Pautsch won the election by getting 44.69% of the votes cast in Gaylord. She received the support of 341 voters. That was 27 votes more than challenger Carl Wetzel who has two years left on his City Council term. There were 108 write-in votes cast for Gaylord Mayor.

No stranger to City Government is Pautsch as she has served on the Gaylord City Council since 1993. In her campaign for Mayor, Pautsch said she would push for creating long term and sustainable strategies to address budget priorities. The City will have to come up with new revenue sources or make cuts, she explained.

Pautsch will take over Doug Quast’s Mayor duties during the City’s annual organizational meeting in January. Quast served as Mayor for six years (three terms).

There were 763 votes cast in the City of Gaylord precinct. That is approximately 65% of the registered voters. There were 54 accepted absentee ballots.

In the 2008 presidential election, 1,000 Gaylord residents cast their vote. That was similar to the 2004 election. In the 2006 general election, there was 841 votes cast in the City of Gaylord.

Uecker and challengers Landaas, Losure and Susan Johnson-Schmitt were vying for three spots on the Gaylord City Council. Current council members Brenda Pautsch and Pat Pinske did not file for reelection.

Uecker, who is completing her first term on the City Council, received 533 votes. Landaas and Losure tallied 458 and 441 votes respectively while Johnson-Schmitt had the support of 393 voters. There were 24 write-in votes in the Gaylord City Council race.

The three winners Tuesday will begin their four year council member terms in January when the City holds its annual organizational meeting. They will join current council members Carl Wetzel and Chad Muchow.

In an attempt to save money, the City of Gaylord is cooperating, on a trial period, with the Sibley County Sheriff’s Department. The County is providing “on call” coverage for approximately 12 hours per day. This allows the City to operate with one less full-time police officer position than it has in the past. It is estimated that this practice could save the City approximately $60,000 annually.

The possibility of a smaller police force prompted a petition which was presented to City Hall last month. The petition read: In July, 2010, the Gaylord City Council will be discussing the future of the cities police force. One of the options being discussed is the elimination of the City police force and contracting with the Sibley County Sheriff. If you are in favor of keeping the current City of Gaylord law enforcement as is, please join us in support by signing this petition which will be forwarded to the City Council for their consideration.

The petition was deemed “sufficient”, according to requirements spelled out in the City Charter. Also, the petition required the City Council to submit to the wishes of the petitioners or call for a special election.

Council members voted 4-1 in favor of holding an election. Council member Carl Wetzel called it an “emotional issue” and said he would like to see everyone have a chance to make an informed decision.

Brenda Pautsch was the lone council member opposed to an election. “I just don’t know if we need to spend money to find out something I think we already know,” Pautsch said.

The City was informed by the County that it is too late to vote on this issue during the November 9th general election. The earliest a special election could be held would be December 13th, according to City Attorney Donald Lannoye.

Gaylord held a special election in March asking voters if the City should be authorized to issue general obligation bonds to defray costs of a new swimming pool. Voters approved the bonding by a 2-1 margin. According to City staff, it cost approximately $1,000 to conduct that special election.

Public safety and money were among the concerns expressed at last week’s public hearing which was attended by approximately 30 people. A majority of those in attendance appeared opposed to the City cooperating with the County for law enforcement services.

Former Gaylord Mayor John Schwartz said the County is an excellent alternative but he believes the City can afford and needs its own police department.

Gaylord resident Jim Landaas believes more information needs to be presented to the public. He wondered about response time for each law enforcement entity and questioned costs. Landaas also noted that the signatures for the petition were attained quickly and said that “speaks volumes about what the public is thinking.”

Approximately two weeks into its cooperation with the County, City Administrator Kevin McCann said there has been no issues reported to the City. The City opted to have the County respond to emergency calls only. The County has been called to handle Gaylord “emergencies” 11 times through the first two weeks of the trial period, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

When the County is called out, the City is charged $45 per hour. There is no charge when the County responds to a “medical” or when the Gaylord Ambulance Service is on scene.

Former City Council member Dale Breuer said the argument for or against a full police department will go on forever. He told council members to “put it to a vote, then put it to bed.”

Council member Chad Muchow reminded those at the public hearing that the cooperation with the County now is on a trial basis. He said the City is trying to be diligent in looking at ways to cut costs.

Pautsch added that she has talked to area law enforcement officials who believe Gaylord is big enough and has enough activity to support a full time police department.

Mayor Doug Quast thanked the citizens for attending the public hearing and said there were some “very good points brought up.”

According to McCann, the City Council will need to set a date for the special election at its next meeting. The ballot question will also need to be determined, he explained.

In January, the EDA received a proposal from SEH for engineering and planning services for future expansion of the industrial park. The expansion would include extension of sanitary sewer, watermain and city street to access and serve the future industrial park area, stormwater management, and consideration of extending a railroad spur into the proposed industrial park. The fee, at that time, was estimated not to exceed $6,000.

Don Lannoye of Schauer Law Office, Gaylord’s City attorney, said that the City Council recently gave City Administrator McCann and himself authority to negotiate with a prospective buyer of the Entegris building. Lannoye said the council has provided guidance where the negotiations “to start and go.”

The potential buyer of the Entegris building, who was not named, is reportedly also interested in two other industrial park lots – property east of Entegris and north of the watertower.

Chuck Klimmek, EDA president, said that that Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has funding available for infrastructure for industrial park expansion if the City has a company ready to move in.

The EDA decided to use funds from its general money market fund, which totals $15,170.16, toward the study. Initially the EDA discussed directing funds from the potential sale of the Entegris building toward this study, but the EDA felt that the study should be done prior to the sale of the Entegris building.

City Council member Chad Muchow, who also served on the EDA, felt it would be “prudent planning” to do this study, even without the Entegris building sold at this time.

EDA board member Jerry Hahn felt the council would be supportive of funds being spent toward the future expansion of the industrial park.

In other business, the EDA:

• Decided to have Sibley County consider applying for Microenterprise Assistance Grant Funds. The maximum grant available, $75,000, would be used to provide technical assistance to small business owners in a self-identified region of the state of Minnesota. Microenterprises are defined as commercial businesses that employ five or fewer employees, one or more of whom owns the business. The assistance is intended to facilitate economic development through the establishment, stabilization and expansion of microenterprises.

• Sent a letter to Khan Equipment providing two options for the Ibberson building in the industrial park, extending the lease for seven years, or the purchase of the building and land.

In October of 2008, Centro Campesino filed a Charge of Discrimination against Boon. Centro Campesino filed the charge on behalf of itself and approximately 20 aggrieved Latino immigrant residents of Gaylord and the surrounding area. The charge stated that since 2004, Latino immigrant residents reportedly had been discriminated against, harassed, and retaliated against on the basis of their race and national origin.

The Department of Human Rights completed its investigation approximately two months ago. That investigation determined that there was No Probable Cause to believe that Boon engaged in an unfair discriminatory practice. The Department of Human Rights issued an order dismissing the charge.

Allegations that Boon was discriminating against Latino immigrants were presented to the Gaylord City Council approximately five years ago. In September of 2008, the City of Gaylord informed Centro Campesino that all complaints against Boon were investigated and there was no findings that required disciplinary action against the officer.

In 2009, Boon was the apparent target of demonstrations which occurred in downtown Gaylord. Centro Campesino also filed six Human Rights Violations against Boon, the City of Gaylord, and the Gaylord Police Department.

Those allegations against Boon and the officer’s response (in italics) to the allegations were as follows:

Complaint #1 stated that officer Boon issued tickets for not carrying a driver’s license and has arrested or threatened to arrest aggrieved members for not having their license with them while at home;

I have never went to a residence for the sole purpose of asking for a driver’s license, nor have I arrested someone for not having identification at home;

Complaint #2 stated that Boon threatened a family with his gun;

This entire incident was recorded on the squad car camera and was proven to be an outright lie. This complaint and #3 were filed in 2004 with the Department of Human Rights and both were dismissed;

Complaint #3 stated that Boon stopped a Latino female numerous times for no reason and showed her a notebook of all the Latinos he “pulled over.”

This female was a resident of Gaylord for three years and did not have a valid driver’s license, had illegal window tint which she had been told several times to remove, and had out-of-state plates.

Complaint #4 stated that Boon stopped a Latino at the grocery store and issued her a ticket and towed her vehicle because she was not carrying a driver’s license.

This female, a Gaylord resident for seven years, had been warned not to drive because she had no driver’s license. She was later recognized driving the same vehicle. I stopped her again and issued a ticket in which she used a false name, and had a fake Minnesota I.D.

Complaint #5 stated that Boon “pulled over” a female and demanded she admit she was not the same person as provided in the I.D. card. It stated that Boon refused to answer questions and he took her into custody for not paying a previous ticket and drove her to St. Cloud.

I was informed this female had a warrant from McLeod County. After confirming the warrant, I transferred her nine miles to the Sibley/McLeod county line. in which a McLeod deputy took her into custody.

Complaint #6 stated that 45% of all tickets issued by the Gaylord Police Department are to Latinos.

I supplied the Department of Human Rights all contacts made by the Gaylord P.D. from 2003 through 2009. During this time, I have stopped approximately 1600 vehicles. I have issued 250 citations to Latinos, 111 of which were for no driver’s license.

Centro Campesino is a group based in Owatonna, MN. Its mission is to improve the lives of members of the Latino and migrant community throughout southern Minnesota through community organizing, education, and advocacy.

Kreun was inducted as a Fellow this past weekend at the annual council of fellow’s investiture dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.

The designation of Fellow indicates that an individual has been recognized by his or her peers as having accomplished extraordinary work in the profession of landscape architecture over a sustained period of time. Election is based solely on professional and outstanding accomplishments as represented in the nomination materials presented for each nominee. Fellows are elected based on their contributions in one of four categories: Works of Landscape Architecture, Knowledge, Service to the Profession, and Administrative Work.

Kreun was elected in the category of Works of Landscape Architecture and joins a list of 17 other landscape architects from Minnesota to achieve Fellow status since 1899, and a list of 1,054 nationally. He is only the third person in Minnesota to achieve fellowship status in the area of works of landscape architecture.

Since graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1992, Kreun has been responsible for some iconic spaces in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota: General Mills Corporate Headquarters, Medtronic Corporate Headquarters, Guthrie Theater, 35W bridge reconstruction, Gold Medal Park, Target Plaza and Target Field.

A 1986 graduate of GHS, Kreun is a partner of oslund.and.assoc., a landscape architecture, environmental design and master planning firm in the Warehouse District of Minneapolis.

Two years ago, Kreun joined the Minnesota Design Team in its two day visit to Gaylord. The group of volunteer professionals provided input on ways to improve the City.

The proposed 2011 tax levy is $1,018,497, which reflects a 38.2% increase from the 2010 levy of $737,125.

Workshops are being planned to potentially trim the budget and levy. The final levy will be approved in December.

According to City Administrator Kevin McCann, the majority of the proposed levy increase is toward additional debt service of $127,498 due to the street projects, the public library, the EMS building, and $53,874 for general fund expenditure increases and projects. The preliminary levy also includes $100,000 for the Capital Improvement Fund to start conducting the various projects contained in the 2011-2020 Capital Improvement Plan.

McCann also stated that although the City’s local government aid is projected to increase by $153,493, staff was conservative and only budgeted $66,901.

The 2011 budget reflects an overall spending increase of 13.15% for the general fund. This increase includes all City spending, City salaries with a 2% cost of living and step increases for employees still on the payscale, budgeting for a full-time police chief, and all capital improvement savings to include such things as street patching and maintenance improvements, and various City equipment upgrades.

Gaylord’s City Council, last week, awarded contractor bids for new aquatic center. Contracts for construction total $2,056,167.

Three area contractors were awarded portions of the project. Chard Tiling and Excavating of Belle Plaine was awarded the bids for demolition, excavation, and bituminous, totaling $199,091.

E. J. Pinske Builders of Gaylord was awarded the contract for the decks and fence, totaling $159,500.

Sibley Electric of Gaylord was awarded the electrical contract of $126,711. This bid included a voluntary donation by the firm.

Building construction totaling $355,500 was awarded to WEB Construction of Mankato.

Global Specialties of Eagan was awarded the construction of the pools for $1,080,610.

Feder Mechanical of Madelia was awarded bid for mechanical and plumbing for $134,755.

Dale Johnson, chairperson of the aquatic center task force, stated that 23 bids were received for the project. One bid was non-conforming.

The project will also include owner-direct purchases totaling $463,300, making the total construction costs at $2,519,467, which includes $85,000 contingency. The task force recommended including flume slides and drop slides immediately. The cost of the slides is $285,250. Other owner direct purchases will be owner-direct general conditions, State Health plan review, permits and inspections, fixtures, furniture and equipment, and landscaping.

Six items totaling $67,050 were recommended for community fundraising. These items include two rental shade structures for $12,000, climbing wall for $21,000, arch bar for $2,850, water dome for $3,850, tot slide for $7,850, and six 20 foot diameter shade structures for $19,500.

Professional fees for USAquatics and Signature Aquatics total $289,500.

The project cost, after subtracting the fundraising items and $5,048 forfeited bid security is $2,736,869, which is $58,131 less than the $2,795,000 available funds for the project.

In a related matter, the Council hired Braun Intertec to provide geotechnical services for the Aquatic Center Project. The firm provided a proposal of $20,943 for inspections and testing services related to the soil corrections work, concrete, masonry, and pavement work related to the aquatic center project. According to City Administrator Kevin McCann, the firm is planning to donate to the project by reducing fees for the project.

Doug Parrott, task force member, said that it was nice that the architects helped split up the projects and that local contractors can be part of it. He commented that it was a great committee to work with, with people with varying backgrounds working together. He thanked Council member Carl Wetzel for attending nearly all of the meetings, the community of Gaylord and the council for supporting the project, which will “bring great pride to the community.” “In June next year we will all have great pride making this happen.”

Justin Black, engineer with SEH, explained that the change is for the area of Eighth Street and Linden Avenue. The original plan included stopping the street reconstruction work near the easterly portion of the intersection of Eighth Street and Linden Avenue, matching the new concrete curb and gutter in to the old at the east side of Eighth Street. The original plan also included extension of sanitary sewer main line on Linden Avenue one-half block west of the intersection and connecting to an existing manhole at that location.

After further discussion and reviews with City staff, a request was made to look at deleting the construction of sanitary sewer and street patching on Linden Avenue, west of Eighth Street, and adding the reconstruction of the westerly portion of the intersection of Eighth Street and Linden Avenue. The work added will include two catch basins, storm sewer piping, drain tile, street surfacing and aggregate base, concrete curb and gutter, sodding and other related items to complete the street reconstruction.

The City’s first change order for the street and utility project saved $60,836.93. With this change order, there is still a net savings of $50,439.60 on the project, according to City Administrator Kevin McCann.

In other business, the City Council:
• Approved spending $21,846 for a new civil defense siren, electric work and pole. The siren that has served the swimming pool area for the past 30 years will need to be removed due to construction. A bigger siren will be installed at the corner of Lincoln and Sixth Street which would serve a larger area. Funds will be used from the capital improvement fund for the project. The City worked with County Emergency Management Director Tom Phillips to obtain the quotes for the siren.

• After receiving a favorable performance review, removed Police Office Tom Webster from his one year probation and reinstated his former rate of pay, effective immediately.

• Approved a quote of $15,500 from Metro West Irrigation to replace the sprinkler system at Walsh Field. The Baseball Association plans to pay for the replacement with their own funds. Randy Walsh, representing the Baseball Association, told the Council that the project is expected t be completed this fall. There will be two trenches, one in the back of the infield and one through the red rock area.

A committee, consisting of Don Lannoye of Schauer Law Office, Gaylord’s City attorney, City Administrator Kevin McCann, and Avery Grochow, recommended proceeding with that property because part of it has city utilities. Although the owners object, it was the committee’s opinion that the property has received benefits. A resolution for annexation will be brought to the Sept. 15 Council meeting.

The committee proposed abandoning possible annexation on the east side of Gaylord for several years, because there is no current plan for the trail. The proposed annexation area was the east edge of 13th Street located on the east edge of Gaylord, and a triangular parcel between the railroad and Highway 19. The committee also recommended abandoning annexation plans on the west side of town, because it was felt that the property needed for a future trail could be accomplished with an easement or purchase. It had been proposed to annex the west edge of Tenth Street, from High Avenue to North Avenue.

Peterson, who attended the council meeting, stated that annexation would “raise taxes and give me zero benefit.”