City of Ghent public meetings in 2025

City Council

The Ghent City Council will hold a public hearing on the 2026 budget and levy before voting to adopt both. They will also consider a voter account agreement with Lyon County for elections and discuss water/sewer projects and a berm project. The meeting includes routine approvals and updates on city staffing and utility billing.

• Public hearing on 2026 budget and levy
• Resolution to adopt final 2026 property tax levy
• Resolution to adopt final 2026 budget
• Voter account agreement with Lyon County for elections
• Widseth water/sewer project discussion

City Council

The Ghent City Council will meet jointly with the Economic Development Authority to discuss fire department promotions, a treasurer job review after a resignation, and several infrastructure updates including a flood protection berm grant and utility billing transition.

• Approve Fire Department officers: Chief Steve Sussner and Captain Dallas Mahoney
• Review and advertise City Treasurer position after Lisa Tykwiski's resignation
• Approve $750,000 DNR grant for flood protection berm project
• Close EDA bank account at Bremer and open at Minnwest
• Submit Redwood River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan

The Ghent City Council approved the fire department officers, a new treasurer job description with $90/month salary, the pay equity report, a watershed management plan resolution, and certification of outstanding utility balances to county taxes. The council denied the Davenport's request to keep 8 chickens, upholding the current ordinance. The meeting was otherwise routine with no citizen comments.

• Approved fire department officers: Chief 2 Steve Sussner and Captain 2 Dallas Mahoney
• Approved new treasurer job description with salary of $90/month
• Approved pay equity report as presented
• Adopted Resolution #11-11-25 for Redwood River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan
• Approved special assessment certification of outstanding utility balances to Lyon County taxes
• Denied Davenport request to keep 8 chickens, upholding ordinance

City Council

The Ghent City Council and Joint EDA will meet to handle routine business, including approving minutes and the agenda. Key items include setting a public hearing for a tax abatement request from 2 Arrows Apparel, discussing the IUP list after removing the pond portion, and reviewing a water/sewer project and code enforcement report.

• Set public hearing for November 11th on tax abatement for 2 Arrows Apparel (Jodi Maertens)
• IUP list update: removed pond portion; land acquisition discussions
• Widseth water/sewer project – in-town portion; review ordinance 52:08 on fire hydrant use
• Code enforcement report; tree trimming added to newsletter
• Remote read meters update from Jesse

The Ghent City Council approved a motion to increase the property insurance deductible to $1,000 and set a public hearing for November 11 to consider a tax abatement application from 2 Arrows Apparel. The council also reviewed the fire hydrant water use ordinance, leaving it unchanged, and discussed utility billing software options and land acquisition for a pond expansion.

• Approved minutes of September meeting (all in favor)
• Approved agenda (all in favor)
• Increased insurance deductible to $1,000 (all in favor)
• Set public hearing for Nov 11 on tax abatement for 2 Arrows Apparel (all in favor)
• Adjourned meeting at 7:52 p.m. (all in favor)

City Council

The Ghent City Council and Joint EDA will meet to discuss the 2026 proposed budget and tax levy, review the in-town portion of the Widseth water/sewer project, and consider transferring two park parcels from the EDA to the city. They will also act on a gambling permit, a CD renewal, and utility meter exchanges. The meeting includes routine items like minutes approval and citizen comments.

• 2026 proposed budget and tax levy resolution
• Widseth water/sewer project – in-town portion, including sidewalk maintenance, replacement trees, and drainage
• Transfer of EDA-owned parcels: Bluebird Park (#25-104014-0) and Vermeersch Park (#25-104065-0) to city
• Gambling permit for Minneota Wrestling Boosters bingo at KB's on 10/11/25
• Renewal of $29,000 CD from perpetual maintenance funds at 3.65% ($29,500)

The Ghent City Council approved a 4% increase in the 2026 property tax levy via Resolution #09-09-25. They also approved several infrastructure and administrative actions, including sidewalk maintenance, tree replacement, park ownership transfer, a gambling permit, a CD rollover, and purchase of remote-read meters. All votes were unanimous.

• Adopted 2026 property tax levy with 4% increase (unanimous)
• Approved city maintenance of new sidewalk along County Road 5 for 2 years (unanimous)
• Approved planting one tree each at 208, 210, 212 S Chapman St (unanimous)
• Approved transfer of Vermeersch Park and Bluebird Park ownership from EDA to City (unanimous)
• Approved gambling permit for Minneota Wrestling Boosters Bingo at KB's Bar & Grill on 10/11/25 (unanimous)
• Approved rolling $29,000 plus interest into 26-week CD at 3.65% (unanimous)
• Approved purchase of 10 residential and 4 commercial remote-read meters (unanimous)

City Council

The Ghent City Council will hold a public hearing on a zoning variance for 211 Chapman Street S, receive comments on the in-town portion of the water/sewer project, and consider funding for a new fire tanker using available funds. They will also vote on a resolution to apply for a grant for sanitary pond improvements, review a property tax abatement application, and discuss the 2026 preliminary budget.

• Public hearing on zoning variance for Mark Esping, 211 Chapman Street S
• Water/sewer project in-town portion plan review with Widseth
• Fire department: approve new members Chase Bernaert and Josiah Kroger; funding for new tanker ($32,000 truck fund + $49,402.03 MAHA fund = $81,402.03 total)
• Resolution #08-12-25: authorize submission of Point Source Implementation Grant application to PFA for 2026 sanitary pond improvements
• Resolution #08-12-25: remove parcel #25-104012-0 from TIF district; set public hearing for September 9th

City Council

The Ghent City Council and Joint Economic Development Authority met to discuss routine items, including a sheriff's department report, a water/sewer project update, and a planning review. They reviewed the first draft of the 2026 budget and extended several Community Development (CD) funds totaling $795,000 with an additional $169,000 increase.

• Extended CD funds by $169,000 across multiple city funds
• Reviewed first draft of 2026 preliminary budget
• Water/sewer project update with Jeff Kuhn present
• Berm project planning update with Jordan Albrecht
• Code enforcement item: Mark Esping garage

City Council

The Ghent City Council will meet to discuss code enforcement fines, water/sewer project resubmissions for 2026, and employee evaluations. The council will also consider purchasing a new pickup truck or replacing tires for the street department and approve a compost agreement with the City of Minneota.

• Review enforcement list and fines, including Carol Vermeersch Property and Mark Esping's temporary container/building permit
• Resubmit IUP request for 2026 water/sewer project (in-town portion) and Ottertail survey of County Road 5
• Approve compost agreement with City of Minneota for $750
• Consider purchasing a new pickup or replacing tires for the street department
• Take action on employee evaluations for Jesse Christianson and Dawn Vlaminck

The Ghent City Council approved employee raises for Jesse Christianson and Dawn Vlaminck, approved a QSEHRA agreement, and approved an agreement allowing Ghent residents to use Minneota's compost site. They also approved sending code enforcement letters to properties not in compliance. The council discussed truck traffic on North Chapman Street and authorized the Public Works Director to search for a new pickup truck.

• Approved May meeting minutes with two changes (unanimous)
• Approved agenda after correcting date (unanimous)
• Approved content of code enforcement letters to be sent this week (unanimous)
• Approved employee raises: Jesse Christianson +$1.03/hr, Dawn Vlaminck +$1.00/hr (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution #06-10-25 QSEHRA Agreement (unanimous)
• Approved compost agreement with City of Minneota (unanimous)
• Authorized Public Works Director to search for a new pickup truck (no formal vote recorded)

City Council

The Ghent City Council will vote on issuing liquor licenses to KB's Bar & Grill, adopt the 2024 Lyon County Hazard Mitigation Plan, and discuss code enforcement including animal limits and license fees. They will also review water/sewer project updates and utility billing options.

• Off-sale liquor license $100, on-sale $1,995, Sunday $50 for KB's Bar & Grill at 100 E. Burlingame St.
• Resolution #05-13-2025 adopting 2024 Lyon County Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Consider increasing animal license fee from $10; vote on keeping chicken ordinance as-is
• Discuss increasing chicken limit from 6 to 10, limiting permits, including rabbits
• Widseth water/sewer project: resubmit IUP request for 2026 by June 6; ArcGIS tree inventory layer $3,000

City Council

The Ghent City Council and Joint EDA will hold a regular meeting with routine approvals, a public hearing on property assessments, and updates on code enforcement, a floodplain permit, and infrastructure projects. Key items include a rescheduled dangerous dog hearing, review of animal ordinances, and a water/sewer project update.

• Dangerous dog hearing rescheduled to April 16 at 2:45 PM
• Public hearing for Board of Appeals and Equalization
• Floodplain permit for Gades at 3162 State Hwy 68 for window wells
• Review of Chapter 91 animals, including chicken ordinance
• Water/sewer project update with Widseth and Bolton & Menk

City Council

The Ghent City Council approved the claims and expense report, including a $29,000 purchase of certificates of deposit with perpetual maintenance funds and a $380,000 transfer from Bremer to Minnwest. They also hired Bolton & Menk for preliminary design of sanitary sewer ponds and authorized the clerk to select a soil boring company. The council scheduled a dangerous dog hearing for March 19th and discussed code enforcement complaints about contaminated dirt behind Ag Plus.

• Approved minutes of February meeting with additional information (unanimous)
• Approved agenda (unanimous)
• Approved claims and expense report including $29,000 CD purchase and $380,000 fund transfer (unanimous)
• Hired Bolton & Menk for preliminary layout and design of sanitary sewer ponds (unanimous)
• Authorized clerk to select soil boring company (unanimous)
• Scheduled dangerous dog hearing for March 19th at 3:15 p.m.

City Council

The Ghent City Council will hold a regular meeting with the Joint EDA, covering routine approvals, a dangerous dog enforcement action, sidewalk engineering discussions with Widseth, and potential grant applications with Bolton & Menk. The council will also consider a copier contract update and receive reports from the sheriff's department.

• Approve John Engels to seek summary enforcement order for third dangerous dog
• Review Widseth engineering services request for County Road 5 sidewalk
• Discuss trail grant including 3' sidewalk along County Road 5 and State Hwy 68
• Water/sewer project PPL submission for Ponds and Watertown
• Update copier contract with Marco

The Ghent City Council voted unanimously to seek a summary enforcement order to destroy the remaining dangerous dog involved in an attack on a young girl at 112 E Burlingame. They also approved the claims and expense report, discussed rolling over $25,000 from a CD into a CDARS at Minnwest, and approved a copier lease upgrade. No vote was taken on a request to allow quail in a residential area.

• Approved minutes of January meeting with additional information (unanimous)
• Approved agenda (unanimous)
• Approved claims and expense report as presented (unanimous)
• Approved motion to seek summary enforcement order to destroy remaining dangerous dog (unanimous)
• Approved copier lease upgrade to new machine (3-0-1, VanKeulen abstained)

City Council

The Ghent City Council and joint EDA will hold their regular meeting, swearing in newly elected officials and approving routine annual items such as bank deposits, official newspaper, and city attorney/engineer contracts. They will also consider fire protection agreements, a fire relief retirement increase, a year-end expense transfer to capital funds, a fee schedule resolution, and several permits and contracts.

• 2025 appointments: Bremer Bank & Minnwest Bank, Minneota Mascot, Engels & Larson & Quarnstrom & Doering, Bolton & Menk & Widseth
• Fire relief retirement increase from $1,075 to $1,175
• Year-end transfers: $300,000 to Capital Improvement Fund, $500,000 from TIF/Water/Sewer/Garbage
• Resolution #1-14-25-01: Fee schedule
• Gambling permits for Friends of the NRA (4/5/25) and SWMN BLAZE (6/2/25)

The Ghent City Council approved the 2025 appointments, fire protection agreements, and a fee schedule resolution. They also approved a fire relief benefit increase, gambling permits, and a year-end fund transfer. A parcel purchase request was denied, and a grant application was submitted as presented.

• Approved 2025 appointments including newspaper, mayor pro tem, attorneys, engineer, and auto-pay vendors (unanimous)
• Approved township fire protection agreements (3-0, Warren abstained)
• Approved fire relief benefit increase from $1,075 to $1,175 (3-0, Warren abstained)
• Approved year-end fund transfer of $1,388,200 to Minnwest Bank (unanimous)
• Adopted Resolution #01-14-25 fee schedule (unanimous)
• Approved gambling permits for Friends of the NRA and SWMN BLAZE (unanimous)
• Denied Vierstraete parcel purchase request due to existing infrastructure (unanimous)
• Approved berm planning grant application as presented (unanimous)