Caledonia Argus

Public Notices – NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF BRANCH OFFICE OF STATE BANK FINANCIAL

ECM Publishers — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 19:31:46 +0000

Notice is hereby given that application has been made to the Kansas City Regional Office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), 1100 Walnut Street, Suite 2100, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, by ESB Bank, 115 North Highway 44/76, Caledonia, Minnesota 55921, for the FDICs written consent to purchase the assets and assume the liabilities of the La Crescent, Minnesota branch (located at 109 South Walnut Street, La Crescent, Minnesota 55947, the Branch) of State Bank Financial, 401 Main Street, La Crosse, Minnesota 54601.

Following consummation of the proposed transaction, the Branch will be operated as a branch of ESB Bank, and the existing La Crescent, Minnesota branch office of ESB Bank located at 111 South Walnut Street, La Crescent, Minnesota will be consolidated with the operations of the Branch. It is contemplated that all other offices of the above-named institutions will continue to operate following consummation of the transaction.

Any person wishing to comment on this application may file his or her comments in writing with the Regional Director of the FDIC at its regional office, 1100 Walnut Street, Suite 2100, Kansas City, Missouri 64106 no later than November 17, 2017. The nonconfidential portions of the application are on file in the regional office and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Photocopies of the nonconfidential portion of the application file will be made available upon request.

October 18, 2017 ESB BANK

115 North Highway 44/76

Caledonia, Minnesota 55921 STATE BANK FINANCIAL

401 Main Street

La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601

Published in

The Caledonia Argus

October 18, November 1, 15, 2017

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Public Notices – MIENERGY COOPERATIVE NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

ECM Publishers — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 19:31:14 +0000

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDAs TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_ filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Published in

The Caledonia Argus

October 18, 2017

744565

Townships – WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP

ECM Publishers — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 19:30:55 +0000

The Wilmington Township Board of Supervisors will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday October 18th at 5:30pm at the Wilmington Township Townhall.

Published in

The Caledonia Argus

October 18, 2017

743997

Notice of Special Election

ECM Legals — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 13:51:22 +0000

Conservation Corps completes their work for another year on the stream bank revetment project

Caledonia Argus — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:49:05 +0000

Dan McGonigle/The Caledonia Argus
Members of the Conservation Corps out of Rochester are Zack Dieterman, Andrew Kunber, James Ostlie, Dan Uphues, Eddie Pittman Dustin Looman. They are joined by a neighbor of the project’s dog they nick named “Fetch Dog.”

By Daniel E. McGonigle

General Manager

The Caledonia Argus

The hurricanes that impacted Florida and Houston had an impact on Houston County as well.

Crews from the conservation corps sent men and women down to the ravaged areas to help.

That left a crew of just five behind to work on the stream bank erosion cedar revetment project.

“Normally we’d have a crew of about seven to 10,” said conservation corps member Zach Dieterman.

Instead the work was done by just five individuals.

“We still made our goal of 3,000 linear feet of stream and kept our time line,” said Bob Scanlan, assistant manager with Root River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

Despite the smaller crews and tighter time line, Scanlan was proud of the work the Conservation Corps members did.

“As a full crew we harvested the cedars near Hidden Bluffs Campground,” he said. “Obviously we didn’t know about the Hurricanes to come but doing the harvesting work before got the stressful work out of the way which I think helped overall.”

Project work

The crew worked to remove debris from the middle of the creek in an effort to concentrate flow towards the middle.

“We removed some boxelder trees that were shading the banks and removed some root structures along the banks as well,” Scanlan said of the team’s work.

The crew cables cedar logs to the stream bank to help with erosion.

“Missouri State University helps us with the equipment consulting,” Scanlan said. “They fly drones over the area and document a Bank Erosion Hazard Index for us.”

Things like vegetation, bank slope and root density are all taken into account as to what changes the crew will make to the banks.

Funding for the project also comes from the Minnesota Corn Growers association.

“They’ve been helping us with this for the past several years,” Scanlan said. “That’s a huge funding stream for us.”

In addition to the corn growers, Scanlan noted that some of the funding comes from the Clean Water Act.

The work needs to be completed before the Oct. 15 spawning begins for the areas trout.

A small ceremony and lunch was held for the Conservation Corps members on Thursday, Oct 12.

Young Hannah Lampert writes winning balloon essay about her grandmother

Caledonia Argus — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:40:21 +0000

Dan McGonigle/The Caledonia Argus
Hannah Lampert, left, wrote a winning essay about her grand mother Barb Jacobson and the pair will get a balloon ride as a result of being chosen.

By Daniel E. McGonigle

General Manager

The Caledonia Argus

Each year, the balloon committee sponsors an essay contest. Area 5th graders are asked to pen an essay about an individual they’d like to see receive a balloon ride.

This year’s winner of the ride is Barb Jacobson, courtesy of an essay penned by her granddaughter Hannah Lampert.

“It’s surprising,” Lampert said of winning the contest. “I’m overjoyed.”

The St. John’s 5th grader was given the notice that her essay had won in front of the whole student body of St. John’s.

Students gathered in her classroom, while grandma, who was there volunteering in the kindergarten room, was numb to the surprise.

“I had no idea she even wrote the essay,” Jacobson laughed. “I didn’t even know there was a contest.”

With the help of St. John’s staff, the nomination was kept secret.

Jacobson was asked to come and help in a kindergarten classroom, something the long-time St. John’s teacher does on a regular basis.

“So I didn’t think anything of it,” she said.

But once she arrived at school, the plan was in place and the announcement was made.

A grandmother’s love

As the announcement was made, Lampert fought through the tears.

“My grandma is the most polite person I know,” she said. “She’s the most caring person in the world.”

Jacobson said that in her time teaching 3rd and 4th grade at St. John’s, she got to ride a balloon “10 or 12 years ago.”

The pair are looking forward to their ride together, though Lampert admits “I’m afraid of heights.”

The balloon rally is this weekend, Saturday, Oct. 21.

The essay:

I nominate my grandmother, Mrs. Barb Jacobson for all she does for me. She helps me with my homework. She offers to give me more than I ask for. She even taught at St. John’s Lutheran School for many years.

My grandma is very kind and has a great sense of humor too.

She always speaks politely and hardly ever complains. Whenever you have a favor to ask, you can always go ahead and ask it because you will always get a polite answer.

I’m not saying that grandma spoils us. She has some rules, but all are fair. Grandma makes you feel as if you want to respect her.

My grandma had two kids they are my mom and Erin. Erin is handicapped, so she needs grandma to take care of her.

Mom is older. Grandma had her two kids with Jake, my grandpa. He passed away from cancer. Mom has five kids. I am the middle child and the only girl.

I adore my grandma and am thankful to have her. That’s why I nominate her for this contest.

Hannah Lampert

5th grade, St. John’s Lutheran School, Caledonia, Minn.

New website

Caledonia Argus — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:38:58 +0000

Starting Oct. 19 our online site hometownargus.com, will be completely redesigned. In an effort to update our site and organize stories, videos, photos and all other content in a way that makes more sense for our readers, we have made some significant changes.

You will still access the site using the familiar URL that you already have book-marked in your favorites, but you will quickly notice the changes that have been made.

One change that will be apparent right away is certain stories will be identified with a gold check mark. Those stories are considered premium content. To access those stories you will need to become a registered user. If you are already a print subscriber to the paper, your subscription provides you with online access at no additional charge, but you will still need to complete the form and include your unique account number, which can be found on your print paper mailing label, just above your name.

If you are not a current print subscriber, you can gain full access for $.99 cents for one day access, $6 for 30 days of access, and $22 for the year.

If you encounter any issues, you can call our customer service department at 763-712-3544 or email us at: servicecenter@ecm-inc.com.

If you opt not to register, there will still be many stories that you can access, such as breaking news, public safety alerts, top sports scores, calendar items, obituaries and all public notices.

We hope you enjoy the new site.

Referendum meeting held in Brownsville

Caledonia Argus — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:38:02 +0000

Dan McGonigle/The Caledonia Argus
Superintendent of schools Ben Barton speaks about the
referendum at a public forum held in
Brownsville on
October 10.

By Daniel E. McGonigle

General Manager

The Caledonia Argus

Superintendent of schools Ben Barton and school board members Spencer Yohe and Emily McGonigle, along with district business manager Barb Meyer were on hand for the second of four informational meetings regarding the upcoming referendum.

The meeting was held on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Brownsville community center.

A resident of rural Brownsville was on hand to speak about her tax situation personally.

She owns 600 acres of land and wanted to know how the referendum would impact her.

“The nice thing is we’re going to save you tons of money on the school side of your taxes” Barton told her.

Barton explained the complicated nature of the tax savings as it relates to the upcoming referendum.

“I think we’re the only district in the state that can say by voting ‘yes’ on the referendum you’re taxes are going to go down,” he said.

He went on to inform those in the room along with a Facebook live post that, because of the work the district did on the building bonds side of the tax ledger that people’s taxes will go down.

“As a result of recent legislation passed in 2016 and 2017, the taxes on our building bonds for the new middle school/high school built in 2002 and the retrofitting of the elementary, our taxes will decrease by about $10 million,” Barton said.

The district is going out to ask for a referendum in the amount of $460 which will put the district at the maximum amount that the state will match.

“I think that was a smart move by our school board,” Barton said. “They want to make decisions that are as fiscally responsible as possible.”

Should the referendum pass on Nov. 7, the district’s levy of $760 would still be amongst the lowest in the state and well below the state average which is in the high $800 range.

After discussing her individual tax situation with the voter who was in attendance, she came away feeling reassured.

“I wasn’t here to grind an axe,” she said. “And I came away with a different thought about this then when I got here.”

A final meeting is planned in Eitzen on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m., at the Eitzen Community Center.

You are invited to Beauty and the Beast the musical this year in Houston

Caledonia Argus — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:36:58 +0000

Dan McGonigle/The Caledonia Argus
Back row left to right: Ethan Kinstler, Owen Gaustad, Ella Stensland, Noah Carlson, Ethan Papenfuss, Brynne Schultz, Jonathan Smith, Cora Niebeling, Lilli Carlson, Hayley Carr, Bree Jore, Mackenzie Dankers, Maria Esch. Front row left to right: Alex Walters, Jordon Beeman, Ethan Knutson, Ethan Frauenkron, Katrina Erdmann, Elizabeth Gaustad, Ashley McCann, Kenny Grupe, Nataleigh Dankers, Violet Srock, Arah Paulson, Kaydince Welke, Ellie Niebeling, Morgan Simpson. Not pictured Emma Forsyth.

By Daniel E. McGonigle

General Manager

The Caledonia Argus

The cast of “Beauty and the Beast”, the Houston musical, invites you to their play.

The dates will be Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m.

The cost is $7 for adults, and $5 for students. Concessions will be available.

The show will be held at the Houston Elementary school gym.

Rehearsals

“We started rehearsals right after the open house back in August,” said Maria Esch, a senior performer who is playing “Belle.”

There are 28 total cast members and Greta Goetting is the director.

“It’s been going really well,” said Esch. “Everyone has been working really hard getting the dances down and it’s been going great.”

Goetting said that this is the most elaborate performance the school has ever done.

“They’re building an extension on the stage, there is a community pep band and the stage props,” Goetting said. “It’s a lot to manage.”

But the director believes that all of the hard work of the students and community members will not be lost on the audience.

“I hope everyone will come and have a good time,” she said.

She is pleased of the support the musicals have received over the years.

“Attendance has been growing each year,” she said. “Last year we sold out two shows.”

Like the attendance, the cast has been growing as well.

“When we did “Charlie Brown” we had eight or nine people,” Esch recalls. “Now we’ve just been growing and growing. It’s good to see.”

Students in grades 6-12 make up the cast.

“For being such a simple story it’s a big production,” said Goetting. “The kids have worked hard and it shows.”

Goetting hopes this fact won’t be lost on the audience.

“It takes a lot of energy to put on a good show and I hope people will feel like they’re getting their money’s worth from this one,” Goetting said.

Public hearing packs Caledonia council chamber

Caledonia Argus — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:09:22 +0000

Craig Moorhead/The Caledonia Argus
Mike Davy of Davy Engineering explains a potential sewer/water project before the Caledonia City Council on Oct. 9.

By Craig Moorhead

The Caledonia Argus

A well-attended public hearing gave the Caledonia City Council plenty to think about last week. The Oct. 9 session also featured some discussions on a new city well, and more.

The public hearing lasted for an hour, during which residents heard Mike Davy (Davy Engineering) explain a proposal to provide city sewer to 19 parcels along E. South St. and S. First St. A city water main would also be ran to five S. First St. parcels at the same time. The latest cost estimate is $349,870 for the sewer project, and $38,170 for water.

City clerk/administrator Adam Swann reminded residents that an additional $463,980 in street improvements (which was included in the last estimate) would not be part of the project. “At this point the current proposal is limited to installing water, installing sewer, but not doing any of the other road improvements or curb and gutter,” he said.

Davy said that his firm prepared the preliminary feasibility study. The best option uses gravity feed to run the sanitary sewer to a single lift station, he reported. That would be set deeper than any of the basements of the homes to be served.

“The city’s project will include extending the sewer lateral to the property line, which is the street right of way line about 30 feet off the center of the street.” Davy added. “From that point in time, each homeowner is responsible for completing the connection on their own property.”

Council members did not “officially” set assessments when they voted (on Sept. 25) to accept a proposal to place only 25% of the cost burden on property owners, with the city paying the rest, Davy stated. The action was taken to provide residents with a cost estimate on what they might expect in assessments.

“So out of that $349,870 (sewer project), $87,470 would be assessed, Davy noted.

If the estimated cost were to agree exactly with actual bids, the sewer assessments would total $4603 per parcel, with an additional $1908 for each of the five parcels getting water. Davy said that the council currently favors a 30-year payoff on potential assessments, at 0% interest.

Besides shouldering the cost of plumbing out to the laterals, residents would also pay a $500 connection charge to hook up sanitary sewer, and an $85 connection charge for water. The City of Caledonia would also need to purchase a 50 x 50 foot space for the lift station.

Davy said that the city’s proposed assessment plan represents “A very generous policy. Further, allowing that to be repaid at 0% interest over a 30 year period is very unusual. This is an absolute bargain,” he added.

If the project is built, an assessment hearing would need to be held before those charges are actually set, Swann said.

About 20 residents attended. A few of their comments:

“I don’t see any problems.”

“I’d be for it.”

“I don’t need it.”

“If it’s needed, I think it should be done. I don’t want to pay for it, though (laughter from group).”

“I think it should go in because it’s inevitable. If it had gone in 20 years ago, or 30, like it should have, it would be half this amount. ”

“The longer you wait, the more it’s going to cost.”

“I really don’t want it.”

“I’m for this, but I think that everybody in the city should be treated in the same.”

Swann: “We know it will help property values, and it will help the people who are going to have septic problems in the future.”

If the council decides to proceed, persons who currently have septic tanks will be expected to take advantage of the new service within one year, Davy said.

“If everybody wants to vote for it, we can proceed,” mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder said. “If 99% are against it, we’re between a rock and a hard place.” He asked for a show of hands more than once, finally suggesting that only one person “vote” their wishes on each parcel. Carefully checking on those attending, the mayor later said that only 3-4 of the possible affected landowners were not represented (either in attendance or having a family member in the audience).

Schroeder finally stated that approximately 75% of the group raised their hands as being “for” the project. “We’ve got a majority that want it, of those that are here,” he noted.

No vote was taken on the project following the hearing. There were only three of five council members present, and a “super majority” of four is needed to move forward, Swann reported. The matter is expected to be on the group’s Oct. 23 agenda.

Other news:

Davy told the council that after surveying “eight or nine” sites for an additional city well, one spot was found that appears to meet all the criteria. And, it’s already on city land.

The site would be where a pavilion now stands at Sunnyside Park, along Adams St. But the cost to drill down over 700 feet would be substantial.

“We’ve already talked to the Department of Health,” Davy said. “They’ll come by and write up an approval. It’s not an approval for the well, it’s just saying you’ve got an acceptable site.

“You’ve got to get a withdrawal permit from MNDNR demonstrating that you need the water, first. And that’s not hard to do. It’s just a lot of paperwork. Then you’ve got to get the well plans approved. The hardest part is to figure out how to pay for it…

“It’s going to cost $500,000 to $600,000 just to drill the hole. Then you’re going to have to build a pump house on top of it. That’s going to be another $300,000, so you’ve got a million-dollar project, probably.

“Here’s the challenge: you’ve got good water in Caledonia, other than that nitrate issue that we had… But every time you drill a hole, it’s kind of a shot in the dark. Our goal is to drill that hole and get water that you don’t have to treat.

Davy said that most communities surounding Caledonia don’t have problems, but La Crescent (which draws from a slightly deeper formation) has to remove radium. “That’s the only thing that makes me nervous,” he concluded.

The project will take some time to complete. “If you decided today that you wanted to put a new municipal well in, it would take you 18 months to two years before you would have water,” Davy stated.

The council talked briefly about possible options to pay for the well, then voted to ask Davy Engineering to “continue with the water project, getting the information necessary to move forward.”

Members also voted to approve three limited use permits with the State of Minnesota for walking trails within the Highway 44 right of way.