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| Bloemendaal discusses bullpens as part of girl scout project at Slayton City Council meeting |
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July 9, 2008 |
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| “I need to find a way to salvage this project by putting this money to use in the spirit in which it was given. To do this, I need direction from the city,” she said. | |
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Local Girl Scout Becky Bloemendaal took the floor during Slayton City Council’s public forum Monday, to discuss a project involving improvements at the city’s softball complex that she has been planning for the past year. Working on the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor that a member can achieve, Bloemendaal read from a prepared statement that outlined the steps that she has taken so far.
The Gold Award calls for the completion of a special project that benefits others in the community. Last year, after speaking with city officials, Bloemendaal decided on building pitcher bullpens at the softball diamond. In the past year, she has raised $2,875 in donations and generated $1,125 of her own funds through product sales. However, Bloemendaal said, when she brought her finalized plans to the city, she encountered conflicting information and was told that she had to speak with council member Dean Streff, who was unaware of the project. Consequently, she was informed that her plans would not be workable as written. Now standing before the council, the Girl Scout said that she is seeking answers. “I need to find a way to salvage this project by putting this money to use in the spirit in which it was given. To do this, I need direction from the city,” she said. Streff commented that there is not room enough to place four bullpens on the field, and noted that he had spoken with high school softball coach, James Wajer regarding the issue. Wajer, Streff said, agreed that the structures should be moved back so as to be out of the infield area, and out of the line of view from the spectators. Council member Joel Herrig suggested placing a roof overtop of the bullpen to protect pitchers as they warmed up there. City insurance agent, Bill Lundy, suggested that the structure be encaged, or hooded only on the end where the pitcher is standing. He advised that this would be a sufficient solution to protect the pitcher. Bloemendaal appeared frustrated that her planning would be in vain, but Mayor Chuck Ludolph assured her that the council wants to work wither. “You’ve gone to a lot of work to get to this point, I know,” he said. Council members Streff and Herrig, along with Wajer, will work with Bloemendaal to adapt the plans and hopefully have the structures in place before school starts this fall. Another citizen, Kevin Koob, was on hand to ask that the city address a drainage issue along 3200 Maple Avenue, where water from a resident’s sump pump continually drains into the parking lot of the apartment complex there. He asked that the city engineer check into the issue so that the water does not continue to drain into the parking lot, causing it to rot away. Ludolph assured Koob that the city would check into the issue. The League of Minnesota Cities insurance renewal for 2008 was reviewed by Bill Lundy. “It was a good year with minimal claims,” Lundy said of 2007. Consequently, the premium for this year will be $5,400 less than last year, at $66,620. Lundy stressed that the League has requested that the city look at doing something with the old fire hall before it becomes a liability. City Clerk Cathy Magnus assured him that the issue is on the top ten list of importance and will be addressed at next month’s budget meeting. The abstract of bids for alley improvements between Broadway and Linden at 27th and 28th Streets were reviewed, and awarded to Rupp Construction, of Slayton. Total cost of the project, using new aggregate base, will be $39,959.00. A newly-established Airport Board was approved with a slate of seven board members. Those include: Gene Westera, Rod Schuur, Rick Parker, John Giese, Greg Slotten, Mike McNab, and Chuck Ludolph. The members will serve for a term of three years. A request from Reinsma Ag Services (Cropmate), for a conditional use permit, was approved. The permit will allow for the placement of an additional. 12,000 gallon Anhydrous tank to be placed approximately six feet to the south of the existing tanks. A request from Doug Rupp for the extension of water and sewer lines to 15th Street, which is north and east of the Rupp Construction building, was considered. According to city engineer Mike Gillette, there are five lots there that are under consideration for development. In order to allow the request to be petitioned, the council set a special meeting for Monday, July 14, at 6:30 p.m. A request from the Murray County Fair Board for a temporary liquor license was approved. The request runs from August 13 to 16, and will be used at the south end of the grandstand area. There will be a special meeting at the county courts building on Thursday, July 17, to inform homeowners of potential eligibility for a home rehab program that the cities of Slayton and Hadley are working jointly on. Magnus noted that there will also be a mailing going out to all affected owners at that time, and she urged anyone who feels they may be interested in the program to fill out the application and return it to the city as soon as possible, as the applications will be used in the grant process. “It’s really important to get those back,” she stressed. The council considered two bids for LP heating fuel that were only one cent indifference. The low bid of $2.19, from Tri City Gas was accepted. Gillette discussed a diseased elm tree that is on the boulevard at 2527 Ironwood Avenue. He noted that it is half dead and recommended that it be taken down. The council approved the removal of the dead tree. |
©Murray County News 2009