March 20, 2013 Belle Plaine Herald

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More St. Pat’s Photos

All-MRC Boys’ Hoops Team Announced Page 19

Area Farmers to Keep Eye on Power Line Page 2

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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND YEAR

BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, MARCH 20, 2013 2013

75¢ SINGLE COPY

NUMBER 12

City Council Okays Payment of $162,500 to Townships Hires Full-Time Police Officer to Replace Pasek by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night put an end to a two-plus year dispute with area townships by agreeing to cut a check to the law firm of Meshbesher and Spence for $162,500 that will be split up between the seven townships that are within Belle Plaine’s ambulance service area. The city and townships had reached a tentative agreement on Feb. 21 but it had not yet been officially signed off on by each of the townships, which include Belle Plaine, Blakeley, Faxon, St. Lawrence, San Francisco, Derrynane and Hancock. City Administrator David Murphy said no details of the tentative agreement could be released to the public until all of the parties had approved it. Those details became public information Monday night after the council voted 5-0 to approve the agreement, which the townships have also said yes to. “The city will tender and the townships will accept payment ($162,500) by check made payable to counsel (Meshbesher

and Spence) for the townships,” states the agreement. No one from the council, which met in closed session on numerous occasions in 2012 and 2013 to discuss the issue, commented on the settlement other than casting a “yes” vote to it Monday night. City Attorney Bob Vose said Meshbesher and Spence will disperse most of the $162,500 to the townships, minus its fee, which has not been disclosed. Belle Plaine City Finance Director Dawn Meyer said the city’s legal expenses throughout

the process totalled $48,396, a portion of which will be paid for by the League of Minnesota Cities. Murphy said the costs for both sides would have been much higher had the issue gone to court. Instead, Vose and counsel for Meshbesher and Spence were able to settle the matter out of court. Ambulance Fund Issue History The issue centered around

City Council

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City to Spend Over $8,700 to Apply for Interchange Grant Road 3 (Meridian Street) in New Belle Plaine Miss Shamrock Sophie Brazil, center, is flanked by princesses Ellie Murphy, This is Not the First left, and Kelly Morrison, the latter of whom is also Miss Belle Plaine. Such Gamble in Hopes Belle Plaine. The cost of preparing and subof Obtaining Millions mitting the application is not to by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night unanimously authorized the city’s engineering firm of Bolton & Menk to complete and submit an application to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for a grant that would help fund the construction of a $10 million overpass/ interchange at the intersection of Highway 169 and County

exceed $8,740. City Engineer Joe Duncan reported that Mn/DOT is offering $30 million in Corridor Investment Management Strategy (CIMS) funds to be disbursed through the grant process. Through the program, Mn/ DOT “places emphasis on return-on-investment projects that

Grant

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Sophie Brazil is New Miss Shamrock Belle Plaine High School senior Sophie Brazil emerged from Saturday’s blustery St. Patrick’s festivities as the community’s 2013 Miss Shamrock. Brazil, the daughter of Dave and Patty Brazil, was crowned by last year’s Miss Shamrock Erin Morrison. Joining Brazil in Belle Plaine’s greenest court for the coming year will be princesses Ellie Murphy and Kelly Morrison, the latter of whom is also Miss Belle Plaine through this summer’s Bar-B-Q Days. Murphy

is the daughter of Joe and Jean Murphy. Morrison is the daughter of Terry and Michelle Morrison. The other candidates were Samantha Gregory, daughter of Edward and Virginia Gregory; and Megan Fahey, daughter of Brian and LeAnn Fahey. This year’s Irish Lads were Kyle O’Brien and Justin Seaver. The flag bearers were Carter and Jack Piche. If you wanted to feel anywhere near the same warmth Saturday as last year’s St. Patrick’s celebration, you had to venture

indoors. Temperatures reached a record 80 degrees for Belle Plaine’s annual extravaganza last year. The mercury did not get out of the 20s on Saturday. Among those braving Saturday’s shivery were grand marshals Pat and Bonnie Skelley. Their son, Matt, emceed the post-parade program. There were lots of hats warn Saturday and not just because of the cold. The Fahey clan won the prize (and bragging rights) for winning the Most Irish Heritage Hats contest with 44.

The seas of green were not as large as last year’s tropical-like celebration but plenty of people still hung around long enough to watch Saturday’s post-parade program downtown before heading indoors.

Cuts, Bruises and Hurt Feelings Sara Fogelberg of Orono, right, who lost control of her vehicle on northbound Highway 169 and tipped over onto the median several miles north of Belle Plaine during Monday morning’s blizzard-like conditions, had reason to be emotional as individuals tried to remove her horse from the trailer the vehicle was pulling. After about 15 minutes, they were able to free the horse from the wreck, after which it jumped back to a standing position and was then led to a nearby farm. The horse suffered a couple of cuts but no serious injuries. Fogelberg also suffered some cuts and bruises, along with some hurt feelings. The O’Briens were among the many clans marching in Saturday’s parade.

The Twin Cities Metro Pipe Band performed during Saturday’s noon mass at OLP Church.


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