Slayton City Council met on Tuesday, January 17th at 6pm. The agenda was approved with additions and the meeting minutes were approved from the January 3rd meeting. The claims were reviewed and approved, including pay app #2 for the Airport Driveway Project ($29,482.75) to Reker Construction & Aggregate.
Murray County Commissioner, Jackie Meier was present to introduce herself to the Council and thank them for their hard work and report on what she has learned from the constituents on their concerns. Mayor Miron Carney told her about the city’s concerns for JD 17 and also the 34th Street project coming up in the near future. City Administrator, Josh Malchow gave her an update on the Golden Living Center Site and where things were at right now for that. She agreed there is a need in rural communities for senior living options, so people are able to stay in their communities as they age. They also provided an update on the Broadband Grant that the City of Slayton has gotten with Woodstock Communications doing the project starting in 2023.
New business this week included the 2023 KJOE contract for $2,400 for the year. They moved on to a purchase request for the Police Department. This was for new cameras at the Police Department building (interview room and outdoor cameras) $4,148.18. This is budgeted for this year. They next discussed the ATV/ Golf Cart Ordinance. This ordinance has not been reviewed for a number of years. Language needs to be updated including the term UTV’s and the requirements/restrictions to these vehicles. The Council will review this and add it to their next work session. The Chris LeTendre with the Fire Department, presented the purchase request for a new Ranger for the Fire Department, as well as, a new used Ranger. These will be purchased by the Fire Department Relief Association funds. The current Ranger will be sold to the Currie Fire Department and current 4 wheeler will be donated to them. The Fire Department also announced the hiring of Steve Swanson and Austin Irlbeck which the council approved. They next discussed the Township Contracts for 2023. This went up $10 per section for townships and 5% increase for cities. They next presented the Board with a purchase request for radios. The bid comes in at $21,845.34. LeTendre did advise the Council that they are applying for a FEMA grant to help with the cost, but FEMA requirements are difficult to meet and always changing. They will continue to apply for the grant but it was agreed that they need to be replaced with or without the grant.
The last item of discussion was the Fire Hall Building and the needs. Should they add on to the current building or build new? The department is in need of more space and this needs to be looked at. LeTendre looked into having a feasibility study done for this. The Fire Department knows this won’t happen in the next year – but feel the discussion needs to be discussed for the future. They also discussed the need for a new truck in the near future. Malchow suggested for LeTendre to get an updated quote for the new truck.
They also approved their legislative priorities for this year’s legislative session.
With no other business the meeting was adjourned.
