Sleepy Eye Council

OKs plan contract

Plan tackles downtown

redevelopment

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The Sleepy Eye City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday night to hire Sabongi Consulting Group Inc. to prepare a downtown business district master plan.

The $18,000 plan was approved on a motion by Gary Windschitl and seconded by Wayne Novotony. It was recommended for council approval by the Sleepy Eye Economic Development Authority last month.

The EDA has worked with the Sabongi firm before on the library expansion project.

The plan will outline downtown revitalization options, including an appropriate theme, parking and pedestrian needs, defining downtown parameters, downtown marketing, alternative uses for existing vacant structures, way-finding signage improvements and developing local historical sites and tourist attractions.

The plan will be a guideline for making decisions on zoning, platting, land development, and the use of existing and new buildings.

A five-step process will involve a kickoff meeting to define project parameters; two workshops with city staff, the downtown committee, business owners and interested city residents; gathering and evaluating data; preliminary design including a workshop featuring detailed, color-coded maps; and a final planning document.

The final product will include building inventory, street and building maps with a vision to 2020, and signage guidelines.

Sabongi has experience in historic preservation, downtown revitalization, and downtown design in Fairfax, Tracy, St. James, Olivia, Montevideo, Madison, Granite Falls, Chisago City, Red Wing, Waseca, Austin, Worthington and Long Prairie.

Sleepy Eye Downtown Development Committee President Mark Elijah said the master plan will better the chances of future downtown business success.

Councilors echoed his sentiments.

"There has to be a plan," Windschitl said.

"We'll be making an investment in downtown and continuing to do so," Novotony said.

The council also approved a clinic acquisition contract between Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital and Sleepy Eye Medical Clinic, P.A.

The clinic, owned by Sleepy Eye physicians KVK Murthy and Michael Ecker, was sold for $140,000. A second part of the agreement included all assets and supplies and a five-year employment agreement between the doctors and the hospital.

Novotony congratulated the hospital board for starting a new chapter in Sleepy Eye health care.

In other action, the council:

* Approved 2002 wage and salary adjustments as negotiated by the finance committee. Most increases varied by 2.1 percent to 9.8 percent with step increases involved.

Top wage was $3,684 per month for Police Chief Don Mikelson, a 5 percent increase.

Most wages varied from $3, 310 to $3,336 per month.

* Tabled an airport hangar apron approach paving project that would cost the city $89,000.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has agreed to pay $134,000 or 60 percent of the project.

Sleepy Eye resident Phil Heymans talked about the airport project at the end of the meeting.

"You tabled this boondoggle? I hope it was due to prudence," Heymans said.

Councilor Joann Schmidt said the project was tabled until the council had more information.

"Obviously, you haven't been out to the airport," said Heymans. The aprons are fine. Maybe a little weed killer could be used, but I don't think they even need sealcoating. This project would be a bigger boondoggle than the Alison Park Project."

Heymans said available state funding for the project is really taxpayers' money to begin with.