Wednesday, August 28, 2024 · 6:00 PM
Agenda
Not on file
What was on the agenda.
One-line summary
At the August 28 work session, Council amended the agenda, suspended septic compliance tracking, directed stipend-policy revisions, set a process for organization-chart and contractor-communication input, and reaffirmed direction to develop a Bar None plan.
6 items as recorded in the packet and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
1Call to Order
Call to order, roll call, and approval of the agenda.
The agenda was approved as amended.
2aOrganization Chart
Discussion of the city organization chart and reporting structure.
Council discussed the organization chart, reporting structure, job descriptions, and how Council should communicate its vision to contracted staff. Council approved a process for members to send thoughts to the City Administrator by September 20 for compilation and later discussion, with a split vote.
Council approved a process for members to send thoughts on city vision and communication with contracted staff to the Administrator for later discussion.
2bCity Council Goals
Discussion of City Council goals and staff priorities.
During the goals discussion, Council focused on whether Bar None is operating consistently with its CUP and what direction staff should follow. Council unanimously reaffirmed that the Mayor, City Attorney, and City Administrator should agree on a plan for Bar None and bring it back to Council for approval.
Council discussed how to set priorities for staff, how detailed motions and RCA materials should be, and whether to wait for an upcoming League of Minnesota Cities meeting before setting goals. No goal-setting motion was adopted at this meeting.
Council discussed goals and staff direction; a separate Bar None direction motion was passed during this discussion.
2cApprove Resolution 2024-XX to Authorize RRC manage Nowthen's SSTS Compliance Program
Consider authorizing Rum River Consultants to manage the city's SSTS compliance program.
Council considered a proposal for Rum River Consultants to manage septic maintenance tracking and permit reminders, including a setup cost and possible permit fee increases. Instead of approving the program, Council passed a motion to suspend septic compliance tracking and discussed a possible spring newsletter article.
Council did not authorize RRC to manage the program; it voted to suspend septic compliance tracking.
2dResolution 2024-XX Updates to Resolution 2022-56 - Per Meeting Pay Policy
Consider updates to Resolution 2022-56, the per-meeting pay policy.
Council reviewed changes to the per-meeting pay policy, including what meetings should qualify, who should approve attendance, and how requests should be documented. Council directed CM Rainville to update the stipend form and resolution and bring them back for approval.
Council directed CM Rainville to update the request form and resolution and bring it back for approval.
3Adjourn
Adjourn the work session.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 p.m.
6 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1MOTION BY CM BREYEN, 2ND BY MAYOR PILON TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
moved by Breyen, seconded by Pilon
5 AYES
M2MOTION BY CM ALDERS, SECONDED BY CM FLADEBO TO SUSPEND THE SEPTIC COMPLIANCE TRACKING.
MOTION BY CM ALDERS, SECONDED BY CM FLADEBO TO SUSPEND THE SEPTIC COMPLIANCE TRACKING.
moved by Alders, seconded by Fladebo
5 AYES
M3MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECOND BY CM RAINVILLE FOR RAINVILLE TO UPDATE REQUEST FOR STIPEND PER MEETING RESOLUTION AND BRING FORTH NEXT MONTH FOR APPROVAL.
MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECOND BY CM RAINVILLE FOR RAINVILLE TO UPDATE REQUEST FOR STIPEND PER MEETING RESOLUTION AND BRING FORTH NEXT MONTH FOR APPROVAL.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville
5 AYES
M4MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY MAYOR PILON FOR CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE STAFF THOUGHTS FOR VISONS FOR THE CITY AND HOW IT CAN BE BEST COMMUNICATED TO OUR CONTRACTED STAFF TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR BY SEPTEMBER 20TH, TO COMPILE INFORMATION, SEND OUT TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DISCUSS AGAIN AT OCTOBER 15, 2024 WORKSESSION.
MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY MAYOR PILON FOR CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE STAFF THOUGHTS FOR VISONS FOR THE CITY AND HOW IT CAN BE BEST COMMUNICATED TO OUR CONTRACTED STAFF TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR BY SEPTEMBER 20TH, TO COMPILE INFORMATION, SEND OUT TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DISCUSS AGAIN AT OCTOBER 15, 2024 WORKSESSION.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Pilon
M5MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECOND BY CM FLADEBO TO REAFFIRM TO HAVE THE MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR COME TO AN AGREEMENT AS TO WHAT THE CITY IS GOING TO DO ABOUT BAR NONE. BRING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECOND BY CM FLADEBO TO REAFFIRM TO HAVE THE MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR COME TO AN AGREEMENT AS TO WHAT THE CITY IS GOING TO DO ABOUT BAR NONE. BRING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Fladebo
5 AYES
M6MOTION BY CM RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY CM ALDERS TO ADJOURN.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Alders
When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.
In previous meetings things were discussed, yet not clear to staff.
— Staff
What this is about
Staff said several issues had been discussed previously but staff still lacked clear Council direction.
The records show a partial match. In the February 24, 2026 and March 10, 2026 packets, staff included notes on extended home occupation/interim use permit items where Council direction could affect conditions, especially outdoor vehicle storage, screening/landscaping, on-site parking, customer vehicle limits, septic compliance, and dust control. For example, the packets stated that if the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council decided to allow specific outdoor storage of vehicles, the landscape/screening requirement “may need to be revisited.” Staff also noted possible permit conditions such as prohibiting on-street parking, limiting customer vehicles, requiring ISTS compliance before operation, and allowing dust-control measures if complaints arose. The search results do not include meeting minutes showing a clear prior Council direction or a formal vote on those specific issues.
Hasn't been kept track of since covid.
What this is about
The SSTS compliance discussion referenced the city not keeping septic tracking current since COVID.
The records show a direct match to this recollection at the August 28, 2024 City Council Work Session. Under “Items Removed from Previous Meetings,” council discussed “Approve Resolution 2024-XX to Authorize RRC to manage Nowthen’s SSTS Compliance Program.” The recorded discussion points were: “Is it mandatory?” and “Hasn’t been kept track of since covid.” The same item and discussion language also appears in the October 8, 2024 City Council agenda packet. In the records provided, the only recorded vote nearby was to approve the agenda as amended, 5 ayes; I do not see a recorded vote approving the RRC SSTS compliance resolution in these search results. Current ordinance materials describe SSTS permitting and compliance requirements, but they do not document when septic tracking stopped or restarted.
History of the program was discussed
What this is about
The stipend discussion referenced the history of the city’s per-meeting pay program.
The records I searched do not contain a prior discussion or decision matching the recollection about the history of the City’s per-meeting stipend or pay program. The search results include unrelated references to other “programs,” such as the State Auditor performance measurement program discussed for the April 14, 2026 meeting, trail development discussions from March 23, 2026, and other policy or licensing materials, but none address council stipends or per-meeting pay.
Since stipends went into effect, some council members have received stipends, some did not put in for it.
What this is about
Council discussed prior practice on stipends for recycling events after the stipend policy went into effect.
The records I searched do not contain a prior discussion or decision matching the recollection about council-member stipends for recycling events after the stipend policy went into effect. The closest related item is the March 10, 2026 packet, which addressed Recycling Center open hours and staffing. That item discussed current employees, Tuesday/Thursday and every-other-Saturday hours, and the possibility of hiring a third attendant if Saturday hours changed, but it does not mention council stipends or who did or did not request them.
Mayor stated he had been directed by council to work with the attorney about Bar None and come up with a plan - must have been quite a while ago as no one could recall when that was.
— Mayor Pilon
What this is about
The Bar None discussion referred to an earlier Council direction for the Mayor to work with the attorney, but no one recalled when that occurred.
The records searched show ongoing Council packet material about Bar None in early 2026, including monthly Sheriff’s Office reports listing calls for service at the facility at the January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12, 2026 meetings. The January 13, 2026 packet also included 2025 arrest statistics showing 119 of 159 arrests were Bar None-related, and the April 28, 2026 packet included information about Bar None’s DHS license and residential treatment programs as part of an amended conditional use permit record. However, the search results do not contain a prior Council action or recorded direction specifically directing the Mayor to work with the city attorney on Bar None and “come up with a plan.” Based on these records, there is a partial match to the topic of Bar None, but no formal vote, motion, or dated Council directive matching the Mayor’s recollection was found.
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Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
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