At the July 28 Caledonia City Council meeting, the board unanimously approved a land use permit for Sno Pac Foods at 521 Enterprise Drive in Caledonia.
The company plans to “build a 30,000-square-foot cold storage facility with loading docks, bathroom and office space, 15 parking spots, and approximately 30,000 square feet of driveway and truck loading area,” plus the necessary infrastructure. There will also be one fire hydrant installed which will be paid for and owned by the city. The motion by Councilor David Fitzpatrick and seconded by Councilor Bob Klug. The motion carried.
Mayor Jeremy Leis thanked Sno Pac Foods representatives for growing their business in Caledonia.
Mayor Leis called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members present included Bob Klug, David Fitzpatrick, John Rauk, and Mayor Leis. Councilor Amanda Ninneman was absent.
The council unanimously approved the meeting agenda.
Klug made a motion to approve the minutes from the July 14 regular city council meeting with one correction. Rauk seconded the motion. Motion carried.
The consent agenda, was approved, with one item moved to new business. The consent agenda included:
• Payment of bills and disbursements;
• Hiring of Sydney Holland at $14.30 per hour as a part-time liquor store clerk, effective immediately;
• Hiring of Evie Giesler as an EMT;
• Approval of the Crossing Guard Agreement with ISD 299, which states the school will hire and train an adequate number of responsible adults to staff two crossing guard locations. The city agrees to pay 50% of wages;
• An anniversary step increase for Police Chief Kurt Zehnder from Grade 7, Step 10 ($85,036.40) to Grade 8, Step 11 ($91,520).
Department Updates
Casey Klug, Public Works/Zoning director, updated the council on the Street Department activities, including meetings with MnDOT regarding the Warrior Avenue extension and the roundabout. He reported that the Light Department has been busy with various projects. The ballpark has been prepped for the last time this summer.
In the Water Department, two hydrants approved in a previous meeting have been installed. Stormwater improvements are expected to result in significant cost savings. Materials have been ordered for the construction of the new press box.
Jake Dickson, city clerk/administrator announced that National Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, and he invited council members to attend.
Finance Officer Stephanie Mann presented the quarterly finance reports for review. Mann began by stating that the city’s funds have been going “down, down, down.” However, she noted that the city would receive the first half of its property tax payment in July, which typically accounts for over 50% – probably 65% – of the total annual amount, since some residents pay their full year’s taxes in the first half of the year. The city will also receive the second half of its Local Government Aid (LGA) allocation, amounting to 41%. Earlier in the year, the city received 9% of its LGA funds due to legislative decisions. With these incoming funds, which arrive in June, the numbers will go back up.
Mann said that everything is going smoothly, with operations largely on track and no unexpected issues. She noted that most major purchases have already been completed, and that she is happy with a lot of the departments because they are currently operating at 45% to 50% of their annual budgets.
After updating the council on the city’s investments, she concluded her report by noting that she will attend the last council meeting in August to discuss the 2026 budget, as the preliminary levy is soon due to the county. No action was required.
The council took the following actions:
• Accepted the recommendation from the city administrator to approve a $25 monthly cell phone stipend for the following clerk’s office employees – Utility billing clerk, Finance officer, Accounts Payable/Payroll clerk, and assistant to city clerk/administrator. Motion by Klug, seconded by Fitzpatrick. Motion carried;
• Reviewed the overtime report for the pay period ending July 20. No action was required;
• Approved an anniversary step increase for Public Works/Zoning Director Casey Klug, based on a recommendation from City Clerk/Administrator Jake Dickson. Dickson noted that Klug’s job description is outdated and that he is taking on additional responsibilities. A motion by Councilor Klug to increase his salary from the normal anniversary step increase Grade 7, Step 9 ($85,036.40) to Grade 7, Step 11 which is approximately of about $2100. Seconded by Rauk.
As there was no old business, Mayor Leis adjourned the meeting at 6:42 p.m.