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Casey Miller signs her letter of intent to play basketball and study Elementary Education at MN West Community and Technical College - Worthington. Pictured with Casey are her parents Todd and Joan Miller and her sisters Kelli and Katherine. Also are Coach Lucas Freeman, and CJ Nelson representing MN West. -
Investor’s Choice recently donated $500 to the Murray Lodge #199 in support of their annual food drive. All funds collected during this time will stay local in the Fulda and Slayton Food Shelves. Pictured here are Jim Goedtke, Carla Goedtke, Tim Lange, Zoey Logan, Bob Koehler, Sally Boelter and Katie Furth.
By Jenny Kirk Upgrading various equipment and a software system were among the many motions approved by the Slayton City Council on Monday at City Hall. The council also learned that the Slayton-specific bills currently seeking approval at the legislature are now facing an uphill battle.
Slayton Works Director Weston Mahon requested several upgrades, including a chemical scale at the water treatment plant. Mahon explained that the city updated its process for adding potassium permanganate to the treatment process this past fall. Essentially, potassium permanganate oxidizes the water, allowing it to become more ready to have iron and manganese removed when the water eventually hits the media filter in the plant.
Since the chemical was in powder form and mixing was a time-consuming process, alternatives were sought out. Mahon found that sodium permanganate, which many other cities were now using, comes in liquid form and is much more concentrated. “It’s already premixed, so it’s saving a big, giant step in the mixing process,” he said. “You also use so much less.”
A 50/50 OSHA grant was potentially a funding source for it, but since the city can only seek it out once every two years and did so last year, Mahon acknowledges that it’s expensive to “get into the new age” but believes the upgrade needs to happen as soon as possible, though another need, a fluoride tank upgrade, could wait till the following year. A motion to approve a scale and digital display for a total cost of $4,225 was approved.
The council also approved Mahon’s request for upgraded pool equipment, including a new auto fill system, 30-inch drain suction grates and more, to ensure compliance. The council voted in favor of the $8,800.98 request, agreeing with Mahon and City Administrator Josh Malchow that it was better to be proactive than reactive when it comes to safety and compliance.
A motion to replace the media in the city’s water treatment plant filter was also approved. The optimum time frame for replacement is every six to seven years, and the last replacement was in 2016. Council members briefly discussed the cost, which roughly doubled since the prior replacement, before approving Kurita’s quote for $99,000. Mahon noted that the amount included the necessary internal components and the labor associated with it to refurbish the five-cell gravity filter. “A big part of it is removal,” he said.
Malchow’s request to upgrade the city’s outdated software system was also approved after he explained that it was time to get them into the 21st century. He and the council members discussed the upgrade being similar to annual subscriptions readily available now, such as those for Microsoft products like Word. The initial cost for the upgrade is $29,700, with 75% ($22,275) coming from the water fund and 25% ($7,425) coming out of the general fund (capital improvements). Customers will now be able to pay their water bill online and all employees will have access to payroll stubs, time-cards and W2‘s through their own portal among other advantages to upgrading to the new Civic Systems.
The other new business included approval of a tornado shelter plan for Toma Court. A local inspector said the city needed to have a city-approved shelter plan for any full-fledged mobile home park, which included the licensed and operated Toma Court. While the plan had been known for decades, the city officially passed a motion to designate Larry and Gina Dickman’s house at 2040 Toma Court as the tornado shelter for those mobile home park residents.
While contingent on submission of all necessary materials and payments, the council also voted to approve the slate of 2023 proposed liquor licenses, which was an addition to the agenda. The council then went into closed session pursuant to state statute to discuss negotiation for an offer/counteroffer for the sale of real estate, specifically lots 2, 8, 9 and 10 of the Prairie Estates Addition.
At the beginning of the meeting, the council approved the minutes and claims. Malchow then shared disappointing and frustrating news about the 34th Street bill and the Operation Prairie Venture assisted living/ memory care funding request at the state level.
The 34th Street bill included a $2.5 million bonding request. If awarded, the money would flow through MnDOT. Malchow said the city would have to show that it has the other $500,000 either in the bank or as a signed bond sale ready to go. The second would be a cash appropriation, flowing to the nonprofit Operation Prairie Venture to construct a new facility. Malchow said the project cost estimate is $5 million — $2 million over budget — so USDA funding is being pursued. Both of these were denied.
In unfinished business, Malchow noted there were four comp/class proposals, three of which were from Minnesota. Having budgeted $30,000 for the project, everyone was pleased to see the quotes come in significantly lower. David Drown Associates was recommended and council-approved to update job descriptions and provide other services for a cost of $13,500.
The public hearing for the special vehicle ordinance was pushed back to next board meeting, slated for Monday, April 3. Carney said he felt the newest draft includes the language they talked about in prior discussions.
