The City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, April 28. Here are the highlights:

• $8,000 Grant for New Mosaic Art: The City accepted an $8,000 grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) for a community mosaic project through MontiArts. Led by artist Sue Seeger, the project will facility skills development and community engagement in providing more art to downtown Monticello.
• No Mow May is Back! City Council has suspended grass-length enforcement through May to support pollinators. Participation is voluntary. Enforcement resumes June 1.
• New Housing Approved: The Meadowbrook development—180 new single-family homes—has received final approval. Construction will roll out in 3 phases over an estimated 6 years.

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. 

DATE:           March 14, 2023
                      For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Haley Foster
                     (763) 295-2711 | Haley.Foster@ci.monticello.mn.us

City Council Approves ‘No Mow May’

Monticello, MN – On Monday, March 13 City Council approved ‘No Mow May’ in Monticello. For the second consecutive year, the City will suspend nuisance enforcement on grass lengths during the month of May. 

No Mow May is a conservation initiative recommended by the Minnesota DNR. The goal is to allow grass to grow unmown during the month, creating habitat and forage for early season pollinators. Pollinators play a critical role in our food supply and keeping our natural resources healthy.

Residents are encouraged to suspend mowing for the month, but it is not required. There are other ways you can help Minnesota’s pollinators if you want to continue to mow. The public can also plant bee flowers and native plants as well as keep plants pesticide free.

During the month of May, City staff will continue mowing around rental structures in the parks, and around City buildings to ensure accessibility.  We’re excited to participate in No Mow May in other ways, like adding native prairie grasses and wildflowers throughout our parks system.

If residents plan on participating, please note that enforcement will resume Thursday, June 1. At that time, all lawns must be maintained per the City’s Code (grass cannot be over 8 inches). We recommend giving yourself a few days to safely manage your lawn. Here are a couple of tips from the University of Minnesota for mowing long grass:

• Adjust your mower to the highest setting, you will have to make more than one pass over the grass.
• After you have reduced the grass height to a more manageable length, change the mower setting by reducing the height of the blade, before making a second pass.
• Do not cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time in a single mowing. This helps prevent root stress and promotes a healthy lawn.

For more information visit the City’s website or check out the University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab for other actions you can take to help our local pollinators.

DATE:           April 8, 2022

                      For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Rachel Leonard

                      (763) 295-2711 | rachel.leonard@ci.monticello.mn.us

City Council Approves ‘No Mow May’

Monticello, MN – On Monday, March 28 City Council approved ‘No Mow May’ in Monticello. For the first time, the City will suspend nuisance enforcement on grass lengths during the month of May. 

No Mow May is a conservation initiative recommended by the Minnesota DNR and Wright County. The goal is to allow grass to grow unmown during the month, creating habitat and forage for early season pollinators. 

Residents are encouraged to suspend mowing for the month, but there are other ways you can help Minnesota’s pollinators if you want to continue to mow. The public can also plant bee flowers and native plants as well as keep plants pesticide free.

During the month of May, City staff will continue mowing around rental structures, in the parks, and around City buildings to ensure accessibility.  However, we’re excited to participate in No Mow May in other ways, like adding native prairie grasses and wildflowers throughout our parks system.

If residents plan on participating, please note that enforcement will resume on Wednesday, June 1. All lawns must be maintained per the City’s Code. For more information click here or check out the University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab for other actions you can take to help our local pollinators.