What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
2022 agenda setup and consent approvals
The council approved an amended agenda that added a fire chief letter, employee cost-of-living adjustments, and ice rink status, and moved consent items 2D and 2J to discussion. The council then approved the remaining consent agenda items as a group, excluding 2D and 2J, which were handled later.
Agenda: 1, 2. Motions: M1, M2. Speakers: Pilon, Alders, Blake, Rainville, Greenberg.
Five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process and 2022 street focus
Council discussed how to build a five-year capital improvement program and emphasized that 2022 road and transportation needs should be the priority. Council approved forming a subcommittee of Alders and the mayor to review 2022 capital needs with a primary focus on streets and to develop criteria for selecting which roads to do.
Agenda: 5a. Motions: M3. Speakers: Pilon, Alders, Greenberg, Blake, Boyles.
Anoka County Sheriff liaison transition and calls-for-service update
Commander Heath reported December and annual calls for service and discussed recent construction-site thefts, the difficulty of using security cameras for identification, and ongoing efforts to find a Nowthen location for an officer and vehicle (possibly at the fire station or city offices). He also flagged that labor negotiations may increase personnel costs in a future contract year, and he announced that Jacobson would become the city liaison as Heath takes on other responsibilities.
Agenda: 4. Speakers: Heath, Pilon.
Employee pay adjustments (maintenance staff and recycling center)
The mayor proposed and council approved a three percent wage adjustment for the two maintenance employees effective early 2022, and also approved increasing the recycling center employee’s hourly rate from $15 to $16, consistent with the 2022 budget.
Agenda: 7c. Motions: M5. Speakers: Pilon, Rainville.
Ice rinks winter operations
Council discussed resident requests for ice rinks and directed staff to get both the hockey rink and pleasure rink running as soon as possible, including adequate notification. The motion authorized using the maintenance team and temporary drivers as needed to complete the work.
Agenda: 7d. Motions: M6. Speakers: Pilon, Alders, Blake.
2022 Nowthen Heritage Festival fee waivers
After removing the item from the consent agenda, council discussed the Heritage Festival’s long-standing request to waive facility rental fees and deposits and the festival’s community benefits, then approved the request as presented for the September 24, 2022 festival and related uses.
Agenda: 2j. Motions: M7. Speakers: Alders, Rainville, Greenberg, Blake, Pilon.
4M Fund contacts (Natalie Johnson and Frank Boyles)
Council removed the 4M Fund contact appointments from consent for discussion, focusing on why the mayor and Councilmember Rainville would continue as contacts due to being check signers. The minutes show a motion to approve Natalie Johnson and Frank Boyles as city contacts, but do not record the motion’s outcome.
Agenda: 2d. Motions: M8. Speakers: Blake, Alders, Pilon.
Internet/broadband planning and funding options
Council requested a status update on internet options, including prior survey results, potential tower-based solutions, and discussions with providers and regional partners. Staff reported the survey was completed and estimated at least two towers at about $300,000 (plus additional wiring) to cover the whole community; council planned further briefings as provider discussions continue.
Agenda: 7e. Speakers: Alders, Pilon, Boyles.
URRWMO JPA review and watershed planning context
Council heard an update from its URRWMO representative about proposed joint powers agreement language updates and upcoming watershed topics. Council did not take action on the JPA changes at this meeting, and the minutes note that no action was required or taken; the city’s first half payment for 2022 was reported as just over $4,000.
Agenda: 7a. Speakers: Greenberg.
City office operations, staffing search, and legal status reports
Council discussed questions about internet status, the role of the mayor and a councilmember in assisting at city offices, the status of recruiting a full-time clerk/administrator, and potential litigation. The interim administrator reported no progress on recruiting due to workload and organizational issues, and stated the city attorney reported no current lawsuits against the city (but noted two unemployment compensation claims).
Agenda: 7f, 7g, 7h. Speakers: Alders, Boyles.