Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Agenda
Not posted
What was on the agenda.
One-line summary
Council handled Planning and Zoning approvals and tablings, set unstaffed warming-house rules, created fire-related funds and truck authority, reduced a fire-call bill, approved gambling and property counteroffer actions, set employee-review deadlines, and authorized deputy clerk hiring steps.
18 items as recorded in the packet and minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.
A1Truth in Taxation hearing
Truth in Taxation hearing for public testimony before adopting the final levy.
The council opened the required Truth in Taxation hearing for public comment on the final levy, but no one spoke and the hearing was closed.
No public testimony was given in the transcript.
A2Pledge of Allegiance and opening motion
Opening pledge and an unidentified opening motion.
The transcript does not identify the exact motion text.
A3Sheriff's report
Anoka County Sheriff's Office report for November 2017 calls for service and public safety reminders.
The Sheriff's Office reported 134 November calls for service, including a stolen test-drive van, an intoxicated driver hitting a marked squad, and a lifesaving bystander CPR/AED response, then reminded residents to guard against holiday fraud and package theft.
Report received; no council action recorded.
A4Floor item: Moody lot split tabling request
Floor item request by Mr. Moody to table a Planning and Zoning lot split item until February.
Mr. Moody asked that his lot split request be tabled so the city engineer could review a new survey, and council tabled the item to the February council meeting at his request.
The formal tabling motion occurred later under Planning and Zoning.
PZ1Historical Power Association CUP/IUP amendments
Request to amend current conditional use and interim use permits for 7415 Old Viking Boulevard and listed parcels for a historical power association.
Council approved amendments to the current conditional use and interim use permits for 7415 Old Viking Boulevard and related parcels, incorporating the city planner's December 12 email corrections or amendments.
Approved including the planner's December 12 email corrections or amendments.
PZ2Extended home occupation IUP at 39300 195th Avenue NW
Interim use permit for an extended home occupation at 39300 195th Avenue Northwest, PID 30-33-25-24-0007.
Council approved an interim use permit for an extended home occupation at 39300 195th Avenue NW, leaving the 18-tree screening condition, removing the accessory-building condition from the permit language, and making compliance review complaint-driven.
Approved as amended: item 7 removed/renumbered, item 10 made complaint-driven, and 18 trees left in place.
PZ3Moody lot split
Moody lot split request.
Mr. Moody asked that his lot split request be tabled so the city engineer could review a new survey, and council tabled the item to the February council meeting at his request.
Tabled until the February council meeting at Mr. Moody's request.
PZ4Planning and Zoning Commission appointment
Appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Council accepted the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation to appoint the person rendered in the transcript as “interjection Oliver's” to the commission.
The transcript renders the appointee name as “interjection Oliver's”; no clearer spelling was available in the bundle.
PZ5Section 153 administrative-notice materials
Planner documents and notes concerning Section 153 and a letter to property owners before administrative notice.
Council sent planner materials on the Section 153 administrative-notice process back to Planning and Zoning for review, and separately approved Ms. Stockman's draft letter with the open-house date corrected to January 8, 2018.
Sent back to Planning and Zoning for review and recommendation.
PZ6Draft letter from Ms. Stockman
Draft letter from Ms. Stockman, with correction to the open house date.
Council sent planner materials on the Section 153 administrative-notice process back to Planning and Zoning for review, and separately approved Ms. Stockman's draft letter with the open-house date corrected to January 8, 2018.
Approved with the open house date corrected to January 8, 2018.
CC1Skating rink and warming house operations
Discussion and action on winter skating rink and warming house hours, staffing, timers, signage, and garbage receptacles.
Council decided the warming house would be unstaffed for the season, set public hours, directed temporary and permanent signage, authorized timer work if it could fit within the existing $7,500 rink electrical allocation, and directed that waste receptacles be placed inside and outside.
Approved operating hours and related unstaffed-operation measures, with electrical work limited to the previously allocated $7,500 if possible.
CC2Turnout gear fund and rescue truck authorization
Fire department fund transfers and authorization for Fire Chief Kohner to pursue a rescue truck for the northern fire station.
Council created a turnout gear fund, transferred turnout-gear and remaining fire budget amounts, and authorized Fire Chief Kohner to pursue a new or used rescue truck for the northern fire station in the $65,000 to $80,000 range including transportation, with the clerk and mayor involved before a decision and on transportation.
Approved with an amendment that the fire chief work with the city clerk and mayor before a truck decision is made and on transportation.
CC3Lesko fire-call bill waiver request
Mr. Lesko request to waive a fire-call bill.
Council found the Lesko fire incident involved a running fire rather than a permitted brush pile, but reduced the original $1,686 bill to $843 because of communication concerns, then approved dating/revision information on city forms and added language that running fires require DNR approval.
Council did not fully waive the bill; it reduced the amount to $843 and noted revised burning-permit communication procedures.
CC4City form revision dates and burning-permit language
Dating and revision tracking for city forms, and added burning-permit language on running fires.
Council found the Lesko fire incident involved a running fire rather than a permitted brush pile, but reduced the original $1,686 bill to $843 because of communication concerns, then approved dating/revision information on city forms and added language that running fires require DNR approval.
Approved dating/revision information on city forms and added running-fire approval language to the burning-permit form.
CC5Bootleggers gambling change to Elk River Youth Hockey
Gambling change at Bootleggers to Elk River Youth Hockey.
Council approved the gambling change at Bootleggers to Elk River Youth Hockey.
Approved the gambling change.
CC6Curtis counteroffer
Counteroffer for Mr. Curtis involving full tax value and split closing costs.
Council approved a counteroffer to Mr. Curtis requesting the full tax value, heard in the transcript as approximately $78,478, and splitting closing costs.
Approved a counteroffer requesting full tax value and split closing costs; the exact tax-value figure is difficult to hear in the transcript.
CC7Employee reviews and staff compensation
Employee reviews and proposed cost-of-living raise.
Council debated separating cost-of-living raises from performance reviews. A 3% raise motion was made and seconded but not voted on in the transcript; council instead moved toward bringing an RCA next month and set December 28 as the deadline for review materials.
The council approved a December 28 deadline for review materials. A 3% cost-of-living raise motion was made and seconded, but the transcript does not show a vote on it; a council member said an RCA would be brought next month.
CC8Deputy clerk advertising and temporary assistance
Advertising for deputy clerk position and interim temporary office assistance.
Council debated whether to restructure city administration or immediately replace the deputy clerk, then approved posting the deputy clerk position with pay tied to qualifications and experience, discussed Columbus's $21 to $26 hourly comparison range, and supported temporary office help within budget.
Approved posting the deputy clerk position; the final wage language was discussed as dependent on qualifications and experience. Council also supported temporary help within budget.
17 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1Unidentified opening motion; transcript only records a second and passage.
seconded by right
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M2I moved that according to the facts findings and decision provided by the city planner and including the information on the December 12 1240 12:34 p.m. email that the council approves the request for approval to amend both the current conditional use and interim use permits for 74 15 old Viking Boulevard and the following parcels 21 - 33 - 25 - 42 - 0 121 - 33 - 25 - 41 - 0 1 0 1 21 - 33 - 25 - 43 - 0 6 + 21 - 33 - 25 - 43 - 0 7.
I moved that according to the facts findings and decision provided by the city planner and including the information on the December 12 1240 12:34 p.m. email that the council approves the request for approval to amend both the current conditional use and interim use permits for 74 15 old Viking Boulevard and the following parcels 21 - 33 - 25 - 42 - 0 121 - 33 - 25 - 41 - 0 0 1 0 0 1 21 - 33 - 25 - 43 - 0 0 0 6 + 21 - 33 - 25 - 43 - 0 0 0 7
moved by Rango
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M3I move that according to the facts and findings and recommendations provided by city planner of the City Council approves the request for an interim use permit to allow an extended home occupation to operate at three 9300 195th Avenue Northwest the PID of 30 - 33 - 25 - 24 - the o0 seven; amended by removing item seven, renumbering, and amending item ten to be complaint driven while leaving number eight as is.
moved by Rango
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M4To table the request from mr. moody until the February council meeting... per mister Moody's request.
to table the request from mr. moody until the February council meeting ... per mister Moody's request
moved by Breyen, seconded by Beauty
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M5Motion to accept the planning and zoning Commission's recommendation to a point in the interjection Oliver's to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
motion to accept the planning and zoning Commission's recommendation to a point in the interjection Oliver's to the Planning and Zoning Commission
moved by Rango
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M6To send The Associated documents from the planner for the letter that goes out to the property owners before the administrative notice along with planners notes 1 2 & 3 and her email dated the 12th of November or December go back to the Planning and Zoning for discussion and review and recommendation back to the council.
to send The Associated documents from the planner for the the letter that goes out to the property owners before the administrative notice along with planners notes 1 2 & 3 and her email dated the 12th of November or December go back to the Planning and Zoning for discussion and review and recommendation back to the council
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M7I knew that we approve the draft letter provided by Miss Stockman with the with the correction to the last sentence on the first tag page that the open house was held on January 8th of 2018.
I knew that we approve the draft letter provided by Miss Stockman with the with the correction to the last sentence on the first tag page that the open house was held on January 8th of 2018
moved by Rango
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M8Set warming house hours, amended to every day 11 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; include temporary signage, long-term signs from the county, skate at your own risk, no smoking, no tobacco, authorization within budget to install a master power switch on a timer and a heat timer, and two waste receptacles from the pavilion, one inside and one outside.
moved by Bettinger
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M9Motion to create a turnout gear fund and the transferring of the $3,500 allocated for turnout gear into that fund and then approved transferring the remaining approximately fourteen thousand two hundred nineteen dollars from the fire department's budget into the general fire fund as well as approving giving fire chief Kohner authorization to purchase a new are used for a rescue truck for the northern fire station in the price range of 65 to 80 thousand including transportation costs; amended so the fire chief works with the city clerk and mayor before a decision is made and on transportation.
motion to create a turnout gear fund and the transferring of the $3,500 allocated for turnout gear into that fund and then approved transferring the remaining approximately fourteen thousand two hundred nineteen dollars from the fire department's budget into the general fire fund as well as approving giving fire chief Kohner authorization to purchase a new are used for a rescue truck for the northern fire station in the price range of 65 to 80 thousand including transportation costs; amended so the fire chief works with the city clerk and mayor before a decision is made and on transportation.
moved by Breyen
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M10Motion to deny the waving of the fire call bill for mr. lexical; amended to change the fine amount to eight hundred and forty three dollars and reiterate that we have changed our procedures so that people are given more clear communication.
motion to deny the waving of the fire call bill for mr. lexical; amended to change the fine amount to eight hundred and forty three dollars and reiterate that we have changed our procedures so that people are given more clear communication.
moved by Breyen
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M11Going forward starting with this any form whether it be instituted as new or revised as it from an existing that the dates of that the dick that they are dated; add the verbage for running fires must be approved created by the DNR.
going forward starting with this any form whether it be instituted as new or revised as it from an existing that the dates of that that the dick that they are dated; add the verbage for running fires must be approved created by the DNR.
moved by Rango
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M12Motion to approve the change for gambling at bootleggers to the Elk River youth hockey.
motion to approve the change for gambling at bootleggers to the Elk River youth hockey
moved by Breyen
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M13We counter yeah for but for mr. Curtis that we request the full tax value which is undervalued seventy eight thousand dollars and then split the closing cost.
we counter yeah for but for mr. Curtis that we request the full tax value which is undervalued seventy eight thousand dollars and then split the closing cost
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M14I'd like to make a motion to grant our three full time staff a 3% cost-of-living raise.
I'd like to make a motion to grant our three full time staff a 3% cost-of-living raise
moved by Bettinger
Motion was made and seconded, but the transcript does not show a vote; a council member said an RCA would be brought next month.
M15That we have the information by end of business December 28.
that we have the information by end of business December 28
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M16Approve her to post it at the range more comparable to what compasses; discussed as salary based on qualifications based on experience.
approve her to post it at the range more comparable to what compasses; discussed as salary based on qualifications based on experience.
moved by Bettinger
All in favor; opposed not heard.
M17Authorize temporary office assistance through an agency or similar means within available part-time budget funds.
All in favor; opposed not heard.
The amounts the council actually voted to approve, each with the vote that approved it. Drawn from the official minutes.
F1
$7,500
F5
$65,000
F6
$80,000
F16
$5,000
F17
$21
F18
$26
When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.
we at a previous meeting talked about what other cities do for rentals if there were time to actually rent the surface privately like we do a park we'd have to engage we have to develop a policy for that too
— Mayor
What this is about
Prior discussion of renting the rink surface after hours like a park rental.
The records I searched do not contain a prior council discussion or decision matching the Mayor’s recollection about renting the rink surface after hours or comparing what other cities do for rink-surface rentals. The only partial match is that the city has recorded park facility rental activity: for example, the August 11, 2022 council packet included claim-register entries for Memorial Park, Woodland Shelter, Beach Shelter, and Twin Lakes Beach Shelter rentals, with amounts such as $50.00, $26.72, $106.88, and $53.44. Those entries show park rentals were being processed, but they do not show any council action on a policy for private rental of the rink surface.
they've had one race in the last ten years and I think that's kind of shame enough they deserve more than that
— Bettinger
What this is about
Prior staff review and raise history used in the debate over a 3% cost-of-living raise.
The records searched show a partial match. In the August 12, 2025 packet, council and staff discussed updating Natalie Johnson’s job description and salary. Johnson said she had never received a formal job description and was compiling one based on the duties she actually performs, which combine responsibilities previously handled by multiple people. Council encouraged her to draft the description and said a formal resolution should follow, ideally in time for budget discussions. However, the records provided do not show a prior formal staff review, a recorded vote on a raise, or documentation that staff had received only one raise in the last ten years. The records I searched therefore do not contain a prior decision matching that specific recollection.
that question was asked if there was enough money in the budget what the existing budget to give our employees like a 3% raised without raised no lobbying and the answer was yes that was just that was brought up during the budget meetings workshops
— Bettinger
What this is about
Prior budget workshop discussion of whether a 3% raise could fit without a levy increase.
The records I searched do not contain a prior decision or clear discussion matching the recollection that Council was told a 3% employee raise could be funded within the existing budget without a levy increase. There is a partial match in the materials from the July 20, 2021 budget/Capital Improvement Plan discussion, included in the September 14, 2021 council packet: Council discussed budget projections, noted that a Public Works salary increase was included and that a COLA increase was possible, and also discussed that the City was under budget in some areas. However, the excerpt does not mention a specific 3% raise, does not state that it could be done without increasing the levy, and does not record a formal vote on that point. Later budget materials in the search results refer generally to levy and budget workshops, but they also do not document that specific 3% raise question or answer.
when the administrator issue came up before and you're talking about cost you you know you're adding one hundred and fifty thousand dollar salary to a budget that were already scrapped on
— Ricker
What this is about
Prior administrator proposal and public reaction, raised during discussion of the deputy clerk vacancy.
The records I searched do not contain a prior administrator proposal or decision matching this recollection, and they do not show a recorded vote or public reaction about adding a roughly $150,000 City Administrator salary. The only partial matches are references to a “City Administrator” in personnel-policy materials in the May 13, 2025 and June 10, 2025 packets, plus a February 10, 2026 packet listing city administrator contacts for other cities. Those references do not appear to be a proposal to create or fund a Nowthen administrator position.
I happen to be at that meeting when we talked about administrator before 30 years back and we did a lot of things wrong we didn't communicate anything effectively in that
— Mayor
What this is about
Prior meeting on an administrator position and lessons about communication.
The records I searched do not contain a prior meeting or decision matching the Mayor’s recollection of a discussion about creating or handling an administrator position 30 years ago. There is a partial thematic match on communication lessons: at the February 9, 2021 meeting, Council discussed how to communicate with IUP/CUP holders about compliance checks, with concern that a letter could feel threatening and could “whip up” residents because it was a significant change from the prior 20–30 years of practice. The records show discussion and direction to work on draft letters and an education process, but no formal vote on an administrator position was recorded in the results provided.
years ago somebody and I forget whom it was but somebody was up trying to update those city policies but it never got it on and it never anywhere actually yeah we went through quite a few of them
— Ricker and Mayor
What this is about
Prior effort to update city policies using a League of Minnesota Cities template.
The records show a partial match to this recollection. At the December 12, 2023 meeting packet, council materials included a review of city personnel-policy language using League of Minnesota Cities resources, including the LMC Personnel Policies Template and LMC model language for items such as reprimands, paid family leave, and discipline/termination. The search result indicates policy language was being worked through, but it does not show a formal vote or final adoption of a broad updated policy manual at that meeting. There is also an earlier example of the city adopting a specific policy based on a League template: at the August 13, 2019 meeting, the council approved Resolution 2019-57 adopting the City of Nowthen Social Media Policy, which stated it was based on the League of Minnesota Cities Social Media Policy Model. The records searched do not show a completed, across-the-board policy update using the League template, only these partial or specific-policy matches.
the last time this position was open we've talked about reevaluating then doing some changes and stuff and from after then discussion suppose they said disposition needs to be filled
— Bettinger
What this is about
Prior deputy clerk hiring process and wage issues.
The records show related discussions, but not a clear prior formal decision specifically about filling a Deputy Clerk position. At the March 14, 2023 meeting packet, the city advertised a full-time Administrative Assistant position to support the City Administrator and Deputy Clerk, with a starting wage of $18–$25 per hour depending on experience, plus benefits, and the posting was “open until filled.” The closest match to the wage/staffing issue is at the September 10, 2024 meeting packet. Staff described the office as short-staffed after medical leave and a resignation, said overtime was still not keeping the office caught up, and recommended moving a part-time administrative assistant to full-time at $25 per hour plus benefits to assist the Deputy Clerk. The draft resolution also would have authorized posting two part-time administrative assistant positions immediately, but the search excerpt does not show the completed vote outcome. There is also related hiring-process history. At the May 7, 2019 meeting, Council authorized the Mayor to work with the attorney on a job offer to former Deputy Clerk Lori Streich for the Clerk/Treasurer position; that motion carried. Later, at the November 12, 2024 meeting packet, staff proposed changing the interview process for open city positions from a committee including two council members to a committee made up of the City Administrator, Deputy Clerk, and an affected department member, while keeping the Council responsible for final hiring decisions.
when we were doing the interviewing process last time the starting wages that were being asked for were act if not above our maximum what we're showing on our range now
— Ricker
What this is about
Prior deputy clerk offer and applicant wage expectations.
The records searched show a partial match on the interviewing process, but not on the wage issue Ricker is recalling. At the November 12, 2024 meeting, the agenda packet included an item titled “Change in Process for Interviewing Job Candidates,” which said the city had previously used a hiring committee made up of two council members, the City Administrator, and the Deputy Clerk, and proposed changing that to the City Administrator, Deputy Clerk, and a member of the affected department. However, the search results do not contain a prior deputy clerk offer, applicant wage expectations, or a recorded discussion that applicants were asking for starting wages at or above the top of the city’s posted wage range. No dollar amounts or formal vote on that specific recollection appear in the records provided.
Benefit Earning Employees - Employees who are eligible for City provided benefits. Such employees must be year-round employees who work at least forty |(40) hours per week on a regular basis tot
Benefit Earning Employees - Employees who are eligible for City provided benefits. Such employees must be year-round employees who work at least forty |(40) hours per week on a regular basis tot
CITY OF NOWTHEN *Claim Register@ July CC Deposit July 2022 08/03/22 4:58 PM <table> <tr> <td>Cash Receipt Invoice</td> <td>R 100-32211 Building Permit Surcharge</td> <td>22NT-00076 20431
08/03/22 5:01 PM CITY OF NOWTHEN *Claim Register@ July CC Deposit July 2022 <table> <tr> <td>Cash Receipt Invoice</td> <td>R 100-32211 Building Permit Surcharge</td> <td>22NT-00076 20431
ATTACHMENT #2 JANUARY 23, 2025 COUNCIL PACKET SPECIAL Election ESTIMATE31 COSTS PAGE 31 <table> <tr> <th>Mileage</th> <th colspan="2"></th> <th></th> <th></th> <th></th> <th></th> <th></th
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
City Council Meeting — 2017-12-12 Minutes (2017-12-12)
Minutes · Tuesday, December 12, 2017
18 pages
City Council Meeting — 2017-12-12 CC Full Packet (2017-12-12)
Packet · Tuesday, December 12, 2017
152 pages
Meeting recording
YouTube
Transcript · 990 segments · 2:37:44
The structured brief on this page is auto-generated and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording remain the official record. What do the trust labels mean?