Coleraine council approves 2025 audit; auditor urges a formal financial policy manual

Bonnie Sterle of Sterle & Co. presented the City of Coleraine's 2025 audit and financial statements in a 3 p.m. work session and told the council "the audit went well," noting the city has "done well controlling costs within the budget." After questions from council members, the regular meeting unanimously approved the audit.

Sterle explained the city's restricted funds, debt‑service and enterprise funds, and recommended several timing improvements for administrative tasks. She also "strongly suggested the creation of a financial policy manual" to standardize procedures and improve timeliness of required actions, a step she said would help staff and future auditors. Councilmembers asked clarifying questions during the work session; council later approved the audit by formal motion (moved by Councilperson Swanson, supported by Councilperson Sobtzak) with a unanimous roll call vote.

Clerk‑Treasurer Briana Anderson noted a separate operational item: the ongoing water‑meter project is taking more administrative time than anticipated, and she will be out of the office to attend the League of Minnesota Cities conference the following day. She told council members to call or text her personal cell phone for urgent matters while she has limited email access.

The approval completes the formal acceptance of the audit and places the auditor's recommendations on the council's follow‑up list ahead of the next budget cycle.