Water, New Water Mains & Flushed Hydrants
There have been some questions about the brownish colored water the last couple weeks. The brownish color is caused by iron which is a secondary contaminant and the guideline to follow from MDH is .3 mg/l. Based on the samples that are taken several times weekly the typical level in our water system is .04 mg/l to .00 mg/l. When you see that brownish color is at about that .3 level. A couple things that I believe are causing this now are they have recently turned one of the new water mains online which has stirred the system some. Half the mains are made of cast iron which can get into the water. Most of the time that iron will just settle out into the water mains but to speed that up I flushed hydrants today to just get rid of it. It is not coming from the water plant itself. The water is perfectly safe to drink and cook with. The typical affect it has is just taste, odor, and color.
Sam- City of Ortonville water department
Day One, City-wide Cleanup! Success.
I stopped up to the City Garage to see how day one had gone – wow! Successful. (They did ask what took me so long to stop up to help… I thought 2:00 – when the work was winding down was perfect timing! 🙂 )
The set-up worked great – they had stations (dumpsters) in different areas in a circle around the Shop area for the various materials they were accepting and the people helping were spread out at each of the stations to assist those who were dropping off items. Bill Powell and his grandson were out early picking up items from those that were unable to transport their items themselves) So it was smooth from entrance to exit for vehicles going one direction and one at a time. I did ask if they’d gather in two groups for a photo – but the photos were both quick and they were back to their stations. (so, the photos may not be the best angle of everyone – but quick was my goal!)
Everyone was so happy that people were taking advantage of the clean-up – Huge KUDOS to the Committee: Gayle Mittelsteadt, Verda Bartz, Bill Powell, and Councilman Paul Radermacher.
Day Two is tomorrow from 9:00 to 3:00 p.m.
City Crew – great weather for some projects!
With the Governor’s Executive Orders, playground equipment has been off-limits in the parks – but it was sure great to drive by Lakeseide Park and see that the woodchips have been replaced with pea rock – I can hardly wait to see kids back in there enjoying the equipment!
The crew has also been working on the new backstops at the ball field – and are now completing the fencing that goes with that. Also, at the ballpark, they’ve been rebuilding the wooden shed which stores all of the summer rec equipment.
But… today, they are helping with the City-wide Cleanup Day! The City received 165 requests for pickup. Hats off to the Committee of Gayle Mittelsteadt, Bill Powell, and Councilman Radermacher… and of course to the City crew and everyone helping with the pickup/disposal.
Summer Rec & Swimming Pool 2020
The Council met Monday night with Summer Rec Directory, Jill Dale attending and a letter from Dr. Al Ross with recommendations on the Ortonville Swimming Pool.
Summer Rec, Due to COVID-19, the Ortonville City Council has made the tough decision of canceling the Summer Rec program this summer; however, Director Jill Dale is working on an activity kit and summer challenges and activities to help keep kids active. Watch for updates – coming soon!
The Swiming Pool. The Council received a letter recommendation from Dr. Al Ross and took action on Monday night to not open the swimming pool this year. See the letter below:
Dear Mayor Hausauer:
I have been asked to give an opinion regarding the opening of the city pool this year. We currently are under a stay at home order by Governor Walz until May 17. Current COVID-19 prediction models vary but Minnesota’s peak is predicted to be from late May to mid/late June. Unfortunately COVID-19 is not going away soon. Beyond the next month, it will continue to be recommended that we socially distance ourselves and likely it will be recommended that we wear cloth masks to reduce the spread of the virus. Because of this, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board on April 3 made the decision to close all pools and beaches for the summer. Many other cities have made similar decisions. Ortonville isn’t like Minneapolis, but COVID-19 doesn’t care where you live and having a pool full of people presents several problems. It is true that if a pool has the normal amount of chlorine this will kill the virus. The problem arises from the other people within the pool. Sneezing, coughing, sputtering all of which normally happens at a pool poses risk of infection to other people. Also heavy breathing after activity is a concern of potentially aerosolizing the virus and makes it even more infectious since it could linger in the air for up to 30 minutes. Lastly, there is research that the virus can possibly live up to 72 hours on hard surfaces. This would require all surfaces of the pool, i.e. chairs, handles, restrooms, doors and handrails to be disinfected at regular intervals. Unfortunately, it is my medical opinion that Ortonville Pool remained closed for the 2020 season.
Allan Ross, M.D.
2020 City Underground Utility and Street Reconstruction Project
The City of Ortonville is planning to continue an underground utility and street reconstruction project in 2020. As you are likely aware, the city began the project in 2019 and completed phases 1 and 4 (yellow and red) in the map displayed. Construction on phases 2 and 3 (green and blue) will be completed in 2020.
We understand that access may be a concern for many property owners. The contractor typically begins construction at 7 AM and ends around 7 PM. The goal is to maintain access throughout the project to the best of their abilities but please understand that there will be times that construction is occurring directly adjacent to your property and you will likely not have access during working hours. They will try to ensure that access is available each night when construction activities are concluded.
See Apex Engineering Group’s letter Dated April 9, 2020, here (PDF)
PDF copy of the Street Project Map
Watch our website for project updates!
The video below is from Tuesday, April 21st. The last half of the video has clips from the working currently underway around the school area.
Leaf Pickup Day
The leaf pickup day is May 13th!
Please have your leaves bagged and at the curb by 7:00 a.m.
City Council LIVE on Zoom 4/20/2020
Hi there,
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Apr 20, 2020 05:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Topic: City Council 4-20-20
If on your cell phone, you’ll need to download the Zoom App from your app store before clicking on the link below.
If you are joining from your laptop, click on the link below and you’ll be asked to download the Zoom application (if you don’t already have) and then bringing you to the meeting as an attendee.
You can use the option to Raise Your Hand if you’d like to speak, Council will be notified when appropriate and your sound will be enabled.
Vicki will be on hand at 320-839-6155 if you are having difficulting accessing and will help you along. Tonight is our first open invite – the last meeting you were required to contact the City office for access. Hopefully, this works well and we can continue the open access without that extra step!
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/99469315595?pwd=cWQ5VjFLemVEQzZjSjlRajFGNXpGUT09
Password: Council
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +16699009128,,99469315595#,,#,063420# or +13462487799,,99469315595#,,#,063420#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782
Webinar ID: 994 6931 5595
Password: 063420
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbTYMxtVab
Ortonville City-Wide Cleanup Day
Attention residents of the City of Ortonville!! On May 15 and May 16, the City of Ortonville will conduct the First Annual Cleanup Ortonville Day! The City will provide several large dumpsters in which you may bring many of those things you have been wanting to get rid of but just didn’t know where to take them. The dumpsters will be located behind the city shop on Highway 75. Proof of residency will be required at time of drop off. A copy of utility bill with Ortonville address are an example of such proof. Items that will be accepted will include mattresses, old furniture, other wood items, metal toys, bicycles and other metal items as well as appliances such as stoves, water heaters, dryers, washing machines. A maximum of 4 auto tires per household will also be accepted.
Items that will NOT be accepted will be refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, construction material, electronics, paint, solvents, garbage, and tree limbs, branches, and other vegetative waste. Please note, tree branches and yard wastes can be disposed of at the city tree dump on scheduled days. The City tree dump is open every Saturday during the Month of May. Please call the City office for times.
If you have items for the Ortonville Cleanup, you must provide following information below to the city offices at 315 Madison Ave by Friday May 1st,2020. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Drop- off may be done on Friday May 15 between 10 AM and 2 PM and Saturday May 16th between 9:30 AM and 3 PM.
Anyone willing to volunteer your time to help load/unload items at the drop off-site, please call 320-839-3862 no later than May 8th. We want our city to be a place we can all be proud of and show our many visitors that come here for fishing, hunting, festivals, class reunions, etc. that our citizens take pride in the beautiful part of the world that we call home. We hope to make this an annual event so please consider volunteering!!
Please note that in addition to Ortonville’s clean-up effort, Big Stone County, as in past years, will be having a cleanup collection on May 8th for hazardous waste and May 29th for appliances and electronics. Please follow instructions on the postcard which will be mailed to all county residents.
Application process is closed.
City Offices and building Closed To Public
March 23, 2020
The City of Ortonville will be closing the City Office, City Shop, Community Center and Public Rest Room to the PUBLIC effective at 8:00 A.M. March 24, 2020 until further notice. City staff will remain working and can be contacted by calling 320-839-3428. Utility bills will be collected at the local banks and at the City’s drive-up box.
