Agenda spine

4 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.

1. 1Call to Order

   Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, Approve Agenda

   Agenda approved as presented after roll call and pledge.

   • meeting_procedure

   Approved
   p. 1↗July 23 2025 Agenda1. Call to Order · Pledge of Allegiance . Roll Call · Approve Agendap. 1↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesMayor Hybben called the session to order at 6:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. Roll call by Mayor Hybben. Present: Mayor Hybben, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Swenson, and Council Member Rainville. Absent: None. Also present: Fire Chief Miller, Finan…

2. 2Claims for Payments Due prior to August 12, 2025, Council Meeting

   Claims due prior to the next council meeting were approved.

   • claims

   Approved
   p. 1↗July 23 2025 Agenda2. Claims for Payments Due prior to August 12, 2025, Council Meeting.p. 1↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes## 2. CLAIMS FOR PAYMENTS DUE PRIOR TO AUGUST 12, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, TO APPROVE CLAIMS DUE BEFORE AUGUST 12, COUNCIL MEETING. 5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.

3. 32026 First Budget Discussion with Financial Consultant Yager

   Discussion of proposed 2026 budget, including levy and fund balance use, departmental budget reviews, transfers, and scheduling follow-up sessions.

   Budget was reviewed and discussed; minutes do not record a motion adopting any budget or levy at this work session.

   • 2026_budget
   • levy
   • fund_balance
   • transfers

   Discussion only
   p. 1↗July 23 2025 Agenda3. 2026 First Budget Discussion with Financial Consultant Yager.p. 2↗July 23 2025 PacketAttached please find several summary reports for the Proposed 2026 Budget... As a result of this discussion staff is proposing an increase in the levy of $212,456 or 9.98% and an increased use of General Fund balance of ($497,975).p. 1↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes## 3. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET Financial Consultant Yager presented the proposed 2026 budget that she and staff had prepared, utilizing the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), equipment replacement plan, and year-to-date expenditures through June 2025. Historical data from 2023 and 2024 was also considered when …p. 3↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesThe council agreed to cancel the August 6th budget session as Mayor Hybben would be unavailable, and instead hold sessions on August 20th and September 3rd. The August 20th meeting will focus on the general fund, while the September 3rd meeting will address remaining issues.

4. 4Adjourn

   Adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

   • meeting_procedure

   Approved
   p. 1↗July 23 2025 Agenda4. Adjournp. 4↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesMOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE. The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

Issues addressed

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

• Claims due prior to the August 12, 2025 council meeting

  The council approved paying claims that were due before the next regular council meeting date (August 12, 2025). The minutes record a motion to approve these early claims, carried on a 5-aye vote.

  Agenda: 2. Motions: M2. Speakers: Mayor Hybben, Breyen, Rainville.

• Proposed 2026 budget—first work session review

  Financial Consultant Yager presented the proposed 2026 budget prepared with staff using the CIP, equipment replacement plan, and spending through June 2025, and the council discussed the levy approach, use of fund balance, and department-by-department changes. Key items noted included continuing a $50,000 charitable gambling transfer to offset public safety/sheriff costs, a proposed general fund levy increase of $22,505, and debate over the target fund balance level (with a general consensus to aim around 50%, with the mayor stating comfort down to 40%). The council also reviewed transfers out to other funds, discussed the recycling fund’s staffing cost increase and noted the recycling center’s reported 2024 profit, reviewed debt service levy figures, and adjusted the schedule for future budget sessions (canceling August 6 and meeting August 20 and September 3).

  Agenda: 3. Speakers: Yager, Mayor Hybben, Rainville, Breyen, Swenson, Glaser, Miller.

• Building improvement fund—planned building study and council chamber remodel

  During budget discussion, Council Member Breyen raised concerns about the building improvement fund’s projected balance and planned spending for a building study and a council chamber remodel, suggesting the funds might be better used elsewhere. Mayor Hybben agreed and stated he did not see a need for remodeling the council chambers.

  Agenda: 3. Speakers: Breyen, Mayor Hybben.

Motions and votes

3 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

• M1MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO APPROVE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

  moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

  Passed

  5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.

  p. 1↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE TO APPROVE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. 5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.

• M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, TO APPROVE CLAIMS DUE BEFORE AUGUST 12, COUNCIL MEETING.

  moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

  Passed

  5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.

  p. 1↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesMOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, TO APPROVE CLAIMS DUE BEFORE AUGUST 12, COUNCIL MEETING. 5 AYES, MOTION CARRIED.

• M3MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.

  moved by Breyen, seconded by Rainville

  Passed

  p. 4↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesMOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE.p. 4↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesThe meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.

Money discussed

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

• F1

  Staff proposal for 2026 levy increase amount discussed in the budget work session memo.

  levy · Proposed 2026 total levy increase · FY 2026

  $212,456

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗July 23 2025 PacketAs a result of this discussion staff is proposing an increase in the levy of $212,456 or 9.98%

• F2

  Proposed increased use of General Fund balance for the 2026 budget.

  budget · Use of General Fund balance (proposed) · FY 2026

  $497,975

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 2↗July 23 2025 Packetand an increased use of General Fund balance of ($497,975).

• F3

  Budget assumption to use gambling proceeds transfer to help offset sheriff/public safety costs.

  transfer · Charitable gambling transfer to General Fund · FY 2026

  $50,000

  transfer

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 1↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes· The budget continues to use $50,000 from gambling proceeds to help offset sheriff costsp. 3↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesCharitable Gambling Fund: $50,000 will be transferred to the general fund to offset public safety costs.

• F4

  Proposed general fund levy increase discussed during the budget presentation.

  levy · General fund levy increase (proposed) · FY 2026

  $22,505

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 1↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes· The general fund levy increase as proposed is only $22,505

• F5

  Debt service levy amount stated for 2019A improvement bonds during discussion.

  levy · 2019A improvement bonds levy (stated in minutes) · FY 2026

  $64,000

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 3↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes· The 2019A improvement bonds have a levy of $64,500

• F6

  Debt service levy shown in packet table for 2019A Improvement Bonds (Ad Valorem Taxes-Current).

  levy · 2019A improvement bonds levy (packet table) · FY 2026

  $64,500

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 27↗July 23 2025 Packet315-31001 Ad Valorem Taxes-Current - - 25,646 25,775 64,500 38,725 150.24%

• F7

  Debt service levy amount stated for the 2021 improvement bonds during discussion.

  levy · 2021 improvement bonds levy (stated in minutes) · FY 2026

  $232,222

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 3↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes· The 2021 improvement bonds have a levy of $232,222

• F8

  Projected ad valorem taxes for the new 2025A bond issue stated during discussion.

  levy · 2025A bond issue ad valorem taxes (stated in minutes) · FY 2026

  $146,000

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 3↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes· The new 2025A bond issue has projected ad valorem taxes of $146,000 and bond interest of $50,000

• F9

  Projected bond interest for the new 2025A bond issue stated during discussion.

  debt_service · 2025A bond issue bond interest (stated in minutes) · FY 2026

  $50,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 3↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes· The new 2025A bond issue has projected ad valorem taxes of $146,000 and bond interest of $50,000

• F10

  Recycling center profit figure reported in discussion of the recycling fund.

  revenue · Recycling center profit (2024) · FY 2024

  $12,912.41

  inflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 3↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesCouncil Member Rainville noted that the recycling center had a profit of $12,912.41 in 2024, despite being projected to run at a deficit.

• F11

  Planned building study expense discussed as part of building improvement fund plans.

  estimate · Building study (planned expense)

  $50,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 4↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesCouncil Member Breyen noted the building improvement fund had a projected balance of $267,000 with planned expenses including a $50,000 building study and a $61,000 council chamber remodel.

• F12

  Planned council chamber remodel expense discussed as part of building improvement fund plans.

  estimate · Council chamber remodel (planned expense)

  $61,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 4↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesCouncil Member Breyen noted the building improvement fund had a projected balance of $267,000 with planned expenses including a $50,000 building study and a $61,000 council chamber remodel.

Memory cues and prior history

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

• Yager noted her rate is increasing as it hasn't been raised since she started with Nowthen.

  — Yager

  What this is about
  Consultant referenced that her rate had not been increased since she began working with the city, as part of the finance and assessing budget discussion.

  p. 2↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesFinance and Assessing: An increase in accounting and audit fees is included. Yager noted her rate is increasing as it hasn't been raised since she started with Nowthen.

  Partial matchWe have not matched this to a prior decision yet.

  The resolver has not run for this cue, or the search did not find a strong match in the corpus.

• Mayor Hybben explained that 2024 expenditures were higher than anticipated at around $100,000, with $98,000 projected for 2025.

  — Mayor Hybben

  What this is about
  Mayor referenced prior-year (2024) and projected 2025 legal spending levels while discussing the 2026 legal budget increase.

  p. 2↗July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting MinutesLegal: The budget was increased to $85,000. Yager explained that 2024 expenditures were higher than anticipated at around $100,000, with $98,000 projected for 2025.

  Partial matchWe have not matched this to a prior decision yet.

  The resolver has not run for this cue, or the search did not find a strong match in the corpus.

Sources

Every document and recording archived for this meeting.

• Document

  July 23 2025 Packet

  Packet · 2025-07-23

  33 pages

  ↗
• Document

  July 23, 2025 Signed Meeting Minutes

  Minutes · 2025-07-23

  5 pages

  ↗
• Document

  July 23 2025 Agenda

  Agenda · 2025-07-23

  1 pages

  ↗