Photo by Paula Barness
Newly elected Spring Valley Mayor Justin Mlinar presided over his first regular meeting on January 13. The first order of business was to have newly appointed council member Brent Kohn take his oath of office. Kohn will join Chris Danielson as the new faces on the Spring Valley City Council this year.
The council then worked through the annual resolutions. The Fillmore County Journal was named the official newspaper. Security State Bank, Home Federal Savings Bank, First State Bank and First National Bank were designated as the official depository of city funds with Home Federal Savings Bank being designated as the primary depository. A resolution appointing the mayor, city clerk-treasurer and the mayor pro-tem to conduct banking transactions was approved, as well as a resolution allowing electronic funds transfers and wires.
All city fees were approved with a notable change to rental fees, which jumped from $25 to $75, and the special assessment search fees are now $25, up from $15.
The resolution establishing coverage for injuries to elected and appointed officials was approved, as was the resolution establishing reimbursable rates per the city personnel policy.
A resolution designating official mayor appointments was approved. Mlinar noted he is looking into reestablishing a tourism board.
The resolution allowing payment before council authorization was approved.
And finally, the council voted to not waive liability coverage.
2025 Street
Improvement Project
The council reviewed the proposed plans for the 2025 Tracy Road Street Improvement Project, as set forth by Bolton and Menk.
“In general, our project scope has stayed the same, which is a street and utility reconstruction project of Tracy Road, or CSAH 8, basically from Broadway Avenue, or Trunk Highway 63, extending through the Section Avenue intersection. Then a slight extension down Warren Avenue for a sidewalk connection and some utility connections. We are lining up with our original cost assessment,” Drew Weber, of Bolton and Menk said.
The council voted to approve the plans and specifications.
When discussing the bidding process Weber explained, “The bid opening is scheduled for February 18, which is a little earlier than we had laid out initially. I would bring those bid results back at a special meeting that is tentatively scheduled for February 24. At that time you basically receive the bids then call for the assessment hearing, because the city is utilizing those special assessments for the funding of this project. The assessment hearing would be scheduled for March 31. At that time the council would have the opportunity to award to the lowest bidder.”
Broadway Project Grant Update
Weber then told the council he had met with the Broadway Project committee to discuss the grant opportunity though Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for the Broadway Project.
“We met as a committee back on December 18. We reviewed survey results, talked as a group and then looked at the guidelines and requirements for the Active Transportation (AT) grant,” Drew explained.
The AT grant provides grants to make walking, biking and rolling better. The state program aims to increase the number of people walking and biking to destinations.
“So we modified the project scope slightly to fit the grant better. We also were staring at an obvious gap in the trail system, so we made a proactive approach to include that in the grant application, as well,” Weber said.
Staff Reports
Parks and Recs Director John Fenske told the board everything is busy but running smooth at the Spring Valley Community Center. Youth basketball is up and running. He thanked all the volunteers for their time and help to keep the program running.
The ice rink is now open at Grant Street Park. Fenske thanked Jim Edgar and Travis Hyland for helping to make the ice.
Fenske noted he is working to get all the recreation forms online so people no longer have to come to city hall to fill out the paperwork. He hopes to have it up in time for the pool and summer rec seasons.
Library Director Melissa Vander Plas said the library is preparing for the transition of the operating system that SELCO (Southeastern Libraries Cooperating) will be implementing on May 1.
There will be two upcoming staff trainings that will require the library to be closed. Those dates are Tuesday, January 28, and Tuesday, February 25.
In February the library will be starting their history series where local history will be the focus.
The library will be hosting Take your Child to the Library Day on Saturday, February 1, during which families can enjoy crafts, readers and a family movie.
Co-ambulance director, Sue Puffer noted there were 547 calls in 2024, with 559 patient contacts. So far in January there has been an average of one call a day.
Puffer told the council, “We did hear in December that we did get some of the monies that were set aside for rural EMS (Emergency Medical Services). We have yet to decide what will come of all of that. It is a little less than $109,000 and it is based on call volume.”
The department continues to hold CPR training for local daycares and fire departments.
It was noted the department is always looking for more EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians). The classes, if taken through Riverland Community College, would be approximately $1,600, though with a commitment of two years of service the city may pay the cost. Interested persons are asked to contact the ambulance department.
It is has been a quiet month for the fire department with no calls this year, according to Fire Chief Dustin Johnson.
Members of the department were able to do a preplanning walk though of some of the downtown buildings that are under reconstruction. Johnson said it was a great opportunity to see the buildings and layouts so they can be better prepared in case of a fire.
New council member Chris Danielson thanked all those who voted for her, saying “I feel very honored.”
Mlinar thanked Tony Archer and Greg Brooks for their service to the community before proclaiming his hopes for Spring Valley in the upcoming year.
“I would like to encourage all the residents of Spring Valley to unite. There is a lot of division in our country and in our state and even in our city. Spend some time to get to know your neighbors. A lot of times it is easier to call city hall and complain about your neighbor rather than going next door and offering help. I would encourage to have a discussion with your neighbor first before you take action,” Mlinar expressed. “I would like to see more individuals volunteering. There is a lot you can do in your community to get involved. Groups and organizations need to band together. We can do a whole more together than we can separately. I think 2025 would be a great year for unity.”
Other Business
The Historical Society’s annual funding request for $12,500 was approved.
The board approved the final payment of $15,604.20 to Rochester Sand and Gravel for the 2023 Improvement Project.
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