The Caledonia City Council completed all its business for the year and unanimously voted to cancel the regularly scheduled council meeting on December 22, 2025. The next council meeting will be held on January 12, 2026.
Mayor Jeremy Leis called the December 8 meeting to order at 6 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present were Bob Klug, Amanda Ninneman, David Fitzpatrick, John Rauk and Mayor Leis.
Caledonia resident Chuck Schulte updated the council on plans for the town’s new library. He said the 14-member library committee is in the design phase. Drawings of the proposed 60×90-foot building were shared with council members and the audience; Schulte emphasized that these are not the final drawings. Schulte announced a community meeting on Saturday, December 20, from 10 a.m. to noon at the city auditorium, where residents will have an opportunity to learn about the 14-person committee’s progress and review the floor plans. He said that the committee focused on four key pillars– young children, young adults, seniors, and community meetings when planning the layout of the building. The proposed site for the library is the corner of W. Main Street and N. Kingston Street.
Marketing material included a tri-fold brochure outlining key features: an inviting environment; street-level, handicap-accessible entrance; Kingston Street main entrance; off street-parking and entrance; dedicated spaces for children, young adults, seniors, and a community room; community room and restrooms accessible for after-hours meeting, and a donor recognition wall. Schulte said that the building will be able to be used 365 days a year.
Schulte said that he does not want any taxpayer funding used to build the new library. The construction cost is $3.5 million, and the project will be funded with donations and grants. So far, $1.5 million has already been pledged.
After the Truth in Taxation hearing, the council unanimously approved a 12% levy for taxes payable in 2026 on taxable property in Caledonia. The proposed levy totals $1,565,646.
The meeting agenda was approved, as were the minutes from the November 24 regular council meeting.
City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson added one soft drink license to add to the consent agenda before it is approved. The council unanimously approved the consent agenda which included paying the bills, advertisement for bids for legal publishing, 2026 liquor license renewals for Sol Agave, Good Times, Elsie’s, Frank & Julia’s, Wired Rooster, and American Legion Club 191; 2026 employment agreement with the police chief, 2026 tobacco license renewals for Kwik Trip #733, Caledonia Mart, Dollar General, and Quillin’s IGA; cannabinoid license renewals for Hometown Liquor, Tree Huggers Cannabis MN, Kwik Trip, and Caledonia Mart; Resolution 2025-12 Local Road Improvement Program, Resolution 2025-13 Local Partnership Program, and the airport courtesy car agreement with Houston County. Council member Klug asked Dickson why the city was involved. From what Dickson understands, the county cannot take out insurance on passenger cars of that nature. Dickson explained that the county has been securing funding for the airport to make it bigger in order to service twin engine planes. He also explained the possible economic benefits to the city when pilots can use a courtesy car to drive into town to shop and eat.
In other business, the board:
- Approved the personnel policy update for flex time;
- Approved the non-represented employee pay rates for 2026;
- Reviewed the overtime report for the pay period ending November 23.
Before adjourning the meeting, Mayor Leis thanked the organizers of the Christmas parade for a job well done, reiterating how proud he was. The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 p.m.
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