Photo By Kirsten Zoellner
Concerns over rising costs led the Peterson Council to approve a 5% budget and tax levy increase for 2023. The council set the preliminary amount at 8% or $105,973.
Councilor Chris Stenzel noted comparative levies from other cities in the 5-7% range, the smaller increases in cities able to absorb the costs better.
“Everyone is experiencing a lot of higher costs,” added Councilor Tracy Seelbinder.
“Everyone is in a budget crisis. What’s manageable?” asked Mayor Dave Colbenson.
The council unanimously approved setting the final at a 5% increase, or $103,029.
The council also certified overdue utility bills of seven properties to Fillmore County for addition to property tax rolls. The county collects payment through taxes and reimburses the city. The bulk of the overdue amounts range from $833 to $1,475. The largest owed is $9,629.
The city contacted all property owners before taking this action. They can make payments on overdue bills until the end of November. If paid, partially or in full, the city will notify Fillmore County to make adjustments.
Eight citizens were present for the meeting: Jaremy and Candi Volkman, Caitlin Myhre, Desirae Halvorson, Ryan Conner, Michael Burt, Pete Erickson, and Loren Rue. During the time for citizen comment, several noted concerns regarding the November 8 election, particularly the process.
“From the outside looking in, it’s really corrupt on our elections,” said Jaremy Volkman. “Why aren’t we voting here? It looks very dirty how that all happened. Some didn’t get ballots.” Volkman also noted the low voter turnout. “That’s not a good turnout. That’s suppressing the vote and that’s not right.”
The city of Peterson utilizes mail-in balloting. City Clerk Chris Grindland revisited the election process, which the council approved in early 2020 due to the pandemic. “Everyone registered to vote gets a ballot,” explained Grindland. The city kept the mail-in balloting process because of ongoing Covid-19 effects and to allow more residents, including those without transportation or the ability to travel, an opportunity to vote.
In September, the city included voting information in the city newsletter. Two October notices sent to all city properties also reminded residents of the balloting process. The notice included a hyperlink to information about the candidates and information to contact Fillmore County regarding missing ballots. Up until the end of the week before the election, early voting absentee ballots, to mail from one’s home, were available for request and being sent from the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Peterson residents wanting to cast their mail-in ballot in person were required to drive to the county seat, Preston. Had the city done in-person voting, it would have been conducted in the voting precinct and held at Rushford Village Hall, not in Peterson.
“We don’t send out the ballots. That’s done from the county,” added Councilor Tracy Seelbinder. “This will come back for review in January. We just have to look at it again.”
Election results were not canvassed and certified at the meeting. The city is waiting for the official results from Fillmore County. The Minnesota Secretary of State website indicated that Councilor Chris Stenzel won the mayoral seat, garnering 90% of the vote, 46 votes, while former mayor Tim Hallum received 10%. Colbenson had been running on a write-in ticket for the mayoral seat. Write-in tallies will be available with official county information.
Candidate Kristina Lynch Grindland received the most votes for a council seat, getting 60 votes, or 43% She will fill the seat vacated by Colbenson when he moved into the mayoral seat following the resignation of Hallum in September. Councilor Gail Boyum received the second highest, with 47 votes, or 33%, retaining her council seat. Colbenson, who had earlier filed for reelection to his councilor’s position, received just 34 votes, or 24%.
The new council members will take the oath of office at the organizational meeting in January. At that meeting, the council will declare a vacancy for the seat of now-councilor Chris Stenzel, whose term doesn’t expire until 2024, as he transitions to the position of mayor. The council will need to vote to appoint a person to the vacant position.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, December 14, at 6 p.m. at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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