Council discusses accepting donated historic barn and sets $100,000 placeholder for park improvements
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Summary
City staff told the council a donor is offering a barn and adjacent land by the Big Sioux River and staff proposed a $100,000 placeholder in next year’s parks budget to preserve the land and pay for immediate repairs if the city accepts the donation.
City staff told the council a donor is willing to give the city a barn and adjacent land overlooking the Big Sioux River and recommended leaving a $100,000 placeholder in next year’s parks budget to cover immediate repairs or improvements and to preserve parkland.
Staff said an ISG cost estimate prepared about a year earlier placed repairs — including roof work and other improvements — at about $85,000, which is why staff included $100,000 in the draft budget. "The cost is what we got from ISG a year ago is $85,000 to **** it up, which included roof and improvement to the side needs, etcetera. That's why we've got a $100,000 in the budget," a staff member said during discussion.
Why it matters: Staff said the donors would otherwise likely sell the land for development, which would remove the opportunity to secure parkland and a trail connection to the river. Council members noted the parcel is roughly 2 acres (possibly closer to 3–4 acres in places), includes a house and multiple outbuildings, and offers a potential trail connection to the city’s system.
Options discussed: Councilors debated whether to spend city money on building repairs or to accept the donation and later declare any unwanted structures surplus and sell them. A council member noted the park board supports keeping the property; staff said the park board will need to prioritize the shared‑use plan and justify repeated $100,000 requests in a multi‑year plan.
Other budget items: Council also discussed township dust control funding (questions about whether a requested total would be $88,500 next year versus roughly $7,900 this year), a pool tarp replacement quote of about $10,000, and adding $2,000,000 to the capital budget as an estimated placeholder for a roundabout that will be paid from the TIF fund and reimbursed by a developer under a forthcoming agreement.
Action taken: Council did not take a final vote on accepting the donation; staff left the $100,000 placeholder in the proposed parks budget with the option to not spend it this year if priorities change. Staff will prepare the overall budget ordinance for first reading on Tuesday.
Quotes: "I'd like to leave it in there. We had it in there this year. We didn't spend it, so it doesn't mean it has to be spent. But if we don't have it in there, where are we gonna come if it does go through?" a council member said while discussing the barn donation.
Next steps: Staff will bring the budget ordinance to first reading Tuesday and will work with the park board to prioritize the shared‑use plan and clarify any deed restrictions or donation terms before final action.
