Life in the Bonanza Valley, Minnesota
Visit this blog and our website to get a glimpse of what's happening in the Brooten, Belgrade, Regal, Terrace, Sedan, Norway Lake, Sunburg, Elrosa, Padua and Grove Lake areas of central Minnesota. Also, random school news from the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa district. While you're at it, subscribe to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper: PO Box 250, Brooten 56316 (e-mail lifeinbonanzavalley@gmail.com for costs) Find our newspaper online at http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com.
Friday, November 21, 2025
Brooten city council to meet on Monday, November 27
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, November 27 at 7 p.m. at city hall. The meeting agenda summary is posted here.
7:00 Appoint Council Member – Jasmine Schultz - Oath of Office
7:15 Public Hearing – Liquor Licenses
7:30 Nate DeLeeuw - Dooley’s Natural Gas Annual Review
7:45 Resolution 2025-19 RESOLUTION APPROVING RATES AND TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF DOOLEY’S
NATURAL GAS II, LLC AND REQUIRING ANNUAL REVIEW
8:00 Nancy Miller – Law/Policy Changes – MN Paid Leave – Proposed Pay Increase 2026
8:15 Revisit Fence Permit – Amber Bohmer - 100 Prairie Avenue S
8:30 Todd Trustheim – Fire Department Relief Association Gambling
Donation Discussion
8:45 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-20; A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DONATIONS TO THE CITY
9:00 Issuance of 2026 Liquor Licenses
- KA-DE Shack
Off Sale Intoxicating, On Sale, Sunday
- Marcia’s Bar & Grill
Off Sale Intoxicating, On Sale, Sunday
- Bonanza Liquor
Off Sale Intoxicating
- 3 Winters dba Lucky Shots
On Sale, Sunday
- Classic Co. Dinner Theater dba Lincoln’s Seafood & Steaks
On Sale, Sunday
- Prairie View Community Golf Course
On Sale 3.2
9:15 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update plus MN Department of Health Water Testing Information
9:30 Other
Monday, November 17, 2025
Belgrade city council agenda for November 17
The Belgrade city council meets on Monday, November 17 at 6 p.m. in regular session. The agenda summary is below.
1. Scheduled guests include representatives from West Central Sanitation and Dooley’s Natural Gas. They will discuss upcoming services and costs for their companies.
2. Fire and Fire Relief: start a certificate of deposit for a fire hall.
3. Police Board: the next meeting is November 19 at 6:30 p.m. in Belgrade; they will also mention the speed limit feedback sign on Highway 17 by the nursing home.
4. Public Works.
5. E.D.A.
Discussion: Mexico Querido Mexican Restaurant liquor license for on sale and Sunday liquor.
Next meetings: Monday, December 1 for Truth in Taxation hearing at 6 p.m.; and Monday, December 15 at 6 p.m. with regular session.
Friday, November 7, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for November 10
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, November 10 at 7 p.m. The agenda has a few more items than usual, including the appointment of a new council member.
7:00 Discussion of Council Appointment
7:15 Appoint Council Member - Oath of Office
7:30 Gloria Trustheim, Bollig Engineering - Task Order No. 12 – Parking Lot Paving and Apron Fence Desing/Bidding
7:45 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-18 OF THE CITY OF BROOTEN AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF A JOINT AIRPORT ZONING BOARD
8:00 Building Permit Fence – Amber Bohmer – 100 Prairie Avenue S
8:15 Set Liquor License Hearing November 24, 2025
8:30 Mark Torkelson – Fire Billing Rates
8:45 Discussion - Tractor and/or Mower Purchase
9:00 Quotes for New Phone Service/System
9:15 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
9:30 Approval of October Minutes
9:45 Approval of Bills
Brooten Auto
10:00 Approval of Interim Bills - $42,901.38
10:15 Other
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for October 27 (REVISED)
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, October 27 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the city hall meeting chambers.
7:00 Request for Parcel Split for Land Transfer – Nathan & Kari Thompson
7:15 Building Permits – Amber Johnson – Fence – 120 Western Ave. S
Candace Hensley – Fence – 421 Pleasant Ave. S
7:30 Intent to Pursue MnDOT Aeronautics – 2026 Capital Grant Award Notification - 2nd Round Offer for Parking Lot Paving and Apron Fence Design/Bid Project
7:45 Candidates to Appoint to Joint Airport Zoning Board
8:00 Ceiling Decorations at Pavilion – Lights and Chandelier
8:15 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
8:30 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-17 A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING COUNCIL MEMBER RESIGNATION AND DECLARING A VACANCY
8:45 Other
Monday, October 20, 2025
Belgrade city council agenda
The Belgrade city council will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. on Monday, October 20, at the city hall meeting chambers. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting agenda is being posted below.
1. Consent agenda: September meeting minutes, ACH payables, Belgrade Commercial Club Purse Bingo lawful gambling permit application, October 13 public hearing minutes.
2. Public forum.
3. Belgrade Fire Department: DNR grants.
4. Belgrade-Brooten Police Board.
5. Belgrade Public Works: need of storage for sweeper and 2 snow haulers with lease agreement; tire quotes for irrigators; tire quotes for the PW pickup; fall clean-up is October 27-31.
6. Belgrade Zoning: planning commission follow-up on October 13 public hearing; request letter from the Belgrade Co-op to be able to combine parcels.
7. Belgrade Economic Development Authority.
8. Belgrade Museum.
9. Next meetings: Belgrade Fire Department meeting with local townships on Monday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the fire hall; and regular council meeting on November 17 at 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for October 13
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, October 13 at 7 p.m. The meeting agenda is posted below.
Friday, October 3, 2025
Oliver Kelley Farm Field Trip! Middle schoolers are heading east (VIDEO)
The Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 6th and 7th grade classes of 2030 and 2031 are heading east on a middle school field trip. The destination is the Oliver Kelley Farm in rural Elk River, which is a Minnesota Historical Society site. On this field trip, students will experience the original 1860s era work that took place on this farm over 150 years ago. They will get an up close view of animals and gardens while learning a little about Kelley, who was a highly-regarded farm activist who helped found The Grange movement in America.
The Oliver Kelly Farm also includes nature trails that wind along the Mississippi River where students can explore woodlands and restored prairie.
Our bus drivers today are Howard Johnson and Dave Bertram. We departed the high school parking lot at 9:19 a.m. Wish us luck!
10:55 a.m...we arrived at Oliver Kelley Farm and entered the welcoming center, which had air conditioning! The bus ride got hot! The sun is shining strong.
Here's students providing grooming care to draft horses:
The field trip included education sessions at four separate stations. At one station, students learned how pioneers made sauerkraut. Part of the process was having the cabbage sit out in the open for a 6 month period while it cured!