ABOVE: The Fairmont Fire Hall, located on E. 4th Street. Funding for a new fire hall was a topic of conversation during the Fairmont City Council meeting on Monday.

FAIRMONT– The Fairmont City Council on Monday heard from Community Development Director, Pat Oman, regarding a federal appropriation request for the Fairmont Fire Hall. A feasibility study for the project was done in 2023.

Oman said that the Division Director committee got together to brainstorm a project to submit and its recommendation is to make a request for funds to help assist with the construction of a city fire hall.

“The reason I like the fire hall concept, and the reason Division Directors felt as well, is a lot of federal funds go into fire halls so it’s a very easy ask to make,” Oman said.

He said the other sticking point is that there’s a need for a new fire hall and that it’s not an insignificant amount of money.

Oman stressed to the council that it did not need to make a selection on a particular site, though there have been several off site options discussed.

He also reminded the council that each U.S. Congressman can send 15 federal appropriation requests, but said, “this is very unique when the planets lines up when you don’t have divided government at the federal level.”

Council Member Britney Kawecki asked if the project were selected, whether there was a timeline for when the funds needed to be used.

“I don’t know, in my opinion, if right now is the time for Fairmont to be moving forward with anything due to the economy and funds available from taxpayers, et. cetera,” Kawecki said.

Oman said that it would be a long process and that even though the funds were being applied for now, it could be two years yet before they would be available.

“You could always say no if you receive the funds. The only cost to submitting this is the time it takes staff to submit for the opportunity,” Oman said.

Council Member Wayne Hasek said he didn’t see any reason for them not to try to get the funds.

Oman shared that he looked at the outlined costs in the feasibility study that showed estimated costs for breaking ground in 2025 and, once accelerated, he estimates it could cost $6.2 million, which is what will be requested.

“It was specifically for a fire hall,” Oman said.

On Sept. 19, 2024, the council held a special work session to go over the feasibility study, which also looked at city hall. At that meeting a few different options were discussed including a new fire hall, new city hall and combination of the two.

On Monday Oman also shared that the Fairmont Opera House was working on a federal appropriation request for funds and had requested a letter of support from the city which the council approved on Monday in the consent agenda.

“That doesn’t compete necessarily with what you’re doing here,” Oman said. “It is one of the 15 that could eventually come from the Congressman.”

The council unanimously approved of the federal appropriation request for the Fairmont Fire Hall.

In other business, Tyler Cowing, an engineer with the city, presented the 2025 improvement program prior to a public hearing being held. There’s just one project scheduled, though it’s a big one as Lake Avenue from Bixby Road to Fairlakes Avenue is set to be redone.

“This road consists of a 100 foot right-of-way. The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for this street is an 18 out of 100,” Cowing said.

Currently the street’s curb to curb width is 52 feet with a proposal of 44 feet, two travel lanes and a center turn lane. There is also potential for a trail to be added along the south side of the street.

As for funding, the project carries an estimated $6.2 million price tag and the estimated assessments on the project is $934,000.

“We’re looking at receiving a $1.5 million grant from the state of Minnesota from the Local Road Improvement Program and we’re proposing to use $2.27 million of state aid funds… and also bonding for the remaining portion of the project,” Cowing said.

The estimated assessments based on the city’s assessment policy is $100.68 per linear front footage. The sewer and water services are also assessed and the current estimate is $1,900 for sewer service and $1,700 for average water service.

Finally, Cowing said preliminary estimates were sent out to abutting property owners and they were also mailed notice of the hearing.

While no one present spoke during the public hearing, City Clerk Betsy Steuber did read a letter sent by DFP Limited Partnership/Dougherty. In the letter, DFP said they object to the proposed total assessment for the farm they own and asked that their land be excluded from any special assessment related to the project.

Kawecki, who has voiced concerns about the plan for Lake Avenue in the past, acknowledged on Monday that she couldn’t stop the project from happening.

“We need to have open discussion and public engagement from the start. I don’t think the residents and business owners for the majority are happy with what we chose to do on Lake Avenue,” Kawecki said.

She pointed out that she thinks something needs to be done, but that the other portion of Lake Avenue that was done in 2008 and 2020 was done in asphalt and now the other portion is being done in concrete, which she said is more expensive.

“I think that’s something that we need to be thinking about,” Kawecki said.

There were no other comments made about the plan by other council members and the motion to mad to order the improvement, prepare plans and advertise for bids passed 4-1 with Kawecki opposed.