Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Veterans memorial planned in Winsted



WINSTED – “It’s beautiful,” Winsted City Council Member Tom Ollig said at the Feb. 20 work session, after seeing the renderings of the veterans memorial proposed in Winsted.

The council plans to approve the project and any related agreements at its Tuesday, March 6 meeting. At the recommendation of the parks commission, the city doesn’t plan to provide financial support for the project at this time. Instead, the project will be funded through donations from the Winsted community.

The memorial idea first came to light last August, when a group of residents approached city staff about constructing the memorial in Hainlin Park. At that time, the city requested additional information, such as a cost estimate and design renderings.

The parks commission reviewed the proposed plans in January and February. It was determined that the memorial would cost about $125,000 (plus any operating costs), so the group of residents arranged for the Winsted American Legion to serve as the fiscal agent. The Legion also plans to take care of any operation requirements, such as labor and electricity, for at least the next 15 years.

Residents Dave Gailey, Dick Langenfeld, and Mitch Littfin shared details about the project with council members Tuesday.

“We did a lot of research,” Gailey said, explaining that they looked at what other communities have done and developed a unique design for Winsted.

“You won’t find another one like this,” Langenfeld commented.

The memorial plans include two circular walkways, each about 30 feet in diameter. They would be connected by a straight path.

General donor plaques would be part of the project, and citizens would also have an opportunity to purchase plaques to honor individual veterans. The memorial would recognize Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient William C. May, as well as soldiers who were killed in action.

There would be five to six statues depicting various time frames in America’s history, a six-car parking lot, flags, and benches. Landscaping would be incorporated to provide a private, enclosed atmosphere.

The proposed location is near McLeod County Road 1 (6th Street South) and the park entrance.

New people serving

Two citizens were appointed to Winsted’s economic development authority (EDA) Tuesday, including Leigha Bruns (term expiring Dec. 31, 2018) and Cody Cuhel (term expiring Dec. 31, 2022).

“For the first time in a long time, all our advisory commissions are full,” City Administrator Dan Tienter commented.

Two new volunteer firefighters were also appointed, contingent upon passing a criminal background check and drug/alcohol test. Those new members are Brandon Posch and Michael Vanderlinde.

Odds and ends

In other business, the council:

• authorized an agreement with Hydro-Klean for sanitary sewer cleaning and televising, for an amount not to exceed $15,000.

• adopted a resolution approving a site plan for Waste Management to install a compressed natural gas fueling station at 490 Industrial Blvd. for its natural gas vehicle fleet.

• adopted a recommended park system dedication and donation policy.

• authorized an agreement with Madsen Tree Service and Stump Removal in Hutchinson for tree maintenance in Winsted not to exceed $10,140.

• authorized an agreement with TDS Telecom for phone and internet services for the Winsted Volunteer Fire Department.

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