Politics

	City Council gets good audit report 07/01/2015 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)- The Walnut Grove City Council met in a regular session on the 8th day of June 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the city office.  Greg Hansen, Xiong Yang, Leonard McLaughlin, Jeff Harnack, Kerwin Armitage, Tom Hansen, Lisa Zmeskal (Hoffman & Brobst), Dave Hoyt were present. Todd Harrington was absent.... View
	Alan Wahl Submits Resignation From Street Department 11/11/2015 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     westbrook — Police Chief Alan Wahl gave his report, and turned in his resignation from the City Street Department. He noted that it has gotten to be to much to do both jobs with more work at the City Street Department.... View
	City Council studies swimming pool repairs 06/14/2017 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     westbrook —  When work was being done preparing the pool for the season, it was discovered that the pool heaters needed new heating tubes.  The tubes cost $1,500 each. Both heaters are running, but one of the heaters will have to be replaced. The replacem... View
	Westbrook is named in broad band grant 01/18/2017 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     westbrook — last Friday morning, Terry Nelson and  Ken Knuth of Woodstock Communications visited with the city council to explain how they will use the grant money to increase  the internet speed in the Westbrook area. ... View
	Council approves Ehlers refinance of street bonds proposal 11/16/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     Westbrook — At the previous month’s council session a proposal was given to the council by a member of Ehlers Municipal Advisors. The proposal could save the city in the area of  $90,000.... View
	City Studies Budget and Sewer Project 08/12/2015 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     westbrook — At the monthly council meeting Monday evening Brandy Vande Kieft Westbrook police officer for 18 years submitted her resignation. Vande Kieft said she has taken a management position with Staples Oil at the Heron Lake C Store. She had been assistant manager at th... View
	Council discussed requirements for Building permits 06/15/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     Westbrook — The council discussed problems with people not getting building permits when doing projects on their property. Mayor Phelps said people have to realize there is good reason for them to get permits. If a property owner is doing a project that is going to change th... View
	Council bows out of street bond refinancing program 12/14/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     WWG — Although the council had reviewed the budget levy proposal at the November meeting, they formally adopted the 2017 budget at the December meeting. The budget approved was set at $353,360 for a 12.2 percent increase over the 2016 budget.... View
	Council approves licensing for Bonnie and Clydes 2 04/13/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)- westbrook — Mike McDonald of Tracy approached the council to approve the licensing of the Bonnie and Clydes 2 Bar and Grill. He was approved to receive both on-sale and off sale licenses for the new business Bonnie and  Clydes 2 in the former Loose Moose building.... View
	City Council Adopts Local Levy For 2016 09/09/2015 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     westbrook — The council reviewed local levy proposals for the 2016 budget levy. City Clerk Katie Steen gave the council two scenarios for the proposed levy, both were lower than last years levy. ... View
	Woodstock Media talks about fiber optic plan 09/14/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-         Westbrook — Terry Nelson and Ron Nelson of Woodstock Media talked to the council on where they are at on a project to possibly install a fiber optic network for Westbrook.... View
	City reviews needs for First Avenue project 01/13/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     Westbook — The County Engineers’ office asked the council for direction on whether or not to put in curb and gutter on the north end of First Avenue. They also wondered if boulevard trees and landscaping was necessary or not.... View
	Westbrook Police Chief Reports on E-charging System 10/14/2015 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     westbrook —  Police Chief Alan Wahl talked to the council about getting an E-charging, reporting system, to go paperless with writing tickets and reports. Part time officer Brad Peters has experience with that type of system, and knows where a refurbished unit can ... View
	Public Informational Open House in Westbrook 08/31/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)- Public informational open house meeting concerning County Highway 33 (l st Avenue) will be held Wednesday, September 7. It is hosted by Cottonwood County and the City of Westbrook from 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Westbrook Senior Center, 849 5th Street, Westbrook, MN 56183... View
	Council discussed police staffing concerns 05/10/2017 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     westbrook — Police Chief Alan Wahl talked with the council about hiring part-time officers. He noted that some area police departments are advertising for part-time officers up to $20.00 per hour. That makes it difficult to find people willing to come here for considerably l... View
	Council discussed replacing police squad vehicle 01/11/2017 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-         westbrook — Police Chief Alan Wahl talked to the council about replacing the squad vehicle. The current vehicle is a 2007 Ford Crew Cab. Wahl noted the vehicle was still in pretty good condition, but at ten years old problems could develop, although h... View
	Board Looks at Replacing Referendum 07/08/2015 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     wwg — With declining enrollments and increasing costs Superintendent Loy Woelber recommended the board revoke and replace the voter approved levy. He noted while we are not in immediate danger of having to borrow short term money, the time may not be far down the road. He no... View
	City looks at refinancing street loan 10/12/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-         westbrook — Shelly Eldridge of Ehlers Public Financial talked to the council about restructuring the city bonds for the 2010 street project. Eldrige told the council there are several options the city could choose to restructure the existing par amoun... View
	Council hears engineers sewer project report 12/16/2015 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     Westbrook — Scot Leddy engineer for Banner Engineering of Pipestone talked about the sanitary sewer project for Westbrook. He discussed access to the property which is owned by private persons, the EDA and the city.... View
	Westbrook Sewer bids come in below estimate 02/10/2016 LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sentinel Tribune / STPNS Westbrook, Minnesota (STPNS)-     westbrook — The city council members were very pleased with the opening of bids for the upcoming sewer relining project. The low bid of $196,306.45 came in about $32,000 lower than the engineers estimate of $228,000.00.... View