The bank of the Mississippi River just upstream from the Hastings Public Boat Launch, and adjacent to the Mississippi River Regional Trail, has eroded to such a degree the trail is in jeopardy of failing and creating a severe safety hazard for trail users.”

Parks & Recreation Director Chris Jenkins

The Hastings city council gave the go-ahead at its meeting Monday night for a plan to fix Mississippi River erosion that is causing a safety hazard to a portion of trails.
Barr Engineering will be contracted with to complete design and engineering to repair the bank erosion.
Parks & Recreation Director Chris Jenkins said the dangerous situation needs to be fixed.
“The bank of the Mississippi River just upstream from the Hastings Public Boat Launch, and adjacent to the Mississippi River Regional Trail, has eroded to such a degree the trail is in jeopardy of failing and creating a severe safety hazard for trail users,” Jenkins wrote to the city council.
He said staff has done some “shoring and fencing to temporarily mitigate the hazard, however a permanent repair is necessary to avoid further resource damage.”
Cost of the contract with Barr Engineering is $27,300 for completing the permitting process, design and engineering. It also will include bidding and construction services.
“Staff are suggesting to engage with Barr to complete this process now so that the project can be completed this spring prior to any high-water events on the Mississippi River,” said Jenkins.
The city will contact Dakota County for “financial assistance” since the erosion is along the Mississippi River Regional Trail, which is owned by the county.

Election judges
The council approved appointment of election judges for the 2024 Presidential Nomination Primary Election on Tuesday, March 5.
Election judges are paid $13/hour and co-head election judges are paid $14.50/hour.
The slate of election judges approved is:
Curtis Aaseng
Gary Afdahl
LuAnne Amundson
Anne Anderson
Steven Anderson
Theresa Auge
Jackie Baird
Doreen Berg
Melissa Blackstad
Laurie Buck
Amy Clark
Debbie Croker
Shar Danberry
Jo Featherstone
Terry Flower
Dale Franzen
Marcie Freeman
Colleen Fritsch
Rebecca Gartzke
Alanna Gauthier
Susan Gesch
Karin Grossman
Peggy Grundman
Rita Haugen-Humbert
Christopher Hornisch
Connie Housker
Spencer Johnson
Caitlin Klein
Cynthia Kost
Shannon Kotke
Debra Krause
Rhonda Krehl
Donna Kusske-Thorkelson
Gloria Berg
Tyler Langenfeld
Katy Lindberg
Wesley Lund
Tara Maher-Angerman
Mary Marshall
Debra Matei
Rebecca Matsch
Maggie McCoy
Jeanette McGoon
Barbara Morghon
Joyce Mwangi
Susan Nadler
Kristen Nappin
Mary Nehring
Jane Neumiller-Bustad
Kim Nyberg
Pamela Osendorf
Clarice Poncin
Kim Raco
Dennis Rickert
Lisa Rogers
Mary Sabatis
Dorothy Sandahl
Mike Stepka
Jennie Thomas
Teddi Tri
Connie Tuchner
Brent Vanderlaan
Cynthia Wagner
Kelsey Warner
Allen Warren
Mary Wright
Elizabeth Wright

Black History Month Proclamation
The city council meeting started with Mayor Mary Fasbender and councilmembers reading a proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month, paying homage to local history. The resolution reads:
Proclamation
Proclaiming February 2024 As Black History Month In the City of Hastings, Minnesota
WHEREAS, Black History Month is celebrated to raise awareness of African American accomplishments and contributions to our society, AND
WHEREAS, African Americans are part of Minnesota’s story, from before it was a territory to the present, AND
WHEREAS, the first Minnesota territorial census in 1857 recorded four African American men living in Hastings, including Robert Burns, a barber, who with Andrew Jackson Overall and J. H. Brooks worked as a committee to draft a petition to further their rights to vote, which was presented to the legislature of Minnesota in 1865, AND
WHEREAS, both houses of the legislature passed a bill that proposed an amendment to strike “white” from the suffrage provision. The amendment was adopted in 1868 by a majority of more than 9,000 votes, becoming law in Minnesota two years before the 15th Amendment passed nationwide, AND
WHEREAS, George Daniels was an enslaved African American man who freed himself during the Civil War by crossing battle lines to join Union troops. In the process, he and Brevet Brigadier General LeDuc became acquainted and built a strong, trusting relationship. Daniels moved to Hastings where he lived and worked alongside LeDuc, married Chloe Hudson, and started a family, AND
WHEREAS, the story of George and Chloe Daniels is not unique and represents other African American families that found their way to the Hastings area following the Civil War, AND
WHEREAS, In the early 1890’s, the Curry and Wallace families organized other African American community members to establish Brown’s Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which served as the center of religious and social activities for African Americans, until it was destroyed by arson in 1907, resulting in the eventual exodus of African Americans from Hastings, AND
WHEREAS, recent Census data show that the number of African American residents in Hastings has increased in the past decade, Hastings continues to strive for racial equity to provide a healthy community for all, and the City Council has made diversity, equity, and inclusion an important part of its work, AND
WHEREAS, the importance of observing Black History Month in the City of Hastings is to acknowledge, recognize and welcome people of African descent and their contributions to the City of Hastings, while simultaneously recognizing the injustices they have endured, AND
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mary Fasbender, Mayor of the City of Hastings, Minnesota and the Hastings City Council hereby proclaim February 2024 as Black History Month in Hastings, Minnesota.
Public Safety Advisory Commission
The council reviewed the Public Safety Advisory Commission Annual Report, touting its efforts in the past year to support its mission statement of “Enhancing awareness of public safety through community programs, education opportunities and public engagement.”
“The commission had a great year,” said Police Chief David Wilske.
During the last year:
•The commission toured the county’s 911 Communication Center and the Dakota County Jail.
“The commission found both of these tours valuable,” said Wilske.
•The commission worked toward adoption of a city-wide camera registry.
“Data was collected and provided to the police department. Until funding is available, this is not moving forward,” said Wilske.
•The commission drafted proposed language for a city THC ordinance.
•Commission members helped organize the National Night Out held in the summer and helped out at the Fire Prevention Week and police department open houses.
Members of the commission in 2023 were chair Dolores Pemble, secretary Theresa Auge, Gary Stevens, Melissa Blackstad, Vicky Baukel, Andrew Caflisch, John Gunter and Mary Nehring.