Progress at Oelke Park

Janesville council member Jim Mulcahey was pleased to share news about the progress of Oelke Park in the Northwood neighborhood at the Monday, June 27 meeting. The Oelke family, who donated the land for the park, were pleased with its progress.

“The Oelkes offered to pay for the signage at the park,” Mulcahey shared. “Not a single cent will come from the Park Board to pay for that sign. We are grateful to them and are happy to receive the help.”

Roughly 7’ by 4’, the sign will be located at the corner of Northwood and Oakwood Drives. Mulcahey was hopeful that the park’s features could include a half-court basketball area and a pickleball court.

Mulcahey also updated the council on the dog park proposed for Nelson Street. Public Works Manager Joe Ziemke estimated that the park would require 800 feet of fencing. “We plan on informing the neighborhood via letter about what we’re planning to do with the dog park,” Council member Mulcahey stated. “We hope to get feedback on that park through the public forum.”

Mayor Andy Arnoldt shared that some residents asked about the disposal of carp, an invasive species currently in Minnesota lakes. After a brief discussion, however, the council decided to table any further talk until they had more information on whether or not they could compost the carp.

Arnoldt shared that the Minnesota Health Department recently visited Whispering Creek Nursing Home for the first time since 2019. Although inspectors found seven maintenance deficiencies, they deemed those minor and gave the nursing home a pass.

The mayor informed the council that nursing home administrator Murray Finger will be resigning. Pete Madel will take his place. However, Arnoldt stated that Madel wanted to “absorb the position without absorbing the pay.” 

“I think we need to give him some kind of compensation for taking on the extra workload,” Arnoldt stated. He added that the Nursing Home Board would discuss compensation for Madel at the next meeting.

Council member Melissa Kopachek shared that the Personnel Committee looked through the League of Minnesota Cities’ personnel policy to see what changes the city needed to make to its own policies. “We had a lot of additions and revisions,” she said. “We had changes marked in red and yellow, and bright colors filled most of the pages.”

Department Head Report

Public Works Manager Joe Ziemke shared that the city completed the street maintenance projects included in its 2022 capital improvement plan; only a few “chip seal” projects remain.

“We did find a collapsed storm sewer pipe at the intersection of Nelson and 2nd Streets,” he stated. “That was an extra $3,000 to $4,000 expense we didn’t expect.”

Councilmember Jim Mulcahey then inquired about the weight limits on the North Street and Main Street intersection. “There is farm equipment on it all the time, and the road’s taken damage due to the traffic,” he said. “We need to get that traffic redirected somehow. Is that a ten-ton road?”

Ziemke replied that the intersection has a seven-ton weight limit.

Resident Ron Bruegger told the council that he discussed the matter with Police Chief Dave Ulmen. “He claimed that they don’t know whether or not they can enforce the vehicles,” he claimed.

Council member John Sprengeler explained that the true law was, “Every city street is considered a ten-ton road unless posted otherwise.”

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.