Paullina Dental to Acquire Property

by Mari Radtke
The public hearing for the sale of 108 E. Groesbeck St. was held on Monday April 7 with no comments given about the sale of property.
All of the formalities for a governing body to sell property; a resolution directing and authorizing the City to enter into a contract to convey property, a resolution approving the execution of the contract to sell the property and a resolution approving the Special Warranty Deed were all approved unanimously. Little or no discussion on the matter was had on April 7.
“People for Pets” was represented by Jenna serves as Director for the organization. Brooke Hibbing also attended along with an associate, Kayla attended to serve as a resource about the project. The intention is for stray cats in Paullina to be captured and rehomes when possible. They would take the “friendly” cats to the shelter. The feral cats would be part of a long process. There has been an offer of free local volunteer help with capturing the cats. Jenna said that she was contacted by multiple people about the cat problem.
A discussion of where the cats sleep and roam started the conversation. A discussion of local codes was also had. Trapping is generally a 3-day process. While in the traps they are transported to the People for Pets shelter and sterilized the next day. Sometimes they are chipped which identifies that they have been sterilized should they be captured again. Information about relocating the different personalities of cats, friendly, semi-feral and feral cats. Farms were often a location of choice. Cost of sterilization ranged from but ranged from $115 – $150 per cat. Some funding through donations and other sources could be available. A fundraiser to help with the cost of sterilization of Paullina strays held in Paullina was discussed.
Councilperson Dennis Werkmeister asked about time frame to collect the cats. There was no definitive answer. Various financing sources and providers for removal and sterilization was held. The costs will require a discussion of if and how to capture the cats at a future meeting. Current city ordinances allow a home to have up to 5 animals in it and no ordinance against feeding stray cats. The trio worked to get starting approval from council who ended with a discussion getting put back on the next agenda.
Cindy Richter attended to for the purpose of asking the City of Paullina to serve as fiscal sponsor for Wonderland Theater for an O’Brien County Community Foundation grant. The organization needs to replace its projector which is considered to be 3 years past its useful life. The projector is showing a problem light. She said $8500 was raised from popcorn buckets and they may try that again. A new projector is $45,000. The projector takes less energy to operate and won’t need to be vented. It is also capable of downloading the movies. She believes they have $11 or $12,000 for the projector and will ask the foundation for an additional $15,000. Possibly the difference will be made up by taking a short term loan. Councilperson Nichole Jacobs explained that the city is looking at a new city sign. Jacobs said that the city could not be a fiscal sponsor for one entity and an applicant for itself. Discussion between Jacobs and Kelly Harms, sitting in the audience was to ask the Paullina Chamber to be the fiscal sponsor. The Chamber and Wonderland Theater are both incorporated and 504 Revised Domestic non-profit organizations.
Kelly Harms reported Gemboree plans to Council. She asked for certain street closures for the parade on Main Street. Jacobs commented that there has been discussion of having this as a “standing resolution.” Jacobs took over the reporting of events. She promoted a community breakfast by the firemen and a community church service to be rotated by the churches. The resolution for the 2025 street closures was passed with nothing further about a “standing resolution.”
Mwamba, a property owner on the corner of E. Broadway and Maple Street was considered. Water was requested to be turned off. Councilperson Jean Unrau commented that the house has been sitting empty since 2012 with Werkmeister adding that the property was a problem while he was on the council prior. Mwambe was in attendance. He explained that all outside citations had been addressed. A water line needs to be replaced. Money is an obstacle to getting the line changed but he asked for a year to get that done. He outlined how he has answered all of the complaints. This would hook water up to the kitchen. He was unclear about his intentions for the home’s future as far as being his home or for sale. Carol Honkomp asked about junk in the house but that led to a discussion of bricks on the trailer in the driveway. Registration of the vehicles is required. Werkemeister asked if a city representative and a contractor would be allowed inside. Jacobs and Honkomp addressed the length of time he has had the property and complained about the continuous state. He replied with offering it to the city. He then talked about the situation of the conflicting needs and limits of the house’s condition. He doesn’t have the money and time to get the necessary work done in the 30, 60 or 90 days a city might require. He outlines some of the improvements that he has made to the structure. Councilman Steve Heeren asked about his original intent when he purchased the house. He thought at the time that it was a nice place to move into but that has changed. Mayor Marlin Sjaarda said Thor Klinker recommended moving forward with an administrative search warrant to examine the inside of the home. Such an action could open some bigger issues. Dennis Werkmeister moved for 2-4 representatives tour the home with Mr. Mwamba. Honkomp seconded. The tour would be to take place by April 30.
Vanessa Rohwer attended to plead to council to lift a nuisance violation she received for having ducks at her home. The ducks are a 4-H Fair project for her 2 boys. She explained that her neighbors were not concerned and one of her neighbors takes the eggs. There was some comparison of the ducks to the chicken allowed in town. Because they were kept in the basement during particularly cold weather, council did make some suggestions about heating the garage going forward. Werkmeister commented that the goal is to get the ducks through the fair and asked council if getting them through the fair “if we would extend the benefit until after the fair and then they would have to go somewhere else, would that be something council could live with?” Sjaarda immediately interjected with a comment that our ordinances do not allow them at all. Jacobs stated that she would rather do an ordinance for ducks to match the chicken ordinance. Discussion compared chickens and ducks in various ways. Sjaarda stopped the discussion as it leaned toward favoring ducks over chickens as far as noise, damage to yards and other concerns, saying the item is not on the agenda as an action item, only for her to present her case. It was agreed there would not be a “yes” or “no” that night, only if they would put the issue back on the agenda to decide. Jacobs asked what else in that realm, poultry, to be included for an ordinance amendment consideration. Council decided to put the issue on the agenda for the next meeting so that a decision could be made and giving clear direction in the future of the ducks. (DISCLOSURE: Vanessa Rohwer is an employee of Marcus News, Inc.)
The property insurance and linebacker deductible was raised to $10,000 to save money on the premium which increased dramatically.
Vacation payout for Police Chief Nate Bremer was again considered by council. He has reached the maximum number of hours that can be carried over. He has to be paid out for accrued hours over that number. The amount under discussion was $4,808.52 for 171 hours of vacation time.
A public hearing for the fiscal 2026 budget was set for 5:30pm Wednesday April 23. A budget amendment for the current budget will follow at 5:45pm.