The Preston City Council met for their first meeting of 2025 on January 6. Three newly reelected councilmen, Dean Aug, Steve Hall, and Mayor Kurt Reicks repeated the oath of office for newly elected officials.
City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton led a discussion on the possible purchase of the Harmony Ag site. A discussion with Harmony Ag has been ongoing about a possible acquisition of the property by the city. Throckmorton hopes to have an application completed for the DNR Flood Damage Reduction Grant Assistance Program by the end of February with the potential of getting funding in 2026. Nearly the entire parcel is in the floodway; a permanent structure cannot be built in this area.
A study conducted by the Historical Society will be included in the application.
Throckmorton suggested a possible closed council meeting to discuss a purchase price with the owner. If the grant is secured the property will have to be used for a public purpose. The DNR grant would cover 50% of the purchase price. Reicks commented that discussing the possible acquisition with the owner is a good idea. The city council adopted a resolution authorizing the city administrator to apply for the DNR grant.
Other Business in Brief
•Brenda Hovden had requested a lot split of two parcels at 616 Fillmore St. W. She wants the two parcels to be split into three parcels, a 1.7-acre parcel and two .28-acre parcels. The parcels are zoned R-2 and are located across from the Fillmore County fairgrounds. The lot split was approved as requested.
•Recommended appointments on the various boards and commissions were approved for 2025; there were no changes from 2024 of city council member appointments. There are still three vacancies, two on the Tourism Board and one on the Tree Board. Vacancies will need to be filled by interested volunteers.
•The city’s fee schedule was reviewed and approved as submitted with only a couple of EDA recommended changes. It had been updated in 2024. The EDA approved the revolving loan interest rate to be set at .5 of prime interest rate with a minimum of 2% for 2025; it had been set at .8 of prime. The minimum loan service fee was raised from $250 to $500 to reflect loan fees charged by O’Koren Law for EDA documents. These changes recommended by the EDA were approved.
•Signature authorizations were approved for accounts with F & M Community Bank and Merchants Bank Visa Card.
•Approval was granted for the 2025 Pay Equity report to be submitted to the state. Throckmorton noted the city is in compliance, so no salary changes will need to be made. The report is required to be submitted once every three years.
•A resolution was adopted accepting a list of donations received by the city in 2024
•Approval was granted to pay the annual dues for 2025 to the chamber in the amount of $150.
•Ryan Quanrud will become an EMT volunteer as recommended by ambulance director Debra Ristau.
•The next city council meeting will be held Tuesday, January 21.
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