At its June 8 meeting, Ben Adamich of Geronimo Energy presented information on the Sagittarius Community Solar Garden project to be built on 4th Street, just across from Barrier Internation, and outside the city limits. The presentation was as a courtesy to the council, as a Conditional Use Permit, if issued, will come from Meeker County (no hearing date had yet been set). Geronimo?Äôs detailed plans for the site were presented to the council.
The 1 KW solar garden will be built on 8 acres of land. It will consist of panels on racks, with a centralized inverter that will invert solar energy into AC before sending it into the grid. There are two types of panels, they?Äôre not sure which will be used, and the panels can be fixed or set to track the sun. The garden represents a $1.7 million investment by Geronimo, and they anticipate about $116,000 in local spending (wages and construction). The job will be competitively bid, with a hired contractor. Construction is typically in spring or fall, coordinated with agricultural schedules.
The council approved Tina Loff and Nick Koltes as new members of the Ambulance Service. And the Ambulance Service has increased their retirement to $1,300 per man-year (operated solely through the Ambulance Service, not the city).
Pool manager Ashlee Lundberg discussed the start of pool season, having opened Friday, June 2. She received $500 from the Legion, and plans to add three picnic tables adjacent to the pool. Ertl Hardware is helping her get a good deal on a case of pool noodles, as they only have eight left and they?Äôre crumbling. The council approved her purchase of a new timeclock for staff, and again approved up to $40 reimbursement per lifeguard for one swimsuit. Jean Reinert is helping design staff shirts so that staff is easily identifiable at the pool. She questioned whether the pool should have an AED; this is not required, and the cost is $1,300-$1,500. The Watkins Chamber of Commerce will again sponsor three free pool days, with passes available at local businesses. The dates are June 30, July 21, and August 18 (see the June ad on page 5).
The pool boiler is out and will cost about $2,500 to fix or replace.
The request to install speed bumps in the trailer park was tabled, as ownership of the street is still in question.
The council decided not to pursue restitution for the damage done in McCarthy Park by an 18-year-old on an ATV this past winter. His trial is set for July 17, and the city will press for criminal charges. (For restitution, the city would have to make all the repairs and submit them for restitution payment; those repairs would need to be completed before the trial date.)
Someone had requested putting a gypsy moth trap in McCarthy Park and the council approved.
Someone is depositing fish guts in the dumpster behind the ambulance squad room and it?Äôs really disgusting.
Thanks to Jean Reinert for the flowerpots she built and placed at businesses around town!
The next regular meeting of the Watkins city council will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 13.