TRUMAN– On Monday evening the Truman City Council heard some updates regarding the upcoming water tower project.

Utility Foreman Brent Brown provided the council with some options for the bond repayment. At the last city council meeting, the council moved to authorize the issuance and sale of $1.45 million in general obligation water revenue bonds for the water tower project.

The repayment will be on a 15 year structure at $87,856 collected annually.

The council also heard an update from Brown regarding the well pump replacement. The council had previously approved pulling the well as the motor needed to be replaced.

Brown said the pump failed the test so they’d like to replace it as well. He said they’d like to upsize the pump so they’d get 300 gallons a minute. He said the cost estimate is $10,517. As it’s part of the bond, the council didn’t need to make a motion for the purchase.

Finally, Brown asked the council if it had decided on a color and design for the water tower. The council briefly debated what shade of blue to choose for the water tower as council members have previously said they’d like to have something different than the current green stripe on the water tower.

A specific shade of blue received the most votes and the council decided to go with a bigger logo in the center of the water tower.

Greg Burkhardt of Burkhardt & Burkhardt, Ltd went over the 2021 year-end audit. Burkhardt has been working with the council over the last few months on its unassigned and general fund balances in the hopes that the city would have a clean audit.

“The city has received an unmodified opinion on those financial statements. That’s exactly what you want to hear,” Burkhardt said.

He said the records received had some necessary adjustments, but because corrections were made, the city was provided a clean audit.

Moving to other matters, Cathy Sorenson provided updates to the council on both the Truman Active Living group and the Spruce Up committee.

She said the active living group has ordered five new benches. They plan is to replace two at Jaycee Park and put one or two on the west side of the Watson building. She said they haven’t decided on where to place the fifth one.

“We’re kind of hoping that there will be some action on the pickleball court,” Sorenson said.

The council has been considering the project for well over a year. The original plan was to put two full pickleball courts and one half basketball court near the school and swimming pool, where the former tennis court area is. However, rising costs have put the project on hold as the council considers alternative options.

Sorenson asked how much money the city has for a pickleball court. Council Member Jake Ebert said they have about $15,000 set aside for it. Council Member Patty Truax noted that the cost has now tripled.

“That’s the problem with this. We started getting some estimates and it was $140,000 and we thought we needed to step back and look at it,” said Council Member Brandon Mosloski.

Dave Sorenson, who was also present, said he didn’t think anyone would be favor in spending an astronomical amount of money on the project, but he said it would be ideal if something could be done with less money.

Sorenson said the last few months, a representative of MNRAAA has been attending their meetings and said she can write a grant for it as she’s interested in intergenerational activities.

“She can write a small town grant for us for $10,000,” Sorenson said, noting that there’s other money available out there.

Speaking as representative of the Spruce Up committee, Sorenson said they applied for a “Paint Our Town” grant to get paint for the original city hall/jail/library building, and will be given 16 gallons. She said stucco has been chipping off the building and she was wondering if anyone can help with it. Brown said that they can help with the project, which Sorenson was delighted with.

“It’s the ugliest building downtown,” said Sorenson with a laugh.

Marilyn Carrigan was also present to speak about the Truman Museum. She said they’re looking for two board members. Board meetings are six months out of the year and happen just once a month.

“It’s hard to find people for everything nowadays,” Carrigan said.

She said if anyone is interested in becoming a member, it’s $10 annually with no obligations.

“Our income is membership fees, memorials and donations. That’s it,” Carrigan said.

She also touched on the improvements throughout the museum which includes LED lighting throughout the museum, a new furnace and air conditioning unit.

The council also heard from Kim Breamer, one of the Truman Pool commissioners. Breamer was at the last council meeting to ask if she could list a position for a pool manager. On Monday she shared that the state code says that Minnesota Child Labor Law prohibits minors under the age of 18 from working as lifeguards unless they are working under uninterrupted adult supervision.

“That means if we don’t have an 18-year-old lifeguard on staff, we need to have an adult at the pool the hours that the pool is open,” Breamer said.

She said there’s currently two guards on staff, and herself, who are 18 or older.

The council approved to list the position of the pool attendant to be at least 18 years or older.

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