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Spring Grove council confronts steep budget increase; approves $10,000 EDA and Chamber grants
Summary
At its Aug. 27 meeting, the Spring Grove City Council approved $10,000 grants for both the local EDA and Chamber as it wrestled with a draft budget showing a roughly 29% levy increase driven by sheriff-contract costs and street repair requests. Council left other budget choices pending community feedback and further information from the sheriff.
Spring Grove’s City Council on Aug. 27 approved one-time grants of $10,000 each to the local Economic Development Authority and the Chamber of Commerce while grappling with a draft budget that Treasurer/Deputy Clerk Erin Konkel said reflects a roughly 29% increase.
Konkel told the council the draft levy has risen by about $205,000 to a total levy of roughly $905,000. She said the newly enacted Minnesota Paid Leave Act will require the city to cover premiums and that her estimate of that cost is about $6,000. To return the levy increase to a more typical 2–3% range, Konkel said the council would need to find about $155,000 in additional cuts from the current draft.
The council discussed options for covering the heavy cost of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office contract with Sheriff Brian Swedberg in attendance. Sheriff Swedberg asked the council to submit any offer in writing and bring it back for his review so he could determine whether an agreement could be reached. After that exchange, Council Member Morgan Buckland moved — and Council Member Eric Ostern seconded — to keep the budget as presented pending results of a community survey on the sheriff contract; the minutes record the motion carried with "all in favor."
On a separate motion, Council Member Morgan Buckland moved to approve $10,000 for the EDA and $10,000 for the Chamber; Council Member Michael Hagen seconded. The minutes record Mayor Bryan Wilhelmson voting yes and Council Member Eric Ostern voting no; the motion carried. The minutes do not list a full roll-call tally for that vote.
On street and capital needs, Konkel reported information from Utilities Director John Sylling indicating requests for $200,000 for alley repairs and $150,000 for seal coating in 2026. Konkel said she could not confirm whether those projects could be funded until the council resolved uncertainties around the sheriff’s contract and other budget choices.
No action was taken on the CEDA contract, which the council specifically declined to discuss at this meeting. The council set its next regular meeting for Sept. 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Council Member Eric Ostern moved to adopt the agenda (motion seconded by Council Member Morgan Buckland); the minutes record "all in favor." Council Member Morgan Buckland moved to keep the budget as-is pending survey feedback (seconded by Eric Ostern); the minutes record the motion carried, "all in favor." Council Member Morgan Buckland moved to approve $10,000 for the EDA and $10,000 for the Chamber (seconded by Michael Hagen); the minutes record Mayor Bryan Wilhelmson voted yes and Council Member Eric Ostern voted no; the motion carried. The minutes do not provide full roll-call tallies for each motion beyond the votes explicitly recorded.
The meeting minutes identify Mayor Bryan Wilhelmson, Council Members Eric Ostern, Morgan Buckland and Michael Hagen as present; Council Member Trent Turner was not present. Treasurer/Deputy Clerk Erin Konkel and Clerk/Administrator Jana Elton attended, and Sheriff Brian Swedberg was present for the sheriff-contract discussion.
