The council approved an agreement with the law firm Nickel Moore and Ellig to serve as the interim city attorney, following the current attorney’s decision to step back. This new arrangement focuses particularly on handling nuisance complaint prosecutions, with the firm offering a competitive rate of $225 per hour. The urgency of this agreement was emphasized to ensure there were no delays in addressing nuisance properties. The council expressed satisfaction with the interim solution, which includes a flexible termination clause requiring a 60-day notice.

Traffic management was another major focus of the meeting, particularly concerning the installation of “Children at Play” signs on Grove Lake Street. A resident raised concerns about fast-moving vehicles, particularly as traffic has increased due to visitors drawn to the Freedom Rock. The council engaged in a discussion about the efficacy of such signs, with some members skeptical about their impact on reducing speeds. Suggestions were made for alternative measures, such as installing stop signs or reducing speed limits, which the council acknowledged could provide more effective solutions. However, the immediate decision was to approve the installation of “Children at Play” signs in both directions on Grove Lake Street as a preliminary step to address the resident’s concerns.

Parking restrictions on Fourth Street North adjacent to Cira of Sauk Centre’s nursing home were also deliberated. The council approved a motion to remove existing restrictions following renovations and the widening of the driveway, which rendered the original parking limitations unnecessary. This decision was met with some concern from council members about setting a precedent for relaxing parking rules based on business requests. The motion passed with four votes in favor, while one council member abstained due to a potential conflict of interest.

In the realm of city development, the council gave the green light for the final hanger design at the local airport, authorizing bids for an estimated $1.2 million project. The construction of an 80 by 90 box hanger will be largely funded through federal and state contributions, with the city covering a minor portion of the costs. The council also discussed potential modifications, such as reducing the hanger size or adding floor heating, as part of the bid alternates.

The meeting continued with discussions on rental code modifications, highlighting issues with current enforcement practices. A policy committee had met to propose changes to the notification process for rental code compliance, including a preconstruction checklist to help applicants prepare for inspections. Future amendments, such as the imposition of daily fees for non-compliance, were previewed, with plans to present these updates to the council in upcoming sessions.

The council also reviewed a proclamation for Arbor Day, set for April 25, 2025, which was unanimously approved to maintain the city’s Tree City USA status. This event has a long-standing history in the community, having been observed for at least 25 years.

Additionally, the council addressed a proposal from the Lark group for the installation of downtown banners. The project involves replacing faded streetlight banners with new designs in time for Memorial Day, with contributions from the Lark group covering a portion of the costs.