As tensions in the area continue to brew with proposed Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trails, it was made clear at the August 3 Rushford Village Council meeting that the village has not discussed the issue. Rather, the Village approved a Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund grant aimed at funding a trail study being conducted by students from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
Resident Steve Hartwick spoke during the time for citizen comments and expressed concern over proceeding with this specific type of trail development. “Once you get started, it’s hard to disengage from it. I just want to caution you about the course taken,” he said.
Mayor Dennis Overland noted that any trail development is happening via the state or county and that the Village is only participating in the study to determine what the community may want. Future trails may or may not include trails such as hiking, fat tire biking, and horseback riding, among other activities.
“This council has nothing to do with that [OHV] and has never said anything about it. No one has ever indicated we’re in favor of that,” stressed Councilor Roger Knutson. “I completely understand where you’re coming from, but we’re just going to sit here and speculate. It’s going to be a tough push to get that trail through here.”
It was further clarified that the Village hasn’t locked itself into trail development of any kind, but that the study is to gather information only. Should anything move beyond that stage, there would be public meetings and notices. Community Economic and Development Associates’ representative Rebecca Charles is the study head for the Village.
“The state of Minnesota now owns one-tenth of Rushford Village. If they’re taking up that much of the Village, we think they should be putting back in the community,” added Councilor Mike Ebner.
The council also discussed a recommendation by Bolton & Menk engineer Derek Olinger to review the street maintenance plan for potential needs over the next four to five years. The highest priority streets in the Preliminary Maintenance Plan include Sherwood, Prospect, Goodrich, from Meadow Avenue west, Main and Whitmore Streets, both from Highway 43 to Prospect only, Darr Lane, Hillview Drive, and Nordic Court. Priority Two streets include Laura Lane, Meadow Avenue, from Goodrich to Hayes and Hayes to Highway 16, and Oakview Loop. Priority One is estimated at $40,069 and Priority Two at $28,439.
At this time, the firm is recommending crack sealing for 2021 and chip sealing over the next four years. “Even if you don’t chip seal next year, it isn’t going to hurt anything,” stated Knutson. “We’re better off doing it in the long run. We’re going to save money in the end.”
The Village currently has $20,000 budgeted for roads, but a recent influx of $23,000 from the state, to be used for streets, would help ease the financial burden. The council opted to approve having Bolten & Menk prepare a request for proposals. The engineering cost is $3,000-4,000.
Also approved was providing short-term disability insurance to part-time village employees. City Clerk Mary Miner noted there is no short-term disability, through the League of Minnesota Cities, for those working under 30 hours per week. Part-time Public Works staff includes Trenten Chiglo and Preston Lacy, who work up to 25 hours per week.
According to Overland, the village has three options: change how many hours they are working, so the village can acquire a short-term disability option, don’t offer short-term disability to part-time employees, or self-insure. “With the hours they’re putting in, you’re still only paying a portion. If we offer to part-time, I recommend we self-insure. The premium is expensive.”
“As a municipality, I like that we’re setting the tone. We’re for the citizens; working for the citizens. I think we should offer it to our employees,” said Knutson.
Lastly, the council was made aware of a Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation (MERC) tax court refund. In a letter from the county auditor’s office, the village was informed that it, along with other municipalities, has been receiving tax payments from pipeline property owned by MERC. “The Minnesota Department of Revenue values MERC’s property and Fillmore County calculates their taxes based on that value,” said the letter. “MERC has taken the Minnesota Department of Revenue to court over the valuations and has been successful in their lawsuit.”
“All of the counties involved in this lawsuit are required to make a substantial payback to MERC for taxes payable 2021. The payback will be coming out of your upcoming settlement in October/November,” it continued. The village’s required payment is $1,086 of the county’s total $23,297.
According to Miner, $9,000 deducted from the village’s property taxes. “It’s considered personal property since they don’t show up on GIS mapping,” she added. “It’s going to be an ongoing thing and more companies are starting to do this. Basically, this is what we have to do and there’s nothing we can do.” The council expressed some frustration that if they’ve twice been found to be in the wrong, why they continue to be taxed on it. It was noted that at some point, it should come to a halt.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, August 17, at 7 p.m., at the Village Hall. The meeting is open to the public.
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