City Council Discusses Potential Housing

The City of Bloomfield is hoping to add two new duplexes to the community through a grant opportunity.

During Monday’s meeting, council members discussed authorizing Mayor Phil Schroeder to sign an application for a Community Development Block Grant. Last year Bloomfield applied for the same grant and was told one of the sites needed a certificate because it was located in the floodplain. Last June, the City received the proper certificate and the site is now cleared.

Currently, there are two sites cleared and ready for the project’s four duplexes — two buildings for each site. The duplexes will be rental properties. Total cost estimated from grant administration is $1.3 million. City will be requesting $500,000. Grant funds $445,000 of that will be split equally between the two developers.

According to grant guidelines, there is an affordability period of 10 years. For those 10 years, four out of the eight living units be designated for income qualified persons. Rental rates will fixed according to a chart. The chart calculates rent minus utilities.  The council moved forward with the application.

The meeting kicked off with Mike Doering addressing the council. He asked about raising taxes so the city has money to spend on buying and repairing city equipment. Schroeder agreed and more money should go to some replacement or repairs of equipment. Colette Panning mentioned that we are working on some upgrades, like a grapple fork.

Doering also suggested the Water Department start fixing valves and lagoons. Panning mentioned that they are looking at inventory to try to start making progress.

Doering then brought up the amount of unauthorized trash in the dump. He offered to put up a camera and the council agreed to it in hopes that the camera will catch people dumping pallets and glass and other unauthorized items.

The meeting then moved on to Resolution 18-4, which is the sale of the miscellaneous surplus property from Memorial Park Field. They decided they would take bids up until April 25.

The council also addressed its armor coat bids. The city has used both Road Guys and Top Coat companies out of Yankton before. Panning asked for bids early this year so the armor coat process can be done by late June or early July in time to free up the streets by fair time. Road Guys bid $1.45 per square yard and Top Coat was $1.40 a square yard. Council voted to accept the lower bid from Top Coat.

Next on the agenda was discussing a new police vehicle. Steve Barney was in contact with a place that has a surplus of vehicles already equipped with cages, sirens and lights.  A four-wheel drive vehicle would be handy on heavy snow days when emergencies are called but also good for blocking intersections. It would also take the stress off of the well used cars and add a year or so to the cars lifespan.

The 2010 Tahoe has 100,000 miles and would cost $10,000. Barney noted how it’s a great price for a vehicle already equipped for the job. Even though the council agreed it would be beneficial, they tabled action.

The new lights at the community sports complex will be finished soon, and the city has paid for one third of the project so far. The whole project was $198,741.46 and $131,000 is still owed.

Farmers and Merchants State Bank and Bank of Hartington were both considered by the council for loans for the remainder of the project. Farmers and Merchants came in with a lower 4 percent interest rate and was chosen over The Bank of Hardington’s 5.25% rate.

The city will take out a loan of $134,000 with Farmers and Merchants and annual payments will start in 2019. There will be fundraisers starting with the Ruritan fundraiser on April 26. There will be hamburgers and hot dogs sold. The city will pay off the loan gradually as the money comes in from the fundraisers.

Panning updated the public on the rubber mulch that was placed at Schultz Field for the playground equipment. She said there was enough to go around the Community Center and enough for the library. The Library will reimburse the city and the grant will cover 50 percent of the cost.
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The council then discussed the thought of eventually replacing a dump truck before adjourning.