Photo by Barb Jeffers
Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture attended the February 10 Whalan City Council meeting to discuss a spongy moth management proposal for 2025.
Present at the regularly scheduled Whalan City Council meeting were Mayor David Hallum and council members Thore E. Johnson, Kim Berekvam and Sheila Higbe, along with City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell. Councilmember Owen Lewis was absent.
The council approved the Agenda with one addition of Tools for Maintenance Shop under New Business.
The Minutes from the January 13, 2025, meeting and the Treasurer’s Report were approved as presented by Grossell. There we no visitors’ comments.
Continued Business
A representative for the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail plans to attend the April city council meeting to give a presentation on the trail and answer any questions councilmembers or visitors may have.
After tabling the discussion at the January meeting, the council agreed that the extra used utility meters the city has can be sold at a cost of $15 each.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MNPUC) will officially hear the proposal of the MiEnergy and City of Whalan municipal electric system transfer on February 28. Grossell will report the results to the council at the March council meeting.
A meter socket needs to be installed at Main Street and Third Street. Council members will collect estimates and discuss the matter further at the March council meeting.
The new building at the ballfield is complete. A local family has graciously offered to pay for the building. The city will pay the invoice in the amount of $7,612.50 and then get reimbursed by the donating family. Sentenced To Serve (STS) program members have been doing fantastic work at the ballfield under the direction of city maintenance worker Randy Berekvam. The city council was notified that Governor Walz has stated he will end the STS program, which saddened the council as the city of Whalan has benefited greatly from participating in the program. The council hopes that the status of the program will remain unchanged.
Council members Johnson and Berekvam will attend the Lanesboro Fire Association annual fire meeting, held shortly after the council meeting in Lanesboro.
MiEnergy has removed the streetlights that the city council requested be removed.
Grossell updated the council about a possible cell tower solicitation that was discussed at the January meeting. Since then, Grossell was notified by GSS, Inc. that Whalan is no longer being considered as a potential site for a cell tower.
Grossell continues to work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MNPCA) and MiEnergy on the notification from the Pollution Control Board (PCB). If there is no hazardous waste, the City of Whalan will be able to inactivate its EPA ID# with the MNPCA or EPA.
New Business
The council approved the Pay Equity Report. Grossell informed the council that the city of Whalan does not meet the minimum requirements to complete the federal report in the future.
Grossell reported to the council on the findings of the Sanitary Survey Report. The city needs to install two backflow prevention devices. Randy Berekvam will acquire the devices.
Kimberly Thielen Cremers and Matt Gallo from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) attended the council meeting to propose a spongy moth management proposal for 2025.
Hallum noted that the city maintenance shed has nearly no tools or hardware such as bolts and screws, etc. to perform the various tasks that are sometimes necessary. The council approved a motion to have Randy Berekvam purchase a tool set and miscellaneous hardware for the maintenance shed, up to but not exceeding $150.
Grossell updated the council on what she has been working on and upcoming deadlines, etc. that she will be completing. She has completed the Pay Equity Reporting; Fiscal Year End has been closed out and annual tax reports have been mailed.
Due soon are the Annual Electric Report, COVID Reporting and 2024 Financial Audit Preparation.
There are several December electric bills that are past due. Grossell is working with MiEnergy to assess whether the city of Whalan or MiEnergy will take the next steps necessary to collect the money owed.
Grossell informed the council of Tim Penny’s retirement party in Owatonna on April 17 at 4 p.m. if they would like to attend.
For more information visit the City of Whalan website at cityofwhalan.weebly.com.
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