City of Mankato Online Newsletter - February 2023

Government and Politics

February 2, 2023

From: City of Mankato

Help Plan Mankato's Future--Be Involved in Strategic Planning Efforts

The City of Mankato’s Strategic Planning process is underway, and you’re invited to provide feedback as the City’s 2024 to 2029 Strategic Plan is developed.

Save the dates for Community Focus Groups:

-Saturday, April 15

-Monday, April 17

-Saturday, April 22

Events are held at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza. Time and additional location details will be shared once determined.

For more information contact Edell Fiedler, Communications and Engagement Director, at 507-387-8692.

February is dedicated as Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, and celebrates and honors the achievements of all Black people throughout U.S. history.

Available online is a collection of learning opportunities and resources from the Library of Congress, National Archives, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institute and more.

City Offices Closed February 20 in Observance of Presidents' Day

City offices will be closed Monday, February 20, in observance of Presidents' Day.

City bus service and residential garbage and recycling pick-up will not be affected.

For more information contact staff at 311 or 507-387-8600.

Apply for Grant Opportunities

Community Grant Program

Apply for Mankato’s Community Grant Program, which includes the following categories:

-Community Performing Arts and Music--Enhance public performances in various genres of music and performing arts.

-Community Beautification and Public Art--To beautify and improve community and public spaces.

-Community Social Services--Provide social services that enhance quality of life and independence of service to recipients/clients.

Funding levels:

-Individual artist (eligible for no more than $2,500).

-Organizations with prior year operating income of less than $50,000 (eligible for no more than $2,500).

-Organizations with prior year operating income of $50,000 or more (eligible for no more than $5,000).

View eligibility requirements, dates and other helpful information.

For more information contact staff at 311 or 507-387-8600.

Community Block Grant

Apply for Mankato’s Community Development Block Grants by 4:30 p.m. Friday, February 10. Eligible applicants include social service providers that assist low to moderate income households with the following community needs:

-Homeless shelter bed expansion.

-Food support.

-Job training.

-Medical care/health services.

-Transportation.

-Aging in place/chore services.

-Landlord/tenant education and/or relationship building.

-Affordable childcare.

-Removal of cultural barriers.

Funded activities must provide a new or an expanded service level of an existing public service. Applications will be reviewed and selected based on a number of criteria, including, but not limited to:

-Benefiting those with low to moderate income.

-Amount of leveraged funds.

-Capability of organization to implement service.

-Compliance with federal regulation.

The minimum grant award is $3,000. Approximately $58,000 in funding is available and is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For more information contact staff at 311 or 507-387-8600.

Project Update: Tourtellotte Park and Pool

Work is underway on updating Tourtellotte Pool. Demolition crews have begun reconstruction on the inside of the Tourtellotte Pool pool house, which includes an accessibility ramp, new locker rooms, lifeguard locker room, updated flooring, a pool staff office and family restrooms and dressing rooms.

Other improvements planned are the construction of additional pickleball facilities, the installation of upgraded playground equipment, which will be developed with community input, and significant work to the pool area.

This project is a part of the City’s Community Investment Plan.

Work is estimated to be complete May 2024.

For more information contact staff at 311 or 507-387-8600.

Show Your 'Favorite in Mankato' for this Year's Photo Contest

Submit entries to the 2023 City of Mankato’s Photo Contest for a chance to be featured in the City’s printed calendar and other communication pieces. As part of this year’s theme, Favorite in Mankato!, you’re invited to submit photographs of your favorite scenery, event, park, trail, place to relax or any of your favorite spaces, places and things in Mankato.

How to enter:

Complete the contest entry form. (Entry is limited to 10 photos per photographer.)

Digital photos must be submitted in JPG/JPEG or PNG format and be at least 300 dpi.

Email submissions and entry form to [email protected] or mail to:

City of Mankato

Public Information Office

10 Civic Center Plaza

P.O. Box 3368

Mankato, MN 56002-3368

Photos must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 25.

Photos featuring people that can be recognized (ex: someone smiling at the camera or captured face first), require a photo release form by the person(s) in the image. City staff will send one directly to the photographer to be filled out when a photo of this type is submitted.

City staff also remind photographers to be aware of Mankato city limits when submitting entries because images must feature locations within these limits. Popular locations such as Red Jacket Valley Park and trestle bridge, Minneopa Falls and Lake Washington are outside city limits. View a City limit map to see Mankato’s city boundaries.

For more information about the content, including contest rules, photo evaluations and how to submit images, visit the City’s photo contest webpage.

For questions, contact staff at 311 or 507-387-8600.

Hands-on Training Improves Lifesaving Techniques

Recently, firefighters gathered for a day of training to practice a variety of search and rescue techniques.

Crews practiced:

-Searching for victims wearing masks to simulate in smoke-filled rooms where there was little or no visibility.

-Rooftop rescues with the ladder truck.

-Packaging patients in stokes baskets; a type of stretcher used in search and rescue operations to secure patients when there are obstacles or hazards when moving them.

-“Bailing out” or removing unconscious, injured or hurt victims or firefighters from second story windows.

-Becoming familiar with search and rescue operations using a drone.

By training together, firefighters build effective relationships with each other, improve communication and boost their skills in techniques that may help save the lives of victims and fellow firefighters.

Officers Awarded for Keeping Mankato Roads Safe

Police Officers Nicole Neudecker and Chad Honetschlager were presented with awards from Scott McConkey from the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety for their efforts to keep roads safe by stopping impaired drivers.

Officer Neudecker was presented the DWI “Hat Trick” Award for arresting three impaired drivers during a shift in 2022.

Officer Honetschlager was presented with a DWI All Star Honorable Mention Award for his efforts to keep a significant number of impaired drivers off roads in 2021.

Police Officer Awarded for Extraordinary Service

Police Officer Keith Mortensen received the 2022 Law Enforcement Meritorious Service Award from the Minnesota South Central Investigators Coalition (MSCIC).

This award is presented to a law enforcement officer that has made outstanding meritorious achievements and provided extraordinary service in one or more instances to their department. Mortensen was recognized for his extraordinary service as a school resource officer and his creation of and involvement in Cops and Bobbers, a program that has helped more than 400 Mankato youth over the last eight years.

Mortensen has worked for the City for 27 years and is the first officer from Mankato Public Safety to receive this award.

Stay Safe Salt Smart

Shovel. Scatter. Sweep. Store. Help keep sidewalks safe and protect water ways by knowing how to salt smart:

-Remove as much snow and ice from sidewalk as possible from edge to edge.

-Follow directions and use only the recommended amount when using deicer.

-Sweep up any extra deicer to reuse or throw away in the trash bin.

-Store deicer in protected containers indoors where it can't be washed away.

For more information contact staff at 311 or 507-387-8600.

Keep Garbage Carts From Becoming Road Hazards

This winter’s heavy snow has presented a challenge for snow removal and garbage and recycling pick-up. Carts can end up being road hazards and impact the public’s safety. To help, proper placement of garbage carts, especially in the winter, can prevent them from getting damaged, being road obstacles or tipping over, potentially littering streets.

Here are some tips to help with cart placement:

-Place garbage carts at the end of the driveway, or clear a space on the boulevard, so garbage trucks can more easily access them.

-Keep carts out of the street and off snow piles.

-Bring carts in as soon as possible after collection.

Quality Events and Entertainment at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center

Visit the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center online to learn more about the following upcoming events.

Dancing with the Mankato Stars

Saturday, February 4 | 7 p.m.

Grand Hall

1 Civic Center Plaza

Old Dominion

Friday, February 17 | 7:30 p.m.