THE FAIRMONT CITY COUNCIL MONDAY NIGHT HEARD THAT THE CITY WAS AWARDED A SMALL CITIES DEVELOPMENT GRANT . JUDD SCHULTZ FROM MINNESOTA VALLEY ACTION COUNCIL INFORMED THEM THAT THE CITY HAD OBTAINED A GRANT OF $885,000 FOR REHABILITATION OF 18 OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES AND AND 8 COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY . HE SAID MORE DETAILS ABOUT HOW TO APPLY AND OTHER MATTERS WOULD BE FORTHCOMING.

COUNCILORS HEARD FROM CITY ENGINEER/PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TROY NEMMERS THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAKE AVENUE FROM 4TH STREET TO DOWNTOWN PLAZA IS ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN ON JULY 27. TO THAT END THE COUNCIL APPROVED A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BOLTON AND MENK FOR PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING,STAKING AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PROJECT AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $346,000.

THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN WAS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. MONDAY NIGHT THE COUNCIL APPROVED A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BOLTON AND MENK TO BEGIN THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF A COUPLE OF PIECES OF THE OVERALL FACILITY PLAN. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THESE SERVICES IS $59,250 DOLLARS.

THE FAIRMONT CITY COUNCIL SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF JULY 27TH ON THE PROPOSED NATURAL GAS FRANCHISE FEE. THE FEE IS ANTICIPATED TO GENERATE ROUGHLY $280,000 PER YEAR THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO STREET IMPROVEMENTS.