Edging toward expansion

Finding itself at a juncture due to the possibility of development and the need for a solution to its limited wastewater volume, the Medford City Council chose to move forward and continue to analyze its options during this month’s meeting in order to allow the city to grow. 
At a special session prior to the meeting, the council heard from Seth Peterson of Bolton & Menk concerning its current options going forward. These included staying put with what they have and maintaining their current state, or else making a wastewater connection with a neighboring community, or improving their current facilities.
“What we’re looking for from the council,” Mayor Lois Nelson said to the city council members, “is are we going to continue discussing to look at growth and opportunities, or stand pat with where we are.”
Those on the council were in agreement that growth would be the best option. “I don’t think it’s either or, I think you have to check the possibilities,” Council Member Marie Sexton said of the city’s options. “You can’t just tell people that can add to this city’s value that they can’t do anything.”
“I think we’re in a unique position right now where you have developers that appear to be serious that want in and what we have left for capacity, we can’t really encompass anyone of them totally,” Council Member Chad Langeslag said of the situation. “It seems to me almost wrong to shut the door totally.”
Currently Medford has an average dry weather flow of 84,000 gallons per day, and the Lazy U has a current average dry weather flow of 20,000 gallons per day. By upping its capacity, the city will be able to allow any possible developers to continue with their plans, which could potentially add to the city and return any wastewater investment with additional tax revenue.
“I know there’s going to be expenditures,” Langeslag said. “There’s going to be investment on the tax payers’ part, but in the long run it will help.” Regardless of whether or not the council opted for growth, there was still the need for an update to its current facility, which was originally constructed in 1968 and was last expanded in 2006.
Although the council was in agreement on the prospect of growth, Council Member Matt Dempsey said that he was a little hesitant due to the fact that the decision would impact the cost of living within the community.
After the special workshop, the council added two new items to the agenda. The first authorized Seth Peterson of Bolton & Menk to continue with engineering analysis of the city’s wastewater options. The second authorized City Administrator Andy Welti to start preliminary discussions with prospective developers.
During the meeting, the council also reviewed a proposal from Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric on the city’s options as it relates to the installation of 93 new LED lights in Medford and the removal of 93 old lights.
The city had two options: the first gave SWCE agency over the lights’ maintenance but carried less savings, while the second charged the city with the responsibility to maintain the new lights with higher savings. In the end, the council decided that it would be more reliable to allow SWCE to maintain the new lights.
Their decision was based upon the possibility for increased staffing and certification in order to maintain the new lights, as well as the probable need to hire an electrician if there was an issue with the newly installed LEDs.
Also on the agenda was a discussion of the 2021 Main Street Reconstruction Project. The council motioned to continue to proceed with the project as outlined by City Engineer Joe Duncan and Administrator Welti.
In the current outline construction is scheduled for 2021, but this will take significant planning and coordination and is still a preliminary estimate at this point. A cooperative agreement has been signed for the project on CSAH 45 between the city and the county which will have the city take the lead.
 “As the lead, the benefit of that for the city is that you would be better able to incorporate the improvements to your municipal utilities, as well as work more closely with your businesses and residents that are directly impacted by the project,” Duncan said of the arrangement.
Lastly Mayor Nelson and the council thanked Public Works Supervisor Cory Franek and the public works crew for their steadfast efforts in dealing with the record February snowfall. “We’re going to keep the streets cleared and provide safe travel for the community as best we can,” Franek said of the department’s work in combating the continued snowfall.
The next regular Medford City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m.