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Tower council approves preliminary plat, MN Power franchise and blight ordinance; LRIP application tabled
Summary
At a special meeting Oct. 30, 2025, the Tower City Council unanimously approved the Preliminary Village on Vermilion Plat, the second reading of an MN Power franchise agreement, a blight ordinance second reading and a $100,000 bonding resolution for a public works truck; the LRIP application was tabled until Nov. 10.
The City of Tower council unanimously approved several routine land-use and administrative items at a special meeting Thursday afternoon, including a preliminary plat for a new subdivision, the second reading of a franchise agreement with MN Power, and a bonding resolution to finance a public works truck.
Mayor David Setterberg called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. Councilor Joe Morin moved to accept the agenda, a motion seconded by Councilor Kevin Norby that passed unanimously. Minutes show the meeting was attended by Mayor Setterberg and Councilors Morin, Bob Anderson and Norby; Councilor John Van DeVoort was absent.
On land use, Councilor Morin moved to approve the Preliminary Village on Vermilion Plat and authorize the developers to proceed with the final plat; Councilor Norby seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The action allows the developer to advance to final plat review under local procedures.
On utilities, Councilor Bob Anderson moved to approve the second reading of the MN Power Franchise Agreement; Councilor Norby seconded and the council approved the second reading unanimously. The minutes record the approval but do not include additional terms of the agreement.
On equipment financing, Councilor Anderson moved to pass Resolution 2025-XXX, a Certification of Bonding to support a public works truck purchase in the amount of $100,000 with a $25,000 down payment to be paid when purchased; Councilor Morin seconded and the resolution passed unanimously. The resolution was recorded in the minutes as described.
The council also approved the second reading of a Blight Ordinance "as presented with corrections from the First Reading." Councilor Morin moved the second-reading approval, Councilor Anderson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Separately, the agenda item for a Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) application (Resolution 2025-XXX) drew no action; the minutes state the LRIP application was tabled until the Nov. 10, 2025 meeting. The harbor project was discussed in a separate line of the minutes: the record notes the city received a $180,000 grant from Minnesota Housing for infrastructure, that bids for soil remediation and infrastructure came in higher than anticipated, and that further discussion is needed at a future meeting.
The council also discussed personnel for the Clerk/Treasurer position; the minutes record six applications to date and that the council discussed next steps but made no hiring decision. Councilor Morin moved to adjourn at 3:37 p.m.; the meeting was adjourned.
The council is scheduled to meet next on Nov. 10, 2025, when the LRIP application and any follow-ups on the harbor project and personnel process are expected to return to the agenda.
