The City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, October 13, 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), channel 997 (TDS) or channel 180 (Charter subscribers). The rebroadcast schedule is available here. 

Minnesota Manufacturing Month Proclamation

Mayor Lloyd Hilgart proclaimed October as Manufacturing Month, in recognition of the critical importance of manufacturing to the state and local economy. On Friday, October 10, 2025, Monticello’s Industrial and Economic Development Committee hosted a Manufacturers’ Appreciation Breakfast. The event featured speakers King Banaian, Ph.D., Professor of Economics at St. Cloud State University, and Jill Kedrowski, 8^th Grade STEM Instructor at Monticello Public Schools. The Manufacturers’ Appreciation Breakfast and the proclamation highlight the essential role that local manufacturers play in Monticello’s and Minnesota’s economy. 

Monticello School District Referendum Information

Monticello School District Superintendent Eric Olson presented information on the school district’s upcoming operating levy referendum during Citizens Comments. The presentation is available to view by broadcast or online.

More information about the operating levy referendum can be found online on the Monticello School District website.

Public Service Announcements

Absentee Voting

Voters are reminded that absentee voting for the upcoming special election is available to City of Monticello residents at City Hall. Absentee voting is open during regular business hours and includes extended hours on:

• Saturday, November 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Monday, November 3, until 5 p.m.

Ballot items include the Monticello School District referendum and the Senate District 29 seat. 

Monticello school district voters located outside of the City of Monticello may vote early in-person at the Wright County Government Center. 

Absentee ballots can also be requested online through the Secretary of State website.

Data Center Ordinance Update

City officials have held two joint workshop sessions on September 24 and October 7, 2025, to review and discuss the draft data center zoning ordinance following two formal public hearings at Planning Commission meetings on August 19 and September 2, 2025.

The purpose of the joint workshop discussions is to carefully consider public feedback and address requests for additional time to refine the proposed ordinance regulating data center development in Monticello.

At the most recent workshop on October 7, members of the Planning Commission and City Council continued their discussion. Staff will revise the draft ordinance based on the feedback during the session. Once the updates are ready, staff will bring the revised draft back to another joint workshop for further review before it returns to a Planning Commission meeting for a new public hearing.

The date for the upcoming additional workshop is Monday, November 3, at 7 p.m. in the Mississippi Room of the Monticello Community Center.

Parks Winter Preparations

Parks staff have begun preparing our public spaces for winter operations. This includes:

• Blowing out irrigation systems and turning off water hookups in all city parks, including Bertram Chain of Lakes and Riverside Cemetery.
• Closing restrooms at Pioneer and Ellison Parks for the season.
• Removing basketball hoops at West Bridge Park.
• Closing the Community Garden on October 20; gardeners are asked to clear their plots.
• Installing stakes along sidewalks and pathways for snow removal.

For questions, contact the Parks Department at (763) 295-2711.

Riverside Cemetery Clean Up

Fall clean up at Riverside Cemetery begins on Monday, October 27.

Visitors are asked to remove items they wish to keep before clean up begins. Items left on the ground will be brought to Public Works for a holding period and disposed of if not claimed. Winter arrangements may be placed after cleanup.

The City is not liable for items that are removed or left out over the winter.

Winter Coat Drive

The City of Monticello’s annual winter coat drive is here! We are collecting new or clean, like-new coats and winter accessories for the Salvation Army through October 31. Donations may be dropped off at City Hall, the DMV, Hi-Way Liquors, or the Monticello Community Center. 

Department Updates

Construction Update

• Golf Course Road Trail Project: Work has been ongoing for the past few weeks. Crews are expected to complete storm sewer installation this week or early next week. Curb and gutter installation has begun. A small section of the roadway is planned to be paved later this year. Project progress was slightly delayed due to a necessary change order on this meeting’s agenda.
• CSAH 39 Utility Extension: The contractor begins work next week with improvements and an expansion to the stormwater pond in the Otter Creek Industrial Park. The work is expected to finish this year.
• MnDOT I-94 Gap Project: The project is still ongoing. A section of Broadway will close on October 21 to accommodate painting on the bridge. Traffic is expected to shift back to its original lanes for the winter season. 

City Council Decisions

Donations

The City Council formally accepted the following donations:

• $500 from the Monticello Lions to be used for teaching stipends for MontiArts artists.
• $2,235 from Coors/MMBA for the Monticello Fire Department.

Thank you for your donations!

Annexation Petition Related to Monticello Tech LLC

The City of Monticello received an annexation petition related to the proposed data center development by Monticello Tech LLC. The petition is signed by the current property owner. The 3.86-acre parcel is located within the Monticello Orderly Annexation area and is contiguous to the existing municipal boundary along 85^th Street Northeast.

The City Council acknowledged receipt of the petition at the meeting but did not act on the annexation. Acknowledgement allows City staff to review and process the annexation request in accordance with the Joint Resolution for Orderly Annexation with Monticello Township. This includes a review of required land use requests and any required environmental review. A resolution for the annexation of the parcel will be brought back to the City Council for future consideration.

Water Treatment Plant AE2S Contract Amendment

The City continues to move forward with plans for a centralized water treatment facility to remove iron and manganese from City drinking water. Supported by $11 million in 2023 state bonding funds, the project is currently at 50% design by engineering firm AE2S.

At the Monday night meeting, the City Council approved an amendment to AE2S’ engineering services contract. The amendment will allow AE2S to complete the integration of the instrumentation and control system within the plant. By utilizing AE2S to complete the integration, design drawings for the control cabinets will be prepared and the cabinet construction will be bid as part of the construction bid process.

Additionally, the City is acquiring land adjacent to the proposed site to improve utility access and allow for future expansion. The additional parcel will require updated survey and right-of-way acquisition exhibits.

Final design of the water treatment plant is expected by spring 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in summer 2026 and substantial completion by late summer 2028.

See New Water Treatment Facility for more information.

Golf Course Road (CSAH 39) Trail Project Updates

The Golf Course Road (CSAH 39) Trail Project is currently underway. The project will construct a 10-foot pathway along the north side of Golf Course Road from Elm Street to 7th Street.  In addition, the project includes Wright County’s pavement preservation project. This includes reclaiming the roadway section and installing curb and gutter along with associated storm sewer along the north side of the roadway. In addition, the roadway will be striped to include a center two-way left turn lane.

During storm sewer installation, crews discovered that the existing 1970s watermain was installed approximately 2 feet higher than indicated in the as-builts. This difference resulted in a conflict between the existing watermain and the two storm sewer crossings near the proposed infiltration basin. To maintain adequate clearance, about 150 feet of watermain will need to be lowered, along with lowering a service line and relocating a fire hydrant. Due to the federal funding received for this project, a formal change order identifying the changes is required. The City Council approved the change order. 

In addition, material testing is needed to verify the project meets City and MnDOT specifications throughout the project. Quotes were solicited from three firms. The City Council awarded the contract to American Engineering Testing (AET), who had the lowest bid.

See Golf Course Road Trail Project for more information. 

Broadway Plaza Extension

The City Council approved a six-month extension of the final plat, final stage PUD, rezoning and development contract approval for Broadway Plaza, with conditions. 

Broadway Plaza is a mixed commercial development consisting of a hotel, meeting/event center, restaurant complex, and classic car museum facility. The property is approximately 8.3 acres, currently within Monticello Township and the Monticello Orderly Annexation Area. A petition for annexation was previously received and approved contingent on the satisfaction of conditions as approved with the final plat and PUD approval. 

Classics on Broadway, LLC received final plat and final stage approvals for the project on November 25, 2024. However, the City’s Subdivision Ordinance and the development contract and planned unit development agreement for the project allow 365 days to record the plat from the time of final plat approval. The original plat approval expiration is November 25, 2025. The applicant requested a 6-month extension for recording of the plat, as allowed in the Monticello Subdivision Ordinance.

The applicant is working toward financing, construction and development in the coming year. 

Employee Classification and Compensation Study

The City of Monticello retained Keystone Compensation Group to conduct a comprehensive employee classification and compensation study.

The City of Monticello uses a job classification system to structure and pay employees within the organization. Over time, organizations grow and evolve, necessitating the periodic review of the classification system for accuracy and market competitiveness.

The City’s last compensation study was completed in 2019 and implemented in 2020. Since then, the market has continued to evolve, and the City’s organizational structure has changed. While the City has remained compliant with the Local government Pay Equity Act, the 2025 budget included funding for a comprehensive classification and compensation study.

 The study reviewed job descriptions, point assignments, step system, and market competitiveness. The study collected updated compensation data from peer cities to ensure the City remains competitive in attracting and retaining staff. 

Keystone’s representative attended a special meeting of the City Council on September 8 to review the study process, explain the results and recommendations, and answer questions. Here are the highlights:

• The design of the City’s compensation program will not change; it will maintain the number of grades, the number of steps, and the spread between the minimum and maximum of the salary ranges.
• Findings showed that Monticello’s pay is about 9% below the market median, with larger gaps at higher job levels. There are variances among individual positions; however, this ratio is considered below the competitive zone of 95%-105% of market.
• Current range maximums are at 89% of market or 11% below the average market maximum for reference city groups. Again, there are variances among individual positions, but this amount is the average ratio for all benchmark jobs.

Keystone recommended adjusting salary ranges to better align with peer cities while maintaining compliance with the local Government Pay Equity Act. The City Council accepted the study, and the recommendations will take effect on January 1, 2026. Salary ranges will be adjusted as recommended by the consultant and staff will be placed at the recommended pay grade and closest ½ step at or above their current rate of pay.  

Acceptance of Monticello Industrial Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) Scoping Document & Order of Full AUAR

The City of Monticello initiated an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) for a proposed 550-acre technology campus by Monticello Tech LLC, located south of 85th Street and east of Highway 25 within the Monticello Orderly Annexation Area.

An AUAR is a study document that evaluates the environmental impacts of future development, and opportunities to manage and mitigate those impacts. AUARs assist cities in local planning and zoning decisions. The State of Minnesota requires preparation of an environmental review, such as an AUAR, in certain cases. The proposed Monticello Tech LLC technology campus meets the mandatory requirements for an environmental review, including an initial AUAR scoping document.

On Monday, the City Council approved the AUAR Scoping Document, which outlines two development scenarios: one for a technology campus (data center) and one for light industrial use. 

Prepared by Kimley Horn, with input from WSB and City staff, the Scoping Document follows Environmental Quality Board (EQB) guidelines and sets the framework for the full AUAR. After revisions to the draft, it was released for public comment, receiving feedback from four agencies and 78 individuals. The final Scoping Document includes a response to comments received during the Scoping Document’s 30-day comment period which ended on September 4, 2025.

Following the public comment period, the Scoping Document went through an additional round of revisions to address feedback where appropriate.  

During Monday’s meeting, the City Council also authorized the full AUAR, which will evaluate the environmental impacts outlined in the Scoping Document and propose mitigation strategies. Like the scoping document, the Environmental Quality Board has set guidelines for the information to be evaluated within the AUAR. The AUAR follows a 120-day preparation process that allows time for revisions, review of the draft by Planning Commission and City Council, and an additional 30-day public comment period and public open house. 

Each of these opportunities for feedback will be incorporated into the final document which is ultimately submitted to state agencies and the Environmental Quality Board Monitor for a 10-business day objection period.

Based on the draft schedule, the final AUAR is estimated to be brought forward to the City Council for adoption in late January or early February 2026. The final version will include a mitigation plan to address environmental impacts, and once adopted, commits the City to applying the mitigation strategies to limit potentially significant impacts.  

More information is available on the Environmental Reviews page.