Putting together their dream lists

With a year-end deadline approaching, the Royal City Council on May 8 discussed options for spending the remaining federal funds it received through the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA).

The compliance report completed by City Clerk Barb Fletcher showed the city spent $44,000 of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for water tower painting. The remaining $17,054 must be spent or designated in writing with a contractor by the end of this year.

Mayor Josh Toft suggested the ARPA funds could be used to sealcoat Main Street or other streets. He acknowledged that would not be a long-term solution for addressing the condition of most streets.

Council Member Jeff Van Westen advocated for city support of Royal’s 125th celebration, which will be held in 2025, while Council Member Sara Ricke said she would like to see the funds applied toward infrastructure projects.

Another potential project is purchasing a sewer pump. Maintenance Superintendent Sherman Nielsen said a previous bid for a pump was approximately $16,000. He estimated the pump would now cost approximately $22,000-$25,000, which would not include the motor.

Toft suggested council members think about their “ARPA dream lists,” which will be discussed in future meetings.

• Property sales, insurance suggestions

AgState will not purchase any city-owned property for its proposed scale project. A survey of the area indicates that AgState already has enough property to accommodate another scale.

Interest in another city property has since been shown. The city attorney is being consulted to determine the easiest method for conducting that sale.

The city’s property insurance carrier made suggestions to improve safety at the park. Rubber coatings on play equipment will be replaced and pea rock will be added to the playground area. The carrier also suggested changes in the rental agreement for the community building, stating that only beer and wine can be consumed on the premises.

“I don’t think it is a bad thing to put that in there,” Ricke commented.

• Lawn mowing, other matters

Council Member Mitch Fahnlander suggested the city increase the amount charged for mowing lawns that are not in compliance with the code. He also would like to see an easier way of notifying owners instead of having to send letters.

As of the meeting, pumps had been operating for nine days at the lift station in order to deal with excess water. Nielsen said standby personnel are on call in case of an emergency or electrical outage.

“No one knows what we do unless the pumps stop working and it starts backing up in people’s houses,” he said.

The shelter house at Triangle Park will be removed, as the poles are sinking and the roof has to be replaced. A ramp will be installed at the Royal Historical Museum to make the building more accessible.