Submitted by

Christine Rosenberger

City Clerk

Mayor Ron Rettle called the Aug. 6 meeting of the Fairview City Council to order with council members Doug Bletscher, Jaycee Mayo and Bridget Harvey present. Also present were City Clerk Christine Rosenberger, City Treasurer Kim Rettele, Code Enforcement Officer Lindsay Shaw and City Maintenance James Lentz. Other guests were asked to sign in on an attendance record sheet.

Guest Jessica Homan addressed the council in regard to her property at 313 S. Main. She filed an appeal against Resolution 2026-01 with the city attorney and it was denied. She spoke in reference to the abatement done by the city on Aug. 3. She believed clean up included cutting the fence, plumbing parts being removed from the property as well as firewood and railroad ties. She advised she would be requesting records in regard to the clean up. She advised she had received information from the sheriff’s department in regard to the abatement and advised her displeasure in regard to the time she believed the clean up started.

Violet Lentz addressed the council with comments on the condition of 313 S. Main. She believed the issue has taken up much council time that could be spend on other issues/concerns in the city. She felt prior comments about the property do not give a full picture of the circumstances.

Bethany Homan (noted incorrectly on the agenda as Brittany Homan) addressed the council in support and as an advocate for her father, Dan Homan. She advised the council of the poor conditions he lived in at 313 S. Main. She said she was lead to believe the mayor and council were unfair and corrupt. Since attending the meeting, she indicated she found the mayor and council to be willing to work with individuals in regard to ordinance violations. B. Homan advised she has been in contact with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department and is working with them to get her father’s remaining possessions from the property.

Mayor Rettele called the Budget Hearing for the 2027 Budget to order. No comments were made. The Budget Hearing was concluded and adjourned.

Later in the meeting, the council approved to accept the 2027 Budget as proposed.

The regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Rettele.

Due to an interruption, Mayor Rettele called for a 15-minute recess of the council meeting for an individual to be removed from the meeting.

Upon removal, Mayor Rettele called the recess over and the meeting back to order.

Shaw advised junk vehicles, scrap and debris in the alley at 114 W. Front. The council approved to allow three months time for the clean up of the property at 114 W. Front or the city will abate the ordinance violations. Councilwoman Harvey abstained from the vote.

In regard to correspondence, the City of Morrill inquired if the City of Fairview had cold patch available for purchase. Mayor Rettele advised Rosenberger to respond that Fairview would be willing to split a load if Morrill was agreeable. Kris Miller, reporter for the Hiawatha Daily World, advised he had corrected the article in regard to the meeting of July 2.

The council approved to accept the minutes of July 2 as submitted.

The council also approved to accept the Treasurer’s report as balanced and verified.

Under old business, the property at 214 W. Maple was discussed. Shaw will visit with the property owner in regard to a time frame for the property to be cleaned up and then a decision will need to be made on how to handle the issues.

A ticket was issued for dog at large and the fine set appropriate to the number of times the owner has been in violation of the ordinance. It was requested the code enforcement officer visit with the property owner at 211 W. Front and have them remove the mower from atop their burn pile.

Joann Keim was absent from the meeting and will report on the 4-H building in September.

The council approved to sign the contract for property between Casey Votruba and the City of Fairview.

The council approved to replace the city mower at a cost of no less than $11,000 difference (trading in the current mower).

Mayor Rettele advised the new city tools had been purchased and are in use.

The City of Fairview has been gifted donations from the Roger Woldt trust for the park and community preparedness.

J. Lentz advised new swings and bleacher boards have been ordered for the park.

Rosenberger provided a list of 2025 delinquent sewer charges to the city attorney’s office for final demand before charging to the tax role.

The council approved to pay the bills as submitted.

Sue Lantz addressed the council and property owner in regard to 313 S. Main stating she felt the property owner was not paying attention to the requests made by the Mayor and Council and that the owner needed to be more respectful when addressing the council. She indicated that the issue has taken up much council time.

Art Vonderschmidt also addressed the council and property owner in regard to 313 S. Main thanking the council for their continued enforcement of the city ordinances and the fact the property has been in violation in the past and the conditions have not improved.

The next meeting of the Fairview City Council was held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Fairview Community Center. These minutes were not available at The Herald’s press time.