At its May meeting, the Mabel City Council set a date for a special meeting to discuss the fate of the daycare center and determine if the unfinished daycare center is a potential project for Mabel Economic Development Authority (EDA).
Construction of the daycare center at the northeast side of Mabel was started last year by a Caledonia company. Unfortunately, their financial backing fell through and the daycare center was left half built. A local company stepped in and continued construction, but their financing also fell through.
“Mabel could really use a daycare center,” Mayor James Westby said. “It’s a good thing in so many ways. Hopefully we can figure out how to make it happen…maybe there’s some bonding available.” The special meeting is set for Wednesday, May 17 at 5 p.m. at City Hall.
In other business, Mayor Westby gave an update on the ordinance violation letters that went out to Mabel residents. “I took 47 photos of cars, mattresses and junk throughout the city and letters were sent to property owners with the photos,” Westby said. “Quite a few residents have already responded to the letters and have taken action.”
City Clerk, Karen Larson said, “I think it helped that the letters went out from our city attorney’s office this year. The letters gave property owners specific actions to take and encouraged them to use the May 13 Mabel Clean-up Day to remove items.”
Residents that fail to comply will get citations and further action will be taken, including the city removing items and charging property owners for the expense.
Last month, City Attorney Greg Schieber addressed the solar ordinance zoning questions and sent examples from other cities, including Lanesboro and North Branch, for council members to review.
It was suggested by Mayor Westby that a committee be formed to work with City Works Director Bob Miereau to draft an ordinance for Mabel. Gary Morken and Terry Torkelson volunteered to be on the committee. The process to finalize an ordinance will take several months.
City Works Director Miereau updated the council on the bids he obtained for blacktopping Cherrywood Drive. The budget for the project was $25,000 and the three bids were $66,000, $26,500 and $24,550. The low bid was from River City Paving in Decorah. Miereau thought the low bid was still pretty high, about $98 per ton, but at least it was below budget.
Mayor Westby asked for a motion to move forward with the Cherrywood Drive project and council member Terry Torkelson made a motion to sign-off on it. There was not a second and the motion was not carried through.
City Clerk Larson brought forth a request from the ambulance director, Sarah Delaney, for an increase in pay for workers covering ambulance responses during the day. Delaney indicated that it’s getting more difficult to find coverage for these 12 hour shifts.
The current rate of pay is 50 cents an hour and Delaney asked it to be raised to 75 cents and also an additional $5 per run. There hasn’t been an increase for more than six years. A motion was passed for the approval of the increases.
In a follow-up from last month’s meeting, a cement barricade was installed at the end of Steam Engine Park grounds. The hope is that this action will resolve the speed of vehicles driving through the park.
New banners on the Main Street light poles are getting replaced by the Mabel Business Association. The large hanging baskets have been ordered and will be hung soon. The city’s tree planting project went very well this year. Special thanks to Mayor Westby for picking up the trees.
Council member and president of the EDA Board, Kirsten Wyffels, reported that the community center has been busy this past month with prom and three weddings. All of the weddings have been people outside of Mabel who are coming here to use the facility and bringing business to our community.
After review of accounts payable, the council approved the allocation of $66,076.83 for bills to be paid this period.
The next Mabel City Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 14 at 7 p.m.
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