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Lake Benton council clears purchase of new power washer and approves dump reconfiguration with hours and size limits
Summary
The Lake Benton City Council approved a $5,200 purchase of a heated 4,000 PSI power washer and voted to move and reopen the city dump with new hours, size restrictions for wood, and camera monitoring, authorizing staff to post signage and hire a contractor to reshape the pit.
The Lake Benton City Council approved a $5,200 purchase of a heated 4,000 PSI, 4 GPM hot-water pressure washer with a Honda E-start engine and hose reel from Rethwisch & Son during its April 20, 2026 meeting.
Maintenance Supervisor Travis Lustfield told the council the unit the city inherited from the State was failing and that the quoted replacement would better serve snowplow and equipment cleanup. The motion to purchase was made by Trustee Karen Lichtsinn and seconded by Trustee Jon Olson; the motion carried.
Lustfield also presented plans to reconfigure the city dump to reduce fire and windblown spread risks. After consultations with The Nature Conservancy and Fire Chief Darin Herschberger, he proposed hiring Double D Gravel (estimated cost about $2,500) to move the pit east and reshape it into a pit that does not face southwest. He told the council staff would post rules requiring residents to separate logs from smaller branches, limit trees to pieces described in the meeting as no larger than 24 inches "around" and two feet long, and move the gate to the edge of old Highway 75. He recommended the gate be open only during work hours, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday, and asked that Jenny Nordmeyer prepare laminated signs listing restrictions and hours.
The council voted to move the gate, enlarge the pit, post signs and cameras to monitor entries and exits, and to open the dump on April 21, 2026. The motion was approved (mover: Karen Lichtsinn; second: Scott Christensen). The council later adopted the Public Works update as a whole (mover: Rosie DeZeeuw; second: Jon Olson).
Lustfield also reported that he and employee Troy started mowing city lawns that day.
The council did not provide a detailed vendor contract for the pit relocation in the minutes; the cost estimate for hauling/reshaping was described in the meeting as approximately $2,500, and the tree-size restriction language recorded in the minutes reads "no larger than 24 inches around and two feet long."
The council’s actions will take effect immediately; staff were directed to prepare signage and monitor the site.
