The Spring Valley City Council held a regular meeting on April 25. All council members were present (Mayor Tony Archer, John Dols, Chris Danielson, Luan Ruesink, and Greg Brooks). City Administrator/Clerk Deb Zimmer also participated. No visitors had signed up to address the council.
Two citizens addressed the council on a concern they have in their neighborhood. Cindy Johnson began by stating, “We’re on the dead end of Buchanan, and I’m under the impression that they weren’t going to do any work on the street in front of our houses down there, but today the gas company came through and said, ‘Oh yeah, we’re putting in gas, water, sewer this year.’… Why didn’t anybody tell me?” Deb Zimmer responded, “That section’s not part of the project… Fremont is the project.”
Laura Young then added, “I came home and the flags were being put up. My property is at 702 Valley Avenue… so they were putting white flags for the gas through my yard.” She concluded, “It really shouldn’t be this difficult to get answers… I shouldn’t have to call the city administrator, the county assessor, and Minnesota Energy and Spring Valley Public Utilities… and honestly, at the end of the day, I don’t know that I have a definitive answer to the question: are you all planning on putting a street down through my yard and/or utilities?”
Greg Brooks responded, saying, “So they’re marking everything right now… so they know where the junctions are… for the fire department, for the water department, in case there’s an issue.” Regarding the gas lines, John Dols added, “We don’t have anything to do with Minnesota Energy.” Zimmer added that the area where Johnson and Young live is not included in any projects in the city’s current five-year plan.
Young said a broader concern is, “There’s a perception in town that a lot of people don’t know what’s going on with the project.” Mayor Archer, Zimmer, and Brooks explained communication efforts that the city has initiated regarding the project has included letters to the property owners involved, information in the newspaper, information included in utility bill mailings, information posted on the city website, and public hearings. Zimmer said she would work on adding more information on the city website, and Mayor Archer thanked Johnson and Young for bringing their concerns to the council.
The council reluctantly accepted the resignation of Aaron Hamersma from his position as department head of the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Deb Zimmer then said the city needs to find a replacement for Hamersma, and they need to be a certified Class B Operator. The council approved opening up the position for applicants, so Zimmer will place an announcement in the newspaper. She also then informed the board that Hamersma has offered to work two days a week, for a minimum of two hours each, while the city works to permanently fill the position. She said this would fulfill the minimum requirement. The council voted to approve a contract with Hamersma for this.
John Dols mentioned that the annual Pancake Breakfast to benefit the ambulance service will be held on May 15, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. He said dine-in and carryout options will be available, and this will be a freewill donation event.
The council approved election judges for the May 24 special election, including Amber Zigan, Audrey Erickson, Dianne Swenson-Sikkink, Ann Thon, Shirley Gangstead, and Mary Ann Schultz.
Fire Chief Dustin Johnson thanked Matt and Brenda Stier for their generous contribution to allow the department to purchase eight new pagers. The council also gave thanks to the Kingsland fifth grade class for raising $957 to purchase a garbage bin for placement near Spring Valley Creek.
The next meeting of the council will be Monday, May 9 at 6 p.m., at city hall. The public is welcome.
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