Photo by Hannah Wingert
Sandy Strozyk attended the December 8 Harmony City Council meeting to present a giant check in the amount of $87,000 to the council for the splashpad project. $31,723 was raised earlier this year and another $19,128 was raised on Give to the Max Day. Funding was also received from various organizations including the Lions Club, SMIF, Harmony Area Community Foundation, Fire Relief, and more. The council thanked her for her work on the project.
The next step for the splash pad project is for the city to obtain quotes for the infrastructure. City Engineer Brett Grabau had previously prepared a quote guideline in February so it’s ready to go out to contractors. Three contractors will need to be hired for the project, one to put in the utilities, one to pour the concrete slab, and another to install the equipment.
Harmony resident Brad Thacher asked the council to define the partial reconstruction for the 2020 street and utility improvements. He said that while it was covered verbally at last month’s meeting, he wasn’t able to find it in the minutes. City Administrator Devin Swanberg said that he would get the information to Thacher at a later time.
The Truth in Taxation portion of the meeting was opened. The preliminary 2021 budget was adopted at the September council meeting with the tax levy being set at 10.2%. Over the last few months, the budget has been re-worked, and the levy was able to be lowered to 3.8%. Resolution 20-16 was passed approving the 2021 levy.
Harmony resident Amber Osmonson addressed the council to ask about her utility bill during the weeks of October 15 to November 2. During that time frame, the house was sitting empty except for when she was showing it to potential renters. She did not notice anything running or left on when she was in the house. Her total bill came to $700 with 45,000 gallons of water being used. She asked the council if it would be possible to reduce or adjust the bill. “I’m not looking for forgiveness of the bill,” she said. Mayor Steve Donney said that this type of thing happens occasionally with people coming to the council with large utility bills and the standard procedure is to offer a payment plan option as it’s often impossible for the council to know exactly what happened to cause the higher utility costs.
City maintenance worker Corey Whalen asked the council for permission to replace two pumps at the sewer plant as they’re old and no longer functioning well. Swanberg noted that the money to purchase the pumps are not available in the sewer fund and that city financial consultant Mike Bubany recommended taking the money from the other utility accounts to cover the cost. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice,” council member Steve Sagen said. The council approved the purchase.
The EDA received a $25,000 loan request from Chelsey Clausen to move her restaurant, The Bite, from Lanesboro to Harmony. She will be taking over the former Village Square/Falcon’s Nest building. The council approved the loan and welcomed Clausen to Harmony.
The EDA is currently looking into options for installing an electric car charging station in Harmony and is working to to find out what incentives are available.
Gerri Nielson resigned from the Arts Board. Her seat will be filled by Matthew Patterson.
Council member Deb Swenson mentioned that someone had asked her about installing signage directing people to the community center when they’re entering Harmony from Highway 44. Swanberg agreed to look into the matter.
The meeting was the last one for council members Lynn Mensink and Deb Swenson as their terms are up. “It’s fun to be part of something that runs so well and people get along so well here,” Mensink commented. Swenson echoed her sentiments and noted that she was happy to see younger people coming onto the council. “We are really a blessed community,” she said. Mayor Donney thanked both of them for their service and introduced the new council members, Jesse Grabau and Domingo Kingsley, to the council.
The next Harmony City Council meeting will be held on January 12 at 7 p.m.
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