CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, January 12, 2026 7:00 P.M.
Wanamingo City Council Chambers – 401 Main Street
Wanamingo, MN
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Holmes.
PRESENT: Council: Ryan Holmes, Stuart Ohr, Eric Dierks, Jeremiah Flotterud, and Rebecca Haugen
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Lauire Musselman
ABSENT: Council: None
ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Beth Haas – Zumbrota News-Record, Andrew Deziel – Kenyon Leader, and Goodhue County Commissioner Todd Greseth.
ADOPT AGENDA: Ohr motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Haugen. Passed 5-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA: Dierks motioned, seconded by Flotterud. Passed 5-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Brad Kennedy reported on:
1) Started trimming trees that overhang the road ways around town. These trees interfere with snow removal and street sweeping. The trimming will take place with staff availability and weather.
2) Cut concrete on the East side of City shop so that it does not heave into new tin siding. Concrete slab on East side of shop will need to be replaced. It has been discussed as a project for 2026 but has not been formalized.
3) Plowed snow and salt/sanded streets after snow events. We have utilized more salt and sand in the last month than in the past two years.
4) Ford Tractor has a leak in the steering column and is in the middle of being worked on at the shop.
5) Working on building up ice in the ice rink as weather allows.
6) Holiday banners were taken down on Main Street. Will not be installing the City of Wanamingo banners due to the plastic material used to make them that does not bend or stretch well in cold weather. Staff will wait for warmer weather to put the new logo banners back up.
B) Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, report on:
1) The County is seeing a number State mandates that are increasing the strain on the budget, including Minnesota Paid Leave.
2) The County Health and Human Service Department has a lot of leg work involved with the SNAP program.
3) Goodhue County works on a 2-year budget. The 2026 levy was set with a 6.5% increase. The projected preliminary 2027 levy has additional increases between 17%-20% increase. Staffing makes up one half of the County Budget. In 2025 there were three County positions that were not filled when employees left. There will be further review of the budget, including staff and capital requests before the 2027 levy is set by the County Board next December. The 2027 Goodhue County budget planning is already underway at the end of the month.
4) Goodhue County Data Center Committee – The proposed Pine Island Data Center has shown positives for the County including increase tax base and jobs added, both construction and when in operation. Flotterud asked how many jobs there are projected once in operation. Greseth said 35-40 jobs once the first building is in operation with up to 300 once the entire development is built out. Greseth stated that the County could be asked to take over 195th Avenue due to traffic volumes. Greseth stated that this could be turned into a County State Aid Highway (CSAH) with additional State funding. Greseth stated that this could be both a challenge for additional cost and opportunity with additional growth opportunities with adjacent land that has access to 195th Avenue. Flotterud asked what the expected property tax share would be for the County on the Pine Island Data Center. Greseth stated that that they are in negotiations for tax abatement but that at least $250,000/year in property taxes is on the table. Greseth stated that he is hoping for the yearly County share of property taxes to be closer to $500,000 with the first data center building. Flotterud stated that there is vocal resistance. Greseth stated that there are citizens on both sides of wanting and not wanting the proposed data center. Greseth stated that there are concerns with not wanting exhaust from the diesel backup generators, increased traffic through roundabout, water usage, and electricity usage. The concerns have each been addressed. Greseth stated that City staff have visited numerous Data Center sites across the Midwest. Greseth stated that data centers are about the best commercial/industrial neighbor with little to no noise, smell, or audible sound concerns.
Flotterud asked about the impact of the Minnesota Paid Leave on the County. Greseth stated that the County would have to contribute 0.44% of employee wage tax in 2026. Greseth stated that along with the direct financial impact the County would have to keep the employee job open for up to 12 weeks if the employee took the leave. This is difficult in key positions to complete the work and keep the job open while an employee is on extended leave. Greseth has concerns that there will be overlaps with multiple County staff on leave at the same time, weakening the ability for the County to provide timely service to the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
26-001 = Approving 2026 Appointments & Legals: Haugen moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Passed 5-0-0.
26-002 = Setting 2026 City Council Meeting Schedule: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Ohr. Passed 5-0-0.
26-003 = Authorizing Temporary Liquor License for the Fire Relief Association snowmobile run: Ohr moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Passed 5-0-0.
26-004 = Approving 2026 Updated Wanamingo Emergency Management Plan: Flotterud moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Boulton stated that he and Gregg Erickson, the Wanamingo Civil Defense Director, had reviewed and made the necessary changes. The changes were mainly contacts and contact information. Passed 5-0-0.
26-005 = Authorizing a Temporary Gambling Permit for the Wanamingo Fire Relief Association: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Flotterud. Passed 5-0-0.
26-006 = Approving Financial Authorization: Haugen moved to approve, seconded by Flotterud. Passed 5-0-0.
Ordinance #215 – Amending Section 111.5(B) of the Wanamingo Code of Ordinances Regulating the Sale of Intoxicating Liquor and Wine – 1st Reading - Boulton stated in December 2025 Barney Nesseth requested that the Council consider removing the Responsible Beverage Server Training requirement within Wanamingo Code of Ordinance 111.5(B). Nesseth had concerns with cost of the formal training and requirements for additional reporting for new employees throughout the year. Nesseth stated that there was funding provided the first few years for the training from a grant through SHIP. The grant funding is no longer available, placing the cost on the bar owner. Nesseth stated that formal online training was costing him several hundred dollars yearly. Nesseth said that training the employees was in the best interest of the Bar owner and that the City had no skin in the game if bar employees were in violation of server requirements. Nesseth said that training could be completed in a less formal and costly manner. Boulton stated that the ordinance had been put in place after lobbying from County SHIP program in 2007. The Council had asked for legal advice from the City Attorney, David Jacobsen, on whether the requirement is needed to stay in place. Jacobsen provided a written legal opinion that the Responsible Beverage Service Training is not required by Minnesota law. Many cities make this mandatory by ordinance under their authority to further restrict licensing under Minn. Stat. 340A.509. Some cities offer a discount on liquor license fees if the licensee provides proof that all employees have undergone training. Also, it appears that many licensees are required or offered discounts by their insurance carriers for dram shop liability purposes. It also seems like there are also plenty of online resources that might be a bit cheaper with some advertising costs under $10/employee. In sum, the City has the power to amend the ordinance requiring the training of employees. Simply because the City can, doesn’t mean it should. The council should weigh the pros and cons of making a legislative decision and the potential consequences of relaxing restrictions on licensees. Boulton stated that this is a first reading of the proposed ordinance. Boulton asked if the Council wished to proceed with a second reading and if any changes are needed to the proposed Ordinance #215 before February 9th Council meeting. Flotterud stated that he wished to proceed with the second reading with no changes to the proposed Ordinance #215.
OLD BUSINESS:
Public Hearing - Mayor Holmes opened Ordinance #214 - 2026 Fee Schedule Hearing at 7:21PM. Administrator Boulton went over the proposed changes from 2025 Fee Schedule for the proposed 2026 fee schedule including increasing Deputy Clerk labor from $45/hour to $47/hour, increasing Public Works Labor from $45/hour to $47/hour, increasing City Administrator Labor from $60/hour to $62/hour, increasing dump truck from $65/hour to $85/hour, removing grader from the list, removing skid loader from list, adding compact wheel loader at $90/hour, increasing the sewer hook-up from $750 to $800, increasing water meter cost from $370 to $380, increasing the MN Water User Fee from $0.82/month to $1.30/month, increasing the sewer debt service/base fee from $32.00/month to $34.00/month, increasing the monthly garbage fee from $19.11/month to $20.06/month, and increasing the monthly recycling fee from $7.35/month to $7.64/month. The increase to the water meter fee helps to cover increases to the actual costs of the water meters and readers. Boulton stated that the proposed monthly sewer base rate/debt service fee increase of $2.00/month to each hook-up would bring in roughly $14,000 in new revenue in 2026. The monthly garbage and recycling increase reflects the yearly new contract with Highland Sanitation. Throughout the year, including the budgeting process, the Council has discussed and has recommended the above changes. The City Auditors recommend that the Council review sewer/water rates and make small adjustments regularly to capture revenue as opposed to large jumps. The wastewater treatment plant will need upgrades soon which could cost millions of dollars. No Additional Public Comments Offered. Mayor Holmes closed the public hearing at 7:26PM.
Ordinance #214 - 2026 Fee Schedule - 2nd Reading - Haugen moved to approve, seconded by Dierks. Passed 5-0-0.
Administrator Boulton presented the 2025 Wanamingo Outstanding Indebtedness Report. The Wanamingo EDA paid $29,000 in principle in 2025 and owes $241,000 at the beginning of 2026. The City paid $487,000 in bond principal in 2025 and owes $4,097,000 at the beginning of 2026. Boulton stated that the current debt service is manageable with the interest rates associated with the existing bonds. Boulton stated that the City has roughly $130,000 of debt service capacity available for 2026/2027 (utilizing for Riverside Park parking lot and Torkelson Park pickleball court projects) with additional capacity available in 2026 ($90,000), 2027 ($93,000), and 2028 ($53,000). The next debt service capacity available would be $108,000 in 2032. The plan would be to issue new debt in the coming years to pay for infrastructure and equipment needs. Boulton stated that the City paid $516,000 in principle and roughly $118,384.50 in interest in 2025. The report will be submitted to Goodhue County next week, according to the MN State Statutes.
Boulton stated that the annual City Council/Staff Appreciation Dinner would be held on Saturday January 31st. social hour starting at 6:00PM and dinner at 6:30PM. Boulton stated that formal invites would be sent out later in the week.
Flotterud stated that Core824 Daycare has received their state license to open. Flotterud stated that Staff hiring is key to the number of children that can be enrolled. Flotterud stated that there is a waiting list of over 100. Flotterud stated that the daycare opening is huge for Wanamingo and the surrounding area. Holmes echoed the positive news of the Daycare opening for the community.
Flotterud shared policing concerns of a drone flying over homes in the Mingo View Drive neighborhood. Flotterud was hoping that a Goodhue County Deputy would be present to discuss the concern at the meeting. Flotterud stated that neighbors had called the Goodhue County Sheriff’s office to report the drone. Flotterud asked if residents could do anything about drones invading privacy over homes. Boulton stated that drones are regulated by the FAA and that concerns with flying over homes should be reported to the Goodhue County Sheriff. Cities are not authorized to regulate drones as this is regulated solely by the FAA. Boulton stated that residents should not take hostile measures on any drones and should call the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office to report FAA violations such as flying over structure.
*Fire Department/Township/City Annual Meeting is on 2/2/2026 at 6:30pm
*Next City Council meeting on 2/9/2026 at 7:00pm.
Adjourn: At 7:34PM a motion to adjourn was made by Ohr and seconded by Flotterud. Passed 5-0-0.
Signed:
Ryan Holmes, Mayor
Attest:
Michael Boulton, City Administrator
