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South Range council approves SEMCO gas franchise, renews CDs and grants 3% wage increase
Summary
At its Feb. 5 meeting the Village of South Range Council approved a SEMCO natural gas franchise, renewed two CDs at Miner's State Bank, authorized payment of $52,661.73 in bills and approved a 3% wage increase for employees effective Feb. 2, 2026.
The Village of South Range Council approved several administrative and financial actions at its Feb. 5, 2026 meeting, including a new SEMCO natural gas franchise, renewal of two CDs, payment of January bills and a 3% wage increase for village employees.
SEMCO franchise: The council approved a franchise agreement that would authorize SEMCO to provide natural gas service to village residents when the existing roughly 30-year franchise expires. Trustee Korby moved to approve the agreement with Trustee Harkonen supporting. The roll call as recorded named Ayes: President Eakin, Trustee Hill, Trustee Marier and Trustee Balma; the motion was recorded as carried.
CD renewals: The council voted to renew two certificates of deposit that will expire in February with Miner's State Bank for an 18-month term at a stated interest rate of 3.71% and an APY of 3.76%. Trustee Korby moved to renew the CDs and Trustee Balma supported; the roll call as recorded listed Ayes: President Eakin, Trustee Hill, Trustee Marier and Trustee Harkonen and the motion carried as recorded.
Payment of bills: Trustee Harkonen moved (seconded by Trustee Balma) to approve payment of January bills totaling $52,661.73. The roll call as recorded listed Ayes: Trustee Marier, Trustee Hill and Trustee Korby; the motion carried as recorded.
Employee wages: The council approved a 3% wage increase for all current employees effective Feb. 2, 2026. The motion, moved by Trustee Marier with support from Trustee Balma, recorded Ayes: President Eakin, Trustee Hill, Trustee Korby and Trustee Harkonen and was recorded as carried.
Votes at a glance: SEMCO franchise — approved (Ayes named in record: President Eakin; Trustee Hill; Trustee Marier; Trustee Balma). CD renewals — approved (Ayes named: President Eakin; Trustee Hill; Trustee Marier; Trustee Harkonen). Bills payment ($52,661.73) — approved (Ayes named: Trustee Marier; Trustee Hill; Trustee Korby). Wage increase (3% effective Feb. 2, 2026) — approved (Ayes named: President Eakin; Trustee Hill; Trustee Korby; Trustee Harkonen).
The public record of the meeting lists which council members were named in each roll call; where the transcript does not list all individual votes for every motion, this article reports the names and totals as recorded in the meeting minutes rather than inferring an unrecorded tally.
