A public hearing was held at the opening of the January 5 Lanesboro city council meeting to hear questions and comments about the proposed Ashburn Street East overlay project. Several members of the public asked questions about why the project was being done and where the funding for it would come from.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Lanesboro resident Sandy Webb thanked the city staff for keeping the library going during the search for a new director and assistant. She also thanked former director Tara Johnson for her work at the library. “She was an ambassador for the library. She was an ambassador for the town. She stood for the integrity of the library,” Webb concluded.
The consent agenda was approved and included the accounts payable and resolutions designating Merchant’s Bank and F&M Community Bank of Preston as the city’s official depository and the Fillmore County Journal as its official newspaper. Lawful gambling for the Lanesboro Fire Department Relief Association was approved as well as the city’s mileage rate, and authorization for Alicia Pearson, Mitchell Walbridge, and Darla Taylor to be signature authorities for the city. Robert Wagner, Mitchell Walbridge, and Kathryn Wade were appointed as municipal trustees to the Lanesboro Fire Relief Association Board of Trustees. Robert Wagner was appointed as the Fire Chief, Colin Bakke as the 1st Assistant Fire Chief, Mark Lawstuen as the 2nd Assistant Fire Chief, Chase Bakke as the 3rd Assistant Fire Chief, and Anthony Schwarz as the secretary. The city’s membership with the Regional Safety Group was renewed. Donations were accepted with gratitude for the Lanesboro Fire Department, the Legion Lights Funds, and the Library Fund. Resignations were accepted from Library Director Tara Johnson and Assistant Librarian Eliza Mitchell. A temporary on-sale liquor license permit for Lanesboro Arts was approved. The budget and unaudited fund balances for the fourth quarter of 2025 were reviewed and approved as well.
Several representatives from Bolten & Menk were present to discuss the municipal consent needed for the TH250 road utility project. They reviewed the maps for the project with the council. A sliver of permanent right-of-way is needed for the bike trail crossing by the Legion and another on Ashburn for access modification due to a driveway. City Engineer Brian Malm noted that MnDOT had approached the city of Lanesboro to ask if any of the utilities under Highway 250 needed to be done while they are redoing the road. The city then entered into a partnership with MnDOT to complete both projects simultaneously which was much more economical for the city than if it had undertaken the utilities project on its own. A motion to hold a public hearing was approved.
Amendments to ordinance 151 regarding land were considered for the Ashburn Street East overlay zone. Kristi Trisko from Bolten & Menk said that the purpose of the amendments are to avoid reducing property owners’ ability to improve their property by reducing setbacks. Trisko noted that with four different zoning areas on that one street, it’s important to make the process as uncomplicated as possible. The ordinance amendments were approved.
Mindy Albrecht-Benson will continue to serve as mayor pro tempore in 2026 and Mayor Pearson as a member of the Lanesboro Planning & Zoning Commission. The open seats on the Lanesboro Public Utilities Commission had been advertised, but no applications were received so City Administrator Mitchell Walbridge recommended appointing a council member as a voting member. Joe Cullen was approved to fill one of the seats. Katie Holman and Christopher Martin were appointed to the Lanesboro Heritage Preservation Commission, Gwen Harmon and Mary Junko-Isle to the Lanesboro Public Library Board, and Steve Harris and Samantha Hareldson to the Lanesboro Park Board.
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