Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, September 24, 2026. Reprinted with permission and gratitude.
By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy
Spring Valley’s city council was set to certify the 2027 preliminary property tax levy during its Sept. 14 regular meeting. The Mower County In dependent was unable to attend due to it being Grand Meadow’s council meeting night at the same hour, but the Independent will return to Spring Val ley’s October meeting to offer news representation.
The levy is certified now and collectable in 2027, and the city is required to submit a preliminary levy and budget to the state by the end of September and a final budget and levy by the close of December. Prior to certifying the budget and levy, the council was to review them to share any questions or concerns they might have about the numbers within the documents.
In other business, the council was to pay for its share of the downtown improvement project that has upgraded streets and sidewalks – the rest was paid for by a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) Active Transportation grant, and none of the funds were from local taxpayers. Furthermore, the agenda included passing a resolution imposing a lien on a property for non-payment of utility services, reading through an estimate to re place the lighting in the ambulance station with LED fixtures, transferring unused emergency management operating budget funding to the city’s capital fund for a future radio purchase.
Ambulance news involved hiring a third ambulance co-director, as the city lost a dedicated servant in Mike Zimmer upon his passing in August. Also, the city was to hire two new emergency medical technicians (EMT) and consider paying for three students in the current EMT training class.
The consent agenda included approving the minutes of the July 13 and Aug. 31 city council meetings, the September preliminary and August final accounts payable, allowing Wednesdays on Broad way to use city streets for its upcoming market, and granting Fins and Films a raffle permit.
Spring Valley’s city council convenes on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the former Carnegie Library on Broadway, the town’s city hall. The public is welcome to attend. For more information, log onto the city website at www.spring valley-mn.com, or call 507-346-7367.
Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325
