Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves Community Day plans, accepts fireworks donations and appoints new Library Board member; approves conditional police hire
Summary
Council cleared permits for Community Day Aug. 7–8, accepted $700 in new fireworks donations toward an $18,000 display, appointed Sean Buckridge to the Library Board through 2027, and approved a conditional job offer for a police officer pending clearance checks.
The Lonsdale City Council on March 26 approved permits and support for Community Day 2026, accepted additional donations for a planned fireworks display, appointed a replacement to the Library Board and approved a conditional hire for a police officer.
Shanna Gutzke-Kupp, executive director of the Lonsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, asked to hold Community Day Friday–Saturday, Aug. 7–8, including a Friday night street dance, temporary on-sale liquor permit, road closures and a new laser light show planned during the Saturday band break. Councilmember Kari Miller thanked the Chamber and volunteers; City Administrator Joel Erickson said staff would coordinate detour options with MnDOT if roundabout construction — expected to start the second weekend of May and last 8–9 weeks — affects event routing. The request passed unanimously, 5-0.
Community Development Planner Cory Hinz-Ibarra reported the Founder's Day Committee previously approved an $18,000 fireworks display from Res Pyro; additional donations reported at the meeting included $500 from Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric and $200 from Lonsdale Tool and Manufacturing. Council approved Resolution 2026-20 to accept the donations 5-0.
Erickson said Tyler Borgen resigned from the Library Board and one application was received from Sean Buckridge, who previously served as the board's original president when the current library was built. The council appointed Buckridge to fill the vacancy through Dec. 31, 2027 by unanimous vote on Resolution 2026-21.
Police Chief Jason Schmitz said on March 10 he, Councilmember Brian Wermerskirchen and Sergeant Schleichert interviewed Andrew Ganfield for a full-time police officer position and recommended a conditional offer contingent on successful background, psychological and medical clearances. Council approved the conditional job offer 5-0; the minutes record the Step 4 hourly rate in the motion text as $43.18.
All items passed on unanimous votes; staff were directed to continue coordination with event organizers and to complete standard hiring clearances before extending formal employment.
