Little Falls council amends clubhouse funding, appoints officers and approves $2.18 million highway crossing fee estimate

The Little Falls City Council on Tuesday amended clubhouse financing language, authorized hiring and equipment purchases, and approved engineering fee estimates and environmental testing tied to multiple capital projects.

The council voted to amend a prior motion tied to the clubhouse renovation, updating how the project will be funded and authorizing execution of required documents and limited change-order authority. Council members also approved appointments to the police department and golf course staff, authorized a server purchase for city hall, approved a revised environmental testing fee for property associated with the BNSF corridor, and accepted a $2,180,315.80 fee estimate for the Trunk Highway 27 grade crossing to be paid from federal and state grant funds.

Why it matters: The council’s action finalizes funding sources and administrative authority for the clubhouse renovation, advances a federally funded highway crossing project, and moves forward several operational purchases and personnel hires that the city says are on its 2025 capital and personnel plans.

Public works and environmental testing

Public Works Director Kimmon told the council the city is working with Landmark Environmental LLC and BNSF to address environmental testing required before the railroad right-of-way portion can be vacated to the city. After additional work plans required by BNSF, Kimmon said the testing vendor’s fee increased from a previously approved $17,540 to a revised total of $21,960. "After discussions that they've had with BNSF, there's some additional testing as well as additional work plans that they needed to do in order to enter onto that property," Kimmon said. The council approved the increased amount to be charged to the project.

Infrastructure and grant-funded work

The council approved a fee estimate in the amount of $2,180,315.80 from Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) for the Trunk Highway 27 grade crossing project. Council members were told the fee estimate is below the total grant budget for the project: about $3.2 million in federal funds and $800,000 from the state of Minnesota. City staff said the project will be funded through those grants and that a formal agreement with SEH will be brought back to council at a later meeting.

Technology and equipment purchases

City staff requested and the council approved a server replacement for city hall budgeted in the 2025 capital improvement plan at a total cost of $24,330. The council also approved a small change on squad vehicle equipment: two weapon locks were found to be the incorrect model and were replaced with a different model at an additional cost of $25.48.

Clubhouse project: funding, authority and purchases

The council amended its Sept. 5, 2023, motion about the clubhouse project to echo the project’s final budget and the financing approach reflected in the interfund loan resolution adopted earlier. The amended motion, as recorded in the meeting, approves the final clubhouse starting budget (including acceptance of alternate 3 only), authorizes execution of documents necessary for the renovation, authorizes the city administrator to approve construction changes up to $20,000 within contingency, and documents funding as an interfund loan of $750,000 from the water improvement fund, $950,000 from the wastewater improvement fund, and up to $740,000 from the Economic Development Authority at 1% interest over 15 years. City staff explained the EDA initially had said the funds would be a grant but later converted that commitment into loan funding; the council approved the amendment on roll call.

Separately, the council authorized posting a clubhouse manager position (job scoring 295 points, Grade 13) with an annual salary shown in the job matrix as $73,673.60 under the Little Falls supervisor contract and authorized preauthorization for clubhouse purchases up to $10,000 to outfit small wares, with any purchases to be ratified later.

Personnel appointments

The council approved the appointment of two police officer candidates recommended by the interview committee, Luke Olson and Logan Heron, contingent on completion of employment screening. The council also approved Paul Philippi as assistant golf course superintendent; staff described that post as grade 7, step 1 on the 2025 part-time wage scale and identified an hourly rate on the record (noted in the meeting as approximately $24.08). The appointments were approved by roll call.

Finance and year-end transfers

Council members approved payment of electronic checks 3385–3404 and checks 112313–112365, totaling $1,835,386.64, and later adopted the 2024 year-end transfers by resolution (identified in the meeting materials as Resolution 2025-06), which staff said primarily moves budgeted year-end transfers between departments and closes project funds to their source accounts.

Other consent and business items

The council approved multiple consent items including a permit for off-site gambling for the Lindbergh Lions at the Morrison County Fairgrounds (June 20–28, 2025), several seasonal and part-time personnel appointments and postings for golf course positions, building reports received for December 2024 and January 2025, and licensure items for the Little Falls Golf Course. The city also approved a motion to advertise and post for a planning/zoning/code compliance officer position.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda as amended (added item 9e clubhouse manager posting and 9f preauthorization for clubhouse purchases up to $10,000): motion by Councilman Goshak, second by Councilman Lee Hansen; outcome: approved on roll call. - Approve bills totaling $1,835,386.64: motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Revised Landmark Environmental testing fee for BNSF corridor to $21,960 (charge to project): motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Authorize purchase and installation of city hall server, $24,330 (2025 capital improvement budget): motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Approve change in squad vehicle equipment: additional $25.48: motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Amend Sept. 5, 2023 clubhouse motion to reflect final budget and funding (interfund loan: $750,000 water improvement fund; $950,000 wastewater improvement fund; up to $740,000 EDA loan at 1% over 15 years); authorize administrator to approve changes up to $20,000 within contingency: motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Appoint Luke Olson and Logan Heron as police officers (pending screening): motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Appoint Paul Philippi as assistant golf course superintendent (2025 part-time wage scale, Grade 7, step 1): motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Adopt Resolution 2025-06 (2024 year-end transfers): motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Approve SEH fee estimate for Trunk Highway 27 grade crossing, $2,180,315.80 (to be funded by federal/state grant): motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Post clubhouse manager position (Grade 13; salary per supervisor contract) and authorize posting: motion made; outcome: approved on roll call. - Preauthorize clubhouse purchases up to $10,000 to outfit small wares (to be charged to clubhouse budget and reflected in year-end transfers): motion made; outcome: approved on roll call.

What council members emphasized

Council members asked for clarity about the clubhouse staffing grade and whether the grade requirement was a floor or a strict requirement; HR staff explained the point-scoring system determines grade placement. Council members also noted the timing of the EDA decision on the clubhouse financing: staff said the EDA met after the council’s 2023 approval and changed the earlier grant expectation to loan terms, with the EDA formally approving loan terms in January of the current year.

Next steps and calendar items

Staff said an agreement with SEH on the Trunk Highway 27 work will be brought to a future meeting, environmental testing for the BNSF corridor will proceed under the revised Landmark fee, and any clubhouse purchases made under the $10,000 preauthorization will return to council for ratification.

Ending

No public hearings on the night’s agenda required additional action; the council closed with announcements, including a planning commission public hearing on March 10 regarding a Franciscan Sisters annexation notice.