At its March 8 regular meeting, the Eden Valley city council voted unanimously to renew the garbage and recycling contract with West Central Sanitation for seven years. They have serviced Eden Valley since about 1989. West Central will soon provide 65-gallon carts, with wheels and covers, for co-mingled recycling collection. When ready, instructions and collection calendar will be delivered along with the carts. Current blue containers are property of the city, and individuals may keep them if they wish. There will be a rate increase because of increased landfill costs, and the cost of new carts; the last rate increase was five years ago.
The council authorized the clerk to submit a pre-application to Rural Water Association microloan for financing of automatic meter readers.
The city office will be closed March 14-17.
Body cameras for police are in, currently with Meeker County, and will be installed soon.
Street-sweeping started last week.
The council will visit our legislators at the State Capitol March 23, and will have a brief meeting before that on March 21.
The council held a special meeting March 1. Plans for the proposed 2018 street and sewer project were reviewed with city engineer Kent Louwagie. The plan is to line sanitary sewer mains on the south end of the city, extending the lining into the service line connections for approx. 10 feet. Improvements may be needed by property owners for the remaining distance, and best prices may be if work is done at the same time as city work. Televising of sewer lines shows extensive tree root infiltration and blockage, both in the main and coming from service lines. A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 26; by then the estimated costs will be available.
The council also discussed strategic planning at the March 1 meeting. Louwagie will prepare a summary of fasibility and infrastructure needs, and a proposal for the undeveloped southern portion of the city, and the western portion south of MN Hwy 55 for future residential, commercial and industrial growth. Police chief Ernie Junker presented his five-year plan including equipment, vehicles, manpower, and his possible retirement within the next five years; he wants the local police department to continue. Clerk Mona Haag presented her list of future needs for Civic Center/City Hall, the Community Center/Library, Brookview Apartments, parks upgrades (including Friederichs Park), old fire hall building, walking/biking trails, stormwater issues, water tower maintenance and repair, and a plan for main street building rehab (business, and residential). The need for improved technology within city hall and city government also was discussed. Public Works director Jim Rademacher presented his list as well. A master list of all these requests will be prepared, and prioritized at a future planning session. The next planning session scheduled is Wednesday, April 26, immediately following the 7 p.m. public hearing on the 2018 project.
The next regular meeting of the Eden Valley city council will be at
8 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, following the 7 p.m. Stearns County Board of Review, and 7:30 p.m. Meeker County Board of Review. Meetings are recorded, and broadcast Thursdays on Arvig cable TV.