News

Please Click the links below for the 2018 City of Arlington Housing study. 

2018 Arlington Housing Study

Arlington Housing Study Appendix

Are you going away for the holidays or going on vacation this winter? Would you like the police to watch over your house when you are gone? Please fill out this form and return it to the Police Department at 108 4th Ave. NW. Take the stress out of your vacation.

Click here for the form. 

ATTENTION ALL ARLINGTON RESIDENTS!! 
The City of Arlington has been notified that someone is calling around to business owners and residents claiming to be from the City of Arlington Electric Company and requesting that they go to the Dollar General to purchase a pre-paid credit card to pay their delinquent electric bill and if they do not call them back and pay their services will be turned off today. THIS IS NOT FROM THE CITY OFFICE. Please if anyone has received one of these calls, direct them to our office (507) 964-2378 and DO NOT pay these people, this is a scam!!

The Arlington Child Care Loan Program provides an incentive to new child care providers to provide services in the City of Arlington.

The program provides a matching forgivable loan for actual expenses relating to the cost of opening a child care business in the City of Arlington, up to $1,000 per child care provider. Qualifying expenses must be approved by the Sibley County Child Care Licensor and the Arlington EDA Director. Approved requests will be funded on a first-come/first-served basis until all funds are expended. In addition, the opportunity exists that the Arlington Economic Development Authority’s revolving loan programs could be available to assist with the costs of opening a child care business.

ELIGIBILITY
1. Only new child care providers located within the City of Arlington are eligible for the loan program.

2. All items for which the child care provider is requesting funds must be approved by the Sibley County Licensor and the Arlington EDA Director.

3. Items purchased prior to EDA approval will typically not be eligible for funding unless the EDA finds significant underlying purposes for work beginning prior to project approval (i.e. inability of quorum for a meeting, and the like).

4. Funds may be requested for the following items (up to):
 Licensing fee ($100)
 Background study fee ($100)
 Pre Licensing training ($175/per person)
 Ongoing training ($250/per person)
 Fire Marshal visit, if needed ($50)
 Smoke Detectors ($10/each)
 Fire extinguishers ($35 )
 Outlet plugs ($4)
 Stationary baby gate ($60)
 First aid kits ($15)
 Utensils/plates/cups ($30)
 Pack n Play ($120)
 Pack n Play sheet ($10)
 Cots ($120)
 High chair/booster seat ($40)
 Fluid Cleanup kit ($15)
 Potty seat/chair ($20)
 Monitor ($40)
 Toys for each age group ($200)
 Craft supplies ($200)
 Strollers ($100)

5. Other uses may also be eligible if prior approval is obtained by the Sibley County Licensor and the Arlington Economic Development Authority.

PROJECT GUIDELINES
Program oversight and authority for loan approval is delegated to the City of Arlington Economic Development Authority. The Economic Development Authority shall review loan applications and may approve loan issuance after considering the following guidelines:

1. Completed applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

2. Preference will be given to projects which:
 Will create new child care slots and reduce the gap in the number of child care slots in the City of Arlington.
 Demonstrate a ratio of private investment to public investment greater than 2:1

3. The proposed expense receipts must be submitted within (6) months of loan approval. If the receipts are not submitted within six months, the Applicant may resubmit a child care loan application for reconsideration.

LOAN DISBURSEMENT
Following loan approval the Lessee shall execute a promissory note. Awarded loan funds will be dispersed to the child care provider upon submittal of receipts or invoices for supplies purchased.

REPAYMENT OF LOAN
The amount of the loan (without interest) will be due and payable to the Arlington EDA one (1) year following the distribution of loan funds. If, however, the child care business to which the loan was granted remains in business in one (1) year following the distribution of loan funds, the loan shall be forgiven by the Arlington EDA.

Click here for full loan details and loan application. 

2018 Arlington City Council Goals

Economic development

1. Acquire access to the south Industrial Park
2. Conduct a housing study to identify the type of housing needed within the City
3. Take steps to improve business retention and attraction

Communications

1. Work to resolve the limited radio reception throughout the City
2. Research options for replacing existing City phone system
3. Review Information Technology Services based on customer service and functionality.

Strategic management

1. Conduct a strategic planning process with input from the public
2. Update the existing Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
3. Develop a five year budget process

Organizational effectiveness

1. Develop staff and management team
2. Scan documents for retention in a management system and discard hard copy records.
3. Streamline departments through updating job descriptions and cross-training

Recently ten homes in our community had their household drinking water tested for lead and copper, and the testing was conducted under rules adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, a few of the samples that were taken used improper sampling techniques, and therefore the City does not believe that the results accurately reflect the water supply system. As a result, more than ten percent of the homes tested, were above the federal action level for lead in drinking water. The City has undertaken the required corrective actions of public notification and an on-going education program, as well as increased testing requirements.

In promoting public awareness, we’ve included the enclosed brochure Important Information about Lead in your Drinking Water. The brochure provides information on the potential health effects, possible sources of lead in your drinking water, and simple steps to take to protect yourself from lead exposure.

Power Outage

Please contact City of Arlington Staff immediately when you are experiencing a power outage.

**DO NOT contact McLeod Cooperative Power, they cannot help you! **

Monday-Friday (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) 507-964-2378

Emergency After-Hours (anytime) 507-327-6601

*In the event of a mass power outage, the “After-Hours” phone may be busy due to the amount of phone calls coming in. Customers are encouraged to leave a detailed message during this time and City Staff will call you back when they can.

With the warmer weather, more residents have been out walking their pets around the City. Residents should be aware of ordinance 283, The Keeping of Animals Within the City Limits. All animals kept or held within city limits must be physically controlled by a person or entity. If your pet is allowed outside, they must be caged, fenced in, or on a leash. Any cage, building, or leash must be of sufficient composition to reasonably prevent the animal from injuring any person or property. You may take your animal(s) on walks along the public streets, sidewalks and alleyways, as long as the animal is held by a leash to restrain the animal. No animal shall be allowed to trespass onto private property. If the animal conducts a bowel movement during its walk, the person controlling the dog must immediately pick up, remove and dispose of it in a garbage container located at your home.