The Slayton City Council held their regular meeting on July 22, 2024 with all members present. The agenda was approved with 3 additions. Minutes and Claims were also approved.
City Administrator Josh Malchow, Councilwoman Katie Harmson and Deputy Clerk Jackie Giesen shared reactions from the Coalition of Rural Cities regional meeting that was held in Worthington. It was a good opportunity for area cities to share ideas.
Malchow reported that the city had received the Electric Utility counter offer from Xcel, they had requested a 10 day extension which the city had granted. The Broadband Grant Onsight Deed housing partnership audit is coming up. Everything is ready to go for this.He also reported that the Maple Ave. finish work has been completed.
Federal EPA Licensing authority is working to check on lead in water lines. The City of Slayton needs to verify city and customer side of the lines. The City Works crew will need to do some “door knocking” to finish the project up.
New business: The city recently purchased a combination Jet/Vac truck. The old vac has been sold. The jetter is not selling. The one offer we have is less than it is worth. It does need some repair. The new one works well on large sewer mains. It is very powerful. We have discovered that the old one is better in small places. After a good discussion, it was decided that we will fix and keep the old jet tanks.
A request for a temporary one-evening liquor license for a 21+ Pool party Fundraiser for Murray County ECI on August 8th was approved.
Deputy Clerk Giesen was approved to go to additional software training on Utility Billing.
A conditional use permit was approved for a two bedroom / one unit apartment in the blue building on main street. They do need to provide an egress window as per state code.
INCO Underground, the company doing boring for the mainline of the broadband grant are renting parcel...0050 on Champ Dr. as a lay-down/construction yard during the project. Working dawn to dusk, driving heavy trucks using Champ Dr. to circle around to Murray Ave. This section of the gravel road is not meant for heavy truck traffic and is taking an unnecessary beating that will be costly to the city. A motion was made and carried to put up barricades until the project is done or revisited. The trucks will need to go back and forth via Highway 30. Gullord park playground equipment has arrived. Stan VanIperen from VIP Floral is able to do the installation ASAP after the old equipment is cleared. They have also received a $3000 Box Car Wind Community Grant. The excess money will be re-allocated for other playground needs in the future.
Ashley Haken and Kyla Buldhaupt were present to talk about the WonderWorld Relocation project. St. Ann’s is not renewing the lease after July 31, 2025. WonderWorld is presently pursuing options. They have looked at a variety of properties in town. There are specific state-mandated specifications that are required. Many of the properties they looked at lack square footage for indoor or outdoor space. Others needed extensive remodeling. Wonderworld is now looking into building a new facility. WonderWorld has some preliminary plans drawn up and are trying to get rough estimates of what it would cost. So far,the numbers are $2-2.7 million. WonderWorld has talked to Molly Malone about possible grants. They are meeting with SRDC on Thursday, July 25. On Aug. 20 they are on the agenda for the County Commissioners Meeting.
There Council discussed the 1 and 3/4 acres south of the pool where the community garden and sand volleyball courts are as a possible option for WonderWorld. The Council has a plan on where to move the garden and VB courts. The City is able to make an “in kind” contribution, by selling WonderWorld the land for $1. The council moved to do just that.
The meeting was adjourned.
