Former deputy clerk to fill spot vacated by Hermanson

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Former City of Henning deputy clerk Jessica Strege has been appointed to the Henning City Council.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, the Henning City Council appointed Strege to fill the two years remaining on newly elected mayor Jesse Hermanson’s spot on the city council. She was one of two people to apply to serve on the city council.

The motion to appoint Strege, who quit working with the City of Henning in 2021 and has since began working for the City of Staples, passed by a 3-1 margin with councilman Travis Nelson voting in dissent.

In other news 

• Heard a concern from Scott Naddy about his property located at 603 2nd St. that was one of several to be determined to be dilapidated and a nuisance within the city limits. Naddy has been taken to court by the City of Henning to clean up his property that was deemed to be unsafe and the Henning resident once again asked the city council to stop the court proceedings against him. City attorney Tom Jacobson recommended that the city council not grant the request by Naddy and let the courts determine the next course of action. Jacobson said the court system has given Naddy two months to come up with a plan to clean up the property to make it structurally sound. Jacobson said Naddy still has another month to present the plan to clean up the property. 

• Heard from resident Barry Johnson concerning inaccurate water and sewer bills at his property located at 804 Inman St. Johnson said his bills have ranged from using 3,000 gallons a month to 18,000 gallons a month for several years now. City clerk/treasurer Jenna Kovarik suggested the city install a new meter at his residence and watch it closely to see if the large fluctuations were due to a faulty meter. 

• Heard the City of Henning could put in four camping spots at the Henning Festival Grounds without needing to do state and county inspections of the property, as well as avoid annual permit fees. The city council agreed to proceed with potentially installing four camping spots at the festival grounds and will see what kind of demand persists for camping in the city limits. The council signaled it could be open to more camping spots in the future if demand remains high. 

• Heard the Henning Ambulance Service had its most calls ever during a calendar year with 458 calls last year. Henning Ambulance Director Chesley Waskosky said the flyers the ambulance service sent out in December seemed to spark interest in joining the ambulance service as she received several phone calls and 10 people have signed up for an EMT class that will be held at the Henning City Hall beginning in late January.

• Heard the city received a low bid from Eagle Construction Company, Inc. for the 2024 water treatment facility improvements project. The low bid was for $5.8 million with a second bid from American General Contractors Inc coming in at $6.1 million. With the low bid the total project budget will be for $7.2 million. The city is anticipated to receive a grant to cover 80 percent of the project and a low interest loan for the remaining 20 percent of the project. The city council could award the bid for the project at its February meeting pending input from PFA to ensure funding will be available for the project.