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Rock Creek council approves 2025 financial report, schedules gambling-ordinance hearing and advances fire substation plans
Summary
At its Feb. 5 meeting the Rock Creek City Council approved the 2025 financial report (one council member did not record a vote), set a March 5 public hearing to consider adding three neighboring fire departments to Gambling Ordinance #71, authorized gravel bids with bond and timeline conditions, and approved a joint fire-substation agreement and tank purchase.
The Rock Creek City Council met Feb. 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM and approved a series of municipal actions including the city’s financial report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025, and steps toward a shared fire substation.
The council approved the financial report on a motion by Dan Saumer, seconded by Sam Christenson. The minutes record four council members voting aye (Don Ramberg, Dan Saumer, Mayor Dick Johnson and Sam Christenson); Council Member Nancy Rys is recorded as giving "no vote." The minutes do not specify whether that is an abstention or another procedural note.
Council members also voted to schedule a public hearing for the March 5, 2026 council meeting at 6:00 PM to consider adding the Rush City Fire Department, the Pine City Fire Department and the Braham Fire Department to the trade area in Subdivision 1 of Gambling Ordinance #71. That motion was made by Dan Saumer and seconded by Don Ramberg and carried unanimously.
On procurement, the council authorized advertising for bids to load and haul approximately 4,000 to 5,000 yards of gravel. The council set specific conditions: bidders must post a $40,000 bond within 10 days of written acceptance; hauling may proceed after road restrictions are removed; and work must be completed by July 1, 2026. Bids are to be opened at the March 5 meeting and contractors submitting bids must be present.
The council approved a Low Impact Business Application for Donald Peterman for parcel R43.0616.001, allowing an impound vehicle holding site for a towing company as a legal nonconforming (grandfathered) use. The motion was moved by Don Ramberg and seconded by Nancy Rys and carried unanimously.
The council adopted, via resolution, the 2025 Pine County Hazard Mitigation Plan on a motion by Sam Christenson seconded by Dan Saumer. The council also approved an agreement recognizing a minimal allocation of $304.80 to Pine County to help offset county election expenses for 2025 and 2026.
Work on emergency services advanced: the council approved purchasing a 9,000-gallon tank for the planned Fire Substation and approved a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Rush City and the City of Rock Creek to formalize the substation arrangement. Both motions carried on unanimous voice votes.
Finally, the council approved renewing membership in the Pine County Historical Society for $500 and a $500 donation to the Pine City Summer Rec Program. The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM.
The council’s next scheduled meeting is March 5, 2026, when the advertised gravel bids will be opened and the gambling ordinance trade-area public hearing is set to occur.
