Geneva street construction nears completion

During their regular meeting the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 14, members of the Geneva city council voted to increase retirement payment amounts for city firefighters from $800 to $1,000 a year.

 

A contract for Thompson Sanitation from January 2026 through December 2031 was approved; fees for each garbage can are $11.75 per month, but the lump sum for Geneva is $2,400 per city-wide pickup, with a two-percent increase in years two, four and six. The Midco online services contract was also renewed.

 

Donna and Dan Kuntz raised the issue of a city-owned pipe that has been draining into their yard pushing an entire five-gallon bucket’s worth of sand into their yard daily when it rains. Maintenance said the pipe was installed in the 1950s and will need Empire Pipe Services out of Mankato to assess the situation. Lonnie and Theresa Bartsch raised the problem of a sewer pipe that is not draining; maintenance staff reported this will also need to be looked into by Empire. Drew Weber, city lawyer, suggested there are grants that might cover some of the cost. Jeff and Nancy Titus would like to put a small shed on their property; council members expressed gratitude that they had checked, but revealed that, because the shed will not be a permanent structure, a permit is not needed.

 

Stacy Kubiatowicz shared information regarding the upcoming celebration of Geneva’s 175-year anniversary. An open house meeting in September addressed raising funds for the celebration in 2030. Council members said the city will provide portable sanitation facilities and trash cans, and will do what it can to help with fundraising.

 

Drew Weber provided updates on work done along Main Street and other areas from Aug. 22 through Oct. 3. This included casting adjustments, asphalt mining, patching and pavement, turf restoration and signing and striping crosswalks. He stated any work not completed by winter will resume in spring; this will include any spring thaw cracks in the pavement and their repair. There was also a request for a crosswalk improvement with blinking lights to the crosswalk in front of the Geneva Post Office because children and adults cross there to get to the playground. This is considered a high traffic area, meaning both pedestrians and vehicles. Weber also announced the project came in $26,907.83 under budget. He stated Third Street Northeast is completed, and First Avenue repairs are about half completed. Banners for the new city light poles were also discussed; a precaution was raised that it might be a good idea to order a test banner and try it out before ordering a full set to avoid acquiring many pieces that will be of no use. 

 

Three nuisance letters have been sent to three addresses, two along main street and one on 5th Street NE addressing cluttered front yards. Both along main street have complied; the 5th Street address has not complied or responded. This issue is currently being addressed with a possible fine.

 

Joe Reese let the fire trucks park in his business for two months while the road area in front of the fire department was completed. The council agreed to send him a check for $1,000, paid out of the Fire Fund in Nov. The current maintenance man is looking into retiring; the council would like to put together a job description committee under quorum, so they can post the job opening when the time comes. The ash trees around town are dying, there are grants for this, but the council would like to wait for the list of 2026 grants and see what’s available because the 2025 DNR grants aren’t sufficient.