Meetings

2Public Forum

Public forum comments by Senator Eric Lucero and Deb Dryden.

Deb Dryden used public forum to object to ongoing billing concerns and Facebook comments about the Drydens. Later, after reviewing Attorney Ruppe's explanation for a $325 Dryden Acres legal invoice, the council rejected the packet's proposed approach of billing Dryden escrow and instead voted unanimously for the city to take responsibility for the $325 legal bill and write it off.

No council action was taken during public forum.

public forum
Dryden escrow

Discussion only

3aApproval of May 5, May 8, and May 13, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

Approval of May 5, May 8, and May 13, 2025 City Council meeting minutes.

The council approved the amended consent agenda unanimously. That approval covered the prior May council minutes, claims and April/May treasurer reports, the Twin Lakes Park roof quote, Narcan supplied at no cost through Anoka County's opioid initiative, the Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association donation, Historic Town Hall door/accessibility quotes, Council Member Glaser's URRWMO appointment, and the Planning and Zoning monthly report after it was moved into consent.

Approved under the amended consent agenda.

consent agenda

Consent calendar

3bClaims and Treasurer's Report

Approval of claims from May 7 to June 3 and April and May 2025 treasurer reports.

Approved under the amended consent agenda.

claims
treasurer report
consent agenda

Consent calendar

3cAccepting Quote for Striping Pickleball and Basketball Court at Memorial Park

Accepting a quote to stripe pickleball and basketball court lines at Memorial Park.

The council moved the court-striping item out of consent and approved Resolution 2025-66 for striping the existing basketball/pickleball courts. Council Member Breyen clarified that funding should come from the Park Capital Fund, and the motion passed unanimously.

Moved from consent to old business and approved with Park Capital Fund as the funding source.

Memorial Park court striping

Approved

p. 1p. 5

3dAccepting Quote for Metal Roof at Twin Lakes Park

Accepting a quote for a metal roof at Twin Lakes Park.

Approved under the amended consent agenda.

Twin Lakes Park roof
consent agenda

Consent calendar

3eNarcan Supply at City Office

Allowing the Anoka County Opioid Solutions Initiative to supply the city office with Narcan for residents.

Approved under the amended consent agenda.

Narcan
public health
consent agenda

Consent calendar

3fAnoka Ramsey Athletic Association Donation

Accepting the first quarter donation from Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association.

Approved under the amended consent agenda.

donation
consent agenda

Consent calendar

3gHistoric Town Hall Door and Handicap Button

Accepting quotes for a new door and handicap button for the Historic Town Hall.

Approved under the amended consent agenda.

Historic Town Hall accessibility
consent agenda

Consent calendar

3hAppoint Council Member Glaser to URRWMO

Appointment of Council Member Glaser to URRWMO as the city's second representative.

Approved under the amended consent agenda.

URRWMO
consent agenda

Consent calendar

3iClose City Office June 20 and July 3, 2025

Approval to close the city office on June 20 and July 3, 2025 due to staffing.

After moving the item out of consent, the council discussed the staffing-related city office closures. It unanimously approved closing the city office on June 20 and July 3, 2025, with full-time employees using PTO for both days.

Moved from consent to old business and approved.

city office staffing

Approved

3jRum River Consultants Septic Ordinance and Compliance Program

Authorizing Rum River Consultants to revise the septic ordinance and help prepare a septic compliance program.

The council approved Resolution 2025-65 authorizing Rum River Consultants to revise Nowthen's septic ordinance and implement a septic compliance system. The packet and minutes identify a $900 estimated ordinance-revision cost and a $2,000 annual reporting fee, with the program intended to help align the city with MPCA reporting and compliance requirements.

Moved from consent to old business and approved as Resolution 2025-65.

septic compliance

Approved

3kAttorney Ruppe Response and Dryden Escrow Billing

Attorney Ruppe's response and decision whether to bill the Dryden escrow.

Moved from consent to old business; council chose to write off the legal bill rather than bill Dryden escrow.

Dryden escrow

Approved

4aFire Department Monthly Report

Fire Department monthly report.

Chief Miller reported on Fire Department improvements, including needs assessment work, equipment updates, emergency planning, grant applications, training, and goals for recruitment, inspections, prevention, and leadership development. After discussing stability for the young department and the cost of the contract, the council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-63 extending Robert Miller's contract as Fire Chief/Emergency Manager through December 31, 2027, including the scheduled weekly pay increase beginning in 2026.

Monthly report was presented as part of the Fire Department discussion.

Fire Department

Discussion only

p. 1p. 100

4bFire Department Progress and Goals Presentation

Presentation on the Fire Department's last five months of progress and goals moving forward.

Presentation and council questions; no separate action taken.

Fire Department

Discussion only

4cExtend Fire Chief Miller's Contract

Extending Chief Miller's contract.

Approved as Resolution 2025-63.

Fire Chief contract

Approved

5aSheriff's Department Monthly Report

Sheriff's Department monthly report.

The Sheriff's Department reported 19 May calls to Bar None and described serious incidents including a May 25 assault that led to first-degree assault charges. Attorney Allseits then reviewed the excessive-use ordinance fee question using Anoka County's $69.76 per-deputy-hour cost estimate. The council rounded the amount and unanimously selected a $70 fee for excessive use of law enforcement services under Ordinance 2025-04, with exceptions discussed for medical, mental-health, and domestic incidents.

Monthly report presented; no separate action taken.

Sheriff's Department
Bar None

Discussion only

p. 1p. 2

6aPlanning and Zoning Monthly Report

Planning and Zoning monthly report.

Moved to the consent agenda and approved under the amended consent agenda.

Planning and Zoning
consent agenda

Consent calendar

7aReceptionist/Front Desk Position and Hiring Process

Receptionist/front desk position update and hiring process discussion.

Interim Administrator Johnson said the city had received 11 applications for the receptionist/front desk position and discussed how interviews should be handled. Council members agreed interviews could include up to two council members if available, while allowing staff to proceed if council members could not attend. Johnson also received support to seek no-cost help from another city clerk or administrator if she needed additional hiring expertise.

Council gave hiring-process direction but took no recorded vote in the signed minutes.

receptionist hiring

Discussion only

8bFee for Excessive Use of Service Ordinance 2025-04

Discussion and decision on fee for excessive use of law enforcement services under Ordinance 2025-04.

Council selected a $70 fee.

excessive law enforcement services
Bar None

Approved

p. 1p. 2

9aPersonnel Policy dated March 2025

Discussion and approval of personnel policy dated March 2025.

The council finished most of the March 2025 personnel policy. It left the exempt-employee absence language in place, removed the ability to use unaccrued PTO, chose not to add a fixed salary-increase policy, and approved flex-time language in concept. Because members disagreed about whether PTO and holidays should count toward overtime, the council approved the personnel policy with that overtime paragraph removed and directed members to submit questions for a small-cities survey before making a final decision.

The signed minutes describe policy decisions but omit the final motion; the transcript records approval with the overtime paragraph held back for further research.

personnel policy

Approved

p. 1p. 2p. 3p. 3

9bVeterans Memorial Ad Hoc Committee

Establishing a Veterans Memorial Ad Hoc Committee.

The council discussed renovating the Veterans Memorial at Nowthen Memorial Park and forming an ad hoc committee that could include residents, veterans or their families, public works staff, and a council representative. Members discussed aiming for a manageable odd-numbered group, possibly five to nine members, and a six-to-eight-week proposal timeline after formation. The council unanimously approved moving forward with the ad hoc committee.

Council approved moving forward with an ad hoc committee.

Veterans Memorial

Approved

9cGoals for City Staff to Accomplish

Discussion of goals for city staff to accomplish.

The council reviewed completed and pending staff goals and identified additional work, including updating job descriptions, studying weather-siren coverage, continuing ordinance and CUP/IUP work, improving gravel-road maintenance, moving toward a fee-based permit system, evaluating city office hours, encouraging commercial and industrial development, scheduling an Emergency Operations Plan tabletop exercise, and evaluating street signs. No formal motion was recorded in the signed minutes.

Council reviewed goals but the signed minutes do not record a motion.

city staff goals

Discussion only

9dAdd Comments to the City Facebook Page

Approval to allow comments on the City Facebook page.

The council considered staff's request to allow comments on the City Facebook page so posts could be scheduled, events and reels could be used, and the page could gain more engagement. Council approved allowing comments on a trial basis with review at the October council meeting. Mayor Hybben, Council Members Rainville, Glaser, and Swenson voted yes, and Council Member Breyen voted no.

Approved with review at the October council meeting.

Facebook comments

Approved

9iMayor Internet Update

Mayor's internet update added to old business by agenda amendment.

Mayor Hybben gave an added old-business update on the Comcast internet project. He reported that 418 mid-span poles had been identified, permits were progressing, the project was divided into five zones with estimated completions from June/July through October/November, and residents should connect during initial installation to avoid later costs.

Added by agenda amendment; update only, no action recorded.

internet update

Discussion only

p. 1p. 5

10Adjourn

Adjournment.

Meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.

meeting administration

No action

p. 1p. 5

Motions and votes

13 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

M1MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO APPROVE AGENDA AS AMENDED WITH MOVING 6A TO CONSENT AGENDA, AND MOVING 31, 3J, 3K, AND 3C, TO OLD BUSINESS, AND ADDING AN INTERNET UPDATE TO OLD BUSINESS.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Hybben

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

p. 1

M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Swenson

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

p. 1

M3MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY CM GLASER TO SELECT A FEE OF $70 TO BE ADJUSTED AS APPROPRIATE FOR AN EXCESSIVE USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES CITY CODE VIOLATION TO BE ADDED TO ORDINANCE 2025-04ANCE 2025-04 SO THE ORDINANCE CAN BE CODIFIED AND ADDED INTO THE CITY WEBSITE AND ENFORCED.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Glaser

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

p. 2

M4I will move with to approve the motion to approve the resolution adopting a personnel policy dated March 2025. And I think that's all the information that we have for that. It's resolution 25 2025XX and the we're going to resend on page 175 which is the top paragraph talking about overtime. Other than that, I believe the that is my motion.

Exact transcript text

I will move uh with to approve the motion to uh approve the resolution adopting a personnel policy dated March 2025. And I think that's all the information that we have for that. It's resolution 25 2025XX and the we're going to resend on page 175 which is the top paragraph talking about overtime. Other than that, I believe the that is my motion.

moved by Hybben, seconded by Glaser

Passed

Motion carries.

1:24:00

M4aSo then we need a motion to move forward with staff direction to contact the League of Small Cities. but we as council members need to submit our questions that we would like to staff so that they can move that provide those to the small cities.

Exact transcript text

So then we need a motion to move forward with staff direction to contact the League of Small Cities. Um, but we as council members need to submit our questions that we would like to staff so that they can move that provide those to the small cities.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Hybben

Passed

Motion carries.

1:25:041:26:16

M5MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-63 EXTENDING THE CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH ROBERT MILLER UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2027 AS FIRECHIEF/EMERGENCY MANAGER.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Hybben

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

p. 3

M6MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK AT NOWTHEN MEMORIAL PARK.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Hybben

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

p. 3

M7MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER, SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO ALLOW COMMENTS ON THE CITY FACEBOOK PAGE TO HELP GROUTH AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION ONLINE WITH THE ADDITION OF A REVIEW PERIOD FOR THE OCTOBER COUNCIL MEETING.

moved by Glaser, seconded by Hybben

PassedSplit vote

YHybben
YRainville
YGlaser
YSwenson
NBreyen

M8MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN FOR THE CITY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE $325 LEGAL BILL AND WRITE IT OFF.

moved by Glaser, seconded by Breyen

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

M9MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-65 AUTHORIZING RUM RIVER CONSULTANTS TO REVISE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM ORDINANCE AND IMPLEMENT A SEPTIC COMPLIANCE SYSTEM FOR THE CITY OF NOWTHEN.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Swenson

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

M10MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GLASER TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-66 ACCEPTING THE QUOTE FOR STRIPING THE EXISTING BASKETBALL/PICKLEBALL COURTS SO THAT THE PICKLE BALL COURTS GET STRIPED IN ONE COLOR AND THE BASKETBALL COURT WOULD GET STRIPED IN ANOTHER COLOR, WITH FUNDING TO COME FROM THE PARK CAPITAL FUND.

moved by Breyen, seconded by Glaser

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

p. 5

M11MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN TO ALLOW THE CITY OFFICE TO CLOSE JUNE 20 AND JULY 3, 2025 DUE TO LIMITED STAFFING AND HOLIDAYS. FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WILL TAKE PTO FOR BOTH DAYS.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Breyen

Passed

YHybben
YBreyen
YGlaser
YSwenson
YRainville

M12MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON.

moved by Breyen, seconded by Swenson

Outcome unrecorded

p. 5

Money the council voted to spend

The amounts the council actually voted to approve, each with the vote that approved it. Drawn from the official minutes.

April 2025 checking balance

$367,345

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

April 2025 CD balance

$1,453,138

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

April 2025 money market balance

$302,027

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

April 2025 treasurer total

$2,122,510

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

April 2025 outstanding checks

$373,676

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

April 2025 adjusted bank total

$1,748,834

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

p. 15p. 15

May 2025 checking balance

$212,596

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

May 2025 CD balance

$1,460,288

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

May 2025 money market balance

$205,776

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

May 2025 treasurer total

$1,878,659

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)

May 2025 outstanding checks

$183,116

Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SWENSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. Passed(5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.)