Spring Grove City Council members met Tuesday, June 18 at 168 West wMain Street in room #100. Mayor Saundra Solum called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and led with the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members present included Mike Hagen, Trent Turner, Heather Edgington and Karen Folstad. City employee present was City Clerk/Administrator Jana Elton.
Three items were added to the Agenda; two under New Business and one under Ordinances. After the inclusion of the three items, the council unimously approved the Agenda then the Consent Agenda.
No participants spoke during Open Forum.
Spring Grove resident at 335 2nd Avenue NE submitted a variance application requesting to build a shed in front of their house. The current ordinance prohibits one from building a shed in front of their house. Mayor Solum said, “The public is invited to speak about this.” The council answered a couple of questions from the audience and all agreed to approve the resident’s variance application.
Old Business
No new information was shared in regards to Farmers Coop Elevator’s land for sale.
Councilor Turner moved, seconded by Edgington, to switch back to the Fillmore County Journal as the city’s official newspaper for the remainder of 2024. Motion carried 4-1.
New Business
Spring Grove Schools expressed interest in finding a new softball field location. Superintendent Rachel Udstuen sent out an email stating the school’s current softball field is difficult to maintain and questioned the possibility of a softball field developed on city land. Spring Grove Schools would fund such project. Udstuen suggested a possible location to be the field northeast of the Fest building. Several Spring Grove residents voiced their opinion on the suggested location as such would impact Spring Grove’s exisiting community garden. One woman in the audience presented a letter on behalf of her Spring Grove resident sister who was unable to attend. In the letter, the sister outlined information about Spring Grove’s community garden. The plants at the garden are a unique variety. The crops and flowers need summer’s heat to thrive. A lot of the crops will not ripen until early fall. The letter acknowledged the garden to be a huge asset to the community. Mayor Solum informed the audience that the proposed location was never agreed to, it will be discussed. After hearing what Spring Grove’s residents had to say, Solum concluded, “I think we need more information from the school.”
Mayor Solum acknowledged Spring Grove School’s need to do something with their current softball field as the field has potential for Title IX issues and is not up to par. If the city approves of the school’s proposed location, the project will not start during gardening season. If the city approves the school’s proposed location, then the community garden would need to be moved. Council member Edgington chimed in asking Superintendent Udstuen to share a timeline of the project. As of now, no approval has been made and the council will request additional information from Spring Grove Schools.
Spring Grove resident Mike Moen addressed the council at last month’s meeting about children’s safety on 2nd Avenue SE with the school and daycare being close by. There had been discussion on how to slow traffic down. One of Spring Grove’s residents in the audience suggested the inclusion of a sign telling drivers to slow down in that children are nearby. Council member Hagen questioned about the inclusion of a speed bump. City Clerk/Administrator Elton shared that other areas have utilized a Step2 Kid Alert! Visual Warning Signal Safety Guy and experienced success with such. The Visual Warning Signal Safety Guy resembles a bright colored plastic man holding up a flag indicating drivers to slow down. Council member Edgington asked how long it can stay out or if it needs to be placed in different spots. Folstad concluded with, “I think initially try it.” The Council unanimously approved to purchase two Step2 Kid Alert! Visual Warning Signal Safety Guy items.
The council meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.
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