CITY OF NERSTRAND, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Mar 10th, 2026
7:00p.m.
221 Main Street, Nerstrand
1. Call to Order/Pledge Allegiance
2. Roll Call: John Harris, Todd Evavold, Kalra Ingersoll, Betty Voge and Pam Caron
3. Approval of Last Month’s Agenda
A motion was made by Pam and seconded by Karla and all voted to approve.
4. Consent Agenda
(All items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine and have been made available to the City Council in advance of the meeting. The items will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member or citizen requests, in which event the item will be removed from this agenda and considered in normal sequence.)
A. Regular Meeting Minutes of Feb 10th 2026
B. Payment of Claims
5. Clerk’s Report
1. Two water shut offs were sent to Public Works. One past due account. One notification for shutoff.
2. Unemployment audit is complete
3. Snow Removal Contract for bid discussion. Planning to post in May and review at the June meeting.
4. What is the topic for this month’s work session? Ordinance, Salary, Budget
6. New Business
A. Rice County Commissioner- Flavored Tobacco Ban Discussion
Jim Purfeest attends the meeting to discuss the County’s move to ban flavored tobacco products. The county over sees 6 properties, and they are trying to align themselves with the Mn Dept of Health’s recommendations on this topic. It is believed that the flavored tobacco is enticing to youth. And if the youth are able to start they will become lifelong customers. It was a choice made to protect the youth.
B. Summary of Ordinances- John Harris
John presented on the Evolution of AI. He has created an AI to help the city create summaries of our ordinances that can be then printed in the paper. Which is the next step for the ordinance’s after the public hearing. John had asked if the council can make a decision on using AI for this summary. The issue was tabled. The council would like to inquire more information from the League of Mn cities on its use.
C. Book Mobile- John Harris
John recently had the opportunity to experience the Book Mobile from the Northfield Library and inquired on what would need to be done for them to come to Nerstrand. The operator would just like permission to use City property to park. A motion was made by Karla and seconded by Betty and all voted to approve the Book Mobile parking on city property for residents to use.
D. Generator Quote-(Steve)
We were looking at having to replace the whole unit. Jacob was able to find information on the unit and from this they were able to find exactly what was wrong and we went from an almost $7000 replacement to about a $150 dollar repair.
E. Activate Rural Learning Lab
Is a grant that the city of Nerstrand has applied for to help with the reconstruction of the second floor. During the application process it was identified that a resolution was needed. This resolution is in regards to the completion\repair of the second floor of City Hall.
1. Resolution to complete 2nd Floor of City Hall
A motion was made by Betty and seconded by Pam and all voted to approve.
F. Annual Report from Fire Dept
The Council would like to thank the Fire Department for such a well put together Annual report. The hard work and dedication is noted and appreciated.
G. Street Maint- The Mayor has requested the council members to look at Cherry St and consider it for repair.
7. Old Business
A. Doors for City Hall- Quotes came in higher than expected. The plan is going to shift from replacement to repairing the doors. One more quote is needed and this is something they intend to have complete by winter next year.
B. Discussion regarding cannabis ordinance- A public hearing was held prior to council on this day. The new ordinance was presented to the public. This allowed the council to conduct an individual vote to adopt the new ordinance and the summary posted in regards to the ordinance. Council members each voted in favor of the adoption of the new ordinance.
a. Resolution for Special Event Application- A resolution was needed to adopt the Special Event Application form. A motion was made by Betty and seconded by Pam and all approved.
C. Discussion regarding liquor ordinance and permitting- This ordinance was also presented to the public during the public hearing. There are considerable changes that were made to this existing ordinance. Each council had to individually vote for updates to this ordinance and the summary that would be shared, and all voted to approve.
a. Resolution for Application-A resolution was needed to adopt the application form that would be used. A motion was made by Betty and seconded by Pam and all approved
(All our ordinance information is available on our website www.nerstrand.org and the application that pertain to them.)
D. Fee Schedule for ordinance changes
A motion to table this was made by John and seconded by Pam and all voted to approve.
8. Reports of Officers
A. Public Works Director- Waste Water is working with Verizon in updating it’s cellular device for the alarm system. City hall’s heat tape failed, and the water backed up in the building. The current heat tape is not long enough and the waste water gets frozen. Todd is going to inquire if there is any longer options. We did have a water leak at an uninhabited home. The Chlorine scales retention is being built.
B. Mayor
C. Fire Department – Joe Johnson
a. A resolution accepting the donation from Gemini, Inc a motion was made by Karla and seconded by Pam and all voted to approve.
D. Council Members
a. Ordinance Committee-Update Provided by Karla
E. Zoning Committee-Meeting Minutes Provided by Lu- no meeting. Lu presented to council on how to handle a zoning issue that has been brought to their attention but not yet filed the official paperwork. A resident wants to place a fence on the property line and not as the ordinance states. Council said they would have to have the resident apply for a variance to grant this.
9. Other Business- Joe Amy from Parkside Gas Station asked the council for a motion to pre-approve Parkside for liquor if all conditions for the state and local government were approved. The motion was made by John and seconded by Betty but following voting Pam, Betty and John voted in favor and Todd and Karla voted Nay.
In addition, to this request Joe Amy wanted approval for Sunday alcohol sales. Nerstrand new alcohol ordinance did not include Sunday sales. Council advise they would look into this further.
10. Adjourn
A motion was made by John and seconded by Pam and all voted to approve.
Next City Council Meeting is scheduled for April 14th, at Nerstrand City Hall.
