CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Special Meeting
Monday, March 17, 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, Jeremiah Flotterud, and Rebecca Haugen
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Karen Masters
ABSENT: Council: Stuart Ohr
ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Cheri Rochon – Wanamingo Messenger, Patrick Michener – SEMMCHA, Lauren Congdon, Laurie Musselman, and Kelly Sandoval.
ADOPT AGENDA: Haugen motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Dierks. Passed 4-0-0.
PRESENTERS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
Public Hearing – Mayor Holmes opened the Small Cities Development Program Grant Application public hearing at 7:01PM. Patrick Michener of SEMMCHRA stated that the public hearing is part of the Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) Grant Citizen Participation Plan. The preliminary Wanamingo application scored the highest ranking, which should mean funding for spring 2026. This is an owner-occupied home rehab program. The grant application request is for $345,000 from the State while local matching includes $10,000 from the County and $5,000 from the City. The program is a seven-year forgivable loan to the homeowner. There is a component of historic preservation which will include historic review of each property that applies to ensuring that they are not on the Historic Registry. The preliminary application was submitted in November 2024, the application is in April 2025, the grant award notice is in Fall 2025, and the funds will be made available in spring 2026. Flotterud asked if building permits would be required for the work. Michener stated that licensed contractors will competitively bid projects and be required to obtain building permits for this grant. Haugen asked if there would be another letter sent out to residents to encourage participation/applications. Michener stated that another survey will be sent out to residents regarding participation/applications. Michener stated that if Council members were inclined to take part in the application that would be considered a conflict of interest. Council members wishing to apply for these funds can’t vote and should abstain. Roshon asked who could apply and if there were restrictions. Michener stated that there are mainly income restrictions. Michener stated that the income restrictions are 80% of the average income. In Wanamingo this would be roughly $56,000 for an individual and $64,000 for a two-person adult household. No Additional Public Comments Offered. Mayor Holmes closed the public hearing at 7:07PM.
25-021 = Approving City of Wanamingo DEED Small Cities Development Grant Program Application: Dierks moved to approve, seconded by Haugen. Boulton explained that the public hearing and resolution were added to the Council in order to meet the early April application deadline. Boulton said that the City did not have an active SAM.gov identification number in time to meet the 10-day public hearing notice to be included in the March 10th City Council meeting agenda. Passed 4-0-0.
25-022 = Approving Professional Service Agreement with WHKS for the purposes of conducting engineering design for Plant and Plans of Prairie Ridge Estates 5th Addition: Flotterud moved to approve, seconded by Haugen. Boulton stated that Jessup DeCook wishes to develop Prairie Ridge Estates Outlot C into a cul-de-sac named Prairie Ridge 5th Addition. Boulton stated that the item was originally included in the March 10th City Council agenda but was removed because the developer had not provided final approval to move forward. A discussion with City staff took place on March 11th in which the developer wished to move forward. WHKS had concerns with scheduling if consideration of approval did not take place until April 14th. The item was added to the March special meeting agenda so that the project could move forward in 2025. Boulton stated that the City would hire WHKS to work on behalf of the City, but also conduct work for the developer. This is a small, proposed project where there were original concept plans but the area never went through the plat process and final plans were not completed or approved. The developer will reimburse the City all costs for the engineering. The total engineering cost is $65,200 ($40,200 for survey, platting, and preliminary/final design work while $25,000 for construction administration and observation). Jessup Decook has provided a written intention to reimburse the City for the costs incurred. Boulton stated that the City is working with Kennedy & Graven Law Firm on a formal development agreement with Prairie Land Development LLC (Jessup DeCook). The Council will review the agreements and consider for approval at a future City Council meeting. Flotterud asked how many lots would be included in this development. Boulton said the development was roughly three and a half acres and will include eleven lots. Passed 4-0-0.
Deputy Clerk Position:
1) Personnel Committee made the recommendation to the City Council to interview three finalists for the position: Lauren Congdon of Zumbrota, Laurie Musselman of Wanamingo, and Kelly Sandoval of Zumbrota.
2) Ten total applicants applied and four were selected to be interviewed by the Council with one candidate dropping out before the interviews.
3) Council conducted interviews with Lauren Congdon, Laurie Musselman, and Kelly Sandoval
4) Council had discussions about the candidates’ interviews, resumes, strengths, and weaknesses compared to the Deputy Clerk job description and Council expectations.
5) Council set pay of $27.00/hour and benefits according to the Wanamingo Personnel Policy for the position. The pay range is $23.29/hour-$29.37/hour. The position will be a full-time, 40-hour/week job.
6) Flotterud moved to offer Deputy Clerk position to Laurie Musselman at a wage rate of $27.00/hour (if turned down offer the position to Kelly Sandoval at $27.00/hour), seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0. A formal resolution regarding the hire will be considered at the next City Council Meeting.
7) Administrator Boulton will make calls offering Laurie Musselman the position and explaining to Kelly Sandoval that she will not directly get the position but may be offered if Laurie Musselman does not take the position.
OLD BUSINESS:
*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 9:31PM a motion to adjourn was made by Haugen and seconded by Flotterud. Passed 4-0-0.
Signed: Attest:
_____________________ ____________________________________
Ryan Holmes, Mayor Michael Boulton, City Administrator
