The Slayton City Council tackled 11 different agenda items at its meeting on Monday, Feb. 6 at City Hall.
The agenda with an addition was approved as were the January minutes and claims.
City Administrator Josh Malchow updated the council regarding recent communications.
“I did have an opportunity to talk to Representative (Joe) Schomacker about a bonding proposal for 34th Street and actually, a possible contribution to the assisted living project, and he’s open to both,” he said.
The 34th Street SEH Proposal was the lone item of unfinished business the council addressed.
Malchow said the proposal was not to exceed $55,635. “This would get us up to the point where we’re opening up bids,” he said. Councilman Blake Heronimus expressed hesitation in moving forward if funding isn’t plausible. “I don’t want to spend $50,000 on engineering if we can’t afford to pay for it or do it.”
Malchow shared that he’s working with Ahler’s to come up with a more detailed bonding situation. He added that he was asked to pull some EMVs (estimated market values) for each property to get more of a deep dive into what assessments could be. “I’ve also talked with Chris and Eric our contracted assessors, to nail down an amount, a percentage or whatever it’s going to be, because $50,000 per lot/percentage of $193 per foot is not going to be it. Some of these EMVs presentation regarding a Traveling Memorial Wall was the first of eight items of new business. Commander Brad Pagel said the displays start with World War I and include every conflict the United States has been in afterward, all the way to Iraq and Afghanistan. “Iraq and Afghanistan have 36 panels alone because 29 of those 36 have all the names on there.” “It’s $11,500 just to bring the displays here,” he said. “And with extra costs, we’re looking at it being $15,000 to $16,000.” “So far, we’ve raised somewhere around $7,000 since the first of the year.”
According to Pagel, a football field type space is necessary for the displays with plans to put it where the soccer fields are. The opening ceremony is slated for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Council member Kate Harmsen inquired if the display was owned by the company out of Texas. Pagel responded that it was and that it is 100 percent veteran owned. Harmsen also inquired if the displays were free to the public, and Pagel informed her that it was indeed free, although there would be donation buckets set up out there.
Carney thanked Pagel for doing the work and helping to bring this to town. “This is a big deal,” Carney said.
The council then shifted to the public input portion of the meeting to gain feedback regarding the potential modernizing of the special vehicle ordinance. (ATV’s, 4-Wheelers, Golf Carts, UTV’s, Mini-Trucks).
“The last update was in 2011,” Malchow said. “It originally passed in 2005. The major changes that (Police Chief) Jeremy (Steinle) and I want to recommend approval on is adding the changes in language regarding UTVs. They’re not mentioned in our ordinance at all. It’s golf carts, mini trucks, Class I and Class II ATVs, which are all below 1,800 pounds. Anything 1,800 to 2,600 pounds, the fourseaters, the Rangers, are not referenced at all.”
Malchow said the newer recreational vehicles are in state statute and are in other cities that have updated their ordinances since 2011.
“It is in state statute that they can’t be on federal or state highways, other than to cross point A to point B,” he said. “But it is completely within our control to limit them everywhere else. Right now, they are not permitted on Broadway Avenue.”
Judy LaBoda spoke up saying she believed the larger ATVs should be allowed on Broadway since they are similarly sized to Smart cars. “I never understood, and most people don’t understand, why they can’t drive down Broadway,” she said.
Malchow clarified that he and Steinle were both in strong agreement that Class I and Class II special vehicles, which are primarily standard fourwheelers and golf carts, should not be allowed on Broadway but that the larger, more modern UTVs should be allowed.
LaBoda said she didn’t understand why owners have to have a city permit since they already have a license. Steinle then explained that state statute does not allow the operation of ATVs or UTV at all on public streets.
“The city actually has to write an ordinance to allow them,” he stated. “In order to go through that process, that’s where the permit comes into place. It’s basically covering the state statute part, allowing ATVs.”
The Council continued to discuss. “I want to thank all of you for coming and providing this input,” Carney said. No action was taken at this time.
The council next approved a gambling license for fundraising by St. Ann’s. A motion to approve Dan Ahler’s Conditional Use Permit also carried unopposed.
The council spent quality time learning about updates to the Law Enforcement Labor Services contract with Murray County, primarily regarding clarifications for holiday pay, oral reprimands, general provisions and uniforms.
“Yearly uniform allowance for employees after the first issue shall be $700,” Malchow said. “New employees hired after 1231-2022 are eligible to use their uniform allowance immediately after successfully completing their probation period.” Malchow said everyone was “very comfortable” with the agreement. The council approved the contract.
Continuing on with new business, the council also voted in favor of moving on to the next step in the environmental assessment, having the detailed environmental assessment completed by Bolton and Menk for the Broadband Grant. The proposed cost is $16,000.
A motion to publish a RFP (request for proposals) for a classification and compensation study on wages was also approved by the council. “This is asking for the consultant to look at the job descriptions, general market analysis, starting and ending wages, everything,” Malchow said. “Providing us with recommendations as well as data.”
The final item of new business was a recommendation to approve Murray County Highway Shop water extension materials.
Slayton City Works Director Weston Mahon said. “I’m sure you’ve heard that the county’s new highway shop has been approved and that is happening. We need to get them water out there. The sanitary sewer is already there.”
Mahon said he got quotes from three different vendors and that Core & Main came in with the lowest bid and yes the numbers have increased over when this project was first discussed two years ago.
“The next step is finding a contractor, I have a meeting scheduled with one person to come and look at the scope of the project and give an estimate.” Essentially, the county will be paying for everything that goes out there, Mahon said, but the city will provide water maintenance. “We’ll flush the hydrants and fix anything that breaks,” he said. The city anticipates paying for the expenses up front, eventually billing the county. Pending a written agreement with the county, the council approved this recommendation.
The next meeting begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Slayton City Hall.
