Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
The Mabel City Council recognized Mabel resident and business owner Tim Mengis with a plaque for 30 years of service with Mabel EMS during the Mabel City Council meeting Wednesday, September 9.
The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by Mayor Adam Wilder. Council members present were Kelly Sand, Valerie Arnold, Tina Bakke and Kirsten Wyffels. Others in attendance included City Clerk Karen Larson, Public Works Director Robert Mierau, and Carson Hacket, Davy Engineering.
Hacket updated the council on increased costs for the watermain and street improvement project. The council approved change order No. 1; Resolution No. 2026-12, declaring official intent to obtain reimbursement; and Amendment No. 1 to the owner-engineer agreement.
The minutes from the August 12 regular city council meeting, accounts payable totaling $81,1169.51 and financial statements were unanimously approved.
The council approved the 2026-27 proposed General Fund budget and levy payable in 2027. The proposed final levy is $509,136, which reflects a 4.89% increase. The council was reminded that the levy cannot be increased, but it can be decreased before the end of the year. The Truth in Taxation meeting will be held prior to the December city council meeting.
The council approved a request from Richard’s Sanitation to change the town’s recycling schedule from weekly to every other week. Residents will receive a larger recycling bin that will not blow over in the wind. The date when this change will take place has not been determined. The city will let the residents know once it has been finalized with Richard’s Sanitation.
In other business, the council:
Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
•Approved zoning permits for Mike Aasum to remove and replace 12 windows at 101 S. Cedar Street; the Mabel Fire Department to replace the old bell and extend the driveway; and STS Plumbing and Heating to replace the front door, two windows and the log cabin siding on the front of the building with vinyl siding.
•Agreed to keep the October 14 meeting date and approved changing the November meeting date from Wednesday, November 11, to Thursday, November 12.
•Announced that the Fillmore County Household Hazardous Waste Fall Collection will take place Tuesday, October 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
•Approved increasing the Fire Relief Pension from $1,000 to $1,100 per eligible firefighter.
•Approved the request from Fillmore County to sell tax-forfeited property for delinquent taxes. The current owner is Howard and Helen Ellis, 317 Locust St. N., Mabel for 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
•Appointed Kendra Spalla and Sandy Christopher as head election judges for the 2026 statewide general election, along with election judges Larry Gifford, Myrna Wilson and Linda Turner.
Mierau reported on the lift station, the water tower presentation at the October city council meeting, and the three watermain breaks that occurred on the same day on Locust Street last week. The city will need to decide the next step regarding the watermain which is “outside of the plans” and is a “moving target.” There will be a presentation on the water tower at the October city council meeting. Mieru also reported the town is ready for the 74th annual Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Days, scheduled for September 10-13.
Before the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m., the city discussed the feral cat situation in Mabel, which is getting out of hand.
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