City Council Work Session

What was on the agenda

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

1Call to Order

Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance; Roll Call; Approve Agenda.

At the start of the work session, the mayor reported that three council members had received calls from the same resident asking whether the session would be recorded. The council discussed that work sessions are open to the public but commonly are not video recorded, and a vote on recording this session failed 1-2.

Meeting was called to order, attendance was recorded, the council voted against recording the work session, and the agenda was accepted as amended.

agenda approval
work session recording

Approved

p. 1p. 1p. 1

2Discussion to finalize the 2024 Budget

Discussion to finalize the 2024 Budget.

Finance Consultant Yager said this was the fourth budget discussion and that the levy had already been set with the county. The council identified added election overtime and a higher Fire Department contract amount as changes for the 2024 budget, with Yager to prepare the final resolution for the December 12, 2023 council meeting.

This item was moved to Item 3 during agenda approval. Finance Consultant Yager was to make recommended budget changes and prepare a final resolution for the December 12, 2023 city council meeting.

2024 budget

Discussion only

p. 1p. 1p. 4

3Personnel Policy Update Presentation

Personnel Policy Update Presentation.

Project Manager Hirschboeck presented the first phase of personnel policy updates intended to address new legislation and League of Minnesota Cities recommendations. The council reviewed topics including probation, direct deposit, overpayment, Juneteenth, PTO and ESST, medical leave, funeral leave, school conference leave, nursing mothers, smoking, safety shoes, discipline, veterans preference, grievance procedures, and city credit cards, then agreed to continue the work at another work session.

This item was moved to Item 2 during agenda approval. Council discussed the first phase of personnel policy updates and agreed to continue the work at another work session.

personnel policy

Continued

p. 1p. 1p. 3

4Full-Time Public Works Position

Full-Time Public Works Position - offer to current seasonal employee.

Administrator Lehner recommended offering the open full-time Public Works position to seasonal employee Isaac Schulz at $25 per hour plus benefits. The minutes state the position is included in the 2024 budget and that the offer would be voted on at the November 14, 2023 city council meeting.

Administrator Lehner recommended offering the open full-time Public Works position to Isaac Schulz; the minutes say it would be voted on at the next city council meeting on November 14, 2023.

Public Works staffing

Discussion only

p. 1p. 4p. 4

5Fire Department Update

Update on Fire Department recent activities.

The council received a Fire Department update noting resignations from Assistant Fire Chief Schrag and Steve "Beaver" Lundeen, Captain Mike Suchy's planned April 2024 retirement, continued training for four recruits, and continued recruitment.

The council received updates on Fire Department resignations, an upcoming retirement, recruit training, and continued recruitment.

Fire Department staffing

Discussion only

p. 1p. 4p. 5

6Adjourn

Adjourn.

Council Member Rainville moved, Fladebo seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 10:37 p.m.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 p.m.

adjournment

Approved

p. 1p. 5

Motions and votes

3 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

M1MAYOR PILON CALLED A VOTE ON WHETHER THIS SESSION WOULD BE RECORDED.

moved by Pilon

FailedSplit vote

YPilon
NRainville
NFladebo
·Breyen
·Alders

p. 1p. 1

M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

Exact transcript text

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Fladebo

Passed

YPilon
YFladebo
YRainville
·Breyen
·Alders

p. 1p. 1

M3MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ADJOURN.

moved by Rainville, seconded by Fladebo

Passed

p. 5

Prior history on this business

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

Finance Consultant Yager addressed the mayor and the council stating this is the fourth meeting for the 2024 budget discussions. The levy has been set with the county and changes discussed at the last meeting have been made.

— Finance Consultant Yager

What this is about
Prior 2024 budget discussions and changes from the last budget meeting.

p. 4

Related history

The records I searched do not contain a prior 2024 budget meeting or specific earlier vote matching Finance Consultant Yager’s recollection that this was the fourth 2024 budget discussion and that changes from the last meeting had been made. The closest related record is later and for a different budget year: at the January 13, 2026 meeting, Financial Consultant Yager reported that the Council had held four meetings between July and November to plan the 2026 budget, and that the levy had been reduced by $8,645 from the amount shown on Truth in Taxation notices. That record concerns the 2026 budget, not the 2024 budget.

Mar 10, 20261\. The City regularly receives inquiries from property owners, real estate professionals, developers and proposed purch
Dec 23, 2025DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends ap
Jan 13, 2026### 3. PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET AND PROPERTY TAXES Financial Consultant Yager presented the 2026 budget and levy proposa
Feb 24, 2026Council approval, including demonstrating compliance with Section 10-3-5. If the comments from the City Engineer memo ar
Mar 10, 20267\. The memo from the City Planner dated February 18, 2026 is incorporated herein by reference. The staff report from th

The city did hit its limit last month due to several larger purchases and an employee was denied at a counter while trying to make a purchase.

What this is about
A prior city credit-card limit problem that prompted discussion of increasing the limit.

p. 3

Related history

The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about the city hitting a credit-card limit, an employee being denied at a counter, or council increasing the card limit in response. The search results returned items from 2026 meeting packets and minutes on unrelated topics, including fire/security monitoring costs, Building Safety Month, Fire Chief updates, culvert work, and permit compliance. None of the retrieved records mention city credit-card limits, denied purchases, or a formal vote to raise a limit.

Feb 10, 2026This is required by State, You are asking if you would be able to complete this yourself. What I do know is that it is r
May 12, 2026### RE: 2026 Building Safety Month Proclamation Request Dear Natalie & Lexi, As we begin the month of May, we invite the
May 12, 2026<figure> BUILDING SAFETY MONTH </figure> ## Proclamation ### Building Safety Month - May 2026 Whereas the City of Nowthe
Feb 10, 2026SALES MANAGER APPROVAL NOTE: THIS PROPOSAL MAY BE WITHDRAWN BY US IF NOT ACCEPTED IN 30 DAYS CUSTOMER SIGNATURE PRINT NA
Apr 14, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> ## Fire Chief Council Update 4.14.2026 Monthly Calls-March 2026 37 total calls 5-Structure Fir

If at some point the city goes back to 10 hours a day, if it is a Holiday/Vacation/Sick day, 8 hours is paid by city, and PTO covers the other 2.

What this is about
Prior or possible future city workday schedule of 10-hour days and how paid leave would be treated.

p. 3

Related history

The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about the City moving to 10-hour workdays or how holiday, vacation, sick time, or PTO would be applied under that schedule. The search results returned unrelated planning and zoning items from 2025 and 2026, such as minor subdivisions, wetland/septic conditions, developer agreements, and a cannabis interim use permit. None of the results document a council discussion or vote on a 10-hour-day schedule or an 8-hours-paid/2-hours-PTO leave policy.

Dec 23, 2025DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends ap
Sep 23, 2025Option A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the Approved Plans and an easement acceptable t
Mar 24, 20265\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by the OCM. Even if granted by the OCM in the fut
Apr 14, 20266\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area a
Mar 24, 202621\. The Subject Property shall be final platted in one phase. Prior to the release of the Final Plat for recording, a D

Meetings

What was on the agenda

Motions and votes

Prior history on this business

Related history

Related history

Related history

Where this came up before

Sources