Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Finance Lodging Tax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mountain Lake council adopts 3% local lodging tax, approves June Pow Wow street closure
Summary
At its April 6 meeting, the Mountain Lake City Council voted 4–0 to adopt Ordinance No. 5-26 establishing a 3% local lodging tax to fund tourism promotion and approved an amended street closure for the June Pow Wow; the personnel policy review was tabled to May 4, 2026.
The Mountain Lake City Council on April 6, 2026, voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance No. 5-26, establishing a 3% local lodging tax intended to support tourism promotion, and approved an amended street closure for the city’s June Pow Wow.
Councilmember Bryan Bargen moved to approve Ordinance No. 5-26, and Councilmember Jeff Jack seconded the motion; the ordinance passed on a 4–0 vote. City Administrator Michael Mueller told the council the city has not had a hotel within its limits for several decades and that a new hotel now under construction gives the city the option to impose a local lodging tax. The ordinance’s text, as presented to the council, mirrors the lodging-tax ordinance used by the City of Windom. The meeting record does not specify an effective date for the tax.
Councilmember Bryan Bargen and Councilmember Jeff Jack also led the consent-agenda approvals earlier in the meeting. The council approved routine items including payment of bills (checks #29867–29909, 1759e–1772e), payroll checks (#69430–69459), minutes from March 12 (Utilities Commission) and March 16 (City Council), Resolution No. 4-26 (Pow Wow raffle) and Resolution No. 5-26 (DNR grant application). Those consent items were approved as presented after the council first removed the Pow Wow street-closure request from the consent agenda for separate discussion.
On the separate Pow Wow item, Councilmember Andrew Ysker moved, and Councilmember Jeff Jack seconded, to approve the amended street-closure request for 3rd Avenue (between 9th and 10th streets). The council set the closure for June 22 and June 23, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; the motion carried 4–0.
City Administrator Michael Mueller reported the personnel policy review was tabled for further work and is scheduled to return to council on May 4, 2026. The council provided brief updates about board and commission meetings and adjourned the session at 6:23 p.m.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance No. 5-26 (Establishing a local lodging tax at 3%): Motion by Councilmember Bryan Bargen; seconded by Councilmember Jeff Jack. Outcome: approved, 4–0. - Pow Wow street-closure request (3rd Ave between 9th and 10th streets, amended hours): Motion by Councilmember Andrew Ysker; seconded by Councilmember Jeff Jack. Outcome: approved, 4–0. - Consent agenda (bills, payroll, minutes, Res. No. 4-26 Pow Wow raffle, Res. No. 5-26 DNR grant application): Approved as presented after removal of Pow Wow street-closure from consent. Outcome: approved, 4–0.
The council did not record further debate on the lodging-tax ordinance during the meeting. No direct quotes were included in the meeting record.
