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On October 11, the Caledonia City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting from 6 to 8:34 p.m. in the Caledonia City Hall Council Chambers. Council members present, Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder, Amanda Ninneman, David Fitzpatrick, Brad Rykhus, and Robert “Bob” Klug. Mayor Schroeder led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners unanimously approved the meeting agenda, the September 27 meeting minutes and the consent agenda. There were no public comments.
Also in attendance were Adam Swann, city clerk/administrator; Casey Klug, Public Works/Zoning director; Mike Tornstrom, Ambulance director; and Von Peterson, principal/senior architect, TSP, Inc.
Peterson, with TSP, Inc. out of Rochester, Minn., presented two preliminary plans for a joint ambulance and fire station. The goal of the feasibility study is to determine if there is room to construct a joint facility which meets the current and future needs of the city on the property at 615 W. Washington St. Both options include a second level for classrooms over the area where the trucks are not stored. The second level could be built in phase one or at a future date. Either drawing illustrates that there is plenty of air flow around the trucks, and plenty of personnel parking on the property. In option 2 there would be plenty of room to park the aerial truck. A 12,000 square foot pre-engineered building would cost a little under $2.2 million to build while a brick-and-mortar building of the same size would cost approximately $3.5 million. These figures are based on today’s dollar.
The council approved a bid from Tri-State Surveying to conduct a boundary and topographic survey of the property at 615 W. Washington St. Total cost is $2,850. Director Klug expects the project to start within 30 days.
The council went into closed session at 7 p.m. to discuss allegations against firefighter Emily Loging. The council returned at 7:30 p.m. It was noted that no action was taken at this time.
Six windows and three doors on the front half of the city auditorium’s first floor are scheduled to be replaced late fall/early winter by La Crosse Glass Co., Inc/La Crosse Overhead Door Co, Inc. for $15,020. Director Klug expects it to be a quick job.
The council reviewed the potential public nuisances at 620 S. Marshall Street and deemed the trash in the yard, the grass and overgrowth, the driveway and sidewalk, and unfinished garage a public nuisance. City staff was authorized to send a certified letter to the property owner, giving them 10 days from October 11 city council meeting to abate the nuisance. Meyer Concrete, Caledonia, submitted a bid of $4,872 to do the concrete and blacktop work, and Preferred Property Preservation, La Crosse submitted a bid to remove all the exterior trash, cut the grass, and cut and remove all overgrowth for $3,975. Director Klug estimates that it will cost around $8,500 to finish the garage for a total of $16,475, which will be assessed to the property owner.
The council reviewed the potential public nuisances at 420 W. Caledonia Street and declared the house a public nuisance. The council authorized city staff to notify the owner that the nuisance must be abated within 10 days from the October 11 city council meeting, or the city will clean up the house and assess the property owner. Preferred Property Preservation out of La Crosse, submitted a $6,915 bid to clean the house and mow the grass.
The city will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new downtown pocket park on Saturday, October 16, at 2 p.m. at 119 S. Kingston St.
The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 25, 2021, at 6 p.m. at Caledonia City Hall.