Council approves ice arena agreeement, advances street work

The Worthington City Council on Monday unanimously approved a new ice arena lease agreement with the Worthington Hockey Association during its meeting Monday.

According to the terms of the new agreement, starting this year, each entity will pay for its individual hours of ice time used. Beforehand, the hockey association would pay for District 518 high school hockey's ice time.

The hockey association will pay the city a lump sum fee of $54,625.00, for 475 hours ($115/hour, the same as last year) of specified ice time, with additional hours available at a rate of $115.00 per hour. It shall maintain the concession stand; and be responsible for everything hockey-related, other than ice maintenance.

In another matter, council members approved the third and final required reading of an ordinance that pertains to the use and operation of electric-assisted bicycles in the city. City Administrator Steve Robinson again stressed that fully motorized bicycles and scooters are restricted from city trails; pedal-assisted systems are permitted.

Additionally, the council approved proposed assessments and scheduled hearings for multiple street reconstruction projects. These include: Shell Street from Ninth Avenue to Lake Avenue, Church Avenue from Oxford Street to Clary Street, Ray Drive North Extension from Ryan’s Road to Kwik Trip and Second Avenue from 12th Street to 13th Street.

Assessments and a hearing for 2026 miscellaneous unpaid charges including removal of ice and snow, removal of noxious weeds and vegetation, unpaid charges for alarm monitoring services, unpaid charges for the storm water utility and unpaid charges for the streetlight utility were also approved.

Public hearings on each of these matters have been scheduled for the council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28.

Taking into account the recommendation of the Worthington Fire Department personnel, council members concurred with the WFD and re-appointed current chief Trent DeGroot for 2027.

The chief shall have general supervision of the department at all times and have control over all apparatus, equipment and supplies and command over all persons who are employees of the department. The chief reports to the city administrator.

All current WFD officers were also re-appointed to their positions. They include 1st Assistant Chief Bryan Spittle, 2nd Assistant Chief Cory Greenway, Secretary Dayton Williamson and Maintenance BJ Klinkenborg.

Additionally, the council approved a request of a 2.0% adjustment for the Worthington Firefighters Relief Association Pension effective Jan. 1. The pension will advance from $3,100 per year of active service to $3,162, which accounts for inflation.

Proposed assessments and public hearing dates were also approved for reconstruction projects including East Ninth Avenue water and sanitary extension from 10th Street to 11th Street, Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue from Ninth Street to 11th Street, and Murray Avenue from Nobles Street to East dead end. Public hearings on these projects will take place at the 5:30 p.m. Oct. 12 meeting.

The council on Monday also approved a tax abatement request for the construction a new single-family home by Greg and Barbara Raymo on South Shore Drive. The new home will replace two existing single-family homes (1816 and 1810 South Shore Drive) and be built over the two lots. The existing homes are being relocated -- one in the city and one within the county.

A task order with Bolton & Menk Inc. that will initiate phase one of the South Shore Drive Causeway Feasibility Study was also approved. The study will include traffic data collection and analysis, development and evaluation of potential roadway options and planning level cost estimates to assist the city in determining how to move forward with future improvements.

The total cost for the task order is not to exceed $24,888, with the study anticipated to be completed by March 31, 2027.