City Council Minutes 07-28-2025MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, July 28, 2025 — 6:30 p.m.
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Kip Christianson, Charlotte Gabler, Tracy Hinz, and Lee Martie
Absent: None
1. General Business
A. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Hilgart called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Hilgart asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of Senator Bruce
Anderson.
B. Approval of Agenda
Motion by Council Member Gabler moved approval of the agenda. Council
Member Hinz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
C. Approval of Meeting Minutes
• Special Meeting Minutes from July 14, 2025
• Regular Meeting Minutes from July 14, 2025
Motion by Council Member Gabler to approve the special meeting minutes and
the regular meeting minutes. Council Member Martie seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
D. Citizen Comments
Scott Harper, 4334 86th Street NE, addressed City Council in regard to a potential
data center. He outlined concerns related to the proposed data center campus south
of 851h Street. He distributed a document related to noise control in Minnesota and
spoke of acceptable noise. He also mentioned the potential decrease in his home
value being adjacent to this type of development. He voiced other concerns and
relayed the Council's responsibilities when reviewing the proposed development of
a data center campus.
E. Public Service Announcements
• Jim Johnson from Monticello Heart Strong gave a brief update of the
program that was formed 17 months ago. Founding members Melissa Pribyl
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and Teri Johnson gave a brief presentation on Heart Strong Monticello
including their mission, community involvement, and AED sponsorships.
• Sarah Rathlisberger, Finance Director, noted the following public service
announcements:
- Highway 25 Corridor Study Open House — Monday, August 4
- Movie in the Park
- Music in the Mississippi
F. Council Liaison Updates
• 1-94 Coalition — Council Member Gabler noted that the meeting included a
finance update, federal and state updates, and local area project updates.
G. Department Updates
Motion by Council Member Christianson to amend the agenda to conduct the
remaining Department Updates after the Consent Agenda before item 3. Council
Member Hinz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
• Wright County Sheriff's Office Quarterly Update - Lieutenant Jeff McMackins
was present to present the Sheriff's Office 2025 second quarter report.
• Fibernet Quarterly Update - Mark Birkholz, Arvig, presented the 2025 1st
Quarter Report.
• Utility Rate Study Overview — Tammy Omdal, Northland Public Finance,
presented an overview of the utility rate study which will provide as a guide for
the City to have sufficient revenue to fund capital projects and operating costs.
The overview included information on revenue sufficiency and utility rate
adjustments.
• Construction Update — Matt Leonard, Public Works Director/City Engineer, gave
an update on current construction projects.
2. Consent Agenda:
Motion by Council Member Martie to approve the Consent Agenda excluding Item D.
Council Member Hinz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
A. Consideration of approving the payment of bills. Action taken: Approved the bill
and purchase card registers for a total of $1,938,865.85.
B. Consideration of approving new hires and departures for City departments.
Action taken: Approved the terminations for the Monticello Community
Center.
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C. Consideration of approving the sale/disposal of surplus city property. Action
taken: No report.
D. Consideration of approving a Special Event Permit for outdoor entertainment at
Nordic Taphouse (106 Walnut Street) and use of City resources for an event on
Saturday, August 23, 2025. Applicant: Nordic BrewPub. Action taken: ITEM WAS
REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
E. Consideration of approving updates to the City's Data Practices Policies. Action
taken: Approved the Data Practices Policies.
Consideration of an amendment to Conditional Use Permit for Planned Unit
Development for a Restaurant as a Principal Use and Drive Through Services as
an Accessory Use in the B-4, Regional Business District. Applicant: Earl Gebauer.
Action taken: Approved an amendment to Conditional Use Permit subject to
conditions in Exhibit Z and based on findings in Resolution PC-2025-025.
G. Consideration of approving a Conditional Use Permit for a Wireless
Telecommunications Service Antennae and Antenna Support Structure in the 1-1,
Light Industrial District. Applicant: George Wojcicki. Action taken: Approved the
Conditional Use Permit subject to conditions in Exhibit Z and based on findings
in Resolution PC-2025-026.
H. Consideration of approving a Conditional Use Permit for Cross Parking and
Access in the 1-1, Light Industrial District and approving a Cross Access and
Parking Agreement between the City of Monticello and Karlsburger Foods.
Applicant: Michael Maher. Action taken: Approved the Conditional Use Permit
subject to conditions in Exhibit Z and based on findings in Resolution PC-2025-
027.
I. Consideration of approving a contract with Premier Lighting for lighting upgrades
at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $29,128. Action taken:
Approved the contract with Premier Lighting in the amount of $29,128.
J. Consideration of authorizing a 3-year contract extension with HydroCorp to
provide management services for the City's Cross -Connection Program. Action
taken: Approved a 3-year contract extension with HydroCorp.
K. Consideration of adopting Resolution 2025-48 accepting improvements and
authorizing final payment to Sunram Construction in the amount of $34,629.02
for the Bertram Chain of Lakes Athletic Park Phase II Improvements Project.
Action taken: Adopted Resolution 2025-48 accepting improvements and
authorizing final payment to Sunram Construction.
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2A. Consideration of items removed from the consent agenda for discussion
D. Consideration of approving a Special Event Permit for outdoor entertainment at
Nordic Taphouse (106 Walnut Street) and use of City resources for an event on
Saturday, August 23, 2025. Applicant: Nordic BrewPub
Council Member Gabler removed the item to question if the area businesses and
residents will be notified of the event. Staff noted that notification to
surrounding property owners is part of the conditions for approval.
Motion by Council Member Gabler to approve the Special Event Permit
contingent on notification to surrounding property owners. Council Member
Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Public Hearing:
A. (Continued from July 14 meeting). Public Hearing: Consideration of adopting
Resolution 2025-46 approving a vacation of a permanent easement for 85tn
Street NE as legally described for a portion of the plat of Haven Ridge
Community Development Director Angela Schumann noted that the public
hearing is still open for comment. She advised the City Council to continue the
public hearing to August 25, 2025, as the applicant continues to work on final
plat.
Motion by Council Member Hinz to continue the public hearing and postpone
action for vacation to the City Council meeting on August 25, 2025. Council
Member Martie seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Regular Agenda:
A. Consideration of adopting Ordinance 854 amending the Monticello City Code,
Title_ III, Administration, establishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the
City of Monticello and adopting Summary Ordinance 854A for publication
Angela Schumann gave a brief overview of the ordinance which establishes the
affordable housing trust fund, defines affordable housing and income limits
consistent with state requirements, specifies the allowable uses of the fund, and
outlines additional revenue sources to support the fund going forward. Funds
are received from a Statewide Local Housing Aid program and must be spent on
statutorily qualifying projects. The total amount of aid to Monticello is expected
to be $147,095 and will be administered by the Economic Development
Authority.
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Motion by Council Member Martie to adopt Ordinance 854 establishing an
Affordable Housing Trust Fund and adopting Summary Ordinance 854A for
publication. Council Member Christianson seconded the motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
B. Consideration of authorizing distribution of the Monticello Tech, LLC Alternative
Urban Areawide Review Scoping Document and draft AUAR Order to the
Environmental Quality Board
Angela Schumann presented the item and noted that it was determined that the
AUAR Scoping Document and full AUAR study is required for the proposed
development of a data center campus south of 85t" Street and east of TH 25. The
proposed development meets the state's requirements for an environmental
review. The environmental review process is managed by the Responsible
Government Unit (RGU), which is the City of Monticello.
The AUAR is a study document which provides an evaluation of the
environmental impacts of future development and the opportunity to evaluate
and manage the impacts. The Scoping Document, drafted by Kimley-Horn, is an
additional step that reviews different development scenarios and their impacts.
The document outlines two development scenarios.
The Scoping Document includes a public notification and review period. The
documents will be posted on the City's website and available at City Hall.
Motion by Council Member Christianson to authorize distribution of the Monticello
Tech, LLC Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) Scoping Document and draft
AUAR Order to the Environmental Quality Board. Council Member Martie seconded
the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Additional Discussion
Mayor Hilgart commented on different events that took place in the City in the previous
week. He specifically spoke about an event hosted by Party for a Purpose that raises
funds for people with cancer.
6. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
Recorder: Jennifer Schreibe
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Attest:
City Administrator
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