Arlington ENTERPRISE Serving the Communities of Arlington and Green Isle, Minnesota Single Copy $1.00
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Arlington ENTERPRISE Serving the Communities of Arlington and Green Isle, Minnesota Single copy $1.00 www.arlingtonmnnews.com Volume 130 • Number 24 • Thursday, December 19, 2013 • Arlington, MN 55307 Arlington City Council votes to keep tax levy the same By Kurt Menk City Council members adopted a resolution to ap- mate $77,000 increase in municipal per capita tax in four have taken place in the Editor James Jaszewski, Jennifer prove the preliminary 2013 Local Government Aid Sibley County in 2011. past six years. The Arlington City Coun- Nuesse, Curt Reetz, Jason tax levy for collection in (LGA), about $92,000 from In addition, Arlington The City Council, during cil, during its regular meeting Ruehling and Galen Wills all 2014 at $793,462 or about a the hospital lease, savings ranked the second lowest in the previous six years, has ap- on Monday night, Dec. 16, voted in favor of the resolu- 4.84 percent hike over last from sales tax exemption, dif- the average city tax rate in proved final tax levies of 2.2, unanimously adopted a reso- tion. year. ferent funding for the Capital Sibley County during 2011. zero, 5.9, three, three and lution to approve the final The final tax levy is lower The City Council, accord- Funding Plan (CIP) and post- Arlington has accom- zero percent increases respec- 2013 tax levy for collection than the preliminary tax levy ing to City Administrator poning some purchases and plished these rankings even tively. in 2014. The tax levy will re- which was originally set in Liza Donabauer, was able projects. though its state aid has been main at $756,805 which is the September. The City Council, keep the final tax levy the Arlington, according to reduced five times since same as last year. at that time, unanimously same by using an approxi- Donabauer, had the lowest 2002. Of those five times, City Council votes 4-1 to buy electronic sign By Kurt Menk $20,000 in the CIP fund Editor during 2014 to cover the The Arlington City cost of the new electronic Council, during its regular sign. meeting on Monday Reetz and Wills sug- evening, Dec. 16, voted 4- gested that the City Coun- 1 to approve a motion to cil could keep the existing purchase a Daktronic top panel and save about 20mm LED electronic $3,000. sign and accompanying Jaszewski said the exist- panels for $68,675 at the ing top panel might not Community Center. match the rest of the new After an energy savings panels. He added that the rebate and projected ad- City Council should also vertising, the new elec- “do it the right way” and tronic sign is expected to purchase the new top cost around $60,000. panel. City Council members The City Council has James Jaszewski, Jennifer discussed the possible pur- Nuesse, Jason Ruehling chase of a new electronic Enterprise photo by Kurt Menk and Galen Wills all voted sign for the past 1 1/2 in favor of the motion. years. The current elec- Melton The Warm-Hearted Snowman City Council member Curt tronic sign, which has flu- Reetz voted against the orescent lights, has not Students at the Green Isle Community School pre- opportunity to attend the rehearsal on Friday after- motion. worked at all for the past sented “Melton The Warm-Hearted Snowman” on Fri- noon, Dec. 13. The City Council made three months. day night, Dec. 13. Community members also had an the move based on recom- In the consent agenda, mendations from the Pub- the City Council unani- lic Buildings Committee mously approved residen- and Community Center tial solid waste permits for Darwin Mathwig to be honored in florograph Committee. The new LED Renville-Sibley Sanitation electronic sign will fit into and Waste Management. the existing brick struc- The City Council also at the 125th Tournament of Roses Parade ture. The top panel above unanimously approved the electronic sign will be commercial/dumpster By Kurt Menk Sunday where Darwin’s actu- “Darwin was always think- searchers studying glaucoma, new and two new panels solid waste permits for Editor al florograph was on display ing of new ways to promote cornea dystrophy (deteriora- will replace the current ad- Renville-Sibley Sanita- The late Darwin Mathwig, and Nancy finished the eye- the community and the Lions tion) and fibrosis (thickening vertising below the elec- tion, Waste Management Arlington, will be honored in brows prior to the reception organization,” said Nancy. and scarring). tronic sign. Those two and Gaylord Sanitation. a memorial florograph por- time. “As governor, Darwin’s mes- “Untold numbers can see new panels will include The City Council also trait in the 125th Tournament Darwin will be one of two sage was focused on the im- today because of past contri- the address, phone number unanimously approved a of Roses Parade at Pasadena, individuals sponsored on the portance of each member’s butions to research,” said and e-mail address for the city recycling contract Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 1. float by the Minnesota Lions unique contribution, whether Nancy. “Darwin's life was one City of Arlington. with Waste Management. Darwin will be one of 81 Eye Bank. small or large, to the success of service, and through the The City Council had In addition, the City organ, eye and tissue donors The float will be the 15th of the club.” many lives he bettered, as initially budgeted $40,000 Council unanimously ap- who will be honored on the unit in the parade, according On July 4, 2010, Darwin well as the selfless donation for this new sign in its proved a city garbage col- Donate Life float. to Nancy. It will follow the lost his life to pancreatic can- of his eyes, Darwin still Capital Improvement Plan lection contract with “It will be an overwhelm- Budweiser Clydesdales and cer. He was 58. He donated serves.” (CIP) fund during 2013. Renville-Sibley Sanita- ing and emotional experi- appear in the first 30 minutes his eyes to be used by re- Another $10,000 was bud- tion. ence,” said his wife, Nancy of the parade. geted in the form of dona- The Arlington City Mathwig, who will make the tions. Council will hold its next trip to California to watch the Darwin’s Story The City Council will regular meeting at 6:30 parade. She will be accompa- Darwin Mathwig was dedi- place an additional p.m. Monday, Jan. 6. nied by Darwin’s sister and cated to his family and com- brother-in-law, Joyce and munity service, values that he David Kroells. and his wife Nancy shared Each honored individual with their three children. Dar- will be remembered by their win easily made friends Public hearing is set generosity, compassion, and through his community, busi- lives saved and healed ness, and volunteer activities. through donations after death. He touched many lives, often for combining county The floragraphs will grace without realizing it. the lanterns of light that illu- Throughout his adult life, minate 30 float riders – all Darwin was committed to treasurer and auditor transplant recipients – and the helping wherever there was a By Dave Pedersen position. 12 living donors who will ac- need, and his volunteerism is Correspondent • In other business, the company them on foot along impressive. He served on the The Sibley County Board board approved a resolution the five-mile route seen by Arlington Baseball Board, the of Commissioners called a and adopted the Tri-County more than 40 million viewers Arlington Area Chamber of public hearing for 10 a.m. Comprehensive Solid Waste nationwide. Commerce, the Sibley Med- Tuesday, Jan. 7 regarding an Management plan. “The donors’ families and ical Center Foundation ordinance to consolidate the The plan will carry the dozens of volunteers will Board, and the Sibley East duties of the auditor and county through the next 10 decorate the portraits with Music Boosters, among oth- treasurer offices upon a va- years. The resolution is post- grains, flowers, seeds, spices ers. cancy. ed on the county website in and other organic materials,” Darwin was also a 17-year The action was taken at the the document section. It was said Bryan Stewart, chairper- member of the Arlington board meeting on Thursday, said that prior to the issue son of the Donate Life float Area Ambulance Service, a Dec. 12. County Administra- going to public notice, all the committee and vice president retired 20-year member of the tor Matt Jaunich said the 30- major players signed off on of communications at OneLe- Arlington Fire Department, day period has passed since it. gacy, the nonprofit organ and and a nine-year veteran of the the board voted to combine The state requires all coun- tissue recovery organization Arlington City Council. But the positions and there was ties to plan for and imple- serving the greater Los Ange- foremost in Darwin's life of no request for a reverse refer- ment waste reduction, recy- les area. “For many of their service was his dedication of endum. cling, education, yard waste, families, this is a unique op- 31 years to the Arlington The two offices will be source separated organic ma- portunity to see their loved Lions Club. combined Jan. 1, 2019. The terials, composting and spe- one shine before millions of More than just a member, public hearing is for an ordi- cial and problem material nance stating that if a vacan- waste management strategies. people worldwide and to gain Darwin held many Lions club Submitted Photo special recognition for their offices and was honored to cy in one of the positions oc- • Public hearings were set gifts of life and hope.” serve as governor for the 63 Nancy Mathwig displayed Darwin Mathwig’s memori- curs before the filing period for Monday, Dec.