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Nowthen City Council Work Session meeting, December 14, 2023

Council Work Session

Thursday, December 14, 2023 · 5:00 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

The bundle shows a December 14, 2023 Nowthen City Council work session on a St. Francis fire-management agreement and employee personnel-policy updates, but it does not include recorded minutes, motions, or votes.

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. 1Call to Order

    Roll Call; Approve Agenda

    The agenda listed call to order with roll call and agenda approval, followed by adjournment. The provided materials do not include minutes showing attendance, agenda approval, or adjournment.

    The document labeled meeting_minutes contains agenda and packet materials, but no recorded minutes, attendance, motions, or votes.

    • meeting opening
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-12-14)1\) Call to Order · Roll Call · Approve Agenda

  2. 2.aFire Department Management Services Agreement with SFFD

    Fire Department Management Services Agreement with SFFD

    The work-session agenda included a Fire Department Management Services Agreement with SFFD. The packet included a proposed agreement for Nowthen to purchase Fire Department Management services from St. Francis, with compensation of $35,000 and a term running through December 31, 2024. The provided materials do not record whether the council voted or gave direction at this work session.

    The document labeled meeting_minutes contains agenda and packet materials, but no recorded minutes, attendance, motions, or votes.

    • fire department management services
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-12-14)2\) City Council a) Fire Department Management Services Agreement with SFFD

  3. 2.bEmployee Personnel Policy Update

    Employee Personnel Policy Update

    The work-session agenda included an employee personnel policy update. The packet materials contained proposed and marked-up changes covering definitions, direct deposit, overpayment recovery, holidays, PTO, extended medical benefits, FMLA language, funeral leave, school conference leave, nursing mothers, smoking, safety shoes, discipline, veterans preference, grievances, credit-card use, travel expenses, and related items. The provided materials do not record any final council action at this work session.

    The document labeled meeting_minutes contains agenda and packet materials, but no recorded minutes, attendance, motions, or votes.

    • personnel policy
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-12-14)b) Employee Personnel Policy Update

  4. 3Adjourn

    The agenda listed call to order with roll call and agenda approval, followed by adjournment. The provided materials do not include minutes showing attendance, agenda approval, or adjournment.

    The document labeled meeting_minutes contains agenda and packet materials, but no recorded minutes, attendance, motions, or votes.

    • adjournment
    Outcome unrecorded
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-12-14)3\) Adjourn

Prior history on this business

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

  • Note: Affirmed indicates council members present on 11/9 were okay to move forward with the proposed change.

    What this is about
    The personnel-policy packet explains that references to items being affirmed mean council members present on November 9 were comfortable moving forward with the proposed change.

    p. 9Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-12-14)Note: Affirmed indicates council members present on 11/9 were okay to move forward with the proposed change.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior November 9 council discussion or decision matching this personnel-policy note. The search results returned unrelated 2026 packet materials, including road crack-sealing, fee schedules, and interim-use-permit staff notes, but nothing showing that council members present on November 9 “affirmed” or agreed to move forward with specific personnel-policy changes.

    • Apr 14, 2026Bertram Asphalt Company P.O. Box 162 Paynesville, MN 56362 Cell: 320-292-1311 Email: bertramasphalt@gmail.com Proposal <
    • Mar 10, 2026<table> <tr> <th>Description</th> <th>Fee</th> </tr> <tr> <td>SSTS Reinspection</td> <td>$95.00 per hour, 1 hour minimum
    • Mar 10, 202613\. The use shall comply with Minnesota Statutes if the property is enrolled in the Agricultural Preserve Program. St
    • Feb 24, 2026Jays Services - 8704 190th Ave NW February 11, 2026 13\. The use shall comply with Minnesota Statutes if the property is
    • Mar 10, 2026b) Spare or replacement parts ancillary to a small engine or a small machine (motorcycle, lawn mower, snow blower or sno
  • h. Decision Needed (Page 23): Should PTO accrual change for new hires? Should Nowthen's PTO be split into Vacation, Sick and Funeral? * Decision still needed 11/27*

    What this is about
    The packet notes that a PTO policy choice was still unresolved after the November 27 discussion.

    p. 12Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-12-14)h. Decision Needed (Page 23): Should PTO accrual change for new hires? Should Nowthen's PTO be split into Vacation, Sick and Funeral? * Decision still needed 11/27*

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about PTO accrual for new hires or splitting Nowthen’s PTO into vacation, sick, and funeral leave. The search results returned unrelated packet material and later administrative items, but nothing showing a November 27 discussion, a formal vote, or a resolved policy direction on this PTO question.

    • Mar 10, 2026application shall be submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission for their advice and recommendations and they shall c
    • Feb 24, 2026application shall be submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission for their advice and recommendations and they shall c
    • Dec 23, 2025<figure> </figure> variances and how it varies from the provision of this Chapter. The written application shall be subm
    • Dec 23, 20259 From: Cindy Nash - Collab Planning Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11:04 AM To: 'Shane Nelson' <shanen@haa-inc.com>
    • Jan 13, 2026This page was left intentionally blank. <figure> CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> ### REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <table> <tr> <
  • Request from 11/9, total days off offered by Nowthen today for a new hire:

    What this is about
    The packet refers to a prior request from November 9 for a calculation of total days off offered to a new hire.

    p. 12Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-12-14)Request from 11/9, total days off offered by Nowthen today for a new hire:

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior request or decision from November 9 about calculating the total days off offered by the City of Nowthen to a new hire. The search results returned unrelated 2026 packet items, such as Farmers Market appointments and funding, prosecuting attorney agreements, hazard mitigation, and zoning variance material. Based on these results, I cannot confirm from the available records when that request was made, who made it, or what calculation was provided.

    • Mar 10, 2026<table> <tr> <th colspan="9">BURGLARIES</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Number</th> <th>Case Number</th> <th>Created On</th> <th>Off
    • May 12, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
    • Apr 14, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
    • May 12, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 ## RESOLUT
    • Mar 10, 2026## BACKGROUND AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Dear Nowthen City Council, On behalf of the Nowthen Heritage Festival Commit
  • Council previously designated two council members to serve as the Personnel Committee. This verbiage allows the committee the ability to address more than just hiring. Define responsibilities of the Personnel Committee.

    What this is about
    The packet says the council had previously designated two council members for the Personnel Committee and asks that the committee's responsibilities be defined.

    p. 18Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-12-14)Council previously designated two council members to serve as the Personnel Committee. This verbiage allows the committee the ability to address more than just hiring. Define responsibilities of the Personnel Committee.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior decision specifically designating two council members to serve as the Personnel Committee, nor do they show a formal definition of that committee’s responsibilities. The closest personnel-related record is from the January 13, 2026 meeting, when council approved Resolution 2026-12 updating the Personnel Policy and City Council Policy to add a complaint policy. The minutes say the policy was needed because the city had recently encountered a complaint and did not have a consistent procedure in place, especially for complaints involving city staff, council members, or public works personnel. The motion carried.

    • Oct 28, 2025### NEW BUSINESS - RECOMMEND MEMBERS FOR ZONING ORDINANCE COMMITTEE Cindy Nash explained that the City Council has autho
    • Sep 29, 2025## TITLE OF ISSUE: VETERANS MEMORIAL RENOVATION COMMITTEE MEMBER APPOINTMENT ### BACKGROUND AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
    • May 12, 2026required or authorized by law or court rule in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral proceedi
    • Apr 14, 2026### environment that is used only for the storage of regulated products. All regulated cannabis plants and products will
    • Mar 24, 2026### environment that is used only for the storage of regulated products. All regulated cannabis plants and products will
  • At some point in the past few years the city adopted a Smoke Free Policy for all its properties. With elimination of "on City Property" are we saying the policy is being revoked or are we just removing the verbiage from this document?

    What this is about
    The packet recalls an earlier city smoke-free policy and asks whether removing wording from the personnel policy would revoke or merely remove that wording.

    p. 19Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-12-14)At some point in the past few years the city adopted a Smoke Free Policy for all its properties. With elimination of "on City Property" are we saying the policy is being revoked or are we just removing the verbiage from this document?

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior City Council decision adopting a Smoke Free Policy for all City properties, nor do they show a vote revoking such a policy. The closest records are personnel-policy updates: at the January 13, 2026 meeting, Council approved Resolution 2026-12 adding a complaint policy to the Personnel Policy and City Council Policy, and the March 10, 2026 packet includes a proposed resolution to repeal and replace the drug policy in the Personnel Policy with DOT and non-DOT drug and alcohol policies. Those records do not address a smoke-free policy or whether removing the words “on City Property” would repeal one.

    • Mar 10, 2026## City of Nowthen, Minnesota Drug and Alcohol Testing for Commercial Drivers Policy ### Purpose and Objectives The City
    • Mar 10, 2026## City of Nowthen, Minnesota Drug, Alcohol and Cannabis Testing and Drug-Free Workplace Act Policy for Non-Commercial D
    • Jan 13, 2026## RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX ### A RESOLUTION UPDATING THE PERSONNEL POLICY AND CITY COUNCIL POLICY WITH A COMPLAINT POLICY
    • Feb 10, 2026COUNCIL MEMBERS RAINVILLE, SWENSON, GLASER, BREYEN, AND MAYOR HYBBEN. MOTION CARRIED ##### j) Approval of Resolution 202
    • Jan 13, 2026Council Policy with a Complaint Policy BACKGROUND AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Upon review of the City Council Policy,
  • Compensatory Time \*Council decision to Remove all comp time verbiage. 19 references removed\*

    What this is about
    The packet states that the council had decided to remove compensatory-time language from the personnel policy.

    p. 19Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-12-14)Compensatory Time \*Council decision to Remove all comp time verbiage. 19 references removed\*

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision matching the recollection that council voted to remove all compensatory-time language from the personnel policy or that “19 references” were removed. The closest packet material returned is from the March 10, 2026 meeting packet, but the pages found relate to other personnel-policy content, such as drug and alcohol testing for commercial drivers, and do not show a motion, vote, or direction about compensatory time. Based on these search results, the statement in the packet may reflect staff’s understanding or an edit note, but I do not see a corresponding recorded council action in the records provided here.

    • Mar 10, 2026. All time at a City plant, terminal, facility, or other property, or on any public property, · waiting to be dispatched
    • Mar 10, 2026### Persons Subject to Testing & Types of Tests All employees are subject to testing who job duties include performing "
    • May 12, 2026f. "Rules of Public Access" means the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch promulgated by the Minnes
    • Mar 23, 2026# Standard Measures for Cities <table> <tr> <th>Category</th> <th>#</th> <th>Measure</th> <th>Notes:</th> </tr> <tr> <td
    • Feb 10, 2026encourages open and frequent communication between the law enforcement agency, the City, and its attorneys and also allo
  • This Agreement supersedes any prior or contemporaneous representations or agreements, whether written or oral, including, but not limited to, the Agreement for Fire Department Management Services dated December 22, 2020 between the parties and contains the entire agreement.

    What this is about
    The proposed fire-management agreement refers to and supersedes a previous December 22, 2020 agreement between Nowthen and St. Francis.

    p. 6Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-12-14)This Agreement supersedes any prior or contemporaneous representations or agreements, whether written or oral, including, but not limited to, the Agreement for Fire Department Management Services dated December 22, 2020 between the parties and contains the entire agreement.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior decision or agreement matching the referenced “Agreement for Fire Department Management Services dated December 22, 2020” between Nowthen and St. Francis. The search results did include several unrelated agreements with standard “entire agreement” or “integration” clauses, including a farmers market lease in the May 12, 2026 packet and development-related agreements in the March 10 and April 14, 2026 packets. Those do not appear to be fire-management agreements and do not document the December 22, 2020 Nowthen–St. Francis arrangement referenced in the proposed agreement.

    • May 12, 2026Market Coordinator is allowed on the premise between 1:00pm and 7:00pn during the Farmers Market. b. Farmers Market Trai
    • Apr 14, 2026notify the Developer as soon as is practicable of the default, the projected irreparable harm or safety hazard, and the
    • Mar 10, 2026Agreement in an effort to prevent, reduce or otherwise mitigate such irreparable harm or safety hazard, provided that th
    • Feb 10, 2026WHSECURITY PO Box 330, 6800 Electric Dr, Rockford, MN 55373 Phone: 763-477-3664 Fax: 763-477-3054 www.wh-security.com <t
    • May 12, 2026method of access and can change the methodology following the process in Clause 2.10. 2.3 Federal Systems Access. In add

Where this came up before

  1. Apr 14, 2026
    City Meeting

    Bertram Asphalt Company P.O. Box 162 Paynesville, MN 56362 Cell: 320-292-1311 Email: bertramasphalt@gmail.com Proposal <table> <tr> <td>Company Name:</td> <td>Nowthen (city of)</td> <td>Dat

    DocBertram Asphalt Company P.O. Box 162 Paynesville, MN 56362 Cell: 320-292-1311 Email: bertramasphalt@gmail.com Proposal <table> <tr> <td>Company Name:</td> <td>Nowthen (city of)</td> <td>Dat
  2. Mar 10, 2026
    City Meeting

    <table> <tr> <th>Description</th> <th>Fee</th> </tr> <tr> <td>SSTS Reinspection</td> <td>$95.00 per hour, 1 hour minimum</td> </tr> </table> ## Planning, Zoning, & Development Fees <table>

    Doc<table> <tr> <th>Description</th> <th>Fee</th> </tr> <tr> <td>SSTS Reinspection</td> <td>$95.00 per hour, 1 hour minimum</td> </tr> </table> ## Planning, Zoning, & Development Fees <table>
  3. Mar 10, 2026
    City Meeting

    13\. The use shall comply with Minnesota Statutes if the property is enrolled in the Agricultural Preserve Program. St

    Doc13\. The use shall comply with Minnesota Statutes if the property is enrolled in the Agricultural Preserve Program. St
  4. Feb 24, 2026
    City Meeting

    Jays Services - 8704 190th Ave NW February 11, 2026 13\. The use shall comply with Minnesota Statutes if the property is enrolled in the Agricultural Preserve Program. Staff Note: Not applicabl

    DocJays Services - 8704 190th Ave NW February 11, 2026 13\. The use shall comply with Minnesota Statutes if the property is enrolled in the Agricultural Preserve Program. Staff Note: Not applicabl
  5. Mar 10, 2026
    City Meeting

    b) Spare or replacement parts ancillary to a small engine or a small machine (motorcycle, lawn mower, snow blower or snowmobile) repair occupation. Staff Note: Tire sales are proposed as part of the t

    Docb) Spare or replacement parts ancillary to a small engine or a small machine (motorcycle, lawn mower, snow blower or snowmobile) repair occupation. Staff Note: Tire sales are proposed as part of the tire services. 8\. A landscape plan may

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

Show a sample of the transcript (1197 segments, 3:29:55 total)
  • 0:27 love you I down
  • 1:24 is please call this is a work
  • 1:31 session see now Council December 14 6m
  • 1:41 Ador maycember RC member alers herec Bri herec Deputy Johnson
  • 1:58 here sorry
  • 2:06 lock manager agenda
  • 2:25 present motion second departement
  • 3:17 soing people had a chance to read that St Francis has reviewed ited
  • 3:30 my original discussion $20,000 Services
  • 3:43 here, previously contractor Chief assistant chief and the administrator taking on all the
  • 3:51 administrative responsibilities Chief assistant chief is reti
  • 4:00 and so they have set up new structure where they elevated one of their firefighters
  • Showing first 12 segments. Open the YouTube video for the full transcript.

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?