CITY OF WANAMINGO
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, October 19, 2026, 7:00 P.M.
Wanamingo City Council Chambers – 401 Main Street
Wanamingo, MN
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Holmes.
PRESENT: Council: Eric Dierks, Rebecca Haugen, Ryan Holmes, and Stuart Ohr
City Administrator: Michael Boulton
Deputy Clerk: Laurie Musselman
ABSENT: Council: Jeremiah Flotterud
ALSO PRESENT: Brad Kennedy, Brandon Theobald – WHKS, Jacob Vredenburg, and Peter Grimsrud – Zumbrota News Record.
ADOPT AGENDA: Dierks motioned to adopt the agenda, seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA: Ohr motioned, seconded by Haugen. Passed 4-0-0.
PRESENTERS:
A) Brad Kennedy reported on:
1) Jetted, with cutting head, the portion of the clay sanitary sewer lines that were not completed during the televising summer. To televise the lines, the contractor utilized a cutting head that is larger than the City sewer jetter cutting head. There would be no point in jetting with the City cutting head. The roots were removed this past summer in a larger diameter than the City cutting head.
2) Completed flushing all the hydrants throughout town
3) Hauled out and land apply biosolids from the WWTP.
4) Leaf vacuum and the street sweeper have been out getting leaves sucked off the streets.
5) Riverside Park well had pressure switch repaired by contractor.
6) Started winter preparation of buildings and equipment
7) Heater for swimming pool had main circuit board replaced by contractor.
8) Mowed and trimmed along MN TH 60 & MN TH 57 ditch and utility poles. Mowed at the WWTP, community garden, undeveloped lot boulevards, and other various areas around town.
B) Brandon Theobald - WHKS, reported on:
1) Presented on 2027 Sanitary Sewer and Alley Improvements Project Feasibility Report
2) Project is proposed to include special assessments for benefitting property owners.
3) Schedule includes receiving the engineer’s feasibility report and ordering improvements hearing October 19th; a public hearing, order improvements, and authorize preparation of plans and specifications at the November 9th Council Meeting (Community Center); Neighborhood meeting on November 30th; present plans and specifications and authorize advertisement for bids March 8th; receive bids, and set amount to be assessed and order final assessments hear April 12th; hold final assessment hearing and award contract May 10th; begin construction Spring 2027 and complete construction Fall 2027.
4) Project includes replacing the sanitary sewer lines and manholes on the two North/South alleys running North-South – Approximately 185 feet East of TH 57, from approximately 225 feet south of Beverly to 2nd Street; Alley running North-South – Approximately 185 feet East of 2nd Avenue, from Beverly to approximately 280 feet north of 2nd Street. The work will include reconstructing mainly gravel alleys (one downtown commercial alley that is asphalt will again be paved with asphalt as part of the project) along with asphalt/curb/gutter/apron replacement at each street crossing.
5) The alleys in question have the worst ground water inflow and infiltration (I & I). Council has planned to reduce the amount of I & I as part of the long-term planning for the NZSSD regional wastewater treatment facility.
6) Plan to coordinate televising to check for potential I & I with questionable connections
7) The total engineer’s estimate for the project is $1,482,000, which includes 18% engineering cost and 15% contingencies.
8) Proposed assessments would be $444,600 (30% of the project cost). This would be $4,631 per REU (Residential Equivalent Unit). The remaining portion of the project, $1,0374,000, will be paid through tax levy. The City plans to finance the project through the sale of bonds.
9) There were questions on REU – how to determine a couple of larger parcels or vacant parcels. These parcels could be calculated as 1.5 or 2 REU’s. It is a question of special benefits and who benefits that will need to be ultimately decided by the Council.
Dierks asked if the special assessments could be calculated by average size of lot. If the average size is more than the parcel owner could pay more. Kennedy stated that this could be done through front property footage adjacent to the project. Theobald said that parcels differ in size and with the scope of the work being sanitary sewer (each parcel having one connection) it is easy to explain that everyone is in it together (equally benefit and equally assess). This calculation is easy for the Council to defend. Another option would be to have two assessment rates, one for residential and one for commercial parcels. Boulton stated that we can continue to have staff discussions and bring back a recommendation (if there are any) to the Council. Dierks stated that if a parcels or vacant parcel wishes to have two connections that they are charge two REU’s. Theobald stated that it would be good to have a discussion with these parcel owners to determine the desire for any additional connections.
NEW BUSINESS:
RESOLUTION:
26-062 = Certifying Delinquent Utility Bills and Other Services to the Goodhue County Auditor-Treasurer for the Collection with Real Estate Taxes in 2027: Dierks moved to approve, Seconded by Ohr. Boulton stated that three properties are being considered for utilities certification, including two bank forfeitures. Mayor Holmes asked if there were any challenges to the certifications. No challenges were made. Passed 4-0-0.
26-063 = To Not Waive the Monetary Limits on Tort Liability Established by Minnesota Statutes 466.04: Haugen moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Passed 4-0-0.
26-064 = Accepting Land Donations from Dan McPherson of Biochar Infusions and Patricia McPherson: Ohr moved to approve, Seconded by Haugen. Boulton stated that the roughly thirty-foot parcels were part of Emerald Valley Fifth Addition Re-Plat. The parcels were intended to be donated to the City for future walking path. Mayor Holmes thanked Dan McPherson and Patricia McPherson for the donation of land for the future walking path. Passed 4-0-0.
26-065 = Receiving Feasibility Report for 2027 Sanitary Sewer and Alley Improvements Project: Haugen moved to approve, Seconded by Dierks. Holmes stated that the Council was not going to stop the project. The ageing, nearly one-hundred-year-old, lines need to be replaced as the Council has seen the problem for years. Holmes added that the inflow and infiltration of ground water must be addressed before the new NZSSD treatment facility is built. Passed 5-0-0.
ORDINANCE #218 – An Ordinance Regulating Park Hours – 1st Reading - Administrator Boulton stated that there were concerns with late night park usage in Prairie Ridge Estates this summer. When reviewing the ordinance language regarding park hours there were vague names for Log House Park and North Park. The ordinance did not speak to other parks, such as Prairie Ridge Estates. Riverside Park will replace North Park and stay open until 11:00PM. Except for Riverside Park, all other parks (replacing Log House Park) shall be open from sunrise to sunset. This should make the park definition all encompassing for current and future parks. There is also a change to extending hours by the Council and notifying law enforcement rather than police department.
OLD BUSINESS:
*General Elections – November 3rd – Wanamingo Community Center 7:00AM-8:00PM
*Next City Council meeting on 11/9/2026 at Community Center
*All Councils (Goodhue, Pine Island, Wanamingo, and Zumbrota) meeting on 11/23/2026 at Zumbrota VFW at 6:00PM
Adjourn: At 7:39PM a motion to adjourn was made by Haugen and seconded by Ohr. Passed 4-0-0.
Signed: Attest:
_____________________ ____________________________________
Ryan Holmes, Mayor Michael Boulton, City Administrator
