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BLUE COUNTRY – A discussion on a number of topics related to the city’s recreational opportunities will take up much of the Blue Country City Council meeting on Monday, June 7th.
A group of citizens, both adults and children, attended the meeting and spoke during the public commentary part of the meeting about the city’s tennis court plans.
The group expressed concern that the tennis courts at Putnam Park may be removed due to their poor condition.
Allan Hansen, Stacey Haase, and Tina Prescher, coach of tennis for younger children, talked about the fields used by youth and families.
Mayor Rick Scholtes told the group that the city is looking to build eight new courts for the high school in partnership with the school.
“We have a committee to look into this,” Scholtes said. “We probably still have something in Putnam Park, which could be a few tennis courts or even a pickle and basketball court.”
Scholtes said the city was told three years ago that the current six courts would last only three years, so the city is planning to replace the courts.
Renovating existing courts can cost up to $ 346,000. The cost of the eight new courts was estimated to be $ 800,000 or more, but Scholtes said the committee will need to receive accurate cost numbers over the next 60 to 90 days.
David Kittleson gave a report on an ongoing new recreation area project, a single-track bike trail.
Kittleson said the track will be built along the Blue Earth River north of Leland Parkway, near the stop on Main Street.
The 1.8-mile-long strip winds back and forth along the river and is located in both private and city-owned areas.
Council members and Kittleson discussed liability issues and concerns for some time, but no decisions were made at the meeting. City staff are still investigating the matter.
On other issues at Monday night’s meeting, the Council:
– Reviewed the city dog ordinance and voted to make changes to it. The Council increased the number of dogs allowed in a household from two to three.
More than three household dogs are considered to have a kennel and kennels are not allowed to be brought to the city limits under the regulation.
– I heard a report from City Engineer Wes Brown on Bolton and Menk. Brown spoke about the progress of the city’s various street projects, the Safe Routes to Schools project, and the sequence of changes needed to complete the 2020 Sailor Street project.
Brown also announced a grant application for possible street work on Giant Drive, and the state did not currently approve funding on Rice Street.
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