Rushford Village council approves joint powers agreement, tables ordinance drafts and authorizes seasonal hire ad

The Rushford Village City Council on May 6 approved a State of Minnesota joint powers agreement for prosecution services and moved several local policy drafts to the Planning & Zoning Board for further review.

Mayor Dennis Overland called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the council recorded four members present. After approving the meeting agenda and the minutes from the April 15 regular meeting, the council reviewed April financials: expenses were $54,271.79 and receipts $18,671.83 (including $7,843.11 in FEMA/state reimbursement). The city reported an outstanding check total of $27,966.59 and a bank balance of $208,416.59. Robert Hart moved to approve the financials; Travis Link seconded and the motion carried.

City Attorney Joseph O’Koren explained the renewal of a State of Minnesota joint powers agreement is required to maintain prosecution services. The agreement’s total cost is $780, to be divided among four cities. The council passed Resolution 2025-05-06, which authorizes Mayor Dennis Overland and Clerk Mary Miner to sign the State of Minnesota Joint Powers and Court Date Services Subscriber Amendment to CJDN Subscriber Agreements on behalf of Rushford Village (motion by Robert Hart; second Travis Link).

Planning/Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit reported four new building permits: #1717 (Daniel Anderson — 6-by-4-foot chicken coop, Oakview Loop), #1718 (David Hundorf — window and siding replacement, County Line Road), #1719 (Dave Lind — replace two broken windows, State Highway 43 S), and #1720 (Dave Lind — 12-by-23-foot greenhouse, State Highway 43 S). Pettit said there were no other significant permit updates.

On roads and utilities, Clerk Mary Miner said Milestone delivered rock to five CRV roads and that maintenance work — grading and mowing — is ongoing. Mike Ebner said the lift station pump on Goodrich Street likely needs repairs and recommended addressing the issue while conditions are dry, noting a broken pipe repair in 2018 that he believes may be related. The council reviewed the 2025 sanitary sewer survey and said the report "looked good," but questioned one recommendation to place three barrier posts at the well because that suggestion had not been discussed with the on-site maintenance supervisor.

The council considered two ordinance drafts prepared by O’Koren using League of Minnesota model language and revised for local needs: a liquor ordinance and a gambling ordinance. Council members agreed to review both drafts and voted to table each and refer them to the Planning & Zoning Board for detailed review (liquor draft motion by Robert Hart, second Mike Ebner; gambling draft motion by Robert Hart, second Rick Ruberg).

Clerk Mary Miner said no applications were received for the advertised part-time seasonal maintenance position. The council agreed to reopen recruitment, broadening eligibility to applicants at least 16 years old with a valid Class D driver’s license, subject to youth-work restrictions. Duties would include mowing the hall area and South Rushford Park and assisting maintenance staff with tasks such as tree trimming and road work. The council authorized placing a two-week ad in the Fillmore County Journal to recruit a seasonal employee (motion by Robert Hart; second Travis Link). Miner will revise the ad and submit it to Mayor Overland for approval before publication.

The council noted a Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association safety meeting in Rushford on May 20; it scheduled a May 20 road tour at 5:30 p.m. followed by a council meeting at 7:00 p.m., and listed a June 3 council meeting. At 7:17 p.m. the council voted to continue to the May 20 road tour (motion by Mike Ebner; second Rick Ruberg).

The meeting record lists Clerk Mary Miner, Treasurer Judy Graham, Planning/Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit, City Attorney Joseph O’Koren and Mayor Dennis Overland as present for the meeting; Public Works/Maintenance Supervisor Trenten Chiglo was recorded as absent.