Cottage Grove council approves consent agenda, disbursements and committee appointments

The Cottage Grove City Council voted unanimously on several routine actions at its Jan. 8 meeting, adopting the meeting agenda, approving the consent agenda and authorizing disbursements. The council also approved the mayor's list of commission and committee appointments for 2025.

Council member Thiede moved to adopt the agenda, a motion the council approved on a voice vote after Council member Garza seconded it. Later in the meeting, Council member Justin Olsen moved to approve the consent agenda and Council member Monique Garza seconded; the motion carried by voice vote with the mayor declaring "motion carries."

The council approved payment of city bills under Disbursements (Item 8A). The motion to "pay the bills" was made by Council member Olsen and seconded by Council member Claussen; the council approved the disbursements by voice vote.

On committee and commission appointments, Mayor Myron Bailey presented the liaison list for 2025 and the council approved it by motion from Olsen, seconded by Garza. The mayor named Council member Garza as mayor pro tem for 2025 and assigned liaison roles including: Beyond Yellow Ribbon (Council member Olson), Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau (Council member Olson), East Metro Strong (Council member Claussen), and the Economic Development Authority (Mayor Bailey and Council member Olson). The transcript lists several additional assignments, including Parks, Recreation and Natural Resource Commission (Council member Claussen), Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (Council member Thiede) and Strawberry Fest Committee (Council member Thiede, with Council member Claussen as alternate).

All four motions recorded in the meeting — agenda adoption, consent approval, disbursements, and committee appointments — passed by voice vote with no recorded no votes or abstentions. The council proceeded to council comments and other business after the approvals.