Debby Johnson, back right of photo, and other members of the FCHS board and volunteers, were at the Blue Earth Council meeting Monday.

The Blue Earth City Council had a marathon series of meetings on Monday night, including a work session, regular meeting, the annual Truth in Taxation Hearing and a closed meeting.

During the regular meeting the council had a discussion concerning the Faribault County Humane Society and the city’s contract to keep impounded animals at the shelter operated by the humane society.

After a long discussion, the council voted to terminate the contract they had with the FCHS to keep impounded animals from the city there, effective immediately.

The decision came after a recent dog attack on the humane society director, Debby Johnson, as well as other concerns of the council in the past.

Johnson, her husband and several volunteers at the FCHS animal shelter were at the meeting.

City administrator Mary Kennedy told the council that the FCHS had closed the shelter for the month of December after the dog attack, and that the city had already contracted with another kennel in the area to take animals to.

“You need to discuss if you are interested in continuing our contract with the humane society, after these incidents, or terminate the contract,” Kennedy said. “If you do terminate we will need to discuss next steps.”

City attorney David Frundt said that having the humane society closed for December can be considered a breach of the contract, and could be a reason to terminate the contract.

City council member John Huisman pointed out to Johnson he had visited the animal shelter and had tried to help them get organized with a four point plan he created.

“That four point plan is not happening,” Huisman said. “Two of the points are easy to do, two would take more time.”

Johnson wondered about Huisman and the city telling them what to do, when they have their own board of directors to run the shelter.

Huisman said he was not representing the city when he was there, he was just trying to help them, adding the four-point plan was just a suggestion.

Johnson indicated she did not take it that way, that she thought Huisman was acting as a City Council liaison.

Mayor Rick Scholtes said the city does need to know what is going on at the shelter, as the city has a vested interest in it.

“A little dog under our authority was killed out there,” Scholtes said. “We need to know we can feel it is safe there.”

Johnson said they are a small group but they are working hard on fixing whatever issues there are.

“We are trying hard to do the right thing,” Johnson said.

The motion to terminate the contract was made by council member Dan Ristau and seconded by council member Huisman and was passed on a unanimous vote.

After the vote, later in the meeting, the council decided to put out an RFP (Request for Proposals) for a kennel where the city can take its impounded animals.

In other business at the regular meeting, the council:

• Heard an update from Brett Osborn of the Golden Spike Speedway about how the go kart races went this past season and plans for the 2024 season.

Osborn said they had a very successful season with an average of 74 go karts per race, with a high attendance of 154 karts.

Osborn also said the Golden Spike Speedway had gotten one of 12 nationwide races with a group called MaxxDaddy.

“We could have as many as 500 go karts here and as many as 3,000 people in attendance,” Osborn said. “It will be on July 19 and 20.”

• Had an update on several city code violation enforcements. One, which involved a camping trailer, will have a public hearing concerning it on Jan. 2.

• Looked at updates to the city Personnel Policy, Fire Department By-Laws and the City Code language for kennels and potentially dangerous dogs. The items will be on the next meeting agenda for further discussion, with any changes and approval at that time.

• Went into closed session for discussion concerning pending litigation. No further information on the closed meeting was released.

• The work session at 4:15 p.m. was a tour of the former Wells Fargo Bank building, which the city of Blue Earth recently bought at auction, and plans to remodel and move into next year as the new City Hall.

Administrator Kennedy gave an update on the building to the council members, which included information from Brunton Architects of Mankato, which had visited the site and taken measurements. They would be able to develop plans for whatever the city wants to do.

The council and Kennedy briefly discussed options with turning the former bank into a city hall, from just a few changes to totally gutting the main floor area.

Council members listed some of the things, such as an expanded meeting room, they would like to see done.

No decisions were made during the work session.