At the June 16 meeting of the city counci, the issue of diseased trees (emerald ash borer) remaining on private property was again discussed. In July 2024, letters were sent out to property owners with dead and diseased trees asking property owners to look at their options for the removal of those trees.
At this point, about 65% of diseased trees have been removed by property owners that were notified. City code declares diseased trees to be a public nuisance. The city has removed trees on public property, boulevards, and parks with some of the cost being covered by a DNR grant.
City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton introduced two options to deal with the remaining diseased trees going forward. The first option was to continue monitoring properties, provide education/information to self-mitigate, and to set a mitigation deadline. The second option was to begin the abatement process with notifications, with the city hiring and paying for tree removal, and then the assessment of charges to property owners.
Mayor Kurt Reicks said he favored the educational process one more time. A motion was approved in favor of the first option. A letter will be sent out to those property owners with remaining diseased trees; it will include a notification that abatement will begin next spring. Next spring the second option will then be put into effect for any property owners that still have diseased trees.
Other Business in Brief
•The Fire Relief Association is recommending an increase in the annual retirement contribution. The retirement benefit for firefighters that are fully vested (20 years) is currently $2,100, set in 2023. After 10 years of service a firefighter is 50% vested; with each additional year of service this is raised 5% until the twentieth year when a firefighter is fully vested. Dustin Arndt said at the current level, the fund is 141% funded. The requested increase of $300 will raise the benefit level to $2,400 per year, which will keep them 122% funded. Financial advisors recommend staying between 90-100% funded. Arndt said the reasoning to keep the funding rate higher is due to the volatility of the market. The $300 increase to $2,400 per year was approved as recommended.
•Approval was granted to decertify Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) No. 1-9. This TIF district was created in 2016 to help with the rebuilding of B & B Bowling Alley. Throckmorton said it has been fully funded and completed early. The decertification is effective December 31, 2025.
•The 2026 donation to Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) was increased to $1,250. For the past six years the city has donated $1,000 to SMIF.
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