Milnor public meetings in 2024
8 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
City Council
The council unanimously approved a finalized Renaissance Zone project application from Erica Severson to rehab her home and build a garage at 224 3rd Street. They also approved a business incentive grant of up to $350 to Urban Alley Style Co. for a new sign, and a building permit for new house siding for John & Jolene Schwalk. A motion to pursue a Special Road Fund grant for paving the park road in 2026 was also passed.
- Approved RZ project application for Erica Severson's home rehab and garage at 224 3rd St (unanimous)
- Approved business incentive grant up to $350 to Urban Alley Style Co. for a new sign (unanimous)
- Approved building permit for John & Jolene Schwalk – new house siding (unanimous)
- Approved pursuing Special Road Fund grant for park road paving in 2026 (unanimous)
- Approved gaming permit to Lakeview Golf Course for bingo (unanimous)
- Approved list of bills as presented (unanimous)
City Council
The council approved paying Wyatt Lyon an additional $3,700 (capped) to complete grocery store brick repairs, after his initial bid underestimated costs. They also approved a $5,100 change order to Ti-Zack Concrete to settle sidewalk project damages and close out the contract. A finalized Renaissance Zone project application for a home renovation at 416 5th Street was approved. Discussion on a Special Road Fund grant for paving a park road in 2026 was tabled until the November meeting.
- Approved $3,700 cap for additional grocery store brick repair (unanimous)
- Approved $5,100 change order to Ti-Zack Concrete, sidewalk project closed (unanimous)
- Approved RZ project application for Scott Strouse, 416 5th Street renovation (unanimous)
- Tabled Special Road Fund grant decision for park road paving until November
- Approved building permit for Terry Dusek – new garage siding (unanimous)
- Approved gaming permits for St. Arnold's Christian Mothers and Milnor Fire Department raffles (unanimous)
- Approved Pledge of Securities ended September 30, 2024 – Stock Growers Bank (unanimous)
- Approved bills totaling multiple funds as listed (unanimous)
City Council
The Milnor City Council approved a final payment of $39,284.73 to John's Refrigeration & Electric for the completed pumphouse generator installation, with part of the cost to be refunded through a FEMA grant. The council also approved building permits for a fence and a building remodel, the 2023 Drinking Water Quality Report, a gaming permit for a raffle, and a list of bills totaling over $100,000. Discussions included a possible city-wide cleanup in mid-September and the Rural Slum & Blight Grant for a building purchase.
- Approved final payment of $39,284.73 to John's Refrigeration & Electric for pumphouse generator installation (unanimous).
- Approved building permits for Dennis & Barb Odegard (fence) and Pat Thorson (Teller building remodel) (unanimous).
- Approved the 2023 Drinking Water Quality Report as completed and accepted by the NDDEQ Drinking Water Program (unanimous).
- Approved gaming permit to Eastern Seaboard Trip Participants MHS for a raffle (unanimous).
- Approved the meeting agenda and June meeting minutes (both unanimous).
- Approved a list of bills (checks #20001–20036, #3567–3578, #6078–6095, #228E–229E, EFTPS 7, #1027–1029) for various funds and purposes (unanimous).
City Council
The council voted unanimously to accept the Sargent County Tax Director’s 2024 tax assessments for Milnor, following a discussion about increased property valuations driven by higher sales ratios. They also approved the purchase of a John Deere mower with a 60-inch deck from Valley Plains Equipment for $21,000, funded from the Equipment Fund. A bid of $2,500 to $3,000 from Wyatt Lyon to repair brick at the grocery store was accepted, and a list of 66 bills was approved.
- Approved 2024 Sargent County tax assessments as presented (unanimous roll call)
- Approved purchase of John Deere mower with 60-inch deck for $21,000 from Equipment Fund (unanimous)
- Accepted Wyatt Lyon's bid to repair grocery store brick for $2,500–$3,000 (unanimous)
- Approved building permits for roof replacements, fence, deck, and new keg building (unanimous)
- Approved raffle permit for the VFW (unanimous)
- Approved list of 66 bills and payroll checks (unanimous)
- Discussed but tabled a potential $200 house-painting incentive program
- Decided to keep current fence regulations unchanged
City Council
The council approved a $300,000 SRF loan and raised the base water rate by $1 to fund water pumphouse updates. They also approved a $435,705 bid from John’s Refrigeration for the project, contingent on state funding. Three Renaissance Zone project applications were approved for new homes and a commercial project. The council also approved the Sargent County Police Services contract adjustment for 2024.
- Approved $300,000 SRF loan and $1 water rate increase (roll call, all aye)
- Approved $435,705 water pumphouse bid from John’s Refrigeration (roll call, all aye)
- Approved Sargent County Police Services contract adjustment for 2024 (unanimous)
- Approved RZ project for Roger & Brenda Gibbon – new home at 512 Sebens Dr (unanimous)
- Approved RZ project for Marcia Schutt – twin home at 105 1st St (unanimous)
- Approved RZ project for Mark Hudson – new home at 502 Sebens Dr (unanimous)
- Approved proceeding with Rural Slum & Blight Removal Grant (unanimous)
- Approved building permits for roof replacements, fence, shed, garage (unanimous, Ost abstained)
City Council
The council tabled a decision on a $435,705 water plant re-bid from John's Refrigeration, as the bid was higher than the first due to the generator being excluded. The city approved three building permits: a daycare addition for Y.O.U. Inc., a twinhome for Marcy Schutt, and a house for Mark Hudson. A Park Lane lot was sold for $2,000 as a one-time exception. The council also paid two Interstate Engineering invoices totaling $13,500 for pumphouse work, with 90% reimbursable by FEMA.
- Tabled water plant re-bid decision for at least a month to gather more information
- Approved building permit for Y.O.U. Inc. daycare addition (unanimous)
- Approved building permit for Marcy Schutt twinhome (unanimous)
- Approved building permit for Mark Hudson house (unanimous)
- Sold Park Lane lot for $2,000 (unanimous)
- Paid Interstate Engineering invoice $13,500 for generator work (unanimous)
- Paid Interstate Engineering invoice for additional pumphouse work (unanimous)
- Approved meeting agenda and February minutes (unanimous)
City Council
The Milnor City Council voted to increase council member pay from $50 to $70 per regular meeting, effective for meetings after July 1, 2024, with a 3-1 roll call vote (Ost, Anderson, Smith aye; Haugen nay). The council also voted unanimously to raise the mayor's pay to $180 per month, effective after July 1. Both votes had Roeder and Weber absent.
- Approved revised plans and specs for Water Improvement District No. 2022-1 and authorized rebidding (unanimous roll call, Roeder and Weber absent)
- Raised council pay to $70 per regular meeting, effective after July 1, 2024 (3-1 roll call, Haugen nay)
- Raised mayor's pay to $180 per month, effective after July 1 (unanimous roll call, Roeder and Weber absent)
- Approved building permits for bathroom remodels for Ernest Roder, Jodi Ost, and Patricia Hesselbach (unanimous, Ost abstained)
- Approved Pledge of Securities ended December 31, 2023 – Stock Growers Bank (unanimous)
- Approved gaming permit to Milnor Scholarship Association for raffle board (unanimous)
- Approved bills presented totaling multiple funds and payables (unanimous)
- Tabled discussion on updating fence regulations and building permit enforcement; no formal action taken
City Council
The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing pursuit of a Food Sustainability Grant of up to $300,000 to expand the grocery store. A business incentive plan for a potential barber was approved on a 3-1 roll call vote. Employee wage increases of 5% and a salary bump for the Economic Development Coordinator were approved 4-0-1. Several permits and routine bills were also approved.
- Approved resolution to pursue Food Sustainability Grant for grocery store expansion (unanimous)
- Approved Business Incentive Plan for potential barber shop (3-1 roll call; Ost nay)
- Approved 5% wage increase for 3 city employees and $1,362/month for Economic Development Coordinator (4-0-1; Smith abstain)
- Approved gaming permit for Milnor Satellite Club – 2 Superbowl Boards (unanimous)
- Approved off-site liquor permit for Lakeview Golf Course – Inferno Night (unanimous)
- Approved Stock Grower's Bank as City Depository for 2024 (unanimous)
- Approved bills totaling multiple funds as listed (unanimous)
- Council declined advertising in Southeast North Dakota Visitor's Guide