City of Hartley to get Facebook page

The City of Hartley is getting social.

The council on Monday gave office staff members the go-ahead to create and maintain a city Facebook page. The move came after recent flooding, which put city officials in a bind when trying to share information about the sewer system and other emergency protocol.

"There were legitimate reasons we didn't have one, but it's time to rethink it," said City Administrator Roxann Swanson. "We just need to be able to send a message."

According to Swanson, the city has never created a Facebook page because it didn't want to utilize it as official median of publication. Swanson explained the city already has City Hall, its website and the Sentinel-News as its official publication medians.

"There are a lot official rules and we'd have to maintain it as such for official business," Swanson said. "We have enough to maintain."

However, government entities can utilize social media platforms as non-official publication medians to share messages, send reminders and post other information aside from official notices like meeting minutes and public hearings.

During the flood, Swanson had to text Facebook page administrators at the newspaper, Chamber, fire department, ambulance and others to post information the city was trying to share.

"If we had our own page, we could just share it ourselves," she said.

City council members were all in agreement it was time for the city to join Facebook.

"Facebook I think is the best way to hit the whole age range of residents," said Council Member Matt Dolphin.

• Fanning Field concession stand

The council gave approval to the park board to seek bids for upgrades at the Fanning Field concession stand, which was unable to open this year due to food safety requirements from the department of public health.

Swanson explained the concession stand needs running water and a hand washing sink, plastic board on the walls, and rubber baseboard before it can open. Bids will be sought from plumbers and carpenters.

In the meantime, the concession stand can sell sealed, packaged food.

• Old school becoming eyesore

The former Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School was a brief topic of discussion, as weeds have overtaken the pea gravel in the old playground area.

Darla Meyer, who lives near the property, asked if anything could be done about the overgrowth before Summer Celebration. Swanson said the city is constantly contacting the building's owner, Michael Reese, to no avail.

"It's always, 'We'll be there tomorrow,' " she said.

According to discussion, Reese has had the property mowed once this year; the city has done it every other time. The city has also attempted to mitigate exorbitant weed growth with herbicide.

Additionally, Police Chief Joe Hengeveld said local kids have been entering the building via broken windows in the courtyard.

"They've been in there multiple times," he said, also noting interior vandalism.

Reese in the last two years has claimed that big plans are in the works to renovate the building, but no progress has ever occurred. He bought it from the H-M-S Community School District in December of 2021.

No action was taken on the matter.

• Other business

The council agreed to contribute $15,000 to the ambulance team for a physio heart monitor. According to Meyer, who serves on the squad, the cost will run between $40,000-$50,000.

"We're kind of staying with what we can afford," she said. "They're just really expensive."

The ambulance team has received grants and donations to help pay for the rest. The council unanimously approved the $15,000 request.

"My opinion is if it's me that needs it, I want one that works," said Council Member Nick Galm.

Additionally, the council agreed to honor season passes from the Spencer Aquatic Center at the Hartley pool for the remainder of the summer. The Spencer facility was will not open again this year due to flood damage.

"It's a nice thing we can do as a community," said Council Member Mary Westphalen.

Finally, the council approved a bid from Site Services, of Algona, for $3,588 to remove asbestos from the former Real Reflections building located at 176 S Central Ave. The building will eventually be demolished.

Issues with the building's north wall were discovered last fall when the city removed the former Create-A-Craft building next door. Moisture had penetrated between both structures and went unnoticed for decades, leading to decay of the salon's wall. The issue forced owner Tricia Elgersma to move her operations across the street to Salon West shortly after Create-A-Craft was torn down.

The Hartley Economic Development Corporation bought Elgersma's building for $20,000 and passed the deed over to the city at no cost. Elgersma later bought the Salon West building from Teri Fredricks and Lanette Pearson, and is now operating her business out of that location fulltime.