Small City, GIANT Living

City Council

The Blue Earth City Council consists of a mayor and six council members. Both the mayor and council members are elected to four-year terms. Blue Earth is divided into three wards. All elective offices shall be at-large elective offices. The mayor and council members can be contacted by calling City Hall at 507.526.7336.

Richard Scholtes

Mayor

Current Term: 3rd
Year Elected: 2012
Current Term Expires: January 6, 2025
Contact Information:  rscholtes@bevcomm.com 

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Joint Planning Board/Blue Earth & Jo Daviess Townships, Charter Commission, Economic Development Authority (Liaison), Joint Animal Powers Subcommittee, Administrative Penalty Review Board

Michael McNerney

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 1st
Year Elected: 2022
Current Term Expires: January 6, 2025
Contact Information:  m.mcnerney@becity.org 

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Street Improvement Committee, Personnel Committee

Jacque Drew

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 1st
Year Elected: 2022
Current Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Contact Information:  j.drew@becity.org

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Airport Advisory Commission, Library Board

Dan Ristau

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 2nd
Year Elected: 2022 (Appointed 2021)
Current Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Contact Information:  dan.ristau1@gmail.com

Boards, Commissions, & Committees:  EDA Board member,  Parks & Recreation Subcommittee, School/City Facility Joint Powers

 

John Huisman

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 5th
Year Elected: 2007
Current Term Expires: January 6, 2025
Contact Information:  jjq@bevcomm.net

Boards, Commissions, & Committees:   Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV), Joint Fire Service Advisory Board, Street Improvement Committee, Board of Public Works, School/City Facility Joint Powers

Stephanie Walter

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 1st
Year Elected: 2022
Current Term Expires: January 6, 2025
Contact Information:
s.walter@becity.org

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Senior Center Board, Faribault County Fitness Center Board, Board of Public Works

Ann Hanna

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 2nd
Year Elected: 2022 (Appointed 2020)
Current Term Expires: Jan. 4, 2027
Contact Information:  
annhanna123@gmail.com

Boards, Commissions & Committees:
Blue Earth Airport Advisory Commission, School/City Facility Joint Powers

 

Cass Davis

Honorary City Council Member

Current term January 2023 – May 2023

Contact Information: c.davis@becity.org

Honorary City Council Member Information

 

 

2023 City Council Meeting Schedule

Unless otherwise announced, all city council meetings take place at Blue Earth City Hall, located at 125 W 6th St. Meetings are called to order at 5:00 P.M. and adjourn when the agenda has been completed. The 2023 meeting schedule is as follows:

Work Session Agenda Regular Council Agenda Financials Minutes
  1-3-23 Council Meeting 2023 January Financial Reports 1-3-23 Council Meeting Minutes
1-17-23 Work Session 1-17-23 Council Meeting   1-17-23 Council Meeting Minutes
2-6-23 Work Session 2-6-23 Council Meeting 2023 February Financial Reports 2-6-23 Council Meeting Minutes

2-21-23 Work Session

2-27-23 Special Council Meeting

2-21-23 City Council Meeting   2-21-23 Council Meeting Minutes

3-6-23 Work Session

  3-16-23 Special City Council Meeting

3-6-23 City Council Meeting 2023 March Financial Reports 3-6-23 Council Meeting Minutes
  3-20-23 City Council Meeting   3-20-23 Council Meeting Minutes
4-3-23 Council Worksession 4-3-23 City Council Meeting 2023 April Financial Reports 4-3-23 Council Meeting Minutes
  4-17-23 City Council Meeting   4-17-23 Council Meeting Minutes
5-1-23 Work Session 5-1-23 City Council Meeting 2023 May Financial Reports 5-1-23 Council Meeting Minutes
  5-15-23 City Council Meeting   5-15-23 Council Meeting Minutes
6-5-23 Council Worksession 6-5-23  Council Meeting 2023 June Financial Reports   6-5-23 Council Meeting Minutes
6-20-23  Council Worksession 6-20-23 Council Meeting   6-20-23 Council Meeting Minutes
7-3-23  Council Worksession 7-3-23 Council Meeting 2023 July Financial Reports 7-3-23 Council Meeting Minutes
7-17-23  Council Worksession 7-17-23 Council Meeting   7-17-23Council Meeting Minutes
8-7-23 Council Worksession 8-7-23 Council Meeting 2023 August Financial Reports 8-7-23 Council Meeting Minutes
8-21-23 Council Worksession 8-21-23 Council Meeting   8-21-23 Council Meeting Minutes
9-5-23 Council Worksession 9-5-23 Council Meeting 2023 September Financial Reports 9-5-23 Council Meeting Minutes
9-18-23 Council Worksession 9-18-23 Council Meeting   9-18-23 Council Meeting Minutes
10-2-23 Council Worksession 10-2-23 Council Meeting 2023 October Financial Reports 10-2-23 Council Meeting Minutes
10-16-23 Council Worksession 10-16-23 Council Meeting   10-16-23 Council Meeting Minutes
11-06-23 Council Worksession 11-06-23 Council Meeting 2023 November Financial Reports 11-06-23 Council Meeting Minutes
11-20-23 Council Worksession 11-20-23 Council Meeting   11-20-23 Council Meeting Minutes
12-04-23 Council Worksession

12-04-23 Council Meeting

 

2023 December Financial Reports

12-04-23 Council Meeting Minutes

 

12-18-23 Council Worksession 12-18-23 Council Meeting   12-18-23  Council Meeting Minutes

View older minutes in the archive.

Volunteer for City Boards & Commissions

Several opportunities arise every year for citizens to join different boards and commissions. Serving in these positions gives our residents a chance to participate in the management of the City. Boards and commissions serve to manage different sectors of municipal government and to make policy and budgetary recommendations to the City Council.

  • Airport Advisory Commission
  • Administrative Penalty Review Board
  • Board of Building Appeals
  • Board of Public Works
  • Board of Zoning Adjustments and Appeals
  • Charter Commission
  • Economic Development Authority
  • Faribault County Fitness Center Board
  • Housing and Redevelopment Authority
  • Joint Airport Zoning Board
  • Joint Fire Service Advisory Board
  • Joint Planning Board – Blue Earth City Township
  • Joint Planning Board – Jo Daviess Township
  • Library Board
  • Parks and Recreation Subcommittee
  • Planning Commission
  • Senior Center Board
  • Street Improvement Subcommittee

Local Sales & Use Tax

Residents and businesses may owe a local use tax on purchases made outside of Blue Earth city limits.  Local use tax applies when you buy items or services for use, storage, distribution or consumption in the local area without paying local sales tax to the seller.  Use tax is similar to the sales tax and the rates are identical.  It is based on your cost of taxable purchases.  Common examples of when use tax is due are when (1) you buy items outside the local area and the seller doesn’t charge local sales tax, and you use or store the item in the local area, or (2) you buy a taxable item from an out-of-state seller who does not charge local sales tax.  If you believe you may owe a local use tax, you may contact the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Division at 651-296-6181 or 800-657-3777 or go to www.revenue.state.mn.us for information and forms necessary for calculating and paying the tax.  The Department of Revenue provides a link to Fact Sheets 146, Use Tax for Businesses, and 156, Use Tax for Individuals, for more information about use taxes.

Certificate of Approval of Special Law by Governing Body and City of Blue Earth Resolution 19-07

2018 SALES TAX REFERENDUM

History
Sales Tax Legislation approved by the Legislature in 2019.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

Leland Parkway
           County State Aid Highway 16 reconstruction project.  

Wastewater Plant Reconstruction
           Completed 2019

SALES TAX EXPENDITURES

Projects Amount
Parks $    150,000
Other Street Reconstruction $ 4,700,000
Wastewater Plant Reconstruction $    150,000
Total $ 5,000,000


Projects will be completed to the extent that projects presented to the citizens were acted on.  Primary differences in what was envisioned at the time the Sales Tax was enacted include a decision the Council made with a focus on street reconstruction.  This in turn frees up more general fund revenue for Parks and Recreation. 

Access to Government Data & Public Information

To look at data or request copies of data that the City of Blue Earth keeps, please make a written  request to the City Administrator. You may make your written request for data by mail or email, but you must use the Data Request Form provided by the City of Blue Earth.