City of Dennison
Meeting Minutes
June 4th, 2026
The June Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, June 4th, 2026 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Caleb Voight, Heidi Cooke, Nichole Schloesser and Diane Ruddle, and clerk Jessica Page.
Councilor Voight moved to approve the May meeting minutes. Councilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 5:0.
Councilor Ruddle moved to approve the Treasurer’s report. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
Sheriff: Jordan. If you see something, please let them know. No concerns at this time
Todd Greseth: several commissioners went to the state to lobby for funds for the projects that the state is making the counties do. New computers for HHS as the system is quite antiquated.
Paul Nygaard Scrap metal check. $200 for scrap metal from the clean up day.
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits:
Administrative Issues:
1) Cleaning/organizing the City Shop/Fire Station. Dan Storlie, City Maintenance Employee, began the process of cleaning up City Hall with the help of a couple volunteers and The Mayor. The Mayor and Dan met with Fire Chief Johnson to discuss if any of the old crates of fire hose were of any value. The have no value to the fire department, and should we need more, they have some that can be used. Their age put them past their safe use. There is a metal ladder which the city owns and will be hung on North wall. Dan has hooks for that and will do on a rainy day.
It was suggested to the mayor to install a lock box for placing keys for any future city vehi-cle/equipment and Nerstrand fire engines/vehicles. If a city employee had to move a vehi-cle/equipment for whatever reason, that could be done rather quickly. The Fire Department re-ceived a donation to cover the cost of the lock box for the keys if they don't simply leave them in the vehicle, inside the locked Fire/City Building.
Items that don’t belong to the City were stacked on pallets in the building. These items will be disposed of. If the owner of the items would like to keep them, they should be removed from the building as soon as possible. Anything not removed by Saturday morning will be disposed of.
Items to be removed and disposed of:
Several malt-o-meal chairs that City Council authorized disposing of years ago, an old locker, other old chairs, the hoses, and possibly a second locker if the fire department does not have use for it. If there are any other items deemed garbage or no longer of use to the city by Dan, Nate and The Mayor, they can also be removed from the building for pick up.
The Fire department secured a donation of removal of the above items there will be no cost to the city and the city will not need to rent a dumpster.
They want to pick up the items this weekend, June 6-7, Saturday or Sunday. This will be at no cost to the city or fire department.
The City owned freezer is being used by Nate for his personal groceries and has been using city electricity as well. Dan has a buyer for the freezer if the city wants to sell it since it is obviously not needed.
What kind of liability if we damage a fire vehicle? Ask insurance company. Include Nerstrand clerk on the emails.
Dan estimates there is 2000 feet of hose. City only needs about 400 feet.
Heidi wants to know why Nate wasn’t invited to participate? No one gave him the time that there was going to be a cleaning. Joe was asked about if the fire vehicle could be moved if the City got a different vehicle. Joe said he would find another place for it.
If that is Nates spot to keep his work things, he should keep it clean. It was noted that it is council’s duty to ensure that the buildings are taken care of.
Meet to work on the maintenance building June 14th 10 am.
Wuestion was asked if M and M could do it after the 14th?
There are issues with the door. Recommended to put a door closer on it. Councilor Cooke move to accept the donation of the lock box. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
2. Synopsis from Zach Bubany sent out to the city council via email regarding the Rural Development Application and MRWA loan application. It looks like the Rural Development application will be submitted to RD soon.
3. State Bonding Bill request and end of the MN Legislative Session. The City of Dennison didn't receive an earmark/direct appropriation in the state bonding bill, which was passed this year. Good news is the City will receive Needs Based Grant Funding (affordability grants) from the 2026 DWSRF (Drinking water state revolving fund) through the PFA for a total of $2,120,592. The mayor plans to pursue grant money/state bonding dollars next year at the Capitol. The mayor talked with the Bollig Team about the possibility of pursuing more state grant money even after the application process with Rural Development is complete. It was explained that if we did obtain more state grants within the next year, for example, it wouldn't affect how much grant money we will receive through USDA/Rural Development. The goal is to acquire as much state grant money through next year as possible.
4. City website and changing providers. It was discussed a few years ago and a motion was passed to change website providers, but the City is in a three year contract with Catalis, which expires on February 28th, 2027. We need to give them 6 months notice to sever ties with them. Does the city council still want to do that? Mayor provided information to the council via email about changing to Municipal Impact. This year, their annual subscription is $812.00. Municipal Impact doesn't include the price of email, however. We would have to pay the email and domain bill directly to GoDaddy then. To migrate or transfer our email to GoDaddy, it would cost the first year $23.88, and then $107 per year after that, for the standard price. Our domain with GoDaddy is good/paid through April of 2028. The City of Nerstrand uses Municipal Impact for their website provider. Chad recommended that we increase the security issues with the email. Put something out on fb about getting someone to build the website as a college and hs student. Councilor Cooke will do that.
Word press, what other ones did Heidi find?
Talk to Chad have him come to next meeting. Add additional emails, increase security settings for the computers.
5. The Sapphire Event Center and Liquor License. A resolution passed in January. It allows the council to look more in depth on the issue, possibly amending the Liquor Ordinance to include Event Center language and a fee based on 3 days of operation or less. Does the city council want to continue with the prorated fees? The mayor contacted the city attorney several months ago, and just within the last two weeks for her interpretation and advice on the subject. Several questions were raised during the January meeting and passed onto to her. The city hasn't received an opinion from the city attorney yet. Sapphire has been open for 48 days for either events or Friday/Saturday Bar service, out of 150 days from Jan 1 to May 31.
Amending the liquor ordinance, asked if she had any verbiage for a new liquor license for a reduced liquor license. Get the information and talk at the next meeting. Is there an event center license? Or other type of license for that.
6. Opus and billing issues update. Discussion about the email from Mike Shuba, Opus, which was sent to city clerk Jessica Page and Councilor Cooke on May 6th, took place. His email response didn't satisfy the mayor or Jessica. More insight/problems discussed by Jessica. Future meeting with Heidi and Jessica with Opus hasn't occurred yet. Bill for Opus just increased from $303 a month to $312, so will ask about that also.
7. Continued discussion on repealing Ordinance 32 and replacing with Ordinance 90, Discharging of Firearms in the City Limits. Jessica has the language typed up and ready for review. Mayor and clerk discussed in the city office the possible fine/penalty. Is the city council comfortable with the final product? Any additions/changes? Questions on how it works with MN statutes, Councilor Ruddle going to look it up and send out recommendations.
8. Continued discussion on the insurance claim after the hail event April 13th. An insurance adjuster came to town on May 5th. There appeared to be damage to the roof of city hall and the garage door on the phosphorus building at the ponds was dented by the hail. His report was submitted to the City. Mayor reached out to Mike Rowan and Proficient Construction for estimates to replace the roof at city hall. The mayor also got an estimate to replace the garage door for the phosphorus building from Lampert's in Northfield. The estimate for a new garage door was $2,325.60, before taxes. The LMC adjuster noted that if there is another hail event two years from now, doesn't me we can't file a claim again for the same building. The $250 deductible would apply to both buildings since it's the same claim. Before we sign any contract, the adjuster would like to review it first.
Agreed to not replace the garage door or roof on the phosphorus building.
Waiting for quotes for the second quote. Send to LMCIT so we can be ready for the approval for it for the July meeting. Get estimates for the Class 4 shingle. Mayor will ask LMCIT if they have a discount for the class 4 shingles.
9. Striping of parking stalls on Mainstreet. Quote from Seykora Asphalt for $1,926.00. Includes both blocks.
Is there a requirement for a handicapped parking spot? And fines if they aren’t on the city street. Ask LMC lawyers do we need a dedicated space for it. Need striping and symbol.
10. Discuss the propane contract with CFS. We have a credit of $632 to apply to our next contract. Price both places. Wait another month to see if it goes down.
11. The new Nerstrand Rescue Vehicle. The Dennison Lions Club made a donation that covered the cost of the decals.
12. Data Center update. City of Minneapolis now has a six-month moratorium in place for new data centers bigger than 350,00 square feet, but allows one smaller than that to be built across the entire downtown core. Eagan and Inver Grove Heights also implemented moratoriums for one year. The MN Legislature didn't pass any bills pertaining to moratoriums for data centers. Look at resources for possible ordinance language. Councilor Ruddle will do. “Restricting large scale business” Possible statewide bill for a moratorium.
13. Fire extinguishers serviced on May 21st.
14. Renewal of CD’s. There are four 3 month CD’s, and one 6 month CD that are up for renewal. Both the 3 and 6 month rates are at 4.1%. July 3 is when property taxes get dispersed to the City. Council may want to consider changing the 6 month CDs into 3 month ones until the interest rates get better on the 6 month ones. See Treasurer’s report for current balances. Councilor Ruddle move to renew all of them as three month cds Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
15. Ordered 600 feet by 9 feet of dust control for Goodhue Ave on the south and north portions. Cost is $544, which is a slight increase from last year.
16. Request to close the street (one half block) adjacent to the Fireside parking lot, between Fireside and Sapphire from 10 am to midnight, Saturday June 20th, to safely allow for pedestrians to cross between the two facilities, as there are multiple events that day. The alley behind both properties would remain open to allow access for any emergency vehicles and normal traffic flow. Councilor Ruddle move to allow them to close the street and allow them to use the barricades. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
17. A3 Zoning for the City in Warsaw Township. The City received an email from Megan Smith, Land Use Management Director from Goodhue County. Goodhue County is considering rezoning the area around the outskirts of Dennison back to A1 and removing the A3 urban fringe zoning district from the County’s zoning ordinance. The urban fringe area around Dennison is quite large. In fact, our calculations show that the City of Dennison is 780 acres in total area, and the land around Dennison that is zoned A3 is 3,020 acres in total area, which about quadruples your City size if it were to grow that large. With a population of 223 and not much population change, I’m wanting to open the door to this conversation and get your thoughts. I attached a map showing this. The grey is the city limits, the yellow is the 3,020 acres that is zoned A3 (Urban Fringe), and then the green is A1. The Estrem/Golden property on the north edge of the A3 district is split zoned between A3 and A1.
The main difference between the districts is as follows:
The goal of the A1 district is to preserve agricultural land and limit development, whereas A3 district is the growth area where development proposals can be more easily argued and approved.
• A3 allows 1 house per 35 acres
• A1 allows 4 homes per section. A section is 640 acres, which is equal to 1 home per 160 acres.
Citizens Issues:
Mayors Issues:
Utilities: Update from Nate:
Need to submit list for copper testing to Dept. of Health. New protocol to follow when making up the list of places to test the water at.
Just received a letter that there needs to be a sanitary survey of the water system completed soon. That will need to be set up at a time that works for those involved with it. Onsite inspection as well as paperwork review. Mayor met with the MN Department of Health on May 26th. Sanitary survey information requested by the state was submitted by the mayor and Jessica. Nate's water license had expired on 4/30/26. On May 27th, Nate mailed off the re-reinstatement form and check to the state.
When are the fire hydrants going to be flushed? Tuesday or Wednesday to flush hydrants.
Possible issue with the water meter at the locker plant. Dori feels she is being over charged for the gallons of water being used. City will replace the meter, and save it in case it is working correctly.
Nate's Review.
Councilor Ruddle moved to pay the bills. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
Mayor Flaten closed the meeting at 8:50 pm. After a few minutes, Councilor Schloesser move to reopen the meeting Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
Meeting was re-opened as the Council decided to do Nates review next month.
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits: Councilor Schlosser moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Cooke second. Meeting adjourned at approx. 9pm.
Next meeting: Regular meeting is Thursday, July 9th at 7:00 pm.
