As the 2025 Street Improvement projects wrap up for the season, the Spring Valley City Council met on November 10 to review the feasibility study for next year’s project.
The project will cover North Broadway Street to West Jefferson Street to West Park Street and East Main Street (County State Aid Highway 1) to North Section Avenue (Trunk Highway 63) to Willow Park Trail.
“Due to the one-way feature of downtown, we will really need to phase this project with some mindfulness. I envision it being more of an east and west, but still might be block by block. That would allow us to push traffic over to one side while the contractor is reconstructing the other and still trying to facilitate parking where possible to minimize impact,” said Drew Weber, of Bolton and Menk, of the downtown portion of the project.
Weber noted they will be doing their best to work around the city’s key events such as Ag Days and Wednesdays on Broadway. If phased appropriately, and weather dependent, the work should be done prior to Ag Days.
The estimated total cost of the project will be $1,668,452. The Active Transportation Grant, which was awarded to the city last year from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, will cover $1,000,000 of the costs and Fillmore County will be cost sharing a portion of the project for $296,800. The total amount the city will be responsible for is $371,652.
The council accepted the feasibility study and approved the ordering of improvement and preparation of plans and specifications. The group also approved the cost share agreement with Fillmore County. Bolton and Menk will present the plans and specifications at the January council meeting.
Staff reports
Public Works Director Chad Hindt shared they have been doing daily rounds at the wastewater treatment plant, weekly testing, cleaning chlorine maze and the south digestor and getting the plant winterized. The crew has also been doing final fall work and preparing for winter.
Councilor John Dols spoke for Park and Recs Director John Fenske, saying the community center has been busy with numerous activities; youth basketball is underway. He thanked coaches Dillon Osterhus, Thomas Lentz, Lisa Kimball, Larissa Wolfgram, Paisley Baker, Greg Bernard and Tim Howard.
Dols shared the first Parks and Recs Committee meeting went well, with lots of ideas and goals for the community’s future. The pool repair estimate from Thatcher Pools is $32,000. With the Kingsland Booster Club’s generous donation of $30,000, the city will only need to cover the remaining $2,000.
Library Director Melissa Vander Plas shared the library has finally received grant paperwork from the Minnesota Department of Education, so the building’s exterior project can begin in the spring.
Ambulance Co-Director Mike Zimmer told the council they had 64 calls last month. He noted the second truck had to take calls several times in October and the department is heading towards a potential record year for calls.
Fire Chief Dustin Johnson shared the department responded to a gas leak at Kingsland Schools, three car accidents, a field fire and a car fire.
They did large training involving the ambulance department, sheriff’s department and Ostrander Fire Department, as well as radio communication training.
Johnson asked the council to consider the purchase of new Wildland gear, which is lighter and cooler. It is designed to be used in situations such as field fires and controlled burns.
The department formed a gear committee and invited three different representatives to give a presentation on their products. The committee recommended going with MacQueen Equipment as they were the cheapest. The cost for 23 sets of gear is $27,000 and will be paid from the department’s donation fund. The council approved the purchase.
Fillmore County Deputy Jackson Rindels reminded residents the city’s winter parking is in effect, so there will be no parking on any Spring Valley city street between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Winter nighttime parking permits are available at Spring Valley City Hall.
Other Business
The council approved the Tracy Road Improvement project pay application five to Snow Contracting, LLC for $524,054.44.
Sarah Kohn will be filling a vacancy on the Tourism Board as the Spring Valley Business Alliance representative.
The listing prices for the city-owned residential lots in the Countryside Acre Subdivision have been set. The eight .21 acre lots will be listed at $26,000 and the .23 acre lot will be listed at $28,000.
City employees signed up for Delta Dental will now be able to receive the Delta Vision benefits after the council approved the benefit addition at a city cost of $730 per year.
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