Another topic was the scheduling of work sessions to discuss the budget levy proposed for 2026. The council aims to explore potential adjustments to the levy and intends to conduct comprehensive budget discussions over several sessions. The scheduled dates for these sessions are October 15th, November 13th, and December 11th. The council acknowledged the importance of breaking down budget discussions into manageable topics to facilitate robust and focused deliberations.

The meeting also included routine approvals of accounts payable and the consent agenda, with specific expenditures highlighted, such as payments for a new mower at the sewer plant and repairs on the trestle bridge. The funds for these projects were sourced from sales tax revenues received from Rochester, as clarified during the meeting.

Additionally, the council set the dates for the public hearing and final adoption of the 2026 budget levy, slated for December 4th and December 18th, respectively. These meetings will provide an opportunity for public input and final decisions on the budget.

In reports, it was noted that the city’s current auditor would no longer be providing services, prompting the need to request proposals for a new auditor. The installation of a new boiler was completed, though there were additional costs due to hard water issues, which were addressed by treating the water within the closed-loop system.