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NEW ULM -- The New Ulm City Council approved an updated lease for the city-owned trap and skeet range and reviewed a plan to automate park restroom locks Tuesday.
Park and Recreation Director Joey Schugel presented both items during the regular meeting and budget work session, Tuesday.
On the range, councilors authorized the city manager and finance director to sign a new lease agreement with the Sioux Valley Gun Club for the facility at 214 21st North Street.
Schugel said the current lease has been in place since Jan. 1, 2000, and while it met city standards at the time, it did not allow the club to modify or construct anything on site. The updated lease fixes that.
“This is the next step in working on getting a new clubhouse out at the trap and skeet range,” Schugel said.
Under the plan, the gun club would fund and build a new clubhouse to replace the existing 1970s facility near the city compost site, with construction eyed for fall 2026 or spring 2027. The club would pay all construction costs.
Once built, ownership would transfer to the City of New Ulm. The club would continue as the range operator and pay year-round utility expenses.
In recognition of the private investment, no rent would be charged in 2027, with future rates to be determined later.
Schugel said city ownership resolves an insurance hurdle. Keeping the building under municipal coverage means it “wouldn’t really add anything to our insurance point,” while allowing the city to accommodate growing participation in local high school trap shooting programs.
“We are not looking at city funds for this new facility upfront,” Schugel said. “Long-range upkeep and operation and preventive maintenance will fall on the city, but again, working with the gun club and looking at a rent rate at that time that works for both parties.”
The motion carried unanimously.
In the work session, Schugel was asked about a $12,000 line item under park furniture and equipment for auto locks in the preliminary 2027 budget.
Schugel said it is for an automatic locking system for some park restrooms and park shelters. Currently, staff drives to each site to unlock restrooms in the morning and lock them again in the evening.
“There is software out there that would make that process seamless,” Schugel said.
He was asked how staff would ensure someone wasn’t locked inside.
“That’s a great question. Our safety checks with that. So you can get out from the inside. And then after ten seconds of that door shutting, it automatically locks again,” Schugel said.
The locks were discussed as part of a broader budget preview that the council said was lower than initially expected.
No action was taken on the locks, with the preliminary budget expected for the next meeting in September.