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NEW ULM -- The New Ulm City Council will formally accept the resignation of Mayor Robert Beussman and begin the process of selecting and appointing a person to fill the vacant position mayor position, Tuesday.
Beussman formally resigned as New Ulm's mayor on Thursday, April 15. In a letter to New Ulm citizens, Beussman said one of the reasons for his resignation was medical issues, but it was also prompted by a letter signed by all the city councilors requesting his resignation or the council would take action at the next council meeting. The council believed Beussman's ability to perform his duties as mayor was significantly compromised. The council's decision to request Beussman's resignation was not made in a formal meeting.
With the resignation of Beussman the council is expected to appoint Council President Andrea Boettger as acting mayor effective April 21 until the council appoints a successor.
The council will also declare a vacancy in the office of the mayor before announcing the start of the selection process to appoint the new mayor.
The newly appointed mayor will serve out the remaining time on Beussman's term, ending December 31, 2022.
The application process to be considered for the mayor position will open Wednesday, April 21. The deadline for applying closes at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 9.
Council will interview all candidates for the position 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 18. A regular city council meeting will follow the candidates’ interviews and the council could choose to appoint a candidate at that time.
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The city council will consider temporarily closing the alley next to the B & L Bar on the first and third full weekend of each month beginning Friday, May 7, from 4 p.m. to 12 p.m. This temporary closure would be in place until Gov. Tim Walz lifts the capacity restriction on bars.
This temporary alley closure was discussed during the April 6 council meeting but was tabled to fine-tune the request to work for all the businesses. The concern is this alley is used by other businesses that may need access on those weekends.
The previous request asked for the temporary closure of the alley from April 16 through November 30 beginning from 8 a.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Sunday.
The council has granted temporary closure requests for this alley for certain weekends. This is the first request to close the alley for several weekends.
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The rental fee for the use of the new gymnastics center being constructed at the Recreation Center will be determined by the council. A lease agreement with the city and Turner Gymnastics Academy has been discussed and planned since before the approval of the Reinvest in New Ulm (RENU) referendum in November 2016.
The last part of the agreement is determining the monthly fee for rental. The Park and Recreation Commission recommended approving the agreement with a $4,000 monthly rental fee.
The preliminary estimate of the cost to operate the gymnastic center is $5,000 a month. No other user group of city park and recreation facilities pays 100% of city costs. All other youth user groups are partially subsidized by the city.
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The council will conduct the first consideration of an amendment to city code to cover micromobility sharing operations. This amendment would set the parameters of having micromobility operators in town, as well as set rules and guidelines for the users.
In this ordinance amendment, a micromobility vehicle is defined as bicycles, electric-assisted bicycles, motorized foot scooters and any other transportation device identified as a micromobility vehicle as decided by the city council.
A micromobility sharing operation is defined as any rental or lending service that allows riders to temporarily used these vehicles in exchange for a fee or encourages the use of these vehicles from a city-maintained right-of-way or other city property.
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Several requests from the Hermann Monument Society will be considered in preparation for holding HermannFest 2021. The requests include temporary closure of Center Street between Garden and Highland during the festival to accommodate fireworks and a city code exception to allow the discharge of cannons.
The festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 11.
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The council will hold a work session following the regular meeting. No formal action will be taken during the work session, but the councilors will receive an overview of Garden Terrace; discuss the relocation of the New Ulm Welcome sing at Highway 14 and County Road 37; discuss New Ulm Airport moving flight path and discuss alternate options for building repair at 307 N. Minnesota St.