The City Council held its first regular meeting of 2025 on Monday, January 13. Below are the highlights from the meeting.
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.
Newly Elected Officials
The City Clerk conducted the oath of office for newly elected officials. This includes re-elected Mayor Lloyd Hilgart, re-elected Councilmember Lee Martie, and new Councilmember Kip Christianson.
The Monticello City Council consists of:
- Lloyd Hilgart, Mayor
- Charlotte Gabler, Councilmember
- Tracy Hinz, Councilmember
- Lee Martie, Councilmember
- Kip Christianson, Councilmember
Learn more about City Council. Regular meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of every month.
Public Service Announcements
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday Hours
City Hall, Public Works, and the DMV will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Hi-Way Liquors, and the Monticello Community Center will be open their standard hours.
Dog License Renewals
Dog License Renewals for 2025-26 are due February 1! Dogs 6-months or older are required to be licensed. Submit a completed application, proof of a rabies vaccination, and $20 fee. For more information or to download an application, visit the City website.
Farmers Market
The next Indoor Farmers Market is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Monticello Community Center.
City Council Decisions
Board Appointments and Designations
Appointments and designations to commissions, committees, and organizations that involve City participation were approved. Council Liaison assignments, appointed by the Mayor, were also approved. The 2025 Council Liaison appointments are as follows:
In addition, Library Board appointments were also approved. The Library Board recommended the re-appointment of Lisa Bush and Beth Metzger.
Application for 2025 Outdoor Recreation Grant
The City Council approved staff’s request to apply for a 2025 Outdoor Recreation Grant administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
If awarded, the grant will support improvements at the Bertram Chain of Lakes Athletic Park, including pickleball courts, lighting, site amenities, landscaping, and trail access. While the local option sales tax revenue will fund a large portion of the improvements at the Athletic Park, the City remains committed to pursuing additional grant opportunities to maximize the collected tax revenue and contribute to improvements.
Funding for the grant comes from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a federal funding source. Grant recipients are expected to be announced in summer 2025 with awards expiring at the end of 2027. The grant will cover 50% of total eligible costs, with a maximum award of $350,000.
Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Grant
The City of Monticello was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Grants Technical Assistance Program. The program is made available by MnDOT to assist local governments seeking to apply for federal transportation grants. The funds may be used for grant writing, analysis, planning, pre-engineering and other similar items. To accept the funds, City Council approved the grant agreement Monday night.
The City proposes to use the grant funds to review the City’s Federal Roadway Classification system and assist with potential roadway reclassification. This will help identify roadways eligible for future federal discretionary grants. In addition, grant funds will be used to review the City’s current Capital Improvement Plan, to identify other potential projects eligible for IIJA funding, and to prepare scoping documents for future grant applications. The grant requires no local match.
The City Council approved a contract with WSB for professional engineering services for this work.
Centering Communities in Canopy Solutions Grant
The City Council accepted $81,160 in grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Center Communities in Canopy Solutions Grant. The funding will support the City’s Strengthening Trees through Inclusive Community Knowledge (STICK) program, a collaborative effort to respond to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in specific street corridors with participation from the public, including local students.
As part of the program, 200 diverse trees will be planted, bringing additional benefits such as improved air quality, aesthetics, and accessibility to nature. Community engagement is a key focus of the program, with public workshops provided by the Davey Resource Group and Monticello High School’s agricultural students participating in tree planting and maintenance. One of the goals of the STICK program is to emphasize the importance of fostering a sense of tree stewardship and environmental responsibility.
The City invites community members to get involved through workshops and volunteer opportunities. Further details and engagement opportunities will be shared on the City’s website.
Fallon Avenue Reconstruction Project
The City Council approved a contract with WSB for preliminary engineering services for improvements to Fallon Avenue, which has been part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan for several years. The project plans include reconstructing Fallon Avenue into an urban section, including necessary improvements like curbs, sidewalks, street lighting, and stormwater management, as well as installation of trunk water and sewer main extensions. To minimize disruption, all improvements are expected to be done as a comprehensive project.
The timing of construction is subject to Council discretion and development pressures, though estimates suggest the current utility system can support growth for another decade at the current rate.
The preliminary design phase will determine the necessary right-of-way acquisitions, which are essential for effective future funding applications from Federal and State sources.
The future improvements to Fallon Avenue have been identified as a long-term priority by the City Council. This is one of the first essential steps to facilitate its completion, when the timing is appropriate and funding is available.
Approved Bid Contract for School Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project
The contract for the School Boulevard Intersection Improvements Project was awarded by City Council to OMG Midwest, Inc, contingent on MnDOT approval. This follows MnDOT’s and Monticello City Council approval of the plans, specifications, and authorization to bid for the project.
The city received grant funding to partially fund the construction of two roundabouts along School Boulevard: one at the intersection with Edmonson Avenue and the other at the intersection with Cedar Street. Both intersections are currently controlled with 4-way stop signs. The project will replace those stop signs with roundabouts for greater safety and efficiency, based on The Pointes at Cedar Master Plan.
Construction is proposed to start in May 2025 and substantial completion is expected in September 2025. During construction, access to businesses in the area will remain available, but drivers should expect traffic impacts and detours.