Regular Meeting of the Mazeppa City Council
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
The regular meeting of the Mazeppa City Council was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Chris Hagfors.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Present: Mayor Chris Hagfors. Council Persons: Steve Liffrig, Mike Hammes, Erica Young, and Dustin Wiebusch.
Others Present: City Attorney Luke Lamprecht, City Engineer Matt Mohs from Bolton & Menk, Public Works Director Scott Ellingson, Wabasha County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Kruger, MMLS Manager Todd Ihrke, Rhonda Sand, Helen Reiland, and City Administrator-Clerk Karl Nahrgang.
Present via electronic meeting: Holly Galbus from the News Record.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve the agenda and addendum. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve August 13, 2025, regular Council meeting minutes, All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Wabasha County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Kruger gave the ICR for July.
Public Works Director Scott Ellingson gave the Public Works report.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang gave the Fire Department report.
MMLS Manager Todd Ihrke gave the Liquor Store report.
City Engineer Matt Mohs gave the Engineering update.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve WWTP project pay application #10 to Wapasha Construction for $376,991.28. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve WWTP change order #3 totaling $6116.78. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve Street Utility project pay application #3 to Schumacher Excavating for $282,418.46. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Street Utility project change order #2 for approximately $55,000.00, not to exceed $60,000.00. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve Task Order 8, a cultural survey along the bike/walking trail phase 1 route for $12,000.00. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve an amount not to exceed $5000.00 to complete a Local Road Improvement Grant application for 4th Ave. NE. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Administrator Clerk Karl Nahrgang reported on City Hall Activities.
Citizen Needs:
Helen Reiland from the Mazeppa area Historical Society announced that the Historical Society would be holding an open house on September 13, 2025, Noon until 3:00 PM displaying the new building and new exhibits.
Rhonda Sand requested an update from Council on the cleanup and inspection at the property at 140 Cherry St. E. The City Hall report had already discussed issues with the property owner representative and that he had cancelled the building inspection on advice of counsel. Discussion of next steps to ensure property is safe.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve legal fees to Lamprecht Law for services not provided in monthly retainer. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Wiebusch to approve building permits 28-18-0022, 1532 Cherry St. E – accessory building. 28-18-0024, 1678 Cherry St E. – re-roof. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2025-30 Accepting a donation from Mazeppa Fire Relief for Mazeppa Daze Expenses. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2025-31 Accepting a donation from the Mazeppa Lions Club for the Walking/Biking trail phase 1. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to set the Truth-in-Taxation hearing for December 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Liffrig to approve the 2025-26 snow hauling contract with Turbo’s LLC. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Young, second by Liffrig to approve Resolution 2025-33 approving an off-site temporary liquor license for Rumors Bar and Grill. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Young to approve Preliminary Levy for Taxes payable in 2026 for $445,196.00. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to approve Resolution 2025-32 approving work on County Road 1 to be completed withing the City of Mazeppa. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Hammes, second by Liffrig to approve the 2026 preliminary budget. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Motion by Wiebusch, second by Hammes to pay the bills and claims. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Council members asked everyone to remember that the final Community Market on Thursday, September 18, 2025, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and that a Melinda’s Snack Shack, a favorite from Mazeppa Daze, would be the featured food vendor. The trail committee is putting on a Halloween themed 5K walk-run on October 25, 2025, at 2 PM called the Mazeppa Monster Dash. Council also recognized the work being done by the City’s part-time public works staff, Steve Meerkens.
Motion by Hammes, second by Liffrig to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, none opposed. Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:42 PM.
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Administrator Clerk
Next Meeting: October 8, 2025