The Mabel City Council met on May 14 at 6 p.m., with Mayor Adam Wilder calling the meeting to order. Council members present included Kirsten Wyffels, Tina Bakke, Valerie Arnold and Kelly Sand. Also in attendance were Kendra Spalla and Public Works Director Robert Mierau.
The meeting agenda and the minutes from the April 9 council meeting were approved. Councilor Wyffels moved to pay the bills, totalling $75,253.50 with a seconded by Councilor Arnold. The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Wilder reminded the council that recreational vehicle permits expire at the end of this month. New permits are valid from May 1 through April 30. City Clerk Karen Larson noted on the agenda that this year’s stickers will be blue. Wilder also reminded the council that, effective May 1, the city has eliminated fees for zoning permits, as approved at last month’s meeting.
Under new business, the council unanimously approved four zoning permits, following recommendations from Public Works Director Mierau:
•Debra K. Keefe – 1175 Oak Street (windows and remodel)
•Richard Benson – 329 Melby Drive (roof, steel over the shingles)
•Lisa O’Bieglo – 208 West Fillmore Avenue (new steel roofing/also putting rafters on the garage with new roofing and landscaping)
•Cole and Ashley Horgen – 325 S. Maple Street, (bathroom, kitchen, living room remodel and windows plus a possible utility shed in the backyard and new siding).
Property inspections conducted earlier this month identified 17 properties in need of attention, a decrease from approximately 31 last year. “People are doing a great job,” said Wilder. He noted that most issues were minor, and some had already been addressed – one even the day before letters were mail out. One resident made use of the recent cleanup day.
A total of 45 households participated in the city’s cleanup day. Although participation was down, Mierau noted that the volume of materials appeared consistent, possibly due to multiple trips by the same individuals. No complaints were reported regarding the increase in prices.
Wilder announced that garbage and recycling pick up the week of May 25 will be on Thursday, May 29.
Mabel is now a Fillmore County drop-off site for prescription medication. A secure drop box is available at city hall, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Items not accepted include needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, thermometers, lotions or liquids, and hydrogen peroxide. The drop box is available for use by all Fillmore County residents.
La Vonne Donlan has resigned from her position at the Mabel Public Library, her last day was April 26. Mayor Wilder publicly thanked Donlan for her years of dedicated service to the community. To fill the vacancy, the library board recommended hiring Sheena Tollefson at a rate of $14 per hour, with a start date of June 1.
In the interim, Josiah Liptack, a client of ABLE, will work one day a week until Tollefson begins. He will be accompanied by an ABLE job coach. The city of Mabel is only responsible for his wages. Liptack is familiar with the library’s system because he works at the Caledonia library.
Library Director, Sharra Liptack, along with Library Board president, Linda Turner, and a representative from SELCO, met with Larson last December to review library operations. The city was informed by SELCO that the library board oversees the hiring process. Following Donlan’s resignation, the board handled advertising, application reviews, and interviews. The board also requested and received input from the mayor, who participated in the process.
Other council actions:
•The council unanimously approved a $1,740 estimate from Plant Lady Landscapes to care for the steam engine flower bed located at the north end of town.
•The Mabel Community Center was officially designated as a storm shelter for inclement weather.
•The council approved the utility easement.
The Economic Development Authority (EDA) did not meet this month, but Councilor Wyffels reported that all EDA loans are current. Deputy Clerk Kendra Spalla has joined the EDA board as a new member.
Discussion regarding a new well house continued from the April 9 meeting. Public Works Director Robert Mierau reported that a location has not been finalized.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Leave a Reply