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Nowthen City Council Work Session meeting, July 25, 2022

Council Work Session

Monday, July 25, 2022 · 5:30 PM

This meeting on the city's website ↗

Agenda

Not on file

What was on the agenda.

Packet

Open PDF ↗

The supporting materials the board reviewed.

Minutes

Not on file

The official record of what happened.

Source missingNo minutes are on file for this meeting.

Agenda items below come from the packet. The outcomes are not on file.

One-line summary

The July 25, 2022 work-session packet covered a city administrator appointment, a Twin Lakes broadband grant application, and an initial 2023 budget review, but no minutes were provided to confirm actions taken.

What was on the agenda

6 items as recorded in the packet, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

  1. 1Call to Order

    Call to order, roll call, and approval of the agenda.

    minutes not available in this bundle

    • meeting administration
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)1\. Call to Order · Roll Call · Approve Agenda

  2. 2Consent Agenda

    Consent agenda listed no items.

    minutes not available in this bundle

    • meeting administration
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)2\. Consent Agenda None

  3. 3AApproval of resolution naming the Nowthen City Administrator

    Consider a resolution naming Scott Lehner as Nowthen City Administrator and authorizing the mayor to execute the employment agreement.

    The packet asked the council to consider a resolution naming Scott Lehner as Nowthen City Administrator effective August 1, 2022, and authorizing the mayor to sign the employment agreement. The packet says a $97,000 annual starting salary had been negotiated, with a six-month performance evaluation and salary review. Because no minutes were included, the actual action taken is not confirmed in this bundle.

    minutes not available in this bundle

    • Scott Lehner city administrator appointment
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)a). Approval of Resolution 2022-xx Naming the Nowthen City Administrator and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute the Employment Agreement on Behalf of the Cityp. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)TITLE OF ISSUE: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2022-XX NAMING SCOTT LEHNER THE NOWTHEN CITY ADMINISTRATOR EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2022, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY

  4. 3BApproval of resolution authorizing B2B grant application

    Consider a resolution authorizing submission of a Border-to-Border broadband grant application to extend service to additional Nowthen properties.

    The packet asked the council to support a B2B broadband grant application with Arvig to extend service in the Twin Lakes area. The project was estimated at $549,317.50, split among Arvig, the State of Minnesota, and the City of Nowthen, with the city share expected to use county internet underserved-city funds. The packet also notes citywide broadband service would cost $14 million or more. Because no minutes were included, the actual action taken is not confirmed in this bundle.

    minutes not available in this bundle

    • Twin Lakes broadband grant application
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 5Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)B2B Grant Application to extend Broadband to serve an additional eighty-five homes in the Twin Lakes Area of Nowthen. There is no guarantee that Arvig and the city will be successful in this grant attempt. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED: <tap. 5Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Motion and Second to adopt Resolution 2022-xx Authorizing the Submission of a B2B Grant Application to extend Broadband to serve an additional eighty-five homes in the Twin Lakes Area of Nowthen. There is no guarantee that Arvig and the city will be successful in this grant attempt.

  5. 3C2023 Budget Study Session I

    Study session on the proposed 2023 budget.

    The packet presented a proposed 2023 budget for council review and amendment. Major figures included a $65,495 general fund levy increase, $2,026,830 in proposed general fund revenues, $2,258,375 in proposed general fund expenditures and uses, and a projected $231,545 decrease in general fund balance. Other proposed items included debt service, recycling, park, road, building, and equipment projects. Because no minutes were included, no final budget direction or amendments are confirmed in this bundle.

    minutes not available in this bundle

    • 2023 budget study session
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)c) 2023 Budget Study Session Ip. 14Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)Re: Proposed 2023 Budget worksession Attached please find the 2023 proposed budget prepared by staff and the consultant to assist the council in preparing its' budget for 2023. Action Requested: Review and amend attached proposed 2023 budget.

  6. 4Adjourn

    Adjournment.

    minutes not available in this bundle

    • meeting administration
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)4\. Adjourn

Prior history on this business

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

  • On October 30, 2021, the city's administrative staff resigned in unison. On November 1, 2021, the city council retained an interim city administrator and hired two administrative employees in mid-November of 2021. The three have been attending to city affairs ever since.

    — Interim City Administrator

    What this is about
    The packet recalls the October 2021 resignation of city administrative staff and the interim staffing arrangement that followed, as background for hiring a permanent city administrator.

    p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)On October 30, 2021, the city's administrative staff resigned in unison. On November 1, 2021, the city council retained an interim city administrator and hired two administrative employees in mid-November of 2021. The three have been attending to city affairs ever since.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior meeting record or decision matching this recollection about the October 30, 2021 administrative staff resignations, the November 1, 2021 retention of an interim city administrator, or the mid-November 2021 hiring of two administrative employees. The search results include later administrative staffing material, such as a September 29, 2025 packet item recommending hire of a part-time receptionist, but they do not document the 2021 interim staffing arrangement or any vote related to hiring a permanent city administrator.

    • Jan 13, 2026This page was left intentionally blank. <figure> CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> ### REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <table> <tr> <
    • Oct 28, 20256\. Section 11-3-8 D.9 of the Zoning Ordinance permits the sale of Lower Potency Hemp Edible (LPHE) Retail Business subj
    • Dec 23, 20259 From: Cindy Nash - Collab Planning Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11:04 AM To: 'Shane Nelson' <shanen@haa-inc.com>
    • Dec 23, 2025<figure> </figure> platted lots and the request is to create not more than two (2) new lets/three (3) total lots , and t
    • Mar 10, 2026application shall be submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission for their advice and recommendations and they shall c
  • Earlier this year the city council concurred that its highest priority was to hire a new, long term city administrator utilizing a professional firm.

    — Interim City Administrator

    What this is about
    The packet recalls earlier 2022 council priority-setting and the decision to hire a long-term city administrator using a professional firm.

    p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)Earlier this year the city council concurred that its highest priority was to hire a new, long term city administrator utilizing a professional firm.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior 2022 priority-setting decision matching the recollection that Council formally made hiring a long-term city administrator its highest priority and decided to use a professional firm. The closest match is later: at the February 11, 2025 meeting packet, Consultant Frank Boyles presented an item on assisting the City Council with hiring a full-time City Administrator. The memo said the City had operated for more than two years as a statutory “A” City Administrator city and outlined options for recruitment, including using a human resources/professional firm. The excerpt recommends against conducting the search entirely in-house, but the search results provided do not show a recorded vote, selected firm, or dollar amount.

    • May 12, 2026# City of Nowthen Emerging Issues ## Accounting Standard Update - GASB Statement No. 103 - Financial Reporting Model Imp
    • Feb 10, 2026Paul D. Baertschi Academic Training: Southern Illinois University School of Law, J.D. 1979. Bradley University, B.A. Adm
    • May 5, 2025City, provided that the purpose is to promote, advertise, improve, or develop the City's resources and advantages and no
    • Apr 29, 2025City, provided that the purpose is to promote, advertise, improve, or develop the City's resources and advantages and no
    • Feb 27, 2025<figure> 1/6/ 25 </figure> Thursday with Christie possibly leaving earlier than Don, if she is having any issues. We wil
  • Earlier this year the city council was asked about their top five priorities for completion in the near term. While it did not make the top five, more than one city council member named broadband service to the community.

    — Interim City Administrator

    What this is about
    The packet recalls prior council priority-setting on broadband and a delegation of that objective to the mayor.

    p. 5Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)Earlier this year the city council was asked about their top five priorities for completion in the near term. While it did not make the top five, more than one city council member named broadband service to the community.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision matching this recollection about broadband being named during a “top five priorities” exercise or formally delegated to the mayor. The search results returned unrelated packet material, including Planning and Zoning interviews, personnel/drug-testing policy language, a home business discussion, and an April 14, 2026 clerk update. None of the excerpts show a council priority-setting discussion, a vote, or an action assigning broadband work to the mayor.

    • Apr 28, 2026APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CARLSON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BIES TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. FIVE (5) AYES. M
    • Mar 10, 2026#### (2) Reasonable Suspicion Testing/Post- accident/Post-injury Testing: Consistent with Minn. Stat. § 181.951, subd. 5
    • Mar 10, 2026### E. PROHIBITION AGAINST DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND/OR CANNABIS #### 1. Use and Possession of Alcohol, Drug(s) and/or Cannabis
    • Mar 10, 2026#### 2. While Impaired by Alcohol, Drugs or Cannabis: Employees are prohibited from being under the influence of alcohol
    • Mar 10, 2026#### 3. Driving While Impaired: Easy A conviction of driving while impaired in a City-owned vehicle at any time during b
  • The city council delegated this objective to the mayor. Since that delegation, internet upgrades have successfully been made to all city buildings and the industrial area.

    — Interim City Administrator

    What this is about
    The packet recalls that the council delegated the broadband objective to the mayor and says internet upgrades had already been completed for city buildings and the industrial area.

    p. 5Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda Packet (2022-07-25)The city council delegated this objective to the mayor. Since that delegation, internet upgrades have successfully been made to all city buildings and the industrial area.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision clearly matching this recollection that the broadband objective was formally delegated to the mayor. The closest partial match is in the January 13, 2026 packet, where the Clerk Update listed completed 2025 tasks, including technology-related work such as correcting audio/visual issues and installing a new projector at the Historic Town Hall, and a truncated item beginning “Established the leadership authority…”. However, the search results do not show a vote, motion, date of delegation, or specific record confirming that internet upgrades to all city buildings and the industrial area were completed under a mayoral delegation.

    • Apr 14, 2026SWPPP DRAWING UPDATES UPDATE SWPPP DRAWING FOR LOCATIONS OF CONSTRUCTION DUMPSTER, PORTABLE TOILET, EQUIPMENT STAGING AR
    • Mar 24, 2026SWPPP DRAWING UPDATES UPDATE SWPPP DRAWING FOR LOCATIONS OF CONSTRUCTION DUMPSTER, PORTABLE TOILET. EQUIPMENT STAGING AR
    • May 12, 2026Mayor Hybben recalled there were multiple buildings, with existing structures that had been there long-term and many res
    • Apr 14, 2026Mayor Hybben recalled there were multiple buildings, with existing structures that had been there long-term and many res
    • Jan 13, 2026Nowthen City Office 8188 199th Ave. NW Nowthen MN, 55330 (763)-441-1347 <figure> CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeti

Where this came up before

  1. Jan 13, 2026
    City Meeting

    This page was left intentionally blank. <figure> CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> ### REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <table> <tr> <th>Agenda Item:</t

    DocThis page was left intentionally blank. <figure> CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> ### REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <table> <tr> <th>Agenda Item:</t
  2. Oct 28, 2025
    City Meeting

    6\. Section 11-3-8 D.9 of the Zoning Ordinance permits the sale of Lower Potency Hemp Edible (LPHE) Retail Business subject to conditions. 7\. The property does not meet the requirements of the

    Doc6\. Section 11-3-8 D.9 of the Zoning Ordinance permits the sale of Lower Potency Hemp Edible (LPHE) Retail Business subject to conditions. 7\. The property does not meet the requirements of the
  3. Dec 23, 2025
    City Meeting

    9 From: Cindy Nash - Collab Planning Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11:04 AM To: 'Shane Nelson' <shanen@haa-inc.com> Subject: RE: PID: 17-33-25-23-0004 Parcel Split Minor Subdivision for K Land De

    Doc9 From: Cindy Nash - Collab Planning Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11:04 AM To: 'Shane Nelson' <shanen@haa-inc.com> Subject: RE: PID: 17-33-25-23-0004 Parcel Split Minor Subdivision for K Land Development Cindy N
  4. Dec 23, 2025
    City Meeting

    <figure> </figure> platted lots and the request is to create not more than two (2) new lets/three (3) total lots , and the newly created property lines will not cause any resulting lot(s) to

    Doc<figure> </figure> platted lots and the request is to create not more than two (2) new lets/three (3) total lots , and the newly created property lines will not cause any resulting lot(s) to
  5. Mar 10, 2026
    City Meeting

    application shall be submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission for their advice and recommendations and they shall consider this request at the next regularly scheduled meeting and submit t

    Docapplication shall be submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission for their advice and recommendations and they shall consider this request at the next regularly scheduled meeting and submit t

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

The summary on this page is AI-extracted and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording are the official record. What do the trust labels mean?