Council tables decision of proceeding with playgrounds at Fillmore Park - Alexandria Echo Press | News, weather and sports from Alexandria, Minnesota - Jiangxi ClearPathway Innovations Group Co.,Ltd

Council tables decision of proceeding with playgrounds at Fillmore Park - Alexandria Echo Press | News, weather and sports from Alexandria, Minnesota

ALEXANDRIA — Two playground projects at Fillmore Park were tabled at Monday night's Alexandra City Council meeting. Roger Thalman made the motion to table, saying the council should wait until its

ALEXANDRIA — Two playground projects at Fillmore Park were tabled at Monday night's Alexandra City Council meeting.

Roger Thalman made the motion to table, saying the council should wait until its April 15 meeting to get a better look at the funding that's available by then.

Two playgrounds are planned – a small “Tot Town” for children younger than 5 years old, and a larger playground for ages 5 to 12. Tot Town has an estimated cost of $85,135 while the larger playground’s cost is estimated at $587,687. Both playgrounds still have a chance of being installed this summer.

The delay will not affect the Splash Pad project, which will also be installed at the park.

As of March 11, there was $313,030 in the Splash Pad fund held by the Alexandria Area Community Foundation. Adding in Aagard's $100,000 contribution brings the estimated cash total to approximately $413,000.In-kind donations for concrete and asphalt for the Splash Pad and parking lot will amount to approximately $75,000.

Also, the city’s Stormwater Management Committee has authorized up to $100,000 to cover the costs of stormwater management for the Splash Pad and parking.

With the cash and in-kind contributions, approximately $488,000 of the total cost of $1.27 million for the Splash Pad, parking lot, and two playgrounds would be coming from non-city sources.

Fundraising is still underway so this total may continue to grow.

The estimated total costs for the entire project are currently as follows:

Splash Pad – $449,267

5-12 Playground – $587,687

Tot Town Playground – $85,135

Parking lot – $150,000

Grand total – $1,272,089

The splash pad final cost is about 5% higher following the change in design to avoid building it over an existing storm sewer line. The parking lot estimate was also raised to $150,000 to allow for a sidewalk extension along Fillmore Street.

Following are other items from the Marc 24 meeting not included in other council coverage.

The council approved a request from Douglas County regarding a county road project within the city limits.

Douglas County Public Works Director Tim Erickson told the council the project involves realignment and reconstruction of County Road 46 – 34th Avenue – located between South Broadway and the Soo Line/CP Rail.

The project has been discussed with the city’s Highway Committee and the Utility Committee for the past few years, Erickson said. The completed project will result in 11-foot-wide driving lanes, a center turning lane, upgraded water main, sanitary sewer improvements and a 10-foot wide grade separated share-use path on the north side of the corridor.

Erickson said the best part of the project is that it gets pedestrians out of the roadway.

The council voted to authorize Douglas County to proceed with the project.

The council issued a special event permit to the Vikingland Community Support Program for a Mental Health Walk on Friday, May 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants will walk on the sidewalk along Broadway from 1106 Broadway to City Hall and Back to 1106 Broadway.

Andrew Johnson, a second-year student in the Alexandria Technical and Community College carpentry program will work with the Alexandria Building Department as a temporary, full-time intern, April 1 through May 9.

Johnson, who grew up in Alexandria, has an interest in code administration and wants to experience the day-to-day activities associated with the building profession.

Building Official Lynn Timm said that the internship is not only an opportunity for Johnson, it’s a way for the city to encourage the next generation of building code officials.

“Over the last five years, and projected to continue over the next five to 10 years, code officials are leaving the field in record numbers,” Timm told the council in a memo. “Most of this is due to retirements.”

Timm added, “As is the case with most trades these days, there are not nearly enough individuals interested in pursuing them.”

Johnson has a broad-based carpentry education, including codes and regulations, business management, design methodology, construction tools, materials, methods, structural calculations and other related skills.

The total estimated cost of the internship is $4,000. Building department revenue will cover all costs.

The council finalized a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to receive a Boss V-Plow snowplow attachment for the airport’s Chevy 3500 truck.

The total cost of the unit is $14,098. The state will cover $9,869 and the city’s cost is $4,229.

It will replace the airport;s existing Boss V-Plow, which is at the end of its useful life, according to Airport Manager Kreg Anderson.

In a related action, Anderson received permission to sell the existing plow with proceeds off-setting the cost of the new plow. Any revenue from the sale will be placed in the Airport Improvement Fund.

The council authorized the mayor and city administrator to execute a Go-Kart track lease with Runestone Go-Kart Racing, Inc .

When the City and the Douglas County Agricultural Association exchanged property last year at the Fairgrounds, the City Council approved the assumption of three leases in which DCAA had been the lessor.

One of the leases is with Runestone Go-Kart Racing, Inc, who operate a go-kart track on a 5.75 acre leased parcel west of the Viking Speedway. This track and lease have been in place for many years.

This two-year lease expires on March 31, 2025. Staff and Assistant City Attorney Mike Cass have drafted a new two-year lease that brings the lease into the format typically used by the city for leases.

The previous lease between RGK and DCAA had a lease rate of $175 per month. The city’s Budget Committee recommended the same lease rate for the next two-year term.

RGK owns all the buildings and structures on the site and they pay the utilities on the site. It’s also responsible for all maintenance of the property, including mowing.

RGK must carry insurance for their activities and list the city as an additional insured.

The council appointed City Administrator Marty Schultz and Mayor Bobbie Osterberg to serve as municipal trustees for the Alexandria Fire Department Relief Association.

They will join Alexandria Fire Chief Jeff Karrow, who is also a trustee.

The council gave preliminary approval clarifying the city code procedure for administrative appeals, including the method and timing.

The present language states that a written appeal must be made at least five days prior to any regular council meeting. This opens the door for a delay in any city-issued order since the city wouldn’t want to enforce such an order until the appeal opportunity was exhausted and since the council meets twice a month, an appeal could still be pending for many months, according to City Planner Mike Weber.

The council also approved removing antiquated language in the code by replacing the term “clerk” with “administrator.”

Whitney Peak Hotel Reno (with world-record climbing wall): Bottom Line Review

Corte Madera looks to update playground