Canton City Council approves street closures for Canton Day Off, OKs sewer heat pump, building permit and gambling permit

The Canton City Council on June 11 approved a slate of routine actions for the summer festival season and municipal maintenance, and heard staff updates on infrastructure planning.

Councilmembers voted to authorize temporary street closures for Canton Day Off in mid-August, including Veterans Drive (Aug. 14–17) for the festival tent, portions of Canton Avenue, Ash Street and Minnesota Avenue (Aug. 15–17) for the BBQ event, Main Street for a pop-up market on Aug. 16, a Lumberjack show on Aug. 16–17 and a car show on Aug. 17. The motion to approve closures was made by Councilmember Jen Dowling and seconded by George Hafner; the minutes record the motion as carried but do not list vote tallies.

The council also approved the purchase of a low-temperature heat-pump/mini-split unit for the sewer plant from Kingsley Mercantile. Jason Magnuson moved the purchase and Jen Dowling seconded; the motion carried, per the minutes.

A building permit for Jim and Wendy Richardson was approved on a motion by Magnuson, seconded by Hafner; that motion likewise "carried," according to the minutes.

On a separate motion the council adopted Resolution 2025-11 granting an off-site gambling permit to Canton American Legion Post 400; the motion was moved by Magnuson, seconded by Dowling and recorded as carried. The minutes do not specify vote counts for the resolution.

During the public comment period resident Lori Hudson urged stronger enforcement of property clean-up and said "people need to be held accountable," expressing disappointment with current efforts. Mayor Kristy Ziegler in her report urged residents to treat June as National Safety Month and National Internet Safety Month and cautioned against clicking suspicious email links, saying she will never send an unsolicited email to residents without first speaking with them directly.

Clerk Anne Koliha updated the council on several infrastructure items: Canton is on the Lead Service Line Project Priority List and the city has submitted paperwork to be listed on the Intended Use Plan to pursue grant funds for replacing lead service lines; the city has requested variances from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on sulfate and chloride limits for the wastewater treatment facility permit and expects total-nitrogen limits to be addressed once plant upgrades are made as part of the larger streets project. Koliha also said the Minnesota Department of Health is moving forward with an update to the wellhead protection plan and a public information meeting on part 1 will be held June 24 at 1 p.m. at Town Hall.

Public Works reported a repaired water leak on Hudson Avenue. Fire Department representative Jim Davis said the department’s new pumper-rescue truck has arrived and is at Kelly Printing for re-lettering before equipment transfer and service entry; the department is accepting firefighter applications at City Hall. Clerk Koliha also reported that the Planning Commission reviewed a building permit application from J. Richardson and discussed cleanup and future plans for the old school property to be brought back to the commission.

Votes at a glance: agenda approved (motion by Dowling, second Magnuson; recorded as carried), consent agenda approved (motion by Magnuson, second Dowling; carried), heat-pump purchase approved (motion by Magnuson, second Dowling; carried), building permit for Jim & Wendy Richardson approved (motion by Magnuson, second Hafner; carried), temporary street closures approved (motion by Dowling, second Hafner; carried), Resolution 2025-11 granting an off-site gambling permit to Canton American Legion Post 400 approved (motion by Magnuson, second Dowling; carried), meeting adjourned (motion by Magnuson, second Dowling; carried). The minutes consistently note "motion carried" but do not provide roll-call vote totals.

The council listed a future item to discuss next steps for the Mitson House at an upcoming meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.