On January 9, the Mabel City Council held a regular city council meeting. Members in attendance included Gary Morken, Adam Wilder, City Clerk Karen Larson, Mayor Jim Westby, Terry Torkelson, and Kirsten Wyffels. The newly elected council members took the oath of office. Prior to approving accounts payable, council members asked about several of the items listed, and Larson explained what each expenditure was. No visitors had signed up to address the council.
The council decided upon 2019 appointments and designations, as follows: acting mayor (Torkelson), official newspaper (News Leader), official depository bank (Bank of the West), city attorney (Nethercut Schieber PLLP), zoning administrator (Bob Mierau), health officer (Tim Mengis), assistant weed inspector (Larson), fire chief (Orel Tollefson), assistant fire chief (Steve Geving/Chad Loppnow), civil defense director (Orel Tollefson), EDA Board (Wyffels and Westby), streets and lights (Wyffels and Morken), sewer and water (Wilder and Torkelson), ambulance and fire (Westby and Wilder), park and rec (Wyffels and Torkelson), police administrator (Westby), community center (Larson), zoning (Torkelson and Morken), community center self evaluation (Larson and Wyffels), website and Facebook (Brock Bergey), animal control (Wayne Austin), and polling place (Mabel City Hall). The council also chose to continue the regular meeting schedule of the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Larson informed the council that, “The fire department applied for a grant from FEMA, and they got it, $150,000.” She went on to say that the plan is to use the funds to purchase new air tanks for firefighters. Jeff Rein said the old tanks are “very very outdated, it was pretty bad.” The council discussed what to do with the old tanks, and decided that if they can be donated for use in Mexico or another country, that will be done. Otherwise, the tanks will be deactivated (emptied and drilled) and sold for scrap.
Mayor Westby pointed out that, “Last year, we had 80 dogs and cats licensed,” but he added that so far this year, only 13 dogs or cats have been licensed for 2019. Council members encouraged pet owners to purchase their licenses as soon as possible, to avoid a fine. Westby said the city will be in contact with sheriff’s department staff to enforce the licensing ordinance. Gary Morken asked if Mabel has any ordinance about dangerous breeds of dogs. At this time, the city does not, but it will be looked into.
Regarding the annual Local Board of Appeal and Equalization and Open Book meetings, Larson stated, “Right now, it’s set that the City of Mabel is April 22 through 25, they can go to the county between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.… they (the county) handle that stuff.” The council chose to leave this unchanged.
Larson reminded the council that Mabel has received a grant from Rockwell Collins in each of the past three years, and she asked if the council wishes to apply again this year. The council does wish to apply, and will brainstorm ideas for what to request.
Wyffels said the EDA is considering creating a Facebook page for the EDA. Larson suggested that if such a page is created, it should be informational only, and not allow comments by viewers. The council voted to approve the 2019 Library Board members and officers as submitted. The annual audit will be performed by the firm of Hacker & Nelson, and is set for January 24 and 25. The council’s next regular meeting will be February 13, at 7 p.m. at the community center. The public is welcome. Immediately after the council meeting adjourned, council members were invited outside to see the city’s new fire truck.
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