Canton council approves veterans memorial expansion, summer rec funding and Mitson House repairs

CANTON — The Canton City Council on May 10 voted to give the local American Legion the property it requested to expand a veterans memorial, approved short-term funding for a summer recreation program shared with nearby Mabel and authorized several facilities repairs and administrative actions.

Mayor Josh Nordsving opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. and relayed parents’ requests to consider relocating the town park off Main Street because of heavy traffic. The council approved the evening’s agenda and a consent package that included prior minutes, May disbursements and waiving the Town Hall rental fee for an American Red Cross blood drive on June 13.

Jim Richardson presented drawings for an expanded veterans memorial. Councilmember Jason Magnuson moved, and Jen Dowling seconded, to grant the Legion the requested area of property for the expansion; the motion carried. The council also agreed that the unnamed roadway adjacent to the expanded memorial should be blocked to prevent vehicle traffic and directed Public Works to place concrete blocks as barriers.

On recreation funding, the council voted to contribute $2,020 to the summer recreation program operated with the town of Mabel. Councilmember Kristy Ziegler said the city’s contribution, together with a $1,200 donation from the Canton Legion, brings the total local support to $3,220.

Clerk Anne Koliha gave administrative updates, including the reinvestment of the Wilken certificate of deposit, a review comparing the city’s ordinance book to the 2023 edition of the Minnesota Basic Code of Ordinances and work to finalize a personnel policy handbook for a future meeting. Councilmembers agreed not to hold formal property inspections in 2023; instead, each member will monitor the town and report ordinance violations to the clerk. Staff were asked to prepare a flyer for insertion with utility bills to remind property owners of compliance responsibilities.

The council directed staff to coordinate a community Recycling Day after Mayor Nordsving relayed an offer from Dave Caldwell to pick up items at no cost to the city; the council asked staff to set dates, require a list of items Caldwell will accept and communicate timeframes and removal responsibilities to property owners.

On property and facility matters, the council approved several projects at the Mitson House, authorizing purchase of paint for the kitchen and bathroom, installation of a sign (materials and labor) and weather-stripping/caulking for an upstairs door to address moisture concerns. The council also approved a land-use permit application from Robert Schmidt.

Other administrative actions included adding the Canton Community Association as a covered party on the city’s insurance policy. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.

Votes at a glance: agenda approval (motion carried); consent agenda (motion carried); grant of property for veterans memorial (motion carried); $2,020 contribution to summer rec (motion carried); addition of Canton Community Association to city insurance (motion carried); Mitson House repairs (motion carried); approval of Robert Schmidt land-use permit (motion carried); adjournment (motion carried).

Follow-up items: Clerk Koliha to draft ordinance clean-ups with Councilmember Jason Magnuson; Public Works to place concrete blocks to close the unnamed road near the veterans memorial; staff to coordinate Recycling Day with Dave Caldwell and produce a utility-bill flyer on property compliance.