Residents of Minnetrista,

I have good news to share for those residents in our rural North-Western section of Minnetrista! At the February 7^th City Council meeting, we approved an agreement with Midcontinental Communications (Midco) to extend broadband services to nearly 500 residents that are currently considered unserved or underserved, having no high speed internet options. If you are interested in finding out if you are in the affected area, please call city hall and ask to speak with Allie Polsfuss or visit the city’s website page: www.cityofminnetrista.com/MidcoBroadbandExpansionProject

Lakeside Networks is a wireless internet provider that the Council offered a water tower lease agreement for installation of antennas on all city water towers in order to provide service to surrounding households. They are currently in the process of installing equipment on the Sunnyfield Road water tower. This offers an additional option to those in the surrounding area. In the future, we are hopeful Lakeside Networks will install equipment on all city water towers, so more residents have additional options for internet services.  

Since November of last year, the Council has been working with an executive search firm to recruit a City Administrator. There were many very impressive and qualified candidates. After a thorough process and numerous interviews, the Council offered the position to Jasper Kruggel. Most recently, he has been the administrator in the City of Le Sueur, MN for four years. His first day of employment will be Monday, April 11^th.

The other ongoing topic is the city’s water infrastructure. In late November 2021, the City Council approved a contract to drill two test wells. A test well was drilled on City Hall property but did not yield the capacity necessary for the City’s water supply.  Then in December 2021, Council authorized the preparation of a quote package for a test well on a city owned property southeast of Westonka Regional Athletics site. Upon investigation, the test wells were not pursued given the depth of the aquifer in this area. On February 9, 2022, City Staff and I met with DNR representatives to discuss options for Minnetrista’s next test well, and the city is moving forward with two test wells in a different location that we believe will produce the water capacity necessary. Once the wells have been sited, the Council can begin to plan for the third water treatment plant.

In December 2021, the city also started a Water Conservation and Education Campaign in order to educate the public on the city’s water infrastructure and encourage water conservation.  Every household on city water has been receiving this information on a

monthly basis and will continue to receive mailings until April 2022. The Council will also be holding an open house sometime in late April or early May for residents to attend to ask questions and discuss topics related to city water and infrastructure.

The spring newsletter will be coming out soon, and there will be more detailed information on all the topics I’ve touched on here and more!

Your Mayor,