The January 6 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with newly elected mayor Alicia Pearson, returning council member Kathryn Wade, and new council member Joe Cullen all taking the oath of office.
A handout was available for the public explaining what the open meeting laws are and why the council uses Robert’s Rules of Order.
Lanesboro resident Phil Dybing welcomed the new council members and mayor during the public comments portion of the meeting and then addressed some concerns he had about the proposed Highway 250 project. As an engineer with project management experience, he felt that the $1.6 million budgeted for the project’s engineer, Bolton & Menk was excessive. His research indicated that the average civil engineer salary in Minnesota is $85,000 to $119,000, which means that the city could hire an experienced engineer full-time for 10 years for the amount budgeted in the project. He recommended that the council look into alternatives and offered his expertise if they wished to use it. “I’m willing to help and serve on the Highway 250 project to make sure money is spent wisely,” he said.
Owner and operator of River Rats Outfitters, Ken Soiney, asked the council why he has been harassed with complaints about his business for the last five years. He stated that it seemed to be malicious intent due to false information and false accusations.
Mayor Pearson asked if it would be possible to post the meeting recordings for the public just as the meeting minutes are posted. City Administrator Mitchell Walbridge said that he would look into options and follow-up at the February meeting.
The consent agenda was approved and included the accounts payable, a gambling permit application from the Lanesboro Claydusters, resolution 2025-03 authorizing lawful gambling for the Lanesboro Fire Department Relief Association, lodging licenses for Root River Hospitality, a membership renewal in the Regional Safety Group, letters of engagement for the 2024 audit from Smith-Schafer, a resignation from library board member Alissa Sindelar, and the city’s pay equity report. Alicia Pearson, Mitchell Walbridge, and Darla Taylor were set as the signature authorities for the city, Merchants Bank was set at the official depository, and Fillmore County Journal as the official newspaper. The mileage rate was set at $0.70 a mile. Chase Bakke, Mitchell Walbridge, and Robert Wagner were appointed as trustees for the Lanesboro Fire Department Relief Association, and the fire department officers were appointed for the year.
Walbridge reviewed a list of projects completed in quarter four of 2024 at the city office which included the elections, working on the comprehensive plan request for proposals, digitizing city records, etc. The CEDA contract was let go at the end of 2024, but the city is on track to finding EDA services for Lanesboro.
Walbridge gave the Public Works report on behalf of David Haugen. A new cement slab was poured for a shelter and a water line was repaired in Sylvan Park. The boulevard tree trimming has been completed and six trees were removed from Sylvan Park with plans to plant more at a later date. There have been three water main breaks in town recently which have all been repaired.
In August, a request was received from Phil Dybing to relocate the civil defense siren due to high decibel levels for neighboring residents. Walbridge noted that the placement was originally determined through a collaboration between Fillmore County Emergency Management, Federal Warning Systems, and city staff and was based on a sound propagation model. He noted that further tests would more than likely yield the same results. A motion was passed to keep the siren at its current location.
Council member Mindy Albrecht-Benson was appointed as Mayor Pro-Tempore and as a member of the EDA. Kathryn Wade was set as park board liaison and Joe Cullen as the public utilities liaison. Alicia Pearson, Aaron Gage, and Jonathan Levine were appointed to the planning and zoning commission, Brian Roeloffs to the public utilities commission, Kate O’Neary, Susie Harris, and Leah Steding to the heritage preservation commission, Tamara DeGarmo to the library board, and Steve Harris to the park board
The council approved a motion to accept an offer for a grant from Compeer Financial Grant Funds in the amount of $5,000 for a feasibility study.
Mayor Pearson asked about the possibility of adding a council summary after the public comments portion of the meeting. The council decided to have Walbridge add a summary of the public comments to the minutes going forward.
The council discussed the matter of deer overpopulation in Lanesboro. Walbridge had reached out to the DNR who provided some tips on deterring deer such as installing motion sensor lights and five-foot-tall fencing. He also noted that property owners in the rural agriculture district can give permission for people to hunt on their property under the standard hunting regulations.
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