What was on the agenda

4 items as recorded in the packet and minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.

1. 1Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, Approve Agenda

   Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, and Approve Agenda.

   The special meeting was called largely because the City was changing to Rum River Consultants as Building Official effective March 1, 2024, and the fee schedule needed to match that change. Council first directed staff, with Planner Nash, to review the rest of the fee schedule later so costs are fully covered, then reviewed the Building Official ordinance and fee language line by line with Rum River Consultants. Council approved Ordinance 2024-02 as amended by a 4-aye roll-call vote.

   The minutes record the call to order, attendance, and discussion of how the fee schedule review would be handled; they do not record a separate agenda-approval vote.

   • meeting opening
   • fee schedule follow-up

   Discussion only
   p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)1\. Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Approve Agendap. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)Mayor Pilon called the work session to order at 6:03 p.m. Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Fladebo, Breyen. Council Member Alders was absent. Council Member Rainville is attending via Zoom from 5601 Highway A1A, #200, Indian River Shores, FL 32963.

2. 2Ordinance 2024-02 fee schedule amendment

   Review and Approve Ordinance 2024-02 Amending the Schedule of Fees, Charges, Costs, and Rates for Various Licenses, Permits, and Other Services for the City of Nowthen.

   The special meeting was called largely because the City was changing to Rum River Consultants as Building Official effective March 1, 2024, and the fee schedule needed to match that change. Council first directed staff, with Planner Nash, to review the rest of the fee schedule later so costs are fully covered, then reviewed the Building Official ordinance and fee language line by line with Rum River Consultants. Council approved Ordinance 2024-02 as amended by a 4-aye roll-call vote.

   Approved as amended after line-by-line review of the ordinance and Building Official fees.

   • Ordinance 2024-02
   • fee schedule
   • building official fees
   • Rum River Consultants

   Approved with conditions
   p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)2\. Review and Approve Ordinance 2024-02 Amending the Schedule of Fees, Charges, Costs, and Rates for Various Licenses, Permits, and Other Services for the City of Nowthen.p. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2024-02 AS AMENDED. VOTE VIA ROLL CALL. 4 AYES. MORTION CARRIED.

3. 3Arvig Business Subsidy Agreement

   Review and Approve Mayor Pilon and Administrator Lehner to sign the Business Subsidy Agreement with Arvig.

   Council approved having Mayor Pilon and Administrator Lehner sign the Business Subsidy Agreement with Arvig. The agreement supports broadband access for 81 homes in the Twin Lakes area, uses public economic development and ARPA-related funds, and provides for payment to Arvig upon completion of the project and required certification.

   Approved authorization for the mayor and administrator to sign the agreement.

   • Arvig
   • business subsidy agreement
   • broadband

   Approved
   p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)3\. Review and Approve Mayor Pilon and Administrator Lehner to sign the Business Subsidy Agreement with Arvig.p. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE MAYOR PILON AND ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER TO SIGN THE BUSINESS SUBSIDY AGREEMENT WITH ARVIG. VOTE VIA ROLL CALL. 4 AYES. MORTION CARRIED.

4. 4Adjourn

   Adjourn.

   After completing the special meeting agenda, Council Member Fladebo moved to adjourn, Breyen seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m.

   The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m.

   • adjournment

   Approved
   p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)4\. Adjournp. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLADEBO, SECONDED BY BREYEN. Motion to adjourn at 9:02 p.m.

Motions and votes

4 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

• M1MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF ALONG WITH PLANNER NASH, TO INVESTIGATE THE REST OF THE FEE SCHEDULE NOT PERTAINING TO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL TO BE SURE ALL COSTS ARE FULLY COVERED AND BRING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

  Exact transcript text

  MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF ALONG WITH PLANNER NASH, TO INVESTIGATE THE REST OF THE FEE SCHEDULE NOT PERTAINING TO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL TO BE SURE ALL COSTS ARE FULLY COVERED AND BRING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

  moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville

  Passed

  • YPilon
  • YFladebo
  • YBreyen
  • YRainville
  • ·Alders

  p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF ALONG WITH PLANNER NASH, TO INVESTIGATE THE REST OF THE FEE SCHEDULE NOT PERTAINING TO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL TO BE SURE ALL COSTS ARE FULLY COVERED AND BRING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)VOTING ENSUED. VOTE VIA ROLL CALL. 4 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Fladebo, Breyen. Council Member Alders was absent. Council Member Rainville is attending via Zoom from 5601 Highway A1A, #200, Indian River Shores, FL 32963.

• M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2024-02 AS AMENDED.

  Exact transcript text

  MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2024-02 AS AMENDED.

  moved by Breyen, seconded by Fladebo

  Passed

  • YPilon
  • YFladebo
  • YBreyen
  • YRainville
  • ·Alders

  p. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2024-02 AS AMENDED. VOTE VIA ROLL CALL. 4 AYES. MORTION CARRIED.p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Fladebo, Breyen. Council Member Alders was absent. Council Member Rainville is attending via Zoom from 5601 Highway A1A, #200, Indian River Shores, FL 32963.

• M3MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE MAYOR PILON AND ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER TO SIGN THE BUSINESS SUBSIDY AGREEMENT WITH ARVIG.

  Exact transcript text

  MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE MAYOR PILON AND ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER TO SIGN THE BUSINESS SUBSIDY AGREEMENT WITH ARVIG.

  moved by Breyen, seconded by Fladebo

  Passed

  • YPilon
  • YFladebo
  • YBreyen
  • YRainville
  • ·Alders

  p. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE MAYOR PILON AND ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER TO SIGN THE BUSINESS SUBSIDY AGREEMENT WITH ARVIG. VOTE VIA ROLL CALL. 4 AYES. MORTION CARRIED.p. 1↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Fladebo, Breyen. Council Member Alders was absent. Council Member Rainville is attending via Zoom from 5601 Highway A1A, #200, Indian River Shores, FL 32963.

• M4MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLADEBO, SECONDED BY BREYEN.

  moved by Fladebo, seconded by Breyen

  Passed

  p. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLADEBO, SECONDED BY BREYEN. Motion to adjourn at 9:02 p.m.

Money the council voted to spend

The amounts the council actually voted to approve, each with the vote that approved it. Drawn from the official minutes.

• Arvig business subsidy agreement reimbursement

  $164,795

  Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE MAYOR PILON AND ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER TO SIGN THE BUSINESS SUBSIDY AGREEMENT WITH ARVIG. Passed(VOTE VIA ROLL CALL. 4 AYES. MORTION CARRIED.)
  p. 21↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)This Agreement has Arvig being reimburse in the total amount of $164,795.25 upon completion of the project and submittal to the City of a certificate signed by an authorized company representative stating that the project has been completed.p. 25↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)WHEREAS, the City has agreed to provide Economic Development Funds in the amount of $164,795.25 to the Company;p. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO APPROVE MAYOR PILON AND ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER TO SIGN THE BUSINESS SUBSIDY AGREEMENT WITH ARVIG. VOTE VIA ROLL CALL. 4 AYES. MORTION CARRIED.

Prior history on this business

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

• The Nowthen City Council approved Rum River Consultants as their Designated Building Official starting March 1, 2024, at their meeting on Monday, February 13, 2024.

  What this is about
  Prior council approval of Rum River Consultants as the designated Building Official at the February 13, 2024 meeting.

  p. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)The Nowthen City Council approved Rum River Consultants as their Designated Building Official starting March 1, 2024, at their meeting on Monday, February 13, 2024.

  Related history

  The records searched do not contain a prior decision matching the recollection that the Nowthen City Council approved Rum River Consultants as the designated Building Official at a February 13, 2024 meeting, effective March 1, 2024. The closest related record found is a later packet item noting that, at the October 12, 2021 meeting, the Council adopted an ordinance allowing certain plumbing code plan review, inspections, testing, and permits to be handled by appropriately licensed individuals, which “may include the city’s contracted building official.” That reference does not identify Rum River Consultants or record a 2024 appointment.

  • ·Feb 24, 2026WHEREAS, the Zoning Ordinance at Section 11-3-5 E states: "Prohibited Uses and Structures: All other uses and structures
  • ·Apr 14, 2026# A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE PROPOSED STEP CHARTS AND INCREASING EMPLOYEE WAGES. WHEREAS, The Nowthen City Council recog
  • ·Apr 14, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowth
  • ·Apr 14, 2026# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA ## PUBLIC NOTICE # AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 9-1-1 OF THE NOWTHEN
  • ·Mar 10, 2026## RE: Quarterly Update regarding Recycling Center Mr. Mayor and Council Members, After conversations with Recycling Lia

• The recommended fee schedule that was included in the Council packet at the February 13th meeting did not include an Ordinance amendment.

  What this is about
  The February 13 fee schedule packet lacked an ordinance amendment, leading to this special meeting item.

  p. 2↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)The recommended fee schedule that was included in the Council packet at the February 13th meeting did not include an Ordinance amendment.

  Related history

  The records I searched do not include the February 13 packet item itself, so they do not directly confirm whether that packet lacked an ordinance amendment. They do show related follow-up materials: in the February 24, 2026 packet, the City included Ordinance No. 2026-01, “An Ordinance Amending the Schedule of Fees for the City of Nowthen,” which would amend City Code Chapter 1, Section 2 by replacing the existing fee schedule with the attached Schedule A. A similar fee-schedule ordinance also appears in the March 10, 2026 packet, along with a publication summary stating that the City adopted an ordinance amending certain fees on March 10, 2026. The search results do not include meeting minutes or a vote tally for either date, so they show the ordinance materials but not the formal vote outcome.

  • ·Mar 10, 2026# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA # ORDINANCE NO. 2026-XX # AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES F
  • ·Feb 24, 2026# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA ## ORDINANCE NO. 2026-01 # AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES
  • ·Apr 14, 2026# PUBLIC NOTICE # CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA ## Adoption of Ordinance No. 2023-02 # ORDINANCE ESTAB
  • ·Apr 14, 2026not limited to the security requirements set forth in Minnesota Rule 9810.1500, as the same may be amended from time to
  • ·Mar 24, 2026not limited to the security requirements set forth in Minnesota Rule 9810.1500, as the same may be amended from time to

• As we discussed, I used the 2020 version of the Business Subsidy Agreement with Arvig as the basis for this Agreement and only changed those terms necessary to reflect the current project. No substantive changes to the original agreement have been made.

  — Robert T. Ruppe

  What this is about
  The Arvig agreement was based on a prior 2020 Business Subsidy Agreement with Arvig.

  p. 21↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)As we discussed, I used the 2020 version of the Business Subsidy Agreement with Arvig as the basis for this Agreement and only changed those terms necessary to reflect the current project. No substantive changes to the original agreement have been made.

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior 2020 Business Subsidy Agreement with Arvig or a council decision approving one. The search results returned 2026 packet materials related to cannabis regulation and permitting, not Arvig or a business subsidy agreement. Based on these results, I cannot verify from the provided records that the current Arvig agreement was based on a 2020 agreement, or identify the date, vote outcome, or terms of any prior approval.

  • ·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
  • ·Apr 14, 2026# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. 2025-09 # AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF NOWTHEN ZONI
  • ·Mar 24, 2026# CITY OF NOWTHEN ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. 2025-09 # AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF NOWTHEN ZONI
  • ·Apr 14, 2026Waste materials will remain segregated from active inventory until they are destroyed in accordance with Minnesota Offic

• This is consistent with the original 2020 Agreement with Arvig and Anoka County policy regarding use of ARPA funds.

  — Robert T. Ruppe

  What this is about
  The reimbursement structure for the current Arvig agreement was described as consistent with the original 2020 agreement and Anoka County ARPA policy.

  p. 21↗Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)This is consistent with the original 2020 Agreement with Arvig and Anoka County policy regarding use of ARPA funds.

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior decision or agreement matching this recollection about Arvig, the original 2020 agreement, or an Anoka County ARPA reimbursement policy. The search results include unrelated Anoka County materials, such as the April 14, 2026 packet item on adopting the Anoka County Hazard Mitigation/Emergency Operations Plan, but they do not document the Arvig agreement terms, a reimbursement structure, ARPA funding rules, or a prior council vote on that issue.

  • ·Apr 28, 2026CASWELL ENGINEERING CO. ENGINEERS & LAND SURVEYORS ## BIRCHWOOD ANOKA COUNTY, MINNESOTA KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
  • ·Apr 14, 2026## RESOLUTION No. 2026-XX ### A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2025 ANOKA COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN WHEREAS, the City of No
  • ·Mar 10, 2026NOT PLATTED PID: 17-33-25-31-0004 IP Y2 RNE 25 0 I Shed 93 8194 % Certificate of Survey for K Land Development Part of S
  • ·Apr 14, 2026TITLE OF ISSUE: Adoption of the Anoka County Emergency Operations Plan BACKGROUND AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: The Anok
  • ·Apr 14, 2026## Regional Salary Survey Data Source: MN Local Governments Salary & Benefits Survey (Knowledge Now / Gallagher). City/C

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

• Document

  Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Minutes (2024-02-28)

  Minutes · Wednesday, February 28, 2024

  5 pages

  ↗
• Document

  Meeting Special City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2024-02-28)

  Packet · Wednesday, February 28, 2024

  40 pages

  ↗