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City Manager
 Dave Bovee  320-769-2154

City Clerk/Treasurer
 Melva Larson  320-769-2154

Deputy City Clerk
 Evie Joyce  320-769-2154

City Attorney
 John Tollefson  320-769-4498

Police Chief
 William Stock  320-769-4700

Fire Chief
 Danny Lien  320-769-2689

Pub. Utilities Superintendent
 Brent Powers  320-769-2111

Transit Director
 Bernie Struck  320-769-4462

Liquor Store Operations Supervisor
 Garney Jager  320-769-2755

Librarian
 Pam Helgeson  320-769-2069

Zoning Official
 M. Ellefson  320-769-2482

Daws the Gnome

Dawson - The small city with the bright future
Mayors' Greeting
City Council
City Office
Council Minutes
City Ordinances
Committees
Police Department
Fire Department
Water/Wastewater Dept
Job Openings
Street Department
Transit Bus
Liquor Store
Library

Greetings from Merlin Ellefson

Mayor Merlin Ellefson Welcome to the City of Dawson website.  We are very proud of our community and its thriving business district which offers a great variety of shopping opportunities.  Dawson also offers a wide range of services; a modern hospital, clinic, nursing home, and assisted living facility and a K-12 school system.  We have businesses to provide everything from keeping your vehicle running smoothly to your home in tip top shape.  We also offer Religious opportunities for most dominations within the city and surrounding area.

I was born and raised in the City of Dawson.  I attended and graduated from the local school and then went on to pursue the carpentry trade in the area until my retirement.  My wife Jane and I raised four children here and they all look forward to returning to Dawson with their families to visit us and their friends.

Come visit Dawson, the small city with the bright future-a gem on the prairie.

Merlin Ellefson, Mayor


City Council

Regular meeting are held on the 1st Tuesday and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. In June, July and August there is only one meeting which is the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are conducted in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

The City of Dawson's form of government is Mayor - Council - Manager Plan, governed by home rule charter. The Council is composed of the Mayor and 6 Council members who are elected at large. Council members previously consisted of 2 members being elected from each ward. In 2009 this was changed to only one precinct for the City of Dawson. Listed below are the wards and council which will be effective until the 2010 General Election with persons taking office in January 2011. Each Council Member and the Mayor shall serve for a term of 4 years.

Mayor Merlin Ellefson
Council  
Ward I LeRoy Mamer
  Jeff Olson
Ward II Ken Perkins
  Heather Myers
Ward III Mary Hartfiel
  J.T. Schacherer

Information for the agenda must be submitted to City Office the Thursday prior to the scheduled council meeting.


City Code Committee

Attorney John Tollefson Bill Stock
Brent Powers Councilwoman Mary Hartfiel
Councilwoman Heather Myers Dave Bovee
Mayor Merlin Ellefson Melva Larson

Economic Development Authority Board

Regular meeting is held the 4th Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

President: Jeff Olson Vice President: Maurice Schacherer
Exec Director: Dave Bovee Secretary: Kim Miller
Treasurer: Merlin Ellefson Commissioner: John Nevins
Commissioner: Morrie Schacherer Commissioner: Val Tuff
Commissioner: Lee Gunderson Gayle Lindquist

Finance Committee

Councilman Jeff Olson Councilman Ken Perkins
Dave Bovee Mayor Merlin Ellefson
Melva Larson

Liquor Committee

Councilman J.T. Schacherer Dave Bovee
Mayor Merlin Ellefson Councilman Ken Perkins
Melva Larson Garney Jager

Park Board

Meets during the summer months as required.

Mayor Merlin Ellefson Dave Bovee
Brent Powers Councilwoman Heather Myers
Councilwoman Mary Hartfiel

Swimming Pool Committee

Marilyn Hannasch, Chairperson Jessie Martinson
Merlin Ellefson Jeff Fish
Dave Bovee, Staff Brent Powers, Staff

Personnel Committee

Councilwoman Mary Hartfiel Councilman Ken Perkins
Dave Bovee Mayor Merlin Ellefson
John Tollefson

Planning & Zoning Commission

Brent Powers Dave Bovee
Mayor Merlin Ellefson John Tollefson
Councilman Ken Perkins Councilwoman Heather Myers

Police Commission

Bill Stock Councilman LeRoy Mamer
Councilman Ken Perkins Dave Bovee
Mayor Merlin Ellefson John Tollefson

Road & Bridge Committee

Brent Powers Councilman J.T. Schacherer
Councilman LeRoy Mamer Dave Bovee
Duane Kruger Mayor Merlin Ellefson

Water/Wastewater Committee

Brent Powers Councilman Jeff Olson
Councilman LeRoy Mamer Dave Bovee
Mayor Merlin Ellefson Vince Adelman


Job Openings There are currently no job openings with the city.

Click here to download job application form

Police Department

The Dawson Police Department includes a Chief, two patrolman, and multiple part-time officers. Police services are provided 24 hours a day, year round.

The Department services includes crime prevention efforts, criminal investigation, traffic control, animal control, and many misc. duties required of a small town Department.

William Stock, Chief of Police
Andrew Stock, Patrolman
Nicholas Vorvick, Patrolman

Fire Department

Dawson is fortunate to have a volunteer Fire Department with 23 active members. The Fire Department began in 1908. They are over 100 years in operation.

Water Department

The City has three working wells. Well #5 was drilled in 1957 and pumps 450 GPM. Well #6 was drilled in 1963 and pumps 450 GPM. Well #7 was drilled in 1978 and pumps 450 GPM. Wells #1-4 have been abandoned and sealed.

The water treatment plant was built in 2003 and is located at 3rd and Elm. The plant filters iron and manganese. Fluoride and chlorine are added to the water.

The water tower was built in 1970 and the capacity is 150,000 gallons. Daily water consumption is 200-300,000 gallons per day. There are about 13 miles of water main. The water hardness is 40-45 grains hard.

Wastewater Department

Wastewater treatment plant The wastewater treatment plant was built in 1973. The permitted capacity is 500,000 gallons per day with a 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD5) of 230 milligrams per liter (mg/l). There was a 500,000 gallon bio-solids storage tank built in 1996. The plant was completeley renovated in 2004 by adding two new oxidation ditches that doubled the hydraulic and organic loading capacity, a new clarifier structure, and changed from chlorine to ultraviolet disinfection.

There are three sanitary sewer lift stations, one south of the dam built in 1982 and another at the S.E. corner of the Golf Course built in 1981. The last one at the North end of the walking bridge built in 1992. There are approximately 11 miles of sanitary sewer in town.

Street Department

There are approximately 15 miles of blacktop street that the city maintains and a total of 18 miles of street that the city plows snow on.

Transit Bus

The Dawson Heartland Express Bus Service is a federal/state and city funded transportation service run by the City of Dawson and is governed by the City Council. The day to day management is provided by the Transit Director.

Transit Bus The Dawson Heartland Express transit system operates five days a week providing curb to curb and dial-a-ride service to all residents of the community within the city limits.

The unlimited monthly passes make commuting on the Heartland Bus both economical and convenient for the passengers. The bus is wheelchair accessible.

The city transit service is utilized for medical and dental appointment, beauty shop, workplace, senior centers, meal sites, shopping and various social events.

Children use the service to ride to and from school, to piano and dance lessons, day care providers, golf course, summer recreation, swimming pool, ice skating rink and other related activities. High school students also use the bus to and from Work Experience Programs.

A smile and a helping hand is guaranteed on the Heartland Express. The drivers go out of their way to make passengers feel comfortable and the children safe. The Heartland Bus provides independence for Senior Citizens and an enjoyable ride for all ages who benefit from the bus service.


SERVICE HOURS: (excluding holidays)

Spring/Fall/Winter
Monday-Friday...7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Summer
Monday-Friday...8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  RATES & DISCOUNTS:

Base fare $2.00

Monthly passes $25 (regular)
$20 (students & Sr. Citizens)

Tokens 10 for $15
Dawson Liquor Store

The City of Dawson owns and operates an off sale liquor store. The hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Throughout the years of operation our liquor store has donated thousands of dollars to the community. Click here to see specials at the liquor store.



City Council Minutes

Click on the button to the right and select the month of the council minutes desired.

First Meeting
Second Meeting

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City Ordinances

Click here to view all city ordinances.  Please note that you will be leaving the City of Dawson website.  This link takes you to Sterling Codifiers who maintain our ordinances.


Click here to view the most current council agenda.

City of Dawson
Box 552
675 Chestnut
Dawson, MN  56232
Administrator: 320-769-2154
City Clerk: 320-769-2154
Fax: 320-769-2858

Office hours: Weekdays, 8 am to 4:30 pm


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