Posted: 5/2/06
Founders Days plans softball tournament
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The Founders Day committee appeared before the council at its meeting of April 24 to ask permission to use the city ball fields for a softball tournament on Fathersí Day weekend. The tournament will be a qualifier for the World Softball League B and C classes.
In addition to the softball tournament, the committee plans to operate a beer tent, organize childrenís activities and hire a lunch wagon to provide food. Entertainment is planned for Friday and Saturday nights.
There will be up to 12 teams participating.
John McCabe is in charge of the tournament.
The city agreed to allow use of the fields at no charge to the committee. The dates are June 16 and 17.
Noel Brenza, who is president of the organization, also expressed an interest in her group managing the concession stand at the pool. She said the members thought that it would be a good opportunity for high school organizations to earn money for their groups. She said she plans to contact the school about the idea.
The city thus far has had no applicants to run the concession stand. The committee told the council that it does not want to take the opportunity away from a private party should one come forward.
CJC Update
County Board Chairman Kevin Kelleher attended the council meeting to provide an update on the proposed criminal justice center. Kelleher told the council that the conceptual drawings that were presented at the public meetings are not representative of how the completed building will look. He said that a smaller footprint can be achieved by sinking the jail so that it occupies the lower level of the criminal justice center. The old jail will not be remodeled, he said, and will probably be used as office space or evidence storage for the sheriffís department.
Kelleher said that the Kirchner and Albert houses near the courthouse square will have to be torn down or moved. If the county were to buy the Sno-Pac property at the corner of East South Street and Pine, itís possible that the houses could be moved to that lot. He said this was his personal opinion and not something the county board had discussed.
Mayor Morey expressed his concern that there doesnít appear to be adequate parking, and asked about the countyís plans for parking. Kelleher said that the new parking will be decided after the final plans are in place.
Kelleher told the council that the state is closing down the Wabasha County Jail, so it will be more difficult to find places for prisoners when the current jail is full.
Councilman Paul Fisch pointed out that in order for the county to proceed with the project as planned, the city would have to vacate a street. He said that the city would probably not consider vacating the street until the plans are in final form.
City maps to be updated
The city has agreed to update city maps at an approximate cost of $5,750.
Jim Kochie of Davy Engineering presented the council with several options at its last meeting.
The proposal included updating the base maps to include new subdivisions and developments in the city ($1,550); updates to the water system and sanitary sewer utilities ($1,000); adding storm sewer locations ($2,000); and up to $1,200 for making corrections to the existing map.
The council also approved the purchase of up to three copies of a software program that allows the user to view maps created with a CAD program. The programs cost between $100 and $150 each.
In other business, the council:
ï learned that the new truck for the electric department will be here soon;
ï directed Tony Klug, manager of the wastewater treatment plant, to provide figures on how much needed updates to the plant will cost;
ï spoke with city electrician Roger Schmitz on upgrades to the circuits in the substations.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com