At its June 6 meeting, the Kimball city council approved the final quote for installation of the new emergency siren, to be located near the intersection of Highway 55 and County Road 44. The corrected quote is $20,853 for the siren, and it will cost $1,165 for electrical work on top of that. This is over-budget, and the council approved paying with unreserved funds.
Sealcoating of city streets also was approved, at a cost of $22,950. Pothole filling and grading also will be done in some alleys this summer.
A resident questioned the city?Äôs ordinance regarding swimming pools over a certain size, and the requirement for fencing around them. The council agreed to re-do the ordinance to allow for storable pools, and those where the ladder can be removed thereby reducing ?Äúattractive nuissance?Äù risks. The council also will re-do the traffic and parking ordinance to add part of Spruce Avenue to ?Äúno parking?Äù on the north side of the street.
The council approved the retirement of Tom Ehlinger from the fire department.
The council approved hiring of Trista Kramer as deputy city clerk; she will start Monday, June 19.
They also approved hiring of Matt Serbus in public works to start later this summer and eventually replace Ed Borman who is retiring.
And the council approved the police chief to hire a part-time officer later this summer. Chief Jason Mehr also discussed the possibility of hiring a part-time secretary in the near future, to help with all the paperwork required of the department.
Public works was approved to tile the south irrigation field since standing water prevents use of the whole field.
Dandelions are a problem in both the Scheeler Edition and in the stormwater ditch near St. John?Äôs Church on 135th Street. The city
approved spraying both these areas, as well as Willow Creek park.
Brian Kiffmeyer continues to work on a hazard mitigation plan with Stearns County, focusing on tornados, storms, and terrorism. Such a plan is required for FEMA funding in the event of a disaster.
Maine Prairie Township has accepted a low bid for rebuilding of 83rd Avenue (not repaving) as a gravel road. The city has yet to approve that bid.
The council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, to review goals, city ordinances, and the 2017 and 2018 budget. The next regular meeting of the Kimball city council will be at 7 p.m. Thursday (note the change of day), July 13.
The blacktop surface has been removed from 83rd Avenue in Kimball; it will remain a gravel road at least until next year. Staff photo by Jean Doran Matua.