North Mankato council sets cannabis hearing, approves 2025 streets plan and OKs 2028 fire truck order

The North Mankato City Council on Jan. 6 set a Jan. 21 public hearing to consider amendments to Chapter 113 of the city code that would update rules governing the sale, manufacture and distribution of marijuana products; the council also approved plans and specifications for the 2025 Streets & Miscellaneous Paving Project and authorized the fire chief to order a replacement fire truck scheduled for delivery in 2028.

City Attorney Kennedy told the council the draft ordinance would keep the city's 10 existing low-potency cannabis licenses and would allow two high-potency licenses. Kennedy said the state issues cannabis licenses while the city would provide a registration process; he noted state statute requires at least one high-potency license, and staff recommended two to foster competition. When Council Member Oachs asked whether the ordinance would cover legalized psilocybin/"mushrooms," Attorney Kennedy said it would not and that staff would need to research that topic separately. The council voted to set a public hearing on the ordinance for 7 p.m. Jan. 21.

City Engineer Sarff presented the plans and specifications for Project No. 24-06 DEF, the 2025 Streets & Miscellaneous Paving Project. The base bid covers mill-and-overlay work on Center Street (Belgrade Ave. to Webster Ave.) and Sharon Drive (loop from James to James Drive), plus reclamation and paving of several alleys; the base bid was estimated at $498,600. Staff included two alternates for work at the Caswell Softball Complex west parking lot: Alternate 1 (mill and overlay) raised the Base + Alternate 1 estimate to $587,900; Alternate 2 (reclaim and pave) raised Base + Alternate 2 to $670,300. Mayor Scott Carlson asked whether the Caswell parking lot should be included given the potential for future work; Public Works Director Arnold said staff still viewed the parking-lot work as an appropriate use of funds. Council Member Peterson asked whether the parking-lot segment in the project would overlap repairs tied to an ongoing water-reclamation project; Public Works Director Arnold said the section included in the paving project would not be part of the water-reclamation repairs. The council adopted Res. No. 6-25 and ordered the plans advertised for bid.

Finance Director Ryan said the capital improvement plan includes a line item for a new fire truck slated for 2028 and reported the quoted purchase price at $1,287,256. Because of long lead times for chassis and equipment, staff recommended authorizing the Fire Chief to place the order now while including a contract clause that the city will not accept delivery before 2028 and while budgeting over the coming years so the purchase may be paid for without bonding. Fire Chief Zwaschka noted the truck would replace a 30-year-old engine. The council approved the request.

During public comment earlier in the meeting, resident John Considine asked the council to consider allowing Mankato West Softball to establish Caswell Park as their home field; City Administrator McCann said staff would meet with parks staff to discuss the request. Staff also said a Request for Proposals for engineering/design and a CMAR advisor would be advertised and that information on the water meter replacement project would be brought to the council at the second January meeting. Finance Director Ryan thanked donor Tony Ulmen for a gift to the library that the donor asked be held in a certificate of deposit through the end of 2025.

All recorded motions and consent items at the meeting passed unanimously. The council adjourned at 7:39 p.m. The public hearing on the cannabis ordinance is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2025; the city will proceed with bid advertisement for the 2025 paving project per Res. No. 6-25.