Doug Harstad

This Capital Improvement Plan outlines a multi-year investment strategy from 2026 to 2030 for the City of Fairmont, Minnesota. It focuses on critical infrastructure upgrades, equipment replacement, and facility improvements across various municipal departments, including General Government, Police, Fire, Streets, Engineering, Parks, Aquatic Park, Airport, Lake Restoration, Municipal Liquor Store, Data Processing, Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, and Electric Services. Key priorities involve maintaining and modernizing public assets, ensuring compliance, enhancing operational efficiency, and addressing community needs through a series of planned projects and associated funding over the five-year period.

This Water Quality Improvement Study for the Blue Earth River Watershed aims to establish nutrient (phosphorus) targets and load reduction goals for seven high-priority lakes to enhance and safeguard water quality, ensuring compliance with state standards. The study analyzes lake and watershed characteristics, historical and recent water quality data, and identifies phosphorus sources including agricultural and urban runoff, and internal recycling. It proposes reduction strategies like treatment wetlands, soil health, and conservation practices, while also outlining monitoring recommendations to achieve water quality targets.

The meeting agenda for the City Council session includes roll call, pledge of allegiance, public discussion, and consent items. Consent items involve approving minutes from several prior meetings in December 2025, reviewing check registers, considering a temporary liquor license for the Red Rock Center for the Arts Dueling Pianos Event, approving the 2026 Fairmont Fire Fighters' Officer Elections results, and approving event permits for Pheasants Forever and the Fairmont Lakes Foundation Inc., as well as declaring equipment as excess from the Water and Wastewater Departments. New business items include considering the Southern Minnesota Educational Campus (SMEC) Development Recommendation, adopting official designations for 2026, considering appointment of an Acting City Administrator and Council Liaison Appointments, and considering City Administrator Candidates. Other new business covers preparing the 2026 Improvement Program Engineering Report and considering a subdivision amendment and the Housing Study Recommendation. The agenda also sets aside time for potential closed session regarding the purchase of real property.

The agenda includes the introduction of the new Police Captain of the Fairmont Police Department, public discussion and comment, and a consent agenda. The consent agenda covers the approval of minutes from special and regular meetings in September and October 2025, check registers, event permits for various organizations, consideration of the Annual League of Minnesota Cities Liability Coverage Waiver Form, tobacco licenses for Anchor Lakes, LLC d/b/a Snak Atak, and an extension and amendment to the lease agreement between the City of Fairmont and United Hospital District, Inc. New business includes termination notice considerations, street light installation, a resolution to reflect the accurate levy breakdown, and a select committee to analyze the Request for Proposal (RFP) to repurpose the Southern Minnesota Education Campus (SMEC) building, and amending the Demolition Grant Application for a Second Dumpster Bin Request.

The agenda includes roll call, pledge of allegiance, recognitions/presentations, public discussion/comment, and approval of the agenda. Consent agenda items include consideration of City Council minutes from special and regular meetings on September 8, 2025, accounts payable for September 2025, temporary on-sale liquor licenses for the Martin County Preservation Association d/b/a Red Rock Center For the Arts for events on October 25, December 11, and December 19, 2025, event permits for Fairmont Jr.-Sr. High School on October 3, 2025, Woodland Avenue/Bob & Diane Luedtke on October 31, 2025, Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church on August 30, 2026, and a separation and release agreement with Brian Paradis. New business includes consideration of the 2026 preliminary budget and proposed property tax levy, a request for abatement (105 West First Street), a recap of the September 2025 Lakes Management Committee meeting and consideration of preparing a request for proposals for harvesting Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP), and declaring buildings at 1524 Albion Avenue hazardous and ordering their repair or razing. Council discussions will cover Maple Street (one-way), Advocates for Health & Community AED Placement, the Charter Review Team, and Gravel Road (Bomgaars & 1153 State Hwy 15 S).