The Council tackled a 15-year-old issue involving a utility transformer on Central Avenue, owned by DIC Holdings LLC. The transformer had been left unaddressed since a 2008-2009 project aimed at improving an alley by the police station. The city agreed to cover costs to raise the transformer, working closely with DIC Holdings and Excel Energy, which will execute the task. This decision was made to fulfill a previous agreement from 2009 that was never acted upon. The project will cost approximately $2,511 and will include coordination with local building owners and tenants to handle the necessary power shutoff during the transformer work.

The Council also devoted attention to the city’s 2025 citywide tree removal program. They bundled and approved resolutions for four separate contracts aimed at removing diseased trees throughout Faribault. The contracts, divided into four sections, received bids from multiple contractors, with “From the Ground Up” being the lowest bidder for each section. The estimated cost for the removal of approximately 183 trees across the city is $186,000, a figure lower than the city’s initial estimate. The project is set to commence in early August, with a completion deadline in late October.

Additionally, the Council approved the demolition of the building on Central Avenue. Fitzgerald Excavating and Trucking was awarded the contract with a bid of just under $32,000, which was favorable compared to the city’s estimate of $50,000. The demolition is expected to begin in late August, with plans to convert the site into green space.