Nate Stevermer

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye Councilor At Large Nate Stevermer said the Sleepy Eye EDA (Economic Development Authority) has programs that are available to potential and current businesses to help them get setup and running, or to improve their existing operations.

“We have also used various tax options like abatement and TIF in the past to help our business community. Sleepy Eye also has low taxes and utility fees for a town of our size,” he said.

Stevermer said housing, day care and worker shortages are inter-related issues.

“If you fix the first two, you will potentially fix the third. To do that, the city has partnered with Alliance Building Corp. to build a 44-unit apartment complex,” he said.

“For day care, the EDA has worked closely with the Little Sprouts Learning Center to get them up and running and that has been a benefit to the city. We have also expanded the EDA programs so the home daycares can access them to make improvements to their homes to better serve or expand their service,” Stevermer said. “Those two things along with low taxes, utilities and an expanding business community will hopefully attract potential workers to come to Sleepy Eye.”

Stevermer said the new apartment complex being built is a major project that the city has been involved with.

“There is a possibility that they will expand it even further. I do not feel that the city should be directly involved in running a daycare but if existing ones, either a center or a home daycare, want to expand, the city, via the EDA, needs to be available to help with that,” he added.

Stevermer said budgeting is one of the biggest challenges facing all cities.

“How need to manage their budget. With record inflation, household budgets are tight. We need to be able to provide the services citizens expect without burdening them with high taxes,” he said. “We have been able to do that so far and will continue to do that going forward.”

Stevermer wants to continue serving on the city council.

“I have served on the city council for the last 12 years. It is important for the City Council to work together to make Sleepy Eye a better place for everyone,” he said. “I wish to continue to serve on the council so I can take an active role in continuing the growth and development of the city.

“We have made great strides in the last few years attracting new people and businesses to our town, and I want to continue to be involved with that. I have lived in Sleepy Eye my whole life. It is a wonderful place to live and raise a family and I want to be a part of making it even better.”