Josh Karels Appointed to Ward 3 Seat on Milbank City Council
Taking the oath of office is Josh Karels, right, who was sworn in as a city council member representing Milbank’s Ward Three. Mark Reedstrom, city attorney, administered the oath of office during the regular council meeting on Monday, July 13.
Josh Karels Appointed to Ward 3
Seat on Milbank City Council
During the regular monthly meeting of the Milbank City Council on Monday, July 13, Josh Karels was sworn in as a representative of the residents of Ward Three. Karels was appointed to finish the term started by Evan Grong, who resigned from the board in April after moving to a residence outside of the city limits.
Prior to the addition of Karels, the board addressed old business, including accepting the resignation of Paige Zempel from the police department and approving Resolution 7-13-20A, a contingency resolution to transfer $1,000 from the contingency fund to the council proceedings fund.
The board also heard an update from Mark Reedstrom, city attorney, regarding the property standards issue with Rick Hanson and the property at 600 W. Milbank Avenue. Reedstroom told the council that Judge Dawn Elshere made a judgment and order for abatement of the public nuisance at that address. The action gives the city officials the avenue needed to hire a company to move the debris and salvage materials that are often too close to the road to not less than 50 feet from the right of way. The cost of doing so will be assessed to the property owner’s taxes. Reedstrom added that Elshere’s judgment is a continuing order, so the city does not have to go back to court each time there is an issue at the property.
After Karels was sworn in, the board proceeded with new business. They elected Scott Hoeke to serve as president and Mike Hanson as vice president.
The council approved appointments by Pat Raffety, mayor. The appointments are John Forman, city administrator; Cynthia Schumacher, finance officer; Mark Reedstrom, city attorney; Boyd VanVooren, police chief; Kevin Schuelke, fire chief, and David Giesen and Justin Mathiason, assistant fire chiefs.
Committee appointments for the council members are Joel Foster, airport and finance; Mike Hanson, fire, park, police and planning and zoning; James Johnson, property standards and Unity Square; Pat Raffety, finance, housing and personnel; Scott Hoeke, baseball facility, rubble site, streets, Unity Square; Steve Wiener, water, liaison to both Grant County Development Corporation and Milbank Area Chamber of Commerce, and Josh Karels, park/ cemetery and wastewater.
The members of the fire department and the police reserves rosters were approved. The reserve police officers are Rodney Thaden, Neil Folk, Nic Bray, Jacob Wellnitz and Steve Huizenga.
Raffety proclaimed Tuesday, July 28, as Alphonse Joseph Holtzmann Day in honor of his 100th birthday.
During the public input period, Steve and Vicki Strege addressed the council about the ongoing water issues at their residence. The city officials outlined steps that are being taken to divert water from south and west, directly into the Pribyl Park holding ditch.
Also at this time, Lance Hamann, who has a financial office on the south block of Main Street, presented a grievance to the council concerning the lack of regular parking spaces near his office. Since the completion of the street renovation, there are now two handicap accessible parking spaces in front of his office, but only one unregulated parking space. He explained his concern for his clients’ safety and offered possible solutions. Councilman Hoeke offered to look into the issue and find a solution.
The council passed Resolution 7-13-20B on a split vote with three members in favor and two opposed. The resolution was brought to the council by the committee that has been studying traffic flow and potential issues when the new elementary school opens.
In passing the resolution, the council has designated “no parking any time” in the following locations: the west side of Ninth Street between Fourth Avenue and Seventh Avenue; the north side of Summit Avenue between Seventh Street and Ninth Street, and the south side of Fifth Avenue between Seventh Street and Ninth Street. It also establishes that a “no right turn” sign will be placed at the intersection of the Milbank Elementary School exit and Ninth Street, directly across from Fifth Avenue.
The council approved Resolution 7-13-20, which authorizes the execution of contractual documents related to COVID-19 relief funding.
Hoeke informed the council that the representatives from ICON Architectural Group are working on plans for an updated phased project for the proposed American Legion Baseball stadium at Lake Farley Park. He noted that they have had to rework the numbers to correlate with the fundraising efforts.
Department reports were given for water, rubble site, planning and zoning, fire, Unity Square, wastewater, parks and police.
The board entered executive session to discuss litigation. Upon reentering open session, the council members voted four to one to decline a settlement proposal in the David Mogard vs. City of Milbank case.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the council will be Monday, August 10, at 7 p.m. in the Milbank Visitor Center.
~Holli Seehafer
