Small City, GIANT Living
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: 2nd
Year Elected: 2012
Current Term Expires: January 4, 2021
Contact Information:  (507) 526-7336 or 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

Dan Warner

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 2nd
Year Elected: 2016
Current Term Expires: January 4, 2021
Contact Information:  danwarner@bevcomm.net

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Board of Public Works (Liaison), Airport Advisory Commission

Wendy Cole

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 2nd
Year Elected: 2016
Current Term Expires: January 3, 2023
Contact Information: (507) 525-2003

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Library Board (Liaison)

Glenn Gaylord

Vice Mayor

Current Term: 5th
Year Elected: 2000
Current Term Expires: January 4, 2021
Contact Information:  (507) 526-5477

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Charter Commission, Blue Earth Airport Advisory Commission (Liaison), Parks and Recreation Subcommittee, Board of Building Appeals

John Huisman

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 4th
Year Elected: 2007
Current Term Expires: January 4, 2021
Contact Information: (507) 525-6426 or jjq@bevcomm.net

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: EDA Board (Liaison), Joint City/School Recreation Subcommittee

Marty Cassem

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 7th
Year Elected: 2014
Current Term Expires: January 3, 2023
Contact Information: mcassem@bevcomm.net   

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Senior Center Board (Liaison), Street Improvement Subcommittee

Russ Erichsrud

Ward: At-large elective office

Current Term: 3rd
Year Elected: 2010
Current Term Expires: January 3, 2023
Contact Information:  (507) 526-2394

Boards, Commissions, & Committees: Faribault County Fitness Center Board (Liaison), Joint Fire Service Advisory Board, Zoning Subcommittee

2020 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 2020 meeting schedule is as follows:

Work Session Agenda Regular Council Agenda Financials Minutes
1-6-20 Work Session 1-6-20 Council Meeting   1-6-20 Council Meeting Minutes
1-21-20 Work Session 1-21-20 Council Meeting 2019 December Financial Reports 1-21-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  1-30-20 Special Council Meeting   1-30-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
2-3-20 Work Session
Cancelled		 2-3-20 Council Meeting   2-3-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  2-6-20 Special Council Meeting    
2-18-20 Work Session 2-18-20 Council Meeting 2020 January Financial Reports 2-18-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  2-25-20 Special Council Meeting   2-25-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
3-2-20 Work Session 3-2-20 Council Meeting   3-2-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  3-5-20 Special Council Meeting   3-5-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
3-16-20 Work Session 3-16-20 Council Meeting 2020 February Financial Reports 3-16-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  3-17-20 Special Council Meeting   3-17-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
  3-23-20 Special Council Meeting   3-23-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
  3-30-20 Special Council Meeting   3-30-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
4-6-20 Work Session 4-6-20 Council Meeting   4-6-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  4-13-20 Special Council Meeting   4-13-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
4-20-20 Work Session 4-20-20 Council Meeting 2020 March Financial Reports 4-20-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  4-27-20 Special Council Meeting   4-27-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
  5-4-20 Council Meeting   5-4-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  5-11-20 Council Meeting   5-11-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
  5-18-20 Council Meeting 2020 April Financial Reports 5-18-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  5-26-20 Special Council Meeting   5-26-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
  6-1-20 Council Meeting   6-1-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  6-10-20 Special Council Meeting   6-10-20 Special Council Meeting Minutes
6-15-20 Work Session 6-15-20 Council Meeting 2020 May Financial Reports 6-15-20 Council Meeting Minutes
7-6-20 Work Session 7-6-20 Council Meeting   7-6-20 Council Meeting Minutes
  7-20-20 Council Meeting 2020 June Financial Reports 7-20-20 Council Meeting Minutes
8-3-20 Work Session 8-3-20 Council Meeting   8-3-20 Council Meeting Minutes
8-17-20 Work Session 8-17-20 Council Meeting 2020 July Financial Reports 8-17-20 Council Meeting Minutes
9-8-20 Work Session 9-8-20 Council Meeting   9-8-20 Council Meeting Minutes
9-21-20 Work Session 9-21-20 Council Meeting 2020 August Financial Reports 9-21-20 Council Meeting Minutes
10-5-20 Work Session 10-5-20 Council Meeting   10-5-20 Council Meeting Minutes
10-19-20 Work Session 10-19-20 Council Meeting 2020 September Financial Reports 10-19-20 Council Meeting Minutes
11-2-20 Work Session 11-2-20 Council Meeting   11-2-20 Council Meeting Minutes
11-16-20 Work Session 11-16-20 Council Meeting 2020 October Financial Reports 11-16-20 Council Meeting Minutes
12-7-20 Work Session 12-7-20 Council Meeting   12-7-20 Council Meeting Minutes
12-21-20 Work Session 12-21-20 Council Meeting 2020 November Financial Reports 12-21-20 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.  Scheduled for 2020

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. 

Budget Summary

2019 Final Blue Earth Budget

City of Blue Earth Financial Statements and Supplementary Information

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 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.