With just quorum, the Peterson City Council held their October 8 meeting. On the agenda was the recurring topic of looking at ways to better enforce zoning ordinances. Many were updated recently to include clearer wording, a more targeted approach, and stronger penalties for non-compliant properties, particularly the ordinances on vehicles and junk.
Non-compliant properties are identified by City Clerk Chris Grindland and/or the council conducting a walkabout. The city identifies properties and sends a letter defining the violation. If there is no response from the property owner, the city sends a warning letter including a deadline of when the issue must be rectified and warning of additional fines. If no action is taken, the city issues fines. Fines are put on the property tax rolls, in addition to administrative fees, with Fillmore County.
“The council’s goal in the past has always been just compliance, just to remedy the situation,” added Grindland. “If it’s cleaned up by this date, the fine will be waived.”
“The vehicle ordinance is written very well, where the definitions are clear. Three things your vehicle has to be: it can’t be inoperable, it can’t be parked on the grass, and it has to be registered. That’s a clear definition, so it’s very easy to enforce. It’s not subjective,” he continued. “The junk and clutter one is a little more difficult, a little more subjective. The average person looks at a property and says, ‘There’s a lot of junk in there.’ The homeowner might not see it that way. That one is a little harder to identify with certainty.”
The city has talked with Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department about the issue, but the department won’t assist with ordinance enforcement unless you contract with them. A contract guarantees one hour of coverage per day, but the cost is a huge barrier to the city, coming in at $25,000. The amount represents 13% of the city’s general budget.
“If you look at the town overall, it’s in pretty good shape with the exception of a couple properties that are in violation of the ordinances,” said Grindland. “Is the way we’re doing things now the best way or do we look at other ways to enforce the ordinance?”
Councilor Gail Boyum noted she’d been on the council for 15 years and the city has always struggled with compliance. She suggested looking at the 2027 budget to see if the city can afford coverage. Grindland suggested a two-person committee look at the option and bring a recommendation back to the city council. He also suggested the city may be able to get more strict with junk/clutter fines, noting fines have worked with the vehicle ordinance.
Mayor Chris Stenzel noted the department may have other ideas or suggestions about how to approach it as well. “If we want to get a committee together, I’m all for it,” he added.
The council approved Boyum and Councilor Kristina Grindland to serve on the committee.
The council also approved the certification of past due utility bills to Fillmore County. With administrative fees, the total amount on the four properties is $7,101. The county will add the amounts to tax collections for 2026.
The Rushford Fire Department has sent its contract for fire protection coverage in the amount of $2,419 per year for 2026-2027. The council approved the contract.
A new all-season water fountain will be placed in Peterson thanks to a Statewide Health Improvement Partnership grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. The funds will provide for a multi-level unit that includes a bottle-filling station, a regular drinking spout, and a lower drinking spout for pets. The cost is $2,899 and the location is to be determined.
Lastly, the city is looking at options to fix the cracked concrete base on the new city sign. The area where it sits, on the east side of the Root River at the bridge entrance to Peterson, is scheduled to be under construction in the future. The bridge is slated to be replaced and the intersection of the bridge and Highway 16 moved for better visibility and safety. At present, the city is understanding that the project will go around the new sign and recently landscaped area.
Stenzel suggested the city wait and see what the bridge reconstruction design entails before addressing the sign base. A representative from the Fillmore County engineer’s office has yet to speak with city officials, but Stenzel indicated there should be a community meeting ahead of the project.
“From what I’ve heard, the county is worried about what’s going on in the government right now,” he added. While the city did receive compensation for wind sheer damages from a recent storm, there is a possibility it can lump the cracked base in with hazard mitigation compensation and the city will wait to do anything with the area. “It’s not going to happen now. There’s not enough time. It’s not going anywhere.”
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