Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
NRABC Executive Director Amanda Hegland got the nod from city commissioners to explore the possibility of using the Brown Memorial for a childcare center.
At their regular meeting on Feb. 7, Hegland reported that she received 59 responses from a childcare survey they distributed online last month. NRABC has been evaluating locations suitable for a childcare center for years, and recently the Brown Memorial came to the forefront of possibilities.
Per the proposal Hegland shared with commissioners, the club room would become a full-time child care center. The center would also use the kitchen and bathrooms in the Brown Memorial during business hours. The city would continue renting out the gym space, keeping a schedule of when the kids could use the space and when other groups can reserve it.
Hegland said that representatives from Childcare Aware, a statewide organization that provides training, resources and assistance to childcare operations, came out to see the space.
“They loved the space…They were excited,” Hegland declared, adding that they estimated the space could have up to 30 children.
Although there is a lot of work and planning ahead, Hegland anticipates that the center could be operational within one year. She has been researching grant opportunities, and has explored how other communities are using economic development dollars as well to help fund childcare.
City officials have been considering upgrades as well, to increase usage of the city-owned building.
The North Dakota Department of Health and State Fire Marshall both need to evaluate and approve the space as well.
“We’ve been looking at this for years,” Richter said, explaining how the NRABC had considered purchasing existing buildings and even constructing a new one from the ground up to use for child care. “Honestly we have one right in front of our faces that is underutilized,” Richter concluded. “It needs a facelift.”
“It needs to be more utilized,” McKnight agreed, adding that her only concern was finding someone to operate the center.
Hegland replied that ideally the city would lease the renovated space to a private daycare provider, so it could be operated as a private business.
However, the possibility of having NRABC lease the space and hire a director to run the center also has to be considered.
“We need to make sure that we have someone willing to do it,” McKnight noted.
“Let’s make a step,” Richter encouraged.
McKnight made the motion, and it was seconded by Commissioner Jim Belquist to allow NRABC to move forward with their proposal.
Hegland said she would return to the city commission with a more definitive plan, subject to final approval by the city. The motion was carried unanimously.
Work on the water treatment plant is ramping up. Wade Senger of Interstate Engineering said that electrical work is underway right now. They also have laid the piping for the reverse osmosis unit.
Senger said that beginning in early March, the water treatment plant will be shut down for a period of 4-6 weeks while they finish the installation of the new treatment systems.
A temporary treatment system will be used to treat the city’s water supply during the shutdown period. The temporary process is not as robust, so residents can expect lesser quality water during that time.
Senger said they are on pace to have the new treatment systems online by April 30.
Commissioners approved the bill for Sentry Crane’s work in January, a total of $69,654.08.
Street project plans and specifications should be ready by March, so that the city can solicit bids to be opened in April. Once a more definitive cost is developed for the project, the special assessment committee work will continue.
Commissioners were notified that Jon Arntson, the bond attorney the city has used in the past, had retired as of December 2021. His partner, Scott Wegner of Arntson, Stewart and Wegner, will represent the city on the street project bonding.
Senger noted that due to the large amount of edge milling to be done on the streets, they plan to utilize the milling to create a “salvage base.”
Contractors will grind the millings and blend it with gravel, which will be used as an “aggregate base” throughout the city where gravel is needed, rather than using straight Class 5 or Class 13 gravel. The base material will also be used for pothole repairs.
Commissioner Kelly McKnight said the Eagles Club is concerned about how 8th Street South is crowned, as water runs down towards the club’s building. Senger said they will review that as they work on plans and specifications for the street project.
Water plant manager Rick Swenson reported on some upcoming mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State of North Dakota he had recently learned about at the Water Expo in Fargo.
Public Works Superintendent Bruce Hirchert, who was not present for the meeting, recommended in his written report that the city replace Christmas decorations for the highway corridor.
“Several of them are pretty much shot,” McKnight said.
Commissioners approved the request to purchase 15 snowflake decorations for the street light poles at a cost of $9,660.
Hirchert also noted in his written report that he plans to lease a John Deere 6155 tractor with loader and grapple fork at a cost of $3,500 per year. The funds are in his 2022 budget, and the tractor will be used for various tasks, including sickle mowing, tree work, cleaning up branches and dragging alleys.
In other business, commissioners approved a building permit for ATP Properties and approved a Renaissance Zone application for a new automatic car wash slated to be built west of Casey’s General Store, which will be operated by Zach Fleming.
The city’s garbage removal contract is up for bid. See the bid notice in the County Extra. Bids are due Feb. 28 and will be opened at the next regular meeting on March 7.
