Photo by Paula Barness
At their Monday, October 12 meeting, the Spring Valley City Council learned more about the proposed Revitalization Project, which focuses on bringing the city’s spring back to life.
“It is a pretty unique opportunity to really show the historical aspect of Spring Valley, to talk about the spring out there and give some education about the water resources out there,” Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Chris Hahn expressed. “It is a collaborative project between the city, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Aaron Kolling, who has really championed this project.”
Drew Weber, of Bolton and Menk, recently gave a presentation to the EDA sharing the project would “check every box” for the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) grant, which is funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF).
“There are three separate pieces. There is the public engagement piece, the project scoping piece and funding. The caveat is they can’t ask for the project fees and the scoping part of it up front, so those three areas would total about $54,700,” Hahn explained.
In true Spring Valley fashion the donations came in quickly, with Kolling donating half of those funds and along with other donations from local groups and residents, taking the total down to just over $9,000.
Hahn asked the council to approved moving forward with the project, which the council did.
New roles at City Hall
Spring Valley City Hall has seen some changes of late as longtime city administrator, Deb Zimmer retired on September 30.
Since that time Deputy Clerk Tiffany House has stepped in to fill that role as much as possible.
Mayor Justin Mlinar shared, “Chris Danielson and I had a chance to meet with Mike Bubany, of David Drown Associates, and he shed a lot of light on the need for someone who is strictly keeping up with the finances.”
After the council officially accepted Zimmer’s retirement as the city clerk and treasurer they approved promoting House to clerk and treasurer with a pay adjustment, which will begin retroactively on October 1.
The council tabled the search for a new administrator so they can review what the job will now entail and how they will search for candidates.
Staff and council reports
Public Works Director Chad Hindt shared they have been busy with the WasteWater Treatment Plant, doing repairs and maintenance on equipment, mowing and trimming, doing safety trainings, repairing and cleaning up after the flooding, working with Bolton and Menk on future projects and repairing alleyways.
Council member Luan Ruesink noted Spring Valley Public Utilities is considering installing a new water tower, so they may be coming to speak to to the city soon.
John Dols spoke on behalf of Parks and Recs Director John Fenske, stating the fall rec season is almost done and the forms for winter rec are now available.
After doing some research Fenske found U.S. Aquatics, which repaired the baby pool, could assess the pool for $8,500, which is what he would recommend.
The South Park bathrooms will be winterized the weekend of October 17.
Hahn told the group the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) wants to use Spring Valley as a pilot city for their Community Builders program “to showcase some of the good work that happens in these communities using the grant opportunities they offer.”
In recent years the city has received nine grants from SMIF for a variety of projects.
Ambulance Co-Director Lucy Drinkall shared there were 58 calls in September with the second truck out four times.
Fire Chief Dustin Johnson told the council the department was busy with one fire, assisting with the flooding, two smoke alarms, a carbon monoxide alarm, two car fires and two combine fires.
The department held a pumper training to go through all their big trucks and their grass rigs to prepare for the harvest season.
Johnson thanked everyone who came to their Annual Pancake Breakfast, as well as those who sent in donations.
Other business
The council approved Snow Contracting’s fifth pay application of $763,207.07 for the Downtown Improvement Project.
The lease for city-owned farmland was renewed for another year with no changes.
The city renewed it’s contract with MMS Environmental, LLC. The company has been assisting at the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) until city staff have obtained their necessary licenses.
The council is holding workshops Monday, October 26 at 6 p.m. and Mlinar encourages the public to attend. SafeBuilt, which currently handles the city’s building permits, will be one of the main topics of discussion.
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