Wednesday, September 27, 2023 · 5:00 PM
Packet
Not posted
The supporting materials council reviewed.
One-line summary
At its September 27, 2023 work session, the Nowthen City Council discussed staffing, resident complaint logistics, fire department matters, agenda explanations, and recycling center operations, and approved several recycling center and fee changes.
10 items as recorded in the agenda and minutes, each with a plain-English summary of what was at issue.
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.
A2Discussion regarding the 2024 Budget Questions
Discussion regarding the 2024 Budget Questions.
The council considered immediate fee changes because the city could not continue subsidizing the recycling center and because the liquor license fee was lower than surrounding cities. It approved increasing the liquor license fee from $1,500.00 to $2,500 for the next renewal period and approved new recycling fees for regular car tires, semi tires, and large appliances while leaving counter appliances at $10.00; mattress fee research was assigned to Council Member Rainville.
The minutes do not record a separate vote on budget questions, but they note that fees had been discussed during budget work sessions.
A3Discussion regarding staff recommendations for immediate fee schedule changes
Discussion regarding staff recommendations for immediate fee schedule changes.
The council considered immediate fee changes because the city could not continue subsidizing the recycling center and because the liquor license fee was lower than surrounding cities. It approved increasing the liquor license fee from $1,500.00 to $2,500 for the next renewal period and approved new recycling fees for regular car tires, semi tires, and large appliances while leaving counter appliances at $10.00; mattress fee research was assigned to Council Member Rainville.
The council approved immediate increases to the liquor license fee and selected recycling center fees.
A4Discussion regarding business use of the recycling center
Discussion regarding business use of the recycling center, including appointments with recycling staff to bring in large amounts of cardboard and tires.
The minutes do not record a separate action on business use of the recycling center or appointments for large cardboard and tire loads.
A5Discussion on reducing recycling center hours
Discussion on reducing recycling center hours and other options for recycling attendants, including cleaning the fire station and historic town hall.
The council discussed recycling center improvements, usage logs, staffing, and winter hours. It approved moving the oil tank outside with fencing as directed by the administrator, and approved interim hours beginning October 1, 2023: Tuesday and Thursday closing at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday hours of 9:00 to 12:00 until more concrete winter hours are set.
The council approved interim reduced recycling center hours and directed the administrator to explore additional ways to use recycling staff.
A6Full-Time Administrative Assistant Position Update
Full-Time Administrative Assistant Position Update.
Staff reported temporary front-counter staffing limits and asked to post the full-time administrative assistant position while holding any offer until the personnel policy was updated. A motion to post the position was recorded, but the minutes cut off the motion and do not record a vote result.
The minutes record a motion to post the administrative assistant position, but the motion text is cut off and no vote result is recorded in the provided minutes.
A7Part-Time Project Manager Position Update
Part-Time Project Manager Position Update.
The project manager update reported that Genevieve Hirschboeck accepted the temporary project manager position and would start on October 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
The minutes report that Genevieve Hirschboeck accepted the temporary project manager position; no vote is recorded for this item.
A8Full-Time Public Works Position
Full-Time Public Works Position - offer to current seasonal employee.
The council discussed moving toward a full-time position for seasonal employee and on-call firefighter Isaac Schulz. It approved directing staff to solicit information to put together a full-time employment offer for him.
The council directed staff to gather information to prepare an offer of full-time employment to Isaac Schulz.
A9Administrator Update
Administrator Update.
The council discussed Mr. Sam Corns’ request for a meeting with the full council after contacts with city officials and staff. The minutes say a meeting would involve a $500 request fee and additional subcontractor costs, including Planner Stockman’s $250 meeting cost, and that Council Member Fladebo would inform Mr. Corns of the October 16, 2023 available date and ask him to submit documentation for a meeting packet.
The council discussed making agendas clearer for residents by explaining public forum and consent agenda items. It approved adding appropriate explanations to agendas beginning with the October 10 meeting agenda.
The administrator reported that he would meet with the City Administrator of St. Francis the following week to finalize the fire department contract. The fire department also had received an application from an Oak Grove firefighter who lives in Nowthen and has 23 years of experience.
The administrator was to work with Council Member Breyen on updating the personnel policy to include new legislation.
City Attorney Ruppe announced a closed session under Minn. Stat. 13D.05 Subd. (b) for preliminary consideration of allegations against individuals subject to the council’s authority. The council returned to open session at 5:55 p.m.
Under the administrator update, the council approved adding explanations to agendas beginning with the October 10 meeting agenda and discussed several updates without separate votes.
A10Adjourn
Adjourn.
A motion to adjourn was made and the meeting adjourned at 8:37 pm.
8 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLADEBO, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO ADD APPROPRIATE EXPLANATIONS ON AGENDAS BEGINNING WITH THE OCTOBER 10TH MEETING AGENDA.
moved by Fladebo, seconded by Rainville
3 AYES
M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLADEBO, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO POST THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITON ON THE LEAGUE OF MN CITIES, CITY WEBSITE, AND CITY BULLETIN BOARD, BUT NO OFFICIAL OFFERS TO RECOMMENDED CANIDATE UNTIL THE MAIN POINTS IN THE PERSONNEL.
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER FLADEBO, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO POST THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITON ON THE LEAGUE OF MN CITIES, CITY WEBSITE, AND CITY BULLETIN BOARD, BUT NO OFFICIAL OFFERS TO RECOMMENDED CANIDATE UNTIL THE MAIN POINTS IN THE PERSONNEL
moved by Fladebo, seconded by Rainville
M3MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO DIRECT STAFF TO SOLICIT INFORMATION TO PUT TOGETHER AN OFFER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT TO ISAAC SCHULZ.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Fladebo
3 AYES
M4MOTION BY RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO DIRECT STAFF TO REMOVE THE OIL TANK FROM THE INSIDE OF THE RECYCLING BUILDING AND RELOCATE IT OUTSIDE BETWEEN THE OLD MAINTENANCE GARAGE AND HISTORIC TOWN HALL. STAFF DIRECTED TO INSTALL FENCING (to match MBI fencing) AS DIRECTED BY ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Fladebo
3 AYES
M5MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO CHANGE THE CLOSING HOURS ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY TO 5:00 P.M. AND HOURS ON SATURDAY 9:00-12:00 BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 UNTIL MORE CONCRETE WINTER HOURS CAN BE SET.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville
3 AYES
M6MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO INCREASE THE LIQUOR LICENSE FEE FROM $1,500.00 TO $2,500 FOR THE NEXT LICENSE RENEWAL PERIOD.
moved by Pilon, seconded by Rainville
3 AYES
M7MOTION BY RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO INCREASE FEES TO RECYCLE REGULAR CAR TIRES TO $5.00, SEMI TIRES TO $15, LARGE APPLIANCES (DEFINED AS REFRIGERATORS, STOVES, DISHWASHERS, WASHERS, DRYERS, AND WATER HEATERS) TO $20 - COUNTER APPLIANCES TO REMAIN $10.00.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Fladebo
3 AYES
M8MOTION BY RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ADJOURN.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Fladebo
When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.
The council has never had so much detailed information with requests in the past and what staff is doing has been a huge improvement.
What this is about
Prior council experience with RCA forms and background information for work sessions.
The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision specifically matching this recollection about RCA forms or the amount of background information provided to council for work sessions. There is a partial topical match in records about how the City handles requests for background information on land-use matters: the October 28, 2025 Planning and Zoning packet and the March 10, 2026 packet both include language about providing an initial consultation for property owners or applicants and balancing that service with staff and consultant costs. Those records relate to public/applicant information requests, not to council RCA forms or work-session packet practices, and no formal council vote on RCA/work-session background materials is shown in the search results provided.
It has been discussed multiple times to remove the oil container from inside the building and make it accessible outdoors.
What this is about
Prior discussions about relocating the recycling center oil container.
The records I searched do not contain a prior discussion or decision matching the recollection about relocating the recycling center oil container from inside the building to an outdoor accessible location. The search results returned unrelated items, including subdivision conditions, cannabis and tire-service permit conditions, and septic review materials from 2025–2026, but nothing about the recycling center oil container or a vote/action to move it outdoors.
Fees have been discussed multiple times during the budget work sessions as the city cannot continue to subsidize the Recycling Center.
What this is about
Prior budget work session discussions about recycling center fees and city subsidies.
The records searched show related Recycling Center funding and fee actions, but they do not include the actual prior budget work session discussions referenced in the cue. In the materials for the March 10, 2026 meeting, staff reported that the City Council had previously approved Resolution 2025-102, establishing an annual ongoing City subsidy of $15,972 for the Recycling Center. Those same March 10, 2026 materials also reported fee-related changes: Resolution 2025-78 changed tire recycling vendors, which allowed the city to reduce the resident fee for typical car tires by $0.50 and adjust other tire fees; Resolution 2025-77 changed fluorescent bulb recycling vendors to lower the city’s costs. So the records do support that the city had been addressing Recycling Center costs, fees, and subsidies, but the search results do not show the specific “multiple budget work session” discussions or a recorded vote from those work sessions.
DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the Minor Subdivision subject to the following conditions: 1\.
Option A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the Approved Plans and an easement acceptable to the City Attorney recorded prior to the recording of the lot split. A pr
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
to draft and edit legal documents, negotiate offers, and support trial preparation highlights his preparedness to work collaboratively
Jackie Bernu has extensive knowledge in criminal law and has worked as a Paralegal since 2012. Prior to her position as a Paralegal, Ja
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
The structured brief on this page is auto-generated and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording remain the official record. What do the trust labels mean?