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Onamia council approves delinquent-utility tax assessments, subdivision variance and contractor payment
Summary
At its Nov. 12 meeting, the Onamia City Council approved placing qualifying delinquent utility accounts on the 2026 property tax roll, granted a variance for 301 Cherry Lane South and approved a $55,862.80 contractor payment for the new water treatment plant. The council also approved multiple personnel actions and scheduled a Dec. 10 public hearing on cannabis zoning setbacks.
The Onamia City Council on Nov. 12 approved a set of routine and policy items that will affect property owners, the new water treatment plant and several municipal workers.
Mayor Marge Agnew and the five-member council voted to adopt Resolution 2025-11C to certify certain delinquent city utility accounts and public service invoices (accounts 90 days past due) for assessment on the 2026 property tax roll. The action followed a public hearing at which Jessie Milton, who said she and Chad Milton recently took ownership of 103 Birch Street South, asked that the council confirm delinquent charges would not be assessed to that property while a tenant remains on the premises despite a court order to vacate. Agnew explained that the resolution applies to accounts that meet the 90-day delinquency standard and noted the Miltons’ property was not on the delinquent list.
The council also approved Resolution 2025-11A granting a variance at 301 Cherry Lane South. The variance reduces the minimum lot area from 10,000 square feet to 9,902 square feet and shortens the front-yard setback from 30 feet to 15 feet for a proposed structure. The Planning Committee’s recommended appointment of Jimi Archambault to the Planning Committee was approved in the same sequence of zoning items.
On capital accounts, the council approved Rice Lake Construction Payment Application #20 in the amount of $55,862.80. City documents included in the packet reported that the water treatment plant project began startup in late August, water was pumped into the distribution system on Sept. 25, and the contractor’s October payment application lists the project as fully constructed and approximately 95% paid.
Council members approved a $5,498.82 reimbursement to Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures after staff identified that a digit had been erroneously added to every meter reading since Sept. 2023, producing the overbilling total reported to the council.
On personnel matters, the council approved a one-step pay increase for Police Chief Amy Paschelke; accepted firefighter Jackson Flett’s resignation and authorized advertising for two volunteer firefighter positions; approved a 40-hour workweek for the utility billing clerk by Resolution 2025-11D; and approved pay adjustments recommended in recent performance reviews, including a three-step increase for the Utility Billing Clerk (the motion passed with one recorded opposing vote by Council Member Randy Anderson) and a two-step increase for City Clerk-Treasurer Michelle Peterson.
The council approved two internal financial controls policies — an Electronic Funds and Wire Transfers Policy and a Safe Electronic Transfer and Payments Policy — and scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 10, 2025 to consider a draft Fee Schedule Ordinance. The council also approved purchasing an HP Workstation Z2 (Material BN5J3UT#ABA) for $2,538.20 to replace a failing utility billing clerk workstation.
In open forum, resident Howard Resnikoff raised a nuisance complaint about a camper occupied at 301 Cherry Lane (odor and garbage concerns); the mayor said the city will coordinate with the police department to address the issue. Todd Nyquist of Lacs Time Liquor notified the council that a state cannabis retailer application had been denied under current city setback rules; the council scheduled a Dec. 10 public hearing to consider changing setbacks for low-potency cannabis retailers.
The council’s final business included routine announcements: the Final Budget and Levy discussion will occur at the Dec. 10 meeting, a water treatment plant tour will be scheduled in January, the annual tree lighting is Nov. 28 and a Fire Township meeting is set for Dec. 10 at Onamia City Hall. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m.
Votes at a glance: the minutes record motions carried unless noted. Resolution 2025-11C (delinquent account certification) approved; Resolution 2025-11A (variance at 301 Cherry Lane South) approved; Rice Lake Construction Payment #20 for $55,862.80 approved; reimbursement of $5,498.82 to Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures approved; purchase of HP workstation for $2,538.20 approved; Resolution 2025-11D (40-hr workweek for utility billing clerk) approved; personnel pay adjustments approved (one recorded opposing vote on the 3-step increase for the utility billing clerk).
