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Walker council approves fund closures, project bids, donations and airport contracts
Summary
The Walker City Council on March 2 approved a broad consent agenda and passed multiple resolutions to close or transfer city funds, authorized bids and contracts for airport and public-works projects, and approved donations to local nonprofits; most motions passed unanimously (5-0).
Mayor Jerecho Worth called the Walker City Council to order on March 2, 2026, and the council approved a comprehensive consent agenda of routine minutes, reports, permits and vendor payments covering items 1–33.
The council approved a series of financial and project resolutions. Councilmember Gary Wilkening moved and Mayor Worth seconded Resolution 08-2026 to transfer the Ambulance Fund balance to the General Fund and close the Ambulance Fund after auditors advised the change; Wilkening and City Administrator Hope Fairchild said the ambulance garage has been purchased by Hubbard and Cass Counties. The motion passed on a 5-0 roll call.
The council also approved Resolution 09-2026 to close specified water and sewer debt service funds while retaining project-level tracking for audit and planning, and Resolution 10-2026 to transfer remaining Community Digital Sign Fund revenues to the General Fund and close that fund. Both motions passed 5-0.
Council approved Resolution 11-2026 to adopt West Side Project plans and specifications and order advertisement for bids, and Resolution 12-2026 authorizing an application to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. Each was approved on a 5-0 vote.
Vendor payments and capital items were confirmed as part of consent or separate motions. The consent agenda included payment approvals such as a $11,875 progress payment to Abdo, LLP for auditing services; a $36,397.20 invoice to Axon Enterprise, Inc. for police tasers; a $28,253.13 payment application to Hy-Tec Construction for city park restrooms; and contracts related to the Walker Municipal Airport including a $113,154.25 bid award to Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, LLC for airfield pavement maintenance and a $23,800 supplemental agreement with SEH, Inc. for reimbursable engineering work.
On community funding, the council voted to increase a requested donation to the Lake May Senior Center for its Meals on Wheels program from $1,000 to $2,000 (motion Granberg/Worth) and approved a $3,500 donation to the Walker Area Community Center to fund the Dewey Community Outdoor Skating Rink (motion Hansen/Worth). City Administrator Hope Fairchild and Councilmember Gene Granberg noted the rink’s total operating costs and urged earlier, more detailed funding requests in the future.
Other business included authorizing advertisement of a public hearing to establish an application fee for an On-Sale Convention Center liquor license to support the Walker Area Community Center’s operations, and declining to move forward with a $30,000–$35,000 paving quote for the 7th Street parking lot across from the Walker Fire Hall in favor of gravel or similar surfacing.
Mayor Worth announced upcoming meeting dates and the council recessed into a closed session under Minnesota Statutes sections 13D.01 and 13D.05 to conduct the annual evaluation of the City Administrator; the council will summarize conclusions at its April 6 meeting. The council adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
The meeting record shows unanimous votes (5-0) for the listed motions; where vote tallies were recorded in the minutes they are noted as roll calls with aye votes from Granberg, Haefele, Hansen, Wilkening and Worth and no nays.
