SLEEPY EYE — Flaherty & Hood PA Senior Lobbyist Marty Seifert gave the Sleepy Eye Council a positive update on the 2023 legislative session Tuesday.

“All of our Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities members got an LGA (local government aid) increase. The City of Sleepy Eye’s Local Government Aig (LGA) rose from $1,664,257 to $1,806,443,” Seifert said. “I think it’s the biggest LGA amount Sleepy Eye ever had. I’m sure you can use the additional amount ($142,186) for whatever it is you need to do. It’s an ongoing, permanent increase.”

Sleepy Eye City Manager Bob Elston said the city plans to use some of the LGA money to purchase an air compressor/fill station for fire department air packs.

Seifert said Minnesota’s 80 non-metro counties have 46% of the state’s population but got two-thirds of the LGA and non-metro county share of the LGA will grow.

“I think we came out pretty good and we did a good job with (an LGA increase),” Seifert said.

“We did not add population and inflation increases. The House put it in their bill but the legislature wanted to review LGA increases every year, not put it on auto-pilot. I respect that,” Seifert added.

He said $240 million was allocated for lead (water) line inventory and replacement for city government and private homeowners.

Other funding hikes included a majority of added funds for rural sewer and water plants and water towers.

Seifert said $13 million was allocated for the DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development) Child Care Grant program. and $39 million for the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Development Fund.

“For the first time now after 10 years of lobbying, we have a permanent program dedicated for street improvements for cities under 5,000 people,” said Seifert. “It’ll grow every year until 2027.”

The Sleepy Eye City Council unanimously approved:

• The purchase of an air compressor and fill station for fire department air packs Tuesday.

Action came on a motion by councilor Nate Stevermer, seconded by Scott Krzmarzick, to purchase gear totaling $49,911 plus tax from Alex Air Apparatus of Alexandria, Mn.

The purchase includes a $30,973 Bauer Vertecon 4-stage, 7.5 hp breathing air compressor and a $16,538 Bauer dual position fill station with adjustable regulator. The cost includes a $1,000 trade-in credit for a 5 hp compressor and 2-position fill station, $1,200 estimated installation cost and $2,200 for shipping.

Installation includes airline, fittings, mounting hardware, labor and travel.

Sleepy Eye Fire Chief Ron Zinniel said Alex Apparatus has been a good vendor in the past and includes a representative in Comfrey. A bid from Heiman Fire Equipment was several thousand dollars less did not have a local representative.

Several city councilors said the purchase with a local representative would save money over time.

The city council also unanimously approved:

• Purchasing a new 2024 Ford Explorer police squad vehicle at an estimated cost of $60,474 including installation of recycled equipment and graphics, motion by Doug Pelzel, seconded by Krzmarzick.

Sleepy Eye Police Chief Matt Andres said a new Explorer would replace a 2015 Explorer with 170,000 miles. He said the cost is an estimate and that new vehicle prices will be known later this month.

• Setting a Truth in Taxation public hearing for 7:05 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12, motion by Stevermer, seconded by Krzmarzick.

• Approving a three-year fireworks contract with Premier Pyrotechnics at $7,000 per year, motion by Stevermer, seconded by Christina Andres. The contract includes a 15% product increase for paying the bill before Dec. 1, 2024 and 5% product hike for signing a three-year contract.

• Approving donations of $20,000 from the Sleepy Eye Serviceman’s Club to Sleepy Eye Baseball Park improvements, $1,000 from Great River Energy to the Sleepy Eye Fire Department and $250 from Duncan McGregor to Dyckman Free Library.