As the new year begins, the Whalan City Council performed it’s due diligence and set the Slate of Office for the City of Whalan for 2022, at their January 10 meeting.
Present at the regularly scheduled city council meeting were Mayor Marlys Tuftin, council members Kim Berekvam, Thore E. Johnson, Sheila Higbe (via Zoom), Owen Lewis (via Zoom) and City Clerk/Treasurer Michele Peterson.
The Agenda was approved, with one addition under Miscellaneous.
Minutes and Treasurer’s Report from the December 13, 2021, council meeting were approved.
Visitors Comments
There were no comments from visitors, either in-person or via Zoom.
Continued Business
The council approved the renewal of the Lodging Tax Agreement with the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce on a two-year basis.
The council continued a discussion on the hourly wage for snowplowing. The current rate is $12 per hour for snowplowing while the city maintenance position pays $15 per hour during the rest of the year. The hourly rate for snowplowing is raised to $15 per hour. Berekvam and Johnson abstained from voting. The raise is retroactive to January 1, 2022.
There is currently an opening for a council member on the Planning and Zoning Committee. Higbe agreed to serve on committee. The council thanked Higbe for sharing her time and talents on the committee.
The 2022 meeting schedule was approved. This includes city council meetings and zoning meetings and will be posted on the City of Whalan website at www.cityofwhalan.weebly.com.
New Business
The city council discussed the Murphy Proposal 4, explaining that the city has received another proposal from the Murphy family to vacate a portion of city property. A public hearing on the matter will be held on February 14, at 4:45 p.m., prior to the regularly scheduled city council meeting. A notice about the public hearing will be published in the Fillmore County Journal.
Resolution 2022-1 was approved, designating Merchant’s Bank of Lanesboro, Minn. as the Official Depository for the City of Whalan.
Resolution 2022-2, designating the Fillmore County Journal as the Official Newspaper for the City of Whalan, was approved, as well.
With Resolution 2022-3, Establishing Mileage Reimbursement Rate, the mileage reimbursement rate is set at 58.5 cents per mile.
Resolution 2022-4, Authorizing Signature Authority for City Accounts was approved, with signatures of Tuftin and Peterson needed for city accounts.
Miscellaneous
The City of Whalan has received the Appraisal Report from the League of Minnesota Cities for insurance on city property. An inventory of the city shop will be completed to compile a list of items stored there.
The next Whalan City Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 14, with a Public Hearing being held at 4:45 p.m. at the city hall and the regularly scheduled council meeting to follow. For more information visit the City of Whalan website or phone (507) 467-2212.
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