Former Lanesboro council member Tom Dybing accepted a request from Mayor Jason Resseman to fill in for council member Autumn Johnson as her military deployment has been extended. At their April 6 council meeting, which was held via video conferencing, the council approved Resolution 2020-17 allowing Dybing to fill Johnson’s seat.
Brian Hoff from Fillmore County led the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. Lanesboro residents Stela Burdt and Kevin Drake asked Hoff to explain the increase in their property values. Drake said that he had spoken to other homeowners in Lanesboro who informed him that their values had not increased as much as his did. “I don’t mind paying taxes, but it’s the value of this place,” Drake said. “Pretty soon I won’t be able to afford to live here.” Hoff noted that the taxable market value and the estimated market value are two different numbers and asked Drake and Burdt to make sure they were looking at the correct one. Appeals will need to be brought before the Fillmore County Board of Appeals in June, but due to COVID-19, appraisers are not allowed to enter properties for assessments at this time. “If nothing has been done to the property and it’s been maintained, the value is going to go up without doing anything else just based on the sales study and that’s what’s happened,” Hoff said. Both Drake and Burdt plan to ask for an appraisal and then go before the county board with an appeal if nothing changes in their property values. Hoff agreed to maintain communication with both homeowners about the COVID-19 situation.
Coffee Street Inn Cleo Boll noted that her income is down due to COVID-19 and asked Hoff if income is a factor in determining property value as she had been told by her realtor that it would be. Hoff said that income is not usually used for valuation of property, but asked her to send him any information she has from her realtor on the matter so he could review it.
Hoff had reviewed Rick and Michelle Speltz’s property values with them over the phone prior to the meeting. At one time, they were licensed as a B&B, but are not any longer. Hoff recommended that the council raise the value of the property, which they did.
A roll call vote was passed closing the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting and calling the regular council meeting to order.
The minutes of the regular March 2 meeting were approved, as well as the minutes from the March 20 emergency meeting and the March 30 special meeting.
The discussion on the verification of roadways was tabled as City Administrator Michele Peterson is still waiting to hear back from some of the parcel owners. A tobacco license for Granny’s Liquor was approved with council member Chase Bakke abstaining due to conflict of interest. An ambulance subsidy contract with Fillmore County was approved. The cartway petition discussed at the previous two meetings was withdrawn as the property owners are trying to work the issue out privately.
The council discussed accessibility to public spaces and buildings in Lanesboro. The city has been following recommendations from the CDC. “We’ve been trying to make the best decisions possible. I just want a little more input from the council,” Peterson said. Mayor Resseman noted that he had seen a number of visitors to the town over the weekend. “We appreciate the fact that people rely on Lanesboro to come down and enjoy the outdoors, but having said that, it puts the town more at risk.” He recommended that the council close the campground, park, and other recreational areas. Council member Tom Smith didn’t feel that doing so would stop people from visiting Lanesboro and pointed out that those who do come will need to have at least one public restroom available to them. Bakke suggested bringing a port-a-potty into town for visitors, which the rest of the council concurred was a good idea. Council member Bridget Harvey was on the fence about closing the campground as it’s a self-contained area. “Part of social distancing is being able to recreate outside,” she said. The council decided to place three port-a-potties at various locations for visitors to Lanesboro and review the matter every month.
The council continued the discussion on whether to close the campground. Mayor Resseman noted that the DNR guideline is that people continue to participate in outdoor recreation on a local basis, meaning that ideally, they would take advantage of the area in which they live. His concern was more about social distancing between campers and Lanesboro residents than between the campers themselves. “Lots of residents might have an issue with seeing people camping and around town,” he pointed out, adding that it would be difficult to enforce a closure to the park and playground. Ambulance Director Deane Benson noted that more people in town would mean more emergency calls which could be a problem if the crew runs out of personal protective equipment. “If we get a call for a positive COVID call, are you going to push our crew to go in without proper PPE gear?” he asked.
Andrzej Salasinski said that the Chamber of Commerce has been receiving calls asking if it’s okay to come and bike in Lanesboro, but hasn’t been actively promoting tourism at this time. He asked to coordinate with the city on a statement that could be put on the Chamber website for the public. Mayor Resseman said that the city would work with the Chamber and other organizations on providing information. The council approved a motion to close the campground through the end of June and then reassess the situation. They also approved a motion to close the park, playground, basketball courts, and ball field and revisit those closures on a month-by-month basis. Signs will be posted at each location, and the basketball hoops will not be installed at this time.
The next Lanesboro City Council meeting will be held on May 4 at 6 p.m.
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