HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.15.25December 15, 2025
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on
Monday, December 15, 2025, at 6:OOPM in the St. Joseph Government Center.
Members Present: Mayor Adam Scepaniak, Councilmembers Adam Schnettler, Andrew Mooney, Kevin
Kluesner, Kelly Beniek, ;
City Representatives Present: City Administrator David Murphy, Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Public Works
Director Ryan Wensmann, Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein, City Engineer Randy Sabart, Community
Development Director Nate Keller, City Clerk, Kayla Klein
Public Comments: None
Approve Agenda: Schnettler moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Kluesner and passed
unanimously.
Consent Agenda: Scepaniak moved to approve the consent agenda, pulling item i; seconded by
Kluesner and passed unanimously.
a. Minutes — Requested Action: Approve the minutes of December 1, 2025
b. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 63323-63352, Payroll & Account
Payable EFT #3896-3911; ACH Accounts Payable #2400745-2400783.
c. Financial Report — Requested Action: Accept the November 2025 financial reports as presented.
d. Donations — Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2025-080 accepting donations.
e. TA Grant Resolution — Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2025-077 Approving Submittal of
Transportation Alternatives Program Grant and Agreeing to Maintain Facility.
f. Tri-County Humane Society Agreement — Requested Action: Approve the Tri-Council Humane
Society Agreement as presented.
g. Open Applications for Firefighters — Requested Action: Allow Fire Chief to open applications for
new members to fill upcoming vacancies in the department.
h. Appointment of Fire Department Officers for 2026-2027 — Requested Action: Approve David
Salzer as Assistant Fire Chief for a 2-year term and Andrew Kremer, Jake Richter, and Jack
Taufen as Captains for 2-year terms.
I. Resolution 2025-078 Receiving Report and Calling for Public Improvement Hearing on the 2026
Street & Utility Improvement Project — Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2025-078 as
presented.
j. Resolution 2025-079 Benefit Level Increase in the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan
Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2025-079 as presented.
k. Personnel Policy Amendment - Requested Action: Approve the amendment to the city's
personnel policy as presented.
I. Minnesota Paid Family Leave and Medical Leave Policy — Requested Action: Approve the
Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Policy as presented.
m. Lobbying Contract - Requested Action: Approve the contract between the City and Flaherty &
Hood for lobbying services.
i. Resolution 2025-078 Receiving Report and Calling for Public Improvement Hearing on the 2026 Street &
Utility Improvement Project — the hearing date will be January 20'h, 2026. Kluesner moved to approve item
4i. with the change to the date of the Public Improvement Hearing to January 20, 2026; seconded by
Mooney and passed unanimously.
MPBC Property Management Conditional Use Permit and Variance Requests: The property owner is proposing
to conduct outside storage of cars, trucks, trailers, watercraft, motorcycles/ATVs, lawn mowers, tractor, golf
carts and items associated with Bee Line Auto and Sport. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on
the Conditional Use Permit request and it was approved 6-0.
The CUP proposal of outside storage includes a request to deviate from required surfacing standards. The
request is to allow the applicant to put crushed granite surfacing on the site. The crushed granite surface will
only be placed within the site where the storage of vehicles will occur.
December 15, 2025
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One condition of the CUP states that if the variance is approved, the crushed granite surface must be upgraded
to asphalt, concrete, or other approved hard surface at the time a future building is constructed, and a site plan
is submitted.
Scepaniak moved to approve Resolution 2025-075 Conditional Use Permit Approval for Outdoor
Storage MPBC Property Management, LLC; seconded by Beniek and passed unanimously.
Scepaniak moved to approve Resolution 2025-076 A Resolution Adopting Findings of Fact to Approve
a Variance to the Minimum Parking Lot Standards; seconded by Beniek and passed unanimously.
Fire Services Agreement with the College of Saint Benedicts: City Administrator Murphy reported that staff met
with representatives of the College of Saint Benedicts and they have requested that the city's Fire Department
respond to all fire alarms, CO alarms, hazardous materials responses, etc. The agreement states the College
will pay the City $20,750 for the first year beginning December 2025.
Beniek moved to approve the Fire Services Agreement with the College of Saint Benedicts; seconded
by Kluesner and passed unanimously.
Department Reports: Keller reported that he received submittals for the new monastery project which will go
before the Planning Commission and then to the council in January.
Mayor and Council Reports/Updates: None
Adjourn: Kluesner made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:15PM; seconded by Beniek and
passed unanimously.
Kayla Klein
City Clerk