Following months of planning and preparing, the city of Whalan has confirmed that the transfer of the city’s municipal electric system over to MiEnergy is complete, according to City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell, who made the announcement at the May council meeting.
Present at the regularly scheduled city council meeting on May 12, 2025, were Mayor David Hallum along with council members Thore E. Johnson, Sheila Higbe, Kim Berekvam and Owen Lewis. City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell was also present.
The council approved the Agenda as presented and approved the Minutes from the April 14, 2025, council meeting and the Treasurer’s Report as presented by Grossell.
A $40,000 six-month CD has been secured at 4% interest. Funds for the CD came out of the electric fund. This is the second $40,000 CD the city has invested in.
The city has received a Franchise Fee payment from MiEnergy for the first quarter of 2025 in the amount of $965.
Visitor Comments
Maintenance worker Randy Berekvam noted that there is concrete at the ball field that needs to be cleaned up and gravel that needs to be spread.
Continued Business
The meter socket installation near the bike trail will hopefully be completed soon.
A meeting with the Block 12 Well group regarding electric costs will be scheduled in the near future.
A discussion was held on the liquor license ordinance and possible changes to it. The council will consider changes to the ordinance and then a special meeting will be held in July to explain the possible changes to area residents and receive feedback.
The city has received two separate bids for road work within city limits. The first bid, with a quote of $85,000-90,000, would be for all road work listed by the council to be completed. The second quote of $35,000-40,000 would be to repair only the worst areas. The council will request a quote to have six of the nine areas listed by the council completed.
New Business
Council approved a temporary liquor license for the 2025 Whalan Fast Pitch Tournament, which will take place July 4-6. This is the 50th anniversary of the tournament. There will be three age groups of girls fast pitch teams. More information will be listed on the City of Whalan website at www.cityofwhalan.weebly.com.
Grossell stated that the city had received a letter confirming that there would be no federal funding for the spongy moth management that had been planned. She explained that Fillmore County is supposed to get a variation of the original application but noted that this may also be cancelled if federal funds are not received. The council approved having the variation of the original application done in Whalan if the program is not cancelled.
Miscellaneous
Grossell updated the council on what she has been working on and what she has coming up soon that needs to be accomplished. She has completed the Energy Annual Report, COVID Reporting, DNR Agreements and the Data Practices Request, among other tasks. She will be working on 2025/2026 Business License Renewals and the Electric Utility Annual Report in the coming days.
Grossell was very excited to share with the council that the city’s grant proposal submitted to Taylor Family Farms was approved. The amount of the grant can be up to $12,500 and the city must have matching funds. The grant proposal was to improve community gathering space. The council would like to purchase playground equipment with the funds. More information will be available at the June council meeting.
The Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail Community Forum has been rescheduled to Monday, May 28 at 5 p.m.
The council discussed the Local Road Improvement Project noting that there was nothing offered in 2024, but there may possibly be some funding offered in 2025.
The city still has some used electric meters for sale at a cost of $15 each.
The work on the building at the ball field has been put on hold as the city waits for funds. There will be tents up for the fast pitch tournament. The painting at the ball field has been completed.
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