Noon Rotarian's were checked in by Dave J as we arrived for our last meeting of April 2025. President Katie graveled us to order. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Four Way Test. Tim H provided the invocation and in addition to blessings on all assembled and the food he partitioned the Almighty to make America great again. Dean M introduced two students from Hillcrest. Both are seniors and involved in a host of activities. Kaya Miller is from Fergus Falls and has not settled on what to pursue next year, current thinking is to take a gap year. Trevor Mortenson is from Ottawa IL and next year plans on attending Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA to prepare for seminary. Exchange Student Candi revealed she found Las Vegas amazing. President Katie congratulated Pete W. on his 26th anniversary of becoming a Rotarian. She also reminded us of the Rotary Recital in Fargo May 1 and that Rotary ribs must be ordered by May 26-both support Polio Plus. Brags and Fines: Tim H provided some detail of the removal and replacement of a lower cuspid or premolar. Mary P told of the heightened level of drama her daughter and five children are enduring since a batch of pups joined the household. Buzz L informed us he and Ann just celebrated 64 years of wedded bliss. Keith O thanked Dean M electronically from the shore of some lake for hosting the student guests today. He had been assigned the responsibility. Last, Brian T commented on how nice Candi looked at the prom. Jamie L arranged for mayor Anthony Hicks to report on his role in city government and the challenges facing the city. The mayor began with a brief resume. Anthony was born and raised in England. His education prepared him for a career in agriculture specializing in hog genetics. His craft took him around the world and in 1996 he joined Bell Farms in Richland County ND. From there he moved in 2008 to manage the Green Plains ethanol plant at Fergus Falls. Anthony was elected mayor of Fergus Falls in Nov 2024 and retired from Green Plains the following month. Anthony was quick to set forth the major challenge facing the city. It is one of maintaining infrastructure and providing services to the residents while managing costs. Each year the costs increase and to meet them the city has but two choices: increase the tax burden on residents or grow the tax base. The preference is to grow the tax base which generally comes from successful economic development. Our current divided council can't reach consensus on what economic development is or how to achieve it. He is attempting to lead them through a process to determine what we want to be and identify goals and prioritize therm. Then they must agree on how to accomplish the goals and get it done. Value must be added. A couple examples he cited: (1) the mill/hotel project which promises to turn an eyesore into a revenue producing business; and (2) Green Plains Energy which created 49 jobs and increased the value of corn from the suppliers by 10 to 15 cents per bushel.
City population has been stagnant and tax revenues have not changed much in the last several years. The split is 50% residential, 32% business and 18% non-residential, again unchanged except for slight decrease in business. Other opportunities for improvement mentioned included: (1) state grants- needed is a grant writer and the handling of grants more professionally once they are secured; (2) housing-work with HRA and others to bring more housing to the community; (3) restructure and reorganize- review city operations and staffing to insure we are doing the right things and doing them as efficiently as possible; and (4) data base- create a complete data base of utilities, road conditions etc. My sense is we were presented a wake-up call by our Mayor and that it needs to be taken seriously. |
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