City Council Work Session

What was on the agenda

6 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.

1aPreliminary boring reports

Preliminary boring reports and road surface discussion for Ebony & Garnet Street and Dolomite.

Nelson reported on preliminary boring information, said he did not yet have the Ebony & Garnet Street boring sample reports, and discussed residents’ prior request about leaving Dolomite as gravel. He prepared a paved-road versus gravel-road maintenance cost analysis and recommended paving the section; more information is expected when core samples come in.

No vote was recorded; staff will provide more information when core samples come in and Nelson will attend the April meeting.

Ebony and Garnet Street borings
Dolomite road surface

Discussion only

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2bChanges to City Code to be consistent with Comp Plan Update

Discussion of code changes so city road requirements match the Comprehensive Plan update.

Stockman raised the need to make City Code consistent with the Comprehensive Plan update, especially whether new-house access roads must be paved or can be gravel and who maintains them. Nelson noted fire-code access requirements, and Stockman said she would like to pursue an ordinance amendment with a public hearing at the April City Council meeting.

No vote was recorded; a public hearing is to be added to the April City Council meeting.

city code update
road standards
Comprehensive Plan

Discussion only

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1bRoad Weight Restriction Permit Discussion

Discussion of permits for vehicles exceeding gravel road axle weight restrictions.

The Council discussed gravel-road weight restrictions, noted that all gravel roads have a 5-ton axle weight limit, and chose not to consider overweight permits at this time.

Council chose not to consider overweight permits at this time.

road weight restrictions
overweight permits

No action

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UN1Roessler / Joe Green property split administrative handling

Discussion of whether Planner Stockman could administratively handle a possible split of property at County Road 47 and 22 involving Roessler and Joe Green.

Stockman discussed property at County Road 47 and 22 owned by Roessler that Joe Green wants to buy and possibly split. Council carried a motion allowing Stockman to handle splits of 10 acres and larger administratively, while smaller splits would return to Council for discussion.

Motion carried to allow Stockman to handle splits of 10 acres and larger administratively, with smaller splits returning to Council.

Roessler property
Joe Green property split
administrative review

Approved

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2aEstablishment of the RRT, Rural Residential Transition District

Discussion of the proposed Rural Residential Transition District.

The establishment of the RRT, Rural Residential Transition District, was postponed to another workshop. Nelson and Stockman will meet to discuss net land area so the city can be consistent.

The item was postponed to another workshop date.

Rural Residential Transition District
net land area

Continued

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SCHED1Next workshop scheduling

Scheduling the next workshop.

The next workshop was scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 at 6 pm.

The minutes state the next workshop will be scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 at 6 pm.

meeting scheduling

Discussion only

p. 2

Motions and votes

1 motion on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

M1MOTION FOR STOCKMAN TO HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVELY FOR 10 ACRES AND LARGER, SMALLER THAN 10 ACRES WOULD BE SENT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION BY PILON, SECONDED BY GREENBERG; ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.

moved by Pilon, seconded by Greenberg

Passed

YPilon
YBreyen
YGreenberg
YBlake
·Rainville

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Prior history on this business

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

At the last meeting residents inquired about leaving Dolomite as a gravel surface.

— Nelson

What this is about
Residents’ prior request to leave Dolomite as a gravel surface, prompting a paved-road versus gravel-road maintenance cost analysis.

p. 1

Related history

The records show this came up at the February 13, 2020 public hearing for the 189th Lane, 190th Lane and Dolomite Street road project. Estelle Rolstad asked whether Dolomite, especially where there were properties without homes, could be turned back into a gravel road to save money. Engineer Nelson responded that there would be maintenance issues, especially because it is difficult to maintain a gravel segment between two paved roads and keep gravel off the paved surfaces. At the March 12, 2020 work session, the minutes specifically state that “at the last meeting residents inquired about leaving Dolomite as a gravel surface.” Nelson then presented a cost analysis comparing maintenance of paved roads versus gravel roads and recommended paving that section. Later records show the road project continued: at the July 14, 2020 meeting, the agenda included Resolution 2020-44 accepting a bid and awarding the contract for the 189th Lane, 190th Lane and Dolomite Street Road Improvement Project, with noted cost savings of a little over $11,000 and an estimated new cost of about $6,180 per resident. The excerpt provided does not include the recorded vote outcome.

Feb 13, 2020City of Nowthen Public Hearing Meeting February 13, 2020 Estelle Rolstad, 6746 189th Lane NW She asked the Engineer abou
Apr 14, 2026WRIGHT HENNEPIN SECURITY <table> <tr> <th>MEMORIAL PARK PAVILION AND 2 BATHROOMS</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Feature</
Mar 12, 2020# Nowthen City Council Regular Meeting MINUTES March 12, 2020 7:00 PM Workshop began at 7:00 pm by Mayor Pilon Members i
Apr 30, 2020189th Lane, 190th Lane, Dolomite Street Project Area 15 soil borings and 8 pavement cores were obtained on 189th Lane, 1
Jan 14, 2020## 1.0 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this feasibility report is to present the City of Nowthen with a preliminary examinat

We have been inconsistent.

— Stockman

What this is about
Past inconsistency in applying city road standards for new houses and paved or gravel roads.

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Related history

The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about inconsistent application of city road standards for new houses on paved versus gravel roads. There are partial matches on related road-standard topics. At the July 22, 2025 Planning and Zoning meeting, staff discussed a concept plan with road-access issues, future road connections, local-road setback requirements, and county limits on access points, but the minutes do not show a decision about paved/gravel road standards for new homes. In the February 24 and March 10, 2026 packets for Jays Services, staff noted that the ordinance allows more employees for an extended home occupation if the property is fully accessed by paved roads, and that 190th Avenue NW is paved; that was about home-occupation eligibility, not new-house road standards. The other road-related records found concern maintenance and assessments, such as resident comments on proposed road work at the June 17, 2025 meeting and a 2026 overlay assessment resolution in the May 12, 2026 packet. Those records do not document a prior council decision applying different road standards to new houses.

Jun 17, 2025Dave Ross (6060 189th Lane) expressed that the road is fine except for expansion joints, which he believes caused the da
Apr 14, 2026Bertram Asphalt Company P.O. Box 162 Paynesville, MN 56362 Cell: 320-292-1311 Email: bertramasphalt@gmail.com Proposal <
Mar 10, 2026property. It may be permitted within either the principal structure (not exceeding 25% of the gross floor space) or in
Feb 24, 2026property. It may be permitted within either the principal structure (not exceeding 25% of the gross floor space) or in a
Aug 26, 2025Planner Nash displayed the concept plan and provided several comments on the proposal: 1\. The shape of the commercial a

Meetings

What was on the agenda

Motions and votes

Prior history on this business

Related history

Related history

Where this came up before

Sources