The Blue Earth City Council heard annual reports from, left to right, EDA specialist Amy Schaefer (Economic Development Authority), Library director Heidi Schutt (Blue Earth Community Library), Chamber director Sarah Ferguson (Convention and Visitors Bureau) and Fire Chief Steve Brown (Fire Department).

At their regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Blue Earth City Council heard an update from city engineer Ben Rosol concerning the next street/utility projects in the city.

They then voted to allow the project to be delayed as little as a couple of months and as long as a full year.

Rosol explained three options that included waiting on the start of this coming summer’s Linton Street project until the city can learn if they will get a grant from the state to help pay for the project.

Rosol said the city had the necessary conditions to qualify for the grant, but receiving the funds depends on the state passing a bonding bill this legislative session.

Option No. 1, Rosol said, would be the best scenario and that would be that the legislature passes a bonding bill and Blue Earth receives help with funding.

“Even if the bonding bill does pass, it would still mean a delay in the start of construction this summer,” Rosol explained. “That would probably be a July start.”

Option No. 2 would be that the bonding bill passes but Blue Earth would not get the grant this same year. That means the city could still wait to see if they receive the funding the next year.

The third option is that if the bill does not pass this session it could mean a delay of a year before the start of the construction.

“If the state does not pass a bonding bill this year, then they have to pass one the next year,” Rosol said.

The council voted to wait until the funds are available as it could mean $2.2 million in grant monies. Some of the funding is for the water portion of the project and one third of the street improvements, and another grant would be for the sanitary sewer portion of the project, Rosol explained. The city would also be qualified for funding that would be at a lower interest rate.

Rosol also reported that a meeting for the residents of the Linton Street project area is set for Thursday, Feb. 27.

Also at their regular meeting on Tuesday night, Feb. 18, the City Council briefly went over some items dealing with the recent resignation of city administrator Mary Athey.

Athey had submitted her resignation at a special council meeting held the previous Thursday afternoon, Feb. 13.

At that Feb. 13 meeting the council had voted to hire South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) of North Mankato to lead the search for a new city administrator.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Blue Earth mayor Rick Scholtes announced that the work session before the next council meeting, on March 3, would include a visit from Mike Humpal of SCSC, and former city administrator of Fairmont.

At that work session Humpal will work with the council to learn their expectations and explain the search procedure.

The tentative draft of a timeline has the development of information during March, the position advertised during April, review of candidates in May and interviews of the top five candidates in June. A decision would be made and a new administrator would start their position in July or early August.

Mayor Scholtes reported that Athey would be able to help out after her final day for 16 to 20 hours a month as needed and would be paid an hourly rate.

He also said Public Works director Jamie Holland would add to his duties to fill in for some administrator work. The council passed a motion to compensate Holland an additional $10 per hour for that increase in work. Council member Ann Hanna voted no on the motion to increase the wage.

In other business at the meeting, the City Council:

• Voted to approve the Blue Earth Light and Water request to allow them to proceed with a $7.6 million bond to help pay for the new water treatment plant and upgrade.

• Authorized the EDA to allow the Blue Earth Police Department to use an empty portion of the Ag Center for storage of items, which were previously stored in a garage behind the former City Hall.

• Approved the sale of a lot on Third Street owned by the city to Sarah Smith for $250.

• Heard annual reports from the Blue Earth Fire Department, Blue Earth Community Library and the Blue Earth Economic Development Authority, during a work session before the regular meeting.

Fire Chief Steve Brown had a full written report and said they have 28 firefighters at this time but they would like to have 30. They are always recruiting he said.

Librarian Heidi Schutt also had a written report and pointed out that circulation at the library is up nine percent. She also said 1,900 people attended the 118 programs that were held at the library in 2024.

EDA specialist Amy Schaefer reported on both the EDA and the REV program. She also reported on the success of the Lunch and Learn once a month program for business owners.

During the regular meeting Blue Earth Chamber director Sarah Ferguson gave an update on the Convention and Visitors Bureau which is partially funded by a city hotel tax.