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Hermantown council approves housing trust fund, arena payments and multiple project resolutions; directs closed session on legal matters
Summary
Hermantown — The Hermantown City Council on Jan. 27 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions, including final passage of a local housing trust fund ordinance, transfers of statewide housing aid into that fund, several construction-related payments for the North Star Ford Arena and park equipment purchases.
Hermantown — The Hermantown City Council on Jan. 27 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions, including final passage of a local housing trust fund ordinance, transfers of statewide housing aid into that fund, several construction-related payments for the North Star Ford Arena and park equipment purchases. The council also voted to go into a closed session under Minnesota law to discuss pending legal matters.
Votes and key actions - Consent agenda (minutes; general city warrants and payables; appointment): Approved. The council approved general city warrants from Jan. 16–31, 2025 totaling $5,795,638.06 and appointed Rob Unzen to a term on the HEDA commission. Motion to approve consent agenda: Councilor Gelli; second: Councilor Geisler. Roll call: Councilor Peterson — Aye; Councilor Geisler — Aye; Councilor Gelli — Aye; Councilor LeBlanc — Aye; Mayor Boushey — Aye.
- Ordinance 2025-03 — Add Section 2-80 (Housing Trust Fund): Approved (second reading). Motion to approve: Councilor Gelli; second: Councilor Peterson. Roll call recorded as all present voting Aye.
- Resolution 2025-22 — Allocation of statewide housing aid to the housing trust fund: Approved. Motion: Councilor Geisler; second: Councilor Gelli. Staff reported the city has received state housing aid previously and will transfer funds into the newly created housing trust fund.
- Resolution 2025-23 — Amendment to consulting agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) for additional design work related to the city’s second water connection and associated architectural work: Approved. Motion: Councilor Gelli; second: Councilor Peterson. Roll call: Councilor Jelley — Aye; Councilor LeBlanc — Nay; Councilor Peterson — Aye; Councilor Geisler — Aye; Mayor Boushey — Aye. (Tally: 4–1 in favor.)
- Resolution 2025-24 — Approve change orders No. 14 and 15 for North Star Ford Arena in the amount of $85,455.92: Approved. Motion: Councilor Geisler; second: Councilor Peterson. Roll call: Councilor Peterson — Aye; Councilor Geisler — Aye; Councilor Gelli — Aye; Councilor LeBlanc — Nay; Mayor Boushey — Aye. (Tally: 4–1 in favor.) The change orders include construction of a mezzanine to house a dehumidifier system and removal/relocation of two on-site garages; work also addresses drainage and parking improvements.
- Resolution 2025-25 — Pay request No. 8 to Kraus Anderson Construction Co. for North Star Ford Arena in the amount of $1,529,557.43: Approved. Motion: Councilor Peterson; second: Councilor LeBlanc. Roll call: Councilor Geisler — Aye; Councilor Gelli — Aye; Councilor LeBlanc — Aye; Councilor Peterson — Aye; Mayor Boushey — Aye.
- Resolution 2025-26 — Purchase agreement for dugout benches, bat/helmet racks and on-field batting cage for Victor Park: Approved. Motion: Councilor LeBlanc; second: Councilor Peterson. Roll call: Councilor Gelli — Aye; Councilor LeBlanc — Aye; Councilor Peterson — Aye; Councilor Geisler — Aye; Mayor Boushey — Aye. Staff said equipment is being purchased to be ready by April 1.
- Resolution 2025-27 — Acceptance of easement from James and Sabine Rita Peterson for the Hermantown Veil trail project: Approved. Motion: Councilor Geisler; second: Councilor Gelli. Roll call: Councilor Geisler — Aye; Councilor Gelli — Aye; Councilor LeBlanc — Aye; Councilor Peterson — Aye; Mayor Boushey — Aye.
- Motion to close the meeting (Attorney–client privilege; Minnesota Statute cited): Approved. Motion: Councilor Peterson; second: Councilor LeBlanc. The council moved into closed session pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.05 subdivision 3(b) for attorney–client privileged discussion regarding the Maple Fields tenants remedy action and eminent domain proceedings for trail easements.
What the council discussed but did not vote on - Ordinances 2025-04, 2025-05, 2025-06 and 2025-07 (environmental-review definitions, land-use updates, planned unit development updates and new chapter 23 establishing environmental-review procedures, fees and escrow): First readings only; no votes were taken. City staff described the proposed changes and said fees and escrow language would be codified rather than negotiated case-by-case.
Roll-call record details and numbers in this summary reflect the roll-call statements made during the Jan. 27 meeting. If a name appeared inconsistently in the transcript, this summary uses the spelling most frequently recorded at roll call.
