This is an artist’s rendering of what the new vegetable-themed playground at Giant Park could possibly look like.

The Blue Earth City Council discussed a proposal from the Blue Earth Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) at a meeting held on Monday, Nov. 6.

The CVB sought the city’s permission to construct an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant playground at Giant Park, which is city-owned property.

The group is not requesting any funding for the project, as costs for the vegetable-themed playground are expected to be covered by private donations and financial assistance from B&G Foods. The CVB also plans to have a maintenance fund in place once the project is completed.

The group is requesting that the city serve as the fiscal agent for the project. Discounts will be given by the construction company if the funds are filtered through an entity with an ST3 Certificate of Exemption.

The CVB would also like the city to cover the playground’s liability insurance, as it would be located on city property.

Shellie Poetter, a CVB director, said the CVB sent out a survey about the proposed playground to a ‘moms group’ on Facebook which received over 200 responses.

“The overwhelming response was, ‘We feel this would be a good addition to Blue Earth,” Poetter said.

She also pointed out that the community currently lacks an ADA compliant playground. The closest inclusive playgrounds are located in Fairmont and Albert Lea.

The CVB’s request came to the council upon recommendation by the Parks and Recreation Subcommittee. The council tabled its approval of the project until they receive more information about how the maintenance fund would operate, and until they receive a copy of a letter of intent from B&G.

In other business, the Blue Earth City Council: 

• Approved an order for abatement to be sent to the owner of a property on S. Moore Street. The property’s chimney is coming away from the side of the house, and it poses a hazard to the neighboring property.

The order of abatement requires the owner to address the issue by Nov. 15. If the chimney is not fixed by that date, the city will proceed with scheduling a hearing to gain access to the property to correct the issue.

• Approved the city’s new Sewer Forgiveness Policy. The city will now go back a maximum of three months when issuing sewer credits, approving credits within a range of $20 to $500. All sewer credit requests will go to the city administrator for approval.

• Approved an updated draft of the city’s Snow Plowing and Snow Emergency Policy. The updated policy grants the Public Works director the authority to declare a snow emergency.

Also, $50 tickets will be issued for second violations of the on-street snow emergency parking ban, while $50 tickets plus towing expenses will be issued for third – and subsequent – violations.

Parking restrictions in the central business district will be lifted after 6 a.m. during snow emergencies.

• Discussed the possibility of the city providing sidewalk snow removal services for businesses located on Main Street, between Fourth and Ninth Streets.

The council decided more information needs to be collected before any such services are implemented.

• Reviewed several updates concerning the Senior Center’s meal program. City administrator Mary Kennedy informed the council that due to liability reasons, St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center can no longer allow volunteers to transport meals to the Senior Center. Instead, a city employee will need to transport the meals.

Kennedy said Senior Center director Linda Jahnke has been transporting the meals for the past week, and the change has gone smoothly.

Kennedy also informed the council that the cost per meal is expected to increase in 2024. Currently, the meals cost $4.25, but they are provided at the Senior Center for $3.85, with the city subsidizing the remaining cost.

The council decided to revisit the policy in 2024, if and when the cost of meals increases.

• Reviewed a report from Brunton Architects detailing the improvements which would be necessary at City Hall to bring the building into ADA compliance and address the building’s security needs.

The total cost of the improvements was estimated at $496,979.

The report was just informational, as the council recently decided to purchase the former Wells Fargo building for $225,000, with the intent of relocating City Hall to that location. The new building will address the issues with ADA compliance and security. Kennedy informed the council that the wire transfer of the funds for the building has gone through. She hoped closing options on the property would become available the following day, on Nov. 7.

• Went into closed session to discuss a matter which is currently in litigation.

“We discussed options with the council at this time,” city attorney David Frundt said. “No action was taken.” 

• Approved Resolution 23-38 adopting assessments of unpaid charges for services the city has performed in 2023, including snow removal, mowing, extra dumps and impound fees.

• Scheduled a public hearing and second reading for an ordinance conveying city-owned property to Chad and Sheila Malwitz on Nov. 20.

The Malwitzes intend to purchase the property – the former Kerr-McGee site – for $10,500.

• Approved Bruce Sellers’s request for sewer forgiveness on behalf of Wendland Sellers Law Office, in the amount of $1,355.02.

The high usage originated from a water spigot which was turned on without the company’s knowledge. The city suspects it was an act of vandalism.

• Approved a two-year recycling contract with B&B Sanitation. Residents’ rates will increase from $4.01 to $4.25 per account, per month.

• Approved Resolution 23-39 declaring certain property at the Blue Earth Community Library surplus.

• Approved a Request for Proposals for new accounting software at City Hall.

• Reviewed the campground’s end-of-year report, which contained many positive reviews from customers.

• Approved the hire of Trey Dyslin, Terry Campbell and Brady Korn to the Blue Earth Fire Department.

• Approved Public Works Director Jamie Holland’s request to attend a conference.