Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
The Caledonia City Council convened its first regular meeting on January 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., presided over by Mayor Jeremy Leis. Council members Bob Klug, David Fitzpatrick, and John Rauk were in attendance. Amanda Ninneman was not present at the meeting.
The proposed new library was again on the City Council’s agenda as the project continues to move forward and the December 31, 2026, deadline approaches. A total of $3,375,000 must be raised by that date to fund the project.
Chuck and Sharon Schulte presented an agreement to the city and also presented a $125,000 check to the city at the council meeting. The $125,000 will be used to purchase the two lots, parcels 21.0041.000 and 31.0042, at the corner of Main Street and Kingston Street in downtown Caledonia. The lots must be used solely for the construction of the new library.
Schulte also announced that Caledonia business owner and recently retired Bryan Spier agreed to head the fundraising committee which is tasked with raising $1,875,000 through private donations, grants or state resources. According to the agreement, if the funds are not raised by the end of the year, all funds raised must be returned to the donors.
The mayor announced that item “F”, hiring a part-time police officer, under new business was removed from the agenda.
Councilor Rauk made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from the December 8, 2025, regular city council meeting as written with a second by Councilor Fitzpatrick. The motion unanimously passed.
Councilor Fitzpatrick moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilor Klug seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Consent Agenda
Items on the consent agenda included payments and disbursements totaling $269,060 in unpaid invoices and $459,076.38 in prepaid invoices; approval of a 3.7% utility deposit interest rate for 2026; designation of Merchants Bank as the city’s official depositories of funds; acceptance of a $14,189,33 grant for the for the ambulance department, termination for cause of Sydney Holland, the liquor store clerk, and volunteer firefighter, Jerry Holter; the hiring of Michaela Kasten for an EMR position; a $200 increase in the fire relief contribution; and approval of the Warrior Avenue design agreement totaling $134,700, including expenses.
New Business
The only changes to the mayor’s appointments to positions, boards, and committees are to the fire department. No action was needed. Fire Chief Jeff Winjum, 1st Assistant Chief Alex Betz, 2nd Assistant Chief/Training Office Ben Loging, Captain/Assistant Training Officer Benny Stutzman, Safety Officer Logan Theil, Fire Marshal Adam Hoscheit, Treasurer Mitch Betz and Secretary Troy Winjum.
A motion by Councilor Rauk seconded by Mayor Leis to accept the $3 per column inch from the Caledonia Argus as the town’s 2026 Official Newspaper of Record. The motion was unanimously accepted.
Councilor Klug made a motion to accept the bid from McQueen for the purchase of 23 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and harnesses for the fire department. The total cost is $221,500. According to the staff report, “$245,000 is budgeted and staff received a grant from the Taylor Family Farms Foundation for $50,000. Approximately $16,000 is left over from Public Safety Aid, bringing the budget impact to approximately $155,000. The Rural Fire District is responsible for half.” The motion was seconded by Rauk. The units “will go in service as soon as possible, before May 1,” explained Dickson. The current SCBA in service will expire by May 2026.
Public Works/Zoning Director Casey Klug presented two bids for the purchase of an
snowplow. As recommended by city staff, the council accepted the lower bid from Dave Syverson Truck for $141,344.30 and trade the city’s 2002 Sterling for $15,000 and accept the proposal from Universal Truck for $126,999 totaling $252.311.80. The motion also included moving $3000 from the 2025 street budget into 2026 to cover the sales tax coverage which is now required by the State of Minnesota. The tax increased the cost by approximately $8000, which was not budgeted for. After the motion was approved, Director Klug was asked what color the snowplow was to which he replied, orange.
The council reviewed the overtime reports for the pay period ending January 4, before Mayor Leis adjourned the meeting at 7:09 p.m.
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