By Robert Williams

Editor

Vergas Mayor Julie Bruhn, who is planning to run for reelection this fall, is looking to the future of the village by acquiring funds to research and improve energy efficiency in Vergas. 

What began as a simple search for a small amount of grant funding turned into a yearlong path of learning and acquiring more funds to benefit Vergas and its residents.

Bruhn became aware of financial incentives and research-data benefits at her visit to the League of Minnesota Cities annual conference in Duluth last summer.

“I was so impressed with how much money there was out there and I thought, Why not us? I was also impressed by the impact it could have on the community,” Bruhn said.

She initially applied for a Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERT) grant, but was directed to a pair of University of Minnesota Extension Program entities: Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) and Regional Development and Sustainability Partnership (RSDP).

Bruhn applied for grants from each and was awarded both

“They’re awesome partners; they truly partner with you,” she said.

An action plan is now in place for research and audits of Vergas buildings. From those results, RSDP will provide models and scenarios for public and city council review.

“I have been so impressed with the support and resources out there; it was a whole different world,” said Bruhn. “I’ve written grants before but in healthcare. Now I find myself in climate and energy.”

Vergas also joined the West Central Initiative (WCI) Municipal Solar Cohort that provides free technical assistance and support to municipalities, nonprofits, cooperative utility companies, and unique public or private partnerships that serve the region to apply for state, federal, and private grant funds related to infrastructure improvements and clean-energy production and storage through local grants.

“There are a lot of moving pieces; I just feel like it will all come together to our benefit,” Bruhn said.

The building audits will provide information on how Vergas can improve energy use, which will aid in energy cost savings, along with qualifying for tax incentives for improved efficiency. Vergas Clerk-Treasurer Julie Lammers submitted two years of energy use to examine consumption and aid the building audits. 

“You can save up to $1,000-$2000 a month on your energy bills,” said Bruhn. 

Completing the research stage, also sets Vergas up for available money for implementation.

“I’m excited; I think it’s a great journey for Vergas to improve our buildings and reduce energy which impacts every resident where we can save money and for an area that is natural resource-abundant that we can have a little effect on the environment with whatever we might find,” said Bruhn.

Past research in other communities has shown that the implementation of cost-saving measures can be paid for in as little as one to two years with the initial energy savings being buoyed by tax rebates, utility incentives, and rebates for utilizing American-made products on over half the project.

“You can get them all; you don’t just get one and you’re done,” said Bruhn. 

WCI’s cohort program leans heavily on utilizing solar power. One of their thoughts for Vergas was utilizing the Event Center as a battery backup.

“Imagine if there was a city power outage, you could have a power base there, a resiliency center there for the community,” Bruhn said. “It’s been a learning curve but it’s been really fun.”

Bruhn hopes for a positive response to positive information and will be scheduling public hearings in the future to share the data.

“We want to make sure we are doing this very data and research-oriented when we present it to the residents,” she said.

Bruhn also emphasized the city council’s desire to be good, financial stewards of the village and one with a plan. In recent years, the council has submitted to the public a Streets Plan, a Parks Plan and a Comprehensive Plan. Energy efficiency was not a specific or standout point in the Comp Plan, but certainly falls well into a main category – infrastructure.

“To have a plan for our streets, as well as our parks, those are important components to a community, so it kind of fits in that you have to be looking ahead and looking for improvements,” said Bruhn.

One big surprise of this process was Bruhn’s initial grant request was for $11,000.

What she got was support from ESMC and RSDP in the form of using University of Minnesota faculty research fellows and a nearly five-times increase to $50,000 in funding.

“It’s just exploded, but it’s really a good thing for Vergas and I think our community will really benefit from what we find,” said Bruhn.

The future timeline is to begin Level I building audits in August upon completion of the energy audits by Otter Tail Power Company, which is slated for the end of this month. Hopes are to have results and a final report in the spring of 2025, which could lead to some implementation next year also.

“I hope, if the funding is there,” Bruhn said. 

WCI’s solar cohort is pushing small communities to utilize the technology and according to Bruhn, they do not want money to be an issue that holds it back.

Bruhn also toured Otter Tail Power’s first large-scale solar investment ($62 million) at the Hoot Lake Solar Generation facility in Fergus Falls and joined Vergas with Minnesota GreenStep Cities, a free continuous program that helps cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals.

“Why would you not want one more resource,” she said.

Another surprise was the positive feedback Bruhn received from the University entities in that a small village is concerned and willing to become more energy efficient.

“They were just really impressed that a small, rural facility was taking this leap and having an interest,” said Bruhn.

Those entities are interested in using Vergas as a blueprint for other communities that want to learn and not be intimidated by the process.

“We’ll share the final report very broadly and freely,” Bruhn said.

Public hearings on the data will be announced at future council meetings and in the city’s monthly newsletter.

Park Bathhouse Donation

In 2023, the Lake Sybil Rod and Gun Club had a mission to donate large sums to area outdoor-related clubs and associations after the club disbanded in late 2022 and the board of directors and club members used the money from the sale of the Club’s land to benefit others.

The Club donated $44,000 to the Frazee Area Action Fund ($15,000), Frazee Trap team ($14,500) and Pelican Rapids Trap team ($14,500) in memory of 2011 Frazee-Vergas High School graduate Kyle Quittschreiber, who passed away in 2018.

In total, the Club gave $125,000 to area sportsman’s clubs, lake associations, shooting clubs, programs for kids and the Sybil Lake Cemetery.

Last week, the Club made another sizable donation to the City of Vergas fundraiser for a new and improved Bathhouse at Long Lake Park in the amount of $19,731.21. Club President Mud Berven presented the check to Mayor Bruhn at City Hall.

The donation is nearly 10 percent of the fundraiser’s total of $200,000. The money is being raised as matching funds needed for a grant the city will be applying for in early 2025 to complete the project. Having funds already collected is a big benefit to being awarded grant funding. 

More information on the project is available, along with the ability to donate, at www.cityofvergas.com/community/parks