Monday, September 23, 2024 · 6:00 PM
Agenda
Not on file
What was on the agenda.
One-line summary
Council approved cancelling the 2019A debt service levy, adopted the 2025 preliminary levy and budget on a 3-1 vote, and voted 3-1 to offer a part-time fire chief structure to finalists before posting if needed.
6 items as recorded in the packet and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
1Call to Order / Pledge / Roll Call / Approve Agenda
Call to order, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, and Approve Agenda.
Agenda approved as presented.
2Approve Resolution 2024-90 Cancellation of Debt
Approve Resolution 2024-90 cancelling debt service levy for the 2019A GO Special Assessment Bond.
Council approved cancelling the county debt service levy for the 2019A GO Special Assessment debt. The packet explained that prepaid special assessments and unspent 2019A bond proceeds allowed the city to reduce the 2024-payable-2025 levy for that bond.
Minutes refer to Resolution 2024-XX; the packet identifies the resolution as 2024-90.
3Continue Discussion on the 2025 Preliminary Budget
Continue discussion on the 2025 preliminary budget.
Finance Consultant Lori Yager presented revised 2025 budget numbers after prior work-session changes. Council then adopted Resolution 2024-91 approving the preliminary 2025 levy and preliminary budget, with Breyen, Alders, and Rainville voting yes and Pilon voting no.
Council discussed that the Recycling Center has not broken even and relies on fund balance, with a county grant and possible improvement funding identified for 2025. The minutes state the city council will need to decide whether to keep subsidizing the center and whether to keep accepting items from other cities or counties.
Council reviewed debt service, turnout gear, parks, building improvements, road improvements, and equipment replacement as part of the 2025 budget. The discussion included remaining balances on the 2019A and 2021A bonds, no planned 2025 building or park improvements, annual turnout gear funding, road work to be bonded, and a remaining tanker payment.
Council discussed budget assumptions, recycling, gambling, debt service, parks, turnout gear, building improvements, road improvements, equipment, and levy impacts before moving to the levy vote.
4Adopt Preliminary Levy for County Deadline and Adopt 2025 Preliminary Budget
Adopt preliminary levy for county deadline and adopt the 2025 preliminary budget.
Finance Consultant Lori Yager presented revised 2025 budget numbers after prior work-session changes. Council then adopted Resolution 2024-91 approving the preliminary 2025 levy and preliminary budget, with Breyen, Alders, and Rainville voting yes and Pilon voting no.
Council reviewed debt service, turnout gear, parks, building improvements, road improvements, and equipment replacement as part of the 2025 budget. The discussion included remaining balances on the 2019A and 2021A bonds, no planned 2025 building or park improvements, annual turnout gear funding, road work to be bonded, and a remaining tanker payment.
Resolution 2024-91 passed 3-1, with Pilon voting no and Fladebo absent from the meeting.
5Fire Chief Leadership Plan / Full-Time or Part-Time Chief
Continuation of September 17, 2024 discussion on full-time or part-time Fire Chief and leadership responsibilities for the Nowthen Fire Department.
Council continued the prior meeting’s discussion over a full-time or part-time fire chief. After discussion of finalists, job duties, hours, benefits, and posting requirements, council voted 3-1 to present a part-time hourly salary range with ESST, no PTO, no other benefits, and no on-call fee, and to post the position for one week if both finalists decline.
Council passed a motion to present a part-time chief salary and benefit structure to the two finalists, with posting for one week if both decline.
6Adjourn
Adjourn.
Minutes record a motion to adjourn and adjournment at 8:58 p.m., but no mover, seconder, or vote is shown.
5 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1MOTION BY CM BREYEN, 2ND BY CM RAINVILLE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
moved by BREYEN, seconded by RAINVILLE
4 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M2MOTION BY CM BREYEN, 2ND BY CM RAINVILLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-XX APPROVING THE CANCELLATION OF THE COUNTY DEBT SERVICE LEVY FOR THE 2019A GO SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DEBT.
MOTION BY CM BREYEN, 2ND BY CM RAINVILLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-XX APPROVING THE CANCELLATION OF THE COUNTY DEBT SERVICE LEVY FOR THE 2019A GO SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DEBT.
moved by BREYEN, seconded by RAINVILLE
4 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M4MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERS, SECONDED BY BREYEN TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024- 91 APPROVING THE 2025 PRELIMINARY LEVY AND ADOPT THE 2025 PRELIMARY BUDGET.
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERS, SECONDED BY BREYEN TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2024- 91 APPROVING THE 2025 PRELIMINARY LEVY AND ADOPT THE 2025 PRELIMARY BUDGET.
moved by ALDERS, seconded by BREYEN
M5MOTION BY COUNCL MEMBER ALDERS, SECONDED BY MAYOR PILON TO PRESENT A PART- TIME SALARY $42.68 - $64.01 WITH ESST, NO PTO, NO OTHER BENEFITS, NO ON CALL FEE WITH THE JOB DUTIES AS CURRENTLY DESCRIBED. IF THEY BOTH SAY NO, POST THE POSITION FOR ONE WEEK.
MOTION BY COUNCL MEMBER ALDERS, SECONDED BY MAYOR PILON TO PRESENT A PART- TIME SALARY $42.68 - $64.01 WITH ESST, NO PTO, NO OTHER BENEFITS, NO ON CALL FEE WITH THE JOB DUTIES AS CURRENTLY DESCRIBED. IF THEY BOTH SAY NO, POST THE POSITION FOR ONE WEEK.
moved by COUNCL MEMBER ALDERS, seconded by PILON
M6MOTION ADJOURN.
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.
2019A unspent bond proceeds
$85,900
2019A GO Special Assessment debt levy cancellation
$151,568
Use of general fund balance for 2025 operations
$71,415
2025 General Fund budget
$2,465,080
2025 General Fund budget increase
$9,840
Salary and benefits budget change
$69,280
Sheriff contract increase
$25,250
Planning and zoning code compliance increase
$20,000
Engineering MS4 increase
$13,500
Fire contract budget reduction
$35,000
2025 Recycling budget
$69,170
2025 Gambling Contribution budget
$50,000
2025 Debt Service budget
$451,720
2025 Turn Out Gear Capital budget
$7,500
2025 Road Improvement Capital budget
$555,400
2025 Equipment Replacement budget
$16,950
Total 2025 proposed budget appropriations
$3,616,020
Estimated 2025 road improvements cost
$530,000
Approved part-time Fire Chief hourly rate low
$43
Approved part-time Fire Chief hourly rate high
$64
When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.
The Finance Consultant presented the new budget numbers with the changes talked about at prior meetings and with some additional cuts that could be made by staff.
What this is about
Budget figures carried forward from earlier budget work sessions.
The records show a related budget presentation at the January 13, 2026 meeting. Financial Consultant Lori Yager presented the 2026 budget and levy proposal and noted that the Council had held four meetings between July and November to discuss and plan the 2026 budget. She said later positive results on debt issues allowed the levy to be reduced by $8,645 from the amount shown on the Truth in Taxation notices. The proposal presented at that meeting listed a final levy of $2,332,787, including the general fund operating levy and debt service levy. The presentation also noted a $17,515 increase in the general fund levy, a $185,906 increase in the debt levy, use of fund balance to avoid additional levy increases, and transfers for equipment, turnout gear, and debt service. The searched records confirm the budget numbers were tied back to prior budget meetings, but the excerpts do not identify each of the four work-session dates or show a separate vote outcome for this specific presentation.
Council Member Rainville apologized to Mayor Pilon for a comment at the last meeting for believing the FD had reported to the mayor, but it was the Mayor and the City Council.
— Rainville
What this is about
Prior meeting comment about whether the fire department reported to the mayor or to the mayor and council.
The records I searched do not contain a prior discussion or decision matching Council Member Rainville’s recollection about whether the Fire Department reported to the mayor alone or to the mayor and City Council. The April 14, 2026 minutes show Fire Chief Miller was present, but the available excerpts do not include a discussion about reporting structure or any related vote. The May 12, 2026 packet also lists Fire Chief Miller as present, but it likewise does not show a formal action or recorded discussion on this point in the search results provided.
Administrator Lehner had contacted the two (2) finalists for the full-time position that was previously approved.
— Administrator Lehner
What this is about
Earlier council approval of a full-time fire chief process and finalists.
The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision matching the recollection of approving a full-time fire chief hiring process or identifying finalists for that position. The only partial match is unrelated to the fire chief position: at the May 5, 2025 meeting packet, the council had materials to extend Frederick Boyles III’s contract through August 1, 2025, or until a new City Administrator was hired, to assist with the City Administrator recruitment process in coordination with SCSC/Mike Humpal. Those records concern hiring a City Administrator, not a Fire Chief, and the packet excerpt does not show a completed vote outcome.
When Council Member Fladebo was directed to put a report together, it was directed to include the age of the departments and the responsibilities the part-time chief in those departments? None of this information has been provided in writing.
— Isaac Shulz
What this is about
Council direction to Council Member Fladebo to prepare a fire chief comparison report.
The records I searched do not contain a prior Council direction to Council Member Fladebo to prepare a fire chief comparison report, nor do they show a written report assignment that specifically required the age of departments or the responsibilities of part-time chiefs. The search results mainly include 2026 meeting materials and minutes on unrelated items, including sheriff’s reports, appointments, and other agenda business. They do show Fire Chief Miller present at several meetings, but they do not include a matching discussion, motion, vote, or report directive involving Council Member Fladebo.
It was reported that a council member is disappointed with the whole council. It has all been the path for a full-time chief, it was posted on the direction of council and many hours spent in preparation and interviews, using fire chiefs from other cities as well as Chief Deputy Jacobson.
What this is about
Prior council direction to pursue a full-time fire chief, including posting and interviews.
The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision matching this recollection about directing staff to pursue a full-time fire chief, posting the position, or conducting interviews with outside fire chiefs and Chief Deputy Jacobson. The search results returned unrelated planning and land-use packet materials from 2025–2026. The only references to “Fire Chief” in those results concern routine review/approval of building and fire code matters, not fire department staffing or a full-time chief hiring process.
### TITLE OF ISSUE: Approval of Resolution 2026-XX Amending 2025 Budget BACKGROUND AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: The City of Nowthen is a Plan A statutory city. Under Minnesota Statute, Plan A cities
1\. The City regularly receives inquiries from property owners, real estate professionals, developers and proposed purchasers ("Requesting Parties" or each a "Requesting Party") in relation to
### TITLE OF ISSUE: Resolution Amending 2025 Budget BACKGROUND AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: The City of Nowthen is a Plan A statutory city. Under Minnesota Statute, Plan A cities are required to adop
### General Fund Budgetary Highlights Actual revenues were $31,569 under budget and expenditures were $103,155 under budget; along with transfers, other financing sources and prior period adjustments,
### 3. PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET AND PROPERTY TAXES Financial Consultant Yager presented the 2026 budget and levy proposal. She explained that the City Council held four meetings between July and Novem
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?