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Nowthen City Council Work Session meeting, September 14, 2023

Council Work Session

Thursday, September 14, 2023 · 6:00 PM

This meeting on the city's website ↗

Agenda

Open PDF ↗

What was on the agenda.

Packet

Not on file

The supporting materials the board reviewed.

Minutes

Open PDF ↗

The official record of what happened.

One-line summary

At the September 14, 2023 budget work session, Council rejected a direct temporary administrative assistant hire, approved using a staffing agency up to $35 per hour, and reviewed the 2024 General Fund draft budget without adopting it.

What was on the agenda

4 items as recorded in the agenda and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

  1. A1Call to Order

    Call to order, Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approve agenda.

    The minutes record the call to order and attendance, but do not record a separate vote approving the agenda.

    • meeting opening
    No action
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-09-14)1\. Call to Order · Pledge of Allegiance . Roll Call · Approve Agendap. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)Mayor Pilon called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm. Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Rainville, Fladebo, Alders and Breyen. Also Present: Deputy Clerk Johnson, and Finance Consultant Lori Yager.

  2. M2Temporary Administrative Assistant for Front Desk

    Temporary front-desk administrative assistant after Donna's resignation; this item appears in the minutes but was not listed on the posted agenda.

    Council considered how to cover the front desk after Donna's resignation. A motion to let Deputy Clerk Johnson offer Bethany Lehner a temporary administrative assistant position at $15 per hour failed 2-3 after concerns about family members working together. Council then carried an amended motion directing staff to use a staffing agency for the temporary position, not to exceed $35 per hour.

    Council rejected a direct temporary hire at $15 per hour and carried an amended direction to use a staffing agency not to exceed $35 per hour.

    • temporary administrative assistant
    • staffing
    Approved
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)## 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE FRONT DESK DUE TO DONNA'S RESIGNATION. Deputy Clerk Johnson requested permission to offer a temporary position to Bethany Lehner (Scott's daughter) as she is available immediately to answer phones, help residents at front counter until a full-time pe…p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.

  3. A2Discussion regarding the 2024 Budget

    Discussion regarding the 2024 budget.

    Council and staff reviewed the proposed 2024 General Fund Draft Budget and discussed levy timing, liquor license fees, employee benefits, revenue estimates, public works costs, parks planning, road project budgeting, recycling fees and operations, and equipment replacement. The minutes identify the preliminary budget as $1,936,176, but the meeting was a discussion session and did not adopt the final budget.

    The minutes show budget discussion and staff action items, but no motion adopting the budget at this meeting.

    • 2024 budget
    • general fund
    • levy
    • fees
    • public works
    • recycling
    Discussion only
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-09-14)2\. Discussion regarding the 2024 Budgetp. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)## 3. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE 2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET Administrator Lehner joined the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Mayor Pilon thanked staff and council for their work in the workshops on the 2024 budget. Tonight's meeting is to go through the numbers again and see if all questions are answered.p. 3Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)The preliminary budget is $1,936,176 which is a 5.35% increase. The council will adopt it on December 12th, 6:05 public hearing with city council meeting immediately after. Action item: Staff directed to post special meeting for Wednesday, September 20th. Lori to send RCA and Resolution to be adopted.

  4. A3Adjourn

    Adjourn.

    Council Member Breyen moved, and Rainville seconded, adjournment; the minutes state the work session adjourned at 9:35 pm.

    The minutes record a motion to adjourn and that the meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm, but do not record a vote tally.

    • adjournment
    Approved
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-09-14)3\. Adjournp. 3Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)Motion by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Rainville to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.

Motions and votes

3 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

  • M1MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ALLOW DEPUTY CLERK JOHNSON TO OFFER A TEMPORARY POSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHILE SEARCHING FOR A FULL TIME PERMANENT CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION AT $15 PER HOUR AS NEEDED INCLUDING A TRIAL PERIOD.

    moved by PILON, seconded by FLADEBO

    FailedSplit vote
    • YPILON
    • YFLADEBO
    • NBREYEN
    • NALDERS
    • NRAINVILLE
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ALLOW DEPUTY CLERK JOHNSON TO OFFER A TEMPORARY POSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHILE SEARCHING FOR A FULL TIME PERMANENT CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION AT $15 PER HOUR AS NEEDED INCLUDING A TRIAL PERIOD.p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, NAY. MOTION FAILED.

  • M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR. AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR".

    moved by BREYEN, seconded by RAINVILLE

    PassedSplit vote
    • YBREYEN
    • YALDERS
    • YRAINVILLE
    • NPILON
    • NFLADEBO
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR.p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.

  • M3Motion by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Rainville to adjourn the meeting.

    moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

    Passed
    p. 3Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)Motion by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Rainville to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.

Dollar amounts in motions

Amounts named in or tied to a motion that passed, each shown with the motion. A motion can approve an amount, cap it, or remove it from a list, so read the motion text. These links are AI-extracted, and the minutes control.

  • Original motion directed staff to contact a staffing agency to fill the temporary position, not to exceed $30 per hour; it was amended to…

    $30

    Motion MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR. AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". Passed(COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.)
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR.p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR".

  • Approved amended cap for staffing agency placement for the temporary position.

    $35

    Motion MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR. AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". Passed(COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.)
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.

Prior history on this business

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

  • Discussion that it has happened in the past and the outcome was not approved by the council.

    What this is about
    Prior council handling of family members working together in city employment.

    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)Discussion that it has happened in the past and the outcome was not approved by the council.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision matching this recollection about family members working together in City employment, or an outcome that was not approved by the Council. The closest search hits are not about City staffing or nepotism: the March 24, 2026 and April 14, 2026 packets include a condition for a cannabis-related interim use permit stating “No employees other than the property owners shall be on the site,” and the May 12, 2026 packet includes general employee pension benefit information. Neither shows a Council discussion or vote about relatives working together as City employees.

    • 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, 20265\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by the OCM. Even if granted by the OCM in the fut
    • May 12, 2026#### General Employees Plan Benefits General Employees Plan requires three years of service to vest. Benefits are based
    • Mar 10, 2026## 1. Construction of Improvements. A. The Developer, at its sole expense, shall install the wetland buffers and other i
    • Mar 10, 20267\. The memo from the City Planner dated February 18, 2026 is incorporated herein by reference. The staff report from th
  • Nothing new on the PW truck ordered. No price reduction or guarantee.

    What this is about
    Status of a previously ordered Public Works truck and whether there had been a price reduction or guarantee.

    p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14). Nothing new on the PW truck ordered. No price reduction or guarantee.

    Related history

    The records searched do not contain a prior decision or status update matching the recollection of a previously ordered Public Works truck, or any discussion of a price reduction or guarantee for that truck. The closest related items are Public Works equipment references: at the March 10, 2026 meeting packet, staff included research on brush cutters, a snow pusher, and “truck repairs,” but that material does not describe a truck order, delivery status, price reduction, or guarantee. The April 14, 2026 clerk update also mentions Public Works activity, but not a truck purchase or order status.

    • Mar 10, 2026## Memo From Public Works ### Brush Cutters Attachments Unlimited - After talking with the factory, Attachments Unlimite
    • Apr 28, 2026CASWELL ENGINEERING CO. ENGINEERS & LAND SURVEYORS ## BIRCHWOOD ANOKA COUNTY, MINNESOTA KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
    • Mar 10, 2026Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 CLERK UPDATE 03-10-26 \> MN Pollutio
    • Mar 10, 2026### Snow Pusher As originally stated, a snow pusher will greatly improve snow clean-up for Nowthen Public Works. The Vir
    • Apr 14, 2026## TITLE OF ISSUE: APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2026-XX AWARDING CONTRACT FOR 2026 DUST CONTROL APPLICATION BACKGROUND AND SUP

Where this came up before

  1. Apr 14, 2026
    City Meeting

    6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area as shown on the Site Layout. All cultivation shall occur not less than 200

    Doc6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area as shown on the Site Layout. All cultivation shall occur not less than 200
  2. Mar 24, 2026
    City Meeting

    5\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by the OCM. Even if granted by the OCM in the future, these activities may not be commenced or undertaken under this Interi

    Doc5\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by the OCM. Even if granted by the OCM in the future, these activities may not be commenced or undertaken under this Interi
  3. May 12, 2026
    City Meeting

    #### General Employees Plan Benefits General Employees Plan requires three years of service to vest. Benefits are based on a member's highest average salary for any 5 successive years of allowable ser

    Doc#### General Employees Plan Benefits General Employees Plan requires three years of service to vest. Benefits are based on a member's highest average salary for any 5 successive years of allowable service, age, and years of credit at termi
  4. Mar 10, 2026
    City Meeting

    ## 1. Construction of Improvements. A. The Developer, at its sole expense, shall install the wetland buffers and other improvements ("Improvements") as detailed in the plans prepared by Carls

    Doc## 1. Construction of Improvements. A. The Developer, at its sole expense, shall install the wetland buffers and other improvements ("Improvements") as detailed in the plans prepared by Carls
  5. Mar 10, 2026
    City Meeting

    7\. The memo from the City Planner dated February 18, 2026 is incorporated herein by reference. The staff report from the City Planner dated March 4, 2026 is incorporated herein by reference.

    Doc7\. The memo from the City Planner dated February 18, 2026 is incorporated herein by reference. The staff report from the City Planner dated March 4, 2026 is incorporated herein by reference.

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?