New Richland City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
The fate of two New Richland properties in violation of city ordinances, 420 2nd St. SE and the building adjacent to the public library on Broadway, remains uncertain. Failure to appear at the city council meeting on Monday, June 27 by an attorney regarding the 2nd St. property resulted in tabling of the item until the next meeting, July 11.
Original cleanup deadline for the property, set by the council this spring, was May 16. Some improvements have been made, but many vehicles in violation of city ordinance remain on the property. City Clerk Wayne Billing will contact the attorney for recommended action.
When asked about the building on Broadway, ruined by fire this winter, Billing said he has been in contact with the owner, who “wants to see it cleaned up soon, too.”
Present to address concerns with another unsightly part of town — overgrown weeds in ditches along Highway 30 near the City Park and City Garden — were local residents Mary Bushlack and Barb Finseth.
“It’s [the area] a poor representation of our town, and we’d like to see it clean,” said Bushlack. “So, what is the issue?”
Billing explained that years ago the banks of the creek in said ditches were seeded with a $7,500 grant given to Waseca County by Blue Earth River Watershed. An individual, a now-retired DNR employee, was hired to do the work, required by the grant to be planting of only native perennial prairie plants on both sides of the ditch. As the ditch belongs to the county, who hired an individual from the Cities, the city has no contracts or paperwork regarding the area, and has encountered issues with the county in the past with weed removal there.
Since the specific wildlife in the ditch is currently unknown, options are limited. The council agreed the areas will be mowed further back from the sidewalk than previous years, and the county will be contacted for more information.
Ryan Nissen presented the maintenance report, with two purchase requests: $368.75 for 2.5 gallons of mosquito spray at $29.50 each, and $3,500 for a Kerf Kutter (discussed at last month’s meeting). Both were approved, and it was agreed that the Kerf Kutter, once it arrives, be available for rent to neighboring towns. It was also mentioned that mosquito spraying will take place in town this week. The report was approved.
Don Alexander presented the care center report, stating that the center is overall doing well, and a nurse and two new aides have been hired. Purchase requests were approved for the following: $28,880 for two new commercial washers and dryers, $1,200 for a Bariatric bed, and up to $4,000 for 10 sink replacements at $400 each. The council recommended looking at other quotes for the remainder of the sink replacements, as 38 total will be replaced in upcoming months. Financials and accounts payable for April and May were approved, along with the care center report.
The PeopleService report, presented by Brad Field, was approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.