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Council supports continued funding for Battery, Concord Singers and municipal band as civic ambassadors
Summary
Councilors praised the New Ulm Battery, Concord Singers and the New Ulm Municipal Band for their volunteer service and public appearances, and expressed support for maintaining their 2025 funding levels while raising questions about individual groups' self-generated revenue.
Councilors on July 15 described the New Ulm Battery, Concord Singers and the New Ulm Municipal Band as valued community ambassadors and expressed support for continuing city contributions at or near the 2025 level.
Bruce Olson, president of the Battery, said the organization has roughly 25 active volunteers and has tried selling merchandise such as shirts and challenge coins with limited success. Councilors praised the Battery and compared it to the Concord Singers and Municipal Band as living representations of the city’s heritage; several members said those groups perform parades, concerts and nursing-home visits and therefore merit continued partnership.
Some councilors pressed volunteer organizations to pursue more fundraising and revenue-generating options; others said the groups’ mission and community presence justify continued city assistance. Councilors noted the Battery’s request was flat from last year and that the Concord Singers were seeking a modest increase to accommodate new members and uniforms.
Discussion vs. decisions: The session was discussion-only; no formal votes were taken. Councilors broadly supported continuing funding at prior-year levels as placeholders and encouraged groups to pursue revenue-generating activities where feasible.
Next steps: Staff will list these organizations as part of the nonprofit budget package and include councilors’ placeholder guidance for later final decisions when levy figures are available.
