Summary of Fergus Falls City Council Meeting – December 1, 2025
- Ryan Tungseth
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Time: 5:30 PM – ~9:20 PM, City Council Chambers
Attendees: Mayor Anthony Hicks, council members (Mark Leighton, Al Kremeier, Mike Mortenson, Scott Rachels, Laurel Kilde, Jim Fish, Scott Kvamme, Laura Job), city staff (Andrew Bremseth, Bill Sonmor, Klara Beck, Len Taylor, Guy Kollman, Kyle Meyer, Chief Justin Kaune, Ralph Sommerfeld), guests (Bill S. invocation, Lisa Workman, ~30 residents, QuickTrip rep Dean George).
Key Items
Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance (0:00–0:54) Bill S. offered prayer; pledge followed.
Open Forum (1:16–7:45)
Jonathan Cornone – requested implied consent for deposition before Planning Commission.
Lisa Workman (Chamber President) – thanked Public Works for snow clearing, recapped Small Business Saturday success, invited council to Cally Designs 15th anniversary (Dec 2), FM Bank/Ryan Hansen Homes grand opening (Dec 3), Otter Cove Festival of Lights (Dec 3–13), Over the River Festival (Dec 13).
Mike Streeter – questioned $25k Humane Society contribution, suggested using for rec programs instead.
Public Hearing – Vacation of Rights-of-Way at 620 Broken Down Dam Rd (Latte request) (8:22–18:30)
Beck: cleanup of 1910 plat; rights-of-way run through now-unified property; vacation only affects Latte parcel; engineering sees no adverse impact.
Access concerns discussed (city owns wooded alternate parcel; current verbal with Moen). Streeter suggested re-platting roads.
Public hearing closed; first reading of Ordinance 758 introduced.
Introduction of Police K9 Capo & Handler Officer Joe Matson (18:59–29:06)
Chief Kaune: first K9 since 2017; ~$85k total cost (donations, grants, budget); Capo trained in tracking, narcotics, apprehension, PR.
Matson demonstrated Capo; emphasized fentanyl/drug trafficking impact.
Council & public very enthusiastic.
Retirement Resolutions (29:40–37:32)
Connie Everson – 24½ years Records Technician – approved 8-0.
Kevin Sonstebo – 21+ years Sergeant/SRO – approved 8-0. Chief Kaune shared heartfelt tributes for both.
Consent Agenda (37:44–38:50)
Minutes, licenses, $2,350 Fire Dept donation, LRIP support (W Lincoln), light pole disposal, Dec 15 tobacco denial hearing.
Approved unanimously 8-0.
Resolution – Return Court/Mill & Lincoln intersections to full traffic signals (39:02–48:43)
Pilot ended Dec 1.
Most downtown merchants positive (better flow, less racing); some pedestrian/traffic confusion.
Mortenson strongly opposed (prefers signals for pedestrian safety).
Approved 6-2 (No: Mortenson + one other).
Resolution – Land Sale (portion 2010 W Lincoln Ave) (48:48–49:37)
First reading – approved 8-0.
Resolution – Fire Ladder Truck Prepayment (Option 2 – $653,652 @ 5%) (49:44–55:52)
Locks 5% earnings (drops to 4.5% Jan 1); saves ~$114k.
Approved unanimously 8-0.
Rezoning 1397 S Tower Rd (RA → B3) – Proposed QuickTrip Travel Center (56:09–1:45:02 ≈ 49 minutes) Background
Parcel annexed 2015, auto-zoned RA. QuickTrip (Dean George) seeks B3 for a travel center (10 gas islands, 5 diesel islands, 26 overnight semi-truck parking stalls, 24-hour operation).
Public Testimony (12 speakers, all opposed or highly concerned)
Ramona Heitman – garden/farmers-market business would be destroyed by noise/light.
Christine Ugarde – bedroom window ~240 ft from proposed diesel parking.
Alexander Keeler – 5-point legal argument (no material change, incompatible jump RA→B3, violates transition zoning principles).
Lynette Brennan – notice mailed to wrong state; home value impact; wildlife loss.
Debbie Smith – cited studies on health effects of diesel exhaust, light/noise pollution, crime at truck stops.
Others echoed 24-hour truck idling, light pollution, property value loss, wildlife impact, fireflies disappearing, children’s safety.
QuickTrip Response (Dean George)
Goal is interstate visibility, not to harm neighborhood.
Willing to explore downsized version (e.g., Melrose model: smaller store, 3 fewer diesel lanes, zero overnight truck parking).
Cannot guarantee removal of all diesel parking; 2027 construction target gives time to negotiate.
Council Discussion
Strong desire for QuickTrip in Fergus Falls, but unanimous concern over full truck-stop scale next to homes.
No current code definition of “travel center” → falls permitted in B2/B3 with no conditions possible.
Consensus: need ordinance defining travel centers and allowing conditional use permit (CUP) process for site-specific conditions (hours, parking, screening, noise).
Motion to table rezoning, form ad hoc committee (Mortenson & Kremeier) to negotiate with QuickTrip, extend 60-day rule by agreement — approved unanimously (1:45:02).
2026 Budget & Levy Presentation (1:45:09–2:31:14 ≈ 46 minutes)
Final levy 1.85% increase ($8,708,078) — down from preliminary 8.53%.
Total budget $58.9 M (expenditures $56.6 M).
Health insurance +24.9 %, electric +16 %, workers comp –29.5 %.
Capital projects $11.9 M.
Utility rates ~5 % average increase proposed.
Both levy and budget resolutions approved unanimously.
Encumbrances & Closed Session (2:31:14–end) $78,683.85 2025 encumbrances approved 8-0. Meeting adjourned to closed session.
Next Steps
QuickTrip: Mortenson/Kremeier committee to meet with QuickTrip; draft ordinance defining “travel center” and enabling CUP process; extend 60-day rule.
Budget/levy finalized and sent to county.
Fire truck prepayment $653k (5%) to be made December.
Utility rate & capital plan review early 2026.
Disclaimer: This summary was generated by an AI system without added opinions. No claims of accuracy are made, though timestamps are included for reference. For the full context, please view the meeting video on YouTube: [YouTube Video Link Here]. This content is provided by Growth Forge Studio (formerly 4t Creative), dedicated to helping businesses grow.