Visit this blog and our website to get a glimpse of what's happening in the Brooten, Belgrade, Regal, Terrace, Sedan, Norway Lake, Sunburg, Elrosa, Padua and Grove Lake areas of central Minnesota. Also, random school news from the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa district. While you're at it, subscribe to the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper: PO Box 250, Brooten 56316 (e-mail lifeinbonanzavalley@gmail.com for costs) Find our newspaper online at http://www.bonanzavalleyvoice.com.
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Brooten city council meeting agenda for September 8
The Brooten city council meets in regular session on Monday, September 8 at 7 p.m. The meeting agenda is posted below. Monday update: a new item was added on Monday to the agenda. It is positioned at No. 2 on the list and reads as follows: 7:15 - Mark Torkelson – Member Retirement and 50/50 Grant
7:00 Dakota Tjaden and Angie Olson of Bollig Engineering - Water/Sewer Infrastructure project plans and funding
7:15 Building Permits – Unique Finishing – Garage - 530 Roe Street
Gary Skarpness – Fence - 730 Hwy 55
7:30 Resolution 2025-15 Resolution Approving Airport Maintenance and Operations - Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation
7:45 Approval of August Minutes
8:00 Approval of Bills - Brooten Auto
8:15 Approval of Interim Bills $24,395.02
8:30 Hunting Application - Rules - Policy
8:45 2026 Budget Discussion
9:00 Other
Friday, August 22, 2025
Brooten city council meets on August 25
The Brooten city council meets in regular session on Monday, August 25 at 7 p.m. at city hall. The meeting is open to the public, and the agenda summary is posted below.
7:00 Paul Linn – Portable Shed – Vacant Lot
7:15 Waive Waiting Period Gambling Permit - Prairie View Community Golf Raffle - April 25, 2026 – Prairie View Community Golf Course
7:30 John Deere Tractor Lease – Price Change and Rental Option
7:45 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
8:00 EPA Funding Options and Small Cities Grant
8:15 2026 Budget
8:30 Other
Friday, August 8, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for August 11
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, August 11 at 7 p.m. The meeting is held at city hall in downtown Brooten, and the agenda summary is posted below.
7:00 Gloria Trustheim – Land/Building Proposal
7:15 Recycling – Containers or Bins
7:30 Fauskee Oil Propane Contract -2025-2026
7:45 Approval of July Minutes
8:00 Approval of Bills - Brooten Auto
8:15 Approval of Interim Bills $19,117.83
8:30 Approve Transfer of Funds to Checking
8:45 Credit for Water and Sewer – 130 Eastern Avenue S.
9:00 Personnel Policy – Personal Safety
9:15 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update Other
9:30 Other
Monday, July 28, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for July 28
The Brooten city council meets at 7 p.m. in regular session on Monday, July 28 at city hall. The newly-crowned Miss Brooten royalty will be on hand to meet the council members and media. The full agenda summary is posted below.
7:00 Introduction of Miss Brooten Royalty
7:15 Gloria Trustheim – Airport Zoning Grant Update
7:30 Airport Grant Award Notification – MN Dot Aeronautics - 2” Mill and Overlay Apron and Runway – Design/Bidding
7:45 Quote for Storm Outlet Clean Out – Thonvold Excavating
8:00 Rescind approval of Ordinance No. 2025-1 from July 14th Meeting and Approve
With full council: ORDINANCE NO. 2025-1 AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING TO THE CITY OF BROOTEN LANDS OWNED BY THE CITY OF BR-OOTEN AND NOW LOCATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH FORK, STEARNS COUNTY, MINNESOTA, PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTE SECTION 414.033, SUBD. 2(1), PERMITTING ANNEXATION BY ORDINANCE.
8:15 Approve Invoice for Fahrner Asphalt – $42,683.75 for Submittal for Reimbursement
8:30 Fair Housing Discussion – Requirement for Small Cities Development Program
Support for Federal Fair Housing Act and state fair housing laws.
8:45 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
9:00 Information Handouts – MN Dept of Health Wellhouse Plan Approval
Stearns County Five-Year Improvement Plan – Roads
2025 YTD Budget Comparison
Board of Appeal and Equalization Training Information
9:15 Other
Monday, June 23, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for June 23
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, June 23 at 7 p.m. The meeting agenda is below.
7:00 Resolution No. 2025-12 – A Resolution Accepting Donations to the City
7:15 Consideration of $260 Donation in 2024 to the Initiative Foundation
7:30 Approve 2025 Township Fire Contracts – Raymond Township
7:45 Cannabis Ordinance Items – Distance from Schools/Residential – Same as Alcohol? Number of Locations in City
8:00 Annexation Ordinance
8:15 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
8:30 Other
Monday, June 16, 2025
Belgrade city council agenda for June 16
The Belgrade city council met on Monday, June 16 in regular session at 6 p.m. at city hall. The agenda summary is below.
1. Consent agenda: accounts payable items, Belgrade Ambassador Program request of yearly $400 donation.
2. Belgrade Fire Department: Chief Glieden to review Belgrade August Fest parade protocols.
3. Belgrade Public Works: MPCA Class C licenses, hydrant meter quotes, park shelter.
4. Belgrade Economic Development Authority: updates.
5. Myrtle Mabee Library Board: appoint Heidi Anderson to a three-year library board term; custodian raise.
6. Next meeting: the Belgrade city council meets again in regular session on Monday, July 21 at 6 p.m.
Friday, June 6, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for June 9
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, June 9 at 7 p.m. The meeting agenda is posted below.
7:00 Approve Building Permit – Kelly Grundseth – 550 Central Avenue South – fence
7:15 Update on Project – Recap of meeting with Brian Bollig
7:30 Approval of May Minutes
7:45 Approval of Bills - Brooten Auto
8:00 Approval of Interim Bills - $22,776.97
8:15 Approve Transfer of Funds for Bills
$83,000.00 from Temp Revenue Note, Series 2024A – Bollig
8:30 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
8:45 Other
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for Tuesday, May 27
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m. The agenda is below.
7:00 Mark Torkelson – 50/50 Grant – Potential Upgrade, Truck Repair, Tires, CRP burns
7:15 Airport – Window and Fuel System Breaker
7:30 Revisit Tractor Lease or Purchase
7:45 Jennifer Lehner – Playground Equipment
8:00 Business License Fees
8:15 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
8:30 Update on Pedestrian Crossing Signs
8:45 Other
Monday, May 19, 2025
Belgrade city council agenda for May 19
The Belgrade city council meets at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 19. The agenda is below.
1. In the consent agenda: May 5 meeting minutes, city of Belgrade accounts payable, May 2025 B-batch, April financials and expenditures.
2. Fire Department report: fire hall designs for new construction and for existing building revisions with additions; SEH assistance with bonding and grant submittals.
3. Planning and zoning report: Belgrade Steel Tank zoning and land use application requests.
4. Public Works report: dust control quotes.
5. Economic Development Authority report.
6. Parks and Recreation report: playground equipment quotes.
7. Employee review for the city clerk.
The next meetings in Belgrade: city council on Monday, June 16 at 6 p.m., and city council on Monday, June 21 at 6 p.m.
Friday, May 9, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for May 12
The Brooten city council will meet on Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m. in regular session. The agenda is posted below.
7:00 Approval of 3.2 Liquor License Application – Bonanza Valley Days Committee at the Brooten Pavilion on July 11, 2025
7:15 Approve Building Permit – Robert Counter – 421 Central Ave N – Fence
7:30 3-Year Audit Fee Proposal from Conway Deuth & Schmiesing
7:45 RESOLUTION 2025-9 A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING DONATIONS TO THE CITY
8:00 RESOLUTION 2025-10 RESOLUTION ADOPTING GOVERNMENTAL BONDS; POST- ISSUANCE COMPLIANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
8:15 Jennifer Lehner – Playground Equipment
8:30 Approval of April Minutes
8:45 Approval of Bills at Brooten Auto
9:00 Approval of Interim Bills - $245,711.26 (Includes partial pay-off of Temp Bond)
9:15 Approve Transfer of Funds for Bills
$66,400.00 from Temp Revenue Note, Series 2024A – Bollig
$10,605.05 from FD Capital to General Fund for Equipment Purchases in 2024
$203,877.73 from 4M to General Fund \ Payoff of Temp Utility Revenue Note
$23,179.
9:30 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
9:45 Other
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for April 28
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, April 28 at 7 p.m. The meeting agenda is posted below.
7:00 Marisa Austin, Conway, Deuth & Schmiesing - 2024 Audit Report
7:15 Jason Murray, David Drown & Associates - MIDI Loan to Pay Off Temporary Bond; and updated development agreement with Jenniges Investments, LLC
7:30 Resolution 2025-7 – Resolution Authorizing Execution of A Development
7:45 Resolution 2025-8 – Resolution Providing for the Issuance and Sale of a
$537,000 A General Obligation Utility Revenue Note, Series 2025A,
Pledging for the Security Thereof Net Revenues
8:00 Jennifer Lehner – Playground update/equipment
8:15 Crack Sealing Proposal
8:30 City-Wide Clean Up and Stearns County Hazardous Waste Mobile Unit
8:45 Approve 2025 Township Fire Contracts – Crow Lake
9:00 Business License Approval: Willmar Aerial Spraying and Fast Ag Air – Benson
9:15 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
9:30 Other
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for April 14
The Brooten city council meets in regular session on Monday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at the city hall chambers. The agenda is posted below.
7:00 Approval of Liquor License Application
7:15 Approve Building Permit – Triston Guzier – 441 Prairie Ave S – Fence
Prairie View Comm. Golf Course – 1000 Crow Lake Street – Covered Deck
7:30 Mark Torkelson – Clarification of 50/50 DNR Grant Firefighter Application
7:45 Approve 2025 Township Fire Contracts – Lake Johanna and Chippewa Falls
8:00 Revisit Tractor Purchase/Lease
8:15 Cannabis Ordinance – Attorney Response
8:30 Approval of March Minutes
8:45 Approval of Bills
9:00 Approval of Interim Bills
9:15 Approve Transfer of Funds for Bills
9:30 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
9:45 Other
Friday, March 21, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for March 24
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, March 24, at 7 p.m. at the city hall meeting room. The agenda as of Friday, the 21st is posted here.
7:00 Green Lawn Turf Care Proposal – 2025 Weed Control
7:15 Boulevard Stump Removal on County Roads
7:30 Chicken Permit – Travis Vogel - 321 Prairie Avenue S.
7:45 Mark Torkelson – Fire Call Billing for Grass Fire
Hose Rack
8:00 New Cooler for Pavilion
8:15 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
8:30 Approve 2025 Township Fire Contracts – Colfax, Bangor and North Fork townships
8:45 Cannabis Ordinance Review
9:00 Other
Monday, March 17, 2025
Belgrade city council agenda for March 17
The Belgrade city council meets tonight, Monday, March 17 at 6 p.m. at the city hall meeting room.
Meeting agenda:
1. Call the meeting to order, and reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Consent agenda items - paying of bills and 2-18-25 meeting minutes approval.
3. Belgrade Fire Department: fire township meeting set for March 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Belgrade fire hall; light bar for fire truck repair.
4. Belgrade-Brooten Police Department: the next police board meeting is on March 18 at 6 p.m. in Belgrade.
5. Belgrade Public Works Department: action item for purchase of Whitco: Raider 2 320RS Power Washer; action item for library light quote (two styles); information on lead and copper rule.
6. Belgrade Economic Development Authority.
7. Zoning Commission.
8. Action item: zoning commission approved three land use applications, two by Belgrade Steel Tank and one from Precise Ice.
9. Action item: Mediacom franchise agreement with change of terms to 5 years.
10. Action item: Belgrade Library Certificate of Deposit matures.
11. Informational: employee policy.
12. Next city council meeting: Monday, April 21 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for March 10
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and the agenda is posted as follows.
7:00 Kern Nelson – Fire Department Relief Association Audit Payment Request
7:15 Approve Building Permit – David Skjefte – 928 Park Street – House
and Unique Finishing – 530 Roe Street – Demo House/Remodel Garage
7:30 Boyce Fisher – Quote for Patching
7:45 Approval of February Minutes
8:00 Approval of Bills
Brooten Auto
8:15 Approval of Interim Bills
8:30 Approve Transfer of Funds
8:45 Boyce Fischer – Maintenance Update
9:00 Other
Friday, February 21, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for February 24
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, February 24 at 7 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and the agenda summary is posted below.
7:00 - Janelle Kendall, Stearns County Attorney - 2024 City Prosecution Report
7:15 Brian Bollig – Project Update;
7:30 Todd Trustheim – Gambling Report;
7:45 Boyce Fischer - Tractor;
8:00 Reimbursement for Rooms + Mileage to and from Detroit Lakes - Fire Training;
8:15 Other
Friday, February 7, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for February 10
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, February 10 at 7 p.m. The meeting agenda is posted here.
7:15 Todd Trustheim – Gambling Report
7:30 Kern Nelson – Fire Department Relief Association Audit Payment Request
7:45 Set Board of Appeal and Equalization Hearing - April 8, 2025 @ 6:00 pm
8:00 Approve Building Permit - Mariann Olson – 541 Pleasant Ave. S – Garage
8:15 Approval of January Minutes
8:30 Approval of Bills - Brooten Auto
8:45 Approval of Interim Bills - $95,205.40
9:00 Other
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Brooten city council agenda for January 27
The Brooten city council will meet on Monday, January 27 in regular session at 7 p.m. at the city hall meeting chambers. The agenda is as follows below.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Belgrade city council meets tonight (Time Change*)
The Belgrade city council will meet in regular session on Tuesday, January 21 at 6 p.m. at the municipal hall meeting room. The time change for regular meetings to 6 p.m. has gone into effect starting this month.
The meeting agenda summary will be posted later this afternoon here.
Update: due to the same technical problems we had in December, the agenda is not available. The agenda link that The Voicereceived from the city requires login credentials that are not available.
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Brooten city council agenda for December 9
The Brooten city council will meet in regular session on Monday, December 9 at 7 p.m. at city hall. The meeting will also include the annual Truth in Taxation hearing. You can see the full meeting agenda below.
7:00 Levy Adoption Hearing 2025 (Truth in Taxation hearing)
Resolution Approving Final Budget and Levy
Levy $479,919.00
Budget $850,762.00
Approval of 2025 Donation Budget - $50,000.00
Approval of 2025 Economic Development Budget - $22,389.00
Approval of 2025 Water Budget $130,000.00
Approval of 2025 Sewer Budget $198,000.00
7:15 Nancy Miller – Vinna Human Resources – Handbook Policy Changes
7:30 Thor Amundson - Fire Department Payroll
7:45 Mark Torkelson – Purchase of Cribbing from Rockford FD - $500
8:00 Approve Business Licenses - West Central Sanitation and Waste Management
8:15 Issuance of 2025 Liquor License – Classic Co. Dinner Theater dba Lincoln’s Seafood and Steaks
On Sale, Sunday
8:30 Approve Transfer to WIF Fund – 2024 Contribution $ 9,047.50 - New Balance $162,205.07
Approve Transfer from 4M Fund of Fines from County to General Fund Checking - Belgrade-Brooten Police Board Check $1,215.96
8:45 Request for Approval of Property Line Correction – Donald Segaar and Anni Knight
9:00 Approval of November Minutes
Approval of Bills - $
Brooten Auto - $1,422.14
9:15 Approve Interim Bills - $18,469.93
9:30 Audit Quote 2024 - $26,650.00 – 2023 -$23,500
9:45 Crosswalk Sign - Update
10:00 Other