At the May 18 meeting of the city council a six-month contract was approved for Interim Administrator Michelle Marotzke. Councilman Dean Aug was absent.
Marotzke has recently been serving as the Preston/Lanesboro EDA director. She has a Master’s in Business Administration and has EDA municipal utility experience.
Deputy Clerk Sheila Marzolf and the office manager, Marilyn Bakke, will help Marotzke get settled in the position. Like the last time a new administrator started, Marzolf and Bakke will have additional duties for a time. Approval was granted for a salary increase of $5 per hour for a period of three months.
General Manager and Public Works Director Jim Bakken submitted his resignation, effective June 12. Mayor Kurt Reicks thanked Bakken for all he has done for the city over the past 18 years.
The city council ratified Preston Public Utilities Commission (May 13) approval to advertise for a general manager and Public Works director position.
Other Business in Brief
•A public hearing was held regarding the abatement of diseased trees on private property. Property owners had been notified and provided the opportunity to have diseased trees removed. Bakken reported on seven properties that still have diseased trees. There was no public comment during the hearing.
A resolution was adopted to have the cost of each abatement plus a $100 administrative cost assessed against the property owners with the diseased trees. The cost of abatement varies on each of these properties. The county auditor will collect with property taxes in a single installment or up to 10 equal annual installments at 5% interest. Property owners will be notified of this resolution and their right to remove the diseased trees before the city undertakes the abatement action.
•A resolution in support of House File 3852A and House File 3852, submitted by Rep. Greg Davids, was approved. House File 3852A is a request in the amount of $1,000,000 for bonding proceeds for rehabilitation of the historic Forestville bridge. House File 3852 is a request for bonding dollars in the amount of $6,000,000 for the construction of the Root River State Trail from Preston to Carimona. Councilman Steve Hall said this will be on the record for the future, as the legislative session has concluded for this year.
•A contract with Great Plains Institute was approved as accepted by the EDA board. Marotzke explained the city had applied for a grant through the Minnesota Department of Commerce for $20,000 to develop a feasibility study for solar-powered e-bike charging stations in Preston and Lanesboro. Two bids for the study had been submitted. Work is to be concluded by October 31.
•Approval was granted authorizing the sale of city property (1.70 acres) to Dwight and Amy Luhmann. A purchase agreement had been originally entered into in April 2025. City Attorney Joe O’Koren said this was the final step in the process for the title work.
•Corporate authorization resolutions to add Marotzke and to remove the previous city administrator as a signatory on F & M Community Bank and Visa Card Merchants Bank were approved.
•A closed meeting was held to discuss a purchase option agreement with Fillmore County for the purchase of property proposed for the new wastewater treatment facility site. After the closed meeting, the city council approved the purchase offer for two parcels to be forwarded to Fillmore County for their review. The agreement would allow the city to complete soil sampling, borings to determine if the site is feasible for the WWTF.
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