<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0MnF2B_1E4SCOSN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0MnF2B_1E4SCOSN00" width="800" height="377" ></figure>The Blue Earth City Council tackled a multitude of property-related topics at their meeting on Monday, August 3. These included a tax abatement request from Devenish Nutrition, an update on 716 East Third Street, and a request to purchase the property located at 717 East Third Street.EDA specialist Amy Schaefer presented the council with a tax abatement request from Devenish Nutrition.“Devenish Nutrition has moved to Blue Earth from their old location in Fairmont, and is moving into the Nortech building out in West Industrial Park,” Schaefer explained. “They are seeking a portion of city property tax relief over the next ten years while $1.4 million is invested into improvements for the site and facility. Specifically, they are asking to abate the amount of property tax over $12,500 for the next ten years.”Schaefer also noted that the current property tax on the property was approximately $25,000, and that a development agreement would be drafted to reflect the improved increment and amount of property tax if the abatement was granted.“Devenish Nutrition anticipates employing 5-10 people initially, with projections of employing up to 20 once this development project has been completed,” Schaefer remarked. “It is the recommendation of the staff that the council move forward with granting the tax abatement.”Following some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to proceed with the property tax abatement agreement. The motion passed unanimously.City attorney David Frundt presented the council with an update on the property at 716 East Third Street, noting that while the previous prospective buyer had backed out, a new buyer had been found by Candace Peterson, one of the four heirs to the property.“I have received a written plan and development timeline from Leticia Rivera, who has expressed interest in purchasing and renovating the property,” Frundt reported. “According to her timeline, she intends to have the house fully renovated and livable by Jan. 2027.”Council member John Huisman inquired whether the other heirs to the property had been informed of these plans, or if they had given approval for the sale of the property.“I have spoken with both Candace and Leticia about this personally, and Leticia made it sound like she was in contact with all of them,” Frundt replied. “She has also shared with me that her husband works in construction, which should give her an advantage on successfully redeveloping the property.”Frundt also requested guidance from the council regarding the next court hearing for the property, which was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 4.“As the council already knows, this court hearing is to establish an order of abatement for the property, “ Frundt shared. “I am seeking direction on how long the council wants the abatement period to be; specifically, how much time should we allow the current owners to clean up their property before the city is allowed to intervene?”Frundt specified that a typical abatement period for a property like this was typically 30 days, but the council was free to set their own deadline for abatement. He also reminded the council that the city could only take action on cleaning up the property once the specified time frame ends.“If we set a short abatement period, the city doesn’t have any money in the budget to deal with this property this year,” mayor Rick Scholtes commented. “According to the timeline we’ve been given, they plan to have the house done by January 2027. If we set the end of the abatement period for the first City Council meeting in January, we can check in on their progress at that time.”While no formal action was taken on the issue, the council directed Frundt to set the abatement order end date for Jan. 4, 2027, which would be the date of the first City Council meeting in 2027.City administrator Dawn Collins presented the council with a request inquiring whether the city-owned vacant lot at 717 East Third Street was for sale.“I received a request asking to purchase the property at 717 East Third Street, and I had to do some research into whether or not it was available,” Collins shared. “It appears this property was originally an HRA property when a housing development was being considered in 2025, but records show that the initial offer was withdrawn. I would like to request guidance from the council on how to proceed with listing this property for sale, if we would like to sell it at all.”“It looks like we’ve already had a public hearing for the sale of this property back in March 2025, so I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t put it up for sealed bid,” Scholtes remarked. After some discussion by the council, a motion was made and seconded to list the property for sealed bid for a two-week period with no minimum bid. The motion passed unanimously.Other business discussed at the City Council meeting included:• The Final Pay Estimate for the 2023 Street &amp; Utility Improvement Project for Holtmeier Construction in the amount of $42,128.25 was approved unanimously.• The Final Pay Estimate for the 2024 Street and Utility Improvement project for Holtmeier Construction in the amount of $34,311.64 was approved unanimously.• An Agreement for Private Use of Public Property allowing United Hospital District to build six perpendicular parking spots along South Galbraith Street was approved 5-0. Council member Dan Ristau abstained from the vote.• Collins presented the council with the proposed 2027 budget schedule, and requested that their intended Nov. 2 meeting be rescheduled to Nov. 9 instead. The rescheduling request was approved unanimously.• A solicitor application for Southwestern Advantage was approved unanimously.</div></body>

Block Source: Faribault County Register

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The Blue Earth City Council tackled a multitude of property-related topics at their meeting on Monday, August 3. These included a tax abatement request from Devenish Nutrition, an update on 716 East Third Street, and a request to purchase the property located at 717 East Third Street. EDA specialist Amy...

Council learns Nortech building sold

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The Blue Earth City Council tackled a multitude of property-related topics at their meeting on Monday, August 3. These included a tax abatement request fro

Council learns Nortech building sold

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