Milbank City Council Votes to Rename Unity Square

The Milbank City Council voted to rename Unity Square to Unity Health and Fitness on Monday, February 8, at their regular board meeting. The City of Milbank assumed ownership of the facility this year. 

Council members Hoeke and Weiner voted against the name-change measure.  Hoeke said he cast his vote because, “Milbank should be front and center in the new name and logo. The new name should have Milbank in it.”

According to John Forman, administrator for the City of Milbank, “The new name was selected during a national logo tournament.  The Milbank Park and Recreation Board selected the design from 125 entries and the Milbank City Council approved it.” 
Forman says, “Unity Square is being rebranded as Unity Health and Fitness and we are excited about the new logo. We hope it includes a piece of the traditional name along with a new spirit, a new identity, new programs, and new pride in our facility and community as we move forward.” “I anticipate we will not make a big splash with it (the logo) yet, but start using it and work into it. Milbank Area Recreation Center is more of a tag line. It will probably be on the sign out front, but not included everywhere the logo is used.” Forman says, “It will take some time to get the sign changed, but moving into the later part of spring and summer, our advertising and correspondence will feature the new logo.”

During the council meeting on February 8, council members also approved the purchase of a new Global M3 street sweeper at the cost of $225,691. Transource Truck and Equipment of Aberdeen allowed a $12,500 trade-in value for the city’s sweeper. According to Mayor Raffety, the 17-year-old sweeper required lots of repairs just to get through last season. “Our sweeper is pretty tired,” he said.

The council approved the only bid of $357,898 from J & J Earthworks for the installation of water and sewer at Lake Farley Park and Camp Grounds. The Flynn Nature Trail maintenance issue was also discussed at length during the parks and recreation department’s portion of the agenda. According to the council, the trail is neither owned by the city nor is it in the Milbank city limits. It is owned by the Flynn Estate. However, the City of Milbank has routinely been asked to remove snow, mow the grass, and fill holes and patch the trail. Weiner stated, “Covid has raised the level of walkers out there.  It is a good thing, but we shouldn’t be maintaining it for nothing.” The board decided to complete more research on the subject and tabled any decisions. The park and recreation department also reported contacting Lou Brown of Lou’s Greenhouse in Big Stone City about purchasing 70 trees to be planted this spring.  

The council voted to hire Katrina Weber as the receptionist at Unity Health and Fitness, Weber will be paid $10 per hour effective February 9. Bills in the amount of $110,706 were approved for payment. 

The consent agenda was approved to:

1. Authorize agreement with Banner Associates for the lighting design at the Lake Farley Soccer Fields at a cost of $5,800.

2. Authorize advertising for street material bids.

3. Approve hiring William Karels as a lifeguard at $11.33 per hour for the park and recreation department staff.

4. Approve the airport leases valid from January 2021 through December 2025 for Reimche Airspray – $2,445; Ryan Kohl – $115; Pat or Mary Bray -$115.;  James Grorud – $95; Steve Benson – $95;  Calvin Moser – $95;  Kirby Hins – $95; Dan and Shelly Loehrer – $160; Henry Kliner – $95; and Kevin Bjordahl – $160. The lease for Craig Ash – $95 was not approved.

5. Authorize advertising for lifeguards, seasonal summer recreation instructors, and seasonal park employees.

6. Authorize Mayor Raffety to sign the engineering agreement with Helms & Associates for project AIP 3-46-0034-018-2021, AWOS III, Weather Reporting System at the cost of $98,485.82.

7. Appoint Joel Foster to the Consolidated Board of Equalization beginning the second Tuesday in April.
The next regular meeting of the Milbank City Council is scheduled for March 8 at 7 p.m. in the Milbank Visitors Center.