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Delano Spirit of Community Commission previews SQ‑150 events, approves agenda addition and March minutes
Summary
At its May 12 meeting, the Spirit of Community Commission reviewed plans for SQ‑150 events including a June 13 Sculpture & Blues Fest and a June 17 book launch, discussed making Neighborhood Cleanup Day annual, and unanimously approved adding a Youth Liaison report to the agenda and the March 10 minutes.
The Spirit of Community Commission met Tuesday evening at Delano City Hall and heard updates on a series of community events tied to the city’s SQ‑150 celebration while approving minor procedural items.
Cindi Chollett, commission chair, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and the commission unanimously approved an amendment to the agenda to add a Youth Liaison report after Community Enrichment Director Nick Neaton requested the change; Jade Erickson moved the amendment and Abbey Lang seconded. The commission also unanimously approved the March 10 regular‑meeting minutes on a motion by Michelle Dirckx, seconded by Linda Althoff.
The meeting centered on SQ‑150 activities. Commission member Michelle Dirckx said May 9 featured several community events — including a Big Woods plant sale that gave away 150 sapling trees, a Baseball Day and the Delano Expo — and said the Delano history book is being printed with a book‑launch party set for June 17. Dirckx said the Sculpture & Blues Fest will take place June 13 at the sculpture park and will include the unveiling of multiple public‑art projects; she also mentioned a trap‑shooting event planned for Memorial Day weekend at the Delano Sportsmen’s Club and asked Youth Liaison Makenzie Maharas to solicit feedback from high‑school students about SQ events.
Nick Neaton described the recent SQ Happy Hour as well attended, noting that community groups brought vintage memorabilia for display. Neaton also reported on Delano’s first Neighborhood Cleanup Day on April 11, saying seven or eight neighborhoods participated and that city crews collected and removed multiple bags of trash the following Monday; commissioner Jade Erickson suggested the commission consider making the cleanup an annual event (for example, the second weekend in April).
Community updates included a report from City Council liaison Todd Belz that several event permits were recently approved, that the K‑9 Dog Trials will occur in mid‑June at Central Park, and that the City Council has approved a moratorium on new cannabis retail permits; Belz also said playground planning for Sunset Community Park will be discussed by the council soon. Abbey Lang updated the commission on school‑district items, including a forthcoming new “tiger” logo, a community‑facility task force focused on the Community Education building, the district’s purchase of two "Tiger Taxi" vans for TKC transportation, and summer programming from Tiger Kids Club. Linda Althoff reported on local business activity and openings downtown, and Joe Kittok noted recent activity in the faith community. Youth Liaison Makenzie Maharas said the school year is ending and that many students are searching for summer jobs.
The commission discussed, but did not finalize, its goals for 2026–27; Neaton reviewed the City’s short‑term goals and last year’s commission goals, and members agreed to continue the discussion at the June meeting.
Formal actions taken by the commission at the meeting were limited to procedural items: the vote to amend the agenda to include the Youth Liaison report and the vote to approve the March 10 minutes. Both motions passed unanimously.
The commission adjourned at 8:15 p.m. The group will reconvene in June to continue goal‑setting and follow up on event planning and community outreach.
