The original item was published from November 26, 2025 10:18 AM to December 1, 2025 8:18 AM
The City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, November 24, 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.
Council Highlights provide a summary of key agenda items and decisions made by the City Council. This overview may not reflect all topics discussed or actions taken during the meeting. For complete details, please refer to the meeting agenda. Official minutes are published once approved.
Public Service Announcements
Winter Parking Restrictions Reminder
Please remember that winter parking restrictions are in place through April 1. There is no parking on city streets between 1 and 6 a.m., and during declared snow events and plowing operations.
Upcoming Holiday Hours
On Thursday, November 27, all City locations will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving.
On Friday, November 28, City Hall and Public Works will remain closed. Hi-Way Liquors, the Monticello Community Center, and the DMV will be open their standard hours on Friday.
Public Hearing - Data Center Ordinance
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed data center ordinance during its meeting on Tuesday, December 2, at 6 p.m. in the Mississippi Room at the Monticello Community Center. The hearing follows several workshops where city officials reviewed the ordinance and incorporated community feedback.
Community members are encouraged to attend and share feedback on the revised draft ordinance, either in person during the hearing or by submitting written comments.
AUAR Public Comment Period
The City of Monticello has initiated an Alternative Urban Areawide Review process 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 an environmental study that evaluates the impacts of future development, and opportunities to manage and mitigate those impacts.
A draft of the Monticello Industrial AUAR is now available, following the earlier completion of the initial Scoping Document. The Draft AUAR document may be viewed at Monticello City Hall during normal business hours and online at MonticelloMN.gov.
The public is invited to review and provide comment on the draft. The public comment period is open through December 18, at 4 p.m.
City Council Decisions
MontiArts Receives CMAB Grant for GlowFest 2026
The City of Monticello’s MontiArts program was awarded a $9,000 grant through the Central Minnesota Arts Board’s Public Art Program. The funding will support MontiArts’ annual GlowFest event, the City’s winter community celebration. GlowFest highlights creativity, connection, and community through illuminated art installations and interactive programming.
The funding will directly support:
- Expanded lantern-making workshops for community members.
- Collaborations with local and regional artists.
- Youth engagement opportunities in the arts.
- Large-scale illuminated portable art sculptures that will help activate downtown Monticello during the winter season.
Replacement of Damaged Fire Hydrant at West Bridge Park
In August 2025 a car accident at the intersection of TH 25 and River Street resulted in property damage along River Street and within West Bridge Park. City Council awarded a contract to Burschville Construction, Inc., for the replacement of the fire hydrant, landscaping, and other damaged property at West Bridge Park. The City has been working with the driver’s insurance company to confirm reimbursement in the amount of $35,250 upon completion of the repairs.
Ditch 33 Improvements Project Tree Removal
City Council authorized final payment to TreeStory Inc. for tree removal as part of the Ditch 33 Improvement Project, in the amount of $1,492.50.
Wright County Ditch 33 is a handles runoff from the eastern portions of the City, as well as areas within the orderly annexation area. Established in 1917, many sections of the ditch are now in disrepair. The Ditch 33 Improvements Project involves constructing a new stormwater outfall to the Mississippi River, located just east of the Tyler East neighborhood.
Federal funding for the project required an environmental review, which included a condition to remove trees prior to March 31 to avoid impacting Northern Long-eared bats, a federally endangered species. The tree removal is now complete.
Wright County and the City of Monticello are coordinating the required permits to abandon the affected section of Ditch 33. This is expected to be completed in early 2026. With construction of the ditch improvements expected later in 2026.
Cargill Kitchen Solutions Wastewater Discharge Permit
Cargill Kitchen Solutions, formerly Sunny Fresh Foods, has been a key industrial food-processing facility in Monticello since 1985, specializing in value-added egg products. The company operates with a wastewater discharge permit to ensure compliance with state and federal water quality standards to limit pollutants.
Cargill’s current discharge permit requires annual recertification. However, the company requested an amendment to increase its maximum discharge rate from 300 gallons per minute to 450 gallons per minute between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Following review, the City determined that the wastewater treatment plant and collection system have sufficient capacity to accommodate the change. The City Council approved the amendment.
Speed Limits on City-Owned Streets
The City Council approved a resolution to establish new speed limits on several city-owned streets.
To improve roadway safety, consistency, and compliance, a comprehensive speed limit study was completed, evaluating 17 roadway segments in Monticello. The study relied on Minnesota statutes, MnDOT guidelines, crash history, and engineering judgment. Considerations included roadway classification, adjacent land use, access density, pedestrian activity, and future development.
The study recommended the speed limit changes in the table below. All other city-owned roadways will remain posted at 30 mph. The recommended speed limits will take effect once the new speed limit signs are installed. Installation is expected to be completed within 90 days, weather permitting.
The City does not have jurisdiction over speed limits on Wright County or MnDOT roadways (this includes County Road 75/Broadway Street, I-94, and TH 25). These corridors were not included in the study.
| Road | Segment | Existing Speed Limit (MPH) | Proposed Speed Limit (MPH) |
|---|
| 90th Street | West city limit to Chelsea Road | 55 | 45 |
| Chelsea Road | TH 25 to Fallon Avenue | 40 | 35 |
| Chelsea Road | Fallon Avenue to Fenning Avenue | 45 | 40 |
| School Boulevard | TH 25 to Fenning Avenue | 40 | 35 |
| Edmonson Avenue | 85th Street to Chelsea Road | 45 | 35 |
| Fallon Avenue | South junction with 85th Street to north junction with 85th Street | 55 | 35 |
| 85th Street | TH 25 to 720 feet west of Ebersole Avenue | 55 | 50 |
| 85th Street | 720 feet west of Ebersole Avenue to Fallon Avenue | 55 | 40 |
| East Broadway | Fenning Avenue to Meadow Oak Avenue | 55 | 45 |
| East Broadway | Meadow Oak Avenue to Meadow Oak Drive | 50 | 40 |
| Haug Avenue/90th Street | 95th Street to east city limit | 55 | 45 |
| Eisele Avenue | 85th Street to south city limit | 55 | 45 |
| 85th Street | Fallon Avenue to Fenning Avenue | 55 | 45 |
View the new speed limits on a map (PDF).
BCOL Regional Athletic Park Pickleball Courts Project Contract Amendment
The City Council approved an amendment to the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Athletic Park Pickleball Courts Project to ensure the courts fit seamlessly into the park’s long-term master plan. The amendment is in the amount of $42,130 for expanded design services. This follows prior approval in February 2025 when Council approved the original professional services agreement with WSB in the amount of $50,397.
The original scope of the Pickleball Courts project focused primarily on designing and constructing the courts themselves. The expanded scope will incorporate several key elements needed to support future development:
- Parking Lot Integration: A 21-stall paring lot, including accessible stalls and pedestrian connections. This ensures the courts are functional from day one and that future expansion can occur without costly redesigns.
- Stormwater Management: To accommodate the new paring lot and future amenities. Completing stormwater analysis and design at this stage prevents conflicts with later phases and ensures compliance with long-term site drainage needs.
- Development Area 2 Grading: Grading for the larger development Area 2 (west, south, and east of the pond) will set proper elevations for the pickleball courts and parking lot. This proactive step will minimize earthwork conflicts in the future when subsequent facilities are added.
- Updated Topographical Survey: Expanding survey limits beyond the pickleball court will provide accurate base data for future facilities, including the planned maintenance building with Wright County and other parking areas.