Agenda spine

4 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.

1. 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.

   • meeting opening

   No action
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-09-14)1\. Call to Order · Pledge of Allegiance . Roll Call · Approve Agendap. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)Mayor Pilon called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm. Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Rainville, Fladebo, Alders and Breyen. Also Present: Deputy Clerk Johnson, and Finance Consultant Lori Yager.

2. M2Temporary Administrative Assistant for Front Desk

   Temporary front-desk administrative assistant after Donna's resignation; this item appears in the minutes but was not listed on the posted agenda.

   Council rejected a direct temporary hire at $15 per hour and carried an amended direction to use a staffing agency not to exceed $35 per hour.

   • temporary administrative assistant
   • staffing

   Approved
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)## 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE FRONT DESK DUE TO DONNA'S RESIGNATION. Deputy Clerk Johnson requested permission to offer a temporary position to Bethany Lehner (Scott's daughter) as she is available immediately to answer phones, help residents at front counter until a full-time p…p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.

3. A2Discussion regarding the 2024 Budget

   Discussion regarding the 2024 budget.

   The minutes show budget discussion and staff action items, but no motion adopting the budget at this meeting.

   • 2024 budget
   • general fund
   • levy
   • fees
   • public works
   • recycling

   Discussion only
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-09-14)2\. Discussion regarding the 2024 Budgetp. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)## 3. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE 2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET Administrator Lehner joined the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Mayor Pilon thanked staff and council for their work in the workshops on the 2024 budget. Tonight's meeting is to go through the numbers again and see if all questions are answered.p. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)The preliminary budget is $1,936,176 which is a 5.35% increase. The council will adopt it on December 12th, 6:05 public hearing with city council meeting immediately after. Action item: Staff directed to post special meeting for Wednesday, September 20th. Lori to send RCA and Resolution to be adopted.

4. A3Adjourn

   Adjourn.

   The minutes record a motion to adjourn and that the meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm, but do not record a vote tally.

   • adjournment

   Approved
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-09-14)3\. Adjournp. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)Motion by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Rainville to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.

Issues addressed

What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.

• Temporary front-desk administrative assistant

  Council considered how to cover the front desk after Donna's resignation. A motion to let Deputy Clerk Johnson offer Bethany Lehner a temporary administrative assistant position at $15 per hour failed 2-3 after concerns about family members working together. Council then carried an amended motion directing staff to use a staffing agency for the temporary position, not to exceed $35 per hour.

  Agenda: M2. Motions: M1, M2. Speakers: Deputy Clerk Johnson, Mayor Pilon, Fladebo, Breyen, Alders, Rainville.

• 2024 General Fund budget work session

  Council and staff reviewed the proposed 2024 General Fund Draft Budget and discussed levy timing, liquor license fees, employee benefits, revenue estimates, public works costs, parks planning, road project budgeting, recycling fees and operations, and equipment replacement. The minutes identify the preliminary budget as $1,936,176, but the meeting was a discussion session and did not adopt the final budget.

  Agenda: A2. Speakers: Mayor Pilon, Administrator Lehner, Lori Yager.

• Adjournment

  Council Member Breyen moved, and Rainville seconded, adjournment; the minutes state the work session adjourned at 9:35 pm.

  Agenda: A3. Motions: M3. Speakers: Breyen, Rainville.

Motions and votes

3 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

• M1MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ALLOW DEPUTY CLERK JOHNSON TO OFFER A TEMPORARY POSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHILE SEARCHING FOR A FULL TIME PERMANENT CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION AT $15 PER HOUR AS NEEDED INCLUDING A TRIAL PERIOD.

  moved by MAYOR PILON, seconded by FLADEBO

  FailedSplit vote

  • YPILON
  • YFLADEBO
  • NBREYEN
  • NALDERS
  • NRAINVILLE

  p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ALLOW DEPUTY CLERK JOHNSON TO OFFER A TEMPORARY POSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHILE SEARCHING FOR A FULL TIME PERMANENT CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION AT $15 PER HOUR AS NEEDED INCLUDING A TRIAL PERIOD.p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, NAY. MOTION FAILED.

• M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR. AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR".

  moved by COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, seconded by RAINVILLE

  PassedSplit vote

  • YBREYEN
  • YALDERS
  • YRAINVILLE
  • NPILON
  • NFLADEBO

  p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR.p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.

• M3Motion by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Rainville to adjourn the meeting.

  moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Rainville

  Passed

  p. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)Motion by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Rainville to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.

Money discussed

Each figure links back to the document it came from. When the council voted on the amount, the motion is shown.

• F1

  Failed proposal to allow Deputy Clerk Johnson to offer a temporary administrative assistant position at $15 per hour as needed, including a trial period.

  salary · Temporary administrative assistant hourly rate

  $15

  outflow

  Council voted: MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ALLOW DEPUTY CLERK JOHNSON TO OFFER A TEMPORARY POSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHILE SEARCHING FOR A FULL TIME PERMANENT CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION AT $15 PER HOUR AS NEEDED INCLUDING A TRIAL PERIOD. Failed
  p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ALLOW DEPUTY CLERK JOHNSON TO OFFER A TEMPORARY POSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHILE SEARCHING FOR A FULL TIME PERMANENT CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION AT $15 PER HOUR AS NEEDED INCLUDING A TRIAL PERIOD.p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, NAY. MOTION FAILED.

• F2

  Original motion directed staff to contact a staffing agency to fill the temporary position, not to exceed $30 per hour; it was amended to $35 per hour before passage.

  contract · Staffing agency hourly cap before amendment

  $30

  outflow

  Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR. AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". Passed
  p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR.p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR".

• F3

  Approved amended cap for staffing agency placement for the temporary position.

  contract · Staffing agency hourly cap after amendment

  $35

  outflow

  Council voted: MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO DIRECT STAFF TO CONTACT STAFFING AGENCY TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER HOUR. AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". Passed
  p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)AMEND THE MOTION TO STATE "NOT TO EXCEED $35 PER HOUR". VOTING ENSUED: COUNCIL MEMBERS BREYEN, ALDERS, AND RAINVILLE, AYE. COUNCIL MEMBERS PILON AND FLADEBO, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.

• F4

  Budget discussion item to move the 2019A Levy to zero for 2024.

  levy · 2019A Levy · FY 2024

  $0

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Move the 2019A Levy to 0 and push the amount of $64,900 out to later years, 2025-2026-2027 to keep the 2024 levy lower.

• F5

  Amount discussed for deferral to 2025, 2026, and 2027 to keep the 2024 levy lower.

  levy · 2019A Levy amount pushed to later years · FY 2024

  $64,900

  unknown

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Move the 2019A Levy to 0 and push the amount of $64,900 out to later years, 2025-2026-2027 to keep the 2024 levy lower.

• F6

  Budget discussion about increasing liquor licensing fees to be more competitive with surrounding cities.

  license · Liquor licensing fee · FY 2024

  $2,500

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Discussion on increasing liquor licensing to be more competitive with surrounding cities. Move to $2,500, discuss going as high as $3,500. Staff to recommend a fee schedule adjustment. Add a temporary license fee and a wine-only license.

• F7

  Higher liquor license fee level discussed but not adopted at this work session.

  license · Possible higher liquor licensing fee · FY 2024

  $3,500

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Discussion on increasing liquor licensing to be more competitive with surrounding cities. Move to $2,500, discuss going as high as $3,500. Staff to recommend a fee schedule adjustment. Add a temporary license fee and a wine-only license.

• F8

  Council questioned whether the Zoning/Subdivision revenue estimate was accurate.

  revenue · Zoning/Subdivision revenue · FY 2024

  $20,000

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Is the Zoning/Subdivision revenue accurate at $20,000?

• F9

  Public Works tires budget line item discussed for increase; grader tires were identified at $9,500 for four tires.

  expenditure · Public Works grader tires · FY 2024

  $9,500

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Public Works - Tires budget line item to increase. Tires for the grader are $9500 for 4 tires.

• F10

  Council questioned whether the road project amount would pay for a PACER study and what the remaining funds were for.

  capital_project · Road project budget · FY 2024

  $150,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Will the $150,000 in the road project pay $40,000 for a pacer study? What is the rest for?

• F11

  Potential PACER study cost discussed within the road project budget.

  estimate · PACER study estimate · FY 2024

  $40,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Will the $150,000 in the road project pay $40,000 for a pacer study? What is the rest for?

• F12

  Equipment replacement discussion to remove the Fire Department truck final payment because a 3% rebate was anticipated when the truck was delivered.

  expenditure · Fire Department truck final payment · FY 2024

  $24,500

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· Equipment Replacement - remove $24,500 on the FD truck final payment due to 3% rebate anticipated when the truck is delivered.

• F13

  Preliminary budget amount discussed for the 2024 General Fund budget.

  budget · Preliminary budget · FY 2024

  $1,936,176

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)· The preliminary budget is $1,936,176 which is a 5.35% increase. The council will adopt it on December 12th, 6:05 public hearing with city council meeting immediately after. Action item: Staff directed to post special meeting for Wednesday, September 20th. Lori to send RCA and Resolution to be adopted.

Memory cues and prior history

When someone tried to remember earlier business, we cross-reference the corpus and write a short related-history note.

• Discussion that it has happened in the past and the outcome was not approved by the council.

  What this is about
  Prior council handling of family members working together in city employment.

  p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)Discussion that it has happened in the past and the outcome was not approved by the council.

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision matching this recollection about family members working together in City employment, or an outcome that was not approved by the Council. The closest search hits are not about City staffing or nepotism: the March 24, 2026 and April 14, 2026 packets include a condition for a cannabis-related interim use permit stating “No employees other than the property owners shall be on the site,” and the May 12, 2026 packet includes general employee pension benefit information. Neither shows a Council discussion or vote about relatives working together as City employees.

  • ·Apr 14, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="151" --> 6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 squar
  • ·Mar 24, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="14" --> 5\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by th
  • ·May 12, 2026#### General Employees Plan Benefits General Employees Plan requires three years of service to vest. Benefits are based
  • ·Mar 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="108" --> ## 1. Construction of Improvements. A. The Developer, at its sole expense,
  • ·Mar 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="123" --> 7\. The memo from the City Planner dated February 18, 2026 is incorporated

• Nothing new on the PW truck ordered. No price reduction or guarantee.

  What this is about
  Status of a previously ordered Public Works truck and whether there had been a price reduction or guarantee.

  p. 2↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14). Nothing new on the PW truck ordered. No price reduction or guarantee.

  Related history

  The records searched do not contain a prior decision or status update matching the recollection of a previously ordered Public Works truck, or any discussion of a price reduction or guarantee for that truck. The closest related items are Public Works equipment references: at the March 10, 2026 meeting packet, staff included research on brush cutters, a snow pusher, and “truck repairs,” but that material does not describe a truck order, delivery status, price reduction, or guarantee. The April 14, 2026 clerk update also mentions Public Works activity, but not a truck purchase or order status.

  • ·Mar 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="92" --> ## Memo From Public Works ### Brush Cutters Attachments Unlimited - After ta
  • ·Apr 28, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="34" --> <!-- PageHeader="8." --> CASWELL ENGINEERING CO. ENGINEERS & LAND SURVEYORS
  • ·Mar 10, 2026Council Meeting Location: Historic Townhall 19800 Nowthen Blvd NW Nowthen MN, 55330 CLERK UPDATE 03-10-26 \> MN Pollutio
  • ·Mar 10, 2026### Snow Pusher As originally stated, a snow pusher will greatly improve snow clean-up for Nowthen Public Works. The Vir
  • ·Apr 14, 2026## TITLE OF ISSUE: APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2026-XX AWARDING CONTRACT FOR 2026 DUST CONTROL APPLICATION BACKGROUND AND SUP

Sources

Every document and recording archived for this meeting.

• Document

  Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-09-14)

  Minutes · 2023-09-14

  3 pages

  ↗
• Document

  Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-09-14)

  Agenda · 2023-09-14

  1 pages

  ↗