Laurie LeGrande visited the Houston City Council meeting April 11 to share what she called “the most positive, uplifting news” about the local food shelf. LeGrande, who has run the program for the last eight years, thanked the council for allowing the food shelf to use the city-owned former ambulance building.
During COVID, a table was set up near the door and staff “shopped” the shelves and delivered the selections to the waiting patrons. LeGrande stressed that her goal has always been to give people access to food that is easy, fun, and enjoyable.
People visiting the food shelf have been “so grateful” according to LeGrande. They are surprised to find produce, bread, milk, cheese, and butter available there.
Now with financial and organizational assistance from FFEN (Foundation for Essential Needs, a Minneapolis organization) the food shelf is moving from a “cans and boxes” food shelf to a grocery store set up.
All new shelving, two glass front coolers, and a freezer will be installed after the concrete floor gets a new surface this coming Saturday. The food shelf will be closed Thursday, April 21 to allow the floor surfacing to completely dry. On April 22 the shelving and appliances will be installed; a grand reopening is scheduled for April 28.
LeGrande hopes to increase the fresh food availability even more in the “new” food shelf and thanked the community enthusiastically for its generous support of the food shelf.
Fire gear donated to Ukraine
Fire Chief Steve Skifton shared a plaque the fire department was presented for donating 15 sets of turnout gear, 10 air packs, and other equipment to Ukraine. The gear had been replaced about seven years ago and could no longer be used here in the U.S. The gear was dropped off at the Oronoco Fire Department which is spearheading the effort to get used equipment to Ukraine.
OHV
With the mention of the OHV on the council agenda, representatives of the anti-OHV group returned to the council meeting. The item on the agenda was the routine submission of the 2022 annual grant status report. The city’s report which needs to be submitted by the end of April states that remaining items to be completed by the city are an archaeological review and a letter for the Soil and Water Conservation District. It continues that the project has come across resistance by a group within the community, and that the group is looking for a way to stop the project. The group is claiming that the environmental due diligence was not adequately completed by the agencies or the MN DNR.
The city is waiting for the MN DNR to provide a definitive letter stating that all of the required processes were followed as well as any and all implications the city would face if the project did not move forward.
Members of the anti-OHV group asked the council when they were going to take any action. The council responded that they were still waiting for answers from the DNR. No action is planned until the answers are received. In the public comment period, Karla Bloem said she had contacted the DNR and had been assured the city would have a written response within two to three weeks.
Other business
In other business the council;
• Approved a resolution on police joint powers on behalf of the city attorney and police with the department of public safety and BCA;
• Granted gambling permits to the Caledonia Wrestling Club (event to occur during Hoedown) and DLC, Inc. for an event to benefit local families in need to be held June 25;
• Approved the advertisement of a three-year agreement for the harvesting of native seeds on city property;
• Chose white lettering for new community center signage; further signage may be added at the building later;
• Approved a joint powers agreement for a bike trail extension project; the proposed trail would run through Hokah to La Crescent;
• Decided to hire a temporary part-time nature center assistant at $10.50/hour while keeping the position open to the possibility of a permanent hire;
• Directed city administration to reach out to hire and train additional election judges;
• Approved moving ahead with obtaining quotes on repairing the roofs of city buildings affected by storm damage in the amount of insurance coverage;
• Approved pay application #12 for $158,457.55 to Wapasha Construction for the wastewater treatment plant project.
The next meeting of the Houston City Council will take place at 6 p.m. on May 9 in the city hall council chambers; the meeting is open to the public.
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