Residents in the city of Montgomery face estimated city taxes doubling for a significant period of time, nearly tripling for a portion of that time, over the next 25 years.
Inflation has caused projects and goods to increase more substantially than projected when the items were first introduced. These include a new fire hall, renovation of city hall, purchasing of a new fire department **pumper truck, and the declining state of the city’s infrastructure underneath the streets as well as the streets themselves.

A water main break on 5th Street NW just south of Lexington Avenue NW is being worked on by construction crews from Selly Excavating. Crews on site said it should be fixed completely by about 2 p.m. today, Friday, March 14. More information will be in the print issue of the Montgomery Messenger on March 20.

Kolacky Days members chose the design from Dawn (Ruhland) Elfstrand as the 2025 Button Contest winner out of 10 entries. The 256 members voted on the design back in November, with designs being accepted in October.
Elfstrand, who now lives in Madison Lake, Minn., and works as a buyer for a school district, is a Montgomery native.
“It was pretty exciting. It was the first time I submitted a button. I made several designs, and I emailed them to my kids and husband. They chose the final one I entered,” said Elfstrand.

Tri-City United School’s Facility Master Planning Advisory Committee is seeking public input on their strategic master plan.
In 2023, a 29-member, cross-community Facility Master Planning Advisory Committee met over the course of nine meetings, culminating in a final report to the TCU School Board. Since then, the board has worked to develop a strategic master plan. They now need your input as this work continues to shape future facility decisions across the school district’s three communities.

The annual Czech Mardi Gras celebration on Sunday, March 2, marked its silver anniversary, celebrating 25 years as an annual festival in Montgomery with a full house at the Revival on Main.
Entertainment included music by Georges Concertina Band and cultural dancing by the St. Paul Czech and Slovak Adult Dancers. People from the audience were invited up front at the Revival on Main after the group had finished dancing to learn a dance, which many obliged.

Montgomery Fire Department members that participated in the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb are pictured at the event in the Capella Tower in Minneapolis on Saturday.  They climbed 52 flights of stairs, with full gear, and raised $1,500 — about $500 more than what was raised last year. Sean Benz was recognized as the top fundraiser of the group.

Tri-City United Schools will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5, due to inclement weather. There will be no Kidzone or Activates. It will be a blended learning day.
Also, the Oreo Challenge for teens at the Montgomery Public Library scheduled for March 5 will be held on March 6 instead.

Mick McGuire could not contain his disappointment as he opened the second annual Montgomery State of the Community event.
“We don’t have a single person from the community here,” McGuire began. “Everyone here is here because they are presenting. Over 3,000 people had an opportunity to come and there isn’t a single one.”
Still, the presenters shared their information with one another at the event, which was held Saturday morning, Feb. 22. The event was put on by the Montgomery Community Foundation.

SNOW EMERGENCY DECLARED- 3/4/25 AT 9 p.m.
LAST UPDATED: MARCH 4, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
SNOW EMERGENCY DECLARED 

Tri-City United Schools robotics program continues to perform well with three teams making it to the state robotics tournament at St. Cloud Community and Technical College’s River’s Edge Event Center on Feb. 27 and 28.
TCU Robotics Head Coach Jeffery Ballman said, “Please congratulate all of these teams as they work hard to represent our TCU middle schools and TCU High School at the state level of competition! We are very proud to have three of our five teams moving on to the state level.
 
High School

Coronation is set for Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 12:33 p.m.
The queen candidates are Julia Odenthal, daughter of Randy and Laura Odenthal of New Prague; Eva Tikalsky, daughter of Christopher Tikalsky of Montgomery; Jayden Disbrow, daughter of Jim and Angie Disbrow of Montgomery; Addison Houn, daughter of Trevor and Kristi Houn of Montgomery; and Kaylee Harkins, daughter of Clint and Vicki Harkins of Le Center.

Four Tri-City United Le Center PreK-8 School elementary students from recently participated in the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) second annual Elementary AllStar Choir, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 15. This special event brought together 180 students, in grades 4-6, from across Minnesota for a day of rehearsals and an inspiring performance as part of the MMEA Midwinter Convention.

Local musician and Montgomery Fire Department firefighter Sean Benz and his band The Misfits were approached with a special opportunity last July. “I was asked to play the Richie Valens Luncheon after my band and I were done playing at the Iowa Rock n’Roll Music Association’s ‘Rock the Roof’ event, something we’ve done for many years now,” said Sean Benz. “Connie Valens approached me and said, ‘Hey, I’d love to have you play the Richie Valens Luncheon,’ and she invited us as their special guest for the Winter Dance Party (as well).”

TCU Schools closed Tuesday, Feb. 18, because of extreme cold.
The National Weather Service issued a weather warning beginning Monday, Feb. 17, 9 p.m.
Tuesday will be an e-learning day. KidZone closed. After-school activities on, but the girls' basketball game is canceled.

Le Sueur County is updating its comprehensive land use and zoning code, titled “Vision 2050,” and held a public meeting Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Le Center American Legion. According to a survey provided to a large crowd the update is to better serve and guide the county’s growth. The work over this year is to “create a plan that balances its rich historical past and resources,” said the beginning of the survey. The new comprehensive plan is to grow the county’s tax base and guide the county over the next 25 years.

Write-in votes will settle who takes at least two open seats on Rice County’s townships boards.
No affidavits for candidacy were filed in the 2025 race for Northfield Township treasurer, or to fill the term of the remaining year of the term for the Morristown Township clerk.
The treasurer’s seat, a two-year term, is up in all every township except Forest Township where the treasurer is appointed, rather than elected.