Council approves grants, personnel‑policy updates, licenses, donations and an EDA appointment
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Summary
The council authorized a $288,000 Drug Task Force grant (city is fiscal agent), approved personnel policy changes for state paid‑leave law, renewed local licenses (raffles, bed & breakfast), approved the Turner Gymnastics lease, accepted several donations and appointed Mike Lieb to the EDA.
New Ulm — At its Dec. 16 meeting the City Council approved a package of grants, routine license renewals, personnel‑policy updates, an appointment and multiple donations.
Chief Dave Borger presented a grant‑agreement amendment for the Brown‑Redwood‑Renville (transcript acronym BLRR) Drug Task Force. Borger said the grant totals $288,000 and that New Ulm serves as the fiscal agent; council authorized the city manager and police chief to execute the agreement.
Human Resources Director Shauna Boomgarden summarized revisions to the City and PUC personnel policy manuals to conform with new state legislation effective Jan. 1, 2026 (including Minnesota’s paid‑leave law). Boomgarden said the city will use an approved private equivalent plan at a reported cost rate of 0.78% (compared to the state rate reported as 0.88%); council approved the policy changes effective Jan. 1, 2026.
The council also approved routine items including a lawful gambling permit for New Ulm Area Catholic Schools to conduct pull‑tabs and raffles at the Kegel Club on Jan. 30, 2026; renewal of the Bingham Hall Bed & Breakfast license for 2026; and the appointment of Mike Lieb to the Economic Development Authority to fill an unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2027. The council approved a two‑year lease renewal with Turner Gymnastics Academy for space at the recreation center with monthly rent of $4,180 and new advertising‑revenue language (gym retains 90% of gross advertising revenue; city retains 10%).
Council accepted a $1,000 donation to the Fire Department from Sylvia Alfterheide and Park & Rec donations totaling $7,525 for identified purposes (including $1,500 to a pollinator park and $2,800 for the Mueller backstop). Council also designated community events for 2026 (Bavarian Blast, Bockfest, Brown County Fair, Foshing, Hermanfest, Myfest and Oktoberfest) and voted to remove Myfest from the ongoing list.
Why it matters: The grant sustains a regional drug‑task‑force partnership for law enforcement; personnel‑policy revisions align city practice with state law; licenses, appointments and donations are routine but affect local organizations and services.
What’s next: Authorized signatories will execute grant documents; HR will implement policy changes by Jan. 1, 2026; instructed departments will finalize leases, licenses and accept donations.
