Faribault County Public Works director/ county engineer Mark Daly points to a map of proposed bike trails and designated streets for bikes that was presented to the BE Council last Monday.

On May 1, the Blue Earth City Council reviewed a proposal from the Active Living Coalition which will bring Blue Earth one step closer toward a coveted ‘Bike Friendly City’ designation. 

“I think that a really special amenity that we have are trails,” Gary Armon, a member of the Active Living Coalition, told the council. “We propose to establish route connections. By extending and enhancing routes, we could become a bigger biking destination.”

The Active Living Coalition wants to establish 12 to 15 miles of two-way loop trails throughout Blue Earth by connecting existing trails with signs and posts.  

“No new pathways would need to be built,” Armon clarified.

The two-way trail loop would start at the Giant Welcome Center and continue south through Blue Earth, running along Leland Parkway and down South Main Street. It would continue from Putnam Park to the Beltway, and eventually circle back to the Giant Welcome Center. Off-shoots would also lead out to the Industrial Park, Steinberg Park and the I-90 rest stop.

Along with 20 Share the Road signs which have already been purchased, 21 bike route signs, 48 directional arrows and 46 galvanized posts are needed to complete the proposed trail.

Accounting for the cost of labor, the coalition estimates the project would cost $7,370.

The coalition added they intend to update trail maps around town with the full trail route if and when the two-way loop is completed.

“We think this will be valuable for anyone in town,” explained Active Living Coalition member Dave Kittleson. He added 15 miles of trail have been proven to attract visiting bikers to a community, too.

The Active Living Coalition requested the council’s financial support for the project.

Mayor Rick Scholtes replied the city does not have $7,370 in the budget this year. However, the council suggested several alternative funding sources, such as the liquor store fund and the Faribault County Fitness Center’s budget.

The council declared its intent to support the project once it is able to locate the $7,370 in funding.

Though unanimously on board with the Active Living Coalition’s proposal, the council was unanimously against a proposal from Project 3 Sisters, LLC.

Several months ago, city attorney David Frundt had informed Project 3 Sisters attorney Sara Wilson that the city was willing to take back the three Main Street buildings currently owned by the company.

Wilson responded that Project 3 Sisters would be amenable to the offer if the city reimbursed the company for the funds they have invested toward the buildings’ improvement.

On May 1, Wilson submitted a proposal to Frundt on behalf of Project 3 Sisters requesting reimbursement of $180,000 from the city in return for re-conveying the buildings to the city’s ownership.

The $180,000 would include funds spent on pre-construction services and management, winterizing, painting, removing debris, purchasing permits, electric equipment and labor, HVAC equipment and cleaning.

Project 3 Sisters also asked the city to accept $240,000 in design costs as a gift.

“(Project 3 Sisters) is looking to settle this matter amicably so that both parties can move forward,” the letter concluded. “This letter is for the purposes of settlement discussion only and is not intended to be a full recital of all damages that would be claimed if this matter was to go to litigation.” 

The council unanimously rejected the offer.

“I just don’t think their request has got any validity to it,” council member John Huisman said.

Scholtes added, “My thought is, they can keep the buildings.” 

The only close vote of the evening occurred when the council selected the winner of a recent contest to re-name Third Ward Park.

Several Blue Earth Area Elementary School classrooms submitted entries for the park’s new name. The two finalists were ‘Piano Park,’ submitted by Karen Dressler’s kindergarten class, and ‘Evergreen Park,’ submitted by Cathy Bell’s fourth grade class.

The council voted anonymously for their favorite name, resulting in a tie. Scholtes’ tiebreaking vote was for Piano Park.

As the winning classroom, Dressler’s class will be treated to a party at Piano Park by the Parks and Recreation Committee.

In other business, the Blue Earth City Council: 

• Authorized the sale of $5,025,000 in general obligation bonds to fund the 2023 Street Improvement Project. The bonds will be put out for bid on June 5, at 10 a.m.

• Received the annual Blue Earth Light and Water (BELW) audit report at a worksession.

BELW received an unmodified/clean audit opinion, although BELW manager Tim Stoner did note some unexpected expenses in the electric fund.

“Other than that, both the electrical and water fund are healthy with the rates we’ve been doing,” he said.  

• Received a report from Dan Woodring, executive director of Interfaith Caregivers.

Woodring informed the council there has been a proposed change in the distribution of Older American Action funds which would significantly decrease funds allocated to rural Minnesota.

“We are predicting a 17 percent decrease in funding, which would be devastating,” he said.

Woodring urged the council to submit their comments on the proposal at https://mn.gov/board-on-aging/

“It will make a huge impact when it comes to resources for our community and our county,” he said.

• Approved the sale of one half of a city-owned duplex on Bluestem Drive to Kevin and Annette Pevestorf for $223,000. The agreement is contingent on the sale of the buyers’ property in Chaska.

• Reviewed B&B Sanitation’s recent cost increases for maintaining city dumpsters.

• Approved a proposal for construction testing services from American Engineering Testing, which will cost an estimated maximum of $20,578.

• Declared a city-owned four piece grain bin tube starter kit surplus property. The starter kit will be donated to the Elmore Fire Department.

• Approved a one-time sewer credit request from Craig Wells in the amount of $332.

• Approved permit applications from The Lemon, and Kee Kafe LLC DBA Bummy’s.

• Approved a Brewer Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor License for Lost Saint Brewing Co.