Last month the Spring Valley City Council awarded A1 Excavating, LLC the contract for the Downtown Improvement Project, which is set to begin the week of May 18. At their Monday, May 11 meeting, the council reviewed a proposed modification to the plan.
“The project would start with the northern block being closed and access to the southern block only being through an alley due to utility work on the west side of the intersection. Pedestrian access will be required throughout the project,” Drew Weber, of Bolton and Menk, explained.
Once work is completed in the northern portion, the project will essentially flip, so the southern block will be closed and the northern open.
Weber stated A1 Excavating would like to close all of downtown throughout the project, which could save at least two weeks of construction.
“My concern is for the business owners,” council member Luan Ruesink expressed. “Not having access for that length of time, I just don’t think it is a wise decision.”
Council members unanimously agreed to deny the modification to the project plan. The project will be phased as planned with a completion date of August 8, weather depending.
“In general, with the phased approach you are putting vehicles near the job site, so it is going to take a community effort and job site effort. Everyone just needs to respect each other’s goals and reasons for being downtown,” Weber concluded.
Staff Reports
Public Works has been working on the north clarifier, cleaning chlorine mazes, mowing lawns, working on alleys and gravel roads, taking care of community center and pool for Parks and Recs Director John Fenske while he was gone, servicing equipment, and spraying.
Parks and Recs Committee member Ashley Fenton and Ruesink shared Fenske’s written report for the department. The improvements to the Bobby Jones Memorial Sand Volleyball Court will begin the week of May 18. Thanks was given to the Jones family and the street crew, who have been helping with the work. The shed at South Park has been cleaned out to sell concessions from during games this summer.
The Park and Recs Summer Rec packets are available and can be found online at www.springvalley-mn.com.
Pool repairs are underway and it should open as scheduled in June.
The committee received a Paint the Town grant for 90 gallons of paint. They are currently working with local artist Andrea Hindt to create designs for the outside of the pool house.
City Administrator Deb Zimmer shared the the junk tour has been completed and the first letters have been sent out.
Library Director Melissa Vander Plas said the library has contracted Bolton and Menk to help design the exterior for the upcoming project. While this will delay the project completion, Vander Plas expressed the need to make a more “informed decision.” The interior will be painted this month.
Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Chris Hahn shared there will be two occupancy certificates and two housing initiatives this month. Fillmore County Childcare surveys are now available and an open house will be held in Harmony in July to review the information gathered.
Ambulance Co-Director Sue Puffer stated there were 47 calls in April and there are 16 calls to date for May. The annual Ambulance Pancake Breakfast will be this Sunday, May 17.
Fire Chief Dustin Johnson told the council there was one weather watch and one carbon monoxide call in May. The department did their annual ditch pickup, as well as a mock call with the ambulance department and dispatch.
Johnson received approval for the purchase of a new hose tester for $3,275. Currently, the department borrows Grand Meadows, though timing has made the testing hard to plan.
According to council member Brent Kohn, the Spring Valley Garden Club has taken on the task of rehabilitating the Native American Statue formerly known as the Mystery Cave Indian, which sits near the entrance to downtown. They have repaired broken or missing pieces, planted flowers and plan to repaint it in the original colors. This was done with the help of private donations and a grant from the Osterud-Winter Foundation.
Council member Chris Danielson reminded residents their pets must be leashed at all times within the city limits.
Ruesink said she would like to review the Safebuilt contract and fees after hearing numerous complaints in order to determine if it is still fits the city’s needs.
Other Business
On behalf of the Ambulance Department, the council accepted the generous gift of $6,000 from the Kingsland Athletic Booster Club. This amount will cover the unexpected costs to repair one of the department’s ambulances.
A cooperative agreement between Fillmore County and the city of Spring Valley for the design and construction of CSAH 1 (East Main Street) was approved.
The Public Works Department will be selling their 1990 Mack CH613 tri-axle dump truck and their 1995 International 4700 single axle dump truck with a sander-spreader and 12-foot plow through a closed bid process. A resolution governing write-in vote counting was approved.
Mitchell Plaehn of Bluff Brothers asked the council approve the use of their retail on-sale liquor license for Wednesday on Broadway events including Octoberfest, Fins and Films and Ag Days. The council approved the request.
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