Kara Maloney from Lanesboro Arts spoke to the Lanesboro City Council at their January 2 meeting. As a past participant in the Filthy 50 bike race, she stated that she is in favor of the event and sees it as an economic driver for Lanesboro businesses. However, she noted that she has concerns about the proposed street closures on the day of the race, citing concerns that allowing the closures may have a negative impact on businesses. She suggested using the Bass Pond parking lot for the event instead.
Filthy 50 organizer Trenton Raygor addressed the council via Zoom to discuss the race which is scheduled for October 12, 2024. He requested council approval to return the event to Lanesboro, close Coffee Street between Parkway and the alley behind Pedal Pushers Cafe from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., and close Parkway from Elm to Coffee from 10 am to 8 pm. Mayor Resseman asked Raygor if he had spoken to the business owners about the street closures. Raygor said that he had reached out to over 20 and was able to speak to 13, three of whom were not in favor of the street closures. Mayor Resseman noted that he had received many comments about the race regarding safety concerns when the participants are biking the gravel roads. He said that he is aware that Raygor reminds riders before the race that they need to follow the rules of the road and be aware of farm equipment that is also using the road, but the concerns raised were significant. Council member Mindy Albrecht-Benson asked Raygor if he had thought of having people patrol the course. Raygor responded that that was already a regular part of the race. Council member Joe Goetzke felt that the safety concerns and questions about the street closures warranted tabling the requests to allow more time for the council to consider options. A motion to do so was approved. Mayor Resseman asked Raygor to have a discussion with the city administrator about the concerns, adding that the council appreciates what the Filthy 50 brings to Lanesboro.
The consent agenda was approved and included accounts payable, the designations of Merchants Bank as the city’s official depository and Fillmore County Journal as the city’s official newspaper, a resolution authorizing lawful gambling for the Lanesboro Fire Department Relief Association, the city’s mileage reimbursement rate, gambling permits for the Root River Game Protective League and the Lanesboro Claydusters and a pay increase for the fire department custodians. Mayor Jason Resseman, City Administrator Mitchell Walbridge, and Deputy Clerk Darla Taylor were approved as the signature authorities for the city. Chase Bakke, Mitchell Walbridge, and Rob Wagner were appointed as trustees for the Lanesboro Firefighters Relief Association. The fire department officers for 2024 were set with Rob Wagner serving as fire chief, Colin Bakke as 1st assistant fire chief, Matt Schnebly as 2nd assistant fire chief, Mark Lawstuen as 3rd assistant fire chief, Jeff Norby as training officer, Anthony Schwartz as secretary, and TJ Stettler, Bryan Benson and Anthony Schwartz as custodians. The city’s membership in the Regional Safety Group was renewed, and a donation from the Farmers Park Committee was accepted.
Lanesboro resident Jon Pieper spoke to the council regarding a previous discussion he had had with former city administrator Michele Peterson about the discharge of high powered rifles in city limits. Peterson was unable to find a city ordinance addressing the issue. The council approved a motion to have Planning and Zoning review the issue at their next meeting.
City Engineer Brian Malm presented pay request #32 from Wapasha Construction for the Wastewater Treatment Plant project. He noted that the contractor still has a number of punch list items left to complete which are past the deadline. A meeting with Wapasha is coming up in the next few weeks to address those items, and Malm will update the council after that meeting occurs.
City Administrator Walbridge updated the council on the administration department. The city has the opportunity to update the utility billing program which would allow residents to pay their bills online. A cyber security program is also being looked into as a possibility for the city office.
David Haugen gave the Street Department update. He and the other employees have been working on tree trimming around Lanesboro and are planning to plant a number of trees next spring in the park, the campground, and a few other boulevard areas. The department has also recently been working on a bathhouse remodel in the park.
The council discussed an employee grievance letter received from a library employee. Walbridge asked for the council’s input on how to respond to the letter and recommended a fact finding session. In the letter, the employee requested that the council investigate the matter and that all negative documentation be removed from her personnel file. Mayor Resseman suggested that a meeting be set up with the library board’s personnel committee, to which the rest of the council agreed. A motion to begin looking into the situation in order to address the letter of grievance was approved.
Mindy Albrecht-Benson was appointed as mayor pro-tempore for 2024.
The council reviewed the applicants for the three open seats on the Lanesboro Public Library board. Mayor Resseman made a motion to appoint Albrecht-Benson to the board as a voting member instead of a city liaison as she has been. The motion was approved. Current board member Stacy Schultz asked if doing so was allowed by SELCO and was assured by Walbridge that state statute does allow a library board seat to be filled by a city council member. A motion to appoint Jon Buggs for a continued term and Sheila Goetzke to the library board was approved.
Linda Tacke was approved for a six year term to the Lanesboro EDA.
Representatives from Bolten & Menk and MnDOT presented the preliminary plans for the Highway 250 project to the council and addressed any questions, comments or concerns that the council had.
The next Lanesboro City Ccouncil meeting will be held on February 5 at 6 p.m.
Don Bell says
I would like to look at the Preliminary Plans for the Highway 250 Project presented by Bolton and Menk. When can that be arranged.
Don Bell
Don Bell says
I would like to look at the Preliminary Plans for the Highway 250 Project presented by Bolton and Menk.