Local Municipality Minutes

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Upsala City • July 3, 2023

Call to Order/Attendance: The City Council meeting was called to order at Upsala City Hall by Mayor Rollie Johnson at 7:02 P.M. The pledge of allegiance was said.

On roll call members present: Mayor Rollie Johnson, Council Members Wendy Rene, Alan Gunderson and Mitch Lange. Absent: Lana Bartells. Staff present: Public Works Director Mike Tschida, and City Clerk-Treasurer Jane Popp.

Minutes: Lange moved to approve the regular city council meeting minutes from June 5, 2023, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.

Agenda items: Rene moved to approve the agenda as presented, 2nd by Gunderson. Motion carried unanimously.

Department Reports: Fire Department Report: Chief Nick Johnson updated the council that they had pump training and one fire call.

First Response Team: Vice President Danielle Haus reported nine calls for May. The First Response has chosen to remain with the city.

Maintenance Report: Tschida reported on water and sewer levels as well as the various tasks done throughout the city. The Water & Sewer is hooked up in the city park bathrooms.

Rene moved to approve to proceed pond management estimate from Team Lab, 2nd by Gunderson. Motion carried unanimously.

City Office Report: Popp reviewed the July Calendar. Popp stated that she attended the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference in Duluth.

Planning Commission: Larry Bartells suggested some possible revisions to the city building ordinance.

Heritage Days: Everything is set and ready to go.

New Business: Due to the recent dry weather conditions and our declining water levels Morrison County has been moved to a severe drought stage. The City of Upsala is implementing a total watering ban except for gardens and newly seeded grass. We will continue to monitor the dry conditions and keep residents updated. We appreciate your cooperation.

Donation from Upsala Lions Club for Heritage Days Fireworks Resolution 7-03-2023-1 Rene moved to accept resolution 7-03-2023-1, accepting the donation from the Upsala Lions Club for $3,000 for Heritage Days fireworks, 2nd by Gunderson. Motion carried unanimously. Donation from Upsala American Legion for Heritage Days Fireworks Resolution 7-03-2023-2 Lange moved to accept resolution 7-03-2023-2, accepting the donation from the Upsala Lions Club for

$2,500 for Heritage Days fireworks, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Upsala Dollars for Scholars Gambling Permit for Bingo. Lange moved to approve the Upsala Dollars for Scholars Gambling Permit for Bingo to be held on August 13, 2023, 2nd by Rene. Motion carried unanimously.

Approve Upsala Ball Park Association Gambling Permit to hold a Raffle January 27, 2024. Rene moved to approve the Upsala Ball Park Gambling Permit to hold a raffle January 27, 2024, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.

City Hall IT Estimates. Rene moved to advance the install for firewall and monthly monitoring at City Hall from The Source Computing Group, Inc., 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously.

Acknowledgements: To the Upsala Lions Club for the donation for Heritage Days fireworks, the Upsala American Legion for the donation for Heritage Days fireworks; to Sourcewell for the $50,000 grant for Upsala city vehicles.

Financials: Rene moved to approve the bills as presented, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously. Updates/FYI: Next regular City Council meeting will be August 7, 2023. July 13th from 9:00-9:30 Coffee with a Council Member at the Community Center.

Adjourn Gunderson moved to adjourn at 9:13 pm, 2nd by Lange. Motion carried unanimously. Jane Popp, Clerk/Treasurer

Stearns Co. Sheriff’s Office

Crash: August 5, 2023: At approximately 12:49 p.m., the Stearns County Sheriff's Office received a call of a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of County Road 167 and Long Lake Road, which is approximately two and a half miles northwest of the city of Freeport.

When deputies arrived, they located a 2012 Buick Verano, driven by Dorothy Austing, 80, of Freeport off road. Deputies also located a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Brian Nightingale, 34, of Holdingford, parked on the side of Long Lake Road. Upon further investigation it was determined Austing was traveling southbound on County Road 167 and Nightingale was stopped on Lake Road. Nightingale then entered the intersection striking Austing’s vehicle.

Austing was transported to the Melrose Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Minnesota State Patrol and Freeport Fire and Rescue.

Grants Available to Make Needed Home Repairs

Douglas County HRA has grants available for eligible homeowners to make needed home repairs in Douglas, Pope and Todd Counties. These are funded through USDA Rural Development and MN Housing. Douglas County

HRA is the approved servicer of Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant and Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency Rehab and Emergency/Accessibility Loan Programs, and Todd County is part of the service territory. Essentially, these are grants, forgiven after a set number of years as long as the homeowner

Morrison Co. Sheriff’s Office

Crash: August 4, 2023: At approximately 3:24 a.m., their office received a report of a possible crash that was reported through a cell phone crash alert feature, near the intersection of 30th Street and Dairy Road, in Elmdale Township, just east of Upsala, MN.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, emergency personnel arrived on scene confirming a single vehicle crash with a single occupant that was unresponsive and did not have a pulse. Life-saving measures were performed on the driver but were unsuccessful.

During the course of the investigation, it appears that the driver of the vehicle was westbound on 30th Street and entered the ditch on the south side of the road. The vehicle, a Buick Regal, traveled approximately 100 yards in the ditch before driving back on the roadway. The vehicle then crossed both lanes of traffic and eventually rolled in the north ditch, just west of Dairy Road, before coming to a stop.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 19-year-old Hayden Edstrom, from Freeport MN, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Hayden during this difficult time. We express our gratitude to all the emergency personnel who responded to this scene. Their commitment to serving the community, even in the face of adversity, is commendable and deeply appreciated.” remains on the property that improvements are made.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Upsala First Response Team, Upsala Fire Department and Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be 18 of age or older and occupy and own the property

Be current on any mortgage payments, if applicable, and current on Property Taxes

Have proof of home insurance

Have assets less than $25,000

Must meet current income limits set by each funder

Funding is available for:

Mechanical Improvements such as electrical, plumbing and heating

Structural Improvements such as roof replacement, foundations, floors, and stairs

Energy Improvements such as windows, doors and insulation

This list is not a complete list of available improvements, there are may be more!

These funds are available and ready to be used! They are a hand-up for people who would otherwise not be able to afford to make these improvements.

For more eligibility requirements and additional program information, please contact Janelle Bennet at 320-762-3848, or email rehabcoordinator@douglascountyhra.org.

Church Of Seven Dolors

151 Second St. S., Albany, MN

Parish Bazaar

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2023

10:30 AM: POLKA MASS

Music by “The Nite Owls”

11 AM-1:30 PM:

Homemade CHICKEN & HAM DINNER

Parish Center & Holy Family School Basement

Take-Outs Available • Handicapped Accessible

ENTERTAINMENT:

GENE OSTENDORF BAND

11 AM-3:00 PM

TWO FOR THE ROAD

3:30-6 PM

3:00 PM: QUILT AUCTION

Hand-Made

FOOD & BEVERAGES

11 am-7 pm

Auctioneer: Dan Winter

FUN & GAMES • KIDS GAMES

Wheel of Chance, $100 Cash Wheel, Pull Tabs, Cake Walk Dunk Stand, Chug-A-Lug Train Rides, Plinko, Fish Pond, & More!

6:00 PM: GRAND RAFFLE DRAWING

$2,000 Grand Prize

CASH RAFFLE DRAWING

$20,000 Grand Prize: Tickets Available at the Parish Office & Magnifi Financial-Albany