Mayor Jim Westby told the city council at its December meeting that he met with representatives from Kwik Trip and Dollar General in an effort to get them to locate in Mabel. Both companies said the same thing — there’s just not enough traffic to make it feasible to come here. Westby said he met with the top-level representative from Kwik Trip and it was a good meeting, but the cost of building a store needs a lot more people to sustain it. Westby said he is talking to other prospective companies in hopes one will be interested.
Kirsten Wyffels, Economic Development Authority (EDA) President, said there has been talks with a business prospect to build in the empty lot on Main Street, but it is very preliminary. Wyffels gave an update on building a daycare center in Mabel and said they are moving forward with getting a spec book and final plans. These plans will be sufficient for contractors to bid on the project. The plans are expected to be done next week and the EDA will reopen the bidding process for the construction of the daycare center.
The council approved Orel Tollefson as fire chief and Tim Mengis as secretary and treasurer for the Mabel volunteer fire department. Mayor Westby said he is helping draft a policy for the department that includes standards for attendance at meetings and fire calls. Westby is also looking at a standardized the billing system for fire runs to bring in revenue from insurance claims. He is working on gathering information and seeing if there can be a flat rate the city can bill insurance companies to try to simplify billing.
Joel Graves is retiring from the fire department and an advertisement has been posted for a replacement. Deadline for applicants is December 22 at 3 p.m. The goal would be to have a new member in place to attend the training in Caledonia after the first of the year and then ready to go when Graves retires.
The 2018 Library Board Members and Officers were also approved by the city council. They are: president, Linda Turner; vice president, Sharen Storhoff; secretary, Lori Hoff; treasurer, Laura St. Mary and SELCO representative, Gayle Stortz. The other members are LaVonne Donlan and Sandy Christopher.
Public Works Director, Bob Mierau, reported that he finished the Wellhead Protection Management Plan. The plan is good for 10 years, but has to be updated annually with objectives and priorities. “The good news is that we have good, safe water and plenty of it,” Mierau said. “We have a good aquafer, but our well system goes back to 1917 and we have to stay on top of it.” The plan contains a lot of good information and is available for comment for 60 days and then a public forum will be held at the council’s February meeting.
In other business
• The final 2017 Levy was adopted for $370,825, the 2018 budget was approved with a general fund budget of $770, 225 and a 2.74% levy increase.
• Liquor and cigarette licenses were approved for BP, Mabel American Legion and Mabel Liquor.
• Two candidates were interviewed for the part-time position (approximately five hours per week) to clean the community center, fire hall and library. Amanda Erickson of Spring Grove was hired to start immediately at $12 per hour.
• Kudos to the Mabel Business Association for Santa Day. It was extremely well attended and well run.
The next City of Mabel Council meeting will be held at City Hall on Wednesday, January 10 at 7 p.m.
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