Freeport, MN

City Council

The Freeport City Council will consider the 2027 preliminary budget and tax levy, which proposes a 12.85% increase in the total levy to $767,033. They will also discuss the creation of a tax increment district in the Industrial Park and revisit the purchase of Kubota snow removal equipment. The meeting includes routine consent agenda items and reports.

• 2027 preliminary budget: total tax levy increase of $87,312 (12.85%) to $767,033; tax rate unchanged at 67.87%
• Tax Increment District – Industrial Park (agenda item)
• Kubota Equipment purchase for snow removal (old business)
• Claims report totaling $37,455.14 for August 2026
• Stearns County Sheriff's report for July 2026

City Council

The Freeport City Council will consider two stormwater drainage assessment options from the Sauk River Watershed District, a contract with Stearns County for prosecution services, and a liability coverage waiver. They will also review a quote for mailboxes in the Welle IV development and other routine reports and claims.

• Stormwater drainage proposals: Option 1 (~$20-30k) and Option 2 (~$75-85k) from SRWD
• Stearns County Prosecution Contract (pages 12-15)
• LMCIT Liability Coverage Waiver Form (annual decision on tort liability limits)
• Welle IV Mailboxes quote from Hennen Lumber
• Claims report totaling $60,113.07 for 23 claims

City Council

The Freeport City Council will hold its regular meeting on June 30, 2026, to consider several resolutions and hear a financial services presentation. Key actions include a resolution to participate in a state electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure program, a resolution to appoint election judges, and a proposed change to the November meeting date. The council will also receive a presentation from Clifton Larsen Allen Financial Services, a potential alternative to the current financial firm.

• Resolution 2026-15: Participate in Greater Minnesota EV Infrastructure Program (Phase 1 – preconstruction)
• Resolution 2026-14: Appoint election judges for Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general election ($16/hr head judges, $15/hr judges)
• Clifton Larsen Allen Financial Services presentation (handouts at meeting)
• Proposed meeting date change to Nov. 30, 2026 for Truth-in-Taxation compliance
• Claims report totaling $36,357.71 for 32 claims

The Freeport City Council approved three resolutions: hiring election judges, participating in an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, and changing the November meeting date to November 30, 2026. The council also heard a financial services presentation from Clifton Larsen Allen but took no action, deferring discussion to a later date.

• Approved Resolution 2026-14 hiring election judges (5-0)
• Approved Resolution 2026-15 participating in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (5-0)
• Approved changing November meeting date to November 30, 2026 (5-0)
• Approved agenda (5-0)
• Approved consent agenda (5-0)

City Council

The Freeport City Council will hold a public bid opening for a surplus 2000 GMC C8500 fire truck chassis and vote on a $30,000 concrete repair for the city shop. The meeting will also include routine approvals, reports from city departments, and discussions on nuisance properties and sidewalk projects.

• Bid opening for surplus 2000 GMC C8500 fire truck chassis
• Approval of $30,000 concrete repair contract with Beuning Masonry for city shop
• Public nuisance abatement orders for four properties
• CSAH 11 sidewalk pay application No. 3 to J.R. Ferche
• 2025 audit presentation by Ryan Schmidt

The Freeport City Council rejected the only bid received for a 2000 GMC C8500 truck at $2,000. They approved a 3-year contract renewal with Abdo (4-1), with Councilor Arnzen dissenting to explore other options. The council also voted to remove a proposed sidewalk in front of Integrated Health and Wellness and tabled the Maguire Iron contract to seek other proposals.

• Rejected sole bid of $2,000 for 2000 GMC C8500 truck
• Approved 3-year Abdo renewal contract (4-1)
• Voted to remove proposed sidewalk in front of Integrated Health and Wellness
• Tabled Maguire Iron contract to seek other proposals

City Council

The Freeport City Council will hold a public hearing on an I-1 land use amendment and consider approving bids for 2026 street improvements. The meeting also includes a public hearing on nuisance properties and consent agenda items.

• Public Hearing: I-1 Permitted Land Use Amendment
• Public Hearing: Public Nuisance Properties at 110 Main St W, 126 7th St SW, 129 7th St SW, & 406 7th St SE
• Ordinance 2026-02: Amending I-1 Land Usage
• Resolution 2026-09: Accepting Bid for 2026 Street Improvements Project
• Resolution 2026-08: Approving Liquor License Renewals

The council approved several items, including an amendment to the city code, annual liquor license renewals, a street‑improvement bid, and a $30,000 concrete‑repair contract, each passing unanimously (4‑0). It also approved a no‑parking sign at CSAH 11 & 157, hired fire‑fighter Phil Wiechmann, and adopted public‑nuisance abatement resolutions with a 21‑day cleanup deadline, all by 4‑0 votes.

• Approved Ordinance 2026-02 amendment to city code (4-0)
• Approved Resolution 2026-08 annual liquor license renewals (4-0)
• Approved Resolution 2026-09 street improvements bid (4-0)
• Accepted $30,000 Beuning Masonry quote for city shop concrete repair (4-0)
• Approved installation of no‑parking sign at CSAH 11 & 157 (4-0)
• Hired Phil Wiechmann to fire department (4-0)
• Approved public nuisance abatement resolutions 2026-10 to 2026-13 with 21‑day deadline (4-0)
• Approved CSAH 11 Sidewalk Pay Application No. 3 to J.R. Ferche (4-0)

City Council

The Freeport City Council will consider approving plans and specifications for the 2026 street improvement project, which includes 2nd St NE, 3rd Ave NE, and two alleys. The meeting agenda also includes approving a funds transfer and a liquor license fee change.

• Resolution 2026-07: Approving plans and specifications for 2026 street project
• Resolution 2026-06: Approving funds transfer
• Timpy’s Corner Pub Liquor License Fees
• 2026 Street Improvement project: 2nd St NE, 3rd Ave NE, and two alleys
• Claims Report totaling $33,684.68

The council approved several financial items. A light‑bulb replacement project for City Hall was authorized at a cost of $5,116.40 with $1,255.54 in rebates. The fire department’s request to buy new radios, estimated at $31,500 after rebates and grants, was approved. Additional resolutions transferred funds, adopted bid advertisement plans, and prorated a liquor license fee for Timpy’s Corner Pub.

• Approved City Hall LED light replacement project ($5,116.40 cost, $1,255.54 rebate) (4-1)
• Approved purchase of new fire department radios (~$31,500 after $6,000 rebates and $2,500 grants) (5-0)
• Approved Resolution 2026-06 funds transfer (5-0)
• Approved Resolution 2026-07 plans, specifications, and bid advertisement (5-0)
• Approved prorated liquor license fee for Timpy’s Corner Pub ($881.67) (5-0)

City Council

The Freeport City Council will adopt Resolution 2026-05, which orders reconstruction of 2nd Street North between 2nd Avenue East and 3rd Avenue East, 3rd Avenue North from 2nd Street North to Main Street, and grading and paving of several alleys. The resolution designates Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc as the engineer and states the project will be funded from tax‑exempt bond proceeds. The meeting also includes a public hearing for the 2026 Construction Project, routine reports, and new business items such as a March meeting date change.

• Resolution 2026-05 ordering improvement of 2nd St N, 3rd Ave N, and related alleys
• Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc designated as engineer for the project
• Funding to be reimbursed from proceeds of tax‑exempt bonds
• Public hearing for the 2026 Construction Project
• New Business: March meeting date change

The council approved a $3 per hour raise for fire personnel and a $200 salary increase for all officers (5-0). It also approved the 2027 Area Fire Service Association budget (7-0). Additionally, the council authorized the 2026 construction project plans (Resolution 2026-05) and moved the March council meeting to March 24 (5-0).

• Approved fire personnel $3/hr raise and $200 officer salary increase (5-0)
• Approved 2027 AFSA budget (7-0)
• Approved Resolution 2026-05 for 2026 construction project plans (5-0)
• Moved March council meeting date to March 24 (5-0)
• Approved consent agenda (5-0)
• Approved meeting agenda (5-0)
• Adjourned meeting (5-0)

City Council

The Freeport City Council is holding a special meeting to discuss new business. The primary item on the agenda is a gambling permit request for the Freeport Lions Sip, Savor, & Socialize event.

• Freeport Lions Offsite Gambling Permit for Sip, Savor, & Socialize Event

The Freeport City Council held a special meeting to approve an offsite gambling permit request from the Freeport Lions Club for their Sip, Savor & Socialize event at the Freeport Community Center on February 28, 2026. The council approved Resolution 2026-05, allowing the offsite gambling, with a motion by Councilor Hennen and second by Councilor Renneker. The meeting was called due to time constraints for submission to the Minnesota Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement. Councilors Arnzen and Blake were absent.

• Approved agenda (motion by Hennen, second by Renneker)
• Approved Resolution 2026-05 allowing Freeport Lions offsite gambling at Sip, Savor & Socialize event (motion by Hennen, second by Renneker)
• Adjourned meeting (motion by Renneker, second by Hennen)

City Council

The Freeport City Council reviewed reports, approved a consent agenda, and considered several old and new business items. It authorized the $67,304.82 final payment and a $6,921.09 compensating change order for the Welle IV project, and approved a $29,141.44 payment for the CSAH 11 sidewalk. The council discussed but took no action on changing meeting dates, snow‑removal equipment quotes, and renewing the Xcel franchise ordinance. Additional resolutions on fees, official depositories, donations, claims policy, a cannabis agreement, appointments, a feasibility study, and a school‑park slide replacement were also presented.

• Approved final payment of $67,304.82 and a $6,921.09 change order for Welle IV infrastructure
• Approved payment of $29,141.44 for CSAH 11 sidewalk project
• Discussed snow‑removal equipment quotes: Kubota $48,522 and John Deere $67,750 (no action)
• Ordinance 2026-01 – Fee Schedule placed on the agenda for adoption
• Resolution 2026-05 – Stearns County Cannabis Agreement presented

The council adopted a new fee schedule that raises water and sewer rates by 3%. It also approved a resolution allowing the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office to enforce cannabis regulations in Freeport. Additional actions included approving a slide replacement for Sacred Heart Park, authorizing a $6,921.09 change order and a $67,304.82 final pay application for the Welle IV project, and scheduling a public hearing for the 2026 construction project.

• Approved fee schedule with 3% water and sewer rate increase (3-0)
• Approved Stearns County Cannabis Agreement for enforcement (3-0)
• Approved purchase of replacement slide for Sacred Heart Park ($2,430.34) (3-0)
• Approved Change Order No. 1 ($6,921.09) and Final Pay Application No. 7 ($67,304.82) (3-0)
• Approved payment for automatic door openers at City Hall ($10,206.50) (3-0)
• Accepted 2026 Project Feasibility Report and set public hearing for Feb 24, 2026 (3-0)
• Kept council meetings on the final Tuesday of each month (3-0)
• Approved 2026 appointments (3-0)