The current location of the Blue Earth Senior Center is downtown, next to the library. A proposal would move it to St. Luke’s.

City administrator Mary Kennedy presented an innovative idea to the Blue Earth City Council at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 7.

“The proposal would be to relocate the Senior Center to St. Luke’s,” Kennedy explained.

She said St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center has an available and appropriate space for the Senior Center at the former Little Luke’s Childcare site, which is on the east side of the St. Luke’s campus.

Kennedy suggested the current Senior Center space, housed in the same building as the Blue Earth Community Library, could be repurposed as additional space for the library.

“The options and opportunities would be endless,” she added.

“I think we should continue looking into it,” mayor Rick Scholtes agreed.

The available space at St. Luke’s is approximately 3,200 square feet, and includes office space and restrooms. It is ADA accessible, with several private entrances. It has adequate parking for Senior Center events, and it is easily accessible to senior citizens who reside on the St. Luke’s campus.

Additionally, Kennedy pointed out that St. Luke’s already provides meals for the Senior Center’s lunch program.

She outlined several additional considerations for the council.

“The city currently rents out the Senior Center in the evenings, and on weekends and holidays, for parties, graduations, showers, etc.,” Kennedy reminded the council. “The space would no longer be available.”

A wall would also need to be removed at the St. Luke’s space to make it appropriate for the Senior Center’s use.

Kennedy estimated the Senior Center’s annual budget would increase by roughly $5,000 were it to relocate to St. Luke’s. However, she suggested the added expense might be outweighed by benefits such as increased attendance at Senior Center events.

Meanwhile, expanding the library into the current Senior Center space would nearly double the library’s square footage and provide additional space for parking and programming.

Also, Kennedy observed that if the Senior Center relocates, current accessibility concerns regarding its main entrance would become less immediate.

“In 2021 and 2022, the Senior Center director reported slips, trips and falls,” Kennedy reported. “In addition, the city administrator sought advice from the Public Works director and city engineer in 2023 regarding the slope and grade of the ramp, failing sidewalk infrastructure, and rough estimates for remedy.” 

Though the exact cost of such a project is undetermined, Kennedy said market research suggests the necessary repairs and adjustments to the main entrance and sidewalk could cost over $50,000.

The full-scale project may no longer be necessary if the Senior Center moves to St. Luke’s. However, the sidewalk and parking lot would still require upgrading no matter what the Senior Center space is used for. On Aug. 7, Bolton & Menk engineer Ben Rosol advised the council on the scope of the potential project.

The council had discussed the needed improvements at a previous meeting, and considered the possibility of including the improvements in the ongoing 2023 Street Improvement Project. However, the council had yet to officially approve plans for the project as of Aug. 7.

That evening, Rosol brought the plans to the council for clarification and direction.

Eventually, the council approved a plan which keeps the parking spaces around the Senior Center as-is. The plan allows for three handicapped-accessible stalls, and it also includes re-paving the sidewalk along both sides of the Senior Center.

Bolton & Menk estimates the reconstruction project would cost $21,087.42.

The council agreed it would like to move forward with the project, even if the Senior Center is relocated.

“Whatever we decide to do with it, this is a good upgrade on that side of the building,” Scholtes said.

Rosol plans to consult the 2023 Street Improvement Project contractor to determine the feasibility of including the Senior Center improvements in this summer’s street work.

The council also resumed discussion about its plans for a new tennis court facility at Putnam Park. Rosol informed the council bids for the project will be opened on Aug. 16, and Bolton & Menk will bring a recommendation to the council on Aug. 21.

At the beginning of the meeting, Blue Earth resident Randy Anderson commented that removing the trees on the north side of the courts could create windy conditions for players. So, the council directed Rosol to re-plant a row of trees on the north side of the courts as part of the project.

In other business, the Blue Earth City Council: 

• Congratulated honorary council member Cass Davis on attending his last meeting on Aug. 7.

“It’s been a pleasure to have you on the council,” Scholtes said.

• Scheduled a public hearing on Aug. 21 for an ordinance authorizing a study and imposing a moratorium on the operation of cannabis businesses in Blue Earth.

The ordinance could remain in place until Jan. 1, 2025, although the city is also authorized to cancel it at an earlier date.

“The same ordinance is being contemplated and discussed in Winnebago, Elmore and Delavan,” city attorney David Frundt said.

• Scheduled several public hearings on Aug. 21 for properties which have received final notices for City Code violations.

Public hearings will be held for six properties on East Fifth Street, East Sixth Street, East 14th Street and West First Street. An additional property on East 14th Street was issued an order of abatement for a trailer which needs to be moved to an improved surface.

• Approved Resolution 23-32 which declares costs to be assessed for the 2022 Street Improvement Project, and set a public hearing for the proposed assessments on Sept. 5.

The project’s estimated total cost is $4,699,038, with $957,747.70 to be assessed to benefiting property owners.

• Discussed golf cart and ATV use in Blue Earth. Council member Ann Hanna inquired whether the city can require children to wear seatbelts and helmets when they drive the vehicles.

“I know some golf carts don’t have seatbelts, so it’s not possible to be enforced, but I feel that we should be becoming a little more protective of the children in Blue Earth,” Hanna said.

The council also observed there are several unregistered golf carts and ATVs in town, and many golf carts and ATV drivers do not stop at intersections.

While the council determined it would be difficult to enforce helmet and seatbelt requirements, Police Chief Tom Fletcher suggested his department can keep an eye out for golf cart and ATV drivers who are not complying with the rules of the road, or who have not registered their vehicles.

• Held preliminary discussions about the 2024 Budget during a work session.

• Approved Resolution 23-23, which authorized an application for grant navigation support for the city on behalf of Blue Earth Light & Water.

• Denied a request to vacate an alley between Ninth and 10th Streets.

• Approved a variance request for the location of a garage at 410 North Gorman Street.

• Approved Ryan Northwick’s resignation from the Parks and Recreation Subcommittee.

• Approved B.E. Welcoming’s request to host a community bonfire on Sept. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. A portion of Leland Parkway will be closed during the event.

• Entered closed session to discuss certain security matters.