Eden Valley appoves 2025 levy, cannabis business ordinances

At its Dec. 4 regular meeting, the Eden Valley city council unanimously approved the 2025 levy, a total of $620,000 which represents a relatively low 3.3% increase over 2024. They also approved the 2025 budget. 

It should be noted that in November, the city of Eden Valley was designated one of the best-managed cities under 10K population, in Business View Magazine.

“Eden Valley may be a small town, but its ambitions are anything but modest. Focusing on infrastructure, housing, business growth, and community engagement, the town’s leadership ensures that Eden Valley remains where people want to live, work, and invest. 

“As Mayor Bengtson puts it, ‘This community is forward thinking. Any challenges we face are opportunities to make something great. I’ve lived here for 17 years and am proud of our accomplishments. Eden Valley’s best days are still ahead.’”

The council approved two ordinances related to allowing cannabis businesses in town, and regulating their licensing. The bottom line is that two such businesses will be allowed, and they must be at least 175 feet distant from each other.

Police Chief Evan Borscheid reported issuing a ticket for a school bus stop-arm violation. EV-W’s school buses are now installed with cameras that capture high-quality images of an offending vehicle, the license plate, and the driver. So police need not be present to catch offenders; Borscheid says they all will be ticketed. He added that the offense becomes a gross misdemeanor if a child is present outside the bus. Some council members expressed their wishes that punishment be greater than a mere ticket. Their concern is that one of these times, a child could be seriously harmed by someone trying to shave a few seconds off their commute.

At their Nov. 20 meeting and workshop, the council promoted Brandon Stenger to Public Works Director, retroactive to Nov. 25. At the same time, Mark Berg was returned to Maintenance Worker 2, effective the same date.

A blighted and dangerous property has had no work done on it as of the Nov. 20 meeting, as the owner Dale Schwanke had promised the council at their Sept. 4 meeting. So the council unanimously moved to have the city attorney move forward with court proceedings. 

The council approved, by a 3-2 vote, updating the city’s ordinance to allow chickens within city limits; and they voted 4-1 to update the city ordinance to allow beekeeping within city limits. Both must be registered with the city, for a fee of $100 every two years. 

Dec. 4 was Pat Becker’s last meeting as a councilperson. Brian Schueller will take the oath of office as a new councilperson, and Brent Bengtson and Troy Huschle will renew their oath of office at the January meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Eden Valley city council will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8. Meetings are live-streamed on the city’s web site, and previous meetings may be viewed there as well.