City Council Minutes 04-20-2026 SpecialMINUTES
MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, April 20, 2026 — 5:00 p.m.
Monticello Community Center
Present: Lloyd Hilgart, Charlotte Gabler, Kip Christianson, Tracy Hinz, Lee Martie
Absent: None
Staff: Rachel Leonard, Sarah Rathlisberger, Angela Schumann, Tom Pawelk, Beth
Green, Josh Berthiaume, Sara Cahill, Leanne Holker
Others: Hayley Wenda-Bilka (Monti Club JO), Aimee Decker (Monti Center Court Club),
James Martin (Monti Lacross), Jon Salmon (Monti Baseball), Jeremy Johanson
(Moose Youth Hockey), Markus Franz (Great River Soccer)
1. Call to Order
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart called the special meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
2. Bertram Chain of Lakes Athletic Park Feasibility Study Update
Parks and Recreation Director Tom Pawelk presented an overview of the study, noting
that the updated total project investment of $13 million reflects estimated construction
costs in 2028.
The current estimate includes full site buildout; however, it does not incorporate
lighting and amenities for the northern fields. To better align project priorities and
available funding, staff recommends removing the planned concession building on the
southwest side of the park near the pickleball courts, as well as the playground located
on the north end. These modifications would result in an estimated savings of $1.5
million, which could be reinvested into the full buildout of the ballfields. The concession
building and playground would be deferred to a future phase as funding becomes
available.
Under this revised approach, the project would include:
• Conversion of all four northern fields to 260-foot configurations
• Installation of lighting on two of the four 260-foot fields
• Addition of scoreboards and player bench canopies
• Completion of grading, fencing, natural grass turf, and irrigation
expansions
• A potential future bid alternate to add lighting to the remaining two
fields, if funding allows
City Council Special Meeting Minutes — April 20, 2026
3.
Feeback from the athletic associations included a preference for a grass infield on one
300-foot field within the pinwheel configuration and the elimination of warning tracks
on the fields.
Both the athletic associations and the City Council expressed unanimous support for
proceeding with the project, including staff's recommended modifications outlined
above.
Adjournment
By consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 5:36 p.m.
Recorder:
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City Council Special Meeting Minutes — April 20, 2026