City of Dennison
Meeting Minutes
June 5th, 2025
The June Dennison City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jeff Flaten on Thursday, June 5th, 2025 at 7:00 pm. Present were Councilors Nichole Schloesser, Caleb Voight, Heidi Cooke, and Diane Ruddle, and clerk Jessica Page.
Councilor Cooke moved to approve the Meeting Minutes from the May City Council meeting, as well as the special meeting held on May 19th. Councilor Ruddle second. Motion passed 5:0.
Councilor Voight moved to approve the Treasurer’s report. Mayer Flaten second. Motion passed 5:0.
Goodhue County Sheriff: Deputy Josh thought things seem pretty calm in town as far as the sheriff is concerned. Councilor Ruddle reminded him that Dennison Days is the 20, 21st. He was invited to participate in the cow milking contest.
Utilities:
1. Update from Nate: Councilor Schloesser called Nate to get the update on the sewer and water systems. Doing another discharge. Lift station pumps calibrated in June, hydrants flushed in the next month.
Old Business/Committee Reports/Building Permits:
Dan and Cheryl Nesseth would like to do a parcel split and split off the homestead from the rest of their farm parcel.
Set the public hearing for 6:45 before the meeting on July 3rd.
Administrative Issues:
1. Continue the discussion about the quote received from Ancom Communications to fix our Civil Defense siren for the grand total of $4,639.32, which includes labor parts and shipping. Earl Merchlewitz, Goodhue County Emergency Management Director, spoke and took questions at our special meeting on 5-19-25 regarding the issue.
Joe McFarlane here to speak on how the important the siren is to his family and he would like to keep it.
Folks on council each talked about their thoughts on the issue. Most felt it was a big expense for the City. Sirens are not mandated for the City to have. Technology is moving forward, so the siren may become obsolete. Our siren has no battery backup, so if there is no power, there is no siren. Kenyon has a battery backup that is $1000 to replace every two years.
Clerk will send out letters to everyone. Talk to council member, email response, drop a note in the box, Facebook, leave message on phone. Joe can put in Mainstreet messenger.
2. Mayor received a quote from Cedar Lake Electric of $225 to replace the photo eye on the south security light of the well house. It was observed a few weeks ago the light stays on 24/7. Councilor Ruddle move to replace it using funds from of water capital account. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0. Councilor Schloesser had to step out for a minute.
3. Street repairs update. Work is scheduled to begin the week following Dennison Days. The chip rocking of the roads will begin on July 28th, weather permitting. Mayor received permission from the elevator to store the chip rock south of the office for a short period of time. Any excess rock that is swept up or pushed to the side of the city streets will be reused and placed at our lift station driveway/pond road. All residents need to have their vehicles/garbage cans off the city streets on the 28th. According to the signed contract, Pearson Bros. has a minimum charge of $2,500 to mobilize and chip seal the missed area, and a $500 minimum charge to mobilize and sweep the missed area. Does the city want the millings for anything? It was noted that they may be random sizes. If it was finer milled, could be used in the alley behind Fireside. Find out how much, how fine, and if we get a discount if the City keeps it.
No parking signs Need everyone off the streets on July 28th. Need schedule and time frames so we can get information to people in town. Stripe the lines once the road is finished. Ask a price for striping.
4. Dennison Days approvals: Close off streets? Councilor Schloesser move to approve the streets being blocked off Friday night and Saturday, June 20/21 for Dennison Days. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 4:0 Councilor Ruddle abstained from voting.
5. Questions brought to the mayor regarding the Community Event Center and alcohol being served there during the Celebration of Life event for Charles Kyllo on 4-12-25. Mayor was informed the kitchen is not operational but the there's a working bar in the building. Joe Amy is using his catering license to serve food there. Does Joe need a liquor license for the Community Event Center? Reviewed state Statute and it seems pretty cut and dry as far as how it works. Not an issue. Councilor Schloesser move to allow charitable gambling at The Saphire when they are able to host it. Councilor Voight second. Motion passed 4:0. Councilor Ruddle abstained from voting.
6. Follow-up regarding April 12th and Goodhue County Sheriff Department. Mayor received a phone call from the Patrol Major after our May meeting. The Patrol Major confirmed they had a deputy in the area but not specifically assigned to the City for the Kyllo event. He said the Sheriff's Office never received a phone call complaining about the 21-gun salute. If there had been a complaint filed, then a ticket could have been written. He apologized for any miscommunication. Nichole has an issue about it. She feels that she would have the sheriff called in her. She feels it was specialized treatment. Why are we paying for the Law enforcement services when they wouldn’t even respond to the City’s request for help in the situation. Maybe revisit the ordinance. Put on the agenda next month for a possible fine for the funeral.
7. Questions regarding the use of city chairs and tables. It was brought to the mayor's attention most of the tables and gray chairs are in the Dennison Event Center. The motion passed almost 10 years ago, spe-cifically about chair and table rental, requires the city property be returned in 7 days. The language of the motion was forwarded to the council to review before the June meeting. Council was notified that the chairs will be returned soon. Chairs have been ordered for business by the owner. Thank you to Joe for giving the new chairs to the City Council.
8. The weed inspector has noticed tall grass and weeds behind the city shop/fire station on the west side again. There was a motion passed last October requesting Nate remove his snow thrower and trailer within 30 days. Mayor is requesting he remove the items from the city property before Dennison Days, and also weed whip the area. Nate was going to take care of that.
9. Tree planting update. 13 trees planted in the old part of town, 7 more planted on the north side of town in May. Any remaining trees? Discussion about future areas in town to plant. Area beneath the wa-ter tower could use cleaning up and plant some trees in the future. Spillway area needs to be addressed with trees that are dying, we need to keep that area in mind as trees die that we need to take out. Prairie grass plantings to help hold the soil?
10. Almen's Glass and Lock replaced the front door lock on May 19th. Same key opens both the front and back doors now.
11. Four 3 month CD’s coming due on June 10th. What do we want to do? New renewal date will be Sep-tember 10th if renewed. 3 month rate is again at 4.65%. Mayor Flaten moved to renew 3CD’s, and cash out one of the 3 month ones. Councilor Schloesser second. Motion passed 5:0.
12. Nerstrand Fire and Rescue would like to invite the City to our 2026 contract meeting June 24th 7:00 PM. As with last year they will provide our prospective 2026 budget prior to bringing it to the City of Ner-strand as well as an update on department operations. Mayor Flaten will go.
13. Propane contract proposal from CFS to the agenda. 2,500 gallons @ $1.5490 per gallon = $3,872.50. $966.12 in credit/unused balance from last year. Councilor Ruddle move to contract for propane for 2,500 gallons at $1.549/gallon. Councilor Cooke second. Motion passed 5:0.
14. 2 completed barricades with the proper reflective material on them were delivered to the city shop/fire station on 6-3-25. Mayor wants to thank Caleb for a job well done! We will be making an at-tempt to revive another barricade that was left on the outside of the city shop.
15. July meeting date. Nichole gone. Council decided to keep meeting on July 3rd.
16. Bank signers. Bank says the listing of who is able to sign is up to date. Ashley wasn’t sure if the pa-perwork had everyone’s signatures on them though. Has everyone been to the bank to sign? Clerk will follow up to ensure everything is correct.
Citizens Issues:
Mayors Issues:
Councilor Schloesser move to pay the bills. Councilor Voight second. Motion passed 5:0.
Mayor Flaten moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Cooke second. Motion was adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Next meeting: Regular meeting would be on Thursday, July 3rd at 7:00. Work group meeting June 16th at 6 pm.
