Meetings

2Public Forum

Public forum for resident comments.

Jason Dryden spoke during public forum about the history of his property and city building experience. Later, the council tabled the proposed resolution to assess Dryden Acres unpaid development-agreement costs until Mayor Hybben can speak with Attorney Ruppe and bring a resolution back to the council.

Tom Lieser asked the council to replace the electronic sign outside Town Hall so residents can be notified of future council meetings. No action was taken during public forum.

Two residents spoke; no council action was recorded under public forum.

public forum
Dryden Acres
town hall sign

Discussion only

3aApproval of March 6, March 11, and March 12, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

Approval of March 6, March 11, and March 12, 2025 City Council minutes.

Approved as part of the amended consent agenda, with the March 12 minutes amended to add approval of agenda.

consent agenda
minutes

Consent calendar

3bApproval of Claims from March 5 to March 19, 2025

Approval of claims from March 5, 2025 to March 19, 2025.

Approved as part of the amended consent agenda.

consent agenda
claims

Consent calendar

3cRatify URRWMO 2026 Budget

Ratification of the Upper Rum River Watershed Management Organization 2026 budget.

After moving the item from consent to new business, CM Breyen reviewed the Upper Rum River Watershed Management Organization budget. The council ratified the 2026 URRWMO budget, including Nowthen's $11,933.21 share, by a 5-0 roll-call vote.

Moved from consent to New Business e and approved separately.

URRWMO budget

Approved

3dApproval of Resolution Accepting Bid for Dust Control

Accept bid for dust control.

The dust control item was moved out of consent for discussion. CM Swenson asked staff to study the cost of self-sustaining calcium chloride distribution with city equipment, and the council approved preparing a full cost-benefit analysis. The council then approved Resolution 2025-27 accepting the Northern Salt bid for 10 miles of dust control by a 5-0 roll-call vote.

Moved from consent to New Business f and approved separately after a separate motion asking staff for a cost-benefit analysis on city-owned calcium chloride equipment.

dust control
public works

Approved

p. 1p. 2p. 3

3eApproval of Resolution Approving Variance and Deed Restriction

Approval of variance and deed restriction for the Ott property at 22511 Baugh Street NW.

The council approved the Ott variance and deed restriction through the amended consent agenda. The packet describes the variance as recognizing an existing structure with two dwelling units as a legal non-conforming single-family home, subject to restrictions on future occupancy, leasing, and reimbursement of city enforcement costs.

Approved as part of the amended consent agenda.

consent agenda
Ott variance

Consent calendar

3fNowthen Historical Power Association Notification of Yearly Schedule of Public Events

Notification of the Nowthen Historical Power Association yearly schedule of public events.

The council received and approved through consent the Nowthen Historical Power Association's yearly schedule of public events submitted under its CUP and IUP requirements.

Approved as part of the amended consent agenda.

consent agenda
Nowthen Historical Power Association

Consent calendar

3gResolution Accepting Resignation of Garrett Reighard from the Nowthen Fire Department

Added consent item accepting Garrett Reighard's resignation from the Nowthen Fire Department.

Added to the consent agenda by agenda amendment and approved with consent.

consent agenda
fire department resignation

Consent calendar

3hApproval of Resolution for New Projector for Historic Town Hall

New projector purchase for Historic Town Hall, moved from New Business item 6b to consent item H.

The projector item was moved from new business to the consent agenda and approved with consent. The packet recommended buying an Epson Pro Projector EX9240 for $849.99 to test at a council meeting, rather than immediately buying the higher-cost installed Sony option.

Original New Business item 6b was moved to consent item H and approved with consent.

consent agenda
projector

Consent calendar

4aApproval of Emergency Operations Plan

Approval of the Emergency Operations Plan.

Fire Chief Miller briefly reviewed the updated Emergency Operations Plan, and the council accepted the plan as presented by a 5-0 roll-call vote.

Approved as presented.

Emergency Operations Plan
fire department

Approved

5aAdministrator Update: Attended MCFOA

Administrator update on attending MCFOA.

Interim City Administrator Johnson gave a brief update on highlights from the MCFOA conference she attended the prior week. No action was taken.

Update only; no council action recorded.

administrator update
MCFOA

Discussion only

6aApproval of Resolution Interim Wage Increase for Additional Responsibility

Interim wage increase for additional responsibility.

Interim Consultant Boyles summarized the request to raise Interim City Administrator Johnson's pay from $39 to $48.75 per hour because no pay increase was given when she was appointed. The council tabled the item until Attorney Ruppe can be involved in the discussion; the minutes do not record a vote for that tabling motion.

Tabled until Attorney Ruppe is involved in the discussion; minutes did not record a vote for this tabling motion.

interim administrator wage

Tabled

6bApproval of Resolution New Projector for Historic Town Hall

New projector for Historic Town Hall.

Moved to consent item H and approved with the consent agenda.

projector
Historic Town Hall

Consent calendar

6cDiscussion and Approval of Resolution Assessing Costs to Property Owner

Assessing costs to a property owner.

Tabled until Mayor Hybben can speak with Attorney Ruppe and a resolution can be brought back to Council.

Dryden Acres
special assessment

Tabled

6dDistribution of Updated Personnel Policy by City Attorney Mark Allseits

Distribution of updated personnel policy by City Attorney Mark Allseits from Couri and Ruppe.

The council did not adopt the updated personnel policy at this meeting. Mayor Hybben asked council members to review the six discussion points provided by Attorney Allseits and come to the April 24, 2025 council meeting prepared with questions.

Council was asked to review discussion points and return with questions for the April 24, 2025 meeting.

personnel policy

Discussion only

7Old Business

Old business placeholder.

No old business action was recorded in the minutes.

old business

No action

8Items Moved from Consent Agenda

Items moved from the consent agenda, if needed.

Consent items C and D were moved and handled as New Business items e and f.

items moved from consent

Discussion only

9Adjourn

Adjournment.

Meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.

meeting administration

Approved

p. 1p. 3

Motions and votes

9 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

m01MOTION BY MAYOR HYBBEN, SECONDED BY CM BREYEN, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED WITH THE ADDITION OF RESOLUTION 2025-XX ACCEPTING THE RESIGNATION OF GARRETT REIGHARD FROM THE NOWTHEN FIRE DEPARTMENT TO CONSENT G AND THE RELOCATION OF CONSENT ITEM C TO NEW BUSINESS E, CONSENT ITEM D TO NEW BUSINESS F, AND NEW BUSINESS ITEM B TO CONSENT H.

moved by Hybben, seconded by Breyen

Passed

YRAINVILLE
YBREYEN
YSWENSON
YGLASER
YHYBBEN

m02MOTION BY CM BREYEN, SECONDED BY CM GLASER, TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED, ADDING THE APPROVAL OF AGENDA TO MARCH 12, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY CM BREYEN, SECONDED BY CM GLASER, TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED, ADDING THE APPROVAL OF AGENDA TO MARCH 12, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

moved by Breyen, seconded by Glaser

Passed

YBREYEN
YSWENSON
YGLASER
YRAINVILLE
YHYBBEN

m03MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE SECONDED BY CM BREYEN TO ACCEPT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE SECONDED BY CM BREYEN TO ACCEPT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN

moved by Rainville, seconded by Breyen

Passed

YSWENSON
YGLASER
YRAINVILLE
YBREYEN
YHYBBEN

m04MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO TABLE UNTIL ATTORNEY RUPPE IS INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Hybben

Tabled

m05MOTION BY MAYOR HYBBEN SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO TABLE DISCUSSION UNTIL A CONVERSATION CAN BE HAD BETWEEN MAYOR HYBBEN AND ATTORNEY RUPPE AT WHICH TIME A RESOLUTION WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY MAYOR HYBBEN SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO TABLE DISCUSSION UNTIL A CONVERSATION CAN BE HAD BETWEEN MAYOR HYBBEN AND ATTORNEY RUPPE AT WHICH TIME A RESOLUTION WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL

moved by Hybben, seconded by Rainville

Passed

YGLASER
YRAINVILLE
YBREYEN
YSWENSON
YHYBBEN

m06MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO RATIFY THE 2026 URRWMO BUDGET AND NOWTHEN'S PORTION OF $11,933.21.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO RATIFY THE 2026 URRWMO BUDGET AND NOWTHEN'S PORTION OF $11,933.21

moved by Breyen, seconded by Hybben

Passed

YRAINVILLE
YBREYEN
YSWENSON
YGLASER
YHYBBEN

m07MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE SECONDED BY CM SWENSON TO APPROVE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR JOHNSON TO ESTABLISH A COST FOR EQUIPMENT TO DISTRIBUTE CALCIUM CHLORIDE IN THE FORM OF A FULL COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE SECONDED BY CM SWENSON TO APPROVE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR JOHNSON TO ESTABLISH A COST FOR EQUIPMENT TO DISTRIBUTE CALCIUM CHLORIDE IN THE FORM OF A FULL COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

moved by Rainville, seconded by Swenson

Passed

YBREYEN
YSWENSON
YGLASER
YRAINVILLE
YHYBBEN

p. 3

m08MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY CM RAINVILLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-27 ACCEPTING BID FOR 10 MILES OF DUST CONTROL.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY CM RAINVILLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-27 ACCEPTING BID FOR 10 MILES OF DUST CONTROL

moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

Passed

YRAINVILLE
YBREYEN
YSWENSON
YGLASER
YHYBBEN

p. 3

m09MOTION TO ADJOURN BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY CM RAINVILLE.

Exact transcript text

MOTION TO ADJOURN BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY CM RAINVILLE

moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

Passed

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:49 P.M.

p. 3

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.

Claims total march 27 2025

$176,210

Council voted: MOTION BY CM BREYEN, SECONDED BY CM GLASER, TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED, ADDING THE APPROVAL OF AGENDA TO MARCH 12, 2025 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Passed(5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.)

p. 12p. 1

Claim anoka area chamber dues

$280

Claim arvig infrastructure

$164,795

Claim aspen mills uniforms total

$631

Claim couri ruppe total

$7,848

p. 10p. 10

Claim crow river farm equipment

$246

Claim ecm publishers printing total

$116

Claim fire training

$650

Claim hl mesabi grader cutting edges

$1,112

Claim menards supplies total

$52

p. 11p. 11

Claim napa air filter

$43

Claim vestis uniforms total

$319

p. 11p. 12

Claim wex fleet card total

$119

p. 12

Urrwmo 2026 nowthen share

$11,933

Council voted: MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO RATIFY THE 2026 URRWMO BUDGET AND NOWTHEN'S PORTION OF $11,933.21 Passed(5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.)

p. 14p. 2

Urrwmo 2026 total budget

$56,006

Council voted: MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO RATIFY THE 2026 URRWMO BUDGET AND NOWTHEN'S PORTION OF $11,933.21 Passed(5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.)

p. 14p. 2

Urrwmo 2026 plan update amount

$10,000

Council voted: MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY MAYOR HYBBEN TO RATIFY THE 2026 URRWMO BUDGET AND NOWTHEN'S PORTION OF $11,933.21 Passed(5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.)

p. 13

Northern salt dust control bid

$50,560

Council voted: MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY CM RAINVILLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-27 ACCEPTING BID FOR 10 MILES OF DUST CONTROL Passed(5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.)

p. 19p. 3

Northern salt dust control rate per gallon

Council voted: MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY CM RAINVILLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-27 ACCEPTING BID FOR 10 MILES OF DUST CONTROL Passed(5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.)

p. 21

Calcium chloride budget line

$50,000

Council voted: MOTION BY CM BREYEN SECONDED BY CM RAINVILLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025-27 ACCEPTING BID FOR 10 MILES OF DUST CONTROL Passed(5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.)

p. 22

Epson projector purchase

$850

p. 70p. 1p. 1

Prior history on this business

When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.

On December 12, 2024, the City Council by resolution appointed Natalie Johnson Interim City Administrator until she relinquished the additional responsibilities presumably when the long-term Administrator arrives, most likely in August 2025. Despite the substantial increase in responsibilities, Ms. Johnson received no pay increase.

— Consultant Boyles

What this is about
Prior appointment of Natalie Johnson as Interim City Administrator and the absence of a wage increase at that time.

p. 67

Related history

The records searched contain only a partial match. A later document in the February 10, 2026 packet identifies “Interim City Administrator Clerk Natalie Johnson” on a Planning & Zoning policies document adopted by the City Council March 11, 2025, which supports that she was serving in an interim administrator/clerk role by that time. However, the search results do not include the December 12, 2024 resolution appointing Natalie Johnson as Interim City Administrator, and they do not show any recorded discussion or vote about whether she received a wage increase for taking on those duties.

Feb 10, 2026## CITY & GOVERNMENT CLIENTS - CONTACT INFORMATION <table> <tr> <th>Public Sector Client</th> <th>Prosecution Services</
Mar 10, 2026Council may also appoint a council liaison who shall be a non-voting member who is not counted for quorum purposes. B. T
Mar 10, 20267\. The memo from the City Planner dated February 18, 2026 is incorporated herein by reference. The staff report from th
Feb 10, 2026Mayor Shane Hybben ATTEST: Interim City Administrator Clerk Natalie Johnson
Apr 14, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth

Before construction began the Drydens and the city entered into a development agreement under the terms of which the Drydens were and are responsible for any and all costs incurred by the city to facilitate the completion of the development.

— City Attorney and Interim City Administrator

What this is about
Prior Dryden Acres development agreement and earlier city efforts to collect unpaid costs.

p. 72

Related history

The records provided show a partial match. In council packet materials for the February 24, March 10, March 24, and April 14, 2026 meetings, the proposed development conditions repeatedly state that infrastructure timing would be governed by a Developer’s/Development Agreement, that the developer had to provide financial security before the final plat could be recorded, and that “the Developer must reimburse the City for all costs incurred by the City and its consultants” for plan review and preparation of the Developer’s Agreement. The December 23, 2025 packet also shows the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a related minor subdivision subject to conditions, including wetland-buffer requirements and, as an alternative to completing those improvements before recording, an agreement acceptable to the City Attorney with financial security set by the City Engineer. The records searched here do not show the executed Dryden Acres development agreement itself, a recorded vote approving that agreement, or earlier city collection actions for unpaid costs. They do support the recollection that reimbursement of city costs and financial security were conditions tied to the development process, but they do not document the later collection history.

Dec 23, 2025DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends ap
Apr 14, 202610\. To the extent that there are differences or conflicts between the Site Plans and this resolution, the terms of this
Mar 10, 20267\. All comments contained within the City Engineer memo from Hakanson Anderson dated February 13, 2026, the memo from C
Mar 10, 202611\. To the extent that there are differences or conflicts between the Site Plans and this resolution, the terms of this
Feb 24, 202610\. To the extent that there are differences or conflicts between the Site Plans and this resolution, the terms of this

Jason Dryden 67XX Viking Blvd - Went over the history of his property and building experience with the city, and asked questions to the council regarding his circumstances.

— Jason Dryden

What this is about
Resident reference to prior property and building experience with the city related to Dryden Acres.