Outlot B.

If the council agrees to it, the land would be given to the neighboring property owners along Highland Drive.

No action was taken at this time, discussion only.