The Blue Earth City Council made the decision to switch the Point Of Sale (POS) system used by the Blue Earth liquor store to Rate Zero during their meeting on Monday, Sept. 21. They also approved some additional emergency repairs for the Blue Earth Municipal Swimming Pool, as well as the sewer system of the Blue Earth Community Library.

During the work session prior to the meeting, Drew Rute presented the council with information on the Rate Zero Point Of Sale (POS) system.

“For a community this size, approximately 75 to 80 percent of sales are made with a credit card,” Rute reported. “Looking at the budget spreadsheet that Stacy has provided, the city has almost $28,000 budgeted for next year to pay for credit card handling fees at the liquor store. That’s a lot of money that the city could be saving instead.”

Rute went on to explain that, as part of the implementation process, prices would be adjusted store-wide to reflect the new POS system, a service provided free of charge by Rate Zero.

Specifically, sticker prices would be updated to show the price of an item if a customer paid with a card.

“This does mean that for those who pay with a card, the price is going to be a little bit higher,” Rute explained. “If you pay with cash instead, you’re technically getting a discount, since the additional card processing fees won’t apply. However, as we have seen in other communities, the convenience of paying with a card instead of cash outweighs that slight price increase for most customers.”

Liquor store manager Stacy Hander, who was present at the meeting, also voiced her support for the new POS system, and provided her portion of the 2027 budget to the council for review.

“I don’t have a whole lot to add that Drew didn’t already say, but I think making the switch would be a great idea,” Hander shared. “I believe our contract with our current POS provider expires on Jan. 31 2027, but if there’s a way we can get out of that contract early, I’m all for it.”

“I also think this is a great idea,” mayor Rick Scholtes. “The city starts saving money the minute we get Rate Zero on board, and it’s entirely free for us to make the switch and get everything set up. I don’t see any reason why we can’t approve this tonight.”

Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to switch to the Rate Zero POS system for the liquor store. The motion passed unanimously.

City administrator Dawn Collins presented the council with an update on the unbudgeted emergency repairs still waiting for approval, as well as additional information about the quotes for some of those repairs.

“At our last meeting, we discussed a series of unbudgeted emergency repairs that need to be dealt with this year,” Collins reported. “We have already given approval for repairs to the Fire Department’s ladder truck hydraulics, and those are still in progress. Also on our list were the repairs for the pool, and various roof repairs for buildings across the city, which did not get approved at that time.”

Collins went on to explain that the original contractor who had provided a quote for the roof repairs, Kato Roofing, had closed down; however, another contractor may be willing to honor that original quote.

“The Roof Generals, who are based out of Maple River, have informed us that they would be willing to honor the original roof repair quotes that we received from Kato Roofing,” Collins noted. “It is my recommendation that we wait on these repairs until we can confirm this arrangement. Otherwise, I can direct staff to solicit bids from other roofing contractors in the local area.”

“I would prefer that we stick with the original quotes if we can, because by the time we get in touch with a new contractor, it’s already going to be winter,” Scholtes commented. “I would rather get these repairs done this fall, rather than waiting until spring and potentially having more damage done to the roofs.”

Collins then went on to share that the quote for the pool repairs had been updated to reflect one of the damaged spray lines being capped, and all of the remaining repairs would cost a total of $83,200, as per the quote from Fischer Bros.

“Per the recommendation of the Library Board, I would also like to suggest that we add the sewer line repairs previously discussed in the library’s portion of the 2027 budget be moved to emergency repair status,” Collins added. “Library director Heidi Schutt has received a quote from Precision Lining for that repair, which comes out to $20,525.”

“Just to clarify – we’re waiting on the roof repairs, but we want to approve the quotes for the pool and the sewer repairs for the library?” council member John Huisman asked.

Collins affirmed that yes, that was the intended plan of action. She also noted that once the roof repair quotes were confirmed, those would be up for approval at a future meeting.

Hearing no further discussion, a motion was made and seconded to accept the quotes from Fischer Bros. in the amount of $83,200 for the pool, and from Precision Lining for the library sewer repairs in the amount of $20,525. The motion passed unanimously.

Other business discussed at the City Council meeting included:

• The public hearing for Ordinance 26-08 regulating the height and size of signs in the Highway Business Light Industrial (HBLI) zoning districts was held. Following the hearing, a motion was passed to approve Ordinance 26-08.

• The public hearing for Resolution 26-41 approving a tax abatement for Devenish Nutrition was held. After the hearing was closed, a motion to approve it passed unanimously.

• Resolution 26-42 approving the sale of the empty lot located at 717 East Third Street to Allen Hanson at a price of $100 was approved unanimously.

• Resolution 26-38 approving a request from Dennis and Darlene Hilpipre to combine two adjoining lots into one parcel, located at 723 Second Street Northwest, was approved.

• Resolution 26-40 authorizing the issuance of General Obligation bonds Series 2026A was approved.

• A notice of resignation from the city’s campground hosts was accepted.