Retiring Blue Earth City Council members Russ Erichsrud, left, Wendy Cole, middle and Marty Cassem, right, participated in their final City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 19. Their vacant spots on the council will be filled by Jacque Drew, Mike McNerney and Stephanie Walter in 2023.

The Blue Earth City Council ended the year with a nod to the future of aviation. In Faribault County, that is.

At a meeting held on Monday, Dec. 19, the City Council reviewed and approved a letter of intent submitted by Sean and Crystal Schimmelman, owners of Advantage Aviation Services, LLC.

“We…would like to inform you of our intent to build a hangar at the Blue Earth Airport (KSBU) on hangar spots 12 or 22,” the Schimmelmans wrote. “We intend to use the building as an aircraft maintenance/avionics facility in support of a pipeline surveillance company and the local aircraft owners.” 

The couple, who are relocating their business from Saint Paul, intend to commence construction in the spring in time for an early summer occupancy.

Airport manager Luke Steier, who was present at the meeting, voiced his support for the Schimmelmans’ business venture.

“Right now we have no licensed maintenance at the airport,” Steier observed. “We do have a void in the community. It would be a nice asset for our community to have that back.” 

The council responded favorably to the news, and voted to approve the Schimmelmans’ letter of intent.

“I think it’s great to have another business come to town,” said council member Ann Hanna.

The council also discussed necessary maintenance to Blue Earth’s existing airport.

“There was hail damage done,” city administrator Mary Kennedy explained.

Kato Roofing estimated repairs to the airport’s roof will cost $94,240. However, Kennedy added the city will only be responsible for paying the airport’s $1,000 deductible.

The council approved the repairs to the airport’s roof on a unanimous vote.

In other business, the Blue Earth City Council: 

• Approved Resolution 22-31 setting the property tax levy for 2023 at $1,868,884.65. The levy represents a 4.1 percent increase over last year’s levy.

• Approved Blue Earth Area senior Cass Davis’ application to serve as an honorary City Council member in 2023.

• Approved Resolution 22-30 ordering improvements to sections of Moore Street, Galbraith Street, Ramsey Street, First Street and Third Street, and ordering Bolton & Menk to prepare plans and specifications and let bids for the planned improvements.

• Approved Resolution 22-32 to officially accept a Classification and Compensation Study submitted by Flaherty and Hood.

“This resolution will allow us to formally implement each of those base pay structures so we can implement the new wage scale at a staff level,” Kennedy explained. “There will be more things coming for us to do for state pay equity.” 

• Received an update from council member John Huisman regarding the Faribault County Humane Society (FCHS)’s progress on its new facility.

Huisman said the FCHS has installed drainage and a new floor at the facility and is on schedule to meet its Feb. 1 completion date.

• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Law Enforcement Labor Services Local Union #250 implementing the police department’s new wage scale, which the City Council adopted on Dec. 9.

• Approved Ordinance 22-19 to rezone land parcels on Grant Street as HBLI Highway Business and Limited Industry zones.

• Approved the Blue Earth Fire Department & Rescue Relief Association’s request to increase its budgeted benefits for members from $2,600 to $2,675 per service year.

• Denied Channel One Regional Food Bank’s request to distribute food from the Fairgrounds once a month in 2023.

Kennedy explained that Channel One’s distribution point had been relocated from the Fairgrounds previously due to congestion. She recommended the council propose different locations to Channel One which will be better equipped to accommodate traffic flow.

• Approved part-time officer Ben Johnson’s resignation from the Blue Earth Police Department.

• Approved Lost Saint Brewing’s application for a city on-sale liquor license, contingent on minor corrections being made to the application.