City Council Work Session

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES Wednesday, August 06, 2025 at 6:00 PM Baxter City Hall, 13190 Memorywood Drive, Baxter, MN “A Growing Community” CALL TO ORDER Mayor Olson called the meeting to order at 6:00 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, Police Chief Matt Maier, and Assistant Finance Director Brenda Brooks were present. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. 2024 Audit Exit Interview Finance Director Vacinek introduced Caroline Stutsman, with BerganKDV. Ms. Stutsman will present the results and findings of the city’s 2024 audit. Ms. Stutsman summarized the city’s general ledger and enterprise funds and recommendations contained in the Communications Letter and Independent Auditor’s Reports. A clean, unmodified option was issued once again. The council did not have any questions. 2. 2025 Crack Sealing Project Discussion City Administrator Chapulis explained the council directed staff to assemble information pertaining to the roads that were removed from the 2025 crack sealing project due to cost overruns. Due to the current vacant street and utilities supervisor position, staff recommends funding the project with the projected savings in the personnel budget of the street department. The council discussed the reason the streets were removed from the project. The consensus of the council was to support staff’s recommendation to complete the remaining streets and to fund the project from the personnel budget of the streets department. 3. Presentation of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce’s Hwy 371 Overpass Survey Results MOTION by Council Member Cross, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to recess the council meeting at 6:18 p.m. to wait for Mr. Killian to arrive at the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. MOTION by Council Member Sundberg, seconded by Council Member Lyscio to resume the council meeting at 6:28 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. 8/6/2025 City Council Work Session Minutes Page 2 Matt Killian, president of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce, presented the findings of the Chamber’s highway 371 overpass survey. Mr. Killian explained that he is also presenting on behalf of the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation as Tyler Glynn had another commitment. Mr. Killian explained the top concerns identified from the survey are visibility and complexity of access to businesses. 60% of business respondents rated the button hook design as poor or very poor. Should the button hook design be constructed, 43% of business owners did not expect to make any major changes to their property. 58% of survey respondents favor major changes or a new design. Mr. Killian explained some recommendations are to simplify highway 371 access to the Cub Foods/Essential retail area; study potential highway 371 congestion at Woida Road; preserve access to Fairview Road, Golf Course Drive and Design Road; and develop a wayfinding plan and identify any Baxter sign ordinance changes needed to support. Mr. Killian asked the council to send a formal letter to MnDOT to ask for some of the suggested changes prior to the city providing municipal consent. ADJOURN MOTION by Council Member Lyscio, seconded by Council Member Sundberg to adjourn at 6:57 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Approved by: Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Darrel Olson Kelly Steele Mayor Assistant City Administrator