Spring Grove council hears residents—oncerns as RockFilter discusses purchase of Fest Building; no decision made

Mayor Saundra Solum said the Spring Grove City Council met on Sept. 25 to hear information from RockFilter Distillery about a possible purchase of the city's Fest Building, but emphasized "no decisions will be made" during the special meeting and that any sale would require a later public hearing.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with Council Members Karen Folstad, Michael Hagen and Heather Edgington present; Trent Turner was absent. Administrator Jana Elton recorded staff and guests and explained procedural matters including notice posting requirements.

The meeting drew several public commenters. Guest Chad Rohland warned the council that "this is one of the backups for a shelter used during emergencies" and urged officials to consider where an alternative emergency shelter would be if the Fest Building were sold. Rohland also asked whether RockFilter would allow the same types of rentals and the same pricing currently available to community groups.

Guest Joe Kessler said the newspaper listed Oct. 1 as the meeting date and asked why the meeting was held that night. Administrator Jana Elton responded that when the originally proposed date did not work for RockFilter she found a new date and posted notice at the post office and at city hall, which she said satisfy the city's legal posting requirements: "we do not need to post on Facebook or any other platforms, just those two places." Kessler—xpressed concern that some residents were not informed of the change.

Another resident, Josh Myhre, accused the city of "hiding information from the public" and said the Fest Building —should be open for others to purchase and go out for bid; he said the building is "worth over a million dollars." Mayor Solum interrupted to remind speakers that the council had not voted to sell the building and that a public hearing would be held if the council moved forward with a sale proposal.

Council business included several procedural motions. Council Member Heather Edgington moved to adopt the agenda; Council Member Karen Folstad seconded and the motion carried. Later, on a motion by Council Member Michael Hagen (seconded by Council Member Folstad) the council entered a closed meeting to hear from RockFilter and then reconvened in open session on a motion by Council Member Edgington (seconded by Council Member Hagen); meeting minutes record "all in favor, motion carried" for those motions. The meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m.

Mayor Solum told attendees that the meeting was intended to gather information only and repeated that the council had not voted to sell the Fest Building. If the council decides to pursue a sale, she said, a public hearing will be scheduled to allow broader public comment. The minutes were attested by Administrator Jana Elton and later approved on Oct. 15, 2024.