<div>Renovations to the Winnebago Municipal Swimming Pool and news of a new mural for the Winnebago Hearts Project were both on the agenda at the Winnebago City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10.City administrator Judi Hynes presented the council with a set of mock-ups for an updated Winnebago Municipal Swimming Pool, along with a series of quotes detailing the potential cost breakdown for the project.“With all of these blueprints, we are only looking at updating the pool itself, not the pool house,” Hynes noted. “Our pool was built in 1968 and has needed repairs for several years, while the pool house was built in 2000, is still ADA-compliant, and just got new roofing.”Hynes estimated the total cost of the pool renovation project to be around $649,400, though that intimal quote did not include the pump house or any needed electrical repairs. However, she noted that those two issues would likely be good additions to the project, as they were also in need of an update.“The swimming pool is running on borrowed time,” council member Calvin Howard remarked. “We’ve been looking at updating the pool for years now, but every time it comes before the council, we look at the cost and say no because it’s too high. I think we should hold a public meeting for this, and find out if the community would support this project.”Council member Tony O’Donnell expressed some skepticism about the community’s willingness to support the pool renovation, especially given the rising costs of utility rates and the overall expense of the project.“People are already complaining about their $400 water bills,” O’Donnell remarked. “They’re going to scream when they find out we want to do a several thousand dollar pool update.”“They’re going to scream louder if we get rid of the pool entirely,” council member Paul Eisenmenger countered. “That pool is one catastrophic event from never opening again. We’ve limped it along with occasional fixes here and there, but all we’ve really done is put band-aids on it. And I can assure you, this room will be filled with hate if we lose our swimming pool.”Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to set a public meeting to discuss the pool renovation project for Jan. 19, 2027 at 6 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.Merodee Grannis of the Love Winnebago project presented the council with information about a new mural for the Winnebago Hearts Project, revealing that the organization had received grant funding for the project.“Love Winnebago recently applied for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) Small Town grant, and we were awarded $10,000 though the grant,” Grannis shared. “We are planning to have a mural painted on the south side of the former UHD building, facing Highway 169, so that everyone driving through town can see it. We are here tonight seeking approval from the council to go ahead with this project.”Grannis went on to share a mock-up of the mural with the council, and noted that Love Winnebago had already reached out to three local artists from the surrounding community to tackle the project. She also shared a mock-up of what a future Winnebago Heart Art Park might look like, which would be a follow-up project to the mural.“Our idea is that people and businesses would be able to sponsor hearts on the mural, and have their names painted on them,” Grannis explained. “The mural’s cost will be completely covered by the grant, so we could put the sponsorship funds towards future Winnebago Hearts projects, such as the Heart Park. Because of when we got awarded the grant, the mural will have to be completed by October of 2027, so that will be our first priority.”Mayor Jean Anderson, who is also part of Love Winnebago, shared the Winnebago Area Museum would be receiving its own heart soon, and that the Muir Public Library was also planning to install one.“This entire project is based around our town’s motto of “Small Town, Big Heart,” and our “Big Blue Heart” sculpture outside of the Municipal Building was just the start,” Anderson commented. “I’m very excited to see the finished mural, and I’d also like to go ahead and approve the Heart Park tonight as well so we can begin to plan for that project.”Hearing no further discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve both the mural and the Heart Park for the Love Winnebago project. The motion passed unanimously.Other business discussed at the City Council meeting included:• The council entered a closed session for the employment evaluation of city administrator Judi Hynes. After the meeting was reopened to the public, a motion was made and seconded to approve a step pay increase for Hynes to Step 4 of the pay scale. The motion passed unanimously.• A public hearing for the 2026 tax roll was held. Hearing no discussion on the issue, the public hearing was closed, and a motion was made and seconded to approve the tax roll. The motion passed unanimously.• Resolution 919-2026 raising the utility rates for sanitary sewer and water, as well as adding the Minnesota State Water Connection Fee of $1.27 to the monthly utility bill, was passed unanimously. The sewer base fee was raised to $47.25 with $14.07 per thousand gallons of usage, and the water rate base fee was raised to $34.13 with $8.40 per thousand gallons. These changes will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.• Hynes presented the council with a memo regarding some needed maintenance for the Municipal Building, along with a quote from Owen Construction for the repair of the concrete blocks on the northwest corner of the building. Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the quote from Owen Construction in the amount of $3,200. The motion passed unanimously.• The first reading for an ordinance which would update the language of the Winnebago Zoning Ordinance to clarify what is meant by “special use permit” was held. Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to set the second reading and public hearing date for the ordinance for Dec. 8. The motion passed unanimously.• A motion to approve Trevor McMartin as a new part-time police officer at a rate of $31.98 per hour, contingent on passing his background check, was approved unanimously.• A motion to accept the resignation letter from Kerry Phippen of the Winnebago Ambulance Department was passed unanimously. Phippen served as an EMT for 20 years.• A Joint Powers Agreement with South Central Service Cooperative was approved unanimously.</div>

Block Source: Faribault County Register

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Renovations to the Winnebago Municipal Swimming Pool and news of a new mural for the Winnebago Hearts Project were both on the agenda at the Winnebago City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10. City administrator Judi Hynes presented the council with a set of mock-ups for an updated Winnebago Municipal...

W’bago has debate over pool issues

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Renovations to the Winnebago Municipal Swimming Pool and news of a new mural for the Winnebago Hearts Project were both on the agenda at the Winnebago City

W’bago has debate over pool issues

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