2025-02-18 City Council Minutes
ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES February 18, 2025 – 7 pm
Council Chambers
Albertville City Hall
1. Call to Order
Acting Mayor Olson called the meeting to order at 7 pm.
2. Pledge of Allegiance – Roll Call
Present: Acting Mayor Olson, Councilmembers Cocking, Hayden and Zagorski.
Mayor Hendrickson arrived at 7:51 pm.
Staff Present: City Administrator Nafstad, Fire Chief Bullen, Finance Director Lannes, and City
Clerk Luedke.
3. Recognitions – Presentations – Introductions – None
4. Public Forum
Ms. Kaitlin Lougiu-Nelson, 10671 Karston Ave NE, said she was here to talked about the City’s
ordinance regarding urban chickens and reported she would like to either gain the Council’s support
for allowing them. She reported with the current bird flu epidemic and the steep rise in egg prices,
she said citizens needed to find viable alternatives to source eggs in which allowing Albertville
residents to keep back yard chickens would be one way. Ms. Lougiu-Nelson stated many
surrounding cities allowed chicken and incorporate strict guidelines which Albertville could also
include, from not allowing roosters, limits on the number of chickens permitted, standards on coop
maintenance and incorporating an annual permit fee. She answered questions from Council.
City Administrator Nafstad reported the City has not recently received requests for chickens but
rather for pigeons and some other animals. He said Albertville generally has smaller lots approved
through the plan unit development process and many of the City’s HOA do not allow chickens.
Administrator Nafstad said no action could take place tonight, but he would bring back material
presented by the previous City Planner for Council’s review and discussion.
5. Amendments to the Agenda
There were no amendments to the agenda.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Olson to approve the
February 18, 2025, agenda as submitted. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None.
Absent: Hendrickson. The motion carried.
6. Consent Agenda
All items under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the City staff and will be
enacted by one motion. In the event an item is pulled, it will be discussed in the order it is listed on
the Consent Agenda following the approval of the remaining Consent items. Items pulled will be
approved by a separate motion.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Regular Meeting of February 18, 2025
A. Approve the February 3, 2025, regular City Council Meeting minutes as presented.
B. Authorize the Tuesday, February 18, 2025, payment of claims as presented, except bills
specifically pulled which are passed by separate motion. The claims listing has been
provided to City Council as a separate document and is available for public view at City
Hall upon request.
C. Approve revisions to the Albertville Fire Department’s Standard Operating Policies and
Procedures.
D. Approve a Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) License application for BJ’s Sport Tavern
located at 5788 Main Avenue NE, Albertville through December 31, 2025.
City Clerk Luedke answered questions from Council regarding the THC license request for BJ’s
Sport Tavern.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to approve the
February 18, 2025, consent agenda as submitted. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Olson and Zagorski.
Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson. The motion carried.
7. Public Hearing – None
8. Wright County Sheriff’s Office – Updates, reports, etc.
There were no updates from Wright County Sheriff’s Office.
9. Department Business
A. City Council
1. Committee Updates (STMA Ice Arena, Planning, JPWB, Parks, Fire Board,
FYCC, etc.)
Councilmember Cocking provided an update from the STMA Arena Board meeting in which he
reported he would continue to be the Chair of the Board and Councilmember Hayden would be the
Vice Chair. He said the Board reviewed the preliminary budget and discussed the ice rates and
possible future capital improvements.
B. Building
1. 2024 Year-End Building Permit Review
City Administrator Nafstad presented the staff report and summarized the 2024 Building Permit
Activity report. He also reviewed the information on the rental licenses and the number of
inspections conducted in 2024. Administrator Nafstad answered questions from Council regarding
the Building Official’s responsibilities since bringing the service in house instead of contracting
with the City of St. Michael for inspection services. He added that City’s Building Department
Permit Technician position has expanded, and Ms. Becker was doing a great job.
C. City Clerk – None
D. Finance – None
E. Fire – None
F. Planning and Zoning – None
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
Regular Meeting of February 18, 2025
G. Public Works/Engineering
1. Approve Purchase of Salt Storage Cover
City Administrator Nafstad presented the staff report which included background information on
the location of the proposed salt storage cover which were old reed beds from the Wastewater
Treatment facility project. He reported with the addition of the storage cover, Public Works would
like not purchase salt through county an would have an opportunity to purchase surplus salt from
other communities. He answered questions from Council.
MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to the
purchase of a fabric covered storage building as quoted by Greystone Construction for $74,860.
Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. Absent: Hendrickson. The motion
carried.
2. Central Park Discussion
City Administrator Nafstad reported he originally planned to just ask for direction on whether or not
to purchase the Central Park playground equipment but before doing so wanted to discuss the other
projects that had come up at recent Park Committee meetings. Nafstad presented information the
projects and said the City was looking at funding for upcoming 2025 projects which included the
Main Avenue reconstruction project. He discussed possible funding options for the projects which
could include using City reserves, WAC and SAC fees, park dedication funds, bonding, and which
would include an associated tax levy. The projects discussed included a new Central Park
playground, an entry plaza, the land purchase of property adjoining the park, field #1 lighting
replacement and an outdoor rink/pickleball improvements. He reviewed each improvement in detail
and provided the estimated costs and stated Northland Securities has run various scenario for
possible funding. Nafstad answered questions from Council regarding each project and estimated
costs and requested direction as to the Council’s priority for the proposed projects.
Finance Director Lannes provided additional information on the possible funding sources and
reiterated that a tax levy would be needed to fund all the projects.
There was much Council discussion regarding the projects, possible funding sources and the
priority of the projects. The Council’s priority consensus was:
1. Playground Improvements
2. Outdoor Rink/Pickleball
3. Entry Plaza
4. Field #1 Lighting Replacement
5. Land Purchase
The Council directed staff to pursue the playground improvements in 2025 and to include the entry
plaza as an add alternate to the bid for consideration.
City Administrator Nafstad reported if the Council agreed that he would like a motion to move
forward with the purchase of the playground equipment so that it could be installed this fall.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to approve the
purchase of the playground equipment for Central Park in the amount of $869,226.04. Ayes:
Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
Regular Meeting of February 18, 2025
H.Legal – None
I.Administration
City Administrator Nafstad recognized the City staff for their extra work while the office is short
staffed, the Public Works staff for their snow removal work and the Water Department staff for
their dealing with the many water main breaks that have happened lately.
Administrator Nafstad said he appreciated all of the people that attended the CSAH 37/CR137 Open
House and reported he would bring items forward as they related to the project as it continued to
developed. He answered questions from Council.
Wright County Commission Holland provided additional information from the Open House and
answered questions from Council regarding the proposed pedestrian crossing and the County’s trail
systems.
Announcements and/or Upcoming Meetings
February 24 Joint Power Water Board, 6 pm
Parks Committee, 7 pm
March 3 City Council, 7 pm
March 10 STMA Arena Board, 6 pm
March 11 Planning Commission, 7 pm
10.Adjournment
MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, second by Councilmember Hayden to adjourn the
meeting at 8:30 pm. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The
motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________
Kristine A. Luedke, City Clerk