The Winnebago City Council banged in its regular meeting a few minutes late on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Big-ticket items on the agenda included approving a bid for the upcoming Cleveland Avenue West Project, reviewing a lease application from local healthcare provider Heidi Stevermer and discussing Minnesota’s recent legalization of cannabis.

Engineer Matt Cole reported that Bolton & Menk received seven compliant bids for the Cleveland Avenue West Project.

“That’s the most bidders we’ve had on a big street project in awhile,” he said.

The lowest bidder was Albert Lea’s Ulland Brothers, Inc., with a total estimate of $6,181,724 for the full project.

The council unanimously approved Resolution 819-2023 accepting Ulland Brothers’ low bid.

Cole said work on the project will begin next spring. The project is expected to be completed in late 2024.

The council also reviewed an application from local nurse practitioner Heidi Stevermer to lease the former United Hospital District Clinic on Winnebago’s Main Street.

Stevermer has been leasing the space as a co-owner of Optimal Performance Specialists (OPS) Clinics since last fall. She currently provides part-time services for Winnebago and Mapleton as a nurse practitioner.

UHD sold the clinic to OPS Clinics for $1 on Sept. 13, 2022, and the city offered the space to OPS rent-free for its first year of operation, provided OPS pay for all utility costs.

Following the owners’ unexpected decision to disband OPS Clinics last month, Stevermer informed the council she intends to open her own clinic in the former UHD building and continue providing medical services in Winnebago.

Stevermer has requested the city renew the lease for another year, under the same terms, but under her new clinic’s name: Heartland Healthcare, PLLC.

“Heidi is also planning on doing a bunch of improvements inside, at her own expense,” city administrator Judi Hynes said.

Council member Jean Anderson observed, “I am in favor of your new lease, but there are still people in town that don’t know you’re open, and what you do. We have to figure out how to let people in the community and the surrounding communities know that you’re here and you’re going to stay.” 

Stevermer assured the council she plans to install outside lighting and signage which will indicate when the clinic is open. She also said marketing the clinic space has been difficult since OPS Clinics announced it is disbanding.

“We will definitely do more marketing once we have everything solidified, and once we have the lease signed,” Stevermer said. “I will be there full-time, Monday through Friday, which should help from a marketing standing.” 

The council approved the lease unanimously. The agreement will go into effect on Sept. 1.

Finally, the council discussed the implications of the recent legalization of cannabis in Minnesota. Possession, use and home growth of cannabis became legal on Aug. 1, but its sale is not expected to be legalized until January of 2025.

City attorney David Frundt reminded the council they can instate a moratorium on the sale, manufacturing or distribution of adult-use cannabis for two years, provided they use the time to research possible restrictions on cannabis use in Winnebago.

Wells has already conducted a first reading of an Interim Moratorium Ordinance, and Blue Earth recently began a similar process.

Frundt clarified that the council has the option of rescinding the moratorium before the two-year period has ended.

The council directed Frundt to begin the process of drafting a moratorium on the sale of cannabis in Winnebago.

Frundt and the council also discussed Winnebago’s current ordinance governing the smoking of tobacco in public places, which could be altered to apply to the smoking of cannabis, too.

Frundt suggested the ordinance could be amended to be more specific about where people are allowed to smoke in public places.

“We have the ability to put some sort of restriction in place for locations that are prohibited in state law for tobacco use,” Frundt explained, listing school zones, libraries, parks, museums, and other public use areas as applicable to those restrictions.

In light of this, the council directed Frundt to update the city’s ordinance on tobacco use in public areas.

In other business, the Winnebago City Council: 

• Approved concrete work at the Water Treatment Plant. City staff can complete the work, but the concrete is estimated to cost $2,300.

Hynes noted the Water Department has nearly $5,000 in extra funds in its budget which can be used to cover the project.

• Learned that the city did not receive a grant to fund the installation of push button door openers at City Hall. However, the council approved a $6,747.79 quote from Fairmont Glass to install two wireless push button automatic openers.

• Approved a $8,978.08 quote from Bevcomm to replace the internet server at City Hall.

• Approved Resolution 820-2023 allowing coverage in the Public Employees Police and Fire Plan for Winnebago Police Department employees.

• Discussed the results of a recent Loss Control Survey completed by the League of Minnesota Cities. Among other things, the city was advised to take preventative measures against glare ice at public facilities and conduct regular ladder and roof inspections.

• Reviewed the preliminary 2024 Budget, which currently shows a 24.91 percent increase in the 2024 property tax levy.

“It looks nasty,” Hynes admitted. However, she added that there are many variables affecting the budget at this point, and she is considering several cost-saving measures.

Hynes plans to schedule a special meeting to review the proposed 2024 Budget at the end of September.