The Blue Earth City Council met on Monday and held a public hearing on the proposed 2025 street/utility project.
After the public hearing concluded, the council voted to move forward with the project which is estimated to be at a cost of $3.39 million, with $752,686 being assessed to the local property owners in the project area.
The Council voted not to include the far west block of Eight Street in the project after City Engineer Ben Rosol informed them that it had been determined to be better that this block not be included in this project at this time and be added to a project in the future.
By eliminating that portion of the project, it cut out approximately $375,000 from the project’s estimated cost.
The Truth in Taxation hearing was held following the regular council meeting, where Mayor Rick Scholtes presented the proposed budget and levy. The amount presented for 2025 the property tax levy of $2,450,000, which is an increase of 24.56% over the current 2024 tax levy of $1,967,000.