Council

OKs

labor

contract

Improvements

for Oak Bluffs approved

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Acting on a property owners' petition, the New Ulm City Council ordered in street, sidewalk and lighting improvements in Oak Bluffs First and Second Additions Tuesday night.

The council also ratified without discussion a three-year contract, calling for a 3-to-3.5 percent increase over the three years, with AFSCME, Local 1204, Street, Cemetery and Park and Recreation employees.

Erv Weinkauf, a resident of the Oak Bluffs additions, obtained and circulated the petition for grading and street improvement, concrete curb and gutter, driveway paving, storm sewer, boulevard restoration and street lighting on Loretto, 7th North and 8th North streets in the two additions.

"Twenty-seven of the 30 property owners signed the petition," Weinkauf told the council, representing 91 percent of the owners. "Currently, there are 15 families in the addition, and a 16th will be moving in soon."

When asked if there would be a choice in street lighting, City Engineer Steve Koehler said it would likely be the low-level type street lights being installed in other additions. A property owner also was told by Council President Dan Beranek that in a project like this "doing you own sidewalks is not an option."

The AFSCME contract, beginning Jan. 1, 2003, calls for a 3 percent increase the first year, 3.2 percent the second and 3.5 percent the third. Monthly standby-duty pay for each of the five eligible months also would be increased each year, rising from $85 a month to $92.89 over the course of the contract.

In other action, the council:

* Gave a first reading to an ordinance that would bring over 50 acres of Independent School District No. 88 land into the city. The annexation was requested by the district's superintendent.

* Approved paying off the city's energy conservation loan amounting to $34,294.50 five years early. Borrowed at 5.5 percent, the loan will be paid off with funds from the Bond Sinking Fund.

* Authorized the City Manager and the City Attorney to draft a letter to Brown County for six months to seek developers for George's Ballroom. The letter will stipulate the City will be responsible for snow removal and electrical charges for showing the building but would not be required to purchase the building or be responsible for any repairs.

* Approved a new one-year lease, with an increase to cover inflation, with Senior Nutrition, Inc. of Waseca. The firm will continue to operate the food service in St. Mary's Catholic Church basement while the addition to the Senior Center is being built.

* Accepted a conceptual plan for improvements at Trap Range Park. The City Engineer was directed to develop a final plan with cost estimate. Park and Recreation Director Dave Bechtold told the council the city would be responsible for providing fill and compacting, but the Sioux Valley Gun Club would cover the cost of improvements.

* Authorized Change Order No. 3, amounting to $4,445, for the Fairgrounds Community Center and Senior Center sales tax referendum projects. City Manager Brian Gramentz said that brings the total amount of change orders to just over $41,000.