Childcare provider sought to establish, operate local center

Discussions about using the Brown Memorial for a childcare center continued at the New Rockford City Commission meeting on May 2.

The NRABC seeks an individual or entity interested in operating a private childcare business and leasing the Club Room in the Brown Memorial. They must be licensed or plan to become licensed before they open. The space should be able to accommodate a “group 20” or “group 30” license to begin

Hegland reviewed with commissioners some of the upgrades needed to open a childcare center at the Brown Memorial. “We know there are some updates that we will need to do,” Hegland said. “We would like to find someone who is interested in leasing that space first, so we can work with them to fit it to the appropriate license.”

NRABC is consulting with Childcare Aware on this project. Verla Jung is their consultant, and she is willing to work with the provider to help them get everything they need to establish or expand their childcare business.

“The City sees and acknowledges that childcare is a huge need in our area and are willing to proceed to see how we can accommodate this issue,” Hegland remarked. “NRABC is grateful to partner with them on this issue. Hopefully we can get something resolved, and help working families.”

“It’s one of our biggest needs in town,” said New Rockford City Commission President Richter.

Anyone is interested in operating a childcare center should contact Hegland at (701) 947-2205.

The last leg of the water main replacement is now on the schedule. Two blocks on 6th St South by the water tower were missed in 2020-21.

“The cost keeps going up, so we definitely need to get this done before it goes higher,” Hirchert told commissioners. With trees close by on both sides, they will need to bore rather than dig. The quote to install the two blocks totaled $70,000, bringing the total price tag with contingencies to $95,000. The contract includes an agreement to sell unused pipe from the 2020-21 project to the contractor for more than twice what the city paid. Hirchert said he will retain 240 feet of it for future breaks.

“We have funds available to do this,” Hirchert noted. Auditor Becki Schumacher and President Stu Richter brought up the ARPA grant, for which former auditor George Ritzke had applied. They have approximately $155,000 remaining, after spending $53K for a change order at lagoon. They also discussed Prairie Dog infrastructure funds from the state legislature and other coronavirus stimulus the county passed along to the city as other potential sources. Commissioners approved the project.

The Special Assessment Committee will convene its work this month. Commissioners discussed compensation for the three-member committee that is tasked with fairly applying the cost of the street project to each property owner in the assessment district.

“They have a fair amount of work to do,” per Peterson. Ardyce Snyder, Corey Longnecker and Jerry Seibold are the individuals appointed to the committee last fall.

Commissioners agreed to pay $150 per meeting compensation for committee members.

They will hold several meetings, including a public hearing prior to certifying their assessments.

A pre-construction meeting for the street project was held Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Pituminous Paving will begin replacing the curb and gutter at the beginning of June.

The paving crew, however, is not slated to arrive until late summer

Richter and Schumacher continue to work on financing, and Richter said they “will plan to lock it in this month.”

ADA accessibility improvements to sidewalks along the emergency routes – Central Avenue, 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South – will be completed ahead of the street repairs this spring and summer. “There are a lot of them,” Hirchert told commissioners. There are 70 spots along those three streets alone, although many in the downtown area have already been done. The city has retained Lesmeister Construction to do the concrete work, as funds allow. They will use the ARPA funds noted above, as well as other infrastructure money from the state to pay for the improvements.

Other business conducted by the city commission is as follows:

• Approved a building permit for improvements to Hanson’s Bar. Owner Dalton Weber plans to demolish the dilapidated back section of the iconic downtown bar and replace it with a functional storage structure.

• Authorized Hirchert to sell some unused landscaping equipment via online auction, including a Bush Hog, tractor and grader.

• Approved Progressive Estimate #16 from Sentry Crane for work completed in April, a total of $167,285.19. About $310,000 remains to be paid off, with work winding down there in the next month as the new water treatment equipment goes online.

• Authorized Schumacher to hire an intern to help her with various projects that need to be completed in the auditor’s office.