BLUE EARTH– A flag presentation, a fossil sale and more were all on the schedule at the Blue Earth City Council meeting on Monday.

The meeting opened with a presentation of armed forces flags from Blue Earth American Legion Post vice commander Paul Kafka and Loren Eckhardt. Interim city administrator Jamie Holland accepted the flags on behalf of the council, which will be proudly displayed in several locations around the city of Blue Earth.

City engineer Ben Rosol brought forward a revised version of the Street Project Tree Replacement Reimbursement Program, requesting a motion to amend some of the language relating to the submission and approval process.

“Along with adding more types of trees to the list of approved species, I’ve also made some changes to the submission and approval timeline,” Rosol explained. “First, trees cannot be planted and reimbursed without prior approval; and second, applications must be submitted and approved by Sept. 15 of the year following construction.”

Mayor Rick Scholtes raised a question about the specificity of the second proposed amendment, with the primary concern being what “the year following construction” actually specified.

“In the case of delayed construction, would the proposed language refer to Sept. 15 of that current year, or the year after?” Scholtes asked Rosol. “I can see some of our residents having questions about that.”

“In that specific case, it would refer to the year after,” Rosol said.

Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the updated language. This motion was unanimously approved by the council.

City attorney David Frundt presented the council with a bill of sale for the pteranodon fossil currently displayed in the Blue Earth Community Library, which would give the fossil back to the Blue Earth Area Children’s Museum Foundation, Inc. Board of directors president Chuck Hunt, who was present at the meeting, explained to the council that ownership of the fossil was necessary to be able to swap it for an incoming mosasaurus skeleton from Colorado.

“The estimated valuation on the mosasaurus skeleton is over twice what it cost us to purchase and install the pteranodon fossil in the library,” Hunt shared. “The group we’re swapping with is bringing the mosasaurus skeleton up from Colorado later this month. They will be here for two days, during which they will take down the pteranodon fossil in the library, install the mosesaurus skeleton at the museum, and then take the pterondon fossil back with them, all at no cost to us.”

A motion was made and seconded to approve the bill of sale for the pteranodon fossil. The motion was passed unanimously by the council.

Other items discussed at the City Council meeting included:

— Permits for BJ’s Sweet Treats and More, Chick-Fil-A, and an event to be hosted by Trinity Lutheran Church were all unanimously approved.

— A public hearing was held for a tax abatement on parcel 21.530.0330. A motion was made and seconded to approve the tax abatement, which was passed unanimously.

— A motion was made and seconded to approve both a limited warranty deed and a settlement statement for the street property sale of 125 West Sixth Street, the former location of City Hall. This motion was passed unanimously. Following this, a motion was made and seconded to approve Resolution 25-13 to sell the property. This motion was also passed unanimously.

— A letter of resignation from Blue Earth Community Library staff member Alyssa Sloneker was approved unanimously. Her final day will be April 30, 2025.