Spring Valley City Council Rings In New Year With Annual Business And Updates

On Monday, January 8, the Spring Valley City Council made quick work of their annual resolutions at their first meeting of the year.
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 the dog licenses which will now be lifetime instead of annual.
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. The resolution allowing payment before council authorization was approved.
And finally, the council voted to not waive liability coverage.
Community Center
The Spring Valley Community Center is now currently closed as Jayson Osterhus refinishes the floors. The project is estimated to finish by January 22. The Spring Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4114 is hosting senior dining for the duration of the project.
The council approved a payment schedule of $6,000 immediately, $4,000 on January 15 and $10,000 at completion for a total of $20,000.
Spring Valley Business
Alliance update
Dan Freeman of the Spring Valley Business Alliance addressed the council with updates for the new year. He noted the Winter Market will be held on February 17.
“We will have vendors coming in to the community center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and followed by a movie for the kids put on by Fins and Films.”
Freeman then asked the council to consider road closures to allow for sledding during the festivities.
“With the forecast, we will hopefully have snow and we would like to do a snow hill on the schoolhouse hill,” Freeman explained.
The council will vote on the closures at the February meeting.
Staff Reports
Speaking on behalf of Parks and Recs Director John Fenske, Councilor John Dols thanked the Osterud-Winter Trust Foundation for their donation of $1,000 for playground equipment. He also thanked the maintenance crew for their assistance in removing several diseased ash trees.
Dols noted the winter rec programs are in full swing, with over 50 youth attending.
The Spring Valley ice rink, located in Grant Street Park, will be opening soon thanks to Jim Edgar and the colder weather.
Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Chris Hahn stated the new Smoking Gun Smoke Shop was recognized by the EDA and Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting.
Hahn also noted the Spring Valley 100 and Spring Valley 60 gravel bike races will be held on May 18. Interested persons can register on the EDA website, springvalleyeda.org.
City Administrator Deb Zimmer noted she is working on prepping for the city’s audit, which will be on the 23rd of January.
Ambulance Co-director Sue Puffer reported they had 45 calls in the month of December for a total of 509 calls in 2023, with 527 patients.
Fire Chief Dustin Johnson urged residents to check their carbon monoxide (CO) detectors as a call they took in December was related to a faulty CO detector.
Council member Justin Mlinar expressed his excitement for the hiring of new Library Director Melissa Vander Plas.
Both council member Luan Ruesink and Mayor Tony Archer asked residents to be mindful of not parking on the city streets so maintenance crews can plow snow and reminded them not to push or blow snow onto city streets.
Other Business
• An increase from fifty cents per hour to $1.00 per hour for wastewater licenses was approved.
• The Spring Valley Historical Society’s annual funding request for $12,500 was approved.
• The 2023 Farmer Street and CSAH Estimate 6 for $4,092.16 was approved.
• The Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and City Maintenance Department have hired Ethan Dahl and D.J. Smith.
• The next council meeting will be held on February 12 at 6 p.m.