Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Lester Prairie City Council conducts reorganization



LESTER PRAIRIE, MN – Members of the Lester Prairie City Council remain unchanged for 2017.

Mayor Eric Angvall and council members Tim Dahl and Bob Messer, who were all elected to new terms in November, took the oath of office during last Tuesday’s meeting.

Appointments for 2017

The council approved annual appointments for 2017, including Larry Hoof, acting mayor; Greg Mueller, assistant weed inspector and city forester; Robert Carlson, emergency management director; Herald Journal, official newspaper; First Community Bank, Lester Prairie and 4M Fund (Municipal Money Market), official depositories; Gavin, Winters, & Long LLC, city attorney; and Bolton & Menk, city engineer.

Park board members (and term expiration years) include Troy Feltmann, 2017; Larry Roth, 2018; Chris Schultz, 2018; and Gene Starke, 2017.

Planning commission members include Merlin Mathews, 2017; Fred Blaser, 2017; Jeremy Mullery, 2018; and Luke Meyer, 2018.

Economic development

The board approved the members of the recently-formed economic development authority. They are: Council Member Ron Foust, 2018; Gordon Birkholz, Jr., 2019; Council Member Tim Dahl, 2020; Paul Christensen, 2021; and Dean Perry, 2022.

Fire department report

Fire Chief Jim Hoof presented his department’s annual report.

The department responded to 129 calls in 2016 (29 fewer than in 2015).

The total hours spent on calls were 1,447 (293 fewer than in 2015).

The majority of the calls (92) were medical calls. There were 11 fire calls.

Of the total calls, 75 were in the City of Lester Prairie, 23 were in Bergen Township, 26 were in Winsted Township, and five were out of the area.

There are currently 29 firefighters on the roster.

Firefighters spent 1,120 hours in training in 2016.

Officers for 2017 are Jim Hoof, Chief 1; Dave Horsman, Chief 2; Matt Tonn, Chief 3; Scott Christenson, Captain 1; Steve Dietel, Captain 2; Chris Bahr, Captain 3/training officer; Shadd Dial, secretary; and Paul Christensen, treasurer.

Relief association officers are Josh Foust, president; Wade Schultz, vice president; Justin Thompson, secretary; and Matt Tonn, treasurer.

Pool slides discussed

The council discussed quotes for slides at the city pool to replace one that has been removed due to its condition.

One estimate was $24,000 to $26,000, and the other was $36,650.

Economic Development Coordinator Adam Birkholz said both options are within the budget approved by the council. He asked the council to be prepared to make a decision on which option to choose in February, at which time it will have a recommendation from the park board.

The last slide the city purchased lasted eight to 10 years.

Odds and ends

In other business, the council:

• accepted the final budget numbers for 2016.

• agreed to move forward with plans for a drainage project in the Prairie Ridge development.

• discussed the city policy for rental of the city hall as it pertains to non-profit groups. Messer and Dahl will work with City Clerk Marilyn Pawelk, and will present a recommendation in February.

• reviewed a claim from a resident who stated city snowplows damaged his mailbox. The council denied the claim.

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