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Prairie Home board adopts Cooper County Hazard Mitigation Plan, approves lagoon-field lease and moves funds into CDs
Summary
At its April 23 meeting the Prairie Home Board of Aldermen unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 297 to adopt the Cooper County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2027, approved Ordinance No. 298 to lease the lagoon field for haying, and authorized short-term CD investments of $25,000 and $50,000 from city funds.
The Prairie Home Board of Aldermen on April 23 unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 297, authorizing the city’s participation in the Cooper County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2027, a step officials said is required to remain eligible for certain county-level planning processes and potential grant funding.
City Clerk Mary Sue Fontana presented the ordinance; Alder Cindy Lenger moved for approval and Alder Ray Weber seconded. The roll-call vote recorded David Borghardt, Cindy Lenger, Sierrah Miller and Ray Weber as voting yes.
The adoption is the meeting’s most consequential formal action: municipal participation in the county hazard plan can be a prerequisite for some state and federal mitigation grants, Fontana told the Board when introducing the ordinance.
The Board also approved Ordinance No. 298, authorizing a farm lease that will allow Adam Lohse to bale hay on the city’s lagoon field. The lease ordinance was moved by Alder David Borghardt and seconded by Alder Cindy Lenger; the measure passed on a roll-call vote with the same 4–0 tally.
In a separate financial action, the Board voted to move $25,000 from the General Fund and $50,000 from the Revenue Fund into short-term certificates of deposit. Alder Cindy Lenger made the motion, which Alder David Borghardt seconded; the minutes record the motion as passed.
The meeting opened with the swearing-in of Cindy Lenger and Ray Weber as alders. The Board also voted to continue the appointments of the city clerk, city attorney, police chief and banking custodian (motion by Ray Weber; second by Cindy Lenger) and approved the March 19, 2026 minutes.
Department reports included a police update from Police Chief Jacob Lauel on outstanding dog vaccination records and a water report from Water Operator AT Wirts. Wirts said he and Mayor Jim Lachner have been working with Martin Energy on generator backup arrangements for the wells; he also reported hydrants had been flushed on April 22 and that the board had not received complaints about turbidity or low pressure. Mayor Jim Lachner said the current generator continues to cause issues but confirmed the sprayer is operational and can be used for weed control at the lagoons and lift station.
Clerk Mary Sue Fontana announced a dog clinic scheduled for June 6 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. to accommodate the veterinarian’s schedule. Board members briefly discussed MODOT pothole repairs on Main Street.
The Board heard a brief presentation of draft vehicle regulations that would limit gross vehicle weight on city streets to 26,000 pounds; no action was taken on that draft. Members also briefly discussed the city’s liquor license ordinance wording and possible future consideration of sales by the drink; no vote or directive was recorded.
The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
