Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The interior of the German Park fountain will be fully repaired this year to eliminate leaks. This is the first full repair of the fountains basin since 2007.

NEW ULM – Before the German Park fountain is turned on for the season, it will be receiving some long awaited repairs.

The New Ulm City Council authorized making repairs to the interior fountain surface using the city’s Capital Improvement funds.

For the last several year, the city has used local contractors to treat the interior fountain surface with plaster patches, caulking and epoxy paint to prevent leaks. However, Park & Recreation Director Joey Schugel, informed the council these efforts have not been successful at stopping the leaks. The last time the fountain received a full surface treatment was in 2007.

Schugel said these repairs should keep water intrusion out of the structural masonry around the fountain.

Staff received two bids for the fountain project. The low bid came from Dulcet Fountains for $68,512.32.

Schugel explained that since the project was not budgeted, the funds would need to either come from either Park and Rec. fund balance or the city’s Capital Improvement fund.

Councilor David Christian was in favor of going forward with repairs.

“I want it fixed,” he said. “I don’t want to see band-aids.”

Councilor Les Schultz agreed, saying the cost or repairs would not get any cheaper.

Christian made the motion to approve using $68,512.32 in Capital Improvement funds to make the repairs. The motion was unanimously approved by the council.

Schultz asked if the statue would need to be removed from the park in order to make repairs.

Schugel said the repair work was on the interior of the fountain and the structural walls. The statue would not need to be removed at all. It is also possible the repair work could be finished before the summer.

“Best-case scenario we could potentially get this done before we operate the fountain,” Schugel said. Once the contractors get on site, the repairs could be done within two weeks.

Garden Street Utility and Roadway Reconstruction Project

The city will received federal help in reconstructing Garden Street from Center to 5th N. St. City Engineer Joe Stadheim informed the council they received two STP Small Urban Grants in federal fiscal year 2027 for the reconstruct project. The first grant is for $1.69 million; the second grant is $1.7 million.

The proposed project includes reconstructing the roadway, water mains, storm sewer rehabilitation, pedestrian safety improvements, boulevard restoration, sidewalk construction, LED street lighting system and mini-roundabout construction at the intersection of 5th N. St.

Stadheim said to receive these grants the city will need to work through the federal state aid process. A significant amount of work including a topographic survey; traffic study; feasibility reports and bidding documents will need to be done.

Stadheim requested the council authorize Request for Proposals (RFP) to begin the process of completing the Garden Street project in 2027.

Councilor Eric Warmka asked if this reconstruction project would change if a roundabout were constructed at Center and Garden.

Stadheim said the 2027 Garden Street reconstruction was intentionally pulled back from the Garden and Center Street intersection to prevent any conflict. The city is seeking other potential funding for a Garden and Center Street roundabout. In the event a roundabout is approved for Garden and Center, the city would avoid tearing up the intersection twice.

Warmka made the motion to authorize the RFP for the Garden Street utility and roadway reconstruction project. It was unanimously approved by the council.