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State Representative Max Rymer R-North Branch attended the Taylors Falls city council meeting last week to review two requests he was asked to push in the latest session of the legislature. One was successful and Rymer said it was a great feeling to be able to directly assist the city in accomplishing this.  The city will get funds for a key sewer system repair through a $1.5 million grant from the state infrastructure bonding bill. “Constituent service is my favorite part” of the job, Rymer told council.

This session’s legislative group was keen on support for infrastructure and critical water needs. were presented for state aid, Rymer continued.  He added the state bonding bill is a good tool to address these expensive needs especially for greater Minnesota.

The legislature was split however, on other issues, and the second of the city’s requests— for Local Option Sales Tax — went down in gridlock.  Rep. Rymer said all city requests for legislation allowing the local option sales tax were turned down.

Taylors Falls had hoped to impose one half of one cent tax starting as soon as residents had a chance to vote and authorize the tax this November.  The ballot will have to wait for another legislative session to enable the vote.

In other matters:  a minor subdivision for a large lot, into two lots at 1360 Mulberry Street was formalized in a resolution that passed 4-0 with Mayor Weiberg absent last week.

City Clerk Sherrie Thomasen put together a proposal for Taylors Falls to become a user of the TextMyGov system.  The city will not be billed until 2027, she explained, so the council can budget for the program.  It runs $2,500 for the first year including set up and $2,000 after.  Details will be announced later on what it has to offer and how to subscribe, but it is basically a database of Taylors Falls citizens who wish to have their contact information included when the city disseminates alerts, messages about projects, street closures, etc.

A meter flow device for the water system needs replacing and council ok’d $7,017 for the work.  The bid showed “tariff” special costs at $393.

Council then took about an hour to analyze the best action on a request for a rebuild of a residence that burned on a lot where now commercial use is mandated.  

The owner has put the quarter-acre lot up for sale and has offers for residential use of the lot on Bench Street. But due to delay in filing for rebuilding, city code calls for primarily commercial use (along that whole west side of Bench Street.)  

The owner said he had no clue the parcel was being restricted to commercial use.  City staff said it was a shame that the real estate agent failed to check on land use restrictions, adding it is not the owner’s fault.

City Attorney Fritz Knaak explained the ordinance is meant to “support conformity over time.”  

If the owner had applied within a certain timeframe for a permit to rebuild the residence— its traditional non-conforming use would have been grandfathered in,  but that window to apply has lapsed.  The house burned down in May 2025.

Council voted 3-1 to not allow the variance for residential. Interim Mayor Lee Samuelson  voted with the applicant for residential use.  The property did not get a special variance to be residential.  

A tie vote prior to this action killed the motion to add time onto the deadline to apply for the building permit.  The owner or new buyer would have to move quickly to close the sale and get the permit for the lot,  in a matter of 60 days.  This vote was 2-2, Schumann and Bayer opposed.

 But a few minutes later Council member Tim Grote declared he wished to change his vote on the outright denial. The denial would then die on a tie.

Upon advice from attorney Knaak council agreed, due to the late hour, and being short one member—that this motion can be taken up again at the June 22 council meeting.  The mayor then presumably would be casting the deciding vote.

Council member Robert Bayer noted in reviewing the  financial reports that direction given by motion to staff to move deposits to Royal Credit Union was not being followed.  Bayer said the amount of income he had seen in the report was about half what he expected.  Royal has a much better interest rate and it’s being missed out on when all funds aren’t shifted in a timely fashion, Bayer declared.  He was the one who suggested using the credit union services for 2026 and it had been supported unanimously by council.

The treasurer was not present; but council heard the delay is likely due to time needed for outstanding transactions to be concluded with the former bank.  Staff will report back.

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