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Third generation resident of Taylors Falls, John Tangen, was honored with the annual Stewardship Award at Monday’s Taylors Falls City Council meeting.  The honoree also is automatically the Wannigan Days Grand Marshal.

Mayor Mike Buchite remarked, “It is a real honor to give this to you,” as Tangen accepted the plaque and certificate.  Buchite spoke of how Tangen has done so many things behind the scenes, like placing flags on mainstreet on Memorial Day, serving on the cemetery board, being involved in local committees and tackling innumerable extra-curricular council duties to make projects happen. Tangen is retired from 28 years with the Chisago County sheriff’s communications and dispatch.

Council member Troy Aanonsen, Tangen’s neighbor in the historic Angel Hill District, said Tangen  shows consideration and respects the folks in the neighborhood and is a good choice.

Mayor Buchite’s “recommendation” for Stewardship Award was approved 4-0 with Council member Ross Rivard absent.  

Tangen chose not to file for re-election this past November after having served on council since being appointed in 1999.

Tangen said he’d accept on one condition— that Lynn Longnecker, last summer’s grand marshal-designate would be allowed to ride in this summer’s parade with him.  Longnecker missed out when covid-19 disrupted everyone’s lives in summer 2020 and Wannigan Days was called-off.

In the other major agenda item, council authorized the expense of about $60,000 to acquire a Ford 350 Super Duty 4WD rescue truck and have it customized (paint, decals) by Palmdale Fabrication for approximately $19,000.  The 2021 vehicle is from Anderson & Koch in North Branch and is $38,742, which according to the fire department truck committee report to council is a terrific deal.  Delivery will take four to six months.

The department can shift some retirement account funds into the acquisition and cover costs with cash. Taylors Falls firefighters joined the state benefits PERA system and financial goals and milestones are being met there.
 
Council fire liaison Mary Jo Murphy commented this truck has been on the needs list for a while, and will serve much more efficiently and reliably than using one of the department’s big rigs to respond to rescue calls.

The next purchase will be air packs, which will be obsolete come late this year. They can only be filled, and re-filled over so many years.  These could run $135,000.

Mayor Buchite also applauded county HRA/EDA Director Nancy Hoffman for her fine work distributing covid-19 business relief.  The businesses in the city got $60,000 in $5,000 grants.  “It was a very good program,” the mayor concluded.

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