City Council Meetings

Watertown City Council T Regular Meeting Mayor Michael Walters Deborah Everson F Jim Kasheimer Fred McGuire Kay Thul A 7/22/2025 - Minutes 1. Call To Order And Roll Call R Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the regular meeting of the Watertown City Council was called to order in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, by Mayor Mike Walters. Councilmembers present: Mike Walters. Jim Kasheimer, Kay Thul, Fred McGuire and Deborah Everson Councilmember(s) absent: None D City staff present: City Administrator Dan Toslma, Public Services Director Michael Sommerfed, Public Services Superintendent Matt Van Lith, Public Services Lead Mike Loehrs, Fire Chief Tom Hanson and City Attorney Jack Brooksbank Others present: Stephanie Kerkhoff, Ryan Pool, Sheri Swopes, Tera Ficker, Deb and Curt Christensen, S. McCleary, Chris McCormick, Kelly Zwilling, David Schoening, Cynthia and Dan Juncewski, Paul and Jody Christensen, Adam and Kristin Jasken, Tabatha Johnson, Chrissy Johnson, Amy Edwards, Lynn Tschudi, Ellyse Tschudi, Emily Peterson, Genevieve Tschudi, Eric Tschudi, Jennie Hoover, Elissa J. Stoeckman, Ruth Bury, James and Lindsay Walz, Joseph Brown, Rachel Blackketter, Bill Thul, Shelby Lueschen, Margie Hubler, Brad and Donna Kipp, Sabrina Gustafson, Karla Kanagy, Brent Smith, Britta Thurk, Mike Lynch and Lindsay Zumbrunnen 2. Adopt Agenda COUNCILMEMBER KAY THUL MOVED TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER DEBORAH EVERSON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 3. Consent Agenda Discussion And Approval COUNCILMEMBER JIM KASHEIMER MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 3.A. 3.A. June 10, 2025 Work Session Minutes  COUNCILMEMBER JIM KASHEIMER MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 3.A. 3.A. June 10, 2025 Work Session Minutes 3.B. 3.B. July 8, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes 3.C. 3.C. Resolution 2025-33 Accepting Donations From The Lions Club For Rails To Trails 4. Open Forum 5. New/Old Business T 5.A. 5.A. Carver County's Sheriff's Office Public Safety Update & Public Forum Carver County Sheriff's Commander Wollin, Lieutenant Jason Breunig of Patrol Services, and Corporal Buckentin, who is one of the four deputies that are assigned to cover Watertown. We are here tonight, F the Sheriff's Office, we understand, we empathize, and we hear your concerns for the recent behaviors of this individual in Watertown. We understand and acknowledge these behaviors can be unsettling and they can be unnerving. We're actively collaborating with Carver County Health and Human Services for long-term solution to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizenry and this individual. Unfortunately, there are things we cannot speak about due to data privacy in regard to this individual. A I want to speak just briefly. We are aware of an incident earlier this month that occurred outside our jurisdiction in Wright County, and that is in relation to an active restraining order on this individual. There was a report investigated in Wright County, and that is under review for charges by the Wright County Attorney's Office. I can't speak to it any further. In recent activities, our deputies have been in response to every call for service. They've taken the information, they've spoken with residents, and R unfortunately it hasn't met a criminal activity threshold. But going forward, we encourage you, please continue to call. We'll investigate these. And if criminal charges are warranted, we'll take action. Multiple members of the community expressed their concerns and frustrations regarding activities experienced or heard about regarding the behavior of a local resident. D Jack Brooksbank, I am the City Attorney for the City of Watertown. I want to make a plug for the Minnesota Judicial Branch website which has a lot of really good resources about harassment restraining orders or HROs that would let you know what is the standard that you have to meet when filing one of those. It is a private, you know, making a request of the court. If you feel that you need additional guidance beyond what is on the website, that is also something that you could talk to a private attorney about and they may also be able to help you with that. 5.B. 5.B. Authorization To Purchase 3,000 Gallon Brine Tank Public Services Superintendent Matt Van Lith presented a request to purchase a 3,000-gallon brine tank. COUNCILMEMBER FRED MCGUIRE MOVED TO APPROVE THE QUOTE FROM VARITECH FOR THE PURCHASE OF A 3,000-GALLON BRINE TANK. COUNCILMEMBER MIKE WALTERS SECONDED. MOTION APPROVED 5-0 5.C. 5.C. Authorization To Solicit Quotes For Zero Turn Mower Matt Van Lith presented the authorization to solicit quotes for a zero-turn mower. COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO APPROVE THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR A 60" ZERO TURN MOWER. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 5.D. 5.D. Authorization To Solicit Quotes For Fire Command Vehicle  COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO APPROVE THE SOLICITATION OF QUOTES FOR A 60" ZERO TURN MOWER. COUNCILMEMBER THUL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 5.D. 5.D. Authorization To Solicit Quotes For Fire Command Vehicle Fire Chief Tom Hanson presented on the authorization to solicit quotes for a fire command vehicle. Current vehicle is a 2014 Ford Explorer. This vehicle is often first on the scene and staffed by an officer of our department to be a mobile office to direct fire crews and fire operations. It also has the ability to serve as a first out EMS rig. COUNCILMEMBER EVERSON MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE SOLICIATION OF QUOTES FOR HTE T REPLACEMENT COMMAND VEHICLE. COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 5.E. 5.E. Authorizing Temporary Sign On Public Property At Crow River Liquors F COUNCILMEMBER MCGUIRE MOVED TO APPROVE THE TEMPORARY SIGN PERMIT REQUEST WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: l The applicant is approved to display one 10-minute parking sign for the 2nd and 3rd A parking stalls in from the roundabout for the date of Friday, July 25th. l The provided signage will be designed, fabricated, and owned by the City of Watertown. l The signage must be removed from the sidewalk during non-business hours by the property owner. R COUNCILMEMBER WALTER SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-1 (Aye: Walters, Kasheimer, Thul and McGuire; Nay: Everson) 6. Other Reports D City Administrator Dan Tolsma reported on proposed ribbon-cutting open house at the Wastewater Treatment Facility and gave council dates to look at. Councilmember Kasheimer mentioned that there will be a Planning Commission meeting on July 31st. Councilmember Thul reported that the Park Commission is reviewing their priorities and looked at all the trail connections. They are going to revisit things to see if those are still their priorities and let us know what they want to put in the budget. Councilmember Walters reported that he met with our lobbyist group last week. One thing they are looking at is a local affordability housing grant to possibly get started on some senior housing. Mayor Walters also mentioned they are looking at going back after the grant money they didn't get last time as far as the tax refund. Public Services Lead Mike Loehrs reported that Highland Park fence is 90% complete, and asked council if it has been discussed that the ball field wll be locked City Administrator Dan Tolsma reported on proposed ribbon-cutting open house at the Wastewater Treatment Facility and gave council dates to look at. Councilmember Kasheimer mentioned that there will be a Planning Commission meeting on July 31st. Councilmember Thul reported that the Park Commission is reviewing their priorities and looked at all the trail connections. They are going to revisit things to see if those are still their priorities and let us know what they want to put in the budget. Councilmember Walters reported that he met with our lobbyist group last week. One thing they are looking  Councilmember Thul reported that the Park Commission is reviewing their priorities and looked at all the trail connections. They are going to revisit things to see if those are still their priorities and let us know what they want to put in the budget. Councilmember Walters reported that he met with our lobbyist group last week. One thing they are looking at is a local affordability housing grant to possibly get started on some senior housing. Mayor Walters also mentioned they are looking at going back after the grant money they didn't get last time as far as the tax refund. Public Services Lead Mike Loehrs reported that Highland Park fence is 90% complete and asked council if it has been discussed that the ball field will be locked. Council was in agreement that it should be kept locked when not in use by an appropriate stakeholder. T Loehrs also reported that the new Mack chassis plow truck has been delivered to Burnsville, they will have it for three weeks then it goes to Tow Master. The build date is slotted for January 1. F 7. Claims 7.A. 7.A. Claims COUNCILMEMBER THUL MOVED TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS ROSTER AS PRESENTED. A COUNCILMEMER EVERSON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 8. Adjournment R COUNCILMEMBER WALTERS MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 9:09 P.M. COUNCILMEMBER KASHEIMER SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 5-0 D 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 _________________________________________________ Michael Walters, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________________________ Dan Tolsma, City Administrator