CITY OF LANESBORO
PO Box 333
Lanesboro, MN 55949
(507)467-3722
lanesboro@acegroup.cc

Lanesboro, population 788, is governed by a five person City Council, which includes the Mayor. The Council generally meets the first (6:30 p.m.) and third (5:30 p.m.) Mondays of each month at the Community Center.

The City Clerk/Administrator, Bobbie Torgerson, is responsible for day to day operations of the City. The City Council is advised and assisted by several boards and commissions: Park Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Heritage Preservation Commission, Economic Development Authority, Library Board, Street Commission and Municipal Utilities Commission. Lanesboro has a Fire and Ambulance Department and collaborates with the City of Preston for Police Protection.

Lanesboro’s modern Community Center is an attractive location for small business meetings, family reunions, weddings, dances, retreats, seminars, conferences and annual meetings. It houses a 4,300 square foot Auditorium/Gymnasium, a 1,500 square foot meeting room and if fully furnished, handicapped accessible and air conditioned throughout. Catering and provision of A/V equipment can be arranged for you. Call the City office for rates and reservations.

The city comprehensive plan, adopted in 1998, states "The City of Lanesboro views itself as a place that should be a walking and biking friendly town." The city has been steadily repairing the existing sidewalk system. Lanesboro voters recently approved a bond issue for repair and restoration of the Historic Walking Bridge connecting downtown to the softball field, thus making Lanesboro even more pedestrian friendly. The Root River Bike Trail is used by local residents for walking and for biking to neighboring towns.

CITY PARK AND CAMPGROUNDS

Sylvan Park & Riverview Campgrounds
Camping is available to the outdoor enthusiasts in the City of Lanesboro and surrounding areas along the beautiful Root River and Bike Trail. 43 Camper sites with water & electric. Hot showers. 60 tent sites

Sylvan Park
Sylvan Park is one of the finest city parks in Minnesota. Its spring-fed trout ponds, picnic shelters, electricity, bathrooms, playground, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, ensure comfortable camping and picnicking for the whole family. Nearby you’ll find our original stone dam, masterfully hand-built in 1868 and still diverting water for the hydroelectric plant in downtown Lanesboro. Sylvan Park (11.5 acres) is located in the center of town, between the Community Center and the school. A gazebo is used for concerts, weddings and local festivals and events.

Softball Field
The softball field is located along County Road 8. It was updated with lights in 1987 for evening games. It includes bleachers, a concession stand and parking lot.

Bass Pond
The Bass Pond is located at the base of County Road 8 as you drive into town from the west. It has a handicapped accessible fishing pier. A parking lot north of the Bass Pond connects to the Root River Trail and also has a handicapped accessible fishing pier. During the winter, a small area of the pond is maintained by the city for ice skating.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Lanesboro is served with cable television, internet dialup service or DSL (high speed). For local announcements, Lanesboro has a local access channel.
Due to recent installation of antennas on the south water tower, quality wireless phone service is quite reliable throughout most of the Lanesboro area.

Free high speed internet access is available at the Lanesboro Public Library.

BUSINESSES AND DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL AREA

Historic Architecture
Lanesboro has a compact and well-defined downtown, much of which has been designated a National Historic District. In addition, the city is in the process of expanding the size of the historic district by local designation. There is an active Heritage Preservation Commission.

Historic Coffee Street Walking Bridge
The Coffee St. Bridge was built by the Chicago Bridge Co. in 1893 and was known as the “Wagon Bridge” for many years. It was used for motor vehicle traffic coming into Lanesboro from the west until 1965 when Fillmore County built a new bridge a few yards to the south. At that time the wagon bridge was closed to motor traffic but used for walkers and bikers for many years until it deteriorated to the point that it was closed completely.
In 1998 a federal grant was obtained to renovate the old bridge and light the new Bass Pond Parking Lot. The City of Lanesboro had to come up with .engineering fees and 20% of the cost which at that time was $98,000. A group of citizens formed a .committee to get donations to help with the City’s cost. On April 10, 2002 a referendum passed (2 to 1) to bond for the $98,000. By the time the bids were let the costs came in higher than what had been allotted. The City and State agreed to come up with the extra money so the project moved forward. Now that the bridge is renovated, the committee is going forward to enhance the whole area, making a park out of the triangle between the 2 bridges and building a walkway underneath the County 8 Bridge.
Variety of goods and services
Many goods and services are available in Lanesboro. Most are concentrated in the central downtown. There is a Chamber of Commerce, post office, grocery store, Ford dealership, bank, dentist, attorneys, florist, jeweler, many restaurants, bed and breakfasts, inns and motels, furniture and gift shops, live professional theater, art galleries and artist studios, historic museum, insurance agents, financial planner, plumbing and heating contractor, hair salons, bars and off-sale liquor stores, bicycle and canoe sales and rental, gas stations and auto repair shops. Contact: Lanesboro Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 1-800-944-2670 or 507-467-2696 Julie Kiehne, Executive Director.

AGRICULTURE

Fillmore County has a significant agricultural economy.  The roughly 1500 farms support an infrastructure of producers, employees, and agriculture suppliers that forms a significant part of the area economy.  The chief livestock are dairy and beef cattle, hogs, and poultry.  The major crops are corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.  In the 1997 Census of Agriculture, Fillmore County ranked 1st in the state in number of beef cows, 8th in dairy cows, and 18th in hogs.  In crops, Fillmore County ranked 4th in hay production, 14th in corn, and 29th in soybeans.  Local associations representing pork, beef, and dairy producers hold events to promote their products.  Many small Amish farms operate in the area, as well as farms growing fruits and vegetables, (milking dairy cows), or raising livestock for local and direct marketing.

Farmers market and local fresh food
Lanesboro is surrounded by thousands of acres of crop, pasture, and forest land.  (Nearby are many sources of local, fresh food: beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, dairy
products, honey, apples, berries, and other fruits and vegetables.
Several community supported agriculture farms serve this area.)
Lanesboro area growers have organized a farmer's market - Wednesdays from 4 - 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Community Hall Parking Lot. Bedding plants, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, baked goods and eggs are some of the local food available.