Public Notices September 17
Winthrop City Council
Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 4, 2025
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Winthrop was called to order at 7 p.m. on August 4th, in the city council chambers of the City Hall, for the purpose of conducting city business.
Councilors Present: Mayor Trebelhorn, Councilors Pierson, O’Connor, Stoll and Santelman
Councilors Absent: Wickenhauser
Staff Present: City Administrator Michael Looft, City Clerk Heather Haun, Police Chief Logan Anderson,
CALL TO ORDER
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
2.1 Establish Current Agenda, Motion by Stoll to accept the agenda as presented, seconded by O’Connor. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
3.1 Approval of Minutes: July 7, 2025
3.2 Approval of Financials: July 2025
3.3 Water Sewer Adjustment Requests: Hahn’s Dining $450.66; Hernandez $18.66; Rivera $160.74; Winthrop Grocery $249.19.
3.4 Thank You Letter from Farm City Fun Fest, Brianna Pagel
Motion by Pierson to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Santelman. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
4.1 Election Poll Pads (A)
During this past election cycle the county informed the units of government that new iPads would be purchased this next election cycle. Unfortunately, there is a special election in one of our municipalities
and they’ll need to be ordered in 2025 versus 2026 as originally planned. Currently the city of Winthrop has two poll pads. During this past election it was evident that at times we needed three poll pads. During high registrations it caused delays in getting individuals through the line. The quote from the county prices each poll pad for $430.00 / pad. The request from staff is that we purchase 3 poll pads for $1290.00. This will also ensure that if one of our poll pads breaks or goes down, we have an additional pad that can be used.
Looft explained the benefits of having three poll pads and explained what would happen if one of them were to stop working. This would cause increase wait times, slowing down the voter process. Pierson asked what they were all used for. Looft explained that they are used to registering and checking in voters at the first table you go to. Pierson asked if the poll pads were online. Looft explained they are not connected to the internet. Santelman asked what is wrong with the current poll pads. Looft explained that they are end of life and that the current updates will not work with them. He explained that the county is the one that administers all of our elections, and they determine when the end of life is for the equipment.
Motion by Stoll to approve the purchase of the three poll pads, seconded by O’Connor. Motion carried unanimously.
4.2 Approval of Union Contract (A) The administration committee is making a recommendation to approve the union contract as presented. There were many delays on the union side that caused this contract not to be signed during the original March timeframe.
Motion by Pierson to approve the union contract, seconded by O’Connor. Motion carried unanimously.
4.3 2024 Audit Review (I)
Looft went through power point presentation explaining the audit process and results from the 2024 audit.
4.4 2026 Budget Planning Session (I) During the upcoming months city council will have work sessions on the following days: Monday, August 18, 2025; Monday, September 15, 2025; and Monday September 22, 2025. All scheduled sessions will begin at 7PM and be held at Winthrop city hall in the city council chambers.
4.5 Ambulance Service Discussion (I) Looft spoke about the history and future of the ambulance service. Talked about the Medicare/Medicaid systemic problem plaguing ambulance services. He spoke about surrounding areas that have made the switch to ALS and the different things that this can affect. Spoke about the coverage areas. Brainstormed different ideas to investigate cost effectiveness.
4.6 Police Policy (A) This policy is an update to police foot pursuit. It puts an emphasis on officer safety and when to and when to not continue pursuing suspects on foot.
Motion by O’Connor to approve the policy, seconded by Pierson. Motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
5.1 Flag Poll Estimates & Placement Map. Total project cost would be around $15,000 (with labor). There was a different place that would be able to make the brackets for around $1500.
Motion by Pierson to approve the policy, seconded by Stoll. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE NOTICES
& UPDATES
Administration – The EDA will be very busy around the next couple of months. Baseball lights have been a hot topic; there is an independent company assessing their value right now. Splash pad has encountered a few sew backs, one being the large amount of rain. There have been some contractor missteps. We are now beyond the date of completion. The extra dirt from the splashpad will be spread out and reseeded, they will be taking some to the police station to help with the new pumpkin hill. The chamber vs the city, FCFF, is run by the chamber of commerce. The city staff that work there volunteer their time. Nuisance there will be some warning letters going out for grass and weed control. Christmas lights, there are no lights for 2nd Street. The Highway and Hennepin will have them.
Public Works/Utility– They are working on the park project right now. They are planning to do more streetlight repair work this fall. Looft, Santelman and Trebelhorn attended the MMPA annual meeting. They toured a power plant.
Ambulance – Remediation for cadets that have not passed the national test the first time has been completed through the college and once their assignments are finished up, they will be able to test again.
Library – Had a meeting on July 7th, looked at the bylaws and will keep making revisions. The summer reading program went well. There was a lot of discussion on funding of the library. The purposed cuts are $34,000 for the libraries. Spoke about all the different things that the library has to offer, books, DVDs, park pass, etc.
ADJOURNMENT
Motioned to adjourn by Pierson the meeting at 8:29 PM seconded by Stoll. Motion to adjourn carried.
Michael Looft
City Administrator
Independent School District
GFW Public Schools
August 18, 2025
Summary of regular school board meetings. Full text is available for public inspection at 323 East 11th Street, Gibbon, MN 55335.
CALL TO ORDER
The regular board meeting of the GFW Public School Board was held on August 18, 2025 at the Elementary School Gibbon, MN. Chair Miller called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ALSO present: Superintendent Berg, Tech Werner, Briese, Turtle, Stehr, Grosam, Acree, Principal Jacobson, Press Hanson
Absent: None
APPROVE AGENDA
Briese moved with support from Grosam to approve the agenda. Motion Carried
CONSENT AGENDA
Turtle moved with support from Acree to approve the consent agenda. Motion Carried
RESOLUTIONS AND ACTION ITEMS
Recommendation to Set Truth in Taxation Hearing for December 15, 2025 at 6:01pm
Briese moved with support from Grosam to Set Truth in Taxation Hearing for December 15, 2025 at 6:01pm Motion Carried
Recommendation to Approve Staff Handbook for 2025-2026 School Year
Stehr moved with support from Acree to approve the Staff Handbook for 2025-2026 School Year. Motion Carried
Recommendation to Approve Student Handbook for 2025-2026 School Year
Acree moved with support from Stehr to approve the Student Handbook for 2025-2026 School Year. Motion Carried Recommendation to Purchase Minnesota Studies Weekly for Elementary Social Studies Curriculum Stehr moved with support from Grosam to approve the Purchase Minnesota Studies Weekly for Elementary Social Studies Curriculum. Motion Carried
Recommend Motion to Approve Donation Resolution
Grosam moved with support from Turtle to approve the donation of $100.00 from Wilburette Osgood and $200.00 from Laurie Larson for TCA.
Yes – Grosam, Turtle, Acree, Briese, Miller, Stehr
No – None Motion Carried
Recommendation to Approve Electrical Change Order
Stehr moved with support from Acree to approve the Electrical Change Order.
No Vote
Recommendation to Approve One Read Policies
Acree moved with support from Briese to approve One Read Policies 414, 503, 504, 506, 514, 516, 524, 602, 707, 709 and 806. Motion Carried
Recommendation to Approve the First of Two Readings of Policies
Grosam moved with support from Acree to approve the First Reading of Policies 418,501, 516.5, 534, 621 and 802. Motion Carried
ADJOURNMENT
Briese moved with support from Grosam to adjourn at 7:13:p.m.. Motion Carried
Emilee Stehr, Clerk
51c
GFW Schools
Independent School District #2365
GFW School Board
Special Meeting
August 25, 2025
GFW Elementary ECFE Room, Gibbon, MN
4:30 pm
Members Present: Superintendent Berg, Turtle, Acree, Grosam, Briese, Miller
Member Absent: Stehr
Call To Order
The special board meeting of the GFW Public School Board was held on August 18, 2025 at the Elementary School Gibbon, MN. Chair Miller called the meeting to order at 4:46 p.m. Motion Carried
Approve Agenda
Grosam moved with support from Turtle to approve the agenda. Motion Carried
Action Items
a. Approve Electrical Change Order
Briese moved with support from Acree to the Electrical Change Order. Motion Carried
Adjournment
Briese moved with support from Acree to adjourn the meeting at 4:47 p.m. Motion Carried
Emilee Stehr, Clerk
51c
STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF SIBLEY
DISTRICT COURT
FIRST JUDICIAL
DISTRICT
PROBATE DIVISION
Court File No.: 72-PR-25-35
NOTICE OF AND ORDER FOR HEARING ON PETITION FOR
FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND
APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVE IN UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
In Re: Estate of
DOUGLAS GUENTHER, Decedent.
It is Ordered and Notice is given that on October 27, 2025 at 10:45 o’clock a.m., a hearing will be held in the above named Court at Gaylord, Minnesota, on a petition for the formal probate of an instrument dated January 17, 2022 purporting to be the will of the above named Decedent, and for the appointment of Cody Guenther, whose address is 7117 County Road R, Two Rivers, WI 54241, as personal representative of the Decedent’s estate in an unsupervised administration.
Any objections to the petition must be raised at the hearing or filed with the Court prior to the hearing. If the petition is proper and no objections are filed or raised, the personal representatives will be appointed with the full power to administer the Decedent’s estate, including the power to collect all assets; to pay all legal debts, claims, taxes, and expenses; to sell real and personal property; and to do all necessary acts for the Decedent’s estate.
Notice is further given that, subject to Minnesota Statute §524.3-801, all creditors having claims against the Decedent’s estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court within four (4) months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred.
BY THE COURT
Dated: September 9, 2025
/s/Amber Donley
Judge of District Court
(COURT SEAL)
Dated: July 21, 2025
/s/ Karen V. Messner
Court Administrator
Join ZoomGov Meeting
https://courts-state-mn-us.zoomgov.com
Meeting ID: 161 117 8434
Passcode: 038108
Attorney for Petitioner
Passe & Whitmore, P.A.
Kevin E. Passe, Attorney for Petitioner MN Attorney License # 173216
PO Box 127
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 Telephone: (507)637-5778
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