What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
Dryden escrow legal bill
Deb Dryden used public forum to object to ongoing billing concerns and Facebook comments about the Drydens. Later, after reviewing Attorney Ruppe's explanation for a $325 Dryden Acres legal invoice, the council rejected the packet's proposed approach of billing Dryden escrow and instead voted unanimously for the city to take responsibility for the $325 legal bill and write it off.
Agenda: 2, 3k. Motions: M8. Speakers: Deb Dryden, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Breyen.
Amended consent agenda
The council approved the amended consent agenda unanimously. That approval covered the prior May council minutes, claims and April/May treasurer reports, the Twin Lakes Park roof quote, Narcan supplied at no cost through Anoka County's opioid initiative, the Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association donation, Historic Town Hall door/accessibility quotes, Council Member Glaser's URRWMO appointment, and the Planning and Zoning monthly report after it was moved into consent.
Agenda: 3a, 3b, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 6a. Motions: M2. Speakers: Council Member Rainville, Council Member Swenson.
Fire Department progress and Chief Miller contract
Chief Miller reported on Fire Department improvements, including needs assessment work, equipment updates, emergency planning, grant applications, training, and goals for recruitment, inspections, prevention, and leadership development. After discussing stability for the young department and the cost of the contract, the council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-63 extending Robert Miller's contract as Fire Chief/Emergency Manager through December 31, 2027, including the scheduled weekly pay increase beginning in 2026.
Agenda: 4a, 4b, 4c. Motions: M5. Speakers: Fire Chief Miller, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Swenson, Interim City Administrator Johnson.
Bar None calls and excessive law enforcement services fee
The Sheriff's Department reported 19 May calls to Bar None and described serious incidents including a May 25 assault that led to first-degree assault charges. Attorney Allseits then reviewed the excessive-use ordinance fee question using Anoka County's $69.76 per-deputy-hour cost estimate. The council rounded the amount and unanimously selected a $70 fee for excessive use of law enforcement services under Ordinance 2025-04, with exceptions discussed for medical, mental-health, and domestic incidents.
Agenda: 5a, 8b. Motions: M3. Speakers: Chief Deputy Bill Jacobson, Attorney Allseits, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Glaser.
March 2025 personnel policy
The council finished most of the March 2025 personnel policy. It left the exempt-employee absence language in place, removed the ability to use unaccrued PTO, chose not to add a fixed salary-increase policy, and approved flex-time language in concept. Because members disagreed about whether PTO and holidays should count toward overtime, the council approved the personnel policy with that overtime paragraph removed and directed members to submit questions for a small-cities survey before making a final decision.
Agenda: 9a. Motions: M4, M4a. Speakers: Attorney Allseits, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Swenson, Interim City Administrator Johnson.
Receptionist/front desk hiring process
Interim Administrator Johnson said the city had received 11 applications for the receptionist/front desk position and discussed how interviews should be handled. Council members agreed interviews could include up to two council members if available, while allowing staff to proceed if council members could not attend. Johnson also received support to seek no-cost help from another city clerk or administrator if she needed additional hiring expertise.
Agenda: 7a. Speakers: Interim City Administrator Johnson, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Swenson.
Veterans Memorial ad hoc committee
The council discussed renovating the Veterans Memorial at Nowthen Memorial Park and forming an ad hoc committee that could include residents, veterans or their families, public works staff, and a council representative. Members discussed aiming for a manageable odd-numbered group, possibly five to nine members, and a six-to-eight-week proposal timeline after formation. The council unanimously approved moving forward with the ad hoc committee.
Agenda: 9b. Motions: M6. Speakers: Council Member Rainville, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Breyen, Interim City Administrator Johnson.
2025 city staff goals
The council reviewed completed and pending staff goals and identified additional work, including updating job descriptions, studying weather-siren coverage, continuing ordinance and CUP/IUP work, improving gravel-road maintenance, moving toward a fee-based permit system, evaluating city office hours, encouraging commercial and industrial development, scheduling an Emergency Operations Plan tabletop exercise, and evaluating street signs. No formal motion was recorded in the signed minutes.
Agenda: 9c. Speakers: Mayor Hybben, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Swenson, Interim City Administrator Johnson.
City Facebook comments
The council considered staff's request to allow comments on the City Facebook page so posts could be scheduled, events and reels could be used, and the page could gain more engagement. Council approved allowing comments on a trial basis with review at the October council meeting. Mayor Hybben, Council Members Rainville, Glaser, and Swenson voted yes, and Council Member Breyen voted no.
Agenda: 9d. Motions: M7. Speakers: Council Member Glaser, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Swenson, Council Member Breyen, Interim City Administrator Johnson.
City office closures for June 20 and July 3
After moving the item out of consent, the council discussed the staffing-related city office closures. It unanimously approved closing the city office on June 20 and July 3, 2025, with full-time employees using PTO for both days.
Agenda: 3i. Motions: M11. Speakers: Council Member Glaser, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Breyen.
Septic ordinance and compliance system
The council approved Resolution 2025-65 authorizing Rum River Consultants to revise Nowthen's septic ordinance and implement a septic compliance system. The packet and minutes identify a $900 estimated ordinance-revision cost and a $2,000 annual reporting fee, with the program intended to help align the city with MPCA reporting and compliance requirements.
Agenda: 3j. Motions: M9. Speakers: Council Member Rainville, Council Member Swenson.
Memorial Park pickleball and basketball striping
The council moved the court-striping item out of consent and approved Resolution 2025-66 for striping the existing basketball/pickleball courts. Council Member Breyen clarified that funding should come from the Park Capital Fund, and the motion passed unanimously.
Agenda: 3c. Motions: M10. Speakers: Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser.
Comcast internet project update
Mayor Hybben gave an added old-business update on the Comcast internet project. He reported that 418 mid-span poles had been identified, permits were progressing, the project was divided into five zones with estimated completions from June/July through October/November, and residents should connect during initial installation to avoid later costs.
Agenda: 9i. Speakers: Mayor Hybben.