CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, May 12, 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, Rebecca Haugen, and Stuart Ohr
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Laurie Musselman
ABSENT: Council: Jeremiah Flotterud
ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Beth Haas – Zumbrota News-Record, Andrew Deziel – Kenyon Leader, Breanna Kohn, Pattie Prigge, Larry Grove, Joan Grove, Ole Olson, Ruth Welgemoed, Larry VanDeWalker, Sherree VanDeWalker, and Goodhue County Deputy John Becklund.
ADOPT AGENDA: Haugen motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA: Dierks motioned, seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Brad Kennedy reported on:
1) Street sweeper air conditioning compressor has been replaced. Swept streets; the goal is to sweep streets on Thursdays.
2) Flushed all the hydrants throughout town
3) 5th Street E sub drain plugged on the north side of the road just west of Nelson Drive. It is on the list to be dug up later this summer and for a section of line to be replaced
4) Staff has been prepping the pool for the season. The pool will be painted later this week.
5) Durst Outdoor Services grinded out and repaved the patch on Main Street that was paved last fall.
B) Breanna Kohn – Keller Williams Premier Realty reported on:
1) Kenyon-Wanamingo School District has accepted a purchase agreement for the Wanamingo site sale.
2) The buyers, Larry and Joan Grove and Ole Olson, introduced themselves
3) Olson stated that they intend to use a portion of the site for child daycare immediately. Other potential uses include adult daycare center, community activities center, school sporting events, group classes, office space rental, community theater, cooking classes, party rental center, storage space rental, community closet (take donations for families), community food shelf, short-term rental, mid-term studio apartment rentals (traveling medical personnel from Mayo), veteran outreach center, veteran temporary living center, hosting blood drive locations, granny basketball league, community basketball games, community public library, and gathering spaces for different community members as an inclusive space.
4) Development name will be “Core 824”
5) The eventual sale of the building will include the parking lot
6) The sale parcel will include everything from the JV Baseball field to 3rd Avenue and 2nd Street E to the parking lot (excluding the shed).
7) Dave Rapp has been contracted to survey the four school district parcels. Rapp will prepare new legal descriptions for proposed new parcels. This will initiate the re-platting process with the City.
8) The sale is contingent on obtaining City zoning to fit requested uses and approval of re-platting
9) The buyers have requested that the City explore Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the project.
Kohn asked if the City had any immediate concerns. Boulton stated that parking is the major concern. Boulton stated that the potential uses could push demand for parking. Boulton stated that off-street parking would be needed for any housing units. Kohn stated that the buyers would be interested in creating parking on the west and north sides of the building. Holmes stated that the list of potential uses, including community uses, is exciting. Kohn stated that it was great working with Boulton so far. We are working on setting a closing date based off the zoning and replatting approval. Kohn stated that there is desire for quick zoning approval on the daycare so that enrollment can be started for fall. Olson introduced himself to the Council. Olson stated that this would be a new adventure in his life. Joan Grove stated that they did not envision retirement would mean taking on a large project. Joann Grove stated that they are excited for the opportunity. Olson stated that the vision for the facility is to support the community based off the proposed potential uses of the facility. Olson stated the Ruth Welgemoed would be the marketing director for the project. Olson stated that Wanamingo has room for growth in the future with its location between the Metro and Rochester. Olson asked when marketing the facility if the City wished to be part of the campaign. Holmes stated that the City would work with them on marketing and to coordinate with Boulton. Larry Grove asked for the City and the public to share ideas on how to best utilize the facility. Kohn stated that she and Boulton would be looking into Tax Increment Financing on the facility. The buyers would like to apply for TIF. Boulton stated that he had been in contact with Northland Securities on initial steps for TIF. Boulton stated that a TIF District formation and approval would need to be approved before the closing sale of the project. Boulton stated that this would make the purchase price eligible. Boulton stated a facility inspection report would need to be completed to determine eligibility. Boulton stated that the County Building Inspection department has been asked if they would complete the report. If the County Building Inspection department would not do the report that the buyers bank may require a similar report and may help facility the inspection and generation of the report.
Boulton prepared a memo for the City Council with items that will need to be addressed before the closing date of the sale. A condition of the sale is for approval by the City for re-plat and being able to meet zoning for end use on the parcel. The buyer intends to use a portion of the site for child daycare immediately. Other potential uses include adult daycare center, community activities center, school sporting events, group classes, office space rental, community theater, cooking classes, party rental center, storage space rental, community closet (take donations for families) community food shelf, short-term rental, mid-term studio apartment rentals (traveling medical personnel from Mayo), veteran outreach center, veteran temporary living center, hosting blood drive locations, granny basketball league, community basketball games, community public library, and gathering spaces for different community members as an inclusive space. The school site is on four parcels and will require a re-platting in order to have the school building on one parcel. The Kenyon-Wanamingo School District has hired Rapp Surveying to initiate the re-platting process. The school site parcel is zoned R-2, Single Family Residential District. Under Wanamingo Code of Ordinances 152.27 Schools are a permitted use in R-1 and R-2 Single Family Residential Districts. Any new use, such as daycare center, beyond a school or single-family dwelling does not fit the current zoning. A request to rezone the parcel will be needed. However, this will be a unique property with potential multi-end uses that probably will not fit into the current C-1 or C-2 Commercial District language. With a daycare center and other potential end uses this may either take creating an entirely new zoning district/rezoning or some sort of a Planned Use Development (PUD). Ordinances changes require two readings at two separate Council meetings, including a public hearing. An additional public hearing would need to take place for re-zoning. PUDs do not require re-zoning the parcel. PUD’s place conditional use permits on the parcel. PUDs require a public hearing at a single meeting and recording of the permit after approval. Boulton stated that he would be working with Robert Vose of Kennedy & Graven on the zoning question. David Jacobsen deferred to Kennedy & Graven on the topic with the complexity of the zoning question. Jacobsen stated his wishes for the Kennedy & Graven to work on the zoning questions with specialized attorneys due to the high-profile nature of the request.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
25-036 = Accepting 2025 Yearly Driver's License Checks for City Employees: Ohr moved to approve, seconded by Dierks. Passed 4-0-0.
25-037 = Setting Swimming Pool Fees and Schedule for the 2025 Season: Haugen moved to approve, seconded by Ohr. Boulton stated that Jake Wieme, pool manager was not able to attend the meeting to provide an update to the Council. Boulton stated that the pool is scheduled to open June 2nd. Nineteen guards have been offered positions for the season. Seven guards are returning from 2024 while twelve of the guards are new. City of Zumbrota pool will not be open in 2025 due to construction of a new pool. Session I of swimming lessons will be June 9th-19th while session II will be June 23rd-July 3rd. Lessons will be limited to five students per session. There is expected to be three staff with formal WSI (Water Safety Instructor) training. The lifeguard in-service day is scheduled for May 17th. The seasonal employee safety training will occur after the pool opens. There are no recommended changes to the swimming pool fee schedule. Passed 4-0-0.
25-038 = Authorizing a Temporary Liquor License for the Wanamingo Fire Relief Association July 3rd Dance: Ohr moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.
OLD BUSINESS:
25-020 = Authorizing the Purchase of a Bobcat L95 Compact Wheel Loader and Warranty from Lodermeier’s Inc.: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Holmes stated that the committee of Brad Kennedy, Stuart Ohr, and Jeremiah Flotterud were formed to bring a final purchase option recommendation to the City Council. Kennedy stated that prices were similar between a compact wheel loader and a compact track skid loader. Kennedy stated that the committee’s consensus was to purchase a compact wheel loader over a compact track skid loader. The recommendation is for a bobcat L95 Compact Wheel Loader from Lodermeier’s Inc for $87,136. Kennedy stated that the committee also recommends purchasing a 60-month/2,000-hour (transferable) warranty for $3,000. The compact wheel loader company offers an extended five-year warranty that was transferable to another owner. Kennedy stated that once the warranty was up the City could sell the compact wheel loader and either purchase a compact new wheel loader or go back to a compact track skid loader. Ohr stated that the extended transferable warranty was the kicker to choose this option by the committee. Kennedy stated that when trading in a low-hour, great shape compact wheel loader you will either get a great sale or trade-in price. Holmes stated that he appreciated the committee’s and staff’s research an work on the recommendation. Passed 5-0-0.
Boulton updated that City Council of a fire that occurred at the Nature Trail Pedestrian Walking Bridge Ramp on Sunday May 11th. A golf cart, owned by a resident, was parked under the ramp up to the pedestrian walking bridge. The electric golf cart started on fire and caught the ramp on fire. The Wanamingo Fire Department put out the fire quickly. The City will work with the resident’s insurance to pay for the necessary repairs from the fire damage.
*Next City Council meeting on 6/9/2025 at 7:00pm.
Adjourn: At 7:41PM a motion to adjourn was made by Ohr and seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.
Signed: Attest:
_____________________ ____________________________________
Ryan Holmes, Mayor Michael Boulton, City Administrator
