305 E. Luverne St.

Luverne, MN 56156

www.cityofluverne.org

Announcement of Meeting

City Council

Regular Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

5:00 PM

Council Chambers

CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL

Mayor Patrick Baustian, Council Member Caroline Thorson, Council

Member Dan Nath, and Council Member Marlin Kracht

Council Member Kevin Aaker

Present:

Excused:

Jessica Mead, Jill Wolf, and Tyler Reisch

Additional :

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A motion was made by Council Member Thorson, seconded by Council Member

Kracht, that the Agenda and Special Orders be approved. The motion carried

unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

January 20, 2026 City Council Minutes

D.1. 2025-442

A motion was made by Council Member Nath, seconded by Council

Member Thorson, that this Minutes be approved. The motion

carried by a unanimous vote.

RECOGNITION OF GUESTS

George Eilertson, Matt Sorenson and Mandy Van Grootheest.

PUBLIC FORUM

None.

STAFF AND CONSULTANT REPORTS

Sheriff's Office Quarterly Report - Matt Sorenson

G.1. 2025-437

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office conducted 5,026 calls for service

in 2025, an increase from 2024, along with rises in incident reports

and traffic stops. Violent crime responses grew in several

categories, including assaults (21 vs. 8) and mental health related

calls (62 vs. 39). Public order issues such as suspicious activity and

harassment remained significant call types, though some categories

declined from the prior year. Overall, 2025 showed higher

enforcement activity, more community service calls, and continued

emphasis on safety, welfare, and crime prevention.

City Administrator Report

G.2. 2025-438

Work has begun on individually metering all airport hangars, and

that project will continue in the coming weeks. The City is also

working on long-term power needs, which has required substantial

planning time. Public Works has been taking advantage of the mild

weather by completing tree trimming, street sweeping, cleaning and

preparing the tree dump for spring use, and conducting sign

inspections and repairs, including replacing signs damaged over the

winter. In Water/Wastewater, the City completed its annual MPCA

permit inspection of the wastewater treatment facility, which went

well; inspectors noted periodic elevated phosphorus levels, and staff

will begin adding alum as a corrective (non-violation) action. A

leaking water main near the train depot was repaired. Staff are also

resuming updates to the sewer ordinance which was initially started

last year and now continuing under the new director. The revised

ordinance expected to come before the council in the new future.

Planning is underway for required PFAS testing this spring. The

MPCA shifted the wastewater facility's permit inspection schedule

from biennial to annual based on system size and regulatory

updates.

CONSENT AGENDA

A motion was made by Council Member Kracht, seconded by Council Member Nath, to

approve the consent agenda.The motion carried unanimously.

Petty Cash Reconciliation as of January 31, 2026

H.1. 2025-439

Claim Report for February 2026 (Check No. 166855 - 167088) for

$1,559,046.68.

H.2. 2025-436

Application for Exempt Permit for Jackson Ducks Unlimited MN to

conduct a Raffle and Bingo at the Luverne Fire Department on April

18, 2026

H.3. 2025-440

Temporary Liquor License for Luverne Area Chamber on June 5,

2026 at 801 W Commerce Rd RE: 2026 Cruise-in Event.

H.4. 2025-441

H.5. 8-26

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION ALLOWING THE WAIVER OF CHAPTER 152

SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS AND RECORDING OF

SUBDIVIDED PROPERTY

(Brett & Wendy Stegenga Living Trust to Comex Holdings, LLC)

ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT AGENDA

Change Order No. 3 for a contract increase of $2,247.45 RE:

H.6. 2025-451

Highway 75 project for storm sewer structures near Bethany

Lutheran Church to accommodate the proposed detention basin.

A motion was made by Council Member Thorson, seconded by

Council Member Nath, that this Motion be approved. The motion

carried by a unanimous vote.

NEW BUSINESS

J.1. 9-26

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND AWARDING

THE SALE OF $2,180,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION UTILITY

REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2026A AND PLEDGING FOR THE

SECURITY THEREOF NET REVENUES

This proposed resolution issues $2,180,000 in General Obligation

Utility Revenue Bonds, Series 2026A, to fund the replacement of

water and sewer lines as part of the MnDOT Highway 75

reconstruction project. The bonds will be secured by net revenues

from the City’s water and sewer utilities, with the City’s full faith and

credit pledged should those revenues be insufficient. Northland

Securities solicited proposals for the bond sale, and the resolution

awards the bonds to the lowest responsive purchaser and

authorizes all necessary financing actions.

A motion was made by Council Member Nath, seconded by Council

Member Kracht, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion carried

by a unanimous vote.

Replacement of Rooftop Dehumidification Unit Quote.

J.2. 2025-449

The indoor pool’s rooftop dehumidification unit (Dectron unit) needs

replacement because it has reached and exceeded its 15-year life

expectancy, having been installed in 2007. The unit is critical for

controlling moisture levels in the building to prevent rust and

structural deterioration. The $374,750 replacement cost would be

funded from the pool CIP fund and existing pool cash reserves.

A motion was made by Council Member Thorson, seconded by

Council Member Nath, that this Motion be approved. The motion

carried by a unanimous vote.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

J.3. 6-26

RESOLUTION DESIGNATING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY AS A

CITY PARK, DEDICATING IT FOR PUBLIC OUTDOOR

RECREATION USE, AND AUTHORIZING RELATED ACTIONS

This proposed resolution designates Lot 1, Block 2, Gabrielson

Industrial Subdivision as a city park dedicated for public outdoor

recreation use and related public benefits (current outdoor rink

renovation project) . The City commits to maintain the park and

associated facilities for outdoor recreation for at least 20 years and,

for the underlying parkland, into perpetuity or as required by grant

agreements, and to comply with all conditions of any state or federal

grants used to improve the property.

A motion was made by Council Member Thorson, seconded by

Council Member Kracht, that this Resolution be adopted. The

motion carried by a unanimous vote.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

J.4. 7-26

RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR AN OUTDOOR RECREATION

GRANT

This proposed resolution authorizes the City of Luverne to act as

the legal sponsor and submit an Outdoor Recreation Grant

application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for

the outdoor rink renovation project, with Tyler Reisch designated to

apply on the City’s behalf. It affirms that the City has appropriate

conflict-of-interest safeguards, legal authority, and financial capacity

to meet any required match, construct the project, and maintain it

for its design life, and that it has not yet incurred development costs

or entered into a purchase agreement for the project property. The

resolution further states that the City will obtain the necessary

property interests, comply with all grant conditions including

dedicating the park property for perpetual outdoor recreation use,

and authorizes the Finance Director to execute all necessary

implementation agreements.

A motion was made by Council Member Nath, seconded by Council

Member Kracht, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion carried

by a unanimous vote.

COUNCIL REPORTS

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Council Member Kracht, seconded by Council Member

Thorson, to adjourn the meeting at 5:50 p.m. The motion carried unanimously.

__________________________

Jessica Mead, Operations/HR Manager

__________________________

Patrick T. Baustian, Mayor