Montrose council to put Minnesota flag choice on November ballot, remove state flags until vote

The Montrose City Council voted 5-0 to place a question on the November ballot asking residents to choose between the older Minnesota state flag and the newer design, and to remove state flags from city property until the election.

Richard Nordling, a resident who stepped forward during the council's request-for-action segment, urged the council to discuss restoring the older flag, saying he preferred the prior design and asked the council to consider the community's view: "I guess I'd like to see at least the council discuss it." Council members then debated options including flying no state flag, flying both flags, or leaving the matter to voters. After discussion, the council's prevailing motion was to let residents decide in November and move all state flags off city property in the interim.

Supporters framed the vote as a question of representation and public input; opponents argued that the city should avoid taking an official position that could alienate residents and that the matter could be left to individuals. The motion to place the question on the ballot and temporarily remove state flags passed unanimously. The council did not identify any statutory mandate requiring the city to fly a particular state flag; instead members discussed budgetary and representational considerations during the debate.

The council's next procedural step is to have staff prepare the ballot language and any administrative steps required to implement the temporary removal of state flags until the November vote.