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BE Council denies a fire department request

Also votes to pursue a vacant house purchase

By Chuck Hunt - Editor | Sep 8, 2024

This house at 1006 East Fifth Street in Blue Earth could become the property of the city in the future, if a deal happens.

One item on the consent agenda at the Blue Earth City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, caused some extra discussion and a separate vote.

Most of the time all of the items on the consent agenda are voted on at one time, early in the meeting.

But, last Tuesday, one of the items having to do with a travel request from the Blue Earth Fire Department, was questioned before the vote.

“I have a problem with this request, with the amount and the timing of it,” council member Ann Hanna said. “And I am not in favor of approval of it.”

The request involved four firemen attending a two-day conference and training session in Mankato. The total cost of the proposal was $2,861, for conference fees, travel, food and motel.

Some of the discussion centered on whether some of the registration fees are reimbursed by the state.

City administrator Mary Kennedy also pointed out that the fire department has $10,000 in their budget for training and travel.

Other questions concerned the cost of four motel rooms, meal expenses and other items. Another question dealt with the date of the conference and the deadline for registration, which seemed to be Aug. 15.

Mayor Rick Scholtes called the request “sloppy work” and it probably needed more clarification.

In the end, a motion to approve the travel/conference reimbursement request did not pass on a 4-3 vote.

Council members Hanna, Stephanie Walter and Jacque Drew, along with mayor Scholtes, voted no and council members John Huisman, Dan Ristau and Mike McNerney voted yes.

The Blue Earth City Council also took steps to take ownership of a deserted house in Blue Earth, during the council’s meeting last Tuesday.

At their Aug. 19 meeting, the council had instructed city attorney David Frundt to contact the family of the deceased former owner to see if they would be interested in transferring ownership of the house to the city.

The city would not pay any money for the house, but would take over the payment of the delinquent property tax bill, an amount of approximately $7,500.

Frundt said one of the family members reported they would be interested in that agreement, but other members of the family would have to be contacted.

“They already filed a probate case which complicates the matter,” Frundt said. “And, the family had already discussed donating the property to Habitat for Humanity.”

Frundt gave the council three options to proceed with. One was to continue to try and purchase the property in exchange for the property tax and possibly have it given to Habitat for Humanity. Another option was to work with the family and their choice to give it to Habitat for Humanity (who would then be liable for the taxes.) The third option was basically to do nothing and get the property if and when it is tax forfeited.

The council voted to proceed with the first choice, to work on acquiring the property in exchange for taking care of the delinquent tax.

The council had two other items that they spent time discussing.

One item had to do with the hours at the City Hall.

Councilman John Huisman had requested the topic be added under old business.

The current City Hall has limited hours and Huisman questioned whether it is time to open it back up again.

Discussion centered on having the hours go back to 8-12 and 1-5 when the new City Hall opens. Citizens now can call for an appointment if they need assistance.

One council member questioned how the citizens are supposed to know that, and it was decided to update the website with that information.

The item discussed was a proposal from city administrator Mary Kennedy to purchase a service which would be added to the city’s website where property owners could see how much their city taxes are and where their specific tax money goes, as well as giving input on the budget.

Cost of the program is $4,000 per year for two years. The council voted to proceed with it, with one dissenting vote which was cast by council member Hanna.

In other business on Tuesday night, the City Council:

• Heard an update from the city engineer on the progress on the summer street/utility project. Most of the underground work is done and concrete sidewalks and other items are expected to be done soon.

The project should be completed by the deadline later in October, he said. The one hang up is on a railroad crossing that is planned to be updated.

Engineer Ben Rosol also informed the council that he had placed stakes at Putnam Park to see where a potential new pavilion and amphitheater could be placed.

• Approved a change order for concrete work that was done on the tennis courts at Putnam Park.

The change order was for the testing of the concrete that was done by American Engineering Testing (AET). The original estimate was $10,896, with the change order adding another $4,514 to the cost.

The change was due to the time between pours due to rainy weather, engineer Rosol said.

• Approved the hiring of Samantha Archer and Katelyn Kluender as part time at the Blue Earth Wine and Spirits store and Jadrian Irwin as a wastewater operator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Also approved the retirement of Steve Anderson from the Public Works Department.

• Heard from several Blue Earth citizens during the public comment time at the beginning of the meeting.

One person asked if the providing of meals at the Senior Citizens Center was ever put out on bids. The answer was that it had been, and could be done again.

Another person questioned about having cannabis available in the city, and said she was not in favor of it.

A third person asked about future plans for disc golf, and added that her grandson was very disappointed that it had been removed.

The mayor responded that the salvaged material had been given back to the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce.