By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Three expansive city projects jumped to the forefront of last week’s city council meeting.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, the Henning City Council heard from Bob Schliemann, of Apex Engineering, about the water treatment facility rehabilitation, Highway 108 slurry seal project and the 2026 utility and surface improvement projects.

The water treatment facility rehabilitation project continues to move along and Schliemann brought a proposal to the council from Braun Intertec to provide testing services for construction materials at a total cost of $27,633. Schliemann said the proposal was already figured into the nearly $7.3 million project cost, of which $5 million will be forgiven through a grant with the remainder coming in the form of a low interest loan.

The second project was a proposal to adjust a pair of manholes on Highway 108 after the city learned the county was going to seal coat the main artery in town. The cost for adjusting the manholes would be approximately $10,760. 

The final project is an expansive 2026 utility and surface improvement project that would reconstruct underground utilities and make surface improvements along portions of Hipple Ave., Front St., Milne Ave., Balmoral Ave., Marshall Ave. and several other areas of town as well. 

The cost of the project was estimated to be $9.85 million, but the city council has not given its formal blessing to proceed with the project. The city council has said in the past it is hoping to get the project shovel ready in the event state funding could be made available next year to help offset a portion of the cost. 

In other news

• Approved a resolution to seek a grant from the Otter Tail County Community Development Agency for a $5,000 grant to help pay for a housing study in the City of Henning. The housing study is estimated to cost in excess of $15,000 with the Henning EDA and City of Henning picking up the remaining balance.

• Heard the Henning Haunted House will contribute $1,000 towards the purchase of a scenic byway sign that will be placed at the city park.

• Discussed a buffalo that will be donated to the city and eventually placed at Amundson Park. The buffalo was created by Ken Nyberg in 2013 for banks owned by Lloyd Amundson, but will now be placed at Amundson Park. The plan is to put a sign by the buffalo when it is permanently placed at the park and potentially put some information by the large statue detailing its importance to the family. 

• Held a closed meeting to update the city council on a pending lawsuit regarding a property located at 603 2nd Street in Henning. The property has been subject to closed meetings in past months due to a hazardous abatement process that is still pending in Otter Tail County District Court. 

• Heard the Henning Ambulance Service responded to 32 calls for service during the month of June and have responded to 198 calls already this year. 

• Approved moving forward with listing the former Henning Advocate property, which was most recently used as a residence on Douglas Ave. with a realtor in the hopes of selling the property. City clerk/treasurer Jenna Kovarik said the city has already received several inquiries about the property, which was purchased and cleaned up by the city a few years ago. The city council granted the finance committee the authority to list the property and work with a real estate agent.

• Heard an update from Farmstead co-owner Brittany Springer about their pursuit of purchasing a small vacant lot in-between their restaurant and the food shelf building. Springer said they have recently completed the survey of the property and have received the new legal descriptions. She is hoping to write up a purchase agreement sometime this week and keep the potential sale moving forward.