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Lindstrom City Council met December 17 for a regular meeting.  All members were present.

The council began the meeting with a report by city finance manager Kay Mattson on city finances and the 2026 proposed levy.  

Mattson said the final budget results in a levy of $3,978,024. This amount includes $101,500 for EDA and $40,000 for the Debt Service Funds. The tax rate for the 2026 final levy is 48.78 percent as compared to the tax rate of 47.70 percent for the levy year 2025 (per Chisago County). The levy increase will be 9.78.

City planner Kendra Ellner then told the council about a subdivision application for a property at 33175 North Lakes Trail.  The Planning Commission held the public hearing and discussed the lot splits at their December 4 meeting and unanimously recommended approval.  The proposed plat involves combining two properties A (3 acres) B (36 acres) into one parcel and then subdividing the combined 39-acre property into three parcels at a minimum of 10 acres.

Council member David Waldoch asked if all application fees have been paid. Ellner said they have been paid.

Council member Mike Hilber made a motion to approve the combination split.  The motion passed unanimously.

Council then discussed a request from property owners of 13840 Lake Boulevard to detach from the city and annex into Center City.  The home which sits on the border has had city water from Center City for years but currently has a septic system. The owners would like to get the home on city sewer.  Administrator Dan Undem told the council the closest hook up for Lindstrom sewer would be behind the middle school and would be very expensive to extend to the home.   Council unanimously passed the detachment of the home.

Council then was told by Undem that Rochon Construction has officially completed the remaining punchlist for the fire hall.  The company is seeking the final payout with $20,000 being held in escrow in case of more potential failing parking lot sections.  There were 13 sections originally in question and the $20,000 would cover 8-12 if needed.  The remaining $147,726 of the construction fund will be placed in the general fund.  Council passed the payout 5-0.

Undem then told the council the committee has found an assistant city administrator after interviewing 54 applicants.  Tom Rynott who currently is the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director has been selected for the position.  The start date will be January 20, 2026.  Council passed the hiring of Rynott 4-1 with council member David Waldoch opposed, with no comment.

Council then appointed Matt Rein, Dale Fredell, Claire Healy and Donna Lunde to the Parks Committee.  Lisa Stangl and Dan Friedner then were appointed to the EDA and Rusty Johnson was appointed to the Valkommen Apartments  committee. Council made an announcement to thank those who have served and are stepping away from those committees.

City engineer Brian Bachmeier then told the council the city received five bids for the lift station, sewer lining and Stacy Trail projects.  Minger Construction was the low bidder at $888,843.  Undem told the council the company will either have the work completed by Karl Oskar Days or will wait to start until after Karl Oskar Days.

Bachmeier then presented a road construction plan for 2026.  The plan includes striping of downtown parking lots as well as striping of Highway 8 parking spots,  also repaving of three downtown parking lots and mill and overlay of Olinda Trail from Highway north to Third Street.  

Undem then gave a year end update on the city’s accomplishments over 2025.  He noted the Park Street parking lot completion, public art including the mural on the liquor store and the giant Dala horse along Highway 8,  the completion of 295th and Akerson road construction and more.  Undem thanked the city council and staff for all their hard work.  

Undem then gave a shout out to the public works department for their exemplary work in cleaning the city from the big snow storm a few weeks ago.  Undem also thanked R.E. Peterson Company for their continued help during the snow season.

Council adjourned at 8:24pm.

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