---

Shafer City council met May 19 for a regular meeting.  Mayor Paula Hanson was absent.

The council held a public hearing for a liquor license application from Deanna and William Pederson of Lindstrom.  The Pedersons have purchased the Shafer Saloon and are in the process of remodeling the restaurant.  Clerk Valerie Fox read a letter submitted to the council regarding the bar opening.  Kyle Johnson submitted a letter that stated he would like to see the bands or outdoor music end at 10pm as a courtesy to the surrounding neighbors.  He did endorse the Pedersons and wished them well in their endeavor.  

Pederson then spoke to the council after the public hearing giving them a bit of background.  Pederson said she and her husband are taking a leap of faith and giving the bar/restaurant industry a go.  Pederson pointed out the Saloon will go back to using  Shafer Fire Relief for its charitable gambling.  Pederson said the plan is to open at the beginning of June with breakfast being served on the weekends.

Council member Patty Mattson made a motion to accept the liquor license application that passed unanimously.

City engineer Jake Guzik then discussed the water system levels of manganese.  Guzik told council wells one and two are above the health-based values recommended for manganese.  The state has notified the city and recommends the city take action to reduce exposure and lower content below the Health Based Value of 100ug/l in the drinking supply.

Shafer’s levels have elevated the city rank on the 2026 Minnesota Drinking Water Revolving Fund priority list.  

Currently Shafer sits at 364th in the state in manganese concern.  

Brian Hines who works with Guzik spoke to the council.  He told the council there was potential grant funding through the state for up to half the cost of a water treatment facility.  Hines and Guzik both agreed with the state’s estimate that a plant to remedy the manganese issue would run around $4.3 million.  The city would need to apply for an intended use application within the next six months.  The cost for the city to apply would only be a few engineer hours.  The city, if accepted, still would not be required to build a plant, but it would keep from getting bumped back another year and the funding is only guaranteed for this year.  

Council   agreed to proceed with the application for intended use grants. Guzik at the request of council member Marilyn Anderson told the council he could present them with a cost analysis of a plant in the near future.

In the public works report, maintenance supervisor Brad Swenson told council Visu Inc.  will begin televising the remaining water and sewer lines on June 3.

Swenson said he would like to try and save the city some money and use his crew to patch the potholes in Buffalo Ridge.  The city recently purchased a “hot box” trailer that keeps asphalt warm until applied.  Swenson said they will begin on 310th Street and Regal and work in sections.  

City clerk Fox told council she will be assisting public works with the shut off of 30 homes in Shafer due to delinquent water bills. 

---