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The July 7 Lanesboro City Council meeting opened with a public hearing on the proposed sidewalk assessments. There were no comments or questions from the community. The regular meeting was called to order and the agenda was approved.
League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director Luke Fischer and Deputy Trust Administrator Jen Wolfe were at the meeting to present the City of Excellence Award to the city of Lanesboro. The award is for cities with a population of under 5,000 and was for the city’s Legion Lights project. Fischer noted that the project showed how tightly-knit the city is, and that it brought people together, not just from the community, but also from the whole region.
The minutes of the regular June 2 meeting and the special meeting on June 11 were approved. The consent agenda was approved and included the accounts payable, a parking closure permit for Fall into Lanesboro, a temporary liquor license for Lanesboro Arts, a liquor license for The Raging Root Adventure Arcade, LLC, and the second quarter budget report and unaudited fund balances.
Areas of the 100 block of Coffee Street East and the 700 block of Fillmore Avenue South have been identified as needing sidewalk improvements. Resolution 2025-35 ordering the improvements was accepted as well as Resolution 2025-36 adopting the final assessment rolls for the sidewalk improvements.
City Engineer Brian Malm reviewed the Feasibility Report for the proposed TH250 road and utility improvements with the council. The report detailed the scope of the project as well as funding options and the project schedule. Malm noted that the project is being expanded to include some much needed water and sewer improvements in Little Norway. Resolution 2025-38 accepting the report and calling for a public hearing at the September 2 meeting was approved.
Public Works Director David Haugen has been looking into using the DuraPatch system to repair fatigued roads in Lanesboro. Currently, the department uses cold patch in the wintertime and hot mix in the summer, but that means constant, repeated repairs. He spoke with several other cities in the area who use DuraPatch, and they all said they were happy with it. Haugen was able to try it out in Chatfield and thought that it was fairly easy to use. He was also impressed with how the repairs last multiple years rather than having to be redone each year. He said that it is a more efficient and cost-effective way to repair roads. He presented options for a weekly rental, annual rental, and shared purchase for the system, and recommended the weekly rental to test it out in Lanesboro. “I’m excited about this project,” Council member Joe Cullen said. “I think it’s going to be good.” The council approved a weekly rental of DuraPatch.
Three sealed bids were opened at the meeting for the sale of the fire department’s 1999 Sterling truck. Council member Chase Bakke recommended accepting the high bid from the city of Chatfield, which the council approved.
The council reviewed Resolution 2025-37 certifying and constituting a lien against a property in Lanesboro for unpaid utility charges. The account holders addressed the council about their difficult circumstances that led to lack of payment, assured the council that it would be paid soon, and asked that the city not place a lien on the property. City Administrator Mitchell Walbridge noted that the amount listed in the resolution had been amended due to a partial payment that had just been received. A motion to pass the resolution was made. Walbridge noted that passing the resolution would give the account holder 30 additional days to pay off charges. The resolution was approved.
Administrator Walbridge reported that each of the city departments are currently putting together their preliminary budgets for 2026 and will review them with him. He will put together some options for dates and times for the council’s budget workshop once all preliminary budgets have been completed.
Mayor Alicia Pearson recently attended the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference in Duluth and felt that it was a worthwhile experience. The city covered the cost of the $275 ticket, but Pearson also paid for lodging and gas while at the conference. She asked to be reimbursed for the cost of lodging. A motion to approve the request failed with two council members voting in favor and three voting against.
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