CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, March 10, 2025 7:00 P.M.
Wanamingo City Council Chambers – 401 Main Street
Wanamingo, MN
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Holmes.
PRESENT: Council: Ryan Holmes, Eric Dierks, and Rebecca Haugen
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters
ABSENT: Council: Jeremiah Flotterud & Stuart Ohr
ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Beth Haas – Zumbrota News-Record, Lizzie Cooper – Kenyon Leader, Jason Grant, Alicia Grant, and Todd Greseth – Goodhue County Commissioner.
ADOPT AGENDA: Haugen motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Dierks. Passed 3-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA: Dierks motioned, seconded by Haugen. Passed 3-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Brad Kennedy reported on:
1) Placed barricades entering the Emerald Valley II Addition. When the ground thaws, it turns muddy. Vehicles have gotten stuck in past years along the undeveloped road. People like to drive through the mud and leave large ruts that are difficult to dry out.
2) Trimmed trees on 3rd Avenue
3) Historic Log Cabin flagpole – sanded, primed and painted pole. Reinstalled pole with new pulleys, rope, and flag.
4) Started sewer jetting - the entire community sanitary sewer main system is scheduled to be jetted in 2025. The jetting in Prairie Ridge Estates helped to identify several manholes with gravel deposits from 2023 rehab project. The gravel was removed during the jetting.
5) Plowed snow after March 5th large snow event
6) The well-house project is not yet complete. There are a few punch list items that need to be completed. There are electrical control issues that automatic systems need to trouble shoot at well number three.
B) Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, reported on:
1) A delegation from the County will be at the State Capitol on Wednesday. A delegation was at the capital for County Canvassing Day two weeks ago.
2) Counties are concerned with State level mandates, both passed last session and new recommendations from the Governor, that are shifting the cost burden from the State onto County taxpayers.
3) Working to change laws passed last session to undo some of the mandates.
4) Have been lobbying for North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District capital request. It is important to four Cities in the County and Prairie Island Indian Community.
Boulton asked if the County would be willing to provide a letter of support for the Federal Community Project Funding request. Greseth said that he would work with County Administrator Scott Arneson on putting together a letter of support for the Federal request. Holmes thanked Greseth for attending the meeting and working on the request letter.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
David Jacobsen, Jacobsen Law Firm, P.A. - Wanamingo City Attorney:
1) Provided a written 2024 summary of criminal attorney services
2) City of Wanamingo pays $1,200/month for prosecution services and $600/month for civil work to Jacobsen Law Firm, P.A.
3) Law firm has been handling prosecution since 2011 and civil since 2014. Currently has one attorney (Daivd), one semi-retired attorney (Mike Hero), has two full-time paralegals (Suzy Bergquist, and Shelley Klemensen), and one contract paralegal (Michele Viken).
4) Gave breakdown of Prosecuted Offenses within City of Wanamingo - 25 offenses (13 traffic and 12 community offenses). 16 of the 25 cases have been closed.
5) There were 75.3 hours dedicated towards prosecution for the City of Wanamingo in 2024
6) The City of Wanamingo received $2,016.02 in fine revenue after Goodhue County and State of MN received their shares of total fines.
7) Civil attorney work included: supported staff, reviewed Council packets, drafted ordinances (Trees, Sump Pump, and Cannabis), lot split/parcel combinations, personnel advice, Employee Safe & Sick Time policy change review, Cannabis Delegation and Registration Agreement consultation, Solid Waste and Recycling RFP/contract, advice on surplus equipment sales, building permit enforcement, and provided advice to Council and Staff.
25-016 = Approving On-Sale Liquor License for Jake’s Hometown Liquor, Jason Grant: Haugen moved to approve, seconded by Dierks. Jason Grant stated that he thought Wanamingo could use a second bar. Grant stated that he intends to have a basic bar at the location. Grant stated that the bar would be located on the north end of the current off-sale liquor store, utilizing the north door entrance. Grant stated that if approved, he intends to be open 8:00AM-10:00PM Monday – Saturdays. Grant said Sundays would be closed for cleaning and time off for staff. Grant stated that he would have a food truck located outside the bar for patrons. Passed 3-0-0.
25-017 = Approving Support for a North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility G.O. Bonding Bill Request: Dierks moved to approve, seconded by Haugen. Boulton stated that the capital request is for $44.8 million. The $44.8 million is half of the costs minus the $10 million received in 2023 from the State. The total project costs, with inflation, is $109.6 million. Boulton stated that a Federal Community Funding Project request will be submitted to Congressman Finstad’s, Senator Klobuchar, and Senator Smith’s office later this week. Passed 3-0-0.
25-018 = Approving 2025 2nd Quarter Maintenance Work Plan: Haugen moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Passed 3-0-0.
25-019 = Certifying Delinquent Utility Bills and Other Services to the Goodhue County Auditor for Collection with 2026 Real Estate Taxes: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Boulton stated that one of the parcel owners had made a $300 payment, which is reflective in the revised resolution and certification form. This twice a year process pushes those behind to get paid up. Mayor Holmes asked if anyone wished to contest the certifications. No input was given. Passed 3-0-0.
25-020 = Approving a John Deere 331P Compact Track Skid Loader Lease and Service Agreement With Midwest Machinery Co: Haugen moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Holmes stated that the proposed lease price had increased from $6,500/year to $12,800/year (or $6,300). Boulton stated that the proposed lease was for five years, 200/hours per year. Haugen asked if a quote had been obtained from RDO. Kennedy stated that he had reached out to several skid loader companies, including RDO, JCB, and Ziegler regarding lease options and lease to own options for price. Kennedy stated that he had only heard back from Ziegler (Caterpillar). Ziegler’s best lease option was a two-year $17,500/year lease. Kennedy stated that it might be advantageous to lease/purchase a skid loader at government pricing, use for five years, and then sell a used skid loader with 800 hours on it for a good price, and start over. Haugen moved to table the resolution until the April Wanamingo City Council meeting, seconded by Dierks. Passed 3-0-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
*Special City Council meeting on 3/17/2025 – Deputy Clerk Interviews at 7:00PM
*Audit Committee will have a meeting to go over in-depth audit at 1:30PM on March 31st at Wanamingo City Hall.
*Next City Council meeting on 4/14/2025 at 7:00pm.
Adjourn: At 7:30PM a motion to adjourn was made by Haugen and seconded by Dierks. Passed 3-0-0.
Signed: Attest:
_____________________ ____________________________________
Ryan Holmes, Mayor Michael Boulton, City Administrator
