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SHERBURN -- The Sherburn City Council met on Tuesday evening and Jordan Niles and Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services Representative Luke Ewald presented a report about the Rails to Trails project in Martin and Jackson counties.
Jackson has many trail developments and two trails ready to go. They are discussing one trail to the Fort Belmont site. The grant for Martin and Jackson Counties has 67 miles of the Union Pacific Railroad proposed for trails. From Jackson to Sherburn, there would be 12 miles of trails. The group is working with Alpha now. The Canadian Railroad lines are still active from Sherburn to Welcome and Fairmont. The group has plans for a survey for Sherburn residents.
There is a bus ride to each community on Sept. 29 and a meeting on Sept. 30 at the Sinn Family Celebration of Life Center in Sherburn. The activities the trails may encourage could be walking, bike riding, horse riding, snowmobile riding, and cross country skiing to name a few.
There will be site visits this fall with a possibility of the City Park as a trailhead for Sherburn. There is a possibility for some cooperation with the Economic Development Authority from Martin County. Since the city does not have an engineer, Bolton and Menk may be used as the engineering resource. Ewald reiterated that there would be no eminent domain or taking away farmland and the county would be the sponsor. This should not raise taxes and would use active transportation infrastructure. The survey and information should be available with the city website.
Moving to other matters, Bolton and Menk was requested to make a report about the theater and community building, city hall and the liquor store. The council discussed the reports for all three and requested that the clerk put the information on the city website since the residents would surely like to know the information given. City hall will have copies available.
Some of the reports showed concern about codes, elevator issues, rest room and sidewalk water issues and fire alarms for some of the issues at the theater and community building. The cost for all the repairs to the three sites would be $100,000 or so. The council will look into those sites and the possible repairs.
The theater does have a $10,200 server installed and the council hopes the movies will be shown soon. The council asked about a report about attendance. The matter of a contract with the managers and a possibility of a city-owned theater is still in the air.
There were several items mentioned about city hall and the liquor store, too. Watch for information on the website and at city hall.
The clerk’s report included her search for Christmas decorations and a request by the Regional Worship Center for a building permit to make a house for their pastor on their grounds. The council will discuss the water connections and electricity.
Deputy Clerk Sean Devens is working on things to replace at the fire station. There is a 2078 pickup and 2000 John Deere mower but the most important is the ambulance.
A council member said that the police commission meeting in late August brought up the deputies helping while the Sherburn-Welcome does not have three officers yet. The fact that some of the Sherburn-Welcome officers have helped the sheriff’s department was mentioned.
In other business:
-- The council approved access to the Temperance Lake Ridge account.
-- The council approved of the Economic Development Authority proceeding with an application for a League of Minnesota Cities Navigator program.
-- The city shop needs a new address since the entrance will be changed to eliminate blocking entrance and less traffic. The council approved of the new address, 380 Front Street.
-- The sewer lining project for main street was discussed and the council tabled a decision until the next meeting.
-- Public Works has two quotes for a new work truck and either one was approved by the public works employees. One quote of $47,500 was for a GM 2026 model and one quote was for $54,600 for a 2026 500 tradesman model. The council approved the lower quote.
-- The council approved a permit for the Sherburn Fire Relief Association for a gambling permit for a Turkey Bingo they plan to hold on Nov. 6, 2026.
The Sherburn City Council will meet at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, at City Hall.