Belle Plaine Native Helping Fight Western Fires
Legion, Town and Senior League Baseball Results
Page 4
Pages 16, 17
More German Days Photos
Pages 2, 16, 17
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JUNE 26, 2013
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 26
Trinity’s Retiring Pastor Focuses on the Message, not Messenger
Trinity Lutheran Pastor John Zeitler is retiring from full-time ministry after 40 years. His last service is Sunday. After 40 years in pastoral work, Zeitler is retiring from full-time ministry. He plans to work around the house in Belle Plaine and complete some longoverdue projects. There’s also a bookshelf filled with titles he’d like to work on, too. He may serve as a church’s interim pasPastor John Zeitler knows his tor or serve as a church’s fill-in last sermon at Trinity Lutheran pastor when needed. Church in Belle Plaine could be As for his last service June 30, a difficult one. Zeitler will focus more on the
John Zeitler Stepping Away After Decades in Ministry
message than the person delivering it. That’ll be the easy part. A farewell reception is set for after the 9 a.m. service Sunday at Trinity Lutheran. It’s saying goodbye where he concedes things could get emotional. Leaving people you care about isn’t supposed to be easy. Is Pastor Zeitler ready to retire? “We’ll find out,” he said. Zeitler, 66, came to Trinity Lutheran to serve as its senior pastor in March of 2004 after longtime Pastor Lucas Moldenhaure left. It wasn’t a long move. Zeitler served as the head chaplain and director of spiritual services for The Lutheran Home and its Hope Residence since 1990. “I went from pew to pulpit,” he said. Zeitler and his first wife, Rhoda, had a profoundly autistic and mentally handicapped daughter. They understood the challenges of parenting a special-needs child. They were also well aware of the lack of spiritual services available to children and adults with special needs. The challenges at The Lutheran Home were growing in the post-Sept. 11, 2001 world. The economy was slowing, government funding and other grants were drying up and services at facilities were harder to provide. The work prepared him for his role at Trinity.
Tools for the Task
“He’s got an administrator’s mind and a pastor’s heart,” Trinity Lutheran Pastor John Meyer, Zeitler’s associate, said. Meyer will take on the sole array of pastoral responsibilities while the congregation prepares to call a new pastor. “That makes it easier for him to be a lead pastor.” Zeitler came to The Lutheran Home from northeastern Wisconsin, a small town called Pound. It was dairy country filled with Packers’ fans, fertile ground for a young man willing to consider a career in the ministry. “I’m still a Packers’ fan. My kids are all Vikings’ fans,” he said. “My nephew, Kevin
Zeitler
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High Wire Work Workers for Houston, Tex.-based Air2 installed block on to the towers supporting the thick CapX transmission line along Highway 25 north of Belle Plaine Thursday afternoon. A lineman in a secured chair tethered beneath a helicopter installed the block to tower arms well over 100 feet off the ground before the windy ride back to a staging area. Weather permitting, an Air2 crew will be back this week beginning the installation of the transmission line.
Another Crowning Moment Savanna Schatz got a hug from 2012 Miss German Day Kourtney Klug after being crowned 2013 German Days Queen during Saturday’s coronation downtown. Seated at right is new First Princess Abygail Meyenburg, who received her crown from 2012 First Princess Katelyn Zurn. The weather was not a factor in Saturday’s festivities but was Friday night as evening storms forced the cancellation of the street dance. The band for the dance, Horseplay, performed in Johan’s.
Council Hires Police Officer; Will Not Acquire Former BP Station Property During a special session Monday night, the Belle Plaine City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Jared Tveitbakk as a full-time officer for the police department. Tveitbakk replaces officer Cassie Deets, who resigned after several years with the department. Deets has accepted a job with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. Tveitbakk has been employed by the Belle Plaine Police Department as a part-time officer. Following what was a brief special session, the council went into work session mode, during which no official actions are taken but agenda items are addressed. Among those Monday was the possible acquiring of the former BP Station property at 521 East South Street along Highway 169. The station, which for many years operated under Skluzacek Oil Company and decades ago as Southtown Shell, went out of business in 2010 shortly after a couple of major highway crossings in Belle Plaine were closed. According to City Administrator David Murphy, the city has the first right to acquire the taxforfeited property. The criteria includes: – The city must pay all outstanding taxes. – The property may only be used for public purposes. – If the property is conveyed to a private owner, the city is
Bar-B-Q Days Coin Hunt Starts Next Wednesday
The first clue for the 2013 Bar-B-Q Days Medallion Hunt will be published in next Wednesday’s (July 3) Herald. The second and third clues, if necessary, will be published July 10 and 17.
required to pay the county and state the full market value of the property at the time of the transfer. – The city will become responsible for any contamination removal/mitigation regarding the property. “I recommend that we take a serious look at whether we want this property for city use,” reported Murphy. “If not, it would go for auction and would most likely be eligible for tax increment financing if purchased by a private individual and remodeled or demolished.” In the end, the council Monday decided not to pursue the property. “We don’t know what we would have used it for,” Murphy said Tuesday. “It would be better to let it go to auction to a private owner who maybe could redevelop it. We’d rather see it stay on the tax rolls.” Another item on the agenda Monday was the proposed improvements to the Belle Plaine Police Department building on
East Main Street. Public Works Superintendent Al Fahey reported that the building is in need of some renovation. “One of the first things that needs to be addressed is the front entryway,” Fahey stated. “Over the years the cedar decorative beams at the front of the building have decayed.” Fahey added that he and Police Chief Tom Stolee have discussed some improvement options, including a plan to replace the beams with an arched laminated beam wrapped in steel. Crosby Construction recently submitted a quote for that work showing an estimated cost of $10,500. Another improvement being considered is for the construction of a new brick sign that could cost in the neighborhood of $7,000. The council decided to advance the proposed police department property improvements to next Monday night’s regular session agenda for further consideration.
Council Will Not Renew City Administrator’s Contract During a closed session earlier this month, the Belle Plaine City Council came to a consensus (no vote was taken) not to renew City Administrator David Murphy’s latest contract when it expires on Dec. 31. Council Member Cary Coop said the meeting, which was closed to the general public, including the media, was held June 3. The council discussed options for replacing Murphy during a workshop Monday, a process that could begin in September, sooner if Murphy decides to step down before then. Murphy, who lives in Hutchinson, said Tuesday he is presently applying and interviewing for other positions, and that the
council’s decision not to renew his contract “is probably best for everyone involved.” Next January was to mark Murphy’s 10-year anniversary as the city administrator, a reign that has lasted longer than the combined time of the three previous city administrators – David Iverson, Todd Bodem and Luayn Murphy. Mayor Mike Pingalore said an official vote not to renew Murphy’s contract still needs to take place and he did not want to comment on reasons for the council’s decision until after that vote is taken.