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2022-12-13
Agenda
Not posted
What was on the agenda.
One-line summary
The council adopted the 2023 levy and budget, amended the 2022 budget, approved the consent agenda, approved a conditional cell tower amendment, and authorized AV and salt-spreader purchases.
27 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.
1Recognition of Lynda Blake and Joel Greenberg
Recognition of Lynda Blake and Joel Greenberg for their service to the City of Nowthen.
Council Member Blake's farewell poem was included in the minutes; no vote was recorded.
2Call to Order and Approve Agenda
Call to order, pledge, roll call, and approval of the agenda.
Agenda approved as presented.
3A2023 Truth and Taxation discussion
Public hearing for 2023 Truth and Taxation discussion.
Public hearing was opened and closed with no public or council questions recorded.
3BAdopt Final Levy and Budget for 2023
Adopt the final 2023 levy and budget.
Resolution adopting the final 2023 levy and budget was approved.
3CAmend the 2022 Budget
Amend the 2022 budget.
Resolution amending the 2022 budget was approved.
4AApprove Prior Minutes
Approve November 10, 2022 regular meeting minutes and November 18, 2022 canvassing board minutes.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4BApprove Claims and Treasurer's Report
Approve claims from November 8 through December 10, 2022 and the treasurer's report.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4CFinance Deputy Clerk Full-Time Status
Change the finance deputy clerk from part-time to full-time.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4DAdministrative Assistant Permanent Part-Time Status
Change the temporary administrative assistant position to permanent part-time.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4ETobacco Sales License Renewals
Renew tobacco sales licenses for Burns Bottle Shop and Rademacher Companies, Inc. (Bill's Superette).
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4FToft First Addition Letter of Credit Reduction
Approve letter of credit reduction for Toft First Addition.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4GHakanson Anderson 2023 Rates
Approve Hakanson Anderson 2023 rates for services.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4HCity Support for 2023 Nowthen Heritage Festival
Approve city support for the 16th annual Nowthen Heritage Festival on September 23, 2023.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4I2023 Polling Location
Approve 2023 polling location.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
5Sheriff's Report
Sheriff's report.
Report received; no council action recorded.
6Fire Department
Fire Department report.
Report received; no council action recorded.
7ACity Well and Ice-Skating Rinks
Update on city's well and ice-skating rinks.
Administrator update only; no council action recorded.
7BPublic Works Snowblower Attachment
Update on Public Works' new snowblower attachment.
Administrator update only; no council action recorded.
7CA&B Welding Building
Update regarding A&B Welding's building.
Administrator update only; no council action recorded.
7DHoliday Hours
Holiday hours for City Office and Recycle Center.
Council agreed by discussion to half-days for staff, but no formal motion was recorded.
7EBorder-to-Border Grant Funds
Update regarding Border-to-Border grant funds to be awarded to the City of Nowthen.
Grant update only; no council action recorded.
8AAmended CUP Cell Tower - 5606 Verde Valley Road
Consider amended conditional use permit for the cell tower at 5606 Verde Valley Road.
Approved subject to the conditions in the attached findings of fact, with compliance deadlines.
9AOld Business
Old business.
Agenda listed no old business.
9B1AV System Live Streaming and Video Conferencing Upgrade
Upgrade current AV system to allow live streaming of meetings and live video conferencing.
Council approved an AV upgrade not to exceed $5,000, allowing staff to choose the working option.
9B2Boss 9000 V-Box Salt Spreader Purchase
Approve purchase of a Boss 9000 V-Box salt spreader for the 550 plow truck.
Council approved the purchase with a not-to-exceed amount stated in the meeting transcript as $11,000.
9CItems Moved from Consent Agenda
Items moved from the consent agenda, if needed.
No consent agenda items were recorded as moved.
10Adjourn
Adjournment.
Meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
Farewell recognition for Council Members Blake and Greenberg
The meeting included recognition of outgoing Council Members Lynda Blake and Joel Greenberg. Blake's farewell poem was included in the minutes, and the transcript records extended thanks among council members and staff for their service and work on city projects.
Agenda: 1. Speakers: Blake, Greenberg, Pilon, Alders.
2023 levy and budget
The council opened the Truth and Taxation hearing, but no residents were present and no council questions were recorded. The council then adopted the final 2023 levy and budget, including a total levy of $1,837,905 and total governmental fund appropriations of $4,082,803.
Agenda: 3A, 3B. Motions: M2. Speakers: Pilon, Rainville, Greenberg.
2022 budget amendment
The council amended the 2022 budget to recognize $259,000 in ARPA revenue, match that with $259,000 in general government expenditures, and add $50,000 in parks capital outlay for well improvements funded from previously collected donations.
Agenda: 3C. Motions: M3. Speakers: Alders, Rainville.
Consent agenda approvals
The council approved the consent agenda as presented. This approved prior minutes, claims and the treasurer's report, staffing changes for the finance deputy clerk and administrative assistant, tobacco license renewals, the Toft First Addition letter of credit reduction, Hakanson Anderson 2023 rates, support for the 2023 Nowthen Heritage Festival, and 2023 polling locations.
Agenda: 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4I. Motions: M4. Speakers: Greenberg, Blake.
Sheriff's report and Bar None calls
The Sheriff's Office reported 134 calls for service, including seven calls to Bar None, six alarms, 20 medical calls and 14 animal complaints. The discussion focused on how Bar None calls are being counted, when fire/EMS is called for self-harm incidents, and how the sheriff's substation is being used.
Agenda: 5. Speakers: Jacobson, Pilon, Schmidt.
November fire report
The fire report covered 30 November incidents, a 12 minute 59 second average response time, mutual aid and structure-fire responses, and two Thanksgiving Day fires with reported damage. The transcript also notes that the rescue boat and Lucas device had arrived and that council wanted photos or updates on the tanker.
Agenda: 6. Speakers: Pilon.
Administrator updates
Administrator Lehner updated the council on the new well and ice rinks, the snowblower attachment, A&B Welding's temporary building, holiday office and recycling-center hours, recycling attendant hiring, and a Border-to-Border broadband grant. The council heard that Nowthen had been granted $800,000 with a $230,000 city match for broadband work expected no earlier than 2024.
Agenda: 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E. Speakers: Lehner, Pilon, Johnson, Blake.
5606 Verde Valley Road cell tower amended CUP
The council approved the amended conditional use permit for the existing cell tower at 5606 Verde Valley Road. The approval was subject to findings and conditions, including lowering the tower/mounting height so lighting is not required, adding security fencing, keeping conduit and improvements within the leased area, and meeting the conditions within the specified deadlines.
Agenda: 8A. Motions: M5. Speakers: Lehner, Pilon, Rainville, Blake.
AV system live-streaming and video-conferencing upgrade
The council discussed two AV options: upgrading the existing system or using a Meeting Owl-style device. Council approved moving forward with live streaming and video conferencing, not to exceed $5,000, so staff could choose a workable solution that would also reduce manual YouTube upload work.
Agenda: 9B1. Motions: M6. Speakers: Lehner, Johnson, Pilon, Alders, Rainville.
Boss 9000 V-Box salt spreader
The council approved purchasing a Boss 9000 three-yard V-Box salt spreader for the city's existing 550 plow truck. Administrator Lehner explained that the spreader would let Public Works use straight salt, reach tight spaces and parking lots more safely, and avoid manual shoveling of salt from the truck box.
Agenda: 9B2. Motions: M7. Speakers: Lehner, Alders.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned after a motion by Council Member Rainville, seconded by Blake, carried with five ayes. The minutes record adjournment at 8:37 p.m.
Agenda: 10. Motions: M8. Speakers: Rainville, Blake.
8 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERS, SECONDED BY BLAKE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
moved by Alders, seconded by Blake
M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY GREENBERG TO ACCEPT RESOLUTION 2022-XX ADOPTING THE FINAL LEVY AND BUDGET FOR 2023.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Greenberg
M3MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERS, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO ACCEPT RESOLUTION 2022-XX AMENDING THE 2022 BUDGET.
moved by Alders, seconded by Rainville
M4MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GREENBERG, SECONDED BY BLAKE TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
moved by Greenberg, seconded by Blake
M5I'd move that we approve the amended cop uh pertaining to 5606 Verde Valley Road subject to the conditions as outlined in this attached findings of fact and compliance with each and every Condition it's within one year of the date of approval except that the security fencing shall be installed no later than September 1 2023.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Blake
M6I'll Make a Move Motion to approve the resolution to upgrade the current AV system to allow for live streaming of videos and live video conferencing not to succeed five grand
moved by Alders, seconded by Blake
M7I'll approve the resolution approving the purchase of the vbox spreader boss three yard not to exceed eleven thousand dollars
moved by Alders
M8MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY BLAKE.
moved by Rainville, seconded by Blake
Each figure links back to the document it came from. When the council voted on the amount, the motion is shown.
2023 total property tax levy
Final 2023 levy adopted by council.
levy · Total City Levy · FY 2023
$1,837,905
inflow
2023 General Fund levy
General Fund portion of the adopted 2023 levy.
levy · General Fund · FY 2023
$1,702,905
inflow
2023 debt service levy
Debt service portion of the adopted 2023 levy.
debt_service · Debt Service · FY 2023
$135,000
inflow
2023 General Fund Budget
2023 General Fund Budget adopted with the levy.
budget · General Fund Budget · FY 2023
$2,207,595
outflow
2023 total governmental funds budget
Total 2023 budget appropriations in the budget resolution.
budget · Total Governmental Funds · FY 2023
$4,082,803
outflow
2023 Recycling budget
2023 Recycling budget appropriation.
budget · Recycling · FY 2023
$105,300
outflow
2023 Debt Service budget
2023 Debt Service budget appropriation.
budget · Debt Service · FY 2023
$446,838
outflow
2023 Building Capital Projects budget
2023 Building Capital Projects budget appropriation.
capital_project · Building Capital Projects · FY 2023
$250,000
outflow
2023 Street Capital Projects budget
2023 Street Capital Projects budget appropriation.
capital_project · Street Capital Projects · FY 2023
$871,220
outflow
2023 Parks Capital Projects budget
2023 Parks Capital Projects budget appropriation.
capital_project · Parks Capital Projects · FY 2023
$30,000
outflow
2023 Equipment Replacement budget
2023 Equipment Replacement budget appropriation.
budget · Equipment Replacement · FY 2023
$171,850
outflow
2022 ARPA revenue budget amendment
ARPA revenue added by the 2022 budget amendment.
grant · General Fund - Intergovernmental Revenues · FY 2022
$259,000
inflow
2022 General Government appropriation amendment
2022 budget amendment for interim city administrator, higher operating costs, and various expenditures.
budget · General Fund - General Government · FY 2022
$259,000
outflow
2022 well capital outlay amendment
2022 budget amendment for well capital outlay from previously received donations.
capital_project · General Fund - Parks · FY 2022
$50,000
outflow
December checks claims batch
Claims batch approved on the consent agenda.
invoice · Payments Batch December Checks · FY 2022
$90,465.5
outflow
Reissue 31992 claims batch
Claims batch approved on the consent agenda.
invoice · Payments Batch Reissue 31992 · FY 2022
$2,299
outflow
Auto payments claims batch
Auto-payments claims batch approved on the consent agenda.
invoice · Payments Batch Auto Payments · FY 2022
$9,236.78
outflow
November 30 adjusted bank total
Treasurer's report approved on the consent agenda.
treasurer_report · Adjusted Bank Total · FY 2022
$3,585,484.17
unknown
Administrative Assistant hourly wage
Permanent part-time administrative assistant hourly wage approved on the consent agenda.
salary · Administrative Assistant wage · FY 2023
$16
outflow
Tobacco license fee per applicant
Each tobacco applicant paid the license fee.
license · Tobacco license fee · FY 2023
$125
inflow
Toft First Addition letter of credit reduced amount
Approved reduction of Toft First Addition financial security.
asset_value · Toft First Addition Letter of Credit
$69,000
unknown
Hakanson Anderson City Engineer hourly rate
Hakanson Anderson 2023 municipal hourly billing rate approved on the consent agenda.
rate · City Engineer rate · FY 2023
$120
outflow
Hakanson Anderson Principal Engineer hourly rate
Hakanson Anderson 2023 municipal hourly billing rate approved on the consent agenda.
rate · Principal Engineer Standard Rate · FY 2023
$150
outflow
Nowthen Heritage Festival city contribution
City monetary support approved for the 2023 Nowthen Heritage Festival.
donation · Nowthen Heritage Festival monetary contribution · FY 2023
$3,000
outflow
Festival SCORE grant allocation
SCORE grant allocation for the 2023 Nowthen Heritage Festival.
grant · Anoka County Recycling SCORE Grant funds · FY 2023
$800
transfer
Border-to-Border broadband grant
Broadband grant awarded to Nowthen with Arvig, discussed in the administrator update.
grant · Border-to-Border grant
$800,000
inflow
Council approval status: not yet on record.
City broadband grant match
City match for the Border-to-Border broadband grant.
grant · City match
$230,000
outflow
Council approval status: not yet on record.
Z Systems current AV upgrade quote
Quoted cost for upgrading the current AV system.
contract · Z Systems AV upgrade option · FY 2022
$3,468.97
outflow
Meeting Owl AV option estimate
Alternate Meeting Owl live-streaming and video-conference option.
estimate · Meeting Owl option · FY 2022
$1,566.65
outflow
AV upgrade council not-to-exceed authorization
Council motion authorized the AV upgrade not to exceed $5,000.
contract · AV upgrade not-to-exceed · FY 2022
$5,000
outflow
Boss 2-yard salt spreader option
Countryside Services quote for Boss 2-yard spreader option.
estimate · Boss 2 Yard quote · FY 2022
$9,512.4
outflow
Council approval status: not yet on record.
Boss 9000 3-yard V-Box spreader quote
Countryside Services quote and prepared resolution amount for Boss 9000 3-yard V-Box spreader.
contract · Boss 3 Yard quote · FY 2022
$10,665.2
outflow
Salt spreader council not-to-exceed authorization
Council motion authorized the spreader purchase not to exceed $11,000.
contract · Salt spreader not-to-exceed · FY 2022
$11,000
outflow
When someone tried to remember earlier business, we cross-reference the corpus and write a short related-history note.
City Council adopted a preliminary levy on September 13th and certified the amount to County prior to September 30th Council set the public meeting date for final levy and city budgets for Tuesday, December 13th
What this is about
Prior council action on the 2023 preliminary levy and scheduling the Truth and Taxation meeting.
The records I searched do not contain a prior council decision matching this recollection about adopting the 2023 preliminary levy on September 13, certifying it to the County before September 30, or setting Tuesday, December 13 as the public meeting date for the final levy and budgets. The only related item in the search results is a general 2026 financial statement note saying the City annually adopts and certifies its tax levy to Anoka County in December for collection the following year. That confirms the general levy process, but it does not document the specific 2023 preliminary levy action or Truth in Taxation meeting date.
The City Council has previously approved the Toft First Addition Development and has entered into a Developer's Agreement with the applicant.
What this is about
Earlier city approval and developer agreement for Toft First Addition.
The records I searched do not contain a prior City Council decision specifically approving the Toft First Addition Development or authorizing a Developer’s Agreement with that applicant. The search results do show general city code and fee-schedule materials from the February 24, 2026 and March 10, 2026 packets referring to development agreements, escrow deposits, and reimbursement of city costs for land use applications, but they do not identify Toft First Addition or record a vote or agreement approval for that project.
The subject property encompasses 37.54 acres and contains an existing cell tower, originally approved by the Burns Township Board on May 9, 2000 (recorded Anoka County Doc. # 1514747.0) to allow construction of the cell tower and an Amended CUP was approved on July 9, 2002 to allow the addition of an equipment building and additional antennae.
What this is about
Original and prior amended approvals for the 5606 Verde Valley Road cell tower.
The records I searched do not contain a prior meeting minute, resolution, or recorded approval matching the recalled Burns Township Board actions for the 5606 Verde Valley Road cell tower. Specifically, I did not find a record of the May 9, 2000 original approval, Anoka County Document No. 1514747.0, or the July 9, 2002 amended CUP for an equipment building and additional antennae. The search results included other conditional-use materials from 2026 and unrelated property records, but nothing directly tied to the 37.54-acre Verde Valley Road cell tower site or those 2000/2002 approvals.
so this came before Planning and Zoning a couple months ago and their recommendation was to deny because nobody from this company showed up Property Owners didn't show up nobody's here to speak to the conditions
— Pilon
What this is about
Planning and Zoning's prior recommendation on the cell tower amended CUP.
The records I searched do not contain a prior Planning and Zoning recommendation matching this recollection for a cell tower amended conditional use permit. The search results include other Planning and Zoning items in early 2026, such as interim use permits and variance materials, but none identify a cell tower amended CUP or a recommendation to deny because the applicant or property owner did not attend. Based on these results, I cannot confirm the prior Planning and Zoning action described.
what has ever happened with our remodeling of this building we talked about that off and on through the years I've been on this and there was even money set aside to start that
— Blake
What this is about
Prior discussions and set-aside funds for remodeling the Historic Town Hall/community center building.
The records searched show several recent items related to improving or maintaining Historic Town Hall, but they do not show a prior formal decision to begin a broader “remodeling” project or a specific set-aside of money for that remodel. The closest formal action is at the March 10, 2026 meeting, when Council discussed plaster wall repairs at Historic Town Hall and agreed to proceed with Neiman Painting’s $3,550 quote, after comparing it with Mr. Handyman at $8,650 and Signature Stucco at $8,752. Other related records are more limited or appear to be discussion/packet materials rather than recorded final actions. A March 23, 2026 planning item listed “Making Repairs to Historic Town Hall,” noting some repairs had been made and that the ramp still needed refreshing when weather allowed. At the April 14, 2026 meeting packet, staff recommended doing LED lighting work at Historic Town Hall in 2026, with Lighten Up’s Town Hall amount listed at $4,930.55 after rebate, and the same packet included access-control/security proposals for Historic Town Hall. At the May 12, 2026 meeting packet, staff brought forward building signage, including Historic Town Hall signage, with the Building Capital Fund listed as the funding source. So, the records support that Council has had ongoing discussions and smaller improvement items for Historic Town Hall—walls, ramp refresh, lighting, security/access, and signage—but the records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching the recollection of a larger remodel project with money specifically set aside to start it.
after months and months of deliberation and extraction from The Joint Powers agreement within with Ramsey Fire Department and then the legislator Lakeshore died in St Paul giving us our own fire department number and then setting up that account for their pension fund
— Greenberg
What this is about
Creation of Nowthen's independent fire department and withdrawal from the Ramsey joint powers arrangement.
The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about Nowthen withdrawing from a Ramsey Fire Department joint powers arrangement, creating its own independent fire department, receiving a separate fire department number, or setting up a pension fund account. The closest matches only show that Nowthen had an operating Nowthen Fire Department by 2026: at the May 12, 2026 meeting packet, there was a resolution to hire Zachary Wyttenhove to the Nowthen Fire Department, and Resolution 2026-63 authorized $9,205.40 for four garage door openers at the Nowthen Fire Station, approved 5-0. Those records do not document the earlier creation or separation process Greenberg was recalling.
another one was the year-long process called the development of the now then City logo and what an arduous cast that was yes it was and you remember the cliche death by committee yeah that logo nearly died
— Greenberg
What this is about
Prior development of the City of Nowthen logo.
The records I searched do not contain a prior discussion or decision matching Council Member Greenberg’s recollection of a year-long process to develop the City of Nowthen logo. The search results include later 2026 meeting packets where the City of Nowthen logo appears on documents, but they do not show the earlier logo-development process, committee work, formal approval, vote outcome, or related costs.
<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="34" --> <!-- PageHeader="8." --> CASWELL ENGINEERING CO. ENGINEERS & LAND SURVEYORS <!-- PageHeader="original" --> ## BIRCHWOOD ANOKA COUNTY, MINNESOTA KNOW ALL MEN
## Regional Salary Survey Data Source: MN Local Governments Salary & Benefits Survey (Knowledge Now / Gallagher). City/County Administrator/Manager/Coordinator category for comparable communities. Hou
### 2. Property Taxes The City Council annually adopts a tax levy and certifies it to Anoka County (the "County") in December (levy/assessment date) of each year for collection in the following year.
Council may also appoint a council liaison who shall be a non-voting member who is not counted for quorum purposes. B. Terms. The members of the Commission shall be appointed for staggered terms of th
<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="281" --> D. If dedication of right-of-way on existing streets is required, the lot line adjustment shall be reviewed and acted on by the City Council. E. If an ease
Every document and recording archived for this meeting.
Meeting City Council Meeting — Minutes (2022-12-13)
Minutes · 2022-12-13
3 pages
Meeting City Council Meeting — Agenda Packet (2022-12-13)
Packet · 2022-12-13
99 pages
Meeting recording
YouTube
Transcript · 644 segments · 1:36:41
The structured brief on this page is auto-generated and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording remain the official record.