Paul Rynearson, shown standing, expressed his concerns about turning the former city dump into a place for veterans to hunt and fish. He liked the concept but felt a better place should be found.

The room where the Winnebago City Council holds its meetings was a little more crowded than usual last Tuesday, June 8. That was the date of the regular council meeting and many people showed up to voice their concern about the speed of some cars driving the city streets.

“I watch from my deck and some of these cars are going way too fast,” Jose Romero, who lives on Cleveland Avenue, said. “I just want something done to avoid somebody getting hurt.”

The council debated possible solutions.

It was pointed out the state sets the speed limits in urban areas, which is 30 miles per hour.

“We do patrol those streets a lot,” police chief Eric Olson said.

The council eventually voted to place stop signs along Fourth Street SW, from Third Avenue SW to Cleveland Avenue.

“This will provide a path for kids heading to the swimming pool,” council member Calvin Howard said.

Merodee Grannis, who helped organize the LOVE Winnebago volunteer day which was held on June 5, was at the meeting to update the council on the day’s events.

“We had 10 projects and were able to complete nine of them,” Grannis commented. “There is a house we were going to paint but we had to quit early that day because of the heat.”

Grannis told the council the group intends to go back and do the painting.

“The owner of the house and her 15-year old daughter both came out to help,” Grannis explained. “Now they want to pay it forward and help others.”

Winnebago Pool manager Morgan Franklin attended the meeting and gave an update on the pool.

“The pool is open and is doing well,” Franklin said. “However, we still need more lifeguards.”

Discussion then proceeded to whether there was a need to adjust the current hourly wage paid to the lifeguards as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Committee.

The council voted to adopt the recommendation to change the current wage brackets and increase hourly wages by 50 cents and add $1 per hour for any WSI (Water Safety Instructor). The council also voted to reimburse 100 percent of the cost for WSI training if a lifeguard works for the city all season and teaches swimming lessons.

In other matters related to the pool, the council met in closed session to consider possible litigation against TMI Coatings in regards to the Winnebago Pool. No action was taken at this time.

The council also took up a request to donate 15 acres of land, which used to be the city dump, to the Veteran Resource Center and Academy.

“We would like to turn it into a spot where veterans could hunt, fish and camp,” Garth Carlson, CEO of Veteran Enterprises, LTD explained.

The land is located in section four of Verona Township and there is currently no access to the property by a road.

The idea was well received but concerns were raised about the location.

“We think Garth has a good idea,” Paul Rynearson said. “We just do not think this is the best location. It was a city dump and there is broken glass out there. There is no way to get to the property which is about three quarters of a mile from the nearest road.”

The Rynearson family owns land which adjoins the piece of property in question.

Someone else pointed out the site had never been leveled off and would be hard to navigate for many people.

“I like the idea, I just think we need to come up with a better spot to do this,” mayor Scott Robertson offered.

City engineer Travis Winter was on hand and told council members the paving on the Northwest Project is completed but there is still some work being done on other items.

“When all is said and done, it looks like the total cost of the project will come in about $200,000 less than projected,” Winter said.

The council then approved pay estimate No. 20 in the amount of $834,260 to Holtmeier Construction.

In other business the council:

• Accepted the resignations of Fay King from the Library Board and Scott Lehman from the Economic Development Authority.

• Accepted a bid in the amount of $5,056 for the sale of the former fire rescue truck. The winning bid was from Bruce MacKinnon of Redwood Falls.

• Approved a bid of $27,475 from Erosion Control Plus for the demolition of two houses and a shed.

• Voted to place the Freedom Rock between the gazebo and the picnic shelter at Whiting Park.

• Approved a variance for Richard and Mary Anderson for an accessory hoop shed.

• Approved a variance for Estaban Ramirez to construct a carport on his property.