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Residents press council on junk ordinances and Open Meetings Act; KEDA offers economic-development assistance
Summary
During public comment at the April 2 meeting residents urged enforcement of junk ordinances and raised concerns about proposed employee handbook vacation changes and Open Meetings Act compliance; J. Ratcliffe of KEDA and Jen Tucker presented economic development best practices and offered future assistance.
At the Village of South Range Council meeting on April 2, 2026, residents used the public-comment period to press the council on enforcement and procedural issues. M. Lompre asked the council to enforce local ordinances addressing junk on private residential properties to maintain neighborhood cleanliness. D. Hayrynen referenced the Open Meetings Act handbook, urged the council to review proper closed-session procedures that may not have been followed in prior meetings, and expressed concern that proposed changes to the employee handbook could reduce vacation benefits for long-term employees (noting employees with roughly 15 years of service had previously been granted more generous time off).
The transcript records these statements but does not show a council response addressing either the OMA procedural concern or the specific request on junk-ordinance enforcement during the same meeting.
Separately, J. Ratcliffe from KEDA introduced Jen Tucker, who spoke with the council about economic-development plan assistance. Tucker outlined six recommended best practices and supplied contact information for follow-up assistance. The council also received routine reports: Street Commissioner C. Burkman described winter road repairs, lagoon discharges and upcoming equipment storage and conference attendance; Clerk Schwandt reported on facilities maintenance, ordinance publication (Ordinance 2026-1), several filings and a final $7 increase to water bills effective at the end of the month.
Approval of minutes for February 5 and March 5, 2026 was deferred to the May 7 meeting. The council will consider documented concerns (code enforcement and personnel policy) and KEDA follow-up in future agendas as needed.
