Wright Co. Board to discuss park, highway business

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – Wright County Board will discuss grant applications for three grants related to county parks during Tuesday’s meeting. One involves a Wright County Snowmobile Association grant request to the Department of Natural Resources; one relates to trail bridge construction, and the third involves bridges and trail shelters.

The board will also discuss highway department business including a resolution related to deficient bridges, setting a bid opening for the 2012 overlay contract, and items related to funding.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Wright County Government Center in Buffalo.

Mayer council to discuss storm water plan

MAYER, MN – Mayer City Council will discuss an engineering proposal for updating the city’s storm water plan during tonight’s meeting. Other items on the agenda include approval of liquor licenses for 2012 and approval of a Minnesota Twins youth clinic. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at city hall.

A council work session will take place immediately after the council meeting. Items to be discussed include the personnel policy, the proposed west side project, sanitation services, and the 3.2 liquor license fee.

Both meetings are open to the public.

Lester Prairie City Council schedules special meeting Saturday morning

LESTER PRAIRIE, MN – Mayor Andy Heimerl has called a special Lester Prairie City Council  meeting for Saturday, January 21 at 8:30 a.m. at city hall. The purpose of the special session is to review information regarding the purchase of a used truck for the fire department and potentially approve of the purchase of such truck.

VanLith resigns from New Germany City Council

NEW GERMANY, MN – Long-time City Council Member Steve VanLith resigned during tonight’s city council meeting. Controversy that has been building over several weeks came to a head today. At issue was the fact that VanLith has served for many years as both a city council member and the city’s fire chief, offices that the city attorney and others have deemed incompatible.

During its Jan. 3 meeting, the council voted not to allow a person to hold incompatible offices. The council did not approve the slate of officers presented by the fire department until tonight. The council approved all officers except the chief position. Mayor Jason Kamerud noted that the council could not approve VanLith as chief, because doing so would result in him holding incompatible offices, which is exactly what it was trying to avoid. After that vote passed, VanLith resigned from the city council, noting that the department could not run without a chief. The council then approved accepting VanLith as fire chief for 2012.

The council had previously noted that VanLith could hold any other fire department office other than chief, as other offices are not considered incompatible. VanLith showed no interest in this, and Assistant Fire Chief (this position is now called chief 2 in Carver County departments) Dan Ruschmeier said the fire department has voted on the slate of officers with VanLith as chief twice, and this is the only slate of officers the department would present to the council.

During the Dec. 3 meeting, VanLith had offered a compromise under which, if the council allowed him to continue to hold both the council seat and the fire chief office through the end of 2012, he would submit his resignation from city council effective Dec. 31, 2012. Other members of the council expressed opposition to allowing VanLith to continue to hold incompatible offices.

The council, later in tonight’s meeting, agreed to accept applications to fill the vacant council seat.

(note: effective date corrected 1-18-12)

New Germany council to consider fire department officers, resolution regarding incompatible offices

NEW GERMANY, MN – New Germany City Council will consider a resolution regarding fire department officers for 2012 during Tuesday’s meeting.

Also on the agenda is a resolution regarding incompatible offices, which resulted from discussions during the last council meeting.

Other items on the agenda include residents with payment agreements for water bills, posting anniversary committee meetings, and copier purchase proposals.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Wright County board to consider grants, other items

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – Wright County Board will acknowledge  a $90,000 Parks & Trails Legacy grant for Roberty Ney Regional Park, and a $50,000 Parks & Trails Legacy grant for the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park during Tuesday’s meeting. The board will also consider two county fair Arts Access and Cultural Heritage grant applications during the meeting.

Other items on the agenda include parks commission appointments, the 2012 jail medical contract with Buffalo Hospital, and a resolution authorizing signatures on a grant contract with the state of Minnesota, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, MN Financial Crimes Task Force, for deputies wages.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Wright County Government Center.

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