What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
2025A bond sale
The Council awarded the sale of the City’s General Obligation Bond Series 2025A at a final principal amount of $1,250,000 after Ehlers reported six bids, a winning Baird bid with a 2.96% true interest cost, an AA+ S&P rating, and about $85,000 less total debt service than originally estimated.
Agenda: 3. Motions: M2025-11-18-02. Speakers: Bruce Kimmel, Council Member Swenson.
Companion Animal Care and Control agreement
The Council approved the amended consent agenda, which authorized the City Clerk to sign an animal control service agreement with Companion Animal Care and Control; the packet includes monthly retainer and per-call/per-animal fee schedules, but the service option selected is not shown in the excerpt.
Agenda: 4d. Motions: M2025-11-18-03. Speakers: Council.
Embedded Systems siren maintenance renewal
The Council approved the Embedded Systems renewal on the consent agenda for tornado siren maintenance through 2026, though the packet contains a discrepancy between the RCA rate and the attached renewal letter rate.
Agenda: 4e. Motions: M2025-11-18-03. Speakers: Council.
Accepted donations
The Council accepted donations through the consent agenda, including $624 for the Veterans Memorial, two Elk River Youth Hockey Association quarterly donations, and a third quarter donation from Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association.
Agenda: 4f, 4h, 4i. Motions: M2025-11-18-03. Speakers: Council.
ADA website compliance software
The Council approved the ADA compliance software item on consent, allowing staff to use AudioEye and Alyant under a six-month free period followed by 2026 payments, so staff can begin bringing the city website and documents into ADA compliance before the 2027 deadline.
Agenda: 4g. Motions: M2025-11-18-03. Speakers: Council.
Comcast broadband project extension
The Comcast third quarter report was moved from consent to new business, where the Council received an update that work was progressing but still delayed, and approved a first amendment extending the broadband development period.
Agenda: 4k, 9g. Motions: M2025-11-18-15. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Mayor Hybben.
Hillside Trail and Marble Street culvert repair
The Council moved the culvert repair item from consent for discussion, talked about the need for better quote-soliciting practices, and approved Resolution 2025-114 accepting the quote because the culvert was failing.
Agenda: 4m, 9h. Motions: M2025-11-18-16. Speakers: Council Member Glaser, Mayor Hybben, City Clerk Johnson.
Nowthen Pastures financial security release
The Council released the financial security for Nowthen Pastures after the City Engineer confirmed the required wetland buffer vegetation and signs were completed and recommended waiving the usual two-year warranty because no permanent public infrastructure was involved.
Agenda: 5a. Motions: M2025-11-18-04. Speakers: Engineer Nelson.
MS4 stormwater regulation reevaluation
The Council held the annual SWPPP comment opportunity with no public comments, then approved submitting an MS4 petition for reevaluation because 2020 census mapping may remove Nowthen from the required urban-area stormwater permit program, potentially saving about $20,000 per year.
Agenda: 5b, 5c. Motions: M2025-11-18-05. Speakers: Engineer Nelson, Council Member Rainville, Mayor Hybben, City Clerk Johnson.
Volunteer firefighter pension benefit increase
The Council approved increasing the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan benefit level from $2,500 to $3,500 per year of service after the financial consultant explained the fund was overfunded and could support the higher benefit without additional city contribution.
Agenda: 6b. Motions: M2025-11-18-06. Speakers: Financial Consultant Yager, Mayor Hybben.
Paratech rescue tools purchase
The Council approved buying Paratech rescue tools for the Fire Department from MacQueen for $19,987.90, with the financial consultant noting the purchase would put the fire budget over but the general fund was under budget and a later budget adjustment could cover the shortfall.
Agenda: 6c. Motions: M2025-11-18-07. Speakers: Mayor Hybben, Council Member Breyen, Financial Consultant Yager.
Twin Lakes Park warning siren
The Council discussed a proposed warning siren at Twin Lakes Park, including the split between buying the siren in 2025 and installing it in 2026, but tabled the item so the Fire Chief could answer questions about location, cost, and warning alternatives.
Agenda: 6d. Motions: M2025-11-18-08. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Financial Consultant Yager, Council Member Glaser, Council Member Swenson.
Sheriff's October report and Bar None calls
The Sheriff’s Office reported 134 October calls for service, including nine calls to Bar None, and reviewed notable incidents such as runaway juveniles, mental health crises, storage unit burglaries, a swamp crash, and recovery of a stolen vehicle.
Agenda: 7a. Speakers: Lieutenant Cole Bangerter.
City Clerk operational updates
The City Clerk reported on employee evaluations, county population signs, upcoming policy and budget discussions, security/access system upgrades, and illegal dumping concerns, with the Sheriff’s Office offering extra patrols in problem areas.
Agenda: 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Lieutenant Bangerter.
City office counter safety barrier
The Council reviewed safety glass quotes after an incident with an upset resident, discussed whether thicker glass or polycarbonate would better protect staff, and tabled the item to obtain polycarbonate quotes.
Agenda: 9a. Motions: M2025-11-18-09. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Glaser, Mayor Hybben, Lieutenant Bangerter.
2026 Nowthen Heritage Festival support
The Council approved continuing the City’s support for the 2026 Nowthen Heritage Festival, with the packet request including a $3,000 contribution, about $900 in SCORE Grant recycling outreach funds, and staff assistance.
Agenda: 9b. Motions: M2025-11-18-10. Speakers: Council Member Breyen, Council Member Rainville, Mayor Hybben, City Clerk Johnson.
Minnesota state flag at city property
The Council debated whether to fly the current official Minnesota state flag, no state flag, or the historical state flag; a motion to not fly the Minnesota state flag failed 2-3, and the Mayor confirmed the current state flag should be put back up.
Agenda: 9c. Motions: M2025-11-18-11. Speakers: Council Member Glaser, Council Member Swenson, Council Member Rainville, Council Member Breyen, Mayor Hybben, City Clerk Johnson.
Street sign replacement and Nowthen logo
The Council discussed replacing non-reflective street signs and whether adding the Nowthen logo was worth the added per-sign cost, then tabled the issue to get a clearer count of signs needing replacement and improve budgeting.
Agenda: 9d. Motions: M2025-11-18-12. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Glaser.
Public Works staffing transition
The Council accepted Public Works Supervisor Joe Glaze’s resignation for retirement effective January 20, 2026, then approved having Council Members Swenson and Breyen work with the Clerk on a salary range and related details before posting a city maintenance employee position.
Agenda: 9e, 9f. Motions: M2025-11-18-13, M2025-11-18-14. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Swenson, Mayor Hybben.
Attorney services RFP
The Council discussed whether to request proposals for civil and prosecuting attorney services now or delay because of ongoing ordinance work, then voted to send out an RFP for both civil and prosecuting attorneys while keeping the ability to decide each service separately later.
Agenda: 10a. Motions: M2025-11-18-17. Speakers: City Clerk Johnson, Council Member Swenson, Council Member Breyen, Mayor Hybben, Council Member Glaser.