The Spring Valley City Council kept their eyes on the future during their August 12 meeting.
After holding a hearing to solicit public testimony relating to the 2025 street improvements, which will include Tracy Road from Trunk Highway 16 and 63 to North Section Avenue, as well as parts of Warren Avenue. The project includes reconstruction of streets, sidewalks, the sanitary sewer collection system, the water distribution system and the drainage systems, along with related infrastructure. It is estimated to cost $3,876,839.
The assessments for affected residents include street assessments for $67.54 per foot and sanitary sewer assessments at $38.18 per foot. There will be no assessments for storm sewer.
After receiving no public input, the council closed the meeting and moved to approve the resolution ordering the improvement project and the preparation of plans and specifications and a resolution approving the 2025 Tracy Road improvement work order.
Drew Weber, of Bolton and Menk, also asked the council to approve a resolution authorizing the city of Spring Valley to submit a point source implementation grant application to the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) and to authorize city officials to execute a grant agreement on behalf of the city for the waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP).
According to Weber, the city is eligible for grant opportunities for the WWTP project due to permit limitations.
Sports Court
The council approved a resolution expressing their appreciation and accepting the donation of the sports court at Spring Creek.
The council voted to name the court Kolling Court in appreciation for Aaron Kolling’s initiative in creating and raising funds for the sports court, as well as recognizing the impact the Kolling family has had within the Spring Valley community.
Parks and Recs Director John Fenske asked the council to consider putting a fence around the newly constructed sports court in order to keep things such as bicycles and scooters off the courts and to keep the court structure secured within the fencing during floods.
The council approved the purchase of a new fence from Horsman Fence for a total of $8,120.
Broadway Project
Dan Freeman, of the Spring Valley Business Alliance (SVBA), addressed the council asking them to lend their written support for a Southeast Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) grant. The grant is for $10,000 with a 25% match, which would be raised by the SVBA.
“I’m here to request a letter of support for a grant we are applying for from the Southeast Minnesota Initiative Foundation. This is their Small Town Grant Program. The SVBA believes that the nodes on the corners on the Broadway Project meet many aspects of this grant program. The grant request we are submitting will help purchase benches and tables if the project continues to move forward,” Freeman stated. “The SVBA has committed funds from donors for at least $10,000, so we have met the match requirement.”
SMIF will award the grants in October and the recipients have until October 2025 to use the funds.
Freeman noted that if the money is received but the project does not move forward the funds would stay with SMIF, so it is not obligating the city to move forward.
According to Freeman, the SVBA already has letters of support from Fins and Films and the Spring Valley Area Community Foundation (SVACF).
“I think any individual, business or organization that wants to improve Spring Valley on their own dime is worth supporting,” council member Justin Mlinar expressed.
Council member Luann Ruesink asked the SVBA to consider broadening the use of the funds so they could potentially use some the money for areas outside of downtown or something residents ask for once the community survey is complete.
The council, with councilor Greg Brooks opposed, voted to approve the letter of support.
Staff Reports
Fenske told the council summer rec is complete and now fall rec is underway with football. He thanked all the volunteers for helping with the program.
During the flood, the community center’s sewer line broke in the basement. Fenske thanked Public Works Director Chad Hindt and his crew, along with parks and recs staff for cleaning up the basement and “making it cleaner than it was before.” Fenske is working with Roto-Rooter to come up with a solution to prevent this from occurring again.
“I cannot express my gratitude enough to this community. Four new complete dugouts are going to be put in at South Park,” Fenske said. The funds were donated by local businesses and community members.
“The level of support from the community for our parks and our recreation programs are unheard of and we can’t thank the people that donated enough. These are all projects that have been needed for a long time and we haven’t had the money to do them and people from the community stepped up when they saw the need. It is greatly appreciated,” councilor John Dols expressed.
Tower Park will soon be receiving it’s new playground equipment as it is expected to arrive in September.
The Spring Valley Pool will be closing for the season on August 22.
Ag Days has been the focus for Hindt and the Public Works staff, though he noted their new ToolCat has broken down, which will slow efforts until it is fixed.
According to Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Chris Hahn, Spring Valley is in a unique situation for certain SMIF grants as one is restricted to towns with a CEDA presence and the other is restricted to towns involved with SMIF’s Rural Entrepreneur Venture (REV) program, both of which Spring Valley qualifies.
“The money is out there, the challenge is finding the right projects for the money that is out there,” Hahn said. He currently reaching out to businesses and organizations to see what needed projects would meet the requirements.
In a written report Library Director Melissa Vander Plas announced the library was awarded a Library Construction Improvement Grant from the Minnesota Department of Education for $146,850 to repair the exterior surface of the building and replace roof elements, as well as repairing landscaping that may be disrupted in the construction process. The project is still in the planning phase, so the construction may not happen until 2025 or 2026, according to Vander Plas.
She also shared the library’s summer reading program has ended with over 125 children participating. She thanked all the volunteers and Friends of the Spring Valley Public Library for all the help over the summer.
September will be the “Community Read” program with an Art Circle event on September 7 at 1 p.m. with many special events to follow through October.
The new cement pad at the entrance of the library, as well as a handicapped-accessible picnic table and coordinating waste receptacle will be installed soon thanks to the Spring Valley Kiwanis, Friends of the Library and volunteers from the community.
Ambulance Co-director Sue Puffer stated there were 57 calls in July. The service is also holding several CPR training classes within the upcoming weeks.
The ambulance service will be apply for an Emergency Ambulance Services Aid grant. The grant, which is based on service area and amount of calls, will be awarded in December and can be applied to a broad scope of uses within the service.
Fire Chief Dustin Johnson shared the department had two false alarms, one lift assist and one small fire in July. He thanked the ambulance service for assisting them with a CPR refresher course.
The council acknowledged the Ag Days Committee for all their hard work throughout the year to make the event a success.
Ruesink thanked all those involved with the Eliza Jane School program.
Residents were reminded to not blow grass into the streets and to pick up after their animals.
Other Business
•After holding a public hearing, the council approved a resolution to adopt ordinance 31 to regulate fences. This was previously in the city’s ordinance, but was inadvertently left out when the zoning codes were updated. No changes were made to the ordinance.
•The council voted to approve a resolution to support and follow a Fillmore County ordinance which will establish a petty misdemeanor offense for the public use of cannabis.
•The Wednesdays on Broadway Committee’s street closure request for October 12 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. was approved. The committee is working on an Octoberfest event in downtown Spring Valley.
•Permits for Ag Days liquor license, fireworks and dance events were approved. It was noted that some of the delineators downtown will need to be moved for the dance and the Ag Days Committee will not be liable for any damages to the delineators during the dance.
•The building permit fee schedule was approved. The schedule will follow the state’s fee schedule.
•Bruce Kraut was appointed to the Planning and Zoning board.
•A request from Nicole Lee for sewer payment reimbursement was considered after learning Lee’s home was not hooked up to city sewer as previously believed and was instead using a septic system. Lee asked for the $2,088.91 paid since moving into the home in 2019. The council agreed to give Lee a utility credit for the total amount.
•The hiring on Kathryn Burrichter as an emergency medical technician (EMT) was approved. Burrichter was previously with the ambulance service as an emergency medical responder (EMR).
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