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

The City of Montrose council voted unanimously to place a November ballot measure asking residents to choose between the old Minnesota state flag and the current flag, and approved removing state flags from city poles until voters decide. The motion to put the issue before residents was made at the meeting by the presiding officer and adopted 5-0.

Chair: “So I will make a motion to put on the ballot in November the decision between the old flag and the new flag. We'll leave it to our residents the way it should have been done in the 1st place.” The motion also included direction to remove state flags from city poles until the vote. The council recorded a 5-0 vote to adopt the motion.

The issue began during public comment when Richard Nordling, who identified himself and gave his address, asked the council to revisit the flag the city flies. Nordling said he would “like to see at least the council discuss it.” Councilmembers voiced differing views: one member urged restoring the old flag, saying, “I would make a motion to remove the current flag and put the old flag back,” while others argued for not flying any state flag rather than selecting one on the council’s own authority.

Council discussed other options, including flying both flags or leaving the flag decision to residents via a ballot question. Several council members emphasized the need to represent all citizens and the risk of alienating constituents. The adopted motion sends the choice to voters in November and suspends flying state flags on municipal poles until the public vote.