January 5, 2026, Meeting Minutes

Posted: February 27, 2026

City of LeRoy MN – Council Meeting Minutes, January 5, 2026

 

A regular meeting of the LeRoy City Council was called to order by Mayor Ed Koppen on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the LeRoy Community Center with the following members present:  Mayor Ed Koppen, Council Members Harold Shipman, Paul Apenhorst, Chastidy Sweeney, Ashley Huntley, Public Works Supervisor Cole Wilcox, and City Clerk Patty White.
Also attending: Caleb Hovde, Dick Soltau, Axel Gumbel, and Terry Free.  All stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Appointments to the Standing Committees for 2026 were made as follows:

  • Chastidy Sweeney-Fire Department Personnel Committee; Water & Sewer
  • Harold Shipman-Streets & Alleys; Prairie Visions; Acting Mayor; Legal & Accounting; EDA
  • Ashley Huntley-Parks & Recreation; Ambulance Board; Cemetery & Tree Boards
  • Paul Apenhorst-Library Board; EDA; Prairie Visions
  • Ed Koppen-Legal & Accounting; Public Buildings

Motion by Huntley, second by Sweeney to approve the appointments to the Standing Committees for 2026.  Motion carried 5-0.

Appointments to the Appointed Committees for 2026 were made as follows:

  • City Attorney-LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A.
  • City Auditor-Smith Schafer & Associates, LTD
  • Official City Newspaper-Mower County Independent
  • Official Depositories-First National Bank, LeRoy; First State Bank Minnesota, LeRoy
  • City Engineer-Jones, Haugh & Smith
  • Fire Dept. Personnel Committee-Chastidy Sweeney, Patty White, Caleb Hovde, Dan Feather
  • Administrative Fine Board-Jan Whisler, Steve Klostermann, Rita Hiller
  • Library Board-Lisha Hindt, Jessica Fraser, Laurie Schmidt, Georgia Eastvold, Shirley Miller, Vada Dahl, Courtney Vosberg, Paul Apenhorst (council rep)
  • LeRoy EDA-Josh Lewis, Axel Gumbel, Mihaela Algadi, Tracy Smith, Cristi Masters, Harold Shipman & Paul Apenhorst (council reps)

White reported the terms of Lisha Hindt, Jessica Fraser, and Georgia Eastvold on the Library Board and Cristi Masters on the EDA were up at the end of 2025; all of these have agreed to serve another term on their respective boards.  Motion by Shipman, second by Sweeney to approve the appointments to the Standing Committees for 2026.  Motion carried 5-0.

Caleb Hovde presented the slate of officers for the LeRoy Volunteer Fire Department.  The officers include Caleb Hovde-Chief; Dan Feather-Assistant Chief; Brent Dohlman-Captain; Rick Dohlman-Lieutenant; Cole Wilcox-Fire Marshall/Emergency Management; Kenny Stinehart & Tim Freerksen-Training Officers; Jason Bastian-Secretary.  Motion by Apenhorst, second by Sweeney to accept the election results and the slate of officers for the LeRoy Volunteer Fire Department for 2026.  Motion carried 5-0.  Hovde reported there were 35 total calls in 2025; the members amassed 335 training hours.  There are currently 23 of 24 volunteers on the department.  Of these 23 volunteers, five of them are new with one retiree in 2025.  Hovde noted the one pumper truck is a 2001 model; the other pumper truck is a 2011 model.  A new pumper truck would be a major purchase costing over half a million dollars.  If a truck were ordered today, it could take two to three years to receive the truck.  Hovde reported the fire department has purchased some equipment with funds received through fundraising and donations.  He noted the SCBAs are in good condition.  The department is appreciative of the city council support they receive.  Council thanked Hovde for his report.

 

Consent Agenda:

  • Wilcox reported the little Ford pickup had the brakes replaced following the events of November 17. This information along with the cost to replace the lock-set at the maintenance shop was forwarded to the county attorney’s office for inclusion in this case.
  • Council reviewed the past due bill list and the amounts associated with these past due accounts. Council reviewed policies other cities follow with past due accounts.  Council questioned what the repercussions are for residents that don’t pay their water/sewer bills if the bills are assessed to property taxes on an annual basis.  It was noted that penalties and interest are charged on past due accounts when they are assessed to taxes.  Motion by Huntley to charge a 5% penalty per month on delinquent accounts, to send a disconnect notice when accounts reach 90 days past due with the notation the disconnect/reconnect fee will be $150, and assess past due balances as a last resort.  Second by Sweeney.  On a roll call of votes, all members voted aye.  Motion carried 5-0.
  • Motion by Huntley, second by Sweeney to approve the items included in the consent agenda. Motion carried 5-0.

Police Report:

  • There was no police report with the absence of a deputy.

Public Input Time:

  • Dick Soltau questioned why some of the lighted snowflakes are not lit. Wilcox noted the GFI outlets have probably kicked out.  Wilcox noted the decorations will be taken down this week.

Standing Committee Reports:

  • Huntley reported the LeRoy Area Ambulance Service responded to 239 calls for service in 2025; she noted two members have left the crew, they are always looking for new members.

LeRoy Medical Clinic Property:

  • Wilcox reported both pumps have been installed. He reported TNT Electric has found a different light for some of the interior lighting.
  • Koppen reported the LeRoy Clinic is now listed in the RHSHC advertisements. Prescriptions are being delivered to LeRoy on Wednesday each week.

Public Works Maintenance Worker Update:

  • Koppen reported he and Shipman conducted an interview with Kyle Stern. Wilcox and White also sat in on the interview.  Koppen recommended offering this open position to Mr. Stern.  Motion by Apenhorst, second by Shipman to offer Kyle Stern the public works maintenance worker job.  Motion carried 5-0.

Council PERA:

  • White reviewed the information on eligibility and enrollment in this program. Koppen noted the benefits of this program when he had been a member.

Requests to Attend MRWA & MCFOA Conferences:

  • Council reviewed the information for the MRWA Conference for Wilcox and the MCFOA Conference for White. Motion by Apenhorst, second by Huntley to allow attendance.  Motion carried 5-0.

Internship/City Administrator Conversation:

  • Koppen noted he had spoken with White about possibly hiring another person to assist in the city clerk’s office. This person could help with all the functions of the job.
  • White explained her thoughts to council about possibly forming a new position of city administrator. This person could research grants, assist with EDA functions, plus be cross-trained to be able to do White’s job.  This position could help lead the city into the future.  White noted this is something the council can think about, research, and ask questions about so as to not make a quick decision without careful thought and research.

Land Use Permits:

  • There were no land use permits for council review.

Communications File:

  • Council reviewed the information for the Gopher to Badger Link and information on upcoming open houses, one being here in LeRoy on January 13.

2026 Street Project Proposal:

  • Wilcox reported he is working with Colton with Heartland Asphalt for quotes for street repairs for one block of Benton Street, North Park Road, and a block or two of North Mather Street along with a couple of spots where sewer service lines were repaired. This will be further discussed at the February meeting.

Water Tower Update:

  • Wilcox reported the fill pipe for the water tower was replaced; the pipe had frozen, broke, and could not be repaired. This was turned into the city insurance; the entire bill will be paid from insurance proceeds less the deductible.  Maguire should be back to paint the tower in early May.

Service Award Recognition:

  • Koppen recognized the Live Nativity put on by Bethany Bible Church, the Jingle & Mingle put on by the LeRoy Commercial Club, the Ambulance Cookie Walk, and ECFE Breakfast with Santa. All of these events were enjoyed by many people.  Apenhorst also recognized all those involved with getting the ice rink set up and filled.

Vacant & Nuisance Properties:

  • There was nothing new to report on this topic.

EDA & WWG Report:

  • Koppen reviewed the October through December financial reports for WWG. He wanted council to be aware of the deficit shown on the September reports; the reports for the last quarter of 2025 have not been received yet.  He noted everything seems to be going well at WWG.

Being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Sweeney, second by Shipman at 7:46 PM.

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