Benjamin Baker

The council meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda and previous minutes. A significant portion of the meeting involved public comments addressing concerns regarding immigration enforcement activities, including reports of ICE agents stopping community members, affecting student housing, and causing business disruption. Council was urged to issue a declarative statement supporting residents and to consider offering resources such as legal aid, utility bill assistance, and loans to affected businesses. Key agenda items approved via the consent agenda included licenses, board appointments (with a correction for Jessica Becker to the Tourism and Visitors Bureau), and an employee appointment (Joshua Glattis as a police patrol officer). Capital equipment purchases authorized included a brush cutter attachment, a cedar attachment (requiring the disposal of an existing unit), and a snowblower attachment, all funded through equipment certificates. Discussions also clarified staffing levels for the police department.

The agenda for the meeting included the Oath of Office and the Election of Officers for Chair and Vice Chair. New business involved a review and recommendation for a new street name to replace the private road named Scholarship Way for the new City Hall property. Reports covered updates on several ongoing projects, including Mazatlán opening, Taqueria El Rey opening, Jimmy Johns opening, KAVO and hotel developments, Timeless opening, Rising Sun Chiropractic remodel, Capital Lofts unit addition, and Hallet's Pond swimming beach addition. The Commission also reviewed materials pertaining to the election of 2026 officers and proposed historical and non-historical street names for the new public road.

Key discussions and actions during this City Council meeting included the approval of the agenda and consent agenda items, which involved updating depository amounts, approving various resolutions, licenses, appointments, and disbursements. New Business featured several equipment certificate purchases: a Brush Cutter, a Seeder Attachment, and a Snow Blower Attachment. The Council also addressed the feasibility report for the 2026 North 4th Street Improvements, authorized out-of-state travel, reviewed a Mechanic Job Description, and approved new registrations. Additionally, the Council discussed and provided direction regarding the need for a Special Meeting concerning the presence of Federal Agents in the community, and authorized an Executive Session to discuss Real Property matters. The City Administrator's contract modifications were also approved.

The regular City Council meeting included several key actions and discussions. The Council approved the agenda and resolutions related to the Consent Agenda, adjusting depository amounts. Key resolutions involved authorizing engineering plans for Phase 2 of the Gorman Park improvements and accepting the SCADA Replacement Project, authorizing final payment. The Council also adopted a resolution to submit, adopt, and implement the Minnesota River -- Mankato Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, accepted the completion of the 2024 Klein Street project, and approved the dissolution of the U.S. Highway 169 Corridor Coalition. Further actions included approving a five-year loan extension for an EDA loan held by Guentzel Holdings (Anytime Fitness), modifying the lease agreement with Scholarship America for the new City Hall space, and approving the purchase of G-Force Cloudsuite FSM Implementation Services for River's Edge. New Registrations for Low Potency Hemp Edible Retailers were approved, as well as the 2026 Library Services Contract. The Council authorized the use of Hallett Park for the 2026 Polar Bear Plunge and approved city assistance for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Additionally, the updated Municipal Fee Schedule was adopted, with one member abstaining, and the City Administrator's Employment Contract was modified. During reports, discussions occurred regarding a resident's concern over Federal Agents in Saint Peter and procedural requirements for holding a special meeting on the matter. The City Administrator also reported on grant fund usage for Parkview Manor, including conflict of interest declarations required by the state.

The Board meeting addressed several key administrative and operational items. The agenda included approval of disbursements for the period spanning November 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Operationally, the Manager reported on use statistics, noting an overall increase in rides for Le Sueur, and provided updates on bus maintenance. The Compliance Manager reported the award of two new buses scheduled for delivery in 2027 and reviewed updates to the Drug and Alcohol Policy. Furthermore, the Compliance Manager shared plans to potentially collaborate with TruTransit to facilitate transportation services to Mayo in Mankato for residents of Le Sueur and Saint Peter. A discussion noted that the formal acceptance of the Drug and Alcohol Policy changes would be handled by the City Council of Saint Peter, as MRVT employees are employed by that city.