The club strives not only for cars, but also for community involvement | News, sports, jobs

ABOVE: Members of Public Disturbance, a new car club in Fairmont, after cleaning a highway/ditch in Fairmont last summer. The club has worked to become more involved in the community. Submitted photo.

FAIRMONT – You may have noticed vehicles around town with “Public Disturbance” written on their windows. This is a newer car club that started in Fairmont about two years ago.

Tiffany and “Pops” Winters explained that the mother chapter is located in Des Moines, Iowa, but its president and co-founder Justin Mulvihill is actually from Fairmont.

“It should be friends hanging out. Justin also has a printing company, so he advertised it. The sticker came and the group came.” Pops explained.

When Mulvihill moved to De Moines, the club’s other founder, Mark Brackelsberg, stayed and ran the Fairmont division.

“He recruited some people and when we moved to Fairmont we were asked about our van and Mark introduced himself to us.” Pop said.

However, membership in the car club does not require a special vehicle.

“We kind of spice it up. “Your car has to look decent, but we don’t criticize.” Pops said.

Tiffany said all of her members at least have an appreciation and interest in vehicles.

She said another big reason for starting the club was a desire to engage with the community.

“We just started being more active in the community this year” Tiffany said.

The Public Disturbance Car Club participates in the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Adopt a Highway program and has completed two ditch clearings in the past year, one in August and one in November.

“Many of our members have younger children and we have talked about doing a park cleanup.” Tiffany said.

Pops added that club members would choose a park to clean while their children could play on the equipment.

For the first time this year, there were public disruptions at the Interlaken Heritage Days parade in June and the recent Fairmont Glows Parade. The club also hosted a “Trunk or Treat” in downtown Fairmont on Halloween.

The two explained that many of their members have faced various life issues and some are in recovery, but the group is a safe and welcoming place for them.

“We gave them hope. We have taken it beyond just a club; “It’s a family thing,” Pops said.

One of the members, Jarrod Fisher, said: “Here at Public Disturbance we are not just a car club, we are about cars, family, community and everything else in between. The public unrest has had a huge, positive impact on my life and I hope we all have a positive impact on others. The friendships we build with each other are one of the best reasons to be a member. Ultimately, it’s great to find a place where you fit in, and Public Disturbance is that place.”

There are currently about two dozen members in the Fairmont chapter and about 35 in the Des Moines chapter. In addition to attending car shows, the Fairmont chapter meets twice a month, usually on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. in Gomsrud Park. There is a meeting for members and another, more open meeting where potential members can come to learn more about the group.

Once a potential member completes a trial period, they can brand their vehicle with the club name and add additional features later.

“There are levels. That way we know people really want to be with the group.” Pops said.

Now that winter is quickly approaching, Tiffany said they are looking for more projects to get involved in, especially as monthly meetings are put on hold during the cold months. The club will also use the winter to plan new events for next spring and summer.