Agenda spine

6 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.

1. 1Call to Order

   Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance; Roll Call; Approve Agenda.

   Meeting was called to order, attendance was recorded, the council voted against recording the work session, and the agenda was accepted as amended.

   • agenda approval
   • work session recording

   Approved
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-11-09)1\. Call to Order · Pledge of Allegiance . Roll Call · Approve Agendap. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Mayor Pilon called the meeting to order at 6:13 pm. Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Fladebo, Rainville. Excused Absence: Council Member Breyen (home ill) Unexcused Absence: Council Member Aldersp. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. 3 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

2. 2Discussion to finalize the 2024 Budget

   Discussion to finalize the 2024 Budget.

   This item was moved to Item 3 during agenda approval. Finance Consultant Yager was to make recommended budget changes and prepare a final resolution for the December 12, 2023 city council meeting.

   • 2024 budget

   Discussion only
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-11-09)2\. Discussion to finalize the 2024 Budget.p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Mayor Pilon stated he would like to move Item 3, "Personnel Policy Update Presentation" to Item 2 and move Item 2 "Discussion to finalize 2024 Budget" to Item 3, to allow Project Manager Genevieve Hirschboeck to leave after discussion.p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Ms. Yager to make the recommended changes to the budget and make a final resolution for the December 12, 2023 city council meeting.

3. 3Personnel Policy Update Presentation

   Personnel Policy Update Presentation.

   This item was moved to Item 2 during agenda approval. Council discussed the first phase of personnel policy updates and agreed to continue the work at another work session.

   • personnel policy

   Continued
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-11-09)3\. Personnel Policy Update Presentationp. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Project Manager Hirschboeck explained that the personnel policy has many changes to be updated. This is Phase 1 of a couple of Phases. These forthcoming updates are to bring the policy into compliance with new legislation and League of Minnesota Cities' recommendations.p. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)The mayor suggested since it was getting late, let's move on to the budget and set another work session date with the full council possibly available and act on the action items, bring back their recommendations, and finish up this part of the policy. All Council members present agreed.

4. 4Full-Time Public Works Position

   Full-Time Public Works Position - offer to current seasonal employee.

   Administrator Lehner recommended offering the open full-time Public Works position to Isaac Schulz; the minutes say it would be voted on at the next city council meeting on November 14, 2023.

   • Public Works staffing

   Discussion only
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-11-09)4\. Full-Time Public Works Position - offer to current seasonal employee.p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Administrator Lehner is recommending offering Isaac the open full-time Public Works position, which is included in the 2024 budget.p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)This will be voted on at the next city council meeting, November 14, 2023.

5. 5Fire Department Update

   Update on Fire Department recent activities.

   The council received updates on Fire Department resignations, an upcoming retirement, recruit training, and continued recruitment.

   • Fire Department staffing

   Discussion only
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-11-09)5\. Update on Fire Department recent activities.p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Assistant Fire Chief Schrag has resigned from his position with the NFD.p. 5↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)The NFD will continue to train the 4 recruits and continue to recruit additional firefighters as they become available.

6. 6Adjourn

   Adjourn.

   The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 p.m.

   • adjournment

   Approved
   p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-11-09)6\. Adjournp. 5↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ADJOURN. The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 p.m.

Issues addressed

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

• Whether to record the work session

  At the start of the work session, the mayor reported that three council members had received calls from the same resident asking whether the session would be recorded. The council discussed that work sessions are open to the public but commonly are not video recorded, and a vote on recording this session failed 1-2.

  Agenda: 1. Motions: M1, M2. Speakers: Mayor Pilon, Administrator Lehner, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Fladebo.

• 2024 budget final changes

  Finance Consultant Yager said this was the fourth budget discussion and that the levy had already been set with the county. The council identified added election overtime and a higher Fire Department contract amount as changes for the 2024 budget, with Yager to prepare the final resolution for the December 12, 2023 council meeting.

  Agenda: 2. Speakers: Finance Consultant Lori Yager, Administrator Lehner.

• Personnel policy update

  Project Manager Hirschboeck presented the first phase of personnel policy updates intended to address new legislation and League of Minnesota Cities recommendations. The council reviewed topics including probation, direct deposit, overpayment, Juneteenth, PTO and ESST, medical leave, funeral leave, school conference leave, nursing mothers, smoking, safety shoes, discipline, veterans preference, grievance procedures, and city credit cards, then agreed to continue the work at another work session.

  Agenda: 3. Speakers: Project Manager Genevieve Hirschboeck, Administrator Lehner, Council Member Rainville, Mayor Pilon, Deputy Clerk Johnson.

• Full-time Public Works position for Isaac Schulz

  Administrator Lehner recommended offering the open full-time Public Works position to seasonal employee Isaac Schulz at $25 per hour plus benefits. The minutes state the position is included in the 2024 budget and that the offer would be voted on at the November 14, 2023 city council meeting.

  Agenda: 4. Speakers: Administrator Lehner.

• Fire Department staffing update

  The council received a Fire Department update noting resignations from Assistant Fire Chief Schrag and Steve "Beaver" Lundeen, Captain Mike Suchy's planned April 2024 retirement, continued training for four recruits, and continued recruitment.

  Agenda: 5.

• Adjournment

  Council Member Rainville moved, Fladebo seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 10:37 p.m.

  Agenda: 6. Motions: M3. Speakers: Council Member Rainville, Fladebo.

Motions and votes

3 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.

• M1MAYOR PILON CALLED A VOTE ON WHETHER THIS SESSION WOULD BE RECORDED.

  moved by Mayor Pilon

  FailedSplit vote

  • YMayor Pilon
  • NCouncil Member Rainville
  • NCouncil Member Fladebo
  • ·Council Member Breyen
  • ·Council Member Alders

  p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Fladebo, Rainville. Excused Absence: Council Member Breyen (home ill) Unexcused Absence: Council Member Aldersp. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)MAYOR PILON CALLED A VOTE ON WHETHER THIS SESSION WOULD BE RECORDED. 1 AYE, (Mayor Pilon) 2 NAYS (Council Members Rainville and Fladebo). MOTION FAILED.

• M2MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

  moved by Council Member Rainville, seconded by Fladebo

  Passed

  • YMayor Pilon
  • YCouncil Member Fladebo
  • YCouncil Member Rainville
  • ·Council Member Breyen
  • ·Council Member Alders

  p. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Present: Mayor Pilon, Council Members Fladebo, Rainville. Excused Absence: Council Member Breyen (home ill) Unexcused Absence: Council Member Aldersp. 1↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. 3 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.

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

  moved by Council Member Rainville, seconded by Fladebo

  Passed

  p. 5↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ADJOURN. The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 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.

• credit-card-current-limit-7500

  Current total city credit card limit discussed during personnel policy updates.

  other · City credit card limit

  $7,500

  unknown

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)The city did hit its limit last month due to several larger purchases and an employee was denied at a counter while trying to make a purchase. Deputy Clerk Johnson was able to make a phone payment so credit would be available for the rest of the month. It was discussed to increase the total limit from $7,500 to $10,000…

• credit-card-proposed-limit-10000

  Proposed total city credit card limit discussed during personnel policy updates.

  other · City credit card limit

  $10,000

  unknown

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)The city did hit its limit last month due to several larger purchases and an employee was denied at a counter while trying to make a purchase. Deputy Clerk Johnson was able to make a phone payment so credit would be available for the rest of the month. It was discussed to increase the total limit from $7,500 to $10,000…

• fire-department-contract-original-20000

  Original contract amount in the 2024 budget for transitioning Fire Department leadership to the NFD.

  contract · Fire Department Contract · FY 2024

  $20,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)the contract amount of $20,000 transitioning leadership to the NFD is going to be more. He is still negotiating with the St. Francis Administrator but is hoping to get the contract around $35,000. ACTION ITEM: Ms. Yager to change Fire Department Contract to $40,000.

• fire-department-contract-estimate-35000

  Administrator Lehner's hoped-for negotiated amount with St. Francis for the Fire Department contract.

  estimate · Fire Department Contract · FY 2024

  $35,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)the contract amount of $20,000 transitioning leadership to the NFD is going to be more. He is still negotiating with the St. Francis Administrator but is hoping to get the contract around $35,000. ACTION ITEM: Ms. Yager to change Fire Department Contract to $40,000.

• fire-department-contract-budget-40000

  Action item directing Finance Consultant Yager to change the Fire Department Contract line to $40,000.

  budget · Fire Department Contract · FY 2024

  $40,000

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)the contract amount of $20,000 transitioning leadership to the NFD is going to be more. He is still negotiating with the St. Francis Administrator but is hoping to get the contract around $35,000. ACTION ITEM: Ms. Yager to change Fire Department Contract to $40,000.

• public-works-starting-wage-25-hour

  Recommended starting wage for the full-time Public Works position offer.

  salary · Full-time Public Works position · FY 2024

  $25

  outflow

  Council approval status: not yet on record.

  p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)The offer would be $25 an hour plus benefits for the Public Works Department position to start.

Memory cues and prior history

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

• Finance Consultant Yager addressed the mayor and the council stating this is the fourth meeting for the 2024 budget discussions. The levy has been set with the county and changes discussed at the last meeting have been made.

  — Finance Consultant Yager

  What this is about
  Prior 2024 budget discussions and changes from the last budget meeting.

  p. 4↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Finance Consultant Yager addressed the mayor and the council stating this is the fourth meeting for the 2024 budget discussions. The levy has been set with the county and changes discussed at the last meeting have been made.

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior 2024 budget meeting or specific earlier vote matching Finance Consultant Yager’s recollection that this was the fourth 2024 budget discussion and that changes from the last meeting had been made. The closest related record is later and for a different budget year: at the January 13, 2026 meeting, Financial Consultant Yager reported that the Council had held four meetings between July and November to plan the 2026 budget, and that the levy had been reduced by $8,645 from the amount shown on Truth in Taxation notices. That record concerns the 2026 budget, not the 2024 budget.

  • ·Mar 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="326" --> 1\. The City regularly receives inquiries from property owners, real estate
  • ·Dec 23, 2025<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="17" --> DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the
  • ·Jan 13, 2026### 3. PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET AND PROPERTY TAXES Financial Consultant Yager presented the 2026 budget and levy proposa
  • ·Feb 24, 2026Council approval, including demonstrating compliance with Section 10-3-5. If the comments from the City Engineer memo ar
  • ·Mar 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="123" --> 7\. The memo from the City Planner dated February 18, 2026 is incorporated

• The city did hit its limit last month due to several larger purchases and an employee was denied at a counter while trying to make a purchase.

  What this is about
  A prior city credit-card limit problem that prompted discussion of increasing the limit.

  p. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)The city did hit its limit last month due to several larger purchases and an employee was denied at a counter while trying to make a purchase.

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about the city hitting a credit-card limit, an employee being denied at a counter, or council increasing the card limit in response. The search results returned items from 2026 meeting packets and minutes on unrelated topics, including fire/security monitoring costs, Building Safety Month, Fire Chief updates, culvert work, and permit compliance. None of the retrieved records mention city credit-card limits, denied purchases, or a formal vote to raise a limit.

  • ·Feb 10, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="116" --> This is required by State, You are asking if you would be able to complete
  • ·May 12, 2026### RE: 2026 Building Safety Month Proclamation Request Dear Natalie & Lexi, As we begin the month of May, we invite the
  • ·May 12, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="62" --> <figure> BUILDING SAFETY MONTH </figure> ## Proclamation ### Building Safety
  • ·Feb 10, 2026SALES MANAGER APPROVAL NOTE: THIS PROPOSAL MAY BE WITHDRAWN BY US IF NOT ACCEPTED IN 30 DAYS CUSTOMER SIGNATURE PRINT NA
  • ·Apr 14, 2026CITY OF NOWTHEN </figure> ## Fire Chief Council Update 4.14.2026 Monthly Calls-March 2026 37 total calls 5-Structure Fir

• If at some point the city goes back to 10 hours a day, if it is a Holiday/Vacation/Sick day, 8 hours is paid by city, and PTO covers the other 2.

  What this is about
  Prior or possible future city workday schedule of 10-hour days and how paid leave would be treated.

  p. 3↗Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)Council would like it in the policy that Holiday Pay or Vacation/Sick (PTO) is 8 hours. If at some point the city goes back to 10 hours a day, if it is a Holiday/Vacation/Sick day, 8 hours is paid by city, and PTO covers the other 2.

  Related history

  The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about the City moving to 10-hour workdays or how holiday, vacation, sick time, or PTO would be applied under that schedule. The search results returned unrelated planning and zoning items from 2025 and 2026, such as minor subdivisions, wetland/septic conditions, developer agreements, and a cannabis interim use permit. None of the results document a council discussion or vote on a 10-hour-day schedule or an 8-hours-paid/2-hours-PTO leave policy.

  • ·Dec 23, 2025<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="17" --> DECISION: Based on the foregoing information and applicable ordinances, the
  • ·Sep 23, 2025<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="32" --> Option A: The cul-de-sac can be installed in substantial compliance with the
  • ·Mar 24, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="14" --> 5\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by th
  • ·Apr 14, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="151" --> 6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 squar
  • ·Mar 24, 2026<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="82" --> 21\. The Subject Property shall be final platted in one phase. Prior to the

Sources

Every document and recording archived for this meeting.

• Document

  Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2023-11-09)

  Minutes · 2023-11-09

  5 pages

  ↗
• Document

  Meeting City Council Work Session — Agenda (2023-11-09)

  Agenda · 2023-11-09

  1 pages

  ↗