City of Dennison
Meeting Minutes
December 4th, 2025
The December Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, December 4th, 2025 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Caleb Voight, Heidi Cooke, and Nichole Schloesser, and clerk Jessica Page.
Councilor Schloesser moved to approve the meeting minutes from the November City Council meeting as corrected. Councilor Voight second. Motion passed 4:0.
Councilor Schloesser moved to approve the Treasurer’s report. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
Sheriff: Deputy Beck: nothing new that he is aware of for the City.
Todd Greseth, County Commissioner, will be arriving later in meeting. *
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits: Sign permit for Gobin Seeds. Councilor Schloesser move to approve the sign permit for Gobin Seeds. Councilor Voight second. Motion passed 4:0.
Councilor Cooke was wondering if other business’ in the City needed sign permit for when they updated the signs on their buildings. Short discussion on whether one was needed. The difference between Gobin Seed putting up all brand new signage where there were not signs there before, vs updating or replacing a sign already in place. Need to review the ordinance further so will review it next month.`
Under old business, Councilor Schloesser reviewed complaints. Pohl is on schedule to get the last item (tabs) done. Sparrow has everything, just needs to send pictures.
Administrative Issues:
1. Mayor Flaten asked for comments from the folks in attendance if there were any questions on the final levy amount for the City. There were none. Councilor Schloesser move to approve Resolution 12-2025-02, setting the Levy amount at $200,000. Councilor Voight second. Motion passed 4:0.
2. Councilor Schloesser move to approve the LG220 Application for Exempt Permit for gambling for the Ducks Unlimited event at the Sapphire Event Center and Cocktail Lounge for January 24, 2026. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0
3. Councilor Cooke move to approve the LG214 Premises Permit Application for the Dennison Lions Club and the Sapphire Event Room and Cocktail Lounge located at 37592 Goodhue Ave. in Dennison MN. (AGE returned the application from the Lions Club saying it was more than 90 days since it was previously approved so needed to be re-approved.) Councilor Voight second. Motion passed 4:0.
4. Update from the Nerstrand Fire Department by fire chief, Joe Johnson. They are doing a study on the intersection of 9 and 56 as there have been 8-9 calls there this last year. The Fire Department budget is good. The new rescue truck has been delivered. There is a possible SUV donation that could be used 1st out for every medical call from the Dennison location. Mayor Flaten asked about the Grant/fundraising that they had been looking for previously. The funds that had been needed last year have been obtained, but it would be appreciated if the City would like to donate some towards the new vehicle that will be in Dennison. Joe will keep the City appraised of the potential donation and what would be needed for that vehicle. The Department had a donation of radios from a Fire Department in Indianapolis who was getting new radios. Joe stated that it was a donation worth almost $100,000 (estimated value), and it will greatly help the fire department.
5. Councilor Schloesser move to approve liquor licenses for Cattlemen’s Saloon and Fireside Lounge, providing final requirements are met (insurance and payment). Councilor Voight second. Motion passed 4:0.
6. Councilor Schloesser move to approve the Cigarette Licenses for Dennison Depot and Fireside Lounge for 2026. Mayor Flaten second. Motion passed 4:0.
7. City Cannabis Ordinance and Event Application: Results of public hearing. No one in attendance and no other comments submitted. Councilor Schloesser move to adopt Ordinance 89 “An Ordinance of the City of Dennison to Regulate Cannabis Business” and approve Resolution 12-2025-01, the approval to publish a Summary of Ordinance 89. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passes 4:0.
8. Data Center Forum Event review. Water usage and new hyper scale facilities. Water is filled once and reused. Electricity usage is the bigger issue. Noise is an issue for many folks, but newer facilities have about the same noise level as a refrigerator. Todd Greseth explained that some companies are using NDA’s, mostly for land prices.
*Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, said the County ended up with 6.5% levy increase. They tried to cut it down, but weren’t able to. One good thing to note is that Goodhue County is almost debt free (2% of budget goes to debt). Some of the biggest upcoming needs are for renovating the Government C, and especially the Law Enforcement Center.
9. Discuss Neal Wilson’s utility billing for his Rice County Property. The City will resume billing on his Rice County account. Opus has also stopped billing his home without the City asking, so we will need to figure out what was missed for his home. Mayor Flaten move to restore the Rice County property billing. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
10. New Zoning Map discussion. Email sent out to the council back in September regarding an inquiry to Goodhue County about this matter. Goodhue County GIS can help with creating a current City of Dennison Zoning Map. Estimated cost of the map request, $50.00 per hour, would be $100.00 then. A printed map and a pdf map is part of a completed map request. Councilor Cooke is going to take the lead on that project.
11. Continuing discussion regarding the Sapphire Event Room and Cocktail Lounge about prorating the liquor license for 2026. Motion was passed at the previous monthly meeting to prorate the liquor license for six months until the July meeting. After the city council meeting, Councilor Cooke emailed the city attorney with her questions regarding the City Liquor Ordinance and asked for her interpretation and guidance. Emails from the city attorney forwarded to the council before the December meeting.
There was a bit of discussion regarding this topic. Joe Amy, owner stated that an onsale liquor license is needed for the charitable gambling for the Lions. Mayor Flaten would like to know if there are instances of event centers, or multiple licenses, are there reduced costs for a license. Joe Amy, owner of the Sapphire and Fireside, noted that this is a unique situation with common ownership. Other questions included how many licenses can be issued in Dennison? If Joe has a half license, does someone else get a half license?
Councilor Cooke move that Sapphire Event Lounge pay the full amount of the liquor license, and to rescind the motion from the previous meeting that “approved the liquor license for 2026 for Fireside DBA The Sapphire Event Center at a 50% rate to have it reviewed at the July meeting”. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 4:0.
12. Towing. Updated charges when Raider Automotive/Valley Autohaus is used:
*-$3.50 per mile unloaded, first 5 miles are free.
*-$5.00 per mile loaded, first 5 miles on the way back are free.
*-Hook and tow fee is $100.00
*-Daily storage rate is $75.00 per day, impounded.
*-GOA fee (Gone on Arrival). On the scene but Raider Automotive hasn't hooked up to the vehicle or moved It yet. For example, the owner of the vehicle/car comes outside before being towed and moves it. A $25.00 fee is still charged. Homeowner is responsible.
*-Drop fee is $75.00. Raider Automotive drives to town and actually starts to hook up to the vehicle/car, then the car owner is charged the drop fee.
13. The mayor wanted to thank John Miner for his help this fall in trimming tree limbs and grinding up stumps. At no charge to the city, he cleaned the horse shoe pits and filled in areas affected by the street construction this summer with black dirt and grass seed. He also helped the mayor replace the rope for the flagpole at the city shop/fire station on 11-14-25. The mayor appreciates John going above and beyond for the taxpayers of Dennison.
14. Discussion regarding CDs at the Heritage Bank. Do we continue to roll over the CDs? Clerk and mayor are recommending putting another $100,000 to $150,000 into CDs. (For comparison, the saving accounts are at 0.20% interest rate.) Councilor Voight move to renew the existing CDs, and add three new ones, 2 at three months, 1 at 6 months, for $50,000 each. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
15. Street sweeping was completed on 11/20/25 by Charlie Terpstra.
Citizens Issues:
Mayors Issues:
Utilities:
Update from Nate: Well is up and running. Will be doing a discharge soon to finish out the season.
a. Outfall ditch and dredging. The mayor received quotes from Bill Deutsch Excavating to dredge the outfall ditch. For the east and west side of the ditch, going south of the north culvert, approximately 500 feet each side = $5,700, lump sum. To dredge one side would be $3,200. Mayor forwarded pictures of the outfall ditch prior to the monthly meeting. The mayor and Bill Deutsch also looked at the culvert which passes under the sewer pond road next to the gated entrance of the sewer ponds. We observed about 2 feet of standing water in the ditch and couldn't view the east side of that culvert opening because of the water. In order to see if there is a problem with the culvert by the gate, the mayor recommends we fix the high water point in the ditch or dredge the entire outfall ditch and get several bids to do that next year or the following year. The mayor notes that future infrastructure improvements to the ponds won't include any grant dollars/loans to dredge the outfall ditch, so it's our responsibility to maintain that city infrastructure/property.
b. McCarthy Well in town to reinstall the pump, motor and new shaft for the well house on 11/24 and 11/25.
c. Dan Storlie and the mayor flushed the sewer main in the back alley behind City Hall and the Fireside Restaurant on 11/22/25. No issues reported.
d. Arvid Larson home sewer line inspection. Will need to contact them to try to get that done.
Councilor Schloesser moved to pay the bills. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0.
Mayor Flaten moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Voight second. Meeting was adjourned at 8:46 pm.
Next meeting: Regular meeting is Thursday, January 8th at 7:00.
Public Hearing on Ordinance 89
An Ordinance of the City of Dennison to Regulate Cannabis Business
Mayor Jeff Flaten called the Public Hearing to order on December 4th, 2025 at 6:45 pm.
Council members Nichole Schloesser, Heidi Cooke, and Caleb Voight were in attendance, as was clerk Jessica Page. There were no other people present for the public hearing. There were no questions asked, or concerns brought forward. Mayor Flaten adjourned the meeting at 6:59pm.
