City Council sets preliminary levy increase

A group of citizens who live on South Tyler Street submitted a petition to the council requesting that the city designate an alley between their lots on Tyler Street and Maple Street and allow residents access to their back yards. Mayor Darwin Lutterman told the group of petitioners the city has never had an alley plotted there and he thought the neighbors should work out a plan so they can have access to their back yards. City Attorney Glen Petersen told the group it would be very expensive and difficult for the council to secure easements from all the property owners there in order to construct an alley. The maintenance would also be an added expense for the city, Petersen explained. The council took no action on the petition and agreed not to construct the alley and encouraged property owners to seek alternatives.

Chuck DeBates, representing the Lake Benton American Legion, presented a check to the city in the amount of $730 that is the city’s share of the pull tab revenue generated by the club for the past quarter.

Tribute publisher Bill Clark expressed his concern to the council about the lack of information the newspaper is receiving from the Tyler Police Department. He reminded the council of the Minnesota Statute 13.82 and distributed information about the statute and explained how it relates to the release of information to the media. John Spindler, Tyler Police Chief, indicated he would meet with the newspaper staff to work out the best way to get the information to them in a timely manner.

Clark also informed the council they had not published minutes of their meetings in the legal notices of the Tribute for some time. Dan Tolsma, city clerk administrator, told the council that he would review the city files that should indicate which meeting minutes have not been published. Cities are required by Minnesota statute to publish minutes of all regular and special meetings in the legal newspaper designated in their city. Clark told the council he thought the minutes had not been published during the period of time that Kristi Luger served as city administrator to when Dan Tolsma started. The minutes will be published in an upcoming issue.

After discussion the council agreed to pay the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation $3,770 which is the city’s annual assessment by the county. Council members Kurt Thomsen and Diane Clark expressed their concern about the lack of reporting to the council by the Development Services Inc. (DSI) office. Thomsen told other members of the council he wanted more detail about the number of businesses that had been helped by DSI this past year and recommended the city withhold funding next year if more information is not supplied.

Mayor Lutterman told the council he wanted to see work move forward this fall on the hospital parking lot project. Members of the council agreed. A plan has been in place to put curb and gutter in the parking lot and to hard surface the lot at a later time.

Utility superintendent Dean Beck asked council members what they wanted to do about the wading pool located near the municipal swimming pool. He said he had received an estimate of $14,205 to make necessary repairs to the small pool. The council instructed him to proceed with the preliminary work on the pool and also to get additional information about possible other improvements to the pool.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Report

A damage to property incident involving a smashed mailbox was reported at 9:09 p.m., Sept. 6, in Marble Township, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said it is investigating. A deer was hit reported at 9:06 p.m. Sept. 6, on State Highway 19 1/3 mile from the Lyon County boarder and the deer was gone on arrival, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said.

A fire was reported at a house at 3:47 a.m. Sept. 8, in Marble Township, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said. The first was nearly completely out upon arrival, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said. The Canby Fire Department, Ivanhoe Ambulance and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department responded, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said.

Horse training equipment was reported stolen from the back of a truck at 12:56 p.m. Sept. 8, in Lake Benton, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said. The Lake Benton police department is investigating, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said.

An individual entered a house and took things in a report at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 8, in Verdi, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said it is investigating.

A deer with two broken legs lying on a rail road track was reported at 8:59 a.m. on Sept. 9, in Lake Benton, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said.

A damage to property incident involving a sign was reported at 9:22 a.m. on Sept. 9, in Lincoln County, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said.

A dog at large and animal nuisance was reported at 10:25 p.m. Sept. 10, in Lake Benton, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said. The Lake Benton Police department is handling the incident, the Lincoln County Sherifs department said.

A cow was out in an incident reported at 2:11 p.m. Sept. 11, at the intersection of County Road 5 and 150th, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said.

A dog running loose was reported at 4:49 p.m. Sept. 11 in Lake Benton, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said. The Lake Benton police department handled, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said.

A school bus stop arm violation was reported at 6:20 p.m. Sept. 11 in Hope Township, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s department and Minnesota State Patrol are investigating, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s department said.