Taylors Falls City Council paves way for wine tasting event and annual deer hunt

Bright blue ballot machines and polling/registration stations were already set-up in the council chambers, as the Taylors Falls council held its regular session Monday night this week the day before the primary election. Not missing a beat; council breezed through its agenda in the reconfigured space. The Taylors Falls Historical Society, partnering with the T.F. Lions and Wild Mountain Winery, asked to use the depot/community center for a wine tasting fundraiser. They got unanimous approval, with Council member Larry Julik-Heine absent and John Tangen abstaining. The event will require a peace officer/deputy, as all uses involving alcohol and city property are required to include security. The wine tasting event is September 22. Watch for more details. Council okayed a request for Bill Neska and Mike Kriz from public works to attend a required for-credit training at the North Branch wastewater plant.

The class is free. And, yes, it’s almost that time of year... the city deer hunt was approved unanimously for Sept. 15 to December 31. The city hall issues an unlimited number of permits for this annual bow hunting to manage the herd in the city. Property owners must grant permission for hunting on their land and city hall has permission slips you need to have signed. Also, even if you are taking deer off your own property, the city needs to give you a permit to track the deer population. The limit is five deer per hunter. Permits are $5. The school district’s parcel west of town, The Bryant Environmental Lab, is excluded and no hunting is allowed on this site.

If you wish to hunt on Heritage Park (overlook) or Lions Park you need permission from the public works superintendent. Kahbakong Cemetery is also an approved hunting area but, again, contact city hall for information on how to hunt this land. This is for hunters 18 years old and older, and those with “sharpshooter qualification” and holding archery deer licenses. In 2008 there were a record number of permits issued--27. The last few years about 11-13 permits annually are processed. The city hunt has been going for eight years, without any major incident, Council member Tangen added. The peddler ordinance and fee schedule were revised to allow specifically for produce or “farmers market” sales in town. Sellers must have the “Minnesota Grown” authority and logo. The seasonal produce authorization will be limited to four sellers but may be revisited. Council accepted a donation from recent bingo proceeds, from TF Parks & Recreation Friends, in the amount of $852. Cherry Hill Park is designated to benefit from this fund.

The city has been allowed to use an island in the highway right-of-way, at #95 and #8 for placing a mobile, removable letter sign; but council is hearing complaints and MnDOT may take away the privilege. Council member Ross Rivard said the sign is being put up way too early and taken away long after an event. He agreed there also needs to be a policy on which events are allowed to be advertised. Council agreed and Mayor Mike Buchite said staff was asking for direction as the signage use is “getting a little out of hand.” Council agreed that only events IN the city will be promoted, and sign use is limited to city organizations, the Lions, the chamber and the fire department for example. The sign unit will be placed a maximum of three days prior to an event and must be gone and stored away back at the maintenance shop “first thing” the day after an event concludes. A special deal Council also proclaimed August 27 to be known as “Margaret Haugo Peterson Recognition Day.” The honoree moved into Taylors Falls in 1943 with husband Ruben Redland. They had five children. Margaret and her second husband Kermit Peterson remained in Taylors Falls where the kids graduated from what was then a 12- grade Taylors Falls School. Margaret celebrates her 101st birthday August 27.

She was born in Shelley, MN and lived for years at an orphanage after her mom died when Margaret was just 5 years old. The proclamation states she has been a respected and beloved citizen tknown for her spirit and wit.