November 3, 2025, Meeting Minutes

Posted: January 2, 2026

City of LeRoy MN – Council Meeting Minutes, November 3, 2025

 

A regular meeting of the LeRoy City Council was called to order by Mayor Ed Koppen on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the LeRoy Community Center with the following members present:  Mayor Ed Koppen, Council Members Harold Shipman, Paul Apenhorst, Ashley Huntley, Chastidy Sweeney, Public Works Employee Cole Wilcox, and City Clerk Patty White.
Also attending: Terry Free, Brian Thiel, Shephen Schauer, Phil Whalen, Gerald Payne, Axel Gumbel, Cody Zehnder, Sergeant Katlynne Fisher, and Carl White.  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:

  • Sergeant Fisher reported there were 59 calls for assistance over the past month. Of those 59 calls, there were 25 traffic calls and 10 medical calls.  She reported deputies spent 6.14 hours per day here in LeRoy over the past 30 days.
  • Huntley questioned Fisher if she had any update on the ‘Ding Dong Ditching’ issues that have been going on. Fisher reported she has spoken to the kids involved with this along with speaking to some of their parents.  She has not heard of much activity lately.  She noted that if this continues to happen, the county attorney can be contacted for possible charges.  Council thanked Sergeant Fisher for her report and for her service.

Public Input Time:

  • Gerald Payne requested a status on the marquee sign. White reported On-Site Computers has been here twice.  The bridge part that allows the computer in city hall to talk to the sign needs to be replaced.  A new one was brought for installation, but it was too large for the space allowed for this.  On-Site is working on getting another one.
  • Payne also questioned what the Wildwood Grove profit/loss statement shows. He also questioned what is owed to the management company and the amount that is owed on the line of credit.  Koppen reviewed the profit/loss statement.  White reported the balance owed to the management company and the balance on the line of credit.

Standing Committee Reports:

  • Shipman reported Prairie Visions held their Pat-on-the-Back dinner on October 27; Prairie Visions will not hold a meeting until in January. Koppen noted Prairie Visions will need to focus on tourism between Iowa and Minnesota and three counties (Howard, Mitchell, and Mower).  Representative Patricia Mueller was in attendance and lent her support to Prairie Visions.
  • Huntley reported ambulance calls are holding steady. The Cookie Walk will be held on December 6; she invited anyone that would like to make cookies to do so for this fundraiser for the ambulance service.

LeRoy Medical Clinic Property:

  • Wilcox reported Pickar-Oulman will be here next week to install the new pumps and to do a complete furnace checkup. TNT Electric changed out the timer for the outside lights; this new timer will make it easier to change the time for these lights due to power outages or daylight savings time.  TNT Electric continues to look for different accent lights for the interior of the building.
  • Council reviewed the flyer that was distributed in the mail by Regional Health Services of Howard County. There was an article included in this flyer pertaining to the LeRoy Clinic.  Gumbel updated council on a visit he had with RHSHC about the possibility of working with the LeRoy Area Historical Society to showcase older pictures of LeRoy at the Clinic.

 

Public Works Maintenance Worker:

  • Koppen reported he and Shipman reviewed the nine applications that were received for this position. Of those nine applicants, three were granted interviews.  Koppen and Shipman conducted an interview with Cody Zehnder; Wilcox and White were also in attendance at this interview.  Koppen noted he and Shipman were impressed with his work history; he is employed at the LeRoy Cenex and has been working a couple of hours a day with Wilcox.  Shipman noted he has experience using a skid loader.  Zehnder introduced himself to council and noted he moved to LeRoy for a fresh start; he stressed he is a hard worker, and grew up in a small town.
  • Motion by Shipman to offer this position to Cody Zehnder. Second by Sweeney.  On a roll call of votes, all members voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.  Zehnder accepted the job offer.

2026 Preliminary Budget & Levy:

  • Council reviewed the updated capital outlay balances. Koppen noted these funds have been used to cover shortfalls with unexpected expenditures.  Apenhorst questioned about the cemetery funds.  These were explained.  White reported the annual Truth in Taxation hearing will be held at the beginning of the December 1, 2025, city council meeting.

Transient Merchants Ordinance Proposal:

  • Apenhorst reported he had presented this for council review at the October meeting. Koppen noted the city can have ordinances on the books; the city could be drawn into possible legal action if a transient merchant came into town and did not register with the city.  Apenhorst noted there had been as issue in Spring Valley; a scam was noted, but with the ordinance it gave some recourse for the affected party.  Council agreed to revisit this at the December 1, 2025, meeting.

EDA-WWG Line of Credit Security Request:

  • White explained the line of credit. Huntley expressed concern about the lack of communication when the council approves the use of the investment fund for security on this loan.  She felt the council needs to be kept better aware of what these funds are used for.  Shipman reported it has usually been used to cover the work comp premium, the property/casualty premium, and the bond payment.  All of these payments come due in November.  Apenhorst felt WWG is on a better track with LSI.  Apenhorst covered issues related to the annual licensure of WWG.  Huntley felt there needs to be a set of checks and balances.  Apenhorst questioned what the council wants to see pertaining to WWG reports and EDA information.  It was suggested to set up a joint meeting between the EDA and the city council.
  • Motion by Apenhorst to allow the use of the city investment account, up to $200,000, for collateral on the EDA line of credit. Second by Shipman.  On a roll call of votes, all members voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

Land Use Permits:

  • White reported the one land use permit was withdrawn by the applicant, so council had no land use permits to review.

Communications File:

  • Koppen read the thank you from the L-O FFA for the help they received with their annual Fall Frolic for Food. Wilcox was thanked for sweeping the trail for their 5-K run.  Council also reviewed the library board meeting minutes.
  • Apenhorst noted his resignation from the L-O Community Education Advisory Board. Koppen volunteered to attend these meetings on behalf of the city.  Apenhorst was thanked for his service to this committee.

Water Tower Update:

  • Wilcox reported all the rigging is down; the tank has been sand blasted and is primed. Maguire is working on completing the coating on the inside of the tank.  Once this coating passes a hardness test, Wilcox will be able to begin filling the tower with water.  That water will need to pass a few tests required from the Minnesota Department of Health before the water can be used.  Wilcox reported Maguire will be here early in the spring of 2026 to finish painting the tower.  Wilcox noted he was told the tower will be completed in June, 2026, at the latest.
  • The total contract for the tower is $361,000 with five annual payments of $72,200. Wilcox reported the tower is being brought up to OSHA standards.

Point of Sale Certification Ordinance Proposal:

  • Council reviewed the City of Adams ordinance. Wilcox requested this to be brought to council so they are aware of this.  Koppen suggested making sure the local real estate agents are aware of this and stressing to the property seller to have their sanitary sewer service line videotaped.  Gerald Payne noted a sanitary sewer inspection is done when a house inspection is done if a bank mortgage is involved.

Service Award Recognition:

  • Koppen recognized Humanities 101 for the production of ‘Our Town,’ to the LeRoy Community Theater for their recent Radio Theater production, to the Friends of Lake Louise for the Luminary Walk, to the Plow Day at the Hamlin Farm, to the LeRoy Garden Club for the beautiful fall decorations, and to the LeRoy Commercial Club for Fall Fest. Gumbel also recognized Sara Gerk for her many years serving the LeRoy EDA; she deserves much credit for all she has led the EDA through.  Brian Thiel also noted his work with Sara through some other tumultuous times with the EDA.

Vacant & Nuisance Properties:

  • Apenhorst reported he reached out to a firm in Rochester for inspection services; he is waiting for a reply from them. Wilcox reported he cleaned up the garbage behind the BP.
  • Carl White reported he will need rental housing for his clients; he was directed to stop by city hall for rental information.

EDA & WWG Report:

  • Koppen reviewed the profit/loss reports from previous months for WWG. Apenhorst reported the EDA should receive a budget for WWG at the December meeting.  The council looks forward to reviewing the budget.
  • Gumbel updated council on the use of text alerts through the texting program.
  • Apenhorst read the letter of resignation from Sara Gerk from the EDA board. Motion by Apenhorst, second by Huntley to accept this resignation, with regret.  Motion carried 5-0.  Motion by Shipman, second by Sweeney to pass Resolution 2025-10, a resolution of appreciation to Sara Gerk.  Motion carried 5-0.
  • Koppen questioned about filling this open seat for the final two months of 2025. Koppen questioned if anyone from the council would like to fill out these two months and advertise for a member to be appointed in January, 2026.  Thiel questioned if three council members could serve on the EDA board according to their bylaws.  Motion by Apenhorst, second by Sweeney to appoint Koppen to the LeRoy EDA for the two months of November and December, 2025, if the bylaws allow it.  Motion carried 5-0.  Letters of interest will be advertised for.

Being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Huntley and seconded by Sweeney at 8:13 PM.

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