Vernon Center City Council approves brush truck funds transfer, deferred-assessment agreement; discusses wastewater bypass and state paid-leave rates

The Vernon Center City Council approved routine financial measures and reviewed several infrastructure items at its regular meeting (date not specified in the transcript).

Clerk Kara Hansen presented the financial and administrative items on the consent agenda, which the council approved unanimously. The consent package included the Feb. 10, 2025 meeting minutes; check reconciliations; January capital funds and cash-balance/investment reports; a 2020–23 project-balance spreadsheet; March and April calendars; the BEC February call log; the February fire-department report; the SSS financing participant list; the fire department PPE list; and Resolution 2025-10, renewing the D-Bar license. Councilor Lisa Peterson moved to approve the consent agenda; Councilor Wendy Bennett seconded and the motion carried.

Councilors then approved additional bills and considered the final invoice for a previously authorized brush truck purchase. Clerk Hansen confirmed township partners had been billed for their share. Councilor Lisa Peterson moved to adopt Resolution 2025-11 authorizing a funds transfer to cover the final brush truck invoice; the motion passed with Councilor Adam Finney recorded as abstaining. The council also approved payment of miscellaneous additional bills.

The council approved a Hilltop deferred-assessment certificate drafted by the city attorney to be filed with the county if the Hilltop property is developed within 20 years. Clerk Hansen presented the document and Councilor Peterson moved to approve the deferred-assessment agreement; Councilor Adam Finney seconded and the motion passed.

On infrastructure matters, Clerk Hansen said a rural-water loan-extension certificate needed signature by March 1; she had contacted Lori Blair of MRWA (Minnesota Rural Water Association), who indicated it was acceptable to wait until the meeting to sign. Mayor Dana Ziegler said Holtmeier would draft a bypass plan for the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and that the MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) would review and approve the plan. The mayor also relayed that Engineer Knutson had emailed engineering notes the same afternoon but could not attend because of weather; the mayor encouraged council review of those notes.

Public works Supervisor Willette reported that the owner at 303 West St N will have their sewer line capped in spring and that Peterson Motor Grader will perform the work when scheduled to do drain-tile work on Railroad Street; attendee Calvin Baarts confirmed Peterson Motor Grader’s involvement.

Clerk Hansen also summarized State of Minnesota guidance on the new Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Because the City of Vernon Center employs fewer than 30 employees, the city’s default employer contribution rate is 0.22%, though the city may opt to contribute a higher amount. The transcript notes the state’s threshold that employees must earn at least 5.3% of the statewide average yearly wage (the transcript lists a 2024 figure of $3,781); Hansen said volunteer firefighters and council members would be exempt from contributions under those terms.

Mayor Ziegler directed Clerk Hansen to contact Blue Earth County’s property and land supervisor for an update on the county’s status regarding a cannabis ordinance; the council was informed the city’s interim cannabis ordinance expired in August 2024 and the county has not yet passed an ordinance.

The council set its next regular meeting for April 3, 2025, and after a motion by Councilor Lisa Peterson and second by Councilor Emily Edwards, adjourned at 6:21 PM.

What’s next: Clerk Hansen was directed to follow up with county staff on the cannabis ordinance and to pursue the rural-water loan-extension signature as discussed.