City joins growing number of  communities to shun new state flag design

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The City of Ottertail will join a growing list of communities across the state who will fly the old state flag, as opposed to the new State of Minnesota flag.

During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 16, the city council approved by a 3-2 margin to fly the old State of Minnesota flag.

The item was added to the agenda by city councilman Jerry Martin.

“I would like to make a motion that we go ahead and purchase the old-style Minnesota flag and display it right below the American flag out here in front,” he said.

During the discussion, councilman Michael Windey said he could not support flying the old state flag outside city hall after a committee, state legislature and governor approved the new-style flag featuring an eight-pointed star and dark blue shape effective May 11, 2024. The previous state flag featured a seal that included a farmer in the field, Native American and several important features of Minnesota, including the Mississippi River. 

Windey said he could not support the motion made by Martin because he felt displaying the old flag went against the oath he took as a city councilman to support the constitution of the United States of America and the State of Minnesota.

“I think it’s inappropriate for us to do that and let me explain why—when we are elected city officials we take an oath to support the constitution of Minnesota and therefore the things that we do (and) we have laws that come down that we have to follow and that happens to be one of them because it went through the process of the state of Minnesota to put the flag. We may disagree with it, we may not like it, you can fly it personally but I think if you don’t like it you have to get together as a group and go through the process to change it.”

Martin said the new state flag was selected by a small group of people and was approved with what he felt was little public input. He also said the new flag design would likely not pass a statewide referendum if it were put to a full vote. 

“I bet you if that ever come up for a referendum it won’t fly, the new flag,” said Martin. “For right now I would like to go ahead and protest the new flag and put up the old flag just like other communities have been doing.”

He also went on to say that he supports the constitution, but the city and he have a right to fly the old-style Minnesota state flag, should they choose to do so. 

“I support the state, I support the constitution, but we do have the right to go ahead and fly the old flag and it is up to the city and we have the choice to choose the flag we would like out there,” he said. 

Councilwoman Elizabeth Augustus said she could see Martin’s reasoning for flying the old-style state flag, but agreed with Windey a bit more about the topic.

Mayor Ron Grobeck said the United States of America is a democracy and if the City of Ottertail wanted to fly the old-style of state flag outside of city hall it should be up to the Ottertail City Council and residents to make that decision.

The motion went to a roll call vote with Grobeck and Martin voting in favor of displaying the old-style state flag, with Windey and Augustus voting in favor of displaying the new state flag. Councilwoman Jill Carlson was not in attendance at the meeting.

With the vote split at 2-2, Grobeck was then allowed to cast another vote to break the tie and make the vote 3-2 in favor of displaying the old-style state flag.

Ironically, perhaps, was that city clerk/treasurer Amanda Thorson said the City of Ottertail currently does not display the new or old-style state flag on the flag pole outside of city hall. She questioned if the current flag pole would be strong enough to fly both the American and state flag on it, but the city will do some research to determine its next steps and whether two flags can be displayed on the flag pole.

In other news

• Approved a renewal for a 2 a.m. liquor sales for The Otter Supper Club and Lodge.

• Acknowledged a donation from the Ottertail Rod and Gun Club for $20,000 to benefit the Ottertail Fire and Rescue Expansion.

• Approved the final fire hall design plans for the fire hall expansion project. The expansion will add on to the existing fire hall to allow for additional growth and storage that has become necessary for the current fire and rescue department. Last month the city council approved bonding up to $3.1 million for the project, but the hope was that the project would come in lower than that amount. The council heard construction could take up to a year to complete, but the hope was to begin the work as soon as the construction bid is awarded to a contractor in August. 

• Discussed two nuisance properties in need of cleaning up in the community and potential steps/procedures the city can take to clean up the properties.