Faribault County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Airport board keeps 2027 runway project on track; other boards set up key decisions

The Faribault County Airport Advisory Board voted to continue pursuing the 2027 runway mill and overlay project, despite an engineer's recommendation to delay it to 2028. The board also requested the engineer attend a future meeting to discuss the project. The decision came at the board's Aug. 19 meeting, where members approved the May 20, 2026 minutes on a motion by M. Brown, seconded by P. Johnson.

No other recent meetings have published minutes, so all other items listed below are proposals or discussion items awaiting final action.

Other recent meetings

Library Board (Aug. 10) – The board reviewed the Data Privacy Policy with no recommended changes, discussed the 2027 budget, and received updates on strategic planning, including timeline and steering committee recruitment. Reports were received from the director, Teen Advisory Board, and SELCO.

Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Aug. 10) – The HRA agenda included a resolution to reject all hail damage bids, a public hearing on a business subsidy for Hill Block, LLC, and resolutions to approve financial assistance to Hope Center and to approve Casie Steeves as HRA Executive Director. A preliminary 2027 tax levy was also on the agenda.

City Council work session (Aug. 12) – Discussion only: the 38th Street NW Extension, a request for incentives for Project Screaming Eagle, and the 2027 budget, including National Guard project funding and a preliminary tax levy update.

City Council regular meeting (Aug. 12) – The council considered an energy savings project with McKinstry Essention, LLC, a first reading of an ordinance to amend mayor and council salaries, a vacation of part of Cavalry Drive, preliminary and final plats for Larson Properties Addition, and bids for Two Rivers Siphon Improvements.

City Council special meeting (Aug. 14) – The council certified the 2026 Primary Election results and abstract via Resolution 2026-238.

Planning Commission (Aug. 17) – Public hearings were held on a conditional use permit and variances for an accessory dwelling unit at 330 13th St NW, including a proposed denial of a variance for accessory structure size. The commission also considered a zoning map amendment, plats, and a variance for the Bagley Addition at 17575 38th St NW.

Planning Commission work session (Aug. 17) – Discussion only on data center performance standards.

City Council work session (Aug. 18) – Discussion only: a proposed cell tower at the Public Works facility, IT contract services, a 7th Street NW feasibility study update, and the 2027 capital funds budget for the Parkland Dedication Fund (404), Capital Equipment Replacement Fund (431), and Public Facilities Fund (437).

City Council closed session (Aug. 18) – The council met in closed session to discuss the potential purchase or sale of Parcel ID No. 18.31.4.26.015, including strategies, offers, and confidential appraisal information.

Heritage Preservation Commission (Aug. 19) – Routine agenda with citizen comments, design reviews, and discussion items.

Charitable Gambling Advisory Board (Aug. 19) – Considered a funding request from A Child's Delight Too, Inc., and reviewed a funding report. The next meeting is set for Nov. 18.

Economic Development Authority (Aug. 20) – The EDA considered a cost-share resolution for the 38th Street NW Extension, a request for incentives from Project Screaming Eagle, and a resolution to establish the EDA's preliminary tax levy for fiscal year 2027. The board also reviewed its 2027 operating plan and city council funding requests.

Coming up

• **Environmental Commission** – Aug. 24: Discussion of a merger with the Tree Board and data center development standards.
• **City Council** – Aug. 25: Closed session on property purchase/sale strategies for Parcel ID No. 18.31.26.015.
• **City Council** – Aug. 25: Regular meeting to vote on police and firefighter union contracts, a school resource officer agreement, a second reading of the salary ordinance, and bids for the 2026 City Wide Tree Removal Program.
• **City Council** – Aug. 25: Special closed session on labor negotiation strategies.
• **Parks and Recreation Board** – Aug. 26: Decision on parkland dedication policy – fee-in-lieu vs. land dedication.

Faribault County boards weigh Cavalry Hill Commons development, data center standards, and 2027 tax levy

Faribault County's Planning Commission and City Council held a packed two weeks of meetings, with the Cavalry Hill Commons residential development and a residential care facility at the center of multiple agenda items. However, minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, so no outcomes or vote tallies can be confirmed from the available records.

Cavalry Hill Commons and residential care facility

The Planning Commission on July 20 was scheduled to consider preliminary and final plats for Cavalry Hill Commons, a vacation of a portion of Cavalry Drive at 3105 Hwy 60 W, a variance for properties at 1116 4th Ave NW and 500 12th St NW, and a conditional use permit for a residential care facility at 3105 Cardinal Ave.

The City Council followed on July 28 with related items on its agenda, including Ordinance 2026-10 to vacate a portion of Cavalry Drive at 3105 Hwy 60 W, Resolution 2026-211 and 2026-212 to approve preliminary and final plats and a variance for Cavalry Hill Commons at 3105 and 3305 Hwy 60 W, and Resolution 2026-213 for a conditional use permit for a residential care facility at 3015 Cardinal Ave. The council agenda also listed a variance for 1116 4th Ave NW and 500 12th St NW.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed whether any of these resolutions or ordinances were approved.

Other council actions on the July 28 agenda

The July 28 City Council agenda included additional resolutions:

• Resolution 2026-217 to approve a water meter node replacement proposal.
• Resolution 2026-219 to approve professional services for the Country Club Estates stormwater management project under Contract 2026-16.
• A consent agenda listing contracts, budget amendments, temporary liquor licenses, and bingo approvals.
• An order for improvements for a city-wide tree removal program.

No vote tallies or dollar amounts for these items appear in the available agenda records.

2027 tax levy and budget discussions

The City Council held work sessions on July 21 and July 28 to review the preliminary 2027 tax levy and general fund budget. The July 21 session included updates from the Rice County Historical Society and the River Bend Nature Center, plus a status report on the utility billing software conversion. The July 28 session covered proposed discretionary spending and new personnel requests for 2027, along with downtown property maintenance and signage, apartment parking, elected official wage review, and an elected official security stipend or allowance.

These were work sessions; no formal levy adoption was scheduled.

Data center standards under review

Data center development standards appeared on multiple agendas. The Planning Commission held a July 20 work session to discuss data center performance standards as a discussion item. The Environmental Commission on July 27 discussed data center development standards, a potential merger of the Tree Board and the Environmental Commission, and grant updates.

No formal decisions on data center standards were scheduled at either meeting.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3 — Planning Commission:** Public hearings on preliminary and final plats and a variance for Larson Properties Addition at 1515 30th St NW, plus a conditional use permit for a Craftsman Studio at 1033 Faribault Rd.
• **Aug. 3 — Planning Commission work session:** Discussion of proposed data center development standards. No formal decisions scheduled.
• **Aug. 4 — City Council:** No official business scheduled. Council members may attend Night to Unite neighborhood gatherings; a quorum may be present.

Faribault-area boards set agendas on land use, redevelopment loans, and 2027 levies; no minutes published yet

Over the past two weeks, Faribault-area boards and commissions scheduled discussions on land-use proposals, redevelopment loans, and preliminary tax levies for 2027. Minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, so no final votes or decisions are confirmed in the available records.

City Council

The Faribault City Council held a closed special meeting July 7 to consider labor negotiation strategies under Minnesota Statutes §13D.04(2) and 179A.01–179A.025. A separate work session the same day listed discussion items including options to address a court decision on environmental review for Archer Datacenters, alternatives for the Lead Service Line Replacement Project, an update and budget adjustment request for the Faribault Police Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Grant, and a study of a new fire department station.

On July 14, the council agenda included Ordinance 2026-9 amending cannabis and hemp business regulations; Resolution 2026-198 and 2026-199 for a variance and developer’s agreement for Randy’s Foods at 1910 5th St NW; Resolution 2026-207 on performance standards for data centers; Resolution 2026-204 accepting bids for lead service line replacements; and Resolution 2026-202 on a professional services proposal for reservoir repair. A closed session was also scheduled to discuss purchase or sale strategies for Parcel ID No. 18.31.4.26.015.

Planning Commission

The Faribault County Planning Commission scheduled July 6 public hearings on a variance request for 1910 5th St NW and the Cavalry Hill Commons project at 3105 Hwy 60 W, which includes a vacation, preliminary and final plat, and a variance.

Housing and Redevelopment Authority / Economic Development Authority

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority met July 13 to discuss a proposed 10-year loan to Hill Block LLC for redevelopment, a construction loan program, Resolution 2026-19 amending Resolution 2026-13 for 728 East Division Street, and the 2027 preliminary tax levy. A presentation from Three Rivers Community Action Agency was also listed.

The Economic Development Authority met July 16 to discuss a proposed 10-year loan to Hill Block LLC for the Hill Block Redevelopment, the 2027 budget and operating plan, and the preliminary 2027 EDA tax levy. No public hearings were scheduled.

Library Board

The Library Advisory Board agenda for July 13 listed approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 agreement to participate in the SELCO Integrated Library System, appointment of Sam Temple to the SELCO Board, appointment of Erin Lui as Friends of Buckham Memorial Library Liaison, and discussion of the 2027 budget.

Parks and Recreation Board

The Park & Recreation Advisory Board met July 8 to consider a parkland dedication for Calvary Hills Commons. No other substantive items were listed.

Heritage Preservation Commission

The Heritage Preservation Commission met July 15 to approve minutes, hold a citizen comment period, and review design projects.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Planning Commission:** Consideration of preliminary and final plats for Cavalry Hill Commons, vacation of a portion of Cavalry Drive at 3105 Hwy 60 W, variances for 1116 4th Ave NW and 500 12th St NW, and a conditional use permit for a residential care facility at 3105 Cardinal Ave.
• **July 20 — Planning Commission Work Session:** Discussion of data center performance standards.
• **July 21 — City Council Work Session:** Updates from the Rice County Historical Society and River Bend Nature Center, a utility billing software conversion update, and review of the preliminary 2027 tax levy.