Granite Falls public meetings in 2024

Out Going

The Granite Falls City Council will vote on several financial resolutions, including the final levy payable for 2025 and the General Fund, Special Revenue Fund, and Enterprise Fund budgets. Council members will also consider a public hearing request for a street vacation and first‑reading amendments to zoning, tobacco, and THC codes. Additional items on the agenda are future appointments, contracts, and service agreements.

• Call for Public Hearing – Street Vacation
• Adopt Final Levy Payable 2025
• Approve General Fund Budget 2025
• Adopt Special Revenue Fund & Enterprise Fund Budgets 2025
• Amending Code 155 Zoning – 1st Reading

The Granite Falls City Council approved the 2025 tax levy and general fund budget, along with special revenue and enterprise fund budgets, transfers, and the 5-year capital improvements plan. It also approved selling three lots in Barber's Addition for $1 each to a developer, waiving assessments, with a requirement to build houses within two years. Several ordinances were introduced for first reading, including zoning, tobacco, and THC product amendments. The council also authorized a grant application for airport equipment and called for bids on hydro plant dam repairs.

• Approved $3,500 donation to Granite Falls Area Chamber of Commerce (unanimous)
• Approved sale of three lots in Barber's Addition for $1 each and waived assessments (unanimous)
• Approved first reading of zoning code amendments (unanimous)
• Approved first reading of tobacco and drug paraphernalia ordinance amendments (unanimous)
• Approved first reading of THC products ordinance amendment (unanimous)
• Approved 2025 tax levy and general fund budget (unanimous)
• Approved special revenue and enterprise fund budgets for 2023 (unanimous)
• Approved calling for bids for hydro plant Phase II dam repairs (unanimous)

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will consider several resolutions, including an airport farm lease and three Small Cities Streetscape agreements. It will then adopt the 2025 Final Levy Payable and approve the General Fund, Special Revenue Fund, and Enterprise Fund budgets, along with related fund transfers. Additional agenda items include a bike‑ride announcement and a professional services agreement.

• Resolution: Airport Farm Lease Agreements
• Resolution: Small Cities Streetscape Grant Agreement
• Resolution: Small Cities Streetscape RDC Admin Contract
• Resolution: Small Cities Streetscape Engineering Proposal
• Adopt Final Levy Payable 2025

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will consider a 2025 budget and approve routine items like meeting minutes and bills. The council will also review professional service quotes for the Rice Park Restroom and RDC Electrical Substation projects.

• Consider 2025 Budget
• Approve Rice Park Restroom Quotes
• Approve RDC Electrical Substation Professional Services
• Approve Richter Field Lighting Quotes
• Consider Assessments of Delinquent Utility & Miscellaneous Charges

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council adopted a consent agenda and then approved several requests from the Granite Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau for the Holiday Kickoff and tree‑lighting dedication on November 23. The council also declared two vacancies in the Electrical Department and accepted the resignation of Police Department secretary Kathy Balfany, creating a vacancy to be advertised. Additionally, the council decided not to solicit new bids for mowing contracts at this time.

• Approve Holiday Kickoff event: red bridge lighting on Nov 23, blue lighting on Nov 30, close Prentice Street between 8th and 9th Avenues (3‑6 p.m.), city staff tree‑decorating assistance, fire pit management, and horse‑drawn carriage rides (3‑5 p.m.)
• Declare two vacancies in the Electrical Department and advertise for replacements
• Accept resignation of Police Department secretary Kathy Balfany and declare a vacancy for her replacement
• Decision not to solicit bids for mowing contracts at this time
• Consent agenda approved: minutes, bills, Fire Department report, correspondence, and meetings & events

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will consider several resolutions, including a Hangar Lease Agreement with Barber and a State Airports Fund Grant Agreement. Council members will also discuss new dog park rules and hear public comments on proposed water and sewer rate changes. Additional agenda items include art updates, a charitable gambling application, and preview topics for the 2025 budget and infrastructure projects.

• Hangar Lease Agreement – Barber
• State Airports Fund Grant Agreement
• Dog Park Rules and Conditions ordinance
• Water & Sewer Rate public hearing
• Charitable gambling application consideration

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will discuss several motions and resolutions, including a bridge lighting request and a Halloween closure of Skyline Drive. It will vote on resolutions covering field lighting material bids, the airport layout plan, the Dave Smiglewski Memorial Bridge, and a contract for burial plot reacquisition. An ordinance for dog park rules will receive its first reading. The meeting also includes reports from the Kilowatt Community Center and the Utilities Commission.

• Motion: Bridge Lighting Request
• Motion: Halloween Closure of Skyline Drive
• Resolution: Field Lighting Material Bids
• Resolution: Dave Smiglewski Memorial Bridge
• Ordinance (1st Reading): Parks – Dog Park Rules and Conditions

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council meeting on September 16, 2024 will review reports from the EDA, Park Board, and Airport Commission. Council members will consider several actions, including a street vacation, an HDR proposal, an airport manager appointment, a Finance Director contract, and a dog park project. Additional information and discussion will cover a coalition presentation, truck bids, a small cities streetscape grant, and a holiday tree ceremony. Future agenda items include a farm lease agreement and custodial and Buesing contracts.

• Street Vacation
• HDR Proposal
• Airport Manager appointment
• Finance Director Contract
• Dog Park project

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will consider several resolutions, including adopting the proposed 2025 levy, the general fund budget, the special revenue and enterprise fund budgets, and a five‑year capital improvements plan. They will also vote on fund transfer resolutions and lease agreements. The meeting includes routine reports and a public hearing on utility rates.

• Adopt Proposed Levy Payable 2025 and set public hearing dates
• Adopt Resolution approving General Fund Budget 2025
• Adopt Resolution approving 2025 Special Revenue Fund & Enterprise Fund Budgets
• Adopt Resolution approving 5‑Year Capital Improvements Plan
• Adopt Resolution approving transfers of General Revenue Fund for 2025

The Granite Falls City Council approved the proposed 2025 tax levy, general fund budget, special revenue and enterprise fund budgets, and transfers, along with a 5-year capital improvements plan. They also approved an $18,000 contract for underground electrical work on East Skyline Drive, temporary liquor licenses for two events, and a hangar lease. A public hearing on proposed water and sewer rate increases was scheduled for October 21, 2024.

• Approved $18,000 quote for 3-phase underground installation on East Skyline Drive (unanimous)
• Approved temporary liquor licenses for Granite Area Arts Council events (unanimous)
• Approved appointment of Brian Handeland to Lodging Tax Committee (unanimous)
• Approved 2025 tax levy and general fund budget (unanimous)
• Approved special revenue and enterprise fund budgets for 2025 (unanimous)
• Approved transfers of general and enterprise funds for 2025 budget (unanimous)
• Approved 5-year capital improvements plan and equipment replacement schedule (unanimous)
• Approved hangar lease with Grant Thayer and Jet Pod lease extension with Ryan Christopherson (unanimous)

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will discuss several actions, including a federal single audit policy, declaring electrical department equipment surplus, a substation HDR engineering proposal, public works equipment, KCC pool repairs, and baseball lighting. They will also receive updates on CAIR, the dog park, and upcoming items such as the 2025 preliminary budget and a coalition update. A temporary liquor license for a YES House musical performance will be considered.

• Federal Single Audit Policy
• Declaring Electrical Department Equipment as Surplus
• Substation HDR Engineering Proposal
• KCC Pool Repairs
• Temporary Liquor License for YES House Musical Performance

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will discuss several items, including a temporary liquor license for YES House and a second reading of the pool ordinance. Other agenda items cover a Squidfest parking lot use request, bridge lighting, and electrical department equipment and gate quotes. The meeting also includes reports from the Utilities Commission and a public‑health opioid taskforce discussion.

• Squidfest use of parking lot request
• Temporary liquor license for YES House
• Bridge lighting request
• Electrical Department gate quotes
• Pool ordinance – second reading

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will meet on July 15, 2024, to conduct routine procedural items and receive reports from the Airport Commission and Economic Development Authority. The council will also consider resolutions related to bylaws, grants, and library memberships.

• Public hearing on 630 Highway 212 Nuisance Violations
• Consideration of Granite Falls Direct Marketing Organization (DMO) Bylaws
• Airport 2025 Grants resolution
• Pioneerland Library Request resolution
• Prairie Waters Membership resolution

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council is meeting to approve the consent agenda, receive reports, and take action on several items, including appointing a board member, awarding bids for Rice Park restrooms, and approving an airport land lease agreement. They will also discuss an update on Prairie Waters.

• Rice Park Restroom Bids
• Airport Land Lease Agreement
• Destination Marketing Organization Board Appointment
• Prairie Waters Update
• Public Hearing on Nuisance Violations (next agenda)

The City Council adopted a resolution to amend an airport lease agreement to include additional land. The council also appointed a member to the Lodging Tax Committee and acknowledged a variance approval from the Planning Commission.

• Approved consent agenda (unanimous)
• Approved variance request from Charles and Louann Paslawski
• Appointed Mary Gillespie to the Lodging Tax Committee (unanimous)
• Adopted Resolution 24-82 to add a fourth addendum to the airport lease agreement with Ron and Diane Fagen (unanimous)
• Reached consensus to wait until fall to rebid Rice Park restroom project

Meeting

The City Council will consider resolutions regarding invasive species removal at Memorial Park and a dangerous dog annual fee. The council also plans to set a public hearing for junk enforcement.

• Memorial Park invasive species removal resolution
• Dangerous dog annual fee resolution
• Junk enforcement public hearing setting
• Destination Marketing Organization Board application motion
• Prairie Waters update

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will consider several resolutions and ordinances at its June 3 meeting. The items cover road patching contracts that maintain local streets, police body camera guidelines, and property fence regulations affecting homeowners. The council will also evaluate a request to use Sorlien Parking Lot for Western Fest and discuss the city’s 2023 financial audit.

• Resolution for police body camera audit and policy
• Resolution for road patching and crack filling contracts
• Second reading of fence ordinance and Section 90.05 amendments
• Motion to approve Legion use of Sorlien Parking Lot for Western Fest
• Discussion of the city’s 2023 financial audit by Justin Nilson

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council is meeting to consider several resolutions and ordinances, including a second reading of a fence ordinance, a first reading of an amendment to Section 90.05, and resolutions on legal services, crosswalk art, severance fund transfers, a pole attachment agreement with Century Link, and counting write-in votes for municipal races. The agenda also includes informational items such as a floodwall mural, dog park update, council tablets, and a Volstead House grant.

• Fence Ordinance - 2nd Reading
• Amending Section 90.05 - 1st Reading
• Legal Services - Jeremy Blackwelder
• Pole Attachment Agreement - Century Link
• Counting Write-In Votes for Municipal Races

The City Council approved several funding resolutions, including $5,000 for a dog park and $1,400 for downtown crosswalk art. The council also authorized legal representation for a federal lawsuit and approved $90,000 in transfers to the Severance Pay Trust Fund.

• Approved hiring Boardman & Clark for legal representation in Horner Industrial Services, Inc. v. Canyon Industries, Inc. (Unanimous)
• Approved flood wall mural design (Unanimous)
• Approved $1,400 for downtown crosswalk art paint and supplies (Unanimous)
• Approved up to $5,000 from Community Fund Account for dog park development (Unanimous)
• Approved $90,000 transfer from General, Electrical, Water, and Waste Water funds to Severance Pay Trust Fund (Unanimous)
• Approved Joint Use of Poles Agreement with CenturyLink (Unanimous)
• Approved resolution governing write-in vote counting for municipal races (Unanimous)
• Approved $100 donation to VFW Buddy Poppy Fund (Unanimous)

Meeting

The Granite Falls City Council will consider several resolutions, including a T-Hangar contract and library restroom improvements. The council will also hold first readings for fence and pool ordinances. A closed session is scheduled to discuss the sale of Hwy 212 property.

• T-Hangar Contract – Fagen Fighters Restoration
• First readings of Fence and Pool Ordinances
• Library Restroom Improvements resolution
• Rice Park Restrooms resolution
• Sale of Hwy 212 Property discussion

Meeting

The City Council will consider several liquor license applications and appointments to boards and commissions. The meeting includes resolutions regarding a John Deere Gator replacement and Lime Pond improvements. Updates on the food shelf and library are also scheduled for discussion.

• Liquor license applications for American Legion, Bluenose Gopher Brewery, Granite Bowl, and Tolley’s Bar & Grill
• Temporary liquor license for GAAC Makers Market events
• Resolution for John Deere Gator replacement
• Resolution for Lime Pond improvements
• Appointment of Council Members to Boards & Commissions

Meeting

The City Council will consider resolutions regarding airport pavement improvement bids and watermain loop engineering services. The agenda also includes discussions on a tax abatement request and an art project in Rice Park.

• Airport Pavement Improvement Project Bids
• Watermain Loop Engineering Services resolution
• Temporary liquor licenses for YES House events
• Tax abatement request from John Meyer and Pete Schmitz
• Earned Sick & Safe Time Memorandum with LELS

Meeting

The City Council will consider resolutions regarding a finance director search proposal, Westernfest sponsorship, and MAPE leave time. The agenda also includes discussions on streetscape grants, a flood wall mural, and fire department truck updates.

• Resolution for David Drowns Associates Finance Director Search Proposal
• Westernfest sponsorship resolution
• Earned Sick and Safe Leave Time - MAPE resolution
• Small Cities Streetscape Grant discussion
• Fire Department replacement truck update

Meeting

The City Council will consider resolutions for airport pavement improvements and engineering services for Rice Park restrooms. The agenda also includes a bridge lighting request and discussion regarding No Mow May.

• Call for bids — 2024 Dutch Elm
• Airport pavement improvements bidding
• Rice Park restroom engineering services
• Police squad car resolution
• Second reading of Ordinance 90.4

Meeting

The City Council will meet to consider several resolutions, including police department body cameras and the City Hall HVAC system. The agenda also includes reports from the Police Chief regarding deer depredation and discussions on THC license fees.

• Resolution regarding Police Department Body Cameras
• Resolution regarding City Hall HVAC System
• Resolution regarding Electrical Department Equipment
• Resolution regarding Dog Kennel Agreement execution
• Discussion on THC License Fee

Re-organizational

The City Council is conducting a re-organizational meeting to establish procedures and appointments for the 2024 calendar year. The agenda includes electing a Vice President, designating official city services, and appointing engineers.

• Election of Vice President
• Approval of City Attorney contract for 2024
• Approval of Airport Manager contract for 2024
• Appointment of City, Airport, and Electrical Engineers for 2024
• Consideration of Grid North Brookings Project

Out Going

The agenda contains only procedural items and routine business. No specific projects, ordinances, or financial decisions are listed for discussion.

• Approval of December 18, 2023 meeting minutes
• Approval of bills