This aerial photo shows the new tennis courts and the swimming pool. The tiny houses would be in the lot to the east of the new courts.
The Blue Earth City Council had two possible new major projects presented to them during their meeting held last Monday, Aug. 19.
One dealt with a proposal from the city’s Park and Recreation Committee for continued enhancements to Putnam Park.
The other proposal came from the city’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority and dealt with construction of a group of tiny houses which the HRA would rent out.
City administrator Mary Kennedy presented a 19-page report on the Putnam Park master plan.
“I am presenting this plan to the council on behalf of the Parks and Rec Committee,” Kennedy said. “Four of those members are here tonight.”
The plan went into detail about the park and had information from several surveys of the public as to what they would like to see done with the park.
At the end the proposals were in two phases. Phase 1 called for the installation of a 9-hole mini-golf course south of the swimming pool, installation of a natural grade amphitheater with a stage pavilion and installation of a mowed natural trails in the lowland area on the western side of the park.
In addition there would be additional picnic tables and benches, replacement of ash trees, educational signage and maintaining the green space.
The cost of Phase 1 is estimated to be $814,725. The highest expense would be $250,000 for the mini golf and $200,000 for the pavilion stage area.
The report shows funding sources such as a DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant ($350,000), a bond ($400,000) and an amount added to the levy ($39,725).
The council had quite a few questions about the project. Council member Jacque Drew wondered who would manage the amphitheater and who would manage the mini golf.
The answer was that the city staff already grants requests for the picnic shelter and they would add the amphitheater to the list.
“Mini golf could be run by the pool staff,” one council member also responded.
After a lot more discussion, council member Mike McNerney said he would like to have more time to study this proposal, and the rest of the council agreed to have it put back on the next meeting’s agenda for more discussion and any decision.
The other big project, a group of tiny houses, brought mainly positive comments – and a positive vote from the council at last Monday’s meeting.
Kennedy again presented the proposal, this time from the Housing and Rehabilitation Authority (HRA).
The HRA board has been working with Aaron Lambrecht of Square Konstruktion of New Ulm about a project to build a complex of tiny houses on the lot to the east of the new tennis courts in Putnam Park.
The complex would be composed of 15 similarly sized structures which would include 11 tiny houses, two storage buildings, one utility/laundry building and one unit that could be used for larger group activities by the residents.
The tiny houses would be 480 square feet and have a combination living room/kitchen area, one bedroom and one bathroom. They would also each have a front porch area.
There would be a paved parking lot in the center of the group of structures that could accommodate 19 cars.
Lamprecht compared the tiny homes to one bedroom apartments, only without adjoining walls.
Kennedy said the units would be owned by the HRA and rented out. The plan would be to not sell them.
The council members expressed support for the project, and voted to have the HRA pursue the details and have staff study different funding options.
An estimated cost of the project was $2.4 million.
The Blue Earth Council took care of several items during both their regular meeting and a work session that pertained to both the old and the new City Hall buildings.
During the work session, held an hour before the regular meeting on Monday. Aug. 19, the council spent time discussing what to do with the current City Hall, once the new City Hall, located in the former Wells Fargo bank building, is completely remodeled, set for later this year.
The discussion dealt with questions such as should it be sold as one unit, or should it be broken into four units.
One unit would be the current City Hall offices and City Council meeting room. Another unit would be the attached garage with large doors that once was the fire hall. A third unit is an office space currently rented to BEAM (Blue Earth Area Mentors). And the fourth unit would be the detached garage behind the City Hall which is used to house vehicles impounded by the police.
The council discussed the pluses and minuses of selling the whole group as one unit, or breaking it up into four.
Currently the estimated market value of the entire building complex (all four units) is $290,000. The city takes in $3,900 in rent every year.
Council member Ann Hanna suggested selling it all as one unit, and questioned whether the property had four separate heat and water/sewer hookups.
Mayor Rick Scholtes suggested they look at splitting up the properties, but then one person or business could buy it all, if they wanted to.
Since it was a work session, no further action was taken.
During the regular meeting a change order for the construction project at the new City Hall was presented.
It dealt with the fact that during the interior demolition portion of the project it was discovered there was no insulation in the outside walls. Also, an issue with a roof drain and a problem with the HVAC system were also discovered.
The change order was $76,809 total to take care of the issues. It was approved by the council.
In other business at the meeting, the Blue Earth Council:
• Heard an update from Allison Wagner of CEDA concerning a Minnesota DEED Small Cities Development grant program that helped nine homes in Blue Earth be rehabbed with such things as siding, windows, doors, electrical, etc.
The grant had been for $102,150 and the project closes this fall.
• Held a public hearing concerning a tax abatement for a new house being built at 906 Valley Drive. After the hearing was closed, the council granted the abatement.