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Summary of Fergus Falls Committee of the Whole Meeting – July 29, 2026

Jul 31
8 min read

Time: 7:00 Attendees: Mayor Anthony Hicks, council members (Mark Leighton, Jim Fish, Laurel Kilde, Scott Kvamme, Mike Mortenson, and others present establishing quorum), city staff (City Administrator Andrew Bremseth, Public Works Director Len Taylor, Engineering/Public Works Kyle Meyer, Finance Director Bill Sonmor, and others), guests (Lieutenant from Fergus Falls Police Department, Kayla Sullivan of Otter Express, Michael Olsen of Fergus Falls HRA, city legal representatives).


This concise summary is generated by AI, it is used only for reference purposes. Use the timestamps to view the section of the meeting on YouTube to verify actual meeting information.


Key Items

1. Police Department Grants and Contracts (0:26–9:05) Action: Recommendation to the City Council to authorize the police department to act as fiscal host for the Towards Zero Deaths traffic enforcement grant, approve the Worksteps contract for pre-hire physical agility testing, and approve the joint powers agreement with the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Discussion:

  • Lieutenant presented the Towards Zero Deaths grant: historically hosted by Otter Tail County; state formula change now requires individual agencies as fiscal hosts. Funding supports extra enforcement for DWI, speed, and distracted driving. Estimated request around $40,000 (initial figure nearer $60,000); application due approximately August 13 with Shannon Reggo finalizing.

  • Worksteps (Texas-based) provides third-party pre-employment fit-for-duty/physical agility tests administered locally at Alamir in Alexandria. Cost approximately $185 per test only when a new hire is sent; no annual fee. City attorney reviewed the agreement with no issues. League of Minnesota Cities supports the program. Limited to future new hires only.

  • Joint powers agreement with Minnesota ICAC Task Force (originally entered June 2023) enables cooperation, training, resource sharing, specialized equipment, and reimbursement for investigations of child pornography, crimes against children, and related materials. Recommitment recommended to continue aggressive investigation and public safety protection for minors. Outcome: All three items approved unanimously (motions by Mark Leighton and others; seconds by Jim Fish, Laurel Kilde, Scott Kvamme). Placed on consent agenda. Significance: Positions the department for continued grant funding, standardized compliant hiring practices, and specialized interagency capacity for crimes against children.

2. Otter Express Update (9:07–20:46) Action: Informational update in preparation for a future council resolution of support for the next fiscal year. Discussion:

  • Kayla Sullivan reported 2025 and first-half 2026 ridership on track to meet or exceed prior-year numbers. Service reaches approximately 33 Fergus Falls-area businesses; many employers rely on it as the sole transportation option for employees. Operates 23 employees (roughly half full-time).

  • City contributes $50,000 annually (longstanding allocation, not new money; previously supported senior rides when the city owned/operated buses). Funds are leveraged with Otter Tail County, City of Perham, and Wilkin County via joint powers agreement into a collective ~$200,000 local share that unlocks approximately $1.8 million in state/federal reimbursement (roughly 90% leverage).

  • Board is hiring a marketing/communications position (fully reimbursable) to increase awareness and ridership; many still associate the service with Productive Alternatives. Construction-period loop service has mixed reviews (hour-long circuit too long for some); consideration of a second bus for bidirectional 30-minute service. Route study funded by MnDOT is ~80% complete. Facility space at current Fergus Falls site (16-bus capacity) is constrained; some buses staged in Perham and Breckenridge. Reserve fund builds from fares, advertising, and equipment sales toward eventual reduction of local shares. Outcome: No formal vote; informational only with appreciation expressed for the update and leverage achieved. Significance: Confirms continued high return on the city’s long-term $50,000 investment while highlighting operational adjustments and marketing needs post-transition.

3. Fergus Falls HRA Quarterly Update and 2027 Levy Request (20:46–46:39) Action: Recommendation to the City Council to approve the 2027 Fergus Falls HRA levy of $285,000. Discussion:

  • Michael Olsen highlighted the recently completed housing study (full presentation by Maxfield Research planned for the August 3 council meeting). Vacancy rates are low (market-rate 2.3%, affordable 3.4%, subsidized 2.8%). Fergus Falls is a net importer of workers (5,762 inbound vs. 2,393 outbound). Estimated 10-year demand: 1,373 total units (355 single-family, 236 multifamily, 391 market-rate rental, 156 affordable, 235 subsidized). One developer already arranging a site-planning visit after the housing summit. Study available at fergusfallshra.com.

  • Small Cities Development Program survey underway for the Lake Alice neighborhood (defined boundary including portions of West Beach, North Union, Cleveland, Cecil, Fryberg, Lincoln, and Union to capture downtown commercial potential). City is too large for citywide Small Cities grants and too small for entitlement CDBG. Goal of ~60 eligible homeowners on a waiting list to support an application (up to $600,000 housing-only or $1.4 million comprehensive). Typical awards: $25,000 deferred/forgivable loan per homeowner project (10-year, 10% forgiven annually); commercial ~$40,000; multifamily ~$8,000 per unit. HRA will staff a table at National Night Out (August 4, St. James Church, Lake Alice, 5–7 p.m.). Prior grants funded in 2015/2017 and 2019; participation has been challenging post-COVID.

  • Levy request: $285,000 (85% of the statutory maximum of 0.0185% of estimated market value; prior year ~$269–270k / 100%). HRA leverages these funds for ~$2 million in state/federal support (primarily ~$1.2 million voucher payments assisting 160–180 families monthly plus 68 public-housing units). Request balances operational needs against city budget constraints. Outcome: Levy recommendation approved unanimously (motion by Mark Leighton, second by Jim Fish). Placed on consent agenda. Significance: Supports continued housing assistance, rehab grant capacity, and data-driven planning while moderating the levy increase relative to full statutory authority.

4. Engineering Task Orders for 2027 (and Select 2026) Projects (46:56–1:02:29) Action: Recommendation to the City Council to approve the package of engineering task-order agreements. Discussion:

  • Kyle Meyer presented agreements covering full design through close-out for projects that will enter the special-assessment process. Timing allows fall public-input meetings. Approving does not lock in construction but authorizes design spending.

  • Projects include: Union Avenue (Gustavis to Vernon, $475,000, with two additional blocks under discussion for staging/traffic and economy-of-scale reasons; phasing possible after preliminary engineering); West 7th Avenue / Maple / 1st / Be Street complete reconstruction ($385,000); 7th Avenue (Broadway to Union); Sheridan / Arlington / Bancroft complete reconstruction; Channing Avenue water-main replacement (Mill to Pebble Lake) ahead of a 100%-grant overlay; Dairy Trail construction administration (Interstate Engineering $42,228 vs. internal estimate $27,424); and Otter Tail Valley railroad crossings (split contracts for Dairy Trail legislative funding vs. TAP-grant portions outside the trail, including South Union and Sheridan).

  • Lead service lines will be addressed to the home where encountered. Sewer on Channing can be trenchlessly relined later if needed. Outcome: Package of eight items approved unanimously (motion by Laurel Kilde, second by Scott Kvamme). Placed on consent agenda. Significance: Advances timely design and public engagement for multiple infrastructure and trail projects while preserving flexibility on final scope and phasing.

5. Nuisance Process Update (1:02:39–1:31:55) Action: Informational presentation; consensus direction for staff to review the ordinance. Discussion:

  • Len Taylor (with legal input) outlined the complaint-driven process under City Code Chapter 90. Common issues include tall grass/vegetation (>6 inches; 10-day notice then contractor mow), snow/ice on sidewalks (24-hour ordinance window, shorter timeline), pet-related (barking defined as 5 continuous minutes with <1 minute pause), inoperable/unlicensed vehicles (limit of four; must be operable/licensed or in a building; on paved/gravel surface), and outside storage (disused items, lumber, appliances, etc.). Notices by mail (or posting option); non-compliance leads to abatement and billing plus escalating admin fees ($200 first offense). Staffing is limited (no proactive sweeps); many referrals go to police for right-of-way issues. Civil and criminal abatement paths exist; criminal is preferred for cost and motivation reasons. A recent two-year case produced an abatement order.

  • Council discussion focused on shortening notice timelines (mailing delays plus 10 days can stretch a month), possible direct posting plus mailing, and revisiting a periodic curbside cleanup (last done ~12 years ago at ~$100,000 cost; voucher system preferred to limit non-resident dumping and scavenging). Private-property rights and resource constraints were acknowledged. Outcome: No formal motion. General consensus directed staff to review the nuisance ordinance, consider shortened notice periods, and report back with recommendations (and possibly broader updates). Significance: Clarifies the deliberate, complaint-based process for residents and council while opening the door to more responsive timelines.

6. Water Booster Policy Update (1:32:02–1:41:40) Action: Recommendation to the City Council to amend the water-booster reimbursement policy. Discussion:

  • Areas with pressure below 40 psi (e.g., Pebble Hills, Hilltop) qualify residents for reimbursement toward a booster system. Current amounts ($500 set 2009, raised to $1,000 in 2016) no longer match typical costs (~$2,400–$2,500). Proposed: up to $1,800 for initial system and $1,200 for replacement pump (with documentation; $700 limit without); retroactive to January 1, 2026. Fire Chief confirmed hydrant volume remains adequate for firefighting via direct supply, relay pumping, or water tender. Longer-term system study (last done ~1997) was suggested to identify looping, upsizing, or booster/tower opportunities that could also support grant applications. Outcome: Approved unanimously (motion and second by Laurel Kilde and Jim Fish). Placed on consent agenda. Significance: Brings reimbursement closer to actual costs for affected residents while preserving firefighting capability and prompting broader system evaluation.

7. Data Practices Policy Amendment (1:41:42–1:48:45) Action: Recommendation to the City Council to approve the amended data-practices policy. Discussion:

  • Andrew Bremseth explained the update adopts the latest Minnesota Department of Administration model policy (last local update 2021). Key statewide change replaces “within 10 business days” with “as soon as possible/reasonably possible” in response to high request volumes. Fergus Falls-specific elements: add Bill Sonmor and Lynn as additional responsible-authority designees; treat multiple requests within a two-business-day window as a single request for copy-cost purposes. Most routine requests are answered within 24 hours; complex ones receive interim communication. Outcome: Approved unanimously. Placed on consent agenda. (Suggestion noted to use titles rather than personal names where feasible, with contact details retained.) Significance: Keeps the city aligned with current state model language and improves internal coverage for responses.

8. Airport Optimization Planning Study (1:48:45–1:54:58) Action: Recommendation to the City Council to approve the airport optimization planning study. Discussion:

  • Study cost $25,500 with 70/30 state/city split (city share $7,650 from airport capital fund). Purpose: high-level analysis of advantages/disadvantages of a regional airport authority, economic-impact assessment of county airports, and governance options. Intended to inform future discussions (including presentation to the county board) about shifting operational burden toward a county levy. Key airports include Fergus Falls, Perham, Henning, and Wadena (field location in Otter Tail County); grass strips such as Battle Lake are outside the regional focus. County commissioner involvement and Perham interest noted. Outcome: Approved unanimously (motion by Jim Fish, second by Scott Kvamme). Placed on consent agenda. Significance: Provides the required study foundation for evaluating a potential regional authority structure and related funding shifts.

9. Announcements (1:54:58–end) Filing for city council seats closed. Candidates (as of the meeting): Ward 1 – Laura Job (unopposed); Ward 2 – Scott Kvamme and Eric Swanson; Ward 3 – Al Kremeier and Alex Kutsky; Ward 4 – Scott Rachels, Dwayne Cookman, and Miranda Lap. Candidates may withdraw until 5:00 p.m. July 30; ballots to printers July 31; general election November 3. Primary election August 11 (polls 7 a.m.–8 p.m.). Next Committee of the Whole August 12 at 7:00; City Council August 3 at 5:30. National Night Out August 4. Reminder that campaign signs should not be placed in boulevards.

Next Steps

  • Place the approved police grants/contracts, HRA levy, engineering task orders, water-booster policy amendment, data-practices policy, and airport study on the August 3 consent agenda for formal council action.

  • Staff to review the nuisance ordinance for possible shortened notice timelines and related process improvements and report back.

  • HRA to continue Lake Alice neighborhood surveying (including National Night Out outreach) and prepare potential Small Cities grant application if sufficient interest is secured.

  • Engineering to proceed with preliminary design on the approved task orders, including traffic-staging analysis for Union Avenue, and return with refined scopes/cost adjustments.

  • Consider a water-system study to identify pressure/volume improvements and potential grant-eligible projects.

  • Candidates may still withdraw through July 30; election preparations continue.


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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