To the Editor,

I began my duty as a councilman on January 5, 2021. At my first meeting I was told by a council member that as a newcomer I didn’t know how things get done. At that first meeting, we agreed to send the Ottertail council a letter showing them we are backing our mayor. But since that things are not going well, being as I was elected to help fix our budget, I have to try harder. 

The council, for the last two meetings and three work sessions, have been pulling straws to find the answer. Our payments for the next 20 years will be at least $250,000 per year, not including the electrical project. 

The mayor said that $125,000 of that amount could be budgeted to the residents in rate increases. The other $125,000, he suggested, coming out of staff and labor as cuts, I agree.  But it doesn’t seem that anyone can find cuts except for selling our city buildings and cutting salt in the city water.  

As the last Letter To the Editor stated “Enough is Enough,” or as I would say “do something or get off the pot.” We just have to face the fact that labor and staff have to be changed.  

I’m writing this so that you have time to call me if you have any suggestions that can make this duty easier on everyone. Please call me at 583-2295 with any ideas you may have. No names will be given and I just need to get the city input.  I will release the suggestions at our March 15 meeting at the Henning Community Center at 5:30 p.m. 

Thank you for your time and I hope to see many of you at the meeting.

Wes Johnson,

Henning City Council Member