Radiator Shop possible demo

In an earlier post I mentioned that the City is considering options for the old Radiator shop (Creamery) including demolition. We are seeking proposals for this building up to the August 10 meeting of the City Council. Any proposal should be submitted to City Hall prior to that date.

COVID-19 Relief

The City of Mantorville was informed of funds that are available for the relief of COVID related expenses. The Mantorville EDA, Mantorville City Council and Dodge County will be working together to identify local business needs, eligible city expenses and how we can best serve our community with these funds. More info to follow...

Smoke Testing

The City of Mantorville will be preforming smoke test to back trace our sewer system. When leaks are found, smoke may appear at the surface, we are aware of this and this technique helps us maintain the integrity of our sewer system. Look for notification from the City in the near future.

School Letter to Waltz

 

Office of Governor Tim Walz                                                                                           July 27, 2020

130 State Capitol
75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Governor Walz:

I am reaching out to you today to express my concern about the upcoming school year and the student schedules. While we have been in isolation for most of the year now, our students are suffering very real side affects of the isolation. This week, we learned about one of our high school students passing. Our close community is absolutely devastated by this tragic event. This is a tragic side affect of social isolation which removes the students peer support group, intensifies the feeling of alienation and removes the close physical proximity of counseling resources. The continued isolation has removed summer employment opportunities, eliminated much anticipated summer sports camps and family vacations. Please consider the whole cost of continued isolation before implementing any further restriction on the 2020/2021 school year.

When speaking with area educators, we found out this week that schools that are not open in the fall are not eligible for federal dollars for education. There are real psychological, physiological and economic costs with the continued isolation which must be considered before any plan is implemented.

In Dodge County, we have been very lucky and had low infection rates. Please consider that while urban areas of the state may not have been as fortunate and may require additional protections, many rural areas of the state, such as the Kasson-Mantorville School system, will greatly suffer from a one-size-fits-all solution.

I am asking for your consideration to allow schools to return to normal. If you feel this is not appropriate state wide then please consider allowing the counties to determine what needs are present in the local areas. We feel this would be the best solution for our state and our communities.

We will eagerly look forward to your announcement this week, so we can plan for our students safe return to school.

Sincerely,

Chuck Bradford

Mayor, City of Mantorville

21 5th Street East

P.O. Box 188

Mantorville, MN 55955

mantorvillemayor@gmail.com

Hyway 57 open in Wannamingo

The construction of a traffic circle at the intersection of 57 and 60 in Wanamingo has been completed and is now open to traffic.

Email to Announce MHMP Update & News Release #1

I was asked to post this for the public:

Greetings,

                

Dodge County Emergency Management is commencing work on the update of the Dodge County 5-year Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (MHMP).  Attached is a news release for your information.  

Over the next year we will be working with a planning team made up of representatives from the County and each city covered by the plan, as well as townships and other key stakeholders to gather feedback and document participation in the planning process. Key activities will include participation in 2 planning team meetings, providing requested information, and identifying local mitigation projects that will help to reduce or eliminate the impacts of future hazard events.  Please watch for emails inviting your participation in the coming months. 

Cities and townships are encouraged to help share this news release locally to strengthen our public outreach.  Please notify me if you have posted the news release and provide documentation of the posting (i.e. email a link to your website or social media, or email a picture of the posting on a community bulletin board). 

I look forward to your participation in the Dodge County MHMP update.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  

Thank you,

Erin Wegner

FD Offers Pool Service

The City of Mantorville's Fire Department is offering a pool filling service. For more details and to get on the schedule please contact City Hall

Marigold Days Update

The Marigold Days committee will have a limited celebration targeted for our community members. The Saloon, will be hosting a dance and there will be fireworks. Other Details are still being worked out. This years celebration is not going to be "advertised" and the committee is trying to keep the expenses down since there will not be vendors this year.

More updates to follow as they become available.

Mantorville accepting proposals for Radiator Shop

The City of Mantorville is looking for proposals for the transfer of the Old Radiator shop back into the private sector. The Creamery that was later converted to a radiator shop is being considered for demolition; however, the City is also considering any "options" to restore the shop which is located in the flood plane. The building needs a new roof, sewer connecting line and some interior structural repairs. In addition to the repair above, the structure would also need new HVAC and electrical service work. The City Council is deferring any decision until our first meeting in August. Those interested in presenting proposal may submit them at City Hall prior to the second Monday in August.

The Mantorville Chamber of commerce as well as the Mantorville Restoration Association has expressed an interest in seeing the structure saved, but don't currently have the resources to take on the project themselves.

Council returns to Chambers

The Mantorville City council has returned to meeting in chambers at City Hall. Anyone that needs to bring maters to the attention of the City is welcomed to attend our meetings which are held the second and fourth Mondays of the month.

Small Business Grants

Small Business Relief Grants Are OPEN application period June 23 - July 2, 2020

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) oversees the Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants Program which will make available $10,000 grants to Minnesotan-owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of $60.3 million is available statewide, with $30 million available for Greater Minnesota small businesses. Grants can be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar business expenses. They do not have to be repaid. The application period begins TODAY, June 23, and closes July 2 at 5:00 p.m. Grant recipients will be chosen by a computer-generated, randomized lottery system administered by the State of Minnesota.

Apply for the Small Business Relief Grants

Eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to: 50 or fewer full-time employees. Permanent physical location in Minnesota. Majority-owned by permanent Minnesota resident. Businesses must be able to demonstrate hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Spanish, Somali and Hmong translations of the material, including the applications, are available on the DEED site. The translated copies are meant as guides for filling out the online application. DEED will only be accepting applications submitted through the online form. The Cultural Market program that is a part of this funding will be handled through a separate application process solely for operators of the markets. DEED hopes to have the application ready for cultural market operators today or tomorrow.

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is proud to partner with DEED on helping get dollars out the door to support businesses as quickly as possible. SMIF's role will be to distribute grant funds to southern Minnesota businesses that were selected by the lottery process. Businesses must apply through the DEED website.

City Update

The City council has approved a "Flexibility Accommodation" resolution, and Business Friendly Resolution and has filed a preparedness plan for the reopening of Mantorville's business community. The text of the above two resolutions can be found in the previous two posts on this blog.

The City of Mantorville stands ready to help our local businesses get back up and running as soon as possile.

Pro Business Resolution

CITY OF MANTORVILLE

COUNTY OF DODGE

STATE OF MINNESOTA

RESOLUTION NO. 2020 – 10, A RESOLUTION DECLARING MANTORVILLE, MN AS A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGING GOVERNOR WALZ TO ALLOW FOR THE REOPENING OF ALL MINNESOTA BUSINESSES

WHEREAS, The primary stated reason for the “Shelter in-place” order was given was to flatten the curve and give the Health Care Community time to scale up needed equipment, and

WHEREAS, the stated reasons above have been accomplished, and

WHEREAS, Governor Walz announced on April 13 that the State would reopen upon testing capacity of 5000 test per day and,

WHERAS, On April22 after an announced increase in testing capacity to 20,000 test per day the State still remains in a shut-down status, and

WHEREAS, The Mantorville City Council is urging Governor Walz to allow all businesses, including “non-critical” businesses, in the City of Mantorville to reopen; and

WHEREAS, All businesses within Mantorvile are essential to the City's survival and

WHEREAS, the “Stay at Home Order” was to be lifted on May 4th but was extended an additional two weeks (May 18^th) and later to June 1; and

WHEREAS, the “Stay at Home Order” has caused undue hardship and financial loss to many small businesses, some whom will never recover from this catastrophe, as businesses continue to have financial strain due to health and business insurance, taxes, rent, utilities and other costs, with no source of revenue to cover those costs; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's authority does not supersede the Constitution of the United States which among other things, guarantees the right of freedom to worship, to work and to freely assemble and raise grievances to the government without interference and,

WHEREAS, The Human, Economic and Psychological costs of the shut down has now exceeded the possible cost of reopening and

WHEREAS, all businesses can reasonably reopen as the “Stay at Home Order” is not a one size fits all solution. “Critical” businesses, such as hardware and grocery stores, can stay open but must successfully follow the guidelines handed down by the MN Department of Health and the CDC; our City’s non-critical businesses are just as capable of following those same guidelines; and

WHEREAS, we firmly believe that all our businesses can reopen safely, and still provide adequate protection to our most vulnerable citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Mantorville Minnesota, respectfully requests that all businesses be allowed to reopen as soon as possible.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Mantorville requests that if a plan can not be implemented by June 1, that the Cities and Counties within Minnesota are allowed to establish their own criteria and plan.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council shall monitor the status of the Governor’s Stay at Home Orders and the COVID-19 situation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Mantorville has limited resources and staffing, and cannot commit to actively monitoring compliance with regard to the executive orders.

Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passes and adopted, and was signed by the Mayor, and attested by the Clerk dated 25th day of May, 2020.

ATTEST:

_________________________________

Cami Rebber, City Clerk

______________________________

Chuck Bradford, Mayor

Resolution Allowing Flexability

CITY OF MANTORVILLE, MINNESOTA

RESOLUTION NO. 2020-09

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE GRANTING OF

REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

WHEREAS, the President of the United States and the Governor of the State of Minnesota have declared states of emergency as a result of the spread of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, on March 27, 2020, the Mayor of the City of Mantorville issued a declaration of local emergency and on March 30, 2020 the City Council acted by resolution to extend the local emergency declaration;

WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes this emergency has had a devastating effect on local businesses required to close pursuant to the Governor’s orders, particularly restaurants and other businesses that were the last to be allowed to reopen;

WHEREAS, businesses are required to have a plan in place to safely reopen to the public that reflects social distancing requirements and complies with limits imposed on the number of customers that may be served at one time;

WHEREAS, the Governor’s office has encouraged local governments to be creative in working with businesses as they reopen, particularly restaurants who are initially limited to outdoor service only;

WHEREAS, in order to support the continued viability of local businesses, maximize the number of customers allowed to access businesses in light of the state’s operating restrictions, and to exercise the creativity encouraged by the Governor’s office, the City Council determines it is in the best interests of the City to allow the granting of regulatory flexibility as part of an approved plan submitted by each business seeking such flexibility;

WHEREAS, it is not practical under the circumstances of this emergency to require businesses to pursue what can be a several month process to seek amendments and other approvals to obtain the flexibility they need now to safely reopen their businesses; and

WHEREAS, delegating authority to the City Administrator/Manager/Clerk to grant flexibility to local regulations as part of a plan a business submits to the City Administrator/Manager/Clerk for approval is the only workable solution for expeditiously providing the assistance local businesses need as they start to reopen and put their employees back to work.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mantorville City Council as follows:

1. The City Clerk is hereby delegated the authority to grant, on behalf of the City, flexibility in City regulations as the City Clerk determines is appropriate to support the operations of local businesses as they reopen to the customers and resume operations under the limitations imposed by the Governor’s emergency orders. Regulatory flexibility may only be granted as part of a written plan the City Clerk approves for a particular business entity.

2. For the purposes of this Resolution, the “regulatory flexibility” the City Clerk is authorized to grant includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Allow the expansion of the licensed “premises” of a business holding an on-sale liquor license to allow the service and consumption of alcohol in an expanded area identified in the approved plan;

2. Allow the expansion of existing business operations without requiring amendments to existing zoning approvals or new zoning approvals;

3. Allow a business to use adjacent City property for customer seating, the display of its products for sale, or for other similar uses upon entering into a license agreement with the City; and

4. Such other flexibility in the City’s regulations and the enforcement of those regulations as the City Clerk determines is appropriate under the particular circumstances of the business to reasonably allow it to conduct its business in a manner that maximizes its operations while complying with its plan, the Governor’s emergency orders, and applicable guidelines.

3. The City Clerk has the discretion to deny any request for regulatory flexibility. If approved, the City Clerk shall place such conditions on the approval as the City Clerk determines are reasonable under the circumstances. The City Clerk is authorized to issue written approvals of regulatory flexibility to execute license agreements on the City’s behalf. The City Clerk may immediately repeal any approved regulatory flexibility if the City Clerk determines the business violated the scope of the regulatory flexibility, any conditions placed on the granted flexibility, or the expanded business operations interfere with public safety or unreasonably obstructs the use of public property.

4. The regulatory flexibility allowed under this Resolution is intended to temporarily allow a business to overcome local regulatory hurdles that interfere with its efforts to implement its plans to reopen and operate in accordance with social distancing and other federal and state safety requirements. This Resolution, and regulatory flexibility granted hereunder, does not exempt a business from:

1. Complying with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and emergency orders;

2. Fully implementing its COVID-19 Preparedness Plan;

3. Complying with local regulations not directly related to the regulatory flexibility granted in the plan approved by the City Clerk; or

4. Immediately returning to full compliance with all applicable local regulations upon the expiration or termination of the regulatory flexibility.

5. The authority delegated herein to the City Clerk shall take effect immediately and shall continue through October 31, 2020.

6. Such approvals granted pursuant to this Resolution shall expire upon a date to be determined by the City Council as it reviews and responds further to the local emergency declaration.

7. The City Clerk shall submit one or more reports to the City Council identifying the businesses granted regulatory flexibility and the types of flexibility granted, including whether the business entered into a license agreement with the City to utilize City property.

Adopted this 27th day of May, 2020.

________________________________

Chuck Bradford, Mayor

Attest:

_______________________________

Camille C. Reber, City Clerk Treasurer

Restarting Caution

As we re-open and start to go about our normal lives again, I wanted to say one word of caution. We WILL see a spike in the number of new cases. This would happen when ever we reopen, if it was today or a year from today. Everyone is encouraged to take what ever precautions they are comfortable with.

If you are not feeling well, please take the time needed to feel better and allow yourself some down time. This will help you recover faster and help slow the spread of colds, flu or viruses.