The City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
To view the agenda, and minutes when available, visit the Agenda Center.
To watch the recorded meeting, stream it online or tune in on cable channel 12 (FiberNet & TDS subscribers) or channel 180 (Charter subscribers). The rebroadcast schedule is available here.
Recognition of Pam Loidolt, Senior Center Director
The City Council recognized Pam Loidolt, Senior Center Director, for over 30 years of service to the Monticello Senior Center, located in the Monticello Community Center. Pam will be retiring from her position at the end of the month. We are grateful for Pam’s dedication and incredible contributions to our community.
The Council also extended a warm welcome to Jay-Jay Tauzell as the new Senior Center Director.
Visit the Monticello Senior Center website for more information or stop by at 505 Walnut Street, Suite 3, Monticello, MN 55362.
Public Service Announcements
LRS Garbage – Recycling Transition
This is Waste Management’s final week of service, through May 31. This week’s pickup schedule is delayed by one day due to the Memorial Day holiday. Residents are asked to leave their carts at the curb for Waste Management to collect after their final pickup.
The City’s new residential garbage and recycling provider, LRS, will begin services on June 1. LRS has completed initial deliveries of garbage and recycling carts to each customer, and they will continue to deliver additional garbage and recycling carts as needed.
The new collection schedule and service map is available online at MonticelloMN.gov/226.
Watering Restrictions
Monticello has a Water Conservation Ordinance that specifies an odd/even lawn watering schedule from June 1 to September 30 every year.
This distributes demand when lawns are being irrigated and eases the burden on our water supply. Addresses that end in an odd number may water on odd numbered days. Addresses that end in an even number may water on even-numbered days.
When planting new trees, sod or grass, you may request an exemption permit allowing you to water every day for 30 days. Permits are also required when installing new sprinkler systems. To report a violation of the watering schedule, please contact the Water Department at (763) 295-3170.
Construction Update
- School Boulevard Improvement Project: The second phase of the project began this week, with a new detour in effect as of Tuesday, May 27. Travelers are encouraged to plan for extra travel time and use the posted detour routes. For more project information and detour maps, please visit MonticelloMN.gov/675.
City Council Decisions
Event Donations
The Council accepted donations for the following:
- $300 from Women of Today for the Farmers Market Power of Produce Kids Club
- $1,028.20 from H. Brothers Painting for a mural by MontiArts at Nordic Tap House
Thank you for your donations!
MontiArts Receives Grant for Nordic Tap House Mural
The City Council accepted a $18,972 grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board for a community mural project on the exterior of Nordic Tap House, a local business in the process of relocating to downtown Monticello.
In addition to the mural, the project includes community engagement opportunities. The mural artist, Shawn McCann, will host two public discussions: one to provide insight into his artistic process and mural design, and the other with the MontiArts Teen Art Club, offering practical guidance no pursuing a career as a working artist. Visit MontiArts on Facebook, Instagram, or at MontiArts.com for more information.
Water Samples Needed – You May be Eligible for a Utility Bill Credit!
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) requires municipalities to test drinking water for lead and copper every three years. MDH provides Monticello with a list of homes that have a higher likelihood of lead service lines, and the City must collect a specific number of samples from the list.
In 2022, when testing was last completed, the City’s Utility Department struggled to meet the minimum number of participants. To assist with efforts to find participants, the City Council approved a one-month base water and sewer charge utility bill credit for eligible participating properties.
Eligible properties will be notified by mail to participate.
Approval of Parcels to be Re-guided to Light Industrial Park Designation
The City Council approved an application by Scannell Properties, LLC, to re-guide certain properties to a Light Industrial Park designation. This follows the Planning Commission’s recommendation for approval at their regular meeting on May 6, 2025.
The applicant requested to re-guide the land use designation to support the development of a data center project, with a development potential of up to 1.3 million square feet. The total concept development area is approximately 106 acres, including the approximately 76-acre land area subject to the request to re-guide to light industrial. The properties are currently within the boundaries of Monticello township but are within the Monticello Orderly Annexation Area.
The applicant previously presented an initial concept for the development of a data center technology campus on these parcels during a joint workshop of the City Council and Planning Commission on March 4, 2025. It is important to note that while the applicant previously presented this preliminary concept to the City, approval of a specific use or project was not part of this decision. The Planning Commission and the City Council could only consider whether Light Industrial Park was the appropriate designation for the parcels, given the City’s growth and land use goals outlined in the comprehensive plan.
Further development of the site requires future land use applications and separate consideration by the City.
Golf Course Road (CSAH 39) Trail Project
More progress is being made toward the Golf Course Road (CSAH 39) Trail Project, including two items on Monday night’s agenda.
The City Council approved the plans and specifications and authorization to bid for the Golf Course Road Trail Project. Monticello was awarded an $800,000 Transportation Alternatives (TA) grant by MnDOT to construct a 10-foot pathway along the north side of Golf Course Road (CSAH 39) between Elm Street and 7th Street. This area was identified as a high priority in the 2019 Safe routes to School (SRTS) Plan.
Wright County had a pavement management project planned for this section of roadway in 2026; however, the City and County agreed to complete the trail and roadway projects together. The City Council approved a funding and construction agreement that includes County funding for the roadway improvements, including removal and replacement of asphalt surfacing, pavement markings, roadway signage, percentage of mobilization, percentage of erosion control, 50% of the cost of replacing existing ADA ramps, and engineering reimbursement of 11% of the County’s cost share.
The pavement preservation portion of the project will include reclaiming the roadway section and installing curb and gutter with storm sewer along the north side of the roadway. The roadway will be striped to include a center two-way left turn lane, following the County’s Transportation Plan. This turn lane will allow safer access to the commercial and residential driveways located along the corridor. With the updated lane configuration, the shoulder widths will not be able to accommodate on-street parking along this section of Golf Course Road. For this reason, the City Council also passed a resolution restricting on-street parking on Golf Course Road between Elm Street and the bridge over I-94.
MnDOT is currently reviewing the trail project’s final plans, and right-of-way certification is anticipated by the end of May 2025. Construction is anticipated to start in late August with substantial completion expected by November.