Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
The Caledonia City Council met in regular session Monday, June 13, from 6-6:33 p.m. at city hall. Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council members in attendance included Mayor (Tank) Schroeder, Robert “Bob” Klug, David Fitzpatrick, and Brad Rykhus. Council member Amanda Ninneman was absent.
Mayor Schroeder opened the meeting by welcoming Jake Dickson, the new city clerk/administrator to Caledonia and the city council. Dickson promptly stated, “I am ready to get to work.”
The minutes from the May 23 regular city council meeting, disbursements, and payroll were approved.
The council approved the request to pay Wapasha Construction Co., Inc. $349,838.65 for work completed at the Wastewater Treatment Facility.
The Founder’s Day committee request to close Pine Street in front of the fire department, Marshall from the gazebo to Frankie’s, and Lincoln behind the gazebo on June 18 was approved.
The American Legion Post 249 received an off-site gambling permit to offer bingo at the Houston County Fair, August 18-21.
The Caledonia Area Fire Fighter Support Inc. donated $10,000 toward the purchase of the 1998 Pierce Lance Tower fire truck.
Council members approved Mayor Schroeder, Councilmember David Fitzpatrick, City Clerk/Administrator Dickson, and Finance Officer Stephanie Mann, as signers on all three of the city’s bank accounts – Bank of the West, Eitzen State Bank, and Merchants Bank.
Council member Klug mentioned during the public comment portion of the meeting that he received a call from an elderly resident expressing her concern about participating in the new trash and recycling service when she only puts out one bag every couple of weeks. She noted that she has been talking with older residents with the same complaint. It was confirmed that there is no opting out of the new trash/recycling program.
Dickson noted that action is not required regarding Ordinance 2022-01; An Interim Ordinance Establishing a Study Period and Moratorium for a Period of up to Twelve Months on Developments in the Agricultural (AG) District as he is just looking for direction from the council. Council members agreed that they would like the project worked on in-house.
New business
The council granted Ambulance Director Mike Tornstrom request to attend the American Ambulance Association Annual conference in Nashville, Tenn., September 18-20, 2022. Tornstrom explained in his request, “This conference provides attendees with insight into current need to know topics in EMS to include Medicare, Medicaid updates, EMS workforce storages and many more administrative topics. Noteworthy, is the new CMS ground ambulance data collection system which Caledonia Ambulance is in the process this year. It is my intent to concentrate on the cost collection topics at this conference.”
The council approved the new assistant training officer position for the fire department contingent on approval from the rural fire department.
The next regularly scheduled Caledonia City Council meeting is on Monday, June 27 at 6 p.m., at Caledonia City Hall, 231 E. Main Street, Caledonia. The meeting is open to the public.
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