Mabel Mayor Adam Wilder announced at the September 13 Mabel, Minn., City Council meeting that all 5,000 buttons were sold at Steam Engine Days, “Not sure when the last time they did that.”
Wilder expressed his thanks to all the groups, Toot & Whistle, Historical Society, Business Association, Mabel Lions, all the volunteers, the Queens, noting, “Everything went great.” He also mentioned that the new Steam Engine Days float looked great, and thanks to the city council for approving all the projects at the Steam Engine Grounds to make it look great.
Mayor Wilder called the regularly scheduled meeting to order at 6 p.m. Council members in attendance included Mayor Wilder, Tina Bakke, Kiersten Wyffells, Cory Wilson and Valerie Arnold. Others in attendance were City Clerk Karen Larson, Quilters Therapy Quilt Club president Willa St. John and member Cheyanne Thompson.
Minutes from the August 9 meeting were approved as written. The council unanimously approved a motion to pay the bills totaling $116,423.48. City Clerk Larson noted that Don Hagen with Don’s Dust Control LLC, Spring Grove, Minn., gave the city a $200 discount on his bill for Steam Engine Days. Last year it was a $100 discount. Larson also explained that the $3,979 payment to the Fillmore County auditor-treasurer, “On the incubator building we do have to pay property taxes. That is the only city property we do. It is based on how it is used, because it is leased out and there is money to be had. That is the second half.”
President St. John and Thompson thanked the city for allowing the club to use the community center for their annual quilt show during the Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Days. The letter sent to the city said, “Quilters Therapy is a service group with a mission that includes making Quilts for Veterans and other charitable causes. We promote fiber arts in our community and in 2024 we will begin a youth outreach campaign in cooperation with Fillmore County 4-H.” The ladies mentioned the complaints that were brought to their attention and assured the city that they have been addressed.
The council approved the 2022-2023 proposed budget and a levy increase of 5.54%. Larson said that this increase is “better than last year,” and reminded the council they can decrease the levy at the end of the year when the 2024 budget is “more accurate” but it cannot be raised. The Truth in Taxation hearing is always scheduled at the December council meeting. This year the hearing will be held on December 13 at 6 p.m.
The city received over $10,000 in donations from local clubs and individuals for improvements to the softball field. The donations will cover over half the cost of the improvements. The council moved to replace the existing surface of the field with 6” of red clay to be completed this fall.
In other business the council:
•Approved two zoning permits, one for Mark and Tonia Ruport to tear down an old building and another one for Melissa Henderson to add a 20’ x 20’ deck in her backyard.
•Approved an off-site gambling permit for the fire department’s dance at the community center on November 25.
•Approved the revised Mabel Fire Department volunteer handbook.
•Approved a motion to apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development loan. The funds will be used to replace water mains and necessary street work. The streets that will be affected are Prairie Ave., Oak St., Newburg Ave., Elm St., Locust St., Maple St., Bellville Ave.
•Adopted resolution 2023-07, “regarding distributed energy resources and net metering and rules governing the interconnection of congeneration and small power production facilities.”
•No action was taken on the MMUA letter as the contract was not received in time for the meeting.
•Approved the request from the fire department to purchase a pickup from Stateline Auto Sales to replace the Ranger which will be sold. The sale of the Ranger is expected to cover half the price of the truck. The purchase price of the truck is $34,724.00.
Wyffells reported that EDA did not meet prior to the council meeting and emphasized that all loans are current. Larson added the EDA is planning on applying to the Arlin Falk grant for a projector.
Mayor Wilder called to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled Mabel City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11 at the Mabel Community Center, 201 South Main Street, Mabel. For questions, contact City Clerk Karen Larson at (507) 493-5299 or karen.larson@cityofmabel.com. The meeting is open to the public.
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