By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
At its Sept. 12 regular meeting, the Eden Valley city council heard from parks committee member Ernie Junker that the committee had approved plans to add a splash pad to the new Friederichs Park project now under way in the southwest corner of town. Specific plans have not been approved, but the concept has.
A splash pad is an outdoor play area with sprinklers, fountains, jets, and other devices or structures that spray or move water. Often colorful, and often built on a concrete pad, these play areas are designed for children and are considered much safer than swimming pools. The cost of operating, maintaining, and insuring a splash pad is also considered to be much more economical than a pool.
A splash pad uses 60-120 gallons of water/minute, and likely would have a timed on-switch so it won’t be running constantly. The committee is moving forward with dirt work: splash pad footings, pavilion building foundation, parking. The plans are not yet ready to bid, Junker explained, adding that it’s hard to get contractors at this time of year.
The city’s engineer Kent Louwagie reported that the current street project is going well. (Cossairt Avenue just outside of city hall is part of the project, and the equipment was operating loudly through much of the meeting, sometimes shaking the building.) Unlike the last street project, this one has been dry: they have not hit underground water. They did hit a fiber cable, just that Wednesday, by accident.
In addition to the approved project, Louwagie recommends adding $17,306 for additional sanitary sewer on Central Avenue, to shorten one 90-foot service, and separate another shared service. Even with this addition, the project is still within the original contract price. The council approved.
The old project is still not completely finished. Louwagie will meet with the two contractors, Kuechle Underground and Creative Curb, to get the last items fixed.
The council approved a microloan of $145,000 at 3.8 percent for 10 years.
Darin Hondl reported that there are five rental units not yet licensed in Eden Valley. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of an application to build a storage shed (Nick Koltes), and for the Church of God to construct a new food shelf (after a survey is done to make sure it’s not too close to neighbors).
The council will discuss at their next workshop amending the home occupation ordinance to allow a resident to operate a business out of his garage; currently the ordinance only allows a business in the home. The city’s attorney advised to allow it.
Hondl and the council discussed one landlord’s ongoing issues. A recent roof leak in a rental unit brought this up again. It was stated that Dennis Peavey has three things left to repair within the next three weeks at two properties: 387 and 281 State Street. It was moved to allow Peavey three weeks to finish, “and then that’s it,” but this motion was stalemated and failed: Janice Sheets and Brent Bengtson for, Troy Huschle and Pat Becker against; Dan Thielen was absent. The council instead will move forward with attorney action.
They also discussed legal action to get a landowner to complete work on moving a house in. His application has expired, but nothing has been done. They will check with the city’s attorney about city statutes and hazardous conditions.
The council was introduced to the new city clerk/treasurer, Nicole Pilarski. Yes, the same Nicole Pilarski who until Sept. 7
was the clerk/treasurer for the city of Kimball. Mona Haag is still around showing Pilarski the ropes.
MnDOT has approved relocating the city sign on the west end of Hwy. 55 to 602nd Avenue, even though it will be within the state right of way. More documents are needed before it is moved.
Mitch Michaelson of MK Auto has requested that the city waive the WAC/SAC fees for this new business he plans to move into town. The council discussed that this is not fair to new homeowners who get a $500 credit (not $2,000), or to taxpayers. The WAC/SAC charges are not just a fee; they actually pay for work related to connecting to the city’s water and sewer lines. Turns out the connections have already been made, without paperwork or fees, by a contractor. The council agreed that he needs to pay the $2,000 and bring to the council a more detailed business plan for consideration of any possible rebate.
The council approved appointing Nicole Pilarski as the head election judge, and to increase pay for election judges from $12 to $15. They will move the Nov. 7 council meeting to Nov. 14 so that they can also canvass the Nov. 6 election.
Public Works director Jim Rademacher reported that the computer at the water plant is crashing and that it could cost more than $16,000 (to come from the Joint Water Board fund) to update it.
The council will meet at
6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, for a budget workshop, then at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, in a special meeting to approve a preliminary budget.
The next regular Eden Valley council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3. Meetings are also recorded and televised Thursdays on Arvig cable TV.