City Council Meeting

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM Baxter City Hall, 13190 Memorywood Drive, Baxter, MN “A Growing Community” CALL TO ORDER Mayor Olson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Darrel Olson and Council Members Connie Lyscio, Patrick Sundberg, and Mark Cross were present. Council Member Zach Tabatt was absent. City Administrator Brad Chapulis, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Steele, Finance Director Jeremy Vacinek, Community Development Director Josh Doty, Public Works Director Trevor Walter, and Police Chief Matt Maier were present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE All joined Mayor Olson in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATIONS None. ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA City Administrator Chapulis asked to add consent item 36 to the agenda related to renewing the Sourcewell Health Insurance Contract for 2026. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Comments received from the public may be placed on a future meeting agenda for consideration. None. CONSENT AGENDA - The following items are considered non-controversial by staff and are recommended to be read and passed in one motion. Any council person, staff, citizen, or meeting attendee can request one or more items be pulled from the Consent Agenda and the item will be pulled and addressed immediately after the passage of the Consent Agenda; otherwise, the following items will be passed in one motion: 1. Approve City Council Minutes from October 7, 2025 2. Accept the Utilities Commission Minutes from October 8, 2025 3. Accept Planning and Zoning Commission Minutes from October 14, 2025 4. Approve the Payment of Bills and Finance Report (Addendum A) 5. Approve Temporary Liquor License for Jack Pine Brewery to Conduct Temporary Liquor Sales on November 15, 2025 at the Northland Arboretum 10/21/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 6. Approve the Fiberhood Development Agreement 7. Approve the SEH Contract in the Not to Exceed Amount of $79,600.00 for Professional Services during the Construction Phase for the Fiberhood Development 8. Approve the BNSF Invoice 90289650 in the amount of $5,057.95 for the 2022 TH 210 and Inglewood Drive Improvements Project, City Improvement No. 4121 9. Approve ASTECH Corporation Pay Estimate No. 2 in the amount of $37,892.50 for 2025 Micro Surfacing Project 10. Approve the RL Larson Excavating, Inc. Change Order No. 9 in the increased amount of $40,323.68 for the 2024 South Forestview Improvements Project, Municipal Project No. 4138 11. Approve RL Larson Excavating, Inc. Partial Pay Estimate No. 13 in the amount of $51,937.75 for the 2024 South Forestview Area Improvements Project, Municipal Project No. 4138 12. Approve the Traut Companies Change Order No. 2 for a Contract Time Extension for Contract A related to the 2025 Water Supply Improvements - Wells 5 & 6 Project, Municipal Project No. 6011- 45040 13. Approve Traut Companies Partial Pay Estimate No. 3 in the amount of $204,511.25 for work completed on Contract A related to the 2025 Water Supply Improvements – Wells 5 & 6, Municipal Project No. 6011-45040 14. Approve the Pratt’s Affordable Excavating, Inc. Change Order 2 in the increased amount of $41,534.59 for Contract B related to the 2025 Water Supply Improvements - Wells 5 & 6 Project, Municipal Project No. 6011-45040 15. Approve Pratt’s Affordable Excavating Inc. Partial Pay Estimate No. 5 in the amount of $22,672.32 for work completed on Contract B related to the 2025 Water Supply Improvements – Wells 5 & 6, Municipal Project No. 6011-45040 16. Approve the SEH Fee Amendment No. 2 in the Not To Exceed Amount of $44,885.00 with a revised Total Not to Exceed Amount of $455,939.80 for Additional Professional Services during the Construction Phase related to the 2025 Water Supply Improvements - Wells 5 & 6, Municipal Project No. 6011-45040 17. Approve a Project Budget Increase in the Amount of $75,290.00 from $2,348,500.00 to a revised budget amount of $2,423,790.00 for the 2025 Water Supply Improvements – Wells 5 & 6, Municipal Project No. 6011-45040 18. Approve the SEH Contract in the Not to Exceed Amount of $14,000.00 for the Baxter VA Clinic Traffic Impact Study 19. Approve Pratt’s Affordable Excavating, Inc. Change Order 3 in the increased amount of $2,226.00 for the CSAH 77 Utility Improvements Project, Municipal Project Number 4118 20. Approve Pratt’s Affordable Excavating, Inc. Pay Estimate 5 in the amount of $35,848.74 for the 2024 CSAH 77 Utility Improvements Project, Municipal Project 4118 10/21/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 21. Approve the Knife River Corporation – North Central Change Order No. 9 in the Decreased Amount of $40,000 for the 2024 Mill & Overlay and Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project, Municipal Project Number 4424 22. Approve the Knife River Corporation – North Central Final Pay Estimate No. 11 in the amount of $103,496.80 for the 2024 Mill & Overlay and Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project, Municipal Project Number 4424 23. Approve the Anderson Brothers Construction Change Order No. 2 to modify the Substantial Date for the 2025 Commercial Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project, Municipal Project Number 4425 24. Approve the Anderson Brothers Construction Partial Pay Estimate No. 1 in the amount of $158,684.85 for the 2025 Commercial Full Depth Reclamation Improvements Project, Municipal Project Number 4425 25. Approve the J.R. Ferche, Inc Partial Pay Estimate No. 2 in the amount of $1,487,849.72 for the 2025 Design Road & TH 371 Stormwater Improvements Project, Municipal Project Number 4135 26. Approve the Tom’s Backhoe Service, Inc. Partial Pay Estimate No. 2 in the amount of $10,805.06 for the Lift Station No. 17 Reconstruction Project 27. Approve the Widseth Proposal for Smoke Testing - Lift Station No. 11 Service Area for the Not to Exceed Amount of $25,350.00 28. Approve the 2025 – 2026 Annual Winter Trail & Pedestrian Ramp Closure 29. Approve the Liberty Village Development Agreement 30. Approve the Liberty Village Stormwater Facilities Maintenance Agreement 31. Approve the SEH Contract in the Not to Exceed Amount of $59,500.00 for Professional Services during the Construction Phase for the Liberty Village Development 32. Adopt Resolution 2025-087 approving variances to the 40-foot setback for an existing detached garage and to allow the garage forward of the principal structure for property located at 6768 Excelsior Road 33. Adopt Resolutions 2025-085 and 2025-086 and Ordinance 2025-011 approving the Preliminary and Final Plat of Liberty Village, Zoning Map Amendment from R-1, Low Density Residential and R-2, Medium Density Residential to PUD, Planned Unit Development, and PUD General and Final Plan for vacant property located in the NW corner of Excelsior Road and Grand Oaks Drive 34. Adopt Resolution 2025-084 approving the Preliminary and Final plat of “Fiberhood First Addition” 35. Adopt Resolution 2025-083 approving a variance to a side yard setback for property located at 7650 Goedderz Road 36. Renew the Sourcewell Health Insurance Contract for 2026 with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Authorize Contract Execution 10/21/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lysio to approve the consent agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. PULLED AGENDA ITEMS Council Member Sundberg asked to pull consent agenda item 5 to abstain from voting as he is the applicant. MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to approve Temporary Liquor License for Jack Pine Brewery to Conduct Temporary Liquor Sales on November 15, 2025 at the Northland Arboretum. Motion carried with Mayor Olson and Council Members Lyscio and Cross voting yes. Council Member Sundberg abstained. OTHER BUSINESS 37. Vacate easements on Outlot A Martins Addition and Outlot A Grand Strand, Crow Wing County, Minnesota 1) PUBLIC HEARING at 7:00 p.m. or shortly thereafter 2) Adopt Resolution 2025-088 vacating all of the dedicated drainage and utility easements which lie within the boundaries of Outlot A, Martins Addition and Outlot A, Grand Strand, according to the recorded plats thereof, Crow Wing County, Minnesota; and the 30-foot-wide easement on Outlot A, Grand Strand according to the recorded plats thereof, Crow Wing County, Minnesota Community Development Director Doty explained the applicant has submitted an application to vacate all existing drainage and utility easements associated with the Liberty Village Plat, and a 30- foot wide easement for access on Outlot A, leaving in place a right-of-way easement for Grand Oaks Drive. The existing 30-foot easement on Outlot A is no longer needed since the property is being plated and the Liberty Village plat would re-dedicate all drainage and utility easements required for the plat. Mayor Olson opened the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. and after receiving no public comments closed the public hearing at 7:14:30 p.m. MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to Adopt Resolution 2025- 088 vacating all of the dedicated drainage and utility easements which lie within the boundaries of Outlot A, Martins Addition and Outlot A, Grand Strand, according to the recorded plats thereof, Crow Wing County, Minnesota; and the 30-foot-wide easement on Outlot A, Grand Strand according to the recorded plats thereof, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Olson explained this is a great project COUNCIL COMMENTS 38. Connie Lyscio – No comment. 39. Zach Tabatt – Absent. 40. Patrick Sundberg – Explained the Northland Arboretum haunted trail provides a great boost of revenue for the Arboretum. Council Member Sundberg thanked the volunteers for helping with the event. 10/21/2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 41. Mark Cross – Explained he waited to provide his suggestions related to the 210-371 project early on to see how they would be perceived. Council Member Cross explained how he suggests the project be designed and explained he looks forward to being on the project’s aesthetics committee. 42. Darrel Olson – Inquired how to wrap up the work session discussion on the 210-371 project. Mayor Olson explained Kwik Trip will hold their grand opening ceremony on November 11th. City Administrator Chapulis explained state statute provides the process of providing municipal consent. The council has until February 1, 2026 to provide municipal consent. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT No report. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT 43. The City Council will meet in a closed session pursuant to Minn. Stat. Section 13D.05 subd. 3(b) for an Attorney-Client privileged discussion, to discuss potential litigation pertaining to Whiskey Creek Stormwater Project MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to enter into a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13.D.05, subd. 3(b) for an attorney-client privilege discussion. Motion carried unanimously. MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to return to an open session at 7:58 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. The council did not take any action upon returning to an open session. ADJOURN MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to adjourn at 7:58 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator