Drew Weber, of Bolton and Menk gave updates on the Spring Valley’s street projects at the city council’s April 14 meeting.
The final pay estimate for the 2022 Fremont Street Improvement Project with a total of $54,972.23 was approved.
“Good news is it came in at a little over $100,000 below what you budgeted. It doesn’t always happen that way, but we’ll take that as a win,” Weber said of the pay estimate.
The topic then turned to the Tracy Road Street Improvement Project, which is slated to begin in June 2025.
The project, which is cost shared by the city of Spring Valley and Fillmore County, received a grant through the Minnesota Department of Transportation Rural Road Aid Program for $1.5 million.
Weber noted, in order to finalize the grant the local road improvement program agreement along with all terms and conditions needed to be reviewed and approved. The council voted to approve.
Next, the council reviewed the task order for construction services with Bolton and Menk.
“That is basically for us to provide the construction services on the city and county’s behalf,” Weber said.
The cost of this will be split between both entities.The council approved the task order.
The council also approved a resolution establishing procedures relating to compliance with reimbursement bond regulations under the internal revenue code.
According to City Administrator Deb Zimmer, this is needed because Spring Valley Public Utilities will be bonding for the Tracy Road Project, but the city will not.
Library Grant
Dave Foster spoke on behalf of the Spring Valley Public Library in regards to their upcoming improvement project.
Last year the library was awarded the Library Construction Improvement Grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
“I’m not on the library board, but I am on the facilities committee, so I have been working with them on the renovation and remodel of the exterior of the library,” Foster explained. “It is 25 years old and the efface has run it’s life span. We’ve been working diligently to get this project together. We are working with JJBK Construction Partners as the general contractor. They’ve been working with the library for the last five years to get this project together and have been very helpful.”
The project will include replacing the efface on the outside of the library, as well as roof repairs, caulking, new landscaping, cement pads to be placed in areas that have had moisture issues and new ice guards will be installed. Electrical work will also be done at the entrance to allow for a brighter lights to aid patrons and staff.
“The grant we applied for was $293,700. The way the grant works is you get reimbursed after the project is complete,” Foster noted.
The library asked the city to consider paying half of the upfront costs of the project. The city would then collect the grant funds when received.
The remaining $146,850 would be covered by the capital campaign fund from 25 years ago.
If the weather cooperates the project should be completed by this fall.
“We were hoping to be started by now, but the process has been taking a little bit longer. Melissa (Vander Plas, library director) has been doing a great job keeping ahead of this and keeping up with the information. This is one of the last pieces of the puzzle,” Foster said. “I was involved 25 years ago in building it and now I’m involved in maintaining it, so its been fun.”
The council approved the library’s request.
South Park Scoreboard
The Kingsland Booster Club recently donated a scoreboard for the big field.
Now Park and Recs Director John Fenske told the council he would like to get the scoreboard for the little field “up and running.”
“We believe the cable is cut underground, so instead of trying to dig it all up and find it they are just going to make it wireless. Then it will be just like the other one and they can run it from their phones when we give them the code,” Fenske explained.
The council approved the work to the scoreboard.
Bluff Brothers
Mitchell Plaehn asked the council to consider restructuring their fees for on-sale and off-sale liquor licenses.
“Right now we pay one license fee and it is an on-sale license fee of $1,500. When we started doing on-sale in 2024 we just got lumped into the on-sale liquor license fee; essentially we got grouped into the same category that TJ’s is in. We are asking to be looked at differently than that because we are a manufacturer. We can only sell what we produce and our on-sale is not all of our business. It is a small percentage of our business,” Plaehn explained. “I’m not saying we should have zero fees, I would just like to get them structured differently.”
Plaehn showed the council numerous examples of what area towns have done for their brewery, on-sale and off-sale fees. The council decided to table the request so they can further review it during their upcoming work session.
Plaehn then requested the council consider allowing Bluff Brothers Brewing to sell their product at community events such as Wednesdays on Broadway, OctoberFest, Fins and Films and Ag Days.
“With our retail license the state allows us to sell our beer off premise. We approach city council and they can approve us to serve at community events,” Plaehn said.
The council approved his request.
Staff Reports
- Fenske stated the park bathrooms are now open.
- The Spring Valley Community Center has sprung a leak, so the JJBK Construction Partners estimate of $3,875 for tuck pointing and wrapping around the windows was approved.
- Vander Plas shared the library will soon be transitioning to their new system, which will happen on May 1. Staff has completed weeding all books that have not been checked out in five years. Those books will be donated to the upcoming Friends of the Spring Valley Library Book Sale on April 26.
There will be a May 3 painting class with Sunshine and Roses and in the morning there will be a Mother’s Day craft for children. There will also be a Father’s Day craft planned in June.
- Co-Ambulance Director Sue Puffer shared there were 35 calls in March and 24 to date.
“Friday evening our staff took two trucks to the school for Touch the Truck. Our staff said they had a great time and had a blast with all those kids. I’m hoping they continue that next year,” Puffer said.
They continue to hold CPR classes for groups and individuals.
- Fire Chief Dustin Johnson told there council there were three grass fire calls. He reminded residents if they want to do a control burn they need to get a burn permit.
The department also responded to a call for a car versus buggy incident.
“It is the worst call to come up on so please pay attention. It is becoming too much of a regular occurrence,” Johnson pleaded.
- After receiving questions regarding speed limits, Councilor Brent Kohn reminded area residents county roads are not posted with speed signs.
“Any road that is not posted is 55 miles per hour (MPH),” Kohn clarified.
- Councilor Luan Ruesink and Mayor Justin Mlinar thanked Todd Pearson for recording the recent town hall meeting.
“It was very beneficial. I was very apprehensive about the town hall meetings and how the rest of us who weren’t able to attend as council members (due to open meeting laws) were going to be fully informed and be able to be aware of what took place and what was discuss so we appear to be knowledgeable about our city. He did a very good job of videotaping that,” Ruesink shared.
Mlinar said nearly 40 residents attended the meeting and thanked them for being brave enough to express their concerns. Another town hall meeting will be held in June.
Other Business
- The street closures for OctoberFest on October 11 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fins and Films on July 11 and 12 and Car Cruise parking was approved.
- The gambling permit for the Stewartville Fire Department was approved. This is for the sale of pull-tabs at Stellar 181 Taphouse.
- City Hall will be getting a new door on the south side of the building after the council voted to approve the purchase.
- A conditional use permit for a storage facility at 710 SATA Drive was approved, as was the purchase of the two lots the facility will be built on. This will be part of Ryan Rubin’s new buildings for his Rubin Mechanical business along with the storage facility.