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Shafer City council met January 6 for their organizational council meeting .  All members were present.

The meeting began with treasurer Richard Hill giving an overview of the 2025 year-end budget.  Hill said the General Fund revenue ended the year eight percent above projections, thus resulting in a positive cash flow of $61,000.  Hill then told council the expenditures ended the year at 92.5 percent of the allocated budget or $83,500 under budget.  Water and sewer funds experienced an increase of five percent for water and one and a half percent for sewer. The water fund expenses came in at 83 percent of budgeted.  

Hill told council the general fund has a balance of $784,000, the parks fund has $30,000 and the EDA fund has $250.  Both water and sewer funds have balances of approximately $300,000 each.  Hill told the council the overall financial position of the city is strong.  

Council then had a discussion initiated by council member Marilyn Anderson regarding reducing council meetings to once a month.  Anderson noted that the city has had seven council meetings that lasted 20 minutes or less with the shortest lasting four minutes.  Anderson suggested the council cut down to one meeting a month and one work session that could be cancelled if no business needed addressing.  

Council member Patty Mattson told the council the city had tried that in the past, which resulted in lengthy sessions lasting hours.  Mayor Paula Hanson told the council she would like to attend a local city that currently has one meeting per month to gage how long they are.   Council agreed to table and discuss in the future.

Council then passed an ordinance authorizing the mayor and council to receive pay to attend city-related training.

Council then agreed to reschedule the Feb. 3 council meeting to Feb. 2 due to the precinct Caucus on Feb. 3.  

Council then appointed committees for 2026. They are as follows:

Assistant Mayor - Nick Brehm

Parks Committee - Patty Mattson, Rebecca Henderson, Brad Swenson (maintenance).

Planning commission - Paula Hanson, Nick Brehm

EDA - Patty Mattson, Rebecca Henderson

Street commission - Paula Hanson

Public works committee - Paula Hanson, Nick Brehm, Brad Swenson (maintenance)

HR committee - Paula Hanson. Patty Mattson, Valerie Fox (clerk), Brad Swenson (maintenance)

Regional library - Patty Mattson

Visitor bureau - Patty Mattson

Ordinance committee - Marilyn Anderson, Nick Brehm, Brad Swenson (maintenance)

Attorney - James Monge (Campbell Knutson)

Weed inspector - Paula Hanson, Brad Swenson (maintenance)

Civil defense/emergency - Paula Hanson  

JP Fire department - Nick Brehm, Paula Hanson

Hwy 8 task force - Patty Mattson, Marilyn Anderson

Cable Commission - Patty Mattson

Wellhead protection - Marilyn Anderson, Brad Swenson (maintenance)

Engineer - Jake Guzik (ISG)

Fire inspector - Ed Kubicki

Law enforcement - Chisago County Sheriff’s Office

Depository - MidWest One

Newspaper - Chisago County Press.

Council then passed a motion to accept Shayden Mattson as ice rink attendant for 2026.

Council adjourned at 6:40pm.

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