Springfield hires

new city manager

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield City Council unanimously approved the hiring of Malcolm "Mac" Tilberg of St. James as its new city manager Tuesday night.

The hiring of Tilberg on an interim basis, came on a motion by councilman Lowell Helget, seconded by Phil Jensen.

Tilberg will become the Springfield City Manager Jan. 2, 2002, pending results of a background investigation. He replaces former city manager Gary Hale who resigned last August after about a year in Springfield.

Tilberg, who has 20 years of experience in municipal government, was the St. James city manager for more than six years. Prior to that, he was a city manager in Sutton, Neb.

A native of Ethan, S.D., which is located near Mitchell, Tilberg and his wife Barb have two children, Aaron, 16; and Kristin, 12.

Tilberg's salary will be the same in Springfield as it was in St. James ­ $60,000. While in St. James, he oversaw downtown and water plant renovation projects and the construction of a new power plant.

The city council also:

* Approved a Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) district.

The plan, presented by Dave Maroney of Community Partners of Northfield, includes $925,000 authorized by the State of Minnesota for land acquisition and water, sewer and storm drain improvements in the St. John's Housing Project in the southeast corner of town.

The project includes 13 single-family lots, eight twin-home lots to be developed by F&L Development of Luverne and two four-plex apartment buildings.

To qualify for TIF financing on single-family lots, buyers must not have incomes of more than about $65,000. The City of Springfield plans to sell 20 of the 29 lots to owner-occupied units valued at about $115,000. It will also sell utility bonds to finance the project.

"Many cities do this and it works well," Maroney said.

Springfield Economic Developer Mark Veglahn said the single-family lots will sell for $15,000-$20,000 each with TIF money. Without it, they would cost $25,000-$28,000, he said.

"TIF is a good tool to help develop and sell lots," Veglahn said.

* Heard from skate board enthusiasts Jordan Grausam and Brent Kastner about a skate park they would like built. The boys said they spent two days at a Glenwood skate park. They would like to see a water fountain and jumper under 3 feet tall included in a Springfield skate park.

The boys said the Glenwood Park included rules requiring helmets, pads, shoes and no kids under age 10 allowed.

Springfield Mayor Mark Brown said city officials would look at possible sites and funding grants that might be available.

* Springfield City Clerk Amy Vogel said a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) check of $39,365 will be available to the city when Riverside Park fence work is complete, which could be be next March or April.

* Approved a resolution allowing City Engineer Andy Kehren of Bolton & Menk, Inc. to complete a Range Road storm sewer design that will include water retention ponds near the industrial park. Design cost is $13,000.