The Brainerd City Council on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, appointed Kevin Yeager to the at‑large council vacancy, elected Mike O'Day council president and Gabe Johnson vice president, and approved a range of personnel, contract and project items during a meeting at Brainerd City Hall.

The council voted to appoint Kevin Yeager to the at‑large vacancy after six applicants were considered; Yeager was not present and the oath will be administered at a later date. The council then elected Councilman Mike O'Day as council president and Councilman Gabe Johnson as vice president.

Beyond leadership changes, the council approved the consent calendar; accepted several resignations and ratified new hires in public works and police; approved a technology director job description and authorized an internal posting; extended a memorandum of understanding allowing IBEW public utility employees to assist at the hydro facility through April 1, 2025; and directed staff to pursue abatement and a court injunction for an ongoing code enforcement matter at 823 Willow Street.

The council also adopted multiple resolutions ordering preparation or receipt of feasibility reports for public works projects — including the South Brainerd resurfacing project, the Beach/Oak Ridge reconstruction and the Wright Street/South 10th reconstruction — and approved a contract amendment request for the South Brainerd resurfacing design and construction administration with Bolton & Mink in the amount of $32,130.

On land‑use and planning matters, the council approved a variance for a fence at 303 J Street NE and completed the first reading, by unanimous vote to dispense with the reading, of Ordinance 1578 (lot standards and building design standards). Council directed staff to move Ordinance 1578 forward for a second reading at the Jan. 21 meeting (Option 1).

The council opened discussion on the Orsella Annex building and directed staff to return with cost estimates and timelines for necessary repairs and improvements to allow informed decision‑making on whether to retain or sell the building. The council also voted to call a public hearing, set for Feb. 3, on a tax‑abatement application from Country Manor and received an informational presentation about a request that the city issue conduit debt for the project (estimated need: $50 million) — staff will return with details on the conduit transaction and any potential impact on the city's 2025 bank‑qualified debt limit.

Several motions were procedural approvals by roll call or unanimous voice vote; a handful of items recorded roll‑call tallies or individual council votes as shown in the official minutes.

Votes at a glance
- Appointment of Kevin Yeager to at‑large council seat: approved (tally recorded in discussion: 5 yes, 1 no). Yeager absent; oath to be administered later.
- Election of council president (Mike O'Day): approved (4 yes, 2 no).
- Election of vice president (Gabe Johnson): approved (4 yes, 2 no).
- Consent calendar approval: approved (roll call, all yes).
- Declare vacancy on Public Utilities Commission: approved.
- Approve Technology Director job description and internal posting: approved (voice vote/roll call).
- Accept retirements/resignations and ratify hires including Joshua Winslow (CSO) and Brian Sarot (journeyman electrician): approved.
- Approve MOU extension allowing IBEW employees to assist at hydro facility to April 1, 2025: approved.
- Table (defer) updated employee policy manual and send redline to Personnel & Finance (PNF) committee for two weeks: motion to not take action tonight passed (council to review redline later).
- Adopt resolution to receive feasibility report and call public hearing for Improvement 2316 South Brainerd Resurfacing and approve Bolton & Mink contract amendment $32,130: both parts approved (contract amendment recorded 5–1).
- Order feasibility reports: Improvement 21.13 Beach/Oak Ridge Reconstruction and Improvement 1712 Wright Street/South 10th Reconstruction: approved (resolutions adopted).
- Direct staff to obtain search warrant and abate nuisance at 823 Willow Street and pursue injunction on illegal rental: approved.
- Approve variance for fence at 303 J Street NE and consider nuisance assessment relief: variance approved; council asked staff to consider removal of nuisance assessment fees per request.
- Conduct first reading and dispense with the full text reading of Ordinance 1578 (lot standards and building design); direct staff to take Option 1 (second reading Jan. 21): approved.
- Direct staff to return with cost estimates and timelines for possible retention/repair of the Orsella Annex building: approved.
- Adopt resolution to publish notice and call public hearing for Country Manor tax abatement (hearing Feb. 3): approved.
- Adjourn to closed session under Minnesota Statutes 13D.03, subd. 3(c)(3) to consider offers for sale of the annex: approved.

Ending: The council closed the regular meeting and moved into a closed session to discuss annex sale proposals; the council asked staff for follow‑up information on conduit debt, annex repair cost estimates, and the redline employee policy manual ahead of future meetings.