During the public forum, a resident named Ron Berger expressed concerns about the city’s golf course, which he claimed had reported financial success in the past but was now operating at a deficit. Berger highlighted discrepancies between past reports of the golf course’s “fantastic” performance and a recent financial report showing losses. He questioned the management and transparency of the golf course operations, emphasizing that it was the only public course in Minnesota with a golf pro while serving a population under 10,000. Berger urged the city to reconsider its overhead costs, particularly regarding the clubhouse, and suggested operating the golf course more like a business to reduce losses rather than increasing taxes.

Further discussion on the golf course arose later in the meeting when it was announced that the general manager would be retiring. The personnel committee began discussions about replacing this position, contemplating whether to hire a new general manager or continue with a golf pro. The current golf pro manages day-to-day operations, organizes events, and provides lessons, but the committee leaned toward hiring a general manager, which would involve drafting a new job description. Council members expressed the need to review this job description before finalizing and posting it.

Parking issues also took center stage when a letter from Clinton Broak, a local business owner, was read aloud. Broak expressed concerns about the enforcement of a three-hour parking limit on Main Street. He warned that parking enforcement could disrupt business operations and suggested that without thoughtful consideration, it might force businesses to reevaluate their location’s sustainability. Broak proposed residential parking permits during business hours to alleviate congestion caused by residents parking in commercial zones, highlighting the commonality of downtown parking challenges.

The meeting also tackled budgetary matters, with the administrator presenting a general fund budget draft showing a slight increase of just over 1% compared to the previous year. Adjustments for a cost-of-living increase for all full-time and part-time employees were noted, although health insurance details remained uncertain due to a provider discontinuing coverage for non-metro regions. The administrator mentioned ongoing discussions regarding alternative insurance options.

A specific budget topic involved the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. The school proposed an earlier start to their payment schedule than initially planned, which would impact the city’s budgeted revenues for the current year. Council members considered a compromise start date in November rather than September, showing general support for evaluating this option further.

Additionally, a resident raised a request for a sign indicating the presence of an autistic child in their neighborhood. The council discussed the potential precedent such a sign could set, with preference expressed for a more general warning like “caution children at play,” which could apply to various situations. Ultimately, the motion to proceed with the sign request failed to receive a second.

The conversation briefly shifted to the police department’s reporting practices. A desire was expressed for similarly detailed reports from other city departments, which the administrator acknowledged. The discussion brought attention to a perceived disparity in the level of detail provided by various departments.