Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
The Mabel City Council held a public hearing on Wednesday, August 13, at 6 p.m., prior to the regularly scheduled city council meeting. The purpose of the public hearing was to receive comments from Mabel residents and business owners regarding the proposed electric rate increases.
There were no comments regarding he rate increases during the public hearing. City Clerk Karen Larson confirmed that she had not received any emails or phone calls since the hearing notice was published. The council did not hear from any of their constituents.
During new business, the council moved to approve the rate increases as follows: The residential monthly service charge will increase from $15 to $20 per month; the commercial monthly service change will increase from $15 to $28 per month; and the dual fuel monthly service charge will increase from $10 to $11 per month. The residential and commercial user charge will increase from 0.1089 per kWh to 0.1173 per kWh, and the summer energy charge will be eliminated. The dual fuel user charge will increase from 0.0816 per kWh to 0.090 per kWh, and the summer energy charge will be eliminated. The new rates will take effective on September 1, 2025.
Council members present included Tina Bakke, Valerie Arnold, and Kelly Sand. Kirsten Wyffels was absent. Staff in attendance included City Clerk Karen Larson and Public Works Director Bob Mierau.
Others in attendance included Taylor and Jennifer Marsden, Shelley Carolan, Jessie Carolan, Brian and Shelby Gjere, and MiEnergy Vice President of Member Services Kent Whitcomb.
Council member Arnold moved to accept the minutes from the July 9 regular council meeting as written. Seconded by Bakke. Motion carried.
Being there were no questions, Sand made a motion to approve the bills totaling $111,526.02. Seconded by Arnold. Motion carried.
The council continued its ongoing discussion regarding safety concerns at the alley intersection with Prairie Avenue, an issue that has been under review for over a year. For the first time, residents living adjacent to the alley attended the meeting to discuss the matter.
Mayor Wilder said that since the last council meeting, the yellow strips on each side of the alley were extended.
Taylor Marsden said that he thinks it is crazy the way the alley is utilized, “It’s utilized like a street. It’s not a street.” Jennifer Marsden added that there are eight children in homes bordering the alley, heightening safety concerns. Mabel resident Shelley Carolan, whose daughter Jessie lives next to the alley, expressed concerns about the speed and amount of traffic. Their preference is that the alley is changed to a one-way from Prairie Avenue north and a speed bump installed.
The council tabled any decision until the September meeting, allowing time to meet with all nearby residents and to consider holding a public hearing to gather input from all residents and business owners in Mabel.
Whitcome explained the Solar on Public Buildings (SPB) Grant Program to the council. Both Whitcome and Mierau confirmed that a decision was not required at this time.
Brian and Shelby Gjere explained that they had previously paid to have the road to the water tower and their home resealed a couple of times and decided this year to ask the city to consider paying part or all the expense to sealcoat it this year. The cost to sealcoat the road is $3,200. Mierau praised the Gjere’s for keeping it looking nice up there around the water tower, and explained that Brian also keeps the road plowed in the winter. A motion by Sand to pay 50% of the expense was seconded by Arnold. Motion carried.
In other business, the council:
- Approved zoning permits for Jason Bruns, the Mabel EDA, and Ashley Ostern. City Clerk Larson clarified that the EDA permit pertains to the daycare center and the leasee will cover the cost and there will be no expense to the city.
- Approved the purchase of 15 banners to be displayed on Main Street in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the United States next year.
- Announced that garbage/recycle pickup during the week of Labor Day will moved to Thursday instead of Wednesday due to the holiday.
- Made no changes to the Fillmore County Hazard Mitigation plan.
- Approved citing one property owner for not cleaning up their yard. The committee conducted follow-up inspection earlier in the week.
- Approved the purchase of an ad in the Fillmore County Journal recognizing the town’s emergency response teams.
- Approved the union contract, incorporating the corrections noted during the July city council meeting.
Mayor Wilder then moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:18 p.m.