TRUMAN– The Truman City Council on Monday heard from Utilities Foreman Brent Brown who provided a number of updates to the council including one on the campground and pickleball court projects.

“We hope to have everything finalized and sent out to bid at the end of the month here… and we anticipate that we’ll set a bid opening date in January,” Brown said about the campground project.

The council has been actively working on remodeling/expanding the campground since the spring of 2023 and since then costs have changed and most likely increased which is why the council needs to go through the bid process again.

Brown said that some but not much has changed about the plan.

As for the pickleball project at Graf Park, Brown said that quotes came back between $33,000 and $34,000 which includes site prep, concrete and putting on sport court lines. However that amount does not include lights, fence or nets.

The council again talked about whether or not it needed a fence and determined that one wasn’t needed initially and that if a fence is desired down the road it could be added.

Finally, Brown listed some surplus equipment including a mower, grain truck and generator that the council approved putting on the surplus list to sell.

On Monday the council also discussed wages for lifeguards for the upcoming season. Council Member Patty Truax said that while the position has been posted online, it did not say that training starts in January so it will be reposted with that information. She said flyers with the information will also be sent to local schools.

“Sherburn’s (pool) closed so hopefully we can pull some of those lifeguards over,” Truax said.

She said that while the city has increased lifeguard wages once, she thinks they need to up it again in order to get candidates. Right now the city is advertising at the minimum wage of $11.13 per hour.

“We’re not competing. If 16-year-olds are going to be driving over here…” Truax said.

She added that if they increase the wage for lifeguards, the council will also need to increase the wage for the assistant manager, too.

“If we’re going to keep it running that’s what we’re going to have to do. I know we don’t have any money but everyone wants the pool to stay open; we’re going to have to pay it or we’re not going to get anyone,” Truax said.

In other business, the council:

— Approved a resolution to request a speed study on MN State Highway 15.

— Talked about setting up a joint meeting with the Fire Department and Ambulance Department to talk about some space concerns in the shared garage.

— Approved license renewals for waste management and Madelia Sanitation pending received payment.