SLEEPY EYE - By unanimous vote Tuesday, the Sleepy Eye City Council approved final plans and specifications for a $6 million 2012 Street and Utility Project.
The project will take place on much of Water Street and other areas, mostly on the south and southwest side of town.
The council also approved:
Minger Construction Inc. of Chanhassen's low bid of $1,020,310.65 for lift station, forcemain, and control structure improvements. The bid was 3 percent below the $1,051,708 engineer's estimate.
Other bidders were R&R Excavating, Inc. Hutchinson, $1,026,336.81; Mathiowetz Construction Co., Sleepy Eye, $1,059,761.90; Quam Construction Co. Inc., Willmar, $1,170,896; R.L. Larson Excavating, Inc. St. Cloud, $1,348,155; KHC Construction, Inc. Marshall, $1,408,557; and Dunnick Inc. Prinsburg, $1,691,078.30.
City Manager Mark Kober said the hospital committee will recommend the Sleepy Eye Medical Center board refinance its bonds at 2.78 percent interest over 40 years, cutting more than 2 percent from the current USDA interest rate and saving more than $2 million.
"It won't hurt the medical center's standing with the USDA and will free up money to do a new project earlier," Kober said.
A Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting for 7 p.m., Monday, May 14, in the council chambers.
Rezoning Lots 2 and 3, Block 6, Sleepy Hollow Third Addition, 700 block of Elm St. NE from residential to general industrial. Tom Stoks said he plans to add a 50x200-foot storage building on the site.
"I'll add a fence and plenty of lights," Stoks said.
Subsidizing Let's Go Fishing with $2,500 for 2012.
"It's a wonderful draw for our community," Kober said.
"And lots of volunteers," said Councilor Judy Beech.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).