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The 2025 Taylors Falls budget and levy were set Monday night this week, by unanimous vote. Taylors Falls’ mayor Brandon Weiberg was excused.  The property tax collections will increase by 5.9 percent.  This will have varying impacts on individual properties depending on what the taxable value of your parcel is for 2025.  Valuations are determined by the county assessor and if you have a question on your property value contact the assessor’s department.  It is past the deadline to revise this year’s numbers but,  not too soon to present a case for next year. 

Taylors Falls council improved some staff benefits for 2025 (disability pay and insurance)  in an attempt to make the city more attractive for hiring and retaining personnel who have stabilized the city,  after a period of staffing issues and hurdles.  The benefits put Taylors Falls more in-line with similar cities.  

The Firefighters’ budget was increased $6,000 to more accurately reflect prior years’ expenses and security for the I.T. network was upped at a cost of $38,000.

As part of the balancing act the city council also decreased some expenses and made accounting adjustments to better allocate specific revenues to what had been placed under the General Fund; like the stormwater, sewer and water Enterprise Funds which will be contributing towards payroll hours for those functions.

And, sheriff patrol hours were reduced by  $20,000 for 2025, implementing a schedule of more targeted presence of deputies.

Reviewing adopting the city cannabis/adult use rules took quite some time.  

Taylors Falls has a low dose business operating currently and there was lengthy discussion with owner Buck Duncan about new language unintentionally affecting aspects of his operations.  Duncan said he doesn’t “manufacture” products currently but he’d like to see wording proposed for prohibiting manufacture and/or cultivation eliminated.  

Zoning Administrator Elizabeth Haas said on a small scale like Duncan’s business,  “it could work.” Council agreed Duncan’s shop, “The Bridge”  has been an exemplary addition to the downtown district.  They left the door open to production of value-added operations such as producing “tinctures” or balm from marijuana and small scale packaging in town.  

Duncan, who has been open under the edibles and low dose rules which were being revised, could stay open  until 10 p.m.  For an unknown reason the new ordinance was recommended to set closing time at 9 p.m.  Council agreed to go with 10 p.m.  (Sundays cannabis shops can open at 10 a.m. and Mon through Sat at 8 a.m.)

Taylors Falls plans to allow one retail and one low dose shop as the rules are written now.  

Council has been working on cannabis regulations in anticipation of January 2025 implementation of state licenses.  (The state licensing process for adult use cannabis retail stores has been held up by lawsuits, however, asking the court to determine if state denial of early licensure applications was arbitrary.)

There was also discussion on standard security measures and aesthetics for cannabis storefronts, including signage allowed.

Included in the 2025 budget is about $13,000 for a visioning community collaborative, to be facilitated by a consultant Todd Streeter.  The council had been hot and cold on this, but following a meeting with the Economic Development Commission members the program was given the go-ahead.

Council member Tim Grote said he attended the presentation given to the EDC and there appears to be “renewed energy” on taking this planning tool and “the timing is perfect” in 2025.

Springs Inn was approved a 2025 hotel license application (which gets issued by the State of MN.)  Haas reported the owner is appearing to be willing to address some nuisance issues affecting the property and she said recent discussions left the impression everyone is in agreement the main goal is compliance.  

The annual cigarette and liquor license applications were approved.

The sewer system will be televised and maintenance done over the coming three years at $19,500 per year under a quote from Visu-sewer Company.  Public works has taken a break from this routine practice for about four years,  and the council was advised it’s not a good idea to ignore this task.

An addition of a  railing on the top of the retaining wall hill behind Chisago House was tabled for more information.

The council thanked Larry Julik Heine for his 20 years of council service and Troy Aanonsen for his four years.  Both attended their final session this week as they did not seek re-election.

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