Canton’s new branding

At their regular meeting on February 9, the Canton City Council approved the new branding of Canton. Touting Canton as the first incorporated stop on highway 52 in Southeast Minnesota, the branding features a curved highway bordered by grass and trees with the Highway 52 sign prominently featured in a green/blue color scheme. The logo is intended for use on city stationery, papers, signage and other promotions.

In another attempt to improve Canton, the council will hear a presentation from CEDA (Community and Economic Development Associates) at their March meeting.

Yet another opportunity to help with the downtown was offered by RETHOS: Places Reimagined. RETHOS sent a letter asking for communities in Southeast Minnesota interested in “participating in a study of their downtown for district revitalization.” They will be selecting three communities served by SMIF (Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation) for the studies.

Mayor Nick Prestby opined that it would be great to keep the old historic buildings in town; Carl Ernst commented that “any ideas to bring some life into our town” would be good. The council directed Brock Bergey, clerk/treasurer, to proceed with the proposal.

In his clerk report, Bergey informed the council that since the February billing with the new water rate increase, a handful of citizens had come in to complain. Apparently, some citizens feel the city will have extra money when the former city clerk makes restitution. Bergey pointed out that those funds were not to be used in this way; he went on to emphasize that the rate increase was needed to make ends meet and prepare for repairs to the aging infrastructure. Bergey has encouraged the public to talk to council members since they are the ones to make decisions.

Bergey presented the financial reports for 2021 to the council. In his presentation he pointed out and explained some of the more unusual amounts. The community development fund was at 186% of its budget because of improvements to the ballfield. General fund revenue was at 121% of budget because of federal COVID relief funding. The water fund showed a net loss of 104% due to an unexpected well issue. In addition, two CDs valued at $54,000 had been cashed in to cover the expenses. The fire department spent 2078% more on equipment but ended up with a gain in the fund of 164% of budget due to donations of $7,000 and grants for new turnout gear totaling $15,000.

The financial reports will be added to the website so the public will have access to all the information.

The alternate side parking ordinance has not been followed by some people, leading to cars plowed in and abandoned on the street. The deputies are hesitant to issue citations on them because streets don’t have curbs, making it hard to tell whether they are on the street or on private property.

Two cars on Hudson and Fillmore Avenues have been determined to be inoperable as well; one has a fuel tank issue and the other’s registration is expired. The council decided to send a letter to the owners instructing them to remove the cars within seven days or they will be ticketed as inoperable vehicles.

Other business

In other business, the council:

•Passed a resolution to allow keeping of up to six hens in city limits with a permit;

•Agreed to release 37.13 acres of the Galligan estate from the mortgage (the house will be retained — only ag land will be sold);

•Decided Mayor Prestby will write and present a victim impact statement for the city at the Melander sentencing;

•Approved purchasing a new city lawn mower and trying to have the city truck rebuilt after its transmission went out;

•Heard the wastewater treatment plant passed inspection by MPCA and the needed mixers had arrived;

•Cashed a CD for the Mitson House and put the funds in their checking account;

•Passed a resolution to request purchase conditions on the sale of the school property;

•Agreed to have city hall open until 5 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month on a trial basis for three months to accommodate requests for later hours;

•Decided to ask if anyone else wants to donate additional holiday street lights; a donor has already offered to donate four lights. The lights are on sale through March.

The next meeting of the council will be March 9, at 6 p.m. at the township hall. Clerk Bergey shared that the preliminary engineering report form WHKS will be presented at the meeting as well as a video presentation on the employee wage study, which will establish a 10 step pay scale. He informed council that most of the city employees are paid less than area city employees; an additional $12,000 yearly would be needed to bring their wages up to the norm.