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Hardwick to clean up town, decides on mail ballots

By
Mavis Fodness

Efforts to spruce up the city of Hardwick took a step forward Thursday, March 11, when council members voted to adopt a nuisance ordinance.
“If we are going to do some cleaning up and if we are going to do it right,” Mayor Jan Baustian said, “I think we’d better have everything we need first.”
Council members voted unanimously to pattern Hardwick’s latest ordinance after one already in effect in the city of Luverne.
Luverne’s ordinance defines a public nuisance as intentional acts that affect the health, morals and decency, peace and safety of its residents.
“It’s really detailed,” Baustian said of the six-page document. “It has everything in it we can possibly hope for. It really covers everything very well.”
With the adoption of an ordinance, Hardwick would be able to force residents to comply or face misdemeanor charges.
At recent council meetings, members have discussed the fact that they’ve seen materials accumulating against garages and more unlicensed vehicles parked in yards throughout town.
“It’s a growing problem,” Baustian said.
Council members unanimously agreed to adopt the Luverne ordinance for the city of Hardwick. Councilor Carey Tunnissen was not at Thursday night’s meeting.
The council intends to have the ordinance enforceable later this year.
 
In other business, the Hardwick council:
•Changed its April meeting to Tuesday, April 12, to coincide with the city’s Board of Appeals and Equalization meeting at the city office. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. with the equalization meeting at 7 p.m.
•Voted for the city to become a mail-ballot precinct. The city of Hardwick becomes the 13th precinct in Rock County to cease operating a polling place on election days.

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