Menke discusses mural

Commissioners loved the uniqueness of this design.”

Assistant Economic Development Coordinator Alex Menke

For more information on Hastings PFAS, visit the city’s website at www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/city-departments/public-works-and-engineering/pfas

At the Tuesday, Feb. 18 meeting of the Hastings City Council, the council voted to move forward with the Civic Arena Mural and pushed back the closing date for the purchase of 1292 North Frontage Road for the central water treatment plant (WTP). Here’s an update on both.

Civic Arena Mural
Assistant Economic Development Coordinator Alex Menke presented before the council on the civic arena mural. The Arts and Culture Commission received seven initial submissions, and invited three finalists to submit more fleshed out plans. Of those finalized, muralist Lili Lennox was selected by the Arts and Culture commission. Her design features a hockey player before Hastings City Hall and the arches of the Highway 61 Bridge along with various cards that showcase locations, players and events important to Hastings Hockey.
“Commissioners loved the uniqueness of this design,” said Menke.
The initial estimate of the project was just under $60,000. With alterations proscribed by the commission including enlarging the cards, the mural is expected to cost roughly $72,000. To pay for this project, the Arts and Culture Commission will be taking out an interest-free loan from the city’s general fund and will pay off the loan over the course of four years.
With the future payments towards the civic arena mural loan, the Arts and Culture Commission will have just over half of their annual budget for future plans and events.
“We wanted to make sure we had that cushion to operate and do other things and support other groups while still being able to pay back this mural in a timely fashion,” said Menke.
The mural is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Sidewalk Cafes and Parklets
The Hastings City Council voted for an amendment to the sidewalk cafes and parklets ordinance that allows them more space on sidewalks.
Assistant City Administrator Kelly Murtaugh presented on ordinances 90.16 and 90.17 concerning sidewalk cafes and parklets. “The proposed amendments are results of conversations that some of our staff have had with downtown business owners […] about the existing parklet and sidewalk cafes,” said Murtaugh.
The proposed expansion would expand parklets in the downtown area to stamped concrete along sidewalks. Currently parklets must be contained within the street. “This [amendment] would allow them to step up a little bit on to the sidewalk and provide more potential seating,” said Murtaugh.
In making this proposal, the city is also moving to better define stamped concrete to “create a cleaner ordinance,” said Murtaugh.

Water Treatment Plant land purchase
The city of Hastings approved a delay in the purchase of 1292 North Frontage Road due to ongoing environmental studies of the property. On Feb. 20, as part of the second phase of the environmental study of the site, borings and vapor samples were taken at the site.
This extended environmental study has pushed back the sale of the property. The initial closing date had been set for the end of February, “but now we are looking to just extend that to May 30 just to buy us some time,” said Public Works Director Ryan Stempski. “We still intend to close on the property, the design is going full tilt ahead, this is just due diligence that we are going through so we can define all costs and expectations going into the field construction in the summer.”
Ground is expected to be broken on the site later this year.
For more information on Hastings PFAS, visit the city’s website at www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/city-departments/public-works-and-engineering/pfas