NICOLLET — Nels Pierson of Reagan Outdoor Advertising from Rochester, Minnesota, presented ideas for digital advertising to the Nicollet City Council, Tuesday.

“This is a long process. Billboards never move quickly,” Pierson said. “We tend to run into a lot of resistance in communities. I am here just as an initial way to get to know you better. The parcel that we are looking at is one that the city owns but it is not in the city limits.

The parcel is located north of the new Highway 14, and east of Hewitt’s sign.

“We don’t want to block or limit exposure of their sign,” Pierson said.

Minnesota Statutes restricts billboards in agricultural zones. Council Member Kevin Ostermann said the land is part of Nicollet County so they would need to be involved in the zoning of the parcel because it is currently zoned as agricultural. It would need to be changed to within city limits and zoned so that it meets city ordinances.

Pierson said, “The parcel we are looking at has a unique shape so there wouldn’t be any building or even a road built on this land.”

He suggested a ten feet six inches by thirty-six feet billboard. A digital billboard is controlled via satellite and there is minimal need to go near the billboard, other than at installation of it which could cost over $100,000. The billboard can be digitized on both sides.

There would be eight to nine rotations or flips that last about eight seconds per flip. The city would be allowed to have one of those flips where the city could advertise local events. The other flips would be leased to mostly local businesses for their advertising. Reagan Outdoor’s Creative Department can help design what a business would like on their flip.

“We do a light study to show where the light will show so it does not bother residents’ homes. The city would be paid approximately $2,500 a year for the lease of the land for the billboard,” Pierson said.

“I do not expect you to resolve anything at tonight’s meeting. I suggest that you have a study session or hearing to discuss this further, and to figure out the fees for annexing the property and the process for having that done,” he said.

Election Results

City Clerk Vanessa Drill said, “Election day was very busy.”

There were 671 City of Nicollet residents that voted, including the people who voted early. There were 70 new registrants. Fred Froehlich was re-elected as mayor for a two-year term. Mary Wels and Matthew Anthony were re-elected as council members for four-year terms.

Maintenance

Two bids have come in for the check valve replacement on the lift stations. Tri-State Pump’s bid was $17,949.68 and Quality Flow Systems’ bid was $17.155.00. The council approved the bid from Quality Flow Systems to be paid from the American Rescue Plan money.

The council also approved to use the remaining American Rescue Plan money for the $16,940.49 repair for the water tower, a transfer switch for the lift station for an estimated $6,000, and about $4,000 for payment of the new office door.

New Business/Approvals

The council approved the Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur County Mutual Aid Agreement. This agreement is made pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 471.59 which authorizes the joint and cooperative exercise of powers common to contracting parties.

Mayor Froehlich requested the Personnel Committee, Council Members Kevin Ostermann and Mary Wels, to complete job reviews so that they are complete for the December council meeting so things can be in order by the first of the year.

Nicollet’s Truth in Taxation hearing will be 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9. with the regular meeting to follow at 6:15 p.m.