05-27-2025HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025
CITY CENTER — COUNCIL CHAMBERS
(The City Council is provided background information fog° agenda iten2s in advance by city staff, committees and boards. Many
decisions regarding agenda iten2s are based upon this information as well as: City policy and practices, inputfiron2 constituents,
and other questions or information that has not yet been presented or discussed regarding an agenda iten2.)
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER — 5:30 P.M.
(a) Approve the Council agenda and any agenda additions and/or corrections
Motion by Sebesta, second by May, to approve agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
2. INVOCATION — Our Savior's Lutheran Church
(The invocation is a voluntary expression of the private citizen, to andfor the City Council, and is not intended to affiliate the
City Council with, or express the City Council's preferencefor, any religious/spiritual organization. The views or beliefs
expressed by the invocation speaker have not been previously reviewed or approved by the Council or staff)
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. RECOGNITION OF GIFTS, DONATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO THE CITY
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(This is an opportunity fog° members of the public to address the City Council. If the topic you would like to discuss is on the agenda,
please ask the Mayor if he will be accepting public comments during the agenda item if not a public hearing. Ifyou have a question,
concern or comment, please ask to be recognized by the mayor state your name and address for the record. Please keep
comments under 5 minutes. Individuals wishing to speakfor more than five minutes should ask to be included on the agenda in
advance of the meeting. All comments are appreciated, but please refrain fi on2 personal or derogatory attacks on individuals)
5. CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
(a) Regular Meeting of May 13, 2025
Motion by Burley, second by May, to approve minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
(The iten2s listedfor consideration will be enacted by one motion unless the Mayor, a member of the City Council or
a city staff member requests an item to be removed. Traditionally iten2s are not discussed)
7. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA I
(a) Consideration for Approval of Resolution No. 15869 — Resolution to Dispose of Surplus Property
(Water Department)
(b) Consideration for Approval of Resolution No. 15870- Resolution Authorizing Airport
Improvement Grant Continuation
(c) Consideration for Approval to Lease Turf Tank One Autonomous Line Marking Robot for PRCE
Operations
(d) Claims, Appropriations and Contract Payments — Register A
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 27, 2025
Motion by May, second by Sebesta, to approve Consent Agenda L Motion carried unanimously.
8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA II
(a) Claims, Appropriations and Contract Payments — Register B
Motion by Czmowski, second by Sebesta, with Forcier abstaining, to approve Consent Agenda II.
Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS — NONE
COMMUNICATIONS, REQUESTS AND PETITIONS
(The purpose of this portion of the agenda is to provide the Council with information necessary to craft wise policy.
Includes items like monthly or annual reports and coniniunications f on2 other entities.)
9. UPDATE FROM RIVERSONG MUSIC FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Jan Johnson, River Song Music Festival Committee, presented before the Council. Ms. Johnson
provided an update on the festival coming up on July 11 & 12, 2025. Ms. Johnson provided
information on ticket sales, times of operation, entertainers, liquor sales, and security.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
10. APPROVE/DENY SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 25-854 - AN
ORDINANCE ADOPTING SECTION 93.415 OF THE HUTCHINSON CITY CODE —
CHICKENS
Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Jaunich noted that no changes
have been made to the ordinance since the first reading held at the last Council meeting.
Motion by Czmowski, second by Burley, to approve second reading and adoption of Ordinance No.
25-854. Council Member May suggested allowing the ordinance to take effect sooner than three
months upon adoption if individuals seeking licenses complete the required education course. Mr.
Jaunich noted that language was included due to the McLeod County Extension Office, who will be
providing the education course, needing time to put the materials together. Motion by Czmowski to
amend his motion to include the ordinance taking effect upon passage and publication noting that
licenses won't be issued until individuals complete the education course, whenever that becomes
available by the Extension Office. Burley seconded the amended motion. Roll call vote was taken:
Burley — aye; Sebesta — aye; May — nay; Czmowski — aye; Forcier — aye. Motion carried 4 to 1.
11. APPROVE/DENY REQUEST FOR DEFERRED ASSESSMENT FOR PROPERTY AT 490
HIGHWAY 7 EAST
Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Jaunich noted that this item was
tabled at the last Council meeting. Mr. Jaunich explained that Ian McDonald, property owner, has
requested the City waive a portion of the interest on a deferred assessment on property he purchased
in 2020. The assessment total is $13,371.04. This is a deferred assessment from a project that was
done in 1996. The deferral was in place until the land was either developed or sold. When Mr.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 27, 2025
McDonald purchased the property in 2020, the previous owner did not disclose the deferred
assessment and an assessment search was not completed by buyer or its title company. Mr.
McDonald became aware of the assessment when he attempted to do a lot split in 2022. Mr.
McDonald has paid $10,000 of the $13,371.04 to date and is requesting the Council to waive the
remaining $3371.04. Mr. McDonald did inform the Council at the last meeting that he has been
reimbursed by the previous property owner for the assessments and that his request to the Council
was to assist him in offsetting the legal costs he incurred in getting that reimbursement from the
previous owner. Mr. Jaunich noted the assessment agreement was put in place in 1996 with the
previous owner and there is nothing in the agreement that speaks to waiving interest fees. Mr.
Jaunich noted that state law does not allow for waiving of assessments, however the City could
reassess an assessment if the Council chose to do so. The City has never waived deferred
assessments or interest fees for a property that was undeveloped and had requested a deferral.
Motion by May, second by Sebesta, to deny request for deferred assessment on property located at
490 Hwy 7 East. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
12. APPROVE/DENY CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK TO RICE LAKE CONSTRUCTION
FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY SOLIDS IMPROVEMENTS
Mike Stifter, Public Works Director, presented before the Council. Mr. Stifter noted that staff has
been working on the design of the wastewater treatment facility solids improvements project for the
past 18 months. This project will provide a notable update to the biosolids processing and handling.
Two original belt presses will be replaced with centrifuges. This will improve the thickening of the
material and position the City better for any potential regulation changes that come in the future.
There are a number of other updates to the building also including new HVAC, associated piping and
a polymer/diffuser system used in the thickening process. The project is nearly double in price from
when it was originally conceived in 2020. While the project is expected to be paid for mostly with
cash reserves, a small amount of bonding is possible. If the project is approved, the heating update is
expected to occur this Fall with the majority of the project to take place in 2026.
Jennifer Svennes of Nero Engineering presented before the Council and explained the construction
manager at risk process and why it was chosen for this project. Ms. Svennes also addressed the
scope of the project and the increased costs of the project.
Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve construction manager at risk to Rice Lake
Construction for wastewater treatment facility solids improvements project. Motion carried
unanimously.
13. APPROVE/DENY SETTING A JOINT WORKSHOP WITH THE HUTCHINSON UTILITIES
COMMISSION AND EDA BOARD FOR JUNE 4, 2025, AT 7:00 A.M.
Motion by Czmowski, second by May, to approve setting joint workshop with Hutchinson Utilities
Commission and EDA Board for June 4, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Motion carried unanimously.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 27, 2025
GOVERNANCE
(The purpose of this portion of the agenda is to deal with organizational development issues, including policies,
performances, and other matters that manage the logistics of the organization. May include monitoring reports,
policy development and governance process items.)
14. MINUTES/REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS
(a) Hutchinson Public Library Board Minutes from March 24, 2025
(b) Hutchinson Utilities Commission Minutes from March 26, 2025
c) Hutchinson Housing & Redevelopment Board Minutes from April 15, 2025
d) City of Hutchinson Financial Report and Investment Report for April 2025
MISCELLANEOUS
15. STAFF UPDATES
Chief Gifferson — Mayor Forcier asked Chief Gifferson if there are speed limits set for e-bikes on trails.
Chief Gifferson noted that are no speed limits set for e-bikes in the City of Hutchinson. It is the
Council's prerogative to create an ordinance regulating e-bikes if they wish. The police department
would have to determine how to enforce regulations put in place, which could be difficult. It was
suggested perhaps placing signs throughout the Luce Line Trail that may deter unruly e-bike riders.
Andy Reid — Mr. Reid spoke about the CMAR project that was approved and advised the Council that
although there are cash reserves, bonding will need to be used for the costs in excess of what was
budgeted for. This will have a ripple effect for other projects, like the fire ladder truck, such as
increasing the debt levy or using other reserves.
Mike Stifter — Mr. Stifter provided a project update on Hassan Street, Dale Street and Stoney Point
Road. He also noted that the intention is that the Sustainability Advisory Board will start convening
again in September.
16. COUNCIL/MAYOR UPDATE
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by May, second by Czmowski, to adjourn at 6:20 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
Gary T. Forcier Matthew Jaunich
Mayor City Administrator
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