City of Dodge Center

The City Council approved a $2,000 donation to the Triton High School Business Professionals of America for their national competition trip to Florida. A public hearing was held regarding nuisance code violations at 141st Ave NE, resulting in a motion to give the property owner until a specific deadline to clear the site or face abatement. The council also authorized the City Attorney to initiate a housing code violation process concerning the Dodge House property due to ongoing exterior code violations and lack of response from the license holder.

The Dodge Center City Council held a regular meeting to discuss various topics, including amending regulations pertaining to agricultural animals, considering an interim use permit and a fence height variance, reviewing a professional services agreement for the wastewater plant, and discussing airport-related projects such as the Jet-A-Fuel Expansion and a card reader grant. They also addressed downtown main floor apartments, the Olson Lot Donation, and the 2025 Mill and Overlay Project. Additionally, the council discussed the Housing Incentive Program and set a special meeting for Memorial Day. The council also discussed a request to change the status of a main street building to mixed use, a nuisance violation, and the issuance of debt for the 2025 Improvement Project. The council reviewed and approved the preliminary schedule for Dodger Days, changes to the existing airport plan, and a lease for Skyventure Aviation.

The EDA meeting involved discussions regarding filling an EDA vacancy, with a recommendation for Jeremy Gnagey to join the board. The possibility of a market study for senior housing/assisted living was discussed, with the EDA agreeing to contribute financially. Other business included discussions on the Small Cities Development Program, potential renovation of a building for a daycare facility, land owned by the Chicos, the Dodger 56 apartment project, and Heritage Bank's proposed project.

The meeting addressed several key areas, including the status of an MPCA agreement, ambulance funding, and potential phosphorus and chloride limits. Discussions also covered North Park scoreboards, city shop heat quotes, the Dodger Days Committee, and a burning request from Praise Fellowship. Additionally, the council considered an LRIP grant proposal and entered a closed session to discuss threatened or pending litigation. The consent agenda included approval for a city hall floor cleaning quote, an EAB grant tree purchase, Legion Sunday liquor licenses, a Lions Santa Anonymous request, a Northwest Lift Station dialer quote, and a Color Run route approval.

The council discussed a potential chicken ordinance and directed staff to prepare a trial proposal for allowing chickens within city limits. They authorized staff to approve Music on Main events without council approval each time. The council also addressed ambulance staffing, approving the advertising for open positions and tasking the City Administrator and Mayor to develop an incentive plan for hiring and retaining ambulance staff. Additional topics included applying for a Dodge County SHIP Grant for a bicycle pump and rack, Dodger Days recommendations, employee training, summer programming, newspaper designation, a multi-hazard mitigation plan, joint powers agreements, redistricting, primary election judges, a general fund reserve policy, the 2021 audit, grounding wire charges for water meter upgrades, and a request from Venom Softball to aerate the softball fields.