City Council Minutes 01-12-2026 SpecialMINUTES
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, January 12, 2026 — 5:00 p.m.
Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Charlotte Gabler, Kip Christianson, and Tracy Hinz
Absent: Lee Martie
Staff: Rachel Leonard, Sarah Rathlisberger, Angela Schumann, Matt Leonard, and Tom
Pawelk
1. Call to Order
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart called the special meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
2. Annual Administrative Update
Rachel Leonard, City Administrator, reviewed common guidelines and best practices for
City Council. There was review discussion on the following items: City Council Authority,
Communications, Social Media Use, Agenda Items, Council Meeting Protocol, Open
Meeting Law, and Data Practices.
3. Highway 25 Update
Matt Leonard, City Engineer/Public Works Director, provided an overview of the Trunk
Highway 25 Corridor Study completed by MnDOT in 2025. City staff participated in the
study that assessed a 4.5-mile section of TH25 between Monticello and Big Lake,
focusing on intersection controls, operational performance, and potential improvements
that balance cost and community impacts.
Mr. Leonard explained that the study broke the corridor into three segments, two of
which are located within Monticello. The southernmost segment, from 1-94 to School
Boulevard, is generally functioning well, with only minor peak -hour impacts. Potential
future improvements, that are currently unfunded, include multilane roundabouts at
key intersections and completion of sidewalk gaps to improve pedestrian safety.
The middle segment, from the Mississippi River bridge to 1-94 through downtown
Monticello, presents more immediate concerns due to congestion, safety issues, and
limited right-of-way. MnDOT's proposed improvements include access control changes,
traffic signal modifications, and additional intersection control at 41" Street. City Council
discussed the proposed changes and the potential local impacts.
Mayor Hilgart and Council Member Christianson expressed concerns regarding the
proposed modifications to the 7t" Street intersection. Other Council members echoed
City Council Special Meeting Minutes —January 12, 2026
these concerns and requested that alternative options be explored or that MnDOT
consider limiting changes to peak periods only.
Council Member Hinz noted that any corridor changes should be incorporated into EDA
planning efforts for redevelopment on the east side of TH25.
Mr. Leonard also reviewed MnDOT's cost participation policy and the City's role in
future projects, particularly at intersections where City streets intersect the state
highway. Finally, he concluded by noting MnDOT's request for the city engineer to sign
off on the corridor study's intersection control evaluation reports.
The consensus from the City Council is they would prefer an opportunity to meet with
MnDOT representatives to discuss proposed corridor changes in greater detail prior to
city staff signing the documents. City staff agreed to facilitate scheduling a meeting.
4. Adjournment
By consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Recorder: Jennifer Schreiber , IPWA-ktt- kLV
U -U U
Attest:
City Administrator`
City Council Special Meeting Minutes —January 12, 2026