Verndale City Council

The Questions Remains: Who is Responsible to Pay?

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale City Council held their regular meeting on Monday, January 12. Safe Routes to School Payment Darrin Fellbaum, with Moore Engineering, presented pay application five for the Safe Routes to School project, which included $11,485.50 for the final speed feedback sign. A dispute arose between Moore Engineering and Ideal Construction (Jeff Kobliska) over final payment amounts: while Moore recommended specific payments based

2 days ago2 min read

Council Settles Sidewalk Overrun, Sheriff's Contract Moves Forward

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale City Council held their regular meeting on Monday, December 8. Sidewalk Cost Overage Settled Moore Engineering provided an update on the Safe Routes to School sidewalk project. John Pauna of Moore Engineering explained that the project had exceeded its original budget of $436,237.79, reaching a final recommended total of $499,675.85. The overage ($63,438) was due to various field adjustments and additional work, includ

Dec 16, 20251 min read

Verndale Police Department is Dissolved

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale City Council held their regular meeting on Monday, November 10. Police Department Dissolved The Verndale City Council discussed the future of the Verndale Police Department. Sheriff Mike Carr Jr. explained if the city approved the change, to contract with the sheriff’s department for services, the proposal would move to the county board for final approval. The targeted date for the transition was January 1, giving both

Nov 18, 20251 min read

Council Awaits "Strong Offer" for Safe Routes to School Budget Overrun

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, September 17, to discuss issues related to the budget overages from the Safe Routes to School project. The council noted that the initial agreement emphasized the importance of adhering to a strict budget, and representatives from Moore Engineering had assured them that costs would not exceed this limit. However, after the sidewalks were installed, it became apparent tha

Oct 28, 20251 min read

The Ox Cart Wins the Vote

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale City Council held their regular meeting on October13. Public Works Public Works Supervisor Matt Uselman reported on the need to replace a malfunctioning crosswalk flasher on the west side of town. After consulting with MnDOT, he learned that the city is responsible for the flasher’s maintenance and replacement. A new solar-powered flasher costs $2,629. The council discussed whether to replace one or both flashers, ultima

Oct 21, 20252 min read

Residents Split on Local Police vs Sheriff Coverage

by Trinity Gruenberg trinity@inhnews.com The Verndale City Council held a public hearing to discuss the future of the local police department, considering whether to maintain the department or contract services with the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). The city was presented with three options: continue with a part-time city police force, contract for 30 hours of service per week with the county or rely solely on the county for emergency response. The public indicate

Oct 21, 20251 min read