By Robert Williams

Editor

Mayor Julie Bruhn opened the first Vergas City Council meeting with her annual state of the city address on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Bruhn discussed the completion of the community’s comprehensive plan and the 58 strategic actions therein that will be used to move Vergas forward into the future.

“At the time of the one-year mark of the plan, beginning steps and progress was noted in 29, or 50 percent of the strategic actions,” she said.

Bruhn highlighted some of the key steps taken.

Parking was voiced as the top priority. Vergas secured the city lot where the former county garage was located and paid $1 to the county for the lot, while receiving a growth grant to cover 50 percent of the costs of the garage’s removal. The lot was available for parking in November and this coming spring it will receive asphalt covering, parking lines and fencing to offer 21 new parking spots.

Housing was another priority, including expanding the supply of affordable housing and transitional housing for seniors. There are 51 new housing lots available in the city limits represented by three new housing developments Lawrence Lake Acres, Keilley Shores and Sunny Oaks.

Bruhn continued to showcase the efforts of the community to create an identity by way of the many activities, including the arts, and the numerous events held throughout the year, along with the completion of a feasibility study to connect Vergas to surrounding trails currently under construction.

Part of the comprehensive plan included needed updates to the Event Center, which were completed, along with expanding the city offices downtown to better meet increasing city needs, along with providing more space needed by the liquor store. The city also established a cannabis ordinance in response to legalization. 

Three new systems were purchased for city use this year, including electronic time cards for employees, a utility billing system and a 24-hour alert system for the water plant and lift stations.

“The city has remained committed to the expanded use of technology to create cost-effective efficiencies in city operations,” said Bruhn.

Bruhn also discussed the city’s proactive approach to infrastructure, budget and positioning the city for county, state and federal funding opportunities to allow for high-cost capital improvements.

Bruhn concluded with the Vergas vision statement, noting it is important to keep it in the forefront, along with linking plans and accomplishments.

“The city of Vergas is a thriving community that we are proud to call home,” said Bruhn. We are committed to taking charge of our future and proud of our commitment to retaining its small-town charm, while continually improving our employment, housing and technology. Our quality of life, friendly atmosphere, and sense of community help us retain residents as well as draw in visitors and new residents. Our community flourishes because of engaged community members, business owners, and leaders working together to advance and communicate common values, goals and priorities of the comprehensive plan.”

Bruhn said this currently reflects the state of Vergas and noted how much she appreciated the efforts and important work that has been done by everyone in Vergas, community-wide.

Lawrence Lake hydrant

An invoice for just under $9,500 to move a hydrant that was in the way of the road through Lawrence Lake acres was discussed when brought forth by developer Josh Hanson seeking the city to cover a portion, or all of the bill, as the hydrant move was not part of the original plan for the development.

Ruther Excavating provided an initial estimate of $6,800, according to council member Bruce Albright, who has worked on this issue with the streets committee. The committee felt the expense should be upon the developer, since it was identified on the plan of having to be moved.

The additional charge to the initial estimate was because the work took twice as long as anticipated, according to Albright. 

Utilities Superintendent Mike DuFrane was onsite during the work and explained the issue was the water line could not be found from where it was going to be extended. Crews dug where the water line was.

“The water line was in the slope of the ditch and if they would have taken that all out it would have been a miserable mess because it’s down on the side of a ditch,” said DuFrane. “To me, that’s what the problem was. It wasn’t that it took longer.”

Bruhn noted the city provided a variance to the development to use their own wells, rather than connect to the city and thereby, paying any of this invoice would be charging current customers for the work and they will not reCoup the cost, along with noting this decision could affect other developments.

“I think it sets a dangerous precedent,” she said. 

Bruhn’s assertion was backed up by City Attorney Thomas Winters.

“If the council is inclined to do something, I would want there to be some kind of findings that there is a reason of why we’re doing it, so it’s on the record of why it is beneficial or why the council deems this was necessary in this instance for the benefit of the city or like Bruce said, if it was a fault of the city that caused extra expenses here. I would want something to back it up so if we did have other people come, we could say no, this is the reason we did it in this instance,” said Winters.

The council voted unanimously to not cover the cost of the invoice $9,446.64.

Appointments

In 2024, the city council meetings will continue to be held at council chambers in the Event Center at 6:30 p.m., on the second Tuesday of each month. Natalie Fischer will continue to be acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Bruhn. Committee member additions and changes were also noted, which are listed on the city website.

A new subcommittee of the Park Board, specifically for the ballpark, was initially discussed in December and will be added to the city’s portfolio upon formation.

Arts

The city council agreed to be the applicant and fiscal agent for a Lake Region Arts Council Project grant to bring “Pert Near Sandstone,” a blue-grass band based in the Twin Cities with ties to Vergas.

The lead singer is Justin Bruhn, the son of Larry Schermerhorn and JoAnn Bruhn, both of whom grew up in Vergas. The band is well-known regionally and has also toured in Europe. 

Three dates to bring the band to Vergas: Saturday, June 8 at the downtown Shops & Hops event; Wednesday, July 3 at the Long Lake Park; or Saturday, August 10 at Looney Days prior to the main band. 

The band’s agent has said Pert Near (www.pertnearsandstone.com) wants to perform in Vergas, but is waiting to choose a date based on when their European Tour will be scheduled, according to Carol Albright of the Vergas Arts Club.

The cost will be $5,000 with no additional expense like mileage or lodging. The Arts Club currently has $3,500 in their checking account. In addition, two individuals have agreed to contribute $1,000 and $500.

While the Arts Club can afford to cover all costs, they want to apply for grants to try to cover the cost and not completely deplete the club’s funds.

Liquor

Liquor Store Manager Kyle Theisen presented annual numbers from the year’s sales to summarize the year. Due to a point of sales change on May 8, the numbers were representative of that time frame through December. The liquor store had increased sales in each  month, except October, culminating in an 11 percent increase in sales for 2023.

Total sales in 2023 were just shy of $1 million ($953,526.34) compared to 2022’s total of $856,828.00. Beer sales equate to 52 percent of total sales, liquor 33 percent and wine 10 percent.

Theisen noted the floor space allotted to wine is more than any other product and he will be making changes to match the actual sales.

An immediate focus of the liquor staff is turning around winter month income versus expenses. 

“Over the summer months, all the profit is being made,” said Theisen. 

Another change to the store is as of Feb. 1, Vergas Liquor will be selling THC-based cannabis products.