The City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, July 28, 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.
Moment of Silence for Senator Bruce Anderson
Mayor Lloyd Hilgart led a moment of silence in honor of Senator Bruce Anderson, recognizing his recent passing.
Since 2012, Senator Anderson represented portions of Hennepin and Wright Counties in the Minnesota State Senate, including Monticello. He was a dedicated advocate for our community, assisting as we introduced legislation to support critical infrastructure improvements in and around our city.
Public Service Announcements
MnDOT Hwy 25 Study Monticello to Big Lake Open House
MnDOT has been working on a comprehensive study of the Highway 25 corridor, focusing on the segment of Highway 25 from 85th Street Northeast in Monticello to Highway 10 in Big Lake.
This study is separate from the Highway 25 Area Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study led by Wright and Sherburne Counties. However, MnDOT will coordinate with the PEL study to provide additional alternatives to increase vehicle safety and improve mobility in this specific study area.
MnDOT will present potential improvements from their study at a public open house on Monday, August 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Mississippi Room of the Monticello Community Center.
Visit MnDOT’s Hwy 25 Study – Monticello to Big Lake project webpage for more information.
Upcoming Community Events
- Movies in the Park returns this Friday, August 1, and features A Minecraft Movie starting at 8 p.m. in Pioneer Park. Concessions will be available to purchase.
- Music on the Mississippi returns with live music by Bad Habits Brass on Wednesday, August 6, at West Bridge Park. Food and beverages are available for purchase starting at 6 p.m. with live music at 6:30 p.m.
Heart Strong Monticello
Heart Strong Monticello, a local nonprofit, shared an update with the City Council on its efforts to designate Monticello a “Heart Safe Community.”
Heart Strong has three main missions:
- Raise awareness about responding to strokes, heart attacks, and sudden cardiac arrest.
- Provide CPR & AED training.
- Increase AED accessibility.
Heart Strong’s progress highlights include:
- 1,275 residents have received CPR and AED training, nearing the goal of 1,500.
- AED mapping and registration efforts on the PulsePoint app are ongoing.
- Community partners and sponsors have helped place AEDs in West Bridge Park, Ellison Park, and the Monticello High School Baseball Fields. Two AEDs will also be installed at the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Athletic Park.
- A sustainability plan is in place to maintain progress after achieving the Heart Safe Community designation.
Together, these efforts are helping make Monticello a safer place to live, work, and play.
Department Updates
Wright County Sheriff’s Office Quarterly Update
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) provided its second quarter update for the year:
- There was a notable increase in activity, with calls for service up nearly 22% and case reports rising by almost 19% when compared to the second quarter of 2024.
- There was a rise in juvenile-related complaints, largely tied to the use of foot scooters, e-bikes, and other motorized recreational vehicles. While not unique to Monticello, the Sheriff’s Office clarified the following guidelines:
- E-bikes may be operated by individuals aged 15 or older.
- Motorized foot scooters are permitted for those 12 and older.
- Other motorized vehicles marketed as e-bikes may fall under motorcycle classifications, requiring licenses, permits, and safety gear.
WCSO also provided an overview of new initiatives and updates:
- Deployment of speed trailers to monitor and manage traffic.
- School Reunification Planning: Training for emergency situations to ensure consistent communication and safe reunification of students with families.
- New hires were added to the department.
- Officers are currently being trained on body camera usage.
FiberNet Quarterly Update
Fibernet provided the City Council with its second quarter update. The update included an overview of new subscriptions and other activity for the quarter, as well as a marketing update. View the presentation (PDF).
Utility Rate Study Overview
A representative of Northland Public Finance presented a Financial Management Plan for Utility Funds for the City of Monticello. This utility rate study is intended to inform the City Council’s annual decisions regarding utility rates.
Covering a ten-year outlook, the plan projects the City’s need to maintain sufficient revenue to support both capital projects and ongoing operational costs. It includes proposed utility rate adjustments to meet future funding needs, with reserve funds playing a key role in financing major initiatives, such as a Water Treatment Plant, alongside other funding sources.
In 2023, the City of Monticello received $11 million for construction of a Water Treatment Plant through the State of Minnesota’s Bonding Bill. The City continues to seek funding for the Water Treatment Plant project to minimize the impact on utility rates.
Monticello remains committed to responsible financial management, while balancing the need to invest in essential infrastructure projects.
Construction Update
- The School Boulevard Improvement Project: Phase 4 of the School Boulevard Improvement Project begins Wednesday, June 30. The School Boulevard and Cedar Street roundabout will be open in all directions and traffic will be able to access Highway 25. The School Boulevard and Edmonson Avenue intersection will be closed in all directions to complete construction of the second roundabout. School Boulevard will be closed 200 feet west of Orchard Lane to Country Avenue.
- Golf Course Road Trail Project: Crews are preparing for the start of the Golf Course Road Trail Project on County Road 39 West.
City Council Decisions
Big Bore Barbecue ‘Cue Stop Approved for Former McDonald’s Site
The City Council gave final approval to a land use application submitted by Big Bore Barbecue Co. to open a new fast-casual restaurant at 1390 7th Street East, the site of the former McDonald’s near Home Depot.
The Big Bore Barbecue ‘Cue Stop will offer drive-through and in-restaurant seating, in addition to curbside orders. The restaurant is expected to create approximately 40 full- and part-time jobs in the area. It will be open at 11 a.m. seven days a week.
The City’s Planning Commission reviewed the land use application and held a public hearing on July 1, 2025. The Commission expressed support for the reuse of the existing building, and recommended approval to the City Council.
Karlsburger Foods Expansion Parking
Karlsburger Foods plans to expand their facilities in the Otter Creek Industrial Park. The initial phase includes a 2,153-square-foot addition on the east side of the building and a small electrical room on the north side. As part of the project, the company will also update its parking lot, utilizing a portion of City-owned land.
The City Council approved the use of this land by Karlsburger to support the expansion. To utilize the shared access point, the applicants were required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit for this portion of the expansion project.
The City Council approved the conditional use permit. It is expected to improve circulation, increase the parking supply for an underparked facility, and facilitate further long-term expansion.
BCOL Athletic Park Phase II
The City Council approved the final payment to Sunram Construction for Phase II improvements at the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Athletic Park. Phase II improvements included:
- Expansion of the northern gravel parking lot to the east
- Addition of a gravel parking lot to the south
- Installation of electrical services
- Addition of a two-way gravel road connecting the existing park drive around the western side of the pond connecting to Wright County’s main entrance road
- Expansion of the existing gravel trail and added paved accessible parking stalls
- Bench and drinking fountains
- Concrete pads for portable restrooms
- Stormwater culverts
- Extension of irrigation mainlines to provide more coverage with Kifco units
- Irrigation booster pump
- Restoration and landscape planting
- Tree planting plan
- Additional signage
City of Monticello Affordable Housing Trust Fund
In 2023, the State of Minnesota launched a Statewide Local Housing Aid program, directing an annual amount of housing funding to local jurisdictions. The program was intended to encourage affordable housing at a community level, acting as startup funding for a permanent and renewable source of funding for housing needs of moderate, low, and very low-income households.
Monticello is set to receive a total of $147,095 through this program (from 2023 to 2025).
Cities have the option of creating an Affordable Housing Trust fund to manage the housing aid dollars. The City Council approved an ordinance establishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This trust fund will allow Monticello to:
- Retain unused state aid if qualifying projects have not been identified by the deadline due to circumstances beyond the City’s control.
- Support long-term local affordable housing efforts and programs.
- Match other funding sources for affordable housing projects.
The ordinance also establishes affordable housing and income limits, allowable uses of the fund, and additional revenue sources to support the fund going forward. The fund will be managed by the Economic Development Authority (EDA), which also serves as the city’s Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
Following this approval, the EDA will develop programs based on Monticello’s most recent Housing Needs and Demands Report to ensure the funding addresses community needs specific to Monticello.
Monticello Tech LLC Campus Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR)
The City of Monticello has initiated an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) process for the proposed 550-acre technology campus by Monticello Tech LLC, located south of 85th Street and east of Highway 25. This environmental review is required under Minnesota Rules 4410, as the project meets the thresholds for environmental assessment.
An AUAR is a study document that provides an evaluation of the environmental impacts of future development, and the opportunity to manage and mitigate those impacts. The information and comments from an AUAR process assist communities as they contemplate local planning and zoning decisions.
An AUAR Scoping Document is a required additional step in the AUAR process required under specific provisions of Minnesota Rules and precedes the full AUAR study. The Scoping Document reviews different development scenarios, and their resulting impact on the environment of their community before the development occurs. It evaluates potential environmental impacts such as noise, transportation, and utilities. It also details the level of analysis to be completed for the AUAR study.
The AUAR Scoping Document prepared outlines of two scenarios for evaluation in the full AUAR study:
- The first scenario anticipates up to 3 million square feet of technology or data center use.
- The second scenario anticipates up to 5 million square feet of industrial development, consistent with the Monticello 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
The AUAR Order component is the formal initiation of the study and defines the project boundary and nature, location and intensity of development and is considered “Draft” in the Scoping stage of the AUAR process.
The City Council authorized the distribution of the Scoping Document and AUAR Order. It will be released to the Environmental Quality Board, the State agency responsible for the review of AUAR documents. When published in the Environmental Quality Board Monitor, the 30-day public comment period will begin. The City will publish the AUAR documents to its website and make copies available at City Hall. Comments on the Scoping Document will be assembled for response by the City.
Public Hearings
Easement Vacation on 85th Street Northeast (Haven Ridge)
The City Council decided to continue the public hearing for the vacation of this permanent easement to the August 25, 2025, meeting. At the previous July 14 City Council meeting, the City Council continued the public hearing to July 28. However, the proposed developer/applicant continues to work through matters related to the final plat and proposed development of Haven Ridge West. The continuation is intended to allow the vacation to be evaluated with the final plat consideration.
See the initial petition’s summary from the July 14 City Council Highlights.