Tuesday, November 14, 2023 · 7:00 PM
Agenda
Not posted
What was on the agenda.
One-line summary
The council approved consent items, assessed $350 for a Cleary Road code case, sent three long-running code cases toward prosecutor review, approved population sign replacement up to $700, and approved terms to hire Isaac Schulz in public works.
28 items as recorded in the packet and minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.
1Call to Order / Pledge / Roll Call / Approve Agenda
Call to order, Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of agenda.
Agenda accepted as amended, with Consent Item E moved to 9D1.
2Public Forum
Public forum, including notice that residents could comment on Mackenzie Hills or attend the re-noticed Planning and Zoning public hearing.
Residents commented on the Mackenzie Hills plat and the proposed future extension of 205th Avenue. Staff and the mayor explained that no plat action would be taken that night and that the public hearing had been re-noticed for the November 28 Planning and Zoning meeting.
Public comments were heard; no formal action was taken during public forum.
3aApprove prior City Council minutes
Approval of City Council meeting minutes from September 12, September 14, September 20, September 20, September 27, October 10, and October 16, 2023.
The council approved the consent agenda after removing the Isaac Schulz hiring item. The consent approvals included prior minutes, claims and treasurer report, third-quarter financials, Bill's Superette tobacco license renewal, Bootleggers alcohol violation citation, ERYHA donation, fire department resignations, and the Twin Parkway culvert contract authorization.
Approved as part of the consent agenda as amended.
3bClaims and Treasurer's Report
Approval of claims from October 9, 2023 to November 10, 2023 and the Treasurer's Report.
The council approved the consent agenda after removing the Isaac Schulz hiring item. The consent approvals included prior minutes, claims and treasurer report, third-quarter financials, Bill's Superette tobacco license renewal, Bootleggers alcohol violation citation, ERYHA donation, fire department resignations, and the Twin Parkway culvert contract authorization.
Approved as part of the consent agenda as amended.
3cAccept 3rd Quarter Financials
Acceptance of the 3rd Quarter Financials prepared by Finance Consultant Lori Yager.
The council approved the consent agenda after removing the Isaac Schulz hiring item. The consent approvals included prior minutes, claims and treasurer report, third-quarter financials, Bill's Superette tobacco license renewal, Bootleggers alcohol violation citation, ERYHA donation, fire department resignations, and the Twin Parkway culvert contract authorization.
Accepted as part of the consent agenda as amended.
3dResolution 2023-63 tobacco sales license renewal for Bill's Superette
Approval of Resolution 2023-63 renewing the tobacco sales license for Bill's Superette.
The council approved the consent agenda after removing the Isaac Schulz hiring item. The consent approvals included prior minutes, claims and treasurer report, third-quarter financials, Bill's Superette tobacco license renewal, Bootleggers alcohol violation citation, ERYHA donation, fire department resignations, and the Twin Parkway culvert contract authorization.
Approved as part of the consent agenda as amended.
3e/9d1Resolution 2023-64 hiring Isaac Schulz
Approval of Resolution 2023-64 hiring Isaac Schulz as a public works maintenance technician.
The council removed Isaac Schulz's public works hiring from consent for discussion. After discussing benefits, probation, PTO, and his on-call firefighter status, the council approved offering the job at $25 per hour with 80 hours of PTO and other terms tied to the personnel policy update.
Removed from consent and approved later with amended employment terms.
3fResolution 2023-65 Bootleggers alcohol violation
Approval of Resolution 2023-65 citing Bootleggers for an alcohol violation.
The council approved the consent agenda after removing the Isaac Schulz hiring item. The consent approvals included prior minutes, claims and treasurer report, third-quarter financials, Bill's Superette tobacco license renewal, Bootleggers alcohol violation citation, ERYHA donation, fire department resignations, and the Twin Parkway culvert contract authorization.
Approved as part of the consent agenda as amended.
3gResolution 2023-66 ERYHA donation
Approval of Resolution 2023-66 accepting a donation from the Elk River Youth Hockey Association.
The council approved the consent agenda after removing the Isaac Schulz hiring item. The consent approvals included prior minutes, claims and treasurer report, third-quarter financials, Bill's Superette tobacco license renewal, Bootleggers alcohol violation citation, ERYHA donation, fire department resignations, and the Twin Parkway culvert contract authorization.
Approved as part of the consent agenda as amended.
3hResolution 2023-67 fire department resignations
Approval of Resolution 2023-67 accepting the resignations of Fire Fighter Steve Lundeen and Assistant Chief Adam Schrag.
The council approved the consent agenda after removing the Isaac Schulz hiring item. The consent approvals included prior minutes, claims and treasurer report, third-quarter financials, Bill's Superette tobacco license renewal, Bootleggers alcohol violation citation, ERYHA donation, fire department resignations, and the Twin Parkway culvert contract authorization.
Approved as part of the consent agenda as amended.
3iResolution 2023-68 Twin Parkway culvert
Approval of Resolution 2023-68 authorizing removal and re-installation of a culvert on Twin Parkway NW.
The council approved the consent agenda after removing the Isaac Schulz hiring item. The consent approvals included prior minutes, claims and treasurer report, third-quarter financials, Bill's Superette tobacco license renewal, Bootleggers alcohol violation citation, ERYHA donation, fire department resignations, and the Twin Parkway culvert contract authorization.
Approved as part of the consent agenda as amended.
4Engineering
Engineering.
No engineering business was presented.
5Fire Department
Fire Department report.
Chief Schmidt reported October fire department activity, including 22 incidents, an average response time of 14 minutes and 29 seconds, no fire dollar loss, and notable calls involving a trash fire and a crash on Norris Lake Road and Jarvis.
Chief Schmidt presented the October report; no council action was recorded.
6Sheriff's Department
Sheriff's Department report.
Chief Deputy Jacobson reported 139 calls for service in October and answered questions about arrests, medical calls, animal complaints, burglaries, and assaults. A written follow-up after the meeting attributed the burglary increase mainly to storage-unit burglaries.
Chief Deputy Jacobson presented the October report; no council action was recorded.
7aMackenzie Hills - Public Hearing Renoticed
Mackenzie Hills public hearing re-noticed.
Residents commented on the Mackenzie Hills plat and the proposed future extension of 205th Avenue. Staff and the mayor explained that no plat action would be taken that night and that the public hearing had been re-noticed for the November 28 Planning and Zoning meeting.
No action was taken; the Council was asked to attend the November 28 Planning and Zoning meeting.
7bUpdated Assessment List - 19144 Cleary Rd.
Updated assessment list for 19144 Cleary Road.
The council decided to assess $350 against 19144 Cleary Road to recoup the city's out-of-pocket code compliance costs after the resident worked toward removing the container.
Council approved a $350 assessment to recoup city costs.
7cCode Enforcement - Problem Properties
Code enforcement problem properties.
Planner Stockman asked how to proceed with three difficult code enforcement properties. The council authorized staff to move the properties to Prosecuting Attorney Glaser so he can outline the process, steps, and recommendation for the December 12 meeting.
Council authorized staff to move three properties to Prosecuting Attorney Glaser for process outline and recommendation to return December 12.
8aGambling Ordinance
Administrator update on gambling ordinance.
Administrator Lehner reported that the gambling ordinance was in place and both Nowthen establishments had been notified. The mayor suggested asking the Anoka-Ramsey Athletic Association whether it had extra funds to donate retroactive to January 1, 2023.
Administrator reported that the ordinance was in place and establishments were notified.
8bAdministrative Assistant position
Administrator update on the administrative assistant position.
The administrator reported that interviews were scheduled and that the position was being approached as two part-time employees working up to 30 hours per week instead of one full-time employee.
Administrator reported interviews were scheduled and the city was considering two part-time employees.
9a1Bar None Compliance
Bar None compliance under old business.
There was no update on the new program proposed for Bar None. The mayor said the program must go through a permitted process and public hearing, and he and the administrator would keep working with Attorney Ruppe.
No update was available; the mayor and administrator planned to continue working with the attorney.
9a2ATV Ordinance
ATV ordinance under old business.
No action had been taken on the ATV ordinance.
9b1Personnel Policy
Status of action item: personnel policy.
The council reviewed several pending action items: personnel policy work, fee schedule updates, recycling hours and costs, and road improvement public hearing notices. No formal action was recorded on these status updates.
The personnel policy remained in progress.
9b2Update Fee Schedule
Status of action item: update fee schedule.
The council reviewed several pending action items: personnel policy work, fee schedule updates, recycling hours and costs, and road improvement public hearing notices. No formal action was recorded on these status updates.
The fee schedule remained in progress.
9b3Recycling Hours
Status of action item: recycling hours.
The council reviewed several pending action items: personnel policy work, fee schedule updates, recycling hours and costs, and road improvement public hearing notices. No formal action was recorded on these status updates.
Recycling hours and costs were discussed; no formal motion was recorded.
9b4Road improvement project notices
Status of action item: public hearing notices and resident letters for the road improvement project on Waco St, Waco Dr, 182nd Ave and Ventre Lane.
The council reviewed several pending action items: personnel policy work, fee schedule updates, recycling hours and costs, and road improvement public hearing notices. No formal action was recorded on these status updates.
The public hearing notices had been sent.
9c1Discuss Population Sign replacement
Discuss population sign replacement.
Project Manager Genevieve Hirschboeck presented population sign locations and replacement options. The council approved moving forward with sign replacement not to exceed $700, using a design that mimics the city letterhead and removes the words "Welcome To."
Council approved moving forward with sign replacement not to exceed $700, with design changes.
9dItems Removed from Consent Agenda
Items removed from consent agenda.
The council removed Isaac Schulz's public works hiring from consent for discussion. After discussing benefits, probation, PTO, and his on-call firefighter status, the council approved offering the job at $25 per hour with 80 hours of PTO and other terms tied to the personnel policy update.
Consent Item E was removed and handled as the Isaac Schulz hiring item.
10Adjourn
Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
7 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville
4 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY BREYEN TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED MOVING "E" TO 9D1.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Breyen
4 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M3MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY ALDERS TO ASSESS $350.00 TO RECOUP THE CITY COST FOR THIS CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUE AT 19144 CLEARY ROAD.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Alders
5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M4MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY ALDERS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO MOVE THESE THREE PROPERTIES TO PROSECUTING ATTORNEY GLASER TO OUTLINE THE PROCESS, STEPS AND TO GIVE A RECOMMENDATION AND BRING BACK TO COUNCIL AT THE DECEMBER 12TH MEETING. IF A LETTER IS SET OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS, IT SHOULD EXPLAIN HOW ALL COURT COSTS, ATTORNEY COSTS AND STAFF COSTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Alders
5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M5MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SIGN REPLACEMENT NOT TO EXCEED $700, MIMICKING THE LETTERHEAD, REMOVING "WELCOME TO.".
MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SIGN REPLACEMENT NOT TO EXCEED $700, MIMICKING THE LETTERHEAD, REMOVING "WELCOME TO."
moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville
M6MOTION AMENDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERS AND APPROVED BY RAINVILLE TO OFFER TOMORROW AT $25 PER HOUR, 80 HOURS OF PTO, SAME HOLIDAYS AT CURRENT TEAM MEMBERS, ESST BEGINNING JANUARY 1 WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT HE KNOWS THE POLICY WILL BE UPDATED FOR 2024 TO INCLUDE LIFE INSURANCE, LONG TERM AND SHORT TERM DISABILITY AVAILABLE, NOT TO INCLUDE EMB UNLESS LONG TERM AND SHORT TERM DISABILTY ARE NOT OFFERED, THEN IT WOULD INCLUDE EMB WITH AN ACCURAL DATE OF HIS SEASONAL START DATE.
moved by Alders, seconded by Rainville
5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.
M7MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY ALDERS.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Alders
The amounts the council actually voted to approve, each with the vote that approved it. Drawn from the official minutes.
Claims approved
$256,526
Checking account balance
$75,821
CDs fixed income balance
$2,859,920
Money market fund balance
$307,552
Adjusted bank total
$3,235,253
Twin Parkway culvert bid
$19,475
Twin Parkway culvert rip rap
$1,100
Population sign replacement cap
$700
Population sign option 1 estimate
$127
Population sign option 2 estimate
$97
Isaac Schulz offer cost with benefits
$67,850
Isaac Schulz hourly wage
$25
When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.
Mr. Mueller stated he doesn't like this plan, that his family has no desire to develop the "Century Farm", it has been in his family since 1903.
— Tim Mueller
What this is about
Mackenzie Hills and the Mueller family farm history in relation to the proposed 205th Avenue extension.
The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching Mr. Mueller’s recollection about the Mueller “Century Farm,” the family’s lack of desire to develop it, or a proposed 205th Avenue extension tied to Mackenzie Hills. There is only a partial Mackenzie Hills match: the May 5, 2025 City Council packet includes a claim-register entry for “Mackenzie Hills” showing $65 in attorney escrow work dated March 13, 2025. The April 14, 2026 packet also includes developer-agreement language, but the excerpt available here does not identify it as Mackenzie Hills or mention 205th Avenue, the Mueller family, or the farm history. The other search results concern the 2026 Overlay Road Improvement Project on roads such as 215th Avenue, 218th Avenue, 222nd Avenue, and 229th Avenue, not a 205th Avenue extension.
It was asked where do the long-term plans come from. Planner Stockman responded that the city always needs to be looking forward to future roads.
— Planner Stockman
What this is about
How long-term road plans are created and why future road corridors are shown.
The records searched do not contain a prior council decision or discussion specifically explaining how long-term road plans are created or why future road corridors are shown. The closest partial match is ordinance language included in the February 24, 2026 and March 10, 2026 packets describing how the City Planner and staff review subdivision-related applications, including coordination with city staff and other agencies. Those materials also say that if dedication of right-of-way on existing streets is required, the item must be reviewed and acted on by the City Council. However, these packet excerpts do not describe the source of the city’s long-term road network plans, and no formal vote on future road corridors is shown in the search results provided.
Non-compliance on this site goes back to at least 2013.
— Planner Stockman
What this is about
History of code enforcement problems at 19960 St. Francis Blvd.
The records I searched do not contain a prior code-enforcement decision or documented enforcement history for 19960 St. Francis Blvd going back to 2013. The only direct match to that address in these results is a police report entry in the May 12, 2026 packet, showing a theft-by-swindle report created April 20, 2026 at 19960 Saint Francis Blvd NW. So, based on these search results, Planner Stockman’s recollection may be accurate, but it is not confirmed by the records returned here. These results do not show a 2013 code-enforcement action, council decision, or recorded vote for that site.
This site has been an eyesore since the owner bought it in 2006; it has always been a rental.
— Planner Stockman
What this is about
History of code enforcement problems at 5833 Norris Lake Road.
The records searched do not contain a prior code-enforcement decision or discussion specifically matching 5833 Norris Lake Road, the 2006 purchase history, or the statement that it has always been a rental. There is only a partial, general match: the February 10, 2026 packet includes a city attorney services proposal describing past code-enforcement work for Nowthen, including efforts to clean up “junk properties” and references to A&B Rentals and Jay’s Services, LLC. However, that document does not identify 5833 Norris Lake Road, list violations, or record any council action tied to that property.
Mr. Larson agreed to a clean-up plan more than five years ago to remove 10-12 vehicles per month.
— Planner Stockman
What this is about
Prior cleanup plan for 19066 Jasper Street code enforcement case.
The records I searched do not contain a prior cleanup plan or council decision matching the recollection that Mr. Larson agreed more than five years ago to remove 10–12 vehicles per month at 19066 Jasper Street. The only Jasper Street references in these results relate to the 2026 road overlay/patching project: at the April 14, 2026 meeting and in the May 12, 2026 packet, staff discussed including Jasper Street patching as an alternate bid item, estimated at $43,000. Those records do not relate to code enforcement, vehicles, Mr. Larson, or a property cleanup agreement.
The mayor suggested Administrator Lehner send a letter requesting/asking if the Anoka-Ramsey Athletic Association had any extra money they would like to donate going back to January 1, 2023, the city would greatly appreciate it.
— Mayor Pilon
What this is about
Request to ask a gambling organization about possible donations back to the start of 2023.
The records searched show a related item involving the Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association, but not the specific recollection of a letter asking about extra donations back to January 1, 2023. At the February 10, 2026 meeting, the packet included a resolution accepting a $3,760.37 donation from the Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association as its 2025 4th quarter donation, with the resolution noting that the City had been receiving quarterly donations from the association and that 2025 contributions to fund 230-36230 would total $15,384.48. I did not find a prior recorded decision or vote directing Administrator Lehner to send a retroactive donation request back to January 1, 2023. The available match confirms the association’s ongoing quarterly donations, but not the specific request described by Mayor Pilon.
In September, the mayor stated that we could not hire any full-time staff until the personnel policy has been updated.
— Mayor Pilon
What this is about
Prior council position that full-time hiring should wait until the personnel policy update.
The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision matching this recollection. The search results provided relate to planning, zoning, plats, interim use permits, and related permit conditions in 2025–2026; they do not show a September discussion or formal vote about delaying full-time hiring until the personnel policy is updated.
## CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA ## RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX ## AMENDED RESOLUTION DECLARING COSTS TO BE ASSESSED AND ORDERING PREPARATION OF PROPOSED ASSESSMENT AND NOTICE
# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA # RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX # RESOLUTION DECLARING COSTS TO BE ASSESSED AND ORDERING PREPARATION OF PROPOSED ASSESSMENT AND NOTICE OF ASSESSME
b) Approval of Resolution 2025-126 Approving the 2026 Overlay Project Feasibility Report. Engineer Nelson presented the feasibility report for the 2026 overlay project, which includes five different p
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# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX # RESOLUTION APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND ORDERING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS WHEREAS, plans and specifications for the 2
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