January 6, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Posted: January 31, 2025

City of LeRoy MN – Council Meeting Minutes, January 6, 2025

 

A regular meeting of the LeRoy City Council was called to order by Mayor Ed Koppen on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the LeRoy Community Center with the following members present:  Mayor Ed Koppen, Council Members Harold Shipman, Chastidy Sweeney, Paul Apenhorst, Ashley Huntley, Maintenance Employee Nick Sweeney, and City Clerk Patty White.
Also attending: Caleb Hovde, Axel Gumbel, Devin & Nicole Wallace, Diane Whalen, Brian Thiel, and Deputy Katlynne Fisher.  Koppen called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.

White administered the oath of office to Mayor Ed Koppen and Council Members Chastidy Sweeney and Paul Apenhorst.

All stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion by Shipman to pass Resolution 2025-01, a resolution of appreciation to Brian Thiel, and to pass Resolution 2025-02, a resolution of appreciation to Gerald Payne.  Second by Huntley.  Motion carried 5-0.

Appointments to the standing committees for 2025 were made as follows:

  • Chastidy Sweeney-Fire Department Personnel Committee; Water & Sewer
  • Harold Shipman-Streets & Alleys; Prairie Visions; Acting Mayor; Legal & Accounting; EDA
  • Ashley Huntley-Parks & Recreation; Ambulance Board; Cemetery & Tree Boards
  • Paul Apenhorst-Library Board; EDA
  • Ed Koppen-Legal & Accounting; Public Buildings

Motion by Huntley, second by Shipman to approve the appointments to the standing committees for 2025.  Motion carried 5-0.

Appointments to the appointed committees for 2025 were made as follows:

  • City Attorney-LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A.
  • City Auditor-Smith Schafer & Associates, LTD
  • Official City Newspaper-Mower County Independent
  • Official Depositories-First National Bank, LeRoy; First State Bank Minnesota, LeRoy
  • City Engineer-Jones, Haugh & Smith
  • Fire Dept. Personnel Committee-Chastidy Sweeney, Patty White, Caleb Hovde, Dan Feather
  • Administrative Fine Board-Jan Whisler, Steve Klostermann, Rita Hiller
  • LeRoy EDA-Josh Lewis, Axel Gumbel, Sara Gerk, Tracy Smith, Cristi Masters, Harold Shipman and Paul Apenhorst (council reps)

Motion by Huntley, second by Sweeney to approve the appointments to the appointed committees with the Library Board appointments tabled until the February 3, 2025, city council meeting.  Motion carried 5-0.

Caleb Hovde presented the slate of officers for the LeRoy Volunteer Fire Department.  The officers include Caleb Hovde-Chief; Dan Feather-Assistant Chief; Brent Dohlman-Captain; Rick Dohlman-Lieutenant; Nick Sweeney-Fire Marshall/Emergency Management; Scott Osmundson & Tim Freerksen-Training Officers; Jason Bastian-Secretary.  Motion by Sweeney, second by Apenhorst to accept the election results and the slate of officers for the LeRoy Volunteer Fire Department for 2025.  Motion carried 5-0.  Hovde noted the department currently has 19 of 24 volunteers on the department.  The department responded to 27 calls in 2024; these calls included both city calls and rural calls.  The department is currently working on a brush truck for the MN/IA Fire Assn.  Hovde noted one of the pumper trucks is approximately 25 years old.  The replacement of this truck can take two to three years and carries a very significant financial impact of up to $500,000.  Hovde noted the department is running smooth with no complaints.  Hovde and the entire department was thanked for their time and service.

Consent Agenda:

  • Council reviewed the items included in the consent agenda. Motion by Huntley, second by Shipman to approve the consent agenda.  Motion carried 5-0.

Police Report:

  • Deputy Fisher reported deputies spent an average of 6.74 hours per day here in LeRoy over the past 35 days. There were 63 calls for service with 18 traffic stops and 20 medical calls included in the total calls for service.  Deputy Fisher was thanked for her time and report.

Public Input Time:

  • No one had anything to bring during public input time.

Standing Committee Reports:

  • Koppen reported Prairie Visions will be meeting sometime in January.
  • Huntley reported the ambulance board meets tomorrow; she will bring the final number of calls for 2024 to the February meeting. A question was posed if the calls will show the breakdown of medical or other types of calls and whether these calls were within the city limits of LeRoy or outside the city limits.  Huntley noted this information may need to be compiled by the director.

State Highway 56 Project-Sidewalks-Trees:

  • White updated the council on the issue with people tripping over the new gutter. MnDOT is supposed to be coming to paint some stripes to bring notice to this height difference from the street to the curb and gutter.
  • Council noted it seems that some light poles were not replaced following the Hwy 56 project. Motion by Apenhorst to request three additional street lights to be put on existing poles along Main Street.  Second by Huntley.  Motion carried 5-0.

Lake Louise State Park-Shooting Star Trail-Tourism:

  • Many different scenarios are being worked on with the trail, Lake Louise State Park, and promoting tourism. Some of these scenarios will be worked on through Prairie Visions and the cities that comprise Prairie Visions to proceed with different options.

Update-LeRoy Medical Clinic Property:

  • Koppen reported Regional Health Services of Howard County are proceeding with necessary permits/paperwork to open a medical clinic here in LeRoy. The RHSHC board still needs to finalize this endeavor and address timelines, etc.

Requests to Attend MRWA & MCFOA Conferences:

  • White reported the MRWA Conference is scheduled for March 4-6; the MCFOA Conference is scheduled for March 18-21. Koppen noted continuing education for city employees has always been promoted.  Motion by Shipman, second by Sweeney to allow attendance for Nick Sweeney at the MRWA Conference and Patty White at the MCFOA Conference.  Motion carried 5-0.

Land Use Permits:

  • There were no land use permits for council review.

Communications File:

  • Koppen read the letter from Wildwood Grove; the letter gave updates on happenings at WWG during 2024 and noted the purchase of the bus. The five-star rating that WWG was awarded was also recognized.  Motion by Huntley to pass Resolution 2025-03, a resolution recognizing the employees of WWG.  Second by Sweeney.  Motion carried 5-0.

North Park Improvements:

  • Members of the LeRoy Commercial Club will work with Huntley to address electrical outlets, lighting, and other items to formulate a plan that can be presented to council for their input and possible action. Sweeney noted he will address the water pressure issues in the restrooms.  It was noted the ice rink has been very well received and has received a lot of use.

Service Award Recognition:

  • Koppen recognized the tremendous winter programs that have been put on by students at L-O Schools; he recognized the LeRoy Commercial Club for the community Christmas tree and the Mingle & Jingle event. Huntley recognized the EMS Services including the ambulance service that routinely responds to 28 to 30 calls per month; she noted much dedication from the responders to make the calls and attend training.  She also recognized LeRoy Fire for all they do and their contributions to the community.

Vacant & Nuisance Properties:

  • Council concurred a letter will be sent to the owner of record at 210 East Lowell Street. Apenhorst questioned if any direction has been received from the city attorney on how to proceed with some of the other properties.  This information has not been received from the attorney.
  • Brian Thiel noted the properties located at 210 East Frederick and 221 East Main are not connected to electrical service. He noted if the additional ordinance language is made a part of the LeRoy Code of Ordinances, these two properties could be condemned.  Thiel noted if electrical service is requested, the property must be brought up to code prior to the electrical service being restored.  The question was posed if the owner of record of the houses at 221 East Main and 213 East Henry would be willing to sell to the city.  This option could possibly be cheaper to the city taxpayers than pursuing condemnation and demolition.  Council noted this option gives them something to consider.

Housing Incentives Discussion:

  • Koppen commended Brian Thiel for all the work he did in compiling information on different housing incentives. Koppen noted that he and White had met with Thiel to further discuss different options and addressed the lack of affordable starter and/or retirement housing.  Apenhorst noted he had also spent time with Thiel to further discuss this.  Apenhorst will further review this information and bring his findings to the February meeting.

EDA & WWG Report:

  • Shipman reported the EDA did not renew the contract with CEDA for 2025. He reported the pocket park at 127 West Main will be completed this spring.  Apenhorst noted he also knows of some grant writers that could possibly be used for any grant applications.
  • Council reviewed the EDA Year in Review.

Being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Huntley, second by Shipman at 7:34 PM.

 

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