On December 10, the Mabel City Council held its annual Truth in Taxation hearing during the regularly scheduled city council meeting.
The council meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by Mayor Adam Wilder. After the Truth in Taxation hearing, the council adopted the city’s 2026 budget and set the levy at 3.01%. City Clerk Karen Larson had hoped she could get it below 3%, but she just was not able to.
The levy totals $460,620, plus $6,600 for the ambulance reserve and $17,000 for debt service levy, for a total of $484,220. The 2026 budget is set at $776,532.35.
All council members, in addition to Mayor Adam Wilder, were present including Kelly Sand, Valerie Arnold, Tina Bakke and Kirsten Wyffels. Others in attendance included Public Works Director Robert Mierau, City Clerk Karen Larson, and Carson Hacket, Davy Engineering.
Hacket presented a preliminary cost estimate for next year’s street project in Mabel, County Hwy. 34 and 28. Hacket said that the county will pay for all the replacement of catch basins, stormwater inlets, and storm manholes. In regard to piping, the county will pay for about 55%. The county will not pay to replace trees. The total estimated project cost is $4,196,700. The cost is split between SCDP ($600,000), Rural Development ($1,817), Fillmore County ($1,338,400), and the City ($61,600).
The November 12 meeting minutes were unanimously approved as written, along with the financial reports, including the payments totaling $212,285.33. Larson confirmed that the $129,953.38 payment to the Fillmore County Sheriff Department is an annual payment for policing services. She also noted that there is “nothing out of the norm.”
Other Business
- Approved a zoning permit for Joe Houdek to build a 8×40-foot commercial storage unit. There are two units which will be rented out. The cost to build the storage unit is $8,000 and will be built by Houdek and others.
- Approved a temporary liquor license for the Mabel Fire Department. The fire department will be selling drinks at the Mabel Lions Club cancer telethon on January 10, 2026.
- Authorized the transfer of city funds.
- Approved a two-year commercial lease agreement with Mabel Lumber, LLC at 110 Alpine Avenue. The monthly payments are $1,300 and include utilities and taxes. It was pointed out that the payments will go toward the purchase of the building at the end of the lease if the town decides to purchase it.
- Approved a Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) policy for city employees. Larson explained that it will cover six city employees.
The council also received a copy of the 2026 garbage and recycling calendar. There are not many changes in the regular pickup schedule. Larson said that all the changes will be shared at the council meetings, posted on the city’s Facebook page, and published in the city’s monthly newsletter.
The council tabled an ordinance to regulate cannabis businesses in the city of Mabel to give the city’s attorney time to update the proposed ordinance with the council’s recommendations.
Public Works Director Mierau shared that the new snow ordinance is working pretty well. Some tickets have been given out. Larson said that the city does not want to give out tickets, they just want cars moved to make it easier for city employees to plow the streets.
Before adjourning the meeting at 6:55 p.m., Mayor Wilder thanked Fillmore County Deputy Leif Erickson for his service to Mabel as he heads into retirement next week.
Leave a Reply