Winnebago EDA specialist Jennifer Howard, above left, is going on military service for 13 months. She will be replaced by Dave Schmidt, above, right.

Darold Nienhaus has been selected to receive the 2024 Winnebago Hall of Fame Award.

The announcement was made at the June 5 meeting of the Winnebago Economic Development Authority.

Nienhaus is a former employee of the city of Winnebago. His nomination form pointed out that Nienhaus always volunteered his personal time for noble causes including the Winnebago Fire Department, Genesis Classical Academy and Foundations Bible Church, to name a few.

Nienhaus will be honored during the ‘Bago’ Fun Fest parade and at a ceremony to be held later this summer.

Moving on to business matters, EDA specialist Jennifer Howard reported the city has applied for a reimbursement of $17,682 from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Releaf Grant.

“City staff has completed an ash tree inventory and 28 ash trees and stumps have been removed from public property,” Howard said. “Rainbow Tree Care out of the Twin Cities is working with the city to develop a professional European Ash Borer (EAB) Management Plan.”

According to Howard, the DNR has provided a list of a wide variety of trees which may be planted to replace the ash trees.

“There are also around 120 ash trees on private property,” Howard added. “Currently those trees will have to be removed at the property owner’s expense.”

Howard also updated the EDA on the status of a proposal to the Blandin Foundation which seeks to obtain a total of $150,000 to establish a fund to help residents maintain and establish livability in their current homes.

“I was told we would hear something by early June,” Howard commented. “However, I have not received any news yet.”

The board also received an update on an application by the city to the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) program.

“We submitted a proposal to the University of Minnesota, which they accepted,” Howard said. “The university will do the heavy lifting for the project by analyzing the data collected which will create an inventory of the city’s infrastructure. The potential outcomes of this project will be to help cities identify their weaknesses and strengths compared to other area cities. The study will also seek to create a better understanding of the role played by infrastructure in determining city prosperity and population growth.”

Howard reminded the EDA that Winnebago Night at the Mankato Moondogs baseball game will be on June 18.

“Students from Genesis Classical Academy will be singing the National Anthem,” Howard said. “I think we had over 150 people attend the Moondogs’ game last year, not counting the people who bought tickets on their own.”

Howard reminded the board that this was her final meeting before leaving for 13 months of military service.

“I will actually be around until July and I plan on being back on the job in September of 2025,” Howard shared. “Dave Schmidt will serve as the Winnebago EDA specialist during my absence.”

The EDA also:

• Voted to extend a business loan to Winnebago Chiropractic Clinic, Inc. for the purchase of new equipment.

According to city administrator Judi Hynes, the Winnebago Chiropractic Clinic has a good history with the EDA as they paid off a previous loan with the EDA eight months ahead of schedule. The loan is for a total of $36,936 and included a 10 percent down payment, a payback period of five years and a five percent interest rate.

• Reviewed a business visit questionnaire presented to the board by Schmidt.

“I will be working on completing an inventory of who owns the businesses and buildings located on Main Street,” Schmidt noted.

• Set the meeting date for next month on July 10, at 5 p.m.