July 6, 2026, Meeting Minutes

Posted: August 28, 2026

A regular meeting of the LeRoy City Council was called to order by Mayor Ed Koppen on Monday, July 6, 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: Jason Boynton, Stephen Schauer, and Jim Gronwoldt.  All stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda:

  • Council reviewed the items included in the consent agenda. Motion by Sweeney, second by Huntley to approve the consent agenda.  Motion carried 5-0.

Police Report:

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

Public Input Time:

  • No one present had anything to bring forward during public input time.

Standing Committee Reports:

  • Shipman reported Prairie Visions had met. Reseeding of the Scenic Byway/Wildflower Route is being planned.  There were six state people at the kickoff meeting along with the Prairie Visions representatives.  This group will be looking for people willing to participate in this process.  Shipman reported bids have been let for the trail resurfacing from the LeRoy Trailhead to Lake Louise State Park.
  • Huntley reported on the LeRoy Area Ambulance Service. She noted 18 total calls in June.  This was a slower month for the service; they had been averaging approximately 30 calls per month.

2026 Elections-Appoint Election Judges for Primary Election:

  • White presented the slate of election judges for the Primary Election to be held on August 11. The judges include Georgena Bird, Polly Bradley, Georgia Eastvold, Kate Fitzgerald, Mary Harrington, Judy Orum, Kathy Stern, and Diane Whalen.  Motion by Huntley, second by Sweeney to appoint this slate of election judges for the Primary Election and to pay the judges $15 per hour for their time serving as election judges and for training hours.  Motion carried 5-0.

Grace Christian Church:

  • White reported the purchase agreement that had been provided by Grace Christian was sent to the city attorney for review. A new purchase agreement was completed and was given to Brian and Sharon Thiel for their review and signatures.  Koppen and White will sign the purchase agreement when it is received from the Thiel’s.

2025 Audit Report-Jason Boynton:

  • Jason Boynton of CohnReznick introduced himself to council. Boynton presented the 2025 audit report; the city received an unmodified clean opinion for the 2025 audit.  Mr. Boynton noted they had no findings; he did note the limited personnel.  Mr. Boynton noted the financial reports have been filed with the State of Minnesota.  Motion by Apenhorst, second by Shipman to approve the 2025 audit report.  The motion carried 5-0.  Council thanked Mr. Boynton for the report and his time.

Resolution to Adopt Minnesota General Records Retention Schedule:

  • White reviewed the information contained in the records retention schedule. Motion by Shipman, second by Apenhorst to pass Resolution 2026-03, a Resolution Adopting the Minnesota General Records Retention Schedule for Cities.  Motion carried 5-0.

Summer Fest 2026:

  • Council reviewed the schedule of events for Summer Fest to be held on July 16-19, 2026. Jim Gronwoldt requested to close the area of South Broadway between Main Street and the South Business Alley from Thursday evening until Sunday evening of Summer Fest weekend.  Motion by Huntley, second by Shipman to allow this closure.  Motion carried 5-0.

Land Use Permits:

  • There were no land use permits for council review.

Communications File:

  • Koppen questioned about the entrance signs on the east wye. White reported she had reached out to Featherlite Graphics about refacing the existing signs.  These signs cannot be refaced.  It was the consensus of the council to allow new signs (4’x8’) from Featherlite Graphics.
  • Koppen read the thank you from American Legion Auxiliary Unit 161 for allowing the placement of a poppy bucket at City Hall prior to Memorial Day. Koppen also read the thank you from Spencer Goodale for the Pangborn Scholarship he received.  Council reviewed the library board meeting minutes; the library board was commended for all they do for the library.
  • Stephen Schauer reported he is officially licensed by the State of Minnesota for off-sale liquor. The move from J & B Liquor across the street to Pour Farm Liquor will happen the weekend of July 25 & 26.  Schauer plans to open the liquor business on July 27.  Council commended Mr. Schauer for the new grocery store and the liquor store.

Water & Sewer:

  • Council reviewed the 2025 Drinking Water Report.
  • Wilcox reported the water tower project is progressing. Maguire hopes to have the tower completely painted by Summer Fest.  Wilcox reported they will begin jetting sewers when the tower is back on-line.

Parks & Recreation:

  • Wilcox reported Randy Hansen will be out for at least a month due to eye surgery. Wilcox noted he had talked to Olivia Bundy about mowing for the city to cover while Mr. Hansen is out.  Bundy is interested in this position and will take care of the mowing.
  • The new light timer has been installed at North Park.
  • Apenhorst noted the west end of South Park does not have much activity on it. He noted this area could be converted into a dog park.  He proposed either one or two parks, one for small dogs and one for large dogs.  Further discussion followed.  Apenhorst noted this would allow a safer area for dogs to be able to run.  This would also provide a separation of dogs and kids playing at the park.

Service Award Recognition:

  • Koppen recognized the LeRoy Area Historical Society and their very successful Cemetery Walk; he recognized the State FFA Choir participants from the L-O School District; he recognized the LeRoy Commercial Club Basket Social; he recognized the Lake Louise State Park Open House and those involved in this day. He noted the ribbon cutting at Spirits at Rest; the very successful LeRoy Area Historical Society Ice Cream Social and Music; he recognized the LeRoy Ostrander Trap Shooting Team and their success at the state tournament; and he recognized the very nice article about James Loven residing at the Preston Veterans Home.

Vacant & Nuisance Properties:

  • Koppen reported two letters were sent out on two residential properties; one letter was sent to the owner of record of the building located in the north Business Alley.

EDA & WWG Report:

  • Apenhorst reviewed the WWG information with the council. Operations at WWG are going well.

Being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Sweeney and seconded by Huntley at 7:55 PM.

 

All City Docs
City council docs