By Robert Williams

Editor

There were two new, but familiar faces introduced at the Vergas City Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 11.

Julie Bruhn was officially sworn in as Mayor of Vergas. Bruhn is serving her second term after replacing Dwight Lundgren, who stepped down due to health reasons earlier this summer.

Karen Skoyles of Ramstad, Skoyles & Bakken P.A. in Detroit Lakes, was introduced as the new attorney for the City of Vergas during the meeting.

“We do a lot of work with municipalities in Minnesota; we have for quite some time and we’re very happy having you choose to remain with us,” said Skoyles.

The council portfolio was also updated with Bruhn taking over as mayor. The portfolio is available on the city website (city officials) under the city drop-down menu. The lone changes were Bruhn replacing Lundgren, except on the water and sewer committee, where Bruce Albright replaced Lundgren.

Abatement

The city council unanimously approved tax abatement bond funding for public infrastructure improvements, including utility (storm sewer) and parking lot improvements in the city’s downtown area behind the Government Services Center.

A public hearing was held prior to the council meeting to address any citizen concerns.

Vergas State Bank has signed off on the bonds totaling $147,000 for the project on a 10-year structure at 5.2 percent.

Liquor store

In reviewing the consent agenda, Mayor Bruhn addressed concerns that the liquor store profits were running approximately $20,000 less than the year prior.

Liquor Store Manager Kyle Theisen has reported to the liquor store committee that sales have steadily declined and are not where they were last year. Theisen reported the same is happening in other small cities, according to Clerk/Treasurer Julie Lammers.

The liquor store committee will meet prior to the next meeting and Mayor Bruhn has requested this issue be addressed and reported back to council with ways to combat the profit loss.

“It’s going to have a huge impact on the budget,” she said.

The liquor store typically makes a significant transfer to the city’s general fund, approximately $25,000-$30,000 annually.

Meeting dates

Mayor Bruhn asked for an option to change the regular city council meetings from the second Monday of the month to the third Tuesday of the month. Start time of the meeting will remain at 6:30 p.m. The next city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Future council meetings may be available on YouTube. Lammers requested that Deputy Clerk Rachel Nustad post future zoom recordings of city council meetings on YouTube the day after the meetings. The proposal was tabled a month to complete more research on communication options prior to moving forward.

Solar

Vergas is joining Frazee in utilizing the West Central Initiative (WCI) and Lakes Region Service Cooperative to bring solar power and savings to small communities in Minnesota. Vergas was one of 10 cities participating in research to see if solar could be used to benefit an area of town.

WCI staff analyzed the potential for solar and an expected project cost of $104,280.23 and expected project incentives of $97,680. 

The incentives create a near zero cost obligation to the city and the project will save the city of Vergas $67,848 in energy costs over the project’s lifetime.

In Frazee, the Public Works building was selected. In Vergas, the Event Center roof will be utilized and will have a solar photovoltaic system installed on its roof.

Holsen Solar is a Fargo-based licensed contractor and electrician that performs residential, business and agricultural solar projects. Holsen Solar was chosen by the group of cities to complete the construction after reviewing requests for proposals.

Water

The Minnesota Department of Health reported results of lead and copper monitoring in Vergas required by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The results revealed the following 90th percentile levels:

90th percentile lead level = 5mu*g / l (rounded as 0.005mg / l ) The action level for lead is 15mu*g / l

90th percentile copper level = 1150mu*g / l (rounded as 1.15mg / l ) The action level for copper is 1300mu*g / l

Based on these results, the public water system has not exceeded the action level for lead and has not exceeded the action level for copper.