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2024-08-20
Agenda
Not posted
What was on the agenda.
One-line summary
The Council approved the consent agenda, promoted Cody Overson to NFD Captain, accepted a baseball-field tarp donation, revived work on a code compliance policy, and directed Planner Nash to draft a minimal cannabis ordinance.
27 items as recorded in the packet and minutes.
1Call to Order
Call to order, Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the agenda.
The agenda was amended to add code compliance discussion to new business.
2Public Forum
Public forum for residents and speakers.
Two speakers presented about ACIET and post-election review.
3aApproval of City Council Meeting Minutes
Approval of prior City Council meeting minutes.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
3bApproval of Claims Invoices
Approval of claims invoices received before August 13, 2024.
Approved as part of the consent agenda, with Farmer's Market expenses verified corrected.
3cApproval of 2nd Quarter Financial Report
Approval of the 2nd Quarter Financial Report prepared by Finance Consultant Lori Yager.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
3dTemporary Golf Cart Permit Agreement and Road Closures
Approval of Temporary Golf Cart Permit Agreement and road closures.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
3e2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department Contract
Approval of the 2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department contract.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
3fNotice to Kim's Cleaning and Hire Rise and Shine Cleaning Co.
Approval to give 60 days' notice to Kim's Cleaning and hire Rise and Shine Cleaning Co.
Approved as part of the consent agenda.
4Engineering
Engineering matters.
No engineering items were presented.
5aFire Department Monthly Report
Monthly Nowthen Fire Department report.
The monthly report was discussed.
5bPromote Cody Overson to NFD Captain
Resolution promoting Cody Overson to NFD Captain.
The promotion was approved effective September 1, 2024.
6Sheriff's Department Monthly Report
Monthly Anoka County Sheriff's Department report.
The report was presented, Bar None was discussed, and an ACSO open house calendar action item was added.
7Planning and Zoning
Planning and zoning items.
No Planning and Zoning items were presented.
8aFire Chief Interview Update
Update on Fire Chief interviews.
Two Fire Chief candidates were moving forward to second interviews.
8bStaff Shortage
Discussion of staff shortage.
The council discussed a possible temporary office staffing option to return later for approval if it worked out.
8cCouncil Direction of Staff
Discussion of council direction of staff and memorial redesign planning.
Council Member Fladebo was directed to bring a memorial redesign plan back in September.
9a1Project Manager Position
Discussion of whether to continue using the project manager for the personnel policy or move the remaining work to the City Attorney.
The motion to thank the project manager and have Attorney Ruppe finish the personnel policy failed.
9a2Donation of Baseball Field Tarp
Accept donation from Council Member Breyen for a tarp for the baseball field pitcher's mound.
The donation was accepted.
9a3League of Minnesota Cities 2024 Legislator of Distinction
League of Minnesota Cities 2024 Legislator of Distinction recognition.
The recognition letter was read; no formal action was recorded.
9b1Revisit Code Compliance Process
Code compliance process direction.
Council directed work on a code compliance policy with no ordinance changes, including IUP/CUP compliance, and a work session with the team.
9b2Process for Uncompliant Properties
Process for uncompliant properties per Attorney Glaser and Administrator Lehner.
The minutes list the issue but do not record a motion or final direction.
9b3ATV Ordinance Update
ATV ordinance update.
The minutes list the item but record no discussion or action.
9b4Memorial Park Sprinkler Schematic Drawing
Action item from February 13, 2024 for Council Member Breyen to get schematic drawing after sprinklers are installed at Memorial Park.
The work had begun, and the schematic would be obtained upon completion.
9b5Cannabis Ordinance Discussion
Cannabis ordinance discussion.
Planner Nash was to draft a minimal ordinance limiting retail and growing of cannabis and return it for review.
9b6Remaining Action Items from Previous Meetings
Review of remaining action items from prior meetings.
Remaining action items were reviewed and listed in the minutes.
9cItems Moved from Consent Agenda
Items moved from consent agenda, if needed.
No items were recorded as moved from the consent agenda.
10Adjourn
Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
Consent agenda approvals
The Council approved the consent agenda, including prior minutes, claims, the 2nd Quarter Financial Report, a temporary golf cart and road-closure request, the 2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department contract, and changing cleaning services, with Farmer's Market expenses verified corrected.
Agenda: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f. Motions: M3. Speakers: Council Member Rainville, Deputy Clerk Johnson, Council Member Breyen, Mayor Pilon.
Nowthen Fire Department report and Cody Overson promotion
The Council discussed the monthly fire report, heard thanks for NFD help at a Northwoods medical emergency, and approved promoting Cody Overson/Oveson to NFD Captain effective September 1, 2024, with the related hourly wage noted in the packet.
Agenda: 5a, 5b. Motions: M4. Speakers: Council Member Fladebo, Council Member Breyen, Rainville.
Sheriff's report and Bar None calls
Chief Deputy Jacobson presented the Sheriff's monthly report, discussed Bar None, and reminded the public that deputies make traffic stops to educate and prevent crashes; an action item was added to put the ACSO open house on the community calendar.
Agenda: 6. Speakers: Chief Deputy Jacobson.
Administrator updates, staffing, and memorial redesign
The Council discussed Fire Chief interviews, a possible office staffing helper, council direction of staff, and directed Council Member Fladebo to bring a memorial redesign plan and cost range back to the September meeting.
Agenda: 8a, 8b, 8c. Speakers: Administrator Lehner, Council Member Fladebo.
Project manager and personnel policy completion
The Council debated ending the project manager's remaining work on the personnel policy and moving the balance to Attorney Ruppe; the motion failed after Mayor Pilon recused himself, Rainville voted yes, Fladebo and Alders voted no, and Breyen was recorded as no vote.
Agenda: 9a1. Motions: M5. Speakers: Council Member Rainville, Dan, Mayor Pilon, Administrator Lehner, Fladebo, Alders, Breyen.
Baseball field tarp donation
The Council accepted Daniel Breyen's donation for a tarp for the baseball field pitcher's mound after confirming it could be pulled off for the Heritage Festival fireworks display.
Agenda: 9a2. Motions: M6. Speakers: Mayor Pilon, Fladebo, Daniel Breyen.
Representative Novotny recognition
Mayor Pilon read the League of Minnesota Cities letter recognizing Representative Paul Novotny as a 2024 Legislator of Distinction and thanked him for his work.
Agenda: 9a3. Speakers: Mayor Pilon.
Code compliance policy
The Council revisited code compliance and approved amended direction for the Administrator to schedule a work session with the City Attorney, Planner, and Building Official to draft a policy based on council direction, with no ordinance changes and with IUP/CUP compliance included.
Agenda: 9b1, 9b2. Motions: M7. Speakers: Council Member Rainville, Breyen, Administrator Lehner, Mayor Pilon, Alders, Fladebo.
Cannabis ordinance
Council Member Breyen reported that cities need to do something on cannabis regulation, and the Council directed Planner Nash to draft a minimal ordinance intended to limit retail and growing of cannabis and bring it back for review and approval.
Agenda: 9b5. Motions: M8. Speakers: Council Member Breyen, Fladebo, Planner Nash.
Remaining old business and action items
The Council reviewed continuing old-business and action-item topics, including the ATV ordinance, Memorial Park sprinkler schematic, invoices related to RRC and MnSpect, MS4 service planning, the NFD education incentive, solicitation policy research, road priorities, and CIP follow-up.
Agenda: 9b3, 9b4, 9b6. Speakers: Administrator Lehner, Mayor Pilon, Council Member Fladebo, Council Member Breyen.
7 motions on the record. Split votes are highlighted.
M1MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, 2ND BY BREYEN TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
moved by Council Member Rainville, seconded by Breyen
4 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M3MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY MAYOR PILON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE FARMERS'S MARKET EXPENSES VERIFIED CORRECTED.
moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Mayor Pilon
5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M4MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY RAINVILLE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-XX PROMOTNG NFD CODY OVERSON TO NFD CAPTIAN EFFECTIVE 9/1/24.
moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Rainville
5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M5MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECOND BY DAN TO APPROVE THANKING THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR HER WORK AND HAVE ATTORNEY RUPPE COMPLETE THE BALANCE OF THE PERSONNEL POLICY IN A TIMELY MANNER.
moved by Council Member Rainville, seconded by Dan
M6MOTION BY MAYOR PILON, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO ACCEPT THE DONATION FOR THE TARP FOR THE BASEBALL FIELD PITCHER'S MOUND FROM DANIEL BREYEN.
moved by Mayor Pilon, seconded by Fladebo
5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
M7MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER RAINVILLE, SECONDED BY BREYEN, TO DIRECT CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO WORK WITH CITY ATTORNEY, PLANNER AND BUILDING OFFICIAL TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS STARTED REGARDING A CODE COMPLIANCE POLICY AND REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH A POLICY FOR DISCUSSION. AMEND THE MOTION TO INCLUDE NO ORDINANCE CHANGES AND THE POLICY TO INCLUDE IUP/CUP COMPLIANCE. ADMINISTRATOR LEHNER TO SCHEDULE A WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS WITH THE TEAM THE DIRECTION CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO GO WITH IT AND DRAFT A POLICY BASED UPON COUNCIL DIRECTIONS.
moved by Council Member Rainville, seconded by Breyen
M8MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BREYEN, SECONDED BY FLADEBO TO TAKE THE INFORMATION DISCUSSED TONIGHT TO PLANNER NASH, ASK HER TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE UNDERSTANDING THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS THE MINIMAL/MINIMUM THAT CAN BE DONE TO LIMIT RETAIL AND GROWING OF CANNABIS. ONCE COMPLETED, BRING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
moved by Council Member Breyen, seconded by Fladebo
5 AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Each figure links back to the document it came from. When the council voted on the amount, the motion is shown.
2025 sheriff contract total cost
Contract sum for 12 hours per day of daily patrol service and 24-hour call and general services during the 2025 contract term.
contract · 2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department Contract · FY 2025
$507,974
outflow
2025 sheriff contract net cost
Net contract cost after estimated Police State Aid credit.
contract · 2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department Contract · FY 2025
$491,342
outflow
Police State Aid credit for sheriff contract
Estimated Police State Aid credit against the 2025 sheriff contract.
revenue · 2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department Contract · FY 2025
$16,632
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2025 sheriff contract personnel costs
Personnel portion of the 2025 sheriff contract cost.
contract · 2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department Contract · FY 2025
$409,713
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2025 sheriff contract vehicle costs
Vehicle portion of the 2025 sheriff contract cost.
contract · 2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department Contract · FY 2025
$52,687
outflow
2025 sheriff contract administrative costs
Administrative portion of the 2025 sheriff contract cost.
contract · 2025 Anoka County Sheriff's Department Contract · FY 2025
$45,574
outflow
Rise and Shine cleaning services estimate total
Estimate total for cleaning city offices, Historic Hall, and Nowthen Fire Hall.
contract · Rise and Shine Cleaning Services · FY 2024
$450
outflow
City Offices cleaning estimate
City Offices cleaning line item.
contract · Rise and Shine Cleaning Services · FY 2024
$150
outflow
Historical Hall cleaning estimate
City of Nowthen Historical Hall cleaning line item.
contract · Rise and Shine Cleaning Services · FY 2024
$150
outflow
Fire Hall cleaning estimate
Nowthen Fire Hall cleaning line item.
contract · Rise and Shine Cleaning Services · FY 2024
$150
outflow
Cody Oveson captain hourly wage
Hourly wage for Cody Oveson/Overson after appointment to Captain.
salary · Nowthen Fire Department captain wage · FY 2024
$19
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General Fund revenues year to date June 2024
General Fund year-to-date revenues in the approved 2nd Quarter Financial Report.
treasurer_report · General Fund revenues through June 2024 · FY 2024
$856,211
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General Fund 2024 revenue budget
2024 General Fund revenue budget in the approved 2nd Quarter Financial Report.
budget · General Fund revenue budget · FY 2024
$2,152,055
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General Fund expenditures year to date June 2024
General Fund year-to-date expenditures in the approved 2nd Quarter Financial Report.
treasurer_report · General Fund expenditures through June 2024 · FY 2024
$948,341
outflow
General Fund 2024 expenditure budget
2024 General Fund expenditure budget in the approved 2nd Quarter Financial Report.
budget · General Fund expenditure budget · FY 2024
$2,441,740
outflow
Total city cash and investments June 30 2024
Total city cash and investments at June 30, 2024.
treasurer_report · Cash and investments · FY 2024
$2,904,250
unknown
Dump truck purchase
Dump truck purchase reported in the 2nd Quarter Financial Report.
capital_project · Equipment Funds · FY 2024
$334,000
outflow
Parks improvements expended
Parks improvements reported in the 2nd Quarter Financial Report.
capital_project · Capital Funds · FY 2024
$6,000
outflow
Street improvements expended
Street improvements reported in the 2nd Quarter Financial Report.
capital_project · Capital Funds · FY 2024
$119,000
outflow
Conduit debt issuance revenue
Revenue received from the conduit debt issuance for the City of St. Francis senior housing project.
revenue · Conduit debt issuance revenue · FY 2024
$50,000
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Memorial redesign low estimate
Lower end of the cost range requested for the memorial redesign plan to be brought back in September.
estimate · Memorial redesign planning · FY 2024
$100
outflow
Council approval status: not yet on record.
Memorial redesign high estimate
Upper end of the cost range requested for the memorial redesign plan to be brought back in September.
estimate · Memorial redesign planning · FY 2024
$500
outflow
Council approval status: not yet on record.
When someone tried to remember earlier business, we cross-reference the corpus and write a short related-history note.
Code Compliance is still an issue in the city. Staff were told to stop working on a process.
What this is about
Prior direction to stop staff and consultants from working on a code compliance process.
The records I searched do not contain a prior decision or direction matching the recollection that staff and consultants were told to stop working on a code compliance process. The search results only show unrelated uses of the word “compliance,” such as permit conditions requiring compliance with building, fire, septic, cannabis, or other regulations in 2026 packets. They do not show a council discussion, motion, vote, or staff direction to halt work on a citywide code compliance process.
In hindsight, the city should not have hired a project manager for this project.
What this is about
Prior decision to hire a project manager for the personnel policy work.
The records searched do not contain a prior council decision matching the recollection that the city hired a project manager for the personnel policy work. The only personnel-policy-related result was in the January 13, 2026 packet, where staff requested approval of changes to the Data Practices Policy and Computer Policy within the Personnel Policy, including language on AI use and public data request procedures. That record does not mention hiring a project manager, a contract, a vote outcome, or a dollar amount for project management services.
4\. Council Member Breyen to get schematic drawing after sprinklers installed at Memorial Park. - Work has begun, will get upon completion.
What this is about
Prior February 13, 2024 action item about obtaining a schematic drawing after Memorial Park sprinklers were installed.
The records searched do not include the February 13, 2024 action-item record about Council Member Breyen obtaining a schematic drawing after the Memorial Park sprinklers were installed, and they do not show a formal vote or decision on that specific item. The only Memorial Park-related match in the results is later: at the February 10, 2026 meeting, Council approved Resolution 2026-08 to purchase a memorial plaque for Judy Herrala and dedicate the Memorial Park pavilion in her memory, with the plaque cost not to exceed $350. That motion passed 5-0.
Council Member Breyen stated he spoke with Representative Novotny and all cities do need to do something.
— Council Member Breyen
What this is about
Prior July 9 cannabis action item in which Council Member Breyen was to determine the course of action.
The records I searched do not contain the prior July 9 cannabis action item or any recorded decision assigning Council Member Breyen to determine a course of action. The search results provided appear to relate to other matters, including the Minnesota state flag discussion, appointments, and routine meeting records, but not cannabis regulation or Representative Novotny. Based on these results, I cannot confirm from the provided records what action Council took on July 9 or whether a formal vote or direction was recorded on the cannabis issue.
WRIGHT HENNEPIN SECURITY <table> <tr> <th>MEMORIAL PARK PAVILION AND 2 BATHROOMS</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Feature</td> <td>Wright Hennepin</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Equipment Upfront Cost</td> <td>$4,6
<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="46" --> system that records activity when motion is detected. A fenced outdoor courtyard is also available, providing a secure space for outdoor activities. ##### ·
<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="151" --> 6\. The approved total outdoor cultivation area shall not exceed 7000 square feet that is in a fenced and secured area as shown on the Site Layout. All cul
<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="14" --> 5\. No extraction, production, or retail endorsements have been issued by the OCM. Even if granted by the OCM in the future, these activities may not be com
<!-- PageBreak --> <!-- PageNumber="181" --> <!-- PageHeader="Jays Services - 8704 190th Ave NW February 11, 2026" --> 13\. The use shall comply with Minnesota Statutes if the property is enrolled in
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