Vibrant Life Church comes through for stranded motorists
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
For a change, Russ Goette looked up from his mayor’s seat and saw a lot of people in the Ellendale City Council chambers.
“I want to thank everyone for coming tonight,” he said at the start of the Thursday, Feb. 28 council meeting. “It’s nice to have a crowd.”
NRHEG Superintendent Dale Carlson, elementary principal Doug Anderson and school board member Richard Mueller were there to promote the district’s $9.1 million bond referendum set for April 9. They distributed brochures to be sent to everyone in the school district with information on the referendum.
“We’ve spent a lot of time since the last (failed) referendum in 2015,” said Carlson. “We’ve sent out surveys, we’ve had special meetings. The referendum is really borne out of responses from that survey. Some tough decisions had to be made by the school board.”
Passage of the referendum would benefit the school and students in four ways, outlined on Page 4 of the brochure: 1. Improve safety and security; 2. Support facility repairs; 3. Renew code upgrades and compliance; 4. Provide classrooms that support curriculum requirements.
One area that very much needs an upgrade, according to Carlson, is the career tech area. It was built in 1960 and not much has been done since. It’s the only part of either the high school or elementary building that will be added on to.
Carlson said the tax impact won’t be as bad as anticipated because the state will pay for $2.5 million of the $9.1 million referendum.
“That is huge for us as rural school districts,” he said.
Carlson urged people to check out the school’s Web site, which includes a tax calculator that tells you what you’ll pay if the referendum passes.
According to the brochure, NRHEG is on the low end of area towns for residential home, homestead agriculture and non-homestead agricultural taxes.
Carlson said the Ellendale council was one of several planned stops to get the word out about the referendum.
“We’re trying to do our part of informing you,” he said. “We’re not going to tell you which way to vote. The most important thing is that you do vote. If we can have the majority of our school district members vote, then we will truly know how you feel.”
Carlson also fielded some questions from council members.
“Are the two buildings paid for? Asked Scott Groth.
“Our debt is very low,” said Carlson.
Groth also asked about staffing levels before and after the referendum.
Carlson said that’s mostly tied to staffing, but added, “We have a commitment to what we’re known for, small class size and providing good preparation.”
Councilman Steve Engel asked if another referendum will follow this one.
“We have things that didn’t make the cut at both schools,” said Carlson. “Those things are still out there. They won’t go away.”
If the referendum passes, work is expected to begin in the summer of 2020 and be completed that fall.
Ellendale Emergency Manager Jerry Ibberson gave a report following the recent blizzard. He said 46 stranded motorists spent the night at Vibrant Life Assembly of God Church, with seven volunteers logging 227 hours and he and his wife, Karen, putting in 18.
“I thought things went very smoothly once we got things to Vibrant Life,” said Ibberson.
There was some confusion with a shift change at Casey’s, according to Ibberson, and some people were sent to the wrong place, but eventually it all worked out.
“The people at Vibrant Life were very appreciative they had a place to go,” said Ibberson, who noted one family was from Kentucky and others from Wisconsin. “Many of them said they’ll maybe have to come back in the summer and take a look.”
Ibberson’s report touched off a long discussion of what should be done with the cots and blankets used for emergency sheltering. They’re currently stored in a dusty crawl space above the fire hall. No decision was made.
Manager Ralph Diaz gave his monthly report on the Municipal Liquor Store. Having had 10 people sign up for an upcoming pool tournament, Diaz expanded it to 24 players. He also plans to tweak the food menu.
Chief Logan Busho reported the fire department’s first fish fry is set for March 8, with the second slated for April 5. He said the department received a grant of $50,980 for a new grass rig, bringing the total in grant money to more than $200,000 in the past year.
“That’s pretty impressive,” said Goette.
Busho said the department’s truck that was hit on the freeway may cost more to repair than originally thought.
Busho reported they they’ve found somewhere to donate the department’s old truck to a needy fire department in Missouri.
“It’s better for it to go somewhere to someone who can get some use out of it rather than have it sit here,” said Busho.
Josh Otto gave his monthly report on the maintenance department. There are continued problems with sealing a well near the council meeting room.
“They’ve used 27 yards of concrete so far,” he said. “It should have been seven. They’ve gone 209 feet and they have 160 feet to go.”
That’s another $10,000 on the bill, according to Otto, and they’re still not sure who’s paying. Otto was originally told by the department of health that it would cover the cost, but now that’s not for sure.
“They figure there’s a cavity there,” said Otto. “Obviously we have to go ahead and finish it, then we can fight with the department of health.”
The council gave the approval of $1,500 for a new snow blower.
Otto has also been pricing out a new truck, and found one for $35,444.71, taxes not included. The council took no action at this time.
Goette also congratulated Otto on a recent award from the MPCA.
City clerk LeeAnn Hojberg reported she’s been volunteering her lunch hours for Junior Achievement at the elementary school.
The council approved bills payable in the amount of $35,486.47.
The council also approved new liquor license fees and a 10-foot easement by the MLS. A request for $14,680 for new doors at the fire hall was tabled to the March 14 meeting.
Groth asked about thanking Vibrant Life for sheltering stranded motorists. Goette thanked Otto for his efforts cleaning up the snow.