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Summary of Fergus Falls City Council Meeting – May 5, 2025

Time: 6:30 PM, City Hall Attendees: Mayor Anthony Hicks, council members (Mark Leighton, Al Kramer, Mike Mortonson, Scott Rachels, Laurel Hildy, Jim Fish, Joel Swenson, Kim Springer), city staff (Bill Som, Ralph Nickomo, Andrew Bremseth), public speakers (Robin Foss, Dwayne Cookman, Lori Mullen, Spencer McGru, Emily McHune, Mike Dono, Cesaly Cookman, Deborah Zachman, Kevin Anderson, Bob Noah, Maya Stock, Chris Stock).

This concise summary highlights key outcomes and significant discussions with timestamps, focusing on city business priorities.


Key Items

  1. Routine Business (0:00–11:16)

    • Invocation/Pledge: Led by Pastor Dwayne Smith (0:05–0:51).

    • Roll Call: Quorum present (0:57–1:12).

    • Open Forum (1:18–9:46):

      • Robin Foss: Criticized council behavior, urged reinstating code of conduct on city website, cited contentious actions deterring economic development (1:30–5:00).

      • Dwayne Cookman: Supported dialogue, raised concerns about Robert’s Rules usage, cannabis distance ordinance, and Delagoon scale error (5:14–8:17).

      • Unnamed speaker: Questioned Kramer’s absence from April 24 Board of Equalization; Kramer cited work conflict (8:26–9:46).

    • Agenda Approval: Approved with items 8 (interim engineer) and 9 (RTC funds) moved to ordinances/resolutions for discussion (9:55–11:16).

  2. Small Business Week Proclamation (11:16–13:20)

    • Action: Proclaimed May 4–10, 2025, as Small Business Week, encouraging support for local businesses.

    • Discussion: Mortonson proposed council visits to small businesses; Mayor agreed to join (13:03–13:20).

    • Significance: Recognizes economic contributions of small businesses.

  3. Consent Agenda (13:20–16:38)

    • Action: Approved 10 items, including minutes, licenses, $2,500 library grant, telecom monopole, WCA delegation, mill/overlay (PI 5381), seal coat (PI 5382), 801 West Stanton PUD, town hall meetings, and Lake Alice Grit Trap project, unanimously.

    • Discussion: Hildy requested first town hall be noticed for full council attendance; Mayor clarified no business conducted (15:35–16:00). Mortonson asked about Grit Trap timeline; no firm start date until bids (16:05–16:18).

    • Significance: Routine approvals; town hall structure clarified.

  4. Interim City Engineer Appointment (16:38–19:38)

    • Action: Approved Tyson Hyjek (Moore Engineering) as interim city engineer, 5-3 (Rachels, Hildy, Fish, Swenson, Springer in favor; Leighton, Kramer, Mortonson opposed).

    • Discussion (3 min):

      • Leighton sought closed session for negotiation details; Mayor redirected to focus on temporary role (16:53–18:04).

      • Mortonson clarified Hyjek’s non-employee, independent contractor status with no department leadership (18:10–19:04).

    • Significance: Ensures summer project continuity at no cost.

  5. RTC State Funds for Stantec Proposal (19:38–23:08)

    • Action: Approved re-engaging Stantec to update 2021 tower reconditioning proposal (~$390,000), unanimously.

    • Discussion (4 min):

      • Leighton sought clarity on goals, costs ($3,500 initial, ~$390,000 total), and local contractor involvement; Clara Beck confirmed Stantec’s role to provide updated options (19:56–22:34).

    • Significance: Advances RTC preservation with state funds.

  6. Sunset Ridge Apartments TIF Assignment (23:08–37:42)

    • Action: Approved collateral assignment for Fannie Mae financing, 5-3 (Rachels, Hildy, Fish, Swenson, Springer in favor; Leighton, Kramer, Mortonson opposed).

    • Discussion (14 min):

      • Bill Som explained need for council re-approval due to Fannie Mae requirements, a common practice (29:13–32:02).

      • Mortonson questioned frequency of such returns and third-party involvement; Som and Samuel (developer) clarified single LLC with minority tenant-in-common for 1031 exchange (30:26–36:16).

      • Mortonson criticized lack of initial disclosure of minority owner (36:33–37:26).

    • Significance: Ensures TIF financing compliance; transparency concerns raised.

  7. Cannabis Interim Use Permits (IUPs) (37:50–1:46:31)

    • Actions:

      • Sugar High (112 E Washington): Rescinded April 21 denial (5-4, Mayor voting yes); approved IUP with conditions (5-year term, 10 AM–8 PM hours, no sampling/consumption, upstairs tenant consent), 5-3 (Rachels, Hildy, Fish, Swenson, Springer in favor).

      • Elevate (214 W Lincoln): Rescinded April 21 denial (5-4, Mayor voting yes); approved IUP with conditions (same, minus tenant consent), 5-3 (same votes).

    • Discussion (68 min):

      • Rachels moved to rescind due to new information, arguing 250-ft ordinance was not intended for City Hall/Riverwalk or Spetz Park; relied on Google AI skepticism (40:34–43:48).

      • Mortonson opposed, citing ordinance’s 250-ft attraction rule, referencing Spetz Park’s all-ages events; demanded survey-grade measurements (45:02–48:02).

      • Public input (47:23–1:44:24):

        • Spencer McGru: Questioned non-survey measurements (46:39–47:29).

        • Robin Foss: Supported cannabis for chronic pain, compared to liquor store proximity (56:31–1:04:27).

        • El (former law enforcement): Highlighted marijuana’s risks (1:04:33–1:05:12).

        • Emily McHune (Sugar High): Argued compliance with ordinances, criticized opinion-based delays (1:05:20–1:07:52, 1:33:39–1:34:24).

        • Mike Dono: Criticized hindering small businesses, noted medical cannabis access issues (1:08:04–1:12:23).

        • Cesaly Cookman: Urged ordinance amendment to avoid lawsuits, cited Spetz Park family events (1:12:34–1:14:14).

        • Deborah Zachman: Emphasized “regularly” used attractions (1:20:11–1:20:31).

        • Kevin Anderson (adjacent business): Opposed Sugar High due to odor concerns, felt uninformed (1:24:01–1:25:38).

        • Bob Noah: Praised debate, suggested town hall discussion (1:29:58–1:30:40).

        • Maya Stock (Elevate): Compared cannabis to alcohol’s risks, supported fair treatment (1:30:53–1:33:32).

        • Chris Stock (Elevate): Highlighted compliance, B6 zoning scarcity, community benefits; noted January 2026 license draw (1:21:57–1:42:10).

      • Andrew Bremseth clarified issue as defining “attraction for children”; prior council excluded City Hall/Spetz Park (1:17:43–1:19:11).

      • Hildy noted planning commission’s intent excluded Riverwalk (1:10:37–1:11:15).

      • Mortonson proposed adjacent business consent; rejected as zoning prioritizes businesses (52:30–56:01).

    • Significance: Approvals support local businesses but highlight ordinance ambiguity and council division.

  8. 801 West Stanton PUD Comment (23:25–27:24)

    • Discussion: Lori Mullen suggested community land trust for affordability, uniform home designs (e.g., Whitestone), and garage parking to align with dairy site plans (23:25–27:24).

    • Significance: Informs ongoing PUD planning.

  9. Ordinance Second Reading (27:24–27:58)

    • Action: Approved Ordinance 668, amending pylon signs, 7-0-1 (Mortonson abstained). No discussion.

    • Significance: Routine zoning update.

  10. Claims Approval (27:58–28:43)

    • Action: Approved $870,339.44 in claims, unanimously. No discussion.

    • Significance: Routine financial approval.

  11. Council Comments (1:46:31–1:57:26)

    • Discussion (11 min):

      • Kramer: Questioned Mayor’s ordinance consistency, citing 2023 council seating; shifted to economic development importance (1:46:57–1:49:10).

      • Rachels: Anticipated town halls, saved comments (1:49:34–1:49:47).

      • Hildy: Praised library’s nonpartisan conversation event (1:49:48–1:50:22).

      • Fish: Thanked council for American Legion ball field lights (1:50:22–1:50:41).

      • Springer: Stressed fact-based decisions, anticipated economic development session (1:50:41–1:51:27).

      • Swenson: Clarified town hall logistics need definition (1:51:27–1:52:14).

      • Mortonson: Defended council scrutiny, criticized past overspending ($90M), urged accountability and tax reduction (1:52:14–1:55:05).

      • Mayor: Clarified cannabis ordinance intent excluded City Hall/Spetz Park (1:55:11–1:55:55).

    • Significance: Revealed council tensions, priorities (economic development, accountability).

  12. Announcements (1:55:55–1:57:26)

    • Events: Economic development work session (May 7, 7 AM), Committee of the Whole (May 14), Council Meeting (May 19), Planning Commission input on standalone garages (May 27, 5:15 PM).


Next Steps

  • Cannabis IUPs: Implement Sugar High and Elevate permits; monitor compliance.

  • Economic Development: Review proposals at May 7 session.

  • Town Halls: Define logistics for monthly/quarterly meetings.

  • RTC: Await Stantec’s updated proposal.

  • 801 West Stanton: Consider community land trust, design suggestions.

  • Ordinances: Clarify cannabis attraction definitions to prevent future disputes.



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.

 
 
 

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