[1:04] It is 6:00. We'll call the Sartell City

[1:06] Council meeting for August 24th to

[1:07] order. Please rise for Pledge of

[1:09] Allegiance.

[1:12] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[1:14] United States of America

[1:16] and to the republic for which it stands,

[1:19] one nation under God, indivisible, with

[1:22] liberty and justice for all.

[1:28] » Council, next on our agenda is the

[1:30] adoption of the agenda.

[1:32] I would take a motion.

[1:34] to approve.

[1:36] Is there a second?

[1:38] >> Second.

[1:39] >> Motion and a second. All those in favor

[1:41] signify by saying aye.

[1:43] >> Aye.

[1:43] >> Opposed?

[1:45] That carries.

[1:46] We then have the approval of our minutes

[1:49] from July 27th regular council meeting.

[1:52] Is there a motion to approve those?

[1:55] >> I'll make a motion to approve.

[1:56] >> Motion to approve. Is there a second?

[1:58] >> I second it.

[1:59] >> Motion and a second. Any discussion?

[2:03] Seeing none, all those in favor signify

[2:04] by saying aye.

[2:06] >> Aye.

[2:06] >> Opposed?

[2:08] That carries as well.

[2:10] Uh next up we have community comment.

[2:15] Uh we have two people registered

[2:18] tonight.

[2:21] Um I'd ask you to come to the podium,

[2:24] state your name and address,

[2:26] and you have 3 minutes.

[2:29] We have

[2:30] 3 minutes to uh share your thoughts or

[2:33] concerns with council.

[2:39] First up, Mark.

[2:44] Uh Sven and Mark. Go ahead.

[2:46] >> Okay.

[2:47] >> Floor is yours.

[2:48] >> All right.

[2:50] Uh

[2:52] Greetings, Sartell City Council, mayor,

[2:55] and staff.

[2:57] I'm here to talk about this uh

[3:00] water main extension project. Oh, yeah.

[3:04] I'm Glenn Lauer.

[3:05] >> Thank you.

[3:06] >> I reside at 33100

[3:09] County Road 133,

[3:11] Saint Joseph, Minnesota,

[3:14] and I reside uh very near the southwest

[3:17] water plant.

[3:19] Actually, the water plant and the

[3:21] acreage used to be part of my farm.

[3:24] So, I'm here to speak on the water main

[3:26] extension project. I own parcels number

[3:30] one and number two.

[3:32] Uh number one is 70 acres, and it's just

[3:35] east of the water plant.

[3:38] Parcel number two is 22 acres, and

[3:41] that's just north of the water plant.

[3:45] And I guess I've been losing sleep

[3:46] because of the assessment on the 70

[3:49] acres.

[3:50] You know, and I found out tonight it's

[3:53] just an estimate. More of the

[3:56] finality stuff will come in about a

[3:59] year.

[4:00] So, anyway, it's been a my assessment

[4:03] for this project is going to be like

[4:06] $455,000.

[4:09] So, I did some number crunching and it

[4:11] appears

[4:13] they're using a number $6,500

[4:16] per acre

[4:18] you know, for parcels. And there's

[4:20] differences

[4:22] in what some pay. I'm not sure what what

[4:25] it is.

[4:26] Uh the one of the big things for me,

[4:29] there's a parcel 19.

[4:32] You know, even though I've got a 70-acre

[4:35] parcel

[4:37] being

[4:39] you know, assessed for $455,000,

[4:42] there's a parcel at 118 acres

[4:46] that's closer into the city and they're

[4:47] only being assessed $107,000.

[4:51] So, I guess I'd like to know why there's

[4:53] such a difference.

[4:55] Uh getting away from the numbers,

[4:58] I understand the purpose of this project

[5:01] is to loop the water into the city.

[5:04] So, if the south pipe from the water

[5:07] plant would break,

[5:08] they could isolate it and still get

[5:10] water into the city.

[5:13] So,

[5:14] you know, uh typically when development

[5:16] happens, as you move out of the city,

[5:20] you bring utilities and developer

[5:22] usually pays for it. And then it goes

[5:25] into the cost of the development. Here,

[5:27] it's it's almost like it's backwards.

[5:30] And so, we're being assessed for for

[5:34] something that I think is more of a

[5:35] benefit to the city.

[5:38] Cuz they need water. There's only two

[5:40] water plants now instead of three.

[5:43] So, I would like to see the city

[5:45] basically cover the cost and us Sartell

[5:49] taxpayers, which I'm one of,

[5:52] been paying it for 20 years, but I

[5:54] haven't had any benefit because it's by

[5:56] a county road. But, I'd like to just see

[5:59] that the project

[6:01] covered by the city, let the citizens,

[6:05] you know, be taxed for it. Be taxed for

[6:08] it because it's just more of a benefit

[6:11] for the city so that they have water in

[6:13] case something happens.

[6:15] So, thank you.

[6:17] >> Thank you, Glenn. I know you have uh

[6:20] made connection with our city staff, and

[6:22] so I'd encourage you to keep

[6:24] >> Yes.

[6:24] >> uh conversing there, and as it moves

[6:26] along, certainly your testimony will be

[6:29] heard by council.

[6:30] >> Okay.

[6:31] Thank you.

[6:31] >> Thank you, sir.

[6:33] Uh council, I'll bump back up. I uh

[6:36] I omitted the commissions and committee

[6:38] updates.

[6:40] Um

[6:42] Anna, do we have any of those, or

[6:45] >> Um

[6:46] none scheduled at this time. I think it

[6:48] will be in the September before we will

[6:51] see the first from actual commission

[6:53] members.

[6:53] >> Okay. Thank you.

[6:55] Uh then moving on to community linkage,

[6:58] uh we have a preliminary final plat for

[7:02] Clean Trust Partners Plat 1 tonight.

[7:32] » Good evening, Mayor and members of the

[7:34] council. Before you for review this

[7:36] evening is the preliminary and final

[7:38] plat for Clean Trust Partners Plat 1. I

[7:41] did print off the plat um and place it

[7:44] in front of each of you as well for

[7:47] further review.

[7:48] So, some background to this project. If

[7:51] you recall, this is part of a larger

[7:53] solar garden project. This is it has an

[7:57] approved interim use permit or IUP,

[8:00] which I may refer to um for the

[8:02] construction and operation of a 5 MW

[8:05] solar garden. I understand this is hard

[8:08] to see up there um from this screen. It

[8:10] is in your packet as well and for the

[8:13] public to view as well. So, in red is

[8:15] what we're reviewing this evening.

[8:18] This IUP is not to exceed 35 years um

[8:22] from the approval date back in 2024.

[8:26] And uh key item of this as well is this

[8:29] brings our total amount of MW for solar

[8:32] gardens within the city to 10, which is

[8:35] our limit.

[8:36] Um this property was annexed and zoned

[8:40] R1 single family in 2023. Again, it has

[8:43] an interim use permit approval back to

[8:47] 2024. It was further extended um to meet

[8:51] all the requirements as part of that

[8:53] permit um back in 2025. So, part of

[8:56] those requirements and why we're here

[8:58] this evening is the property is required

[9:00] to be platted. That triggers development

[9:03] fees, which the city then takes in.

[9:05] There's other other requirements

[9:08] um such as site and building permits

[9:10] required decommissioning plan, which has

[9:12] been submitted. Um revocation, continued

[9:15] use, and all those limitations still

[9:17] remain.

[9:18] This picture just shows that um the red

[9:21] is the property this evening. There's uh

[9:24] two parcels to the south that have solar

[9:26] gardens on them.

[9:28] And then to the north is a 3 MW solar

[9:31] garden that is our entire limit

[9:35] for the city. And then in orange is the

[9:36] distribution line that runs along Pine

[9:39] Cone Road.

[9:40] So, for actual And there's a spelling

[9:43] error I see there. For actual review and

[9:45] approval,

[9:47] um hopeful approval this evening or

[9:48] recommended approval from staff is a

[9:50] preliminary and final plat. Again, I did

[9:52] print it in front of you and it runs the

[9:54] long way um if it's in front of you. So,

[9:57] lot one, block one is 37 acres. This is

[10:00] roughly part of an 80-acre entire

[10:03] parcel. It will create one lot and one

[10:07] larger outlot. This is consistent with

[10:09] the preliminary plat aligned with the

[10:12] IUP or interim use permit, as I've

[10:14] discussed. And then once if this is

[10:17] approved by council this evening, those

[10:19] development fees would become due prior

[10:21] to releasing that plat for recording

[10:23] with the county.

[10:26] Some remaining project requirements,

[10:28] again, those development fees, they

[10:29] total just under $600,000, which include

[10:32] trunk, water, sewer, storm, and park

[10:34] dedication fees.

[10:36] And then further fees would be

[10:40] paid if that outlot or if and when that

[10:42] outlot is further developed and what

[10:44] that development looks like in the

[10:46] future. Again, we would need building

[10:48] permit and site plan review, which would

[10:50] be forthcoming as well.

[10:54] Council actions and next steps, this was

[10:55] reviewed at the Planning Commission on

[10:58] August 3rd, 2026. We discussed some

[11:01] items related to the interim use permit

[11:02] because some of those members were not

[11:04] on the Planning Commission when this

[11:06] went through them for review and

[11:08] recommended approval. And then we

[11:10] discussed the access, which is provided

[11:12] along 17th Street North.

[11:15] Again, preliminary and final plat

[11:17] approval would allow the developer to

[11:20] further on the solar garden development,

[11:22] submit the building and site plan

[11:24] permits,

[11:25] and then city staff would just ensure

[11:26] compliance with the overall permit,

[11:28] platting requirements, development fees.

[11:31] Um just noting that this aligns with our

[11:33] city ordinances and requirements, and

[11:36] the site plan must meet the specific

[11:38] solar garden requirements such as

[11:39] setback requirements, fencing,

[11:41] landscaping, all those requirements are

[11:43] reviewed at the city staff level.

[11:46] Um, before I get to opening or asking

[11:50] you to open the public hearing, I just

[11:51] want to reiterate that this is for the

[11:53] preliminary and final plat. The interim

[11:56] use permit has been approved. That had a

[11:58] public hearing, but this is just for the

[12:00] preliminary and final plat this evening.

[12:02] Although I have talked about the overall

[12:05] IUP, this is just regarding the plat and

[12:08] that's part of the requirements of that

[12:09] IUP. So, just to reiterate that,

[12:13] what I'd ask from the council this

[12:14] evening is to open that public hearing,

[12:17] and then recommended actions is to

[12:19] approve the preliminary and final plat

[12:21] contingent upon making sure they're

[12:23] still

[12:25] adhering to that approved interim use

[12:27] permit, which has timing requirements.

[12:31] Thank you.

[12:32] >> Thank you.

[12:33] Uh, Council, we will open the public

[12:35] hearing.

[12:37] Anyone wishing to testify

[12:39] on the preliminary and final plat for

[12:42] Clean Trust Partners Plat 1, please step

[12:44] forward.

[12:50] Floor is yours, sir.

[12:51] >> Okay.

[12:52] >> State your name and address once again

[12:54] for the record.

[12:54] >> Okay, I'm Glenn Lawler. Address is 33100

[12:58] County Road 133 St. Joe.

[13:01] Just finding about out about that this

[13:04] evening.

[13:05] Uh, I believe isn't there a future plan

[13:08] to put 17th Street

[13:11] down that area?

[13:14] And if not, or if so, you know, are the

[13:18] solar farms far enough to get the street

[13:21] through?

[13:22] So, that's that's my question.

[13:24] >> I can take that. We do the 17th Street

[13:27] North is a township roadway right now on

[13:29] minimum maintenance roadway. If and when

[13:31] that ever does go through, we do have

[13:34] the dedicated right of way we would need

[13:36] for that roadway between the solar

[13:38] gardens.

[13:39] >> So, is that space available right now?

[13:42] >> Correct. Yes.

[13:44] >> Through this process, we're obtaining

[13:45] it.

[13:49] » Anyone else wishing to testify?

[13:52] >> I'm Evan Carlson. I'm the developer

[13:54] here.

[13:55] I recognize a lot of you. I've been

[13:57] coming here a long time. Um

[13:59] I imagine the big question is when.

[14:02] Um our CUP expires January. So, we are

[14:06] intending to

[14:08] comply with this plat requirements and

[14:11] which we have to do to get our building

[14:12] permit. Once we get the building permit,

[14:14] we lock in

[14:15] the the the permits and then we start

[14:17] ground shortly thereafter. So,

[14:19] everything has been done that needs to

[14:20] be done for this. It has It's

[14:23] uh its state approvals. It is an

[14:24] approved community solar garden that's

[14:26] accepted into the program. It has um

[14:30] technically begun construction because

[14:32] we've ordered the equipment for it.

[14:34] Um and um

[14:36] we're merely merely waiting to recycle

[14:38] debt on other projects that we have in

[14:40] construction to actually break ground.

[14:42] So,

[14:43] everything is in place except for this

[14:46] and the the other city requirements

[14:48] we meet by the

[14:50] groundbreaking.

[14:52] If you have any questions, I'm here to

[14:52] answer them.

[14:54] >> Thank you.

[14:58] Anyone else wishing to testify?

[15:03] Third and final call, anyone wishing to

[15:04] testify on the preliminary and final

[15:06] plat of Clean Trust Partners Plat 1?

[15:11] Seeing none, we will close the public

[15:12] hearing.

[15:14] Uh Council, any questions

[15:17] on the preliminary and final plat in

[15:19] front of us?

[15:25] » Seeing none,

[15:27] I would look for a motion.

[15:30] Staff is requesting

[15:31] uh approval of preliminary and final

[15:33] plat as presented.

[15:37] With the contingent that they adhere to

[15:40] the approved IUP.

[15:45] » So moved.

[15:46] >> We have a motion to approve that. Is

[15:48] there a second?

[15:50] >> Second.

[15:51] >> Motion and a second. Any further

[15:53] discussion?

[15:57] Seeing none, all those in favor signify

[15:59] by saying aye.

[16:01] >> Aye.

[16:01] >> Opposed?

[16:02] That carries.

[16:06] Uh we are on the consent agenda tonight.

[16:08] We have

[16:10] um eight items on consent agenda.

[16:15] I would uh look for a motion on those

[16:17] eight or if anyone has a question on

[16:19] them.

[16:25] » Motion to approve.

[16:26] all eight. Is there a

[16:28] second?

[16:30] >> Second.

[16:31] >> Motion and a second.

[16:33] Any discussion?

[16:36] Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

[16:40] >> Aye.

[16:40] >> Opposed?

[16:42] Those carry as well.

[16:43] And we have city and department reports.

[16:47] First up is admin report uh July 31st,

[16:50] August 7th, and August 21st.

[16:53] >> Mayor and members of the council, happy

[16:54] to answer any questions on those reports

[16:56] and then you'll notice um every

[16:57] department tonight for monthly reports

[17:00] due to the August 10th meeting uh being

[17:02] rescheduled to uh tonight, so happy to

[17:05] answer any questions on mine and then

[17:06] we'll go through each department after

[17:08] that.

[17:09] >> Any questions for admin?

[17:16] Seeing none, thank you.

[17:18] Uh public works engineering.

[17:20] >> Good evening, Mayor and members of

[17:21] Council. Uh we are getting close to

[17:24] wrapping up projects for the summer.

[17:27] Um

[17:28] and we'll be

[17:29] quickly entering into a couple of new

[17:31] projects that were approved this

[17:32] evening.

[17:33] And uh one big thing I'd like to just

[17:36] kind of point out is uh we'll be sending

[17:38] out an email to all of Council. Uh we'll

[17:41] be looking for a couple of volunteers to

[17:42] help us. We do have a vacant parks

[17:44] commission uh seat that we want to get

[17:46] filled and would love some help with the

[17:48] interview process and getting that seat

[17:50] filled. So, just be on the lookout for

[17:52] an email from me looking for a couple of

[17:53] volunteers. Um other than that, uh

[17:56] April and I'd be happy to answer any

[17:57] questions if you have any.

[17:59] >> Any questions for public works

[18:01] engineering?

[18:04] Thank you.

[18:06] Uh public safety.

[18:08] >> Mayor and members of Council, you have

[18:09] my report. Stand for any questions if

[18:10] you have any.

[18:12] >> Any questions for public safety?

[18:16] All right, engagement and experiences.

[18:20] >> Mayor and members of Council, um you

[18:21] have my report in front of you. One

[18:24] thing I wanted to point out was um our

[18:26] Little Learners Storytime program. Um we

[18:30] the last about 3 years we've partnered

[18:32] with St. Cloud Financial Credit Union um

[18:35] to create a garden in the back of the

[18:36] Community Center and um it's just it's

[18:40] so fun this time of year because it's

[18:41] just it's blossoming so much and the

[18:43] kids are so excited to go pick the

[18:44] cucumbers and all the all the fun

[18:46] veggies. Um so, just wanted to publicly

[18:49] state a thank you to St. Cloud Financial

[18:50] Credit Union for that partnership. Um

[18:53] it's it gets more fun every year. If you

[18:55] have any questions, please let me know.

[18:57] >> Awesome. Any questions for Nikki?

[19:03] Thank you. And thank you, St. Cloud

[19:05] Financial.

[19:07] Uh finance and operations.

[19:09] >> Uh good evening, Mayor and members of

[19:10] Council. You have my report. Be happy to

[19:12] answer any questions that you may have.

[19:14] Council, any questions for um

[19:19] I think we're saving all those for the

[19:20] uh workshop.

[19:21] >> Yeah, I've decided to dive in.

[19:23] >> Absolutely.

[19:25] Thank you. And uh community economic

[19:27] development.

[19:28] >> Mayor and members of the council, you

[19:30] have my monthly report. One item I'd

[19:32] like to highlight is that we have now 26

[19:35] homes that have qualified for the

[19:37] Growing Sartell Together program. I know

[19:39] this is not a huge number, but it's

[19:43] already exceeded our permit um permits

[19:46] as of last year, um and hopefully we'll

[19:49] get into the 30s again uh for home new

[19:52] home permits, which is generally um our

[19:56] 5-year average, but we dipped below

[19:58] that. Uh we only had 21 last year, so

[20:01] we've already added um just from permit

[20:03] valuations 12 million in just

[20:05] single-family homes.

[20:08] >> Fantastic. Um this weekend, for the

[20:10] first time, it might have been there a

[20:12] while, but I saw a realtor actually

[20:14] marketing said ask us about uh

[20:17] Growing Sartell Together. So.

[20:20] It's catching and it's moving.

[20:21] >> It's good.

[20:22] >> Any questions

[20:24] for economic community development?

[20:29] Seeing none, thank you.

[20:30] Council round tables, uh Tim.

[20:34] >> Um I

[20:37] We haven't had a meeting since the

[20:38] National Night Out, but I think uh to

[20:40] just touch on that, I think it was a

[20:42] wonderful evening um from public safety

[20:44] and

[20:46] community center and all that stuff was

[20:47] set up. I think um

[20:49] it's important to keep that engagement

[20:51] with the public, especially as we go out

[20:53] and visit neighborhoods and such like

[20:55] that. Uh just the value of it

[20:58] seeing those people smiling and getting

[21:00] out and in meeting them at their

[21:02] neighborhood and they just

[21:04] tons of questions and tons of

[21:05] engagement, so

[21:07] um I think it was a a win

[21:09] um on every angle of it, so.

[21:12] >> Yeah, Tim, one thing I wanted to add to

[21:14] that. Uh thank you for pointing that

[21:16] out. Um I it's the most stops that I

[21:19] since I've been here that we've had for

[21:20] National Night Out um as far as in

[21:22] neighborhood, so I think that's pretty

[21:24] cool.

[21:27] » That's it. Thanks.

[21:28] >> Awesome.

[21:28] >> Pat.

[21:29] >> I have nothing.

[21:30] >> Rusty.

[21:31] >> Um yeah, just to echo what Tim said.

[21:34] I've had several people come up to me

[21:36] saying they had the best hot dogs

[21:38] they've ever tasted before at National

[21:40] Night Out. And the grill station was amazing.

[21:45] >> What was the name

[21:46] >> Yeah, they were a little slow coming off

[21:48] the grill.

[21:49] >> What was the name of

[21:49] >> We were we were singing.

[21:51] >> What was the name of the grill station

[21:53] again?

[21:54] >> Something Dreams.

[21:55] >> It is Something in Dreams, yeah.

[21:56] >> [laughter]

[21:58] » Other than that, nothing.

[22:01] >> Jed.

[22:02] >> Nothing today.

[22:02] >> Melton. Top five.

[22:05] >> [clears throat]

[22:06] >> Who donated the brats or hot dogs?

[22:10] » Uh I have nothing further. I will look

[22:13] for a motion to adjourn.

[22:15] >> So moved.

[22:16] >> Is there a second?

[22:17] >> Second.

[22:18] >> We're adjourned at 6:21.

[22:25] » It was the two people that were watching us.

[22:28] >> Huh?

[22:28] >> Yeah.

[22:29] >> [laughter]

[22:29] >> Just sat there.

[22:31] Hello to the two people.

[22:34] Weird.

Sartell City Council Meeting August 24th, 2026

Transcript