Preston City Hall Repairs Discussed

At the March 16 meeting of the city council, City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton detailed a list of proposed city hall repairs.

The council approved a motion to pursue quotes for all of the proposed repairs including doors/windows, door controls, rear exit of city hall, carpet, and EFIS (exterior insulation and finish system). Throckmorton provided a rough estimate, if all repair priorities were approved the cost could be about $110,000. The current city budget for repairs is $59,000 and the utility budget for repairs is $12,000. If all quotes for repairs were approved at a future meeting, the balance of the cost will need to come out of a contingency fund. The city council will consider quotes for each of the repairs when they are provided.

2025 Audit

Kali Lentz, CohnReznick, reported on Preston’s 2025 audit. The city received an unmodified “clean” opinion. It was noted that the city has a limited ability to segregate accounting duties due to limited personnel. 

   The property tax levy produced 40% of governmental revenue. Local Government Aid (LGA) was $539,000 for 2025. LGA will be basically flat for 2026; the gap continues to widen between revenue from property taxes and LGA. The unassigned General Fund balance equals about 61% of next year’s general fund budgeted expenditures.

All debts are being paid in a timely manner. Lentz commented that the city is generally doing well with planning and has been forward thinking. One possible difficulty for the city is the needed upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city is trying to obtain grant funding for an upgrade.

The 2025 audit was accepted as presented.

Other Business in Brief

• A rezoning request submitted by Debbie Thompson to rezone her property at 112 Fillmore St. E from R-3 (multiple family residential) to R- 2 (one and two family residential) was approved. Planning and Zoning recommended the rezoning as it will be consistent with the future land use plan and other properties on that block.
• Throckmorton explained the Schwarzes bought 12.75 acres south of the cemetery and discovered the property included the adjacent section of Crown Hill Road. Surveys are being conducted and the city has continued to work on legal descriptions for transfer of cemetery property. A resolution was adopted that accepted the transfer/gift of 1.27 acres (Crown Hill Rd. SW) from owners, Michael and Deborah Schwarz and Jason and Mary Schwarz. Approval was granted permitting the owner to maintain a driveway access to the private property along Crown Hill Rd. SW as currently used. Councilman Steve Hall offered a public thank you to the Schwarzes for the gift to the city. 
• An amendment to the purchase agreement between the city (seller) and Dwight and Amy Luhmann (buyer) was approved. The amendment extends the closing date to May 29 or earlier. Throckmorton said the surveys have been completed, but some problems have been discovered with the original legal description and the transfer from the cemetery association to the city. In April 2025 the original purchase agreement with the Luhmanns was approved to split off and sell the northern section of the cemetery.
• A proposed Security Camera Policy was again discussed. The policy is for video surveillance. Throckmorton said the audio is disabled. Cameras are maintained currently at city hall, the trailhead, and the power plant.

Hall said he supported the policy in general, but he wants it spelled out who is responsible, who has access. Councilman Charles Sparks agreed there needs to be more clarification. Sheila Marzolf explained the purpose of the cameras in city hall was for individuals working in their offices to be able to see the front door of city hall. Hall will meet with Throckmorton and possibly Police Chief Blaise Sass to review the policy.

• Throckmorton reviewed the city’s Capital Improvement Plan through 2030. Financial Advisor Michael Bubany will be at the city council’s next meeting to discuss the plan. 
• The 2026-2027 road salt contract was approved. The annual cost is about $2,700.
• Approval was granted for Councilman Hall to attend the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference in late June. The event will be in Rochester.
• Approval was granted for Throckmorton to attend the third year of a professional training program provided by St. Cloud University and Minnesota Clerks and Finance Officers Association from May 4-8.