Hinman Park ball fields nearing completion

GLENWOOD CITY — The City council learned Monday night at their regular meeting that the work of improving the two ball fields at Hinman Park is basically done. Brent Standaert, who has been the lead volunteer for the City for improvements, informed the council about the work at the ball fields.

Standaert told the council that although some work needs to be complete yet, the grass has started to grow. The seeding was a concern with the council a month ago when it seemed to them that the work had not progressed far enough to have a grass cover over the winter. Standaert also noted that finishing the fences would not take place until after there has been a freeze. He also discussed the proposed sidewalks at the ball field to allow handicapped persons to enjoy the action. The council also discussed the drainage ditch between the fields and the swimming pool with Kevin Oium of Cedar Corporation, noting that it will be hard to mow that ditch and they would take a look at it to determine what action can be taken to correct the depth of the ditch.

Later in the meeting the council approved a payment to Albrightson Excavating for work on the ball fields. The amount was $30,857 with Oium noting to the council that this was the second payment on work and that five percent is being withheld until completion of the project. Last month the council approved the first payment of $52,744 for the work on the fields that had been completed in September.

Wasterwater Treatment Plant 

Public Works Director Dave Caress gave the council good news about the wastewater treatment facility with their recently completed project of treating the third pond with Alum dousing to reduce the phosphorus in the discharge water. Caress noted, “it did what it was supposed to do,” and that the level of phosphorus dropped from 3.44 milligrams per liter to .24 milligrams.

Caress also informed the council that the DNR representative requested that the city volunteer to treat the wetland area of the facility with Alum. Council member Ken Peterson questioned, “are we providing data for the DNR?” The council was informed that it might cost up to $10,000 to treat the wetland area. To which Mayor John Larson asked, “What is the point to Alum douse the wet land area? We need to say no.”

Caress also updated the council on the work being done at the Recycling Center with the new concrete walls at the dumping area. He said that new blacktopping and the pad for the compactor box would have to wait until next spring.

Fire Department

Fire Chief Greg Holden appeared before the council to explain two projects that the fire department is working on that need funding.

First, Holden informed the Council that the fire department received a DNR 50-50 grant of $11,063.20 for the purchased of a new skid unit for a grass fire fighting pickup that the department is building. This unit will replace a 30 plus year old unit.

The other item is to replace an older tank truck that is no longer reliable to be used on fire runs. The council agreed to fund up to $120,000 for a used chassis with a new tank.

The council entertained United States Senator Ron Johnson’s Outreach Director Scott Bolstad, who gave a update on activities with the federal budget, noted that the federal government has had a budget only two years out of the last eight. He also addressed a bill that would allow TV stations to carry the Packers’ games when the Vikings are playing at the same time.

In other items addressed at the council meeting was that the public hearing on the proposed City Budget, would be November 3rd at 7 p.m.

The council also:

• Approved a new City Ordinance amending the Bid Solicitation process that the city using in competitive bidding. At present the city Ordinance states that bid must be obtained for jobs over $1,000. The new figure is $25,000.

• Set two nights for interview for a new police officer. Police Chief Bob Darwin informed the council that the department had received 21 applications for the open full time police officer. Those applicants have been reduced to five for interviews, with Mayor Larson noting that they are all good candidates.

• Approved a payment to Sam’s Well Drilling in the amount of $8,615.99 for test well number four. Oium spoke about the test well and the information received from it and noted that the well has been abandoned. “There is no evidence of the test well at that site,” Oium told the council. Council member Ken Peterson, who lives near the new well site and has a private well noted to Oium that his water filter had reddish and orange debris material in it after the test well was drilled. The new well is to be much deeper than private wells in the area, but Oium suggested that they might plan on putting the well casing deeper than the local wells.

• Approved allowing the Summer Rec. Program to make a contract with SportsEngine for registration and fee collection. The program would allow information from the program to be e-mailed to kids involved with the summer program.

• Approved spending $1763 for new computers for the City Clerk’s Office.

• Issued a Temporary Class B license to the Glenhaven Auxiliary for their annual Oktoberfest.

• Approve an Operator’s License to Shaina M. Nabefeld.

• And, finally, the council declared a large generator as surplus property allowing it to be sold.