Slayton City Council met on Monday, March 4th. The agenda was approved with additions. The minutes from the February 20th and 26th meetings were approved. The claims were reviewed and approved as well. The council thanked City Clerk Jackie Giesen for her efforts on finding and applying for a grant from the SWMN Arts Council for $10,000 for the rehab on the Band Shell in Gullord Park. They will work to get a new roof, some floor areas repaired, and stairs repaired.
Pending items include an update on the Electric Utility meeting, which is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st, Xcel has requested to participate again, which the council didn’t see an issue with. The Food Truck License permit draft was provided to the council. The annual license amount is $200. The council made a motion to approve this for the coming year.
Moving to new business, the council approved the Presidential Primary resolution appointing judges for the election on March 5th.
They next discussed the 2024 liquor licenses. The required applications and insurances are in place for all of them. This includes the following businesses and groups: City Limits Bar & Grill LLC, The Grain Exchange Inc., Slayton County Club, Aryian LLC, Beaver Creek Archery Club, Murray County Racing Association, Slayton Foods Inc., Golf on Broadway LLC, Family Dollar Stores of Minnesota LLC, and Murray County Fair Board/Ag Society.
Weston Mahon, Public Works Director, and Police Chief Jeremy Steinle discussed with the Council the need for an impound lot and public works storage area out at the tree dump area. Mahon stated, it will be nice to get more lighting out there to help deter people from misuse of the dump area. Also, the works department could utilize more space. Police Chief Steinle agreed, it is much needed for both departments and will be very useful for the Police Department to have needed secure space. The Council approved the quote for the fencing to be put up by David A. Swenson Construction for the amount of $21,500. This is a budgeted item for the year with half coming from the water fund and half from the police department.
They next discussed the 2024 seasonal employee wage chart. The change this year will be a starting wage higher than past years to stay competitive with other area communities and the county. The council agreed this is a needed change to happen and made a motion to approve.
For the council’s topic of the solar project proposed north of town, Council Member Blake Heronimus provided the council an update. Nothing has been filed but the map that was provided to the city doesn’t have accurate information. The council will be kept updated if anything moves forward with this.
Lastly, the council discussed pool painting quotes. The last company that used to do this is no longer around. Mahon found American Sand Blasters Inc, from Blaine, MN who are able to do this. They were scheduled to do it last year, but the timing didn’t work out. Slayton is first on the list for this year. The quote to sand blast and paint the pool is $78,750, which is over the budgeted amount of $75,000. The Council approved this, even being slightly over the budgeted amount.
With no other business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. The next council meeting will be March 18th at 6pm.
