Regroup Mass Communication
As communicated prior, our previous vendor for mass emergency communications Code Red is no longer our vendor for alerts. Watonwan County, along with the City of Madelia, City of St. James, St. James Minnesota Police Department, Watonwan County Emergency Management, and Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office has contracted with ReGroup mass communications. Even if you had previously signed up for this service, you will need to register again.
Visit: Regroup to sign up with a quick and easy form. If there are questions, call the Office of Emergency Management at 507-375-5841.
Notice: Change in Recycling Services for Madelia
Watonwan County has announced updates to recycling services for Madelia residents.
Final Service by Hometown Sanitation
- Last recycling pickup: Friday, December 19, 2025
- Cart removal: Hometown Sanitation will collect recycling carts on this same day.
- Important: Please place your recycling cart at the curb before 7:00 AM.
- If your cart is not picked up, contact Watonwan County Land Management at 507-375-1225. Provide your address, and they will notify Hometown Sanitation.
New Service Provider: West Central Sanitation
- Start date: January 1, 2026
- First pickup day: Thursday, January 8, 2026
- Cart delivery: New 95-gallon carts will be delivered beginning Monday, December 15, 2025.
- Recycling services will remain the same, but pickup day will change from Fridays to Thursdays.
A copy of the updated garbage and recycling schedule will be mailed with December’s utility bill at the end of the month.
Service Connection Fee Increase (State Water Test Fee)
The 2025 Minnesota Legislature has passed a law that amends Minnesota Statute 144.3831 to increase the safe drinking water service connection fee (state water test fee). Effective January 1, 2026 the fee will be increased from $9.72 annually, to $15.22 per water service connection.
Madelia residents are billed monthly and will see the increase on their January 2026 utility billing. Because $15.22 is not divisible by 12 equal monthly payments, residents will be billed $1.27 from January to October, and $1.26 for the months of November and December.
The fee increase accounts for the significant inflation that has occurred since the last increase in 2019, as well as expectations for continued expansion of federal regulations, increased laboratory costs for testing, drinking water data system improvements, and numerous changes in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) including new rules and enforcement requirements that have both occurred and are being phased in over the next few years.
To learn more, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website at https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/com/scf.html
December 2025 Newsletter
Check out all the updates in this month’s City newsletter!
For ease of access, here are the links from the newsletter below:
Service Connection Fee Increase Post: https://www.madeliamn.com/service-connection-fee-increase-state-water-test-fee/
Campground Reservations: Camping
Snow Removal Policy: https://www.madeliamn.com/snow-removal/
Snow Emergency and Sidewalk Snow Removal Information
SNOW EMERGENCIES
The City of Madelia may declare a snow emergency after an accumulation of three (3) or more inches of snow. During a snow emergency (duration of 12 hours), no person shall park any vehicle on any street in the City of Madelia. No parking in the business district during a snow emergency between the hours of 1:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. or until the street has been cleared of snow.
A declared snow emergency allows our street department to quickly and efficiently clear snow from the roadways so that emergency responders and residents can travel safely.
Any vehicle in violation of this Snow Removal Ordinance will be ticketed or towed at the owner’s expense. Madelia City Code 70.261
SIDEWALKS
Sidewalks must be cleared of all snow and ice within 24 hours after the end of snowfall by the owner or tenant of any adjacent property.
Properties non-compliant with this ordinance will be billed for the snow removal. Madelia City Ordinance 94.04.01
PLACING SNOW ON A PUBLIC STREET
It is a misdemeanor in the state of Minnesota to deposit snow/ice on any public roadway.
MN State Statute 160.2715
At this time, snow emergencies will be announced on the City Website and Facebook Page, Police Department Facebook Page, CodeRED alerts will not go out as the CodeRED system has been breached. Watonwan County Emergency Management is currently working on a new alert system.
Adopt-A-Hydrant
The City of Madelia is encouraging residents to “Adopt-A-Hydrant” in their neighborhood during the winter months. After each snowfall, snow and ice should be cleared 3 feet around the fire hydrant so fire fighters can quickly and easily reach the hydrant during a possible fire. A 3 foot wide path should also be cleared from the hydrant to the street.
