LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

The Lancaster City Council met for its Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10^th, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. The following persons were present: Mayor, Kathy Bernstrom; Council members: Krista Matthew, Michael Olson, Kevin Grabowska. Also present, Jack Waters, Kittson County Enterprise reporter; Jake Ellefson, Area Manager with Ottertail Power; and Marit Martell, City Auditor with Hoffman, Philipp, & Martell, PLLC. Absent was John Stenquist.

Jake Ellefson with Ottertail Power Co. met with the council to discuss the city extending the electricity franchise for all customers in the city limits for another 20 years. Motion by Olson, second by Grabowska, and carried to approve Electric Franchise Ordinance No. 6102026. A copy of the ordinance will be published in the local paper.

Martell reviewed the 2025 audit information with the council and advised us that the opinion is unmodified/clean and that as good as can get. She pointed out a number of positive fund balances such as Fire, Sewer, Water, Liquor Store, and Revolving Loans, and commended the city in paying down the Community Center Debt with our local donations and additional payments as money became available. One thing she recommended is committing to use some of our excess funds to put towards capital improvements as we have very little debt at this time and our reserve balance is stable.

Zondagh met with the council to discuss the city’s Polaris Ranger and all the work it needs to be in good working order. It was recently brought to Huberts in TRF and they did bare minimum to get it running as it would cost too much to get all the parts for it. Council discussed using the 2026 $12,000 allotted budget to purchase a new 2027 500cc Polaris Ranger for around $10,000 instead of purchasing a new Brush Mower. Motion by Olson, second by Matthew and carried to purchase the new Ranger.

Zondagh also discussed having Dean Halvorson help him out this summer with mowing hopefully at least two days per week as Randy Weberg is no longer able to help this year. Zondagh will verify with Halvorson if he can commit to this, and if so, the council agreed the pay would be $16.09 as Step 1 for a Part Time Maintenance Worker.

Council and Zondagh also discussed various abandoned properties that are not being mowed and will look further into these properties.

Tabled Culvert Request from May’s meeting was discussed again and the city approved the purchase of a 30-foot culvert for $828 with a motion by Olson, second by Grabowska and carried. The culvert will be picked up, installed, and the loading fee will be the responsibility of Lancaster Housing Solutions LLC.

Form 11-C Occupational Tax & Registration Return for Wagering was discussed as Legion Gambling needs this form signed by the mayor. Motion by Matthew, second by Grabowska and carried to have Bernstrom sign this and return to Angie Sobolik.

Matthew moved to approve the May 13^th, 2026 Council Meeting Minutes, second by Olson and carried. A copy of the Minutes will be posted at the Lancaster City Hall and U.S. Post Office and available upon request to the clerk.

The council reviewed the June 2026 bills and May 2026 Electronic Fund Transfers and other bills that have been paid prior to this meeting to avoid late payments, receive discounts & meet payroll and all payroll expenses as approved in the 2026 Rates Fees & Appointments Schedule. Matthew moved to approved bills and EFT’s, second by Olson and carried. An abstract of bills will be posted with the minutes and are available upon request.

Motion by Olson, second by Grabowska and carried to refund Lancaster Homes $3,900 that had been overpaid from the original contract amount as the pay scale was not correct.

Approval to accept the proposal for Liquor Store/City building to have gutters removed and replaced for $1,520.00 and the bill/invoice to be split evenly between the two entities accepted with a motion by Matthew, second by Olson and carried. Also approved was the $805.30 proposal for the Fire Department to have a 62-foot gutter installed on their main building with a motion by Olson, second by Matthe and carried.

Retro-Approval of additional labor, in the amount of $1,350.00, on the Fire Department’s storage building door installation from MP Inc. was approved with a motion by Matthew, second by Grabowska and carried.

Correction to previously approved minutes dated August 13, 2025 to reflect the overhead doors purchase is approved at $27,000 un-installed (not installed) and that the Fire Department would provide a check for $8,000.00 (not $8,00) with a motion by Matthew, second by Olson and carried.

Motion by Olson to submit a $3,000 donation request to Legion Gambling to help with the completion of the Community Event Stage, second by Grabowska and carried.

State demographer report shows that the 2025 population estimate is 357 and household estimate is 153.

Resolution 2026-06 accepted with a motion by Matthew, second by Grabowska and carried for a $200 donation to the Fire Fund Drive.

Resolution 2026-07 accepted with a motion by Matthew, second by Olson and carried for a $3,000 Legion Gambling donation for help purchasing a new stand-up freezer for the Community Center.

Retro-Approval to sign, approve resolution, and cut a check to the Golf Course for a $1,000 donation from the Hallock Eagles #2617 to help with the flooring project as Kim Hemmes came to the city with the forms all filled out along with a $1,000 check. Motion by Olson, second by Matthe and carried to sign the gambling request. Motion by Matthew, second by Grabowska to accept the $1,000 under Resolution 2026-08, and carried. And approval for the city to cut a check to the Golf Course for $1,000 with a motion by Matthew, second by Olson and carried.

Resolution 2026-09 to accept a $3,000 donation from Legion Gambling to help purchase a new floor scrubber for the Community Center was approved with a motion by Matthew, second by Grabowska and carried.

Council reviewed a quote for a new floor scrubber in the amount of $3,399 (free shipping if unloaded at a loading dock) and approved the purchase with a motion by Grabowska, second by Matthew and carried. Kevin also said it can be delivered to Podco to save on the $175 shipping costs.

Mayor set Liquor Store inventory for Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 8:00 AM.

Council started discussing the 2027 Budget and will work with department/committees to meet and review wants/needs such as streets, sidewalks, water, sewer, liquor store, cost of living increase, fire department, new loader for the city with a service agreement.

Council reviewed May City and Liquor Store financials.

Other items discussed: Olson ordered the new Ranger during this meeting and will work with Chris at Huberts in TRF to have it picked up once it is available; Community Center cleaning work being split with Kristy Vasquez and Cheri Sullivan as they wanted to work to get it done together/faster; further discussed abandoned lots and tall grass; planned power outage June 16^th due to Ottertail Power maintenance; payroll cut off on June 14^th, payable on June 15^th due to the power outage; Heritage Days schedules and road closure dates and times; Needs Assessment Meeting; Maguire Iron tentatively scheduled for August to do interior paining and safety climb installation; Water Tower lights to be looked at in August; Clerk to attend Election Informational Meeting June 15^th.

Resolution 2026-10 approved with motion by Matthew, second by Grabowska and carried to accept $2,940 from MN Board of Firefighter Training and Education on various reimbursements to the Fire Department for their yearly training.

Mayor closed the meeting as there was no further business for council.

Janet Johnson, Clerk/Treasurer

Approved: Kathy Bernstrom, Mayor
Approval Date: July 8th, 2026

Other links: Lancaster Riverside Golf Course | Lancaster Public School | NW MN Multi-County HRA

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