By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Ottertail Ave. and China St. will be getting a new driving surface after the City of Ottertail received a favorable bid from Ottertail Aggregate to complete the project. 

During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 19, the Ottertail City Council approved a low bid of $109,678.48 from Ottertail Aggregate for surface improvements. The estimated total project based on the low construction bid will be $168,000, which is significantly lower than the original estimate of over $200,000.

The city council also adopted a resolution of application from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority Drinking Water Revolving Fund Loan Application for lead service line replacement for $225,000. The loan is actually a grant that will be forgiven by the state as part of an expansive project to replace all lead and galvanized pipes within municipal water lines throughout the state.

In other news

• Heard the monthly fire department report from Ottertail Fire Chief Joe Ahlfs. So far for the month the department has responded to three medical calls, while responding to 10 calls last month that included two fires, an alarm and car accident. 

• Accepted the following donations for the Ottertail Fire and Rescue expansion project: $500 from Rudy and Adele Butenas, $25 from Joe Carney, $500 from Steve Hanson, $40 from Roger and Ida Ferguson, $2,000 fro Otter Tail Lakes Property Association, $50 from Bruce Fenske, $50 from Terry Greenwaldt, $30 from Bruce Kennedy, $50 from Leaders Distributing, $300 from Dan Onchuck Deeds, $100 from Cynthia O’Bright and $250 from Catherine Barner. 

• Discussed an expansive fire hall expansion project at the current fire hall and community center. 

• Approved a letter of support for T-Mobile grant for the Ottertail Community Wellness Center.