Lakefield council approves higher dangerous-dog fee, supports redevelopment grant and police policy changes

Mayor Stephen A. Condon called the Lakefield City Council to order at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2026. In a unanimous series of votes the council approved its agenda, minutes from Dec. 22, 2025, and the financial report of $379,785.92 before moving into the regular agenda.

Police Chief Roger Pohlman told the council that rising wages and supply costs justified an increase in the dangerous-dog licensing fee and said state statute allows a fee up to $500. "I would recommend $250 license fee plus $10 per sign and $5 per tag," Pohlman said. The council discussed whether the license should be annual or tied to rabies vaccination schedules; City Clerk Holly Rademacher recommended charging the sign and tag as one-time fees unless replacements are needed. The council adopted Resolution 26-06 setting a $250 annual dangerous-dog license with a one-time $10 sign fee and $5 tag fee. The motion passed on a roll-call vote; all councilmembers voted in favor.

The council also approved Resolutions 26-01 through 26-05, 26-07 and 26-08 governing routine administrative matters including financial institution signers, account offsets, wire transfers, prepayments of accounts payable and the designation of an official newspaper.

On appointments, the council approved the 2026 board and committee roster as presented, adding Mark Steffen to the Utility Commission and Marlene Vos to the Economic Development Authority; Councilmember Andrea Monson was appointed mayor pro tem. Those appointments were approved unanimously.

Sarah Dahl of North Prairie Properties asked the council to act as the applicant for a Minnesota Employment and Economic Development redevelopment grant to support demolition and remediation at 220 Milwaukee St. Dahl said the grant funds, if awarded, could be used only for demolition, interior environmental abatement, public infrastructure, environmental infrastructure and geotechnical soil correction, and that she plans to build eight row homes on the site. The council approved submitting the grant application with the City of Lakefield serving as applicant; if the city receives the award it would pass funds to North Prairie Properties subject to the grant restrictions. The application deadline was noted as Feb. 1.

Chief Pohlman reported that the Lakefield Police Department will discontinue renewing a Lexipol subscription due to lost grant funding and a $3,184 renewal charge. He said the department is implementing POST Board model policies and presented four policies for council approval: #300 Resistance Response Policy, #306 Vehicle Pursuit Policy, #601 Sexual Assault Investigation Policy and #1029 Performance History Audit Policy. The council voted to adopt those policies as presented.

Routine financial items approved included a $2,008.28 invoice to Brian Majerus for biannual hauling of biosolids from the wastewater plant and a $2,454 invoice for 2026 League of Minnesota Cities membership dues (the city disclosed that 10.6% of dues are used for lobbying and that population used for dues calculation was 1,729). For previously reported damage to multipurpose building air-conditioning units, the city will submit an insurance claim and pay a $500 deductible after the insurance adjuster deemed the units eligible for coverage; the council approved filing the claim.

There were no substantive policy decisions in the informational board and committee reports; the council noted upcoming meeting dates for the EDA, LPU, Park, and Planning & Zoning. The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.; the next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at Lakefield City Hall.