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After 25 years, Bob Nelson retires as Caledonia’s clerk/administrator
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
After going to work every day at City Hall for the past 25 years, Caledonia Clerk/Administrator Bob Nelson did it for the last time Friday, Oct. 9. The long time clerk/administrator informed the city council of his plans to retire last spring. The council is still working on finding a person to fill Nelson’s shoes.
Nelson, who was born and raised in Caledonia, spent all but the three and one half years he served with Uncle Sam, living in Caledonia. Following tours of duty in Germany and England, Nelson attended college for a year at Winona State where he studied business.
He worked for the Houston County Highway Department on a survey crew from 1967 to 1982.
In September of 1984, Nelson went to work for the City of Caledonia. He was fortunate to spend four months working with out-going clerk/administrator Norman Mechtel for four months, “learning the ropes,” before Mechtel retired.
Things were a little different at City Hall a quarter century ago when Nelson started. Two secretary/clerks plus the clerk/administrator were the entire staff. Nelson and Mechtel shared an office, and Nelson brought his Royal manual typewriter from home. He used the manual until Mechtel retired. Then he moved up to the electric.
“The city didn’t have any computers in 1984,” Nelson recalled. “We got our first one with the old floppy discs in 1985. It was used exclusively for utility bills.”
City Hall became more computerized in 1991 when a larger system was put in place that could also handle accounting and payroll.
Another secretary, an accountant and an administrative coordinator/zoning director have been hired over the years to bring the City Hall staff to six.
Biggest changes
Besides the on-going changes in computer technology, Nelson said keeping up with the changes in laws, and the addition of so many more state and federal laws has been quite challenging.
“There have been so many new laws added to deal with issues that didn’t even exist when I first started,” Nelson said with a chuckle.
Caledonia’s population was about 2,600 when Nelson started working for the city. It grew to just over 3,000 about 10 years ago and is now approximately 200 residents more than it was in 1984.
Although the services the city offers to its residents are about the same now, Nelson feels city crews are more efficient thanks largely to better technology.
“I can remember back when I was a kid people would carry tire chains around in their trunks, in the event of a big snow storm. We don’t do that any more. Snow removal has improved a lot,” Nelson observed.
Converting an old gas station into the current police/ambulance complex, the renovation of City Hall in 2000 and the new electric shop in 2008 are some of the major projects the city has taken on during Nelson’s tenure.
Challenges of the job
The new state and federal laws and mandates and the ups and downs of the state’s economy are some of the more challenging issues Nelson had to face.
As the new laws and mandates became more complex, the city was forced to utilize the services of more attorneys, engineers and consultants.
The state-imposed levy limits really tied the city council’s hands when it came to providing services with less. During one juncture in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, the city had to cope with a levy limit every year.
“The LGA (local government aid from the state) cuts with no warning were also very challenging,” Nelson pointed out. “When they only give you a couple of weeks notice, or even less, that they will be cutting $50,000 or more, you’ve already budgeted for that money coming in and planned to pay bills with it, that can really mess things up.”
Enjoyed the job
Working with great co-workers and dealing with the public on a daily basis are things that Nelson really enjoyed about the job. For years Nelson also served as the zoning director.
There were times when a resident would come in with plans for an improvement, but those plans didn’t jive with the city’s zoning. So Nelson and the city council would review the plans and try to come up with ways to make things work.
“The councilmembers I worked with over the years had the best interests of the residents of Caledonia in mind,” Nelson said. “They have been here to help and serve their community. I’ve worked with some very good people over the years.”
What will retirement hold?
When asked this questions, Nelson smiled and said he had a list about a mile long of projects he’s put off over the years. He said he and his wife Sharon will be spending more time with their three kids, son-in-law and daughter-in-law and nine grandchildren.
He added that he will be spending more time in his garage, where he enjoys wood working and refinishing old furniture.
Many turned out for Nelson’s retirement open house, which was held last Friday. It was a simple affair…beverages and chocolate-chip cookies. That was a special request made by Bob.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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