Sleepy Eye council discusses downtown lighting

State grant could help finance project

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The Sleepy Eye City Council heard a presentation on decorative downtown lighting from Jim Pedersen of Ilum-A-Nation Tuesday night.

Pedersen said 32 lights in a 10-block area would cost the City of Sleepy Eye as little as $205,000 installed, slightly less using existing conduits, if state funding is secured. Without a state grant, the project could cost as much as $425,000.

Acorn-style lights, like those used in other parts of town, would use less power and provide better lighting instead the existing lights that focus on the tops of people's heads, Pedersen said.

His firm completed a lighting project in downtown St. Peter that includes twin fixtures, flower baskets and flags. He is working on a project in downtown Le Sueur.

"Decorative lights will distribute light in a larger area. Glass prisms diffuse the glare. Lights can be customized to match existing decorations," Pedersen said. "Decorative and historic lighting is our forte. We'll start by looking at old photos of downtown Sleepy Eye."

Pedersen said the lights could withstand 100-mph winds, baseball-size hail and are vandalism resistant.

The council also:

* Voiced support for a park board recommendation that the city consider a local sales tax for an aquatic center or other swimming pool project, among other projects.

The park board recently approved hiring Leslie and Associates to conduct a feasibility study regarding an aquatic center, sales tax and other projects city residents may want. Study cost is $12,000.

* Approved a list of unpaid utilities, garbage and snow and weed removal bills. Unpaid utilities amount to $1,372.01. Unpaid snow and weed removal bills totalled $2,275.35.

* Unanimously approved an ordinance providing for senior citizen hardship assessment deferrals. Assessments will be deferred with conditions by an ordinance similar to one in New Ulm, according to City Manager Mark Kober.

Kober said he would contact the affected property owners.

* Unanimously approved an airport approach project from City Engineer David Palm.

Palm said the existing airport pavement contained many cracks with grass growing through it. Because of the pavement's deterioration, an overlay would not be adequate, Palm said.

The $234,360 project will included reconstruction of the airport apron, taxi ways and access road reconstruction. In addition to a 10 percent ($17,760) construction contingency costs, engineering, design, administration, inspection and construction stake placement costs are $39,000.

The State of Minnesota would pay 60 percent ($140,616) of the project cost. The City of Sleepy Eye would pay $93,744. The City of Sleepy Eye has already put aside $40,000 for the project.