Here is the transcribed townhall meeting with speaker names assigned based on the context of the roll call and the dialogue. **Note on Identities:** * **Mayor:** Matt Montgomery * **City Administrator:** John McCarthy * **City Staff/Clerk:** Sarah * **Council Members:** Diane Johnson, Laura Zimmerman, Chad Johnson, Jed Jeepson (referred to as "Jeep" or "Jeb"), Lisa Noach, Chris Croninberger. *** [1:03] **Matt Montgomery:** I thought that might be [1:14] **Sarah:** really fast. [laughter] >> **Matt Montgomery:** Exactly. You're going to have to work really, really fast. >> **Laura Zimmerman:** Is she Is she here? >> **Matt Montgomery:** Ah, you got nine seconds. >> **Sarah:** I'll wait for you. >> **Matt Montgomery:** You never wait for me. >> **Sarah:** No, [laughter] >> **Matt Montgomery:** the countdown is right here. [1:33] **Matt Montgomery:** We're within a minute. We'll be okay. >> **Laura Zimmerman:** Feeling really slated down here on the [laughter] table, the whole table, >> **Matt Montgomery:** man. 10 seconds. That's all right. Here we go. Call to order for the city of Cannon Falls City Council meeting, Tuesday, January 6th, 2026. If I could get a roll call please. [1:52] **Sarah:** Diane Johnson >> **Diane Johnson:** here. >> **Sarah:** Zimmerman >> **Laura Zimmerman:** here. >> **Sarah:** Chad Johnson >> **Chad Johnson:** here. >> **Sarah:** Jeepson >> **Jed Jeepson:** here. >> **Sarah:** Noach >> **Lisa Noach:** here. >> **Sarah:** Croninburgger >> **Chris Croninberger:** here. >> **Sarah:** Montgomery >> **Matt Montgomery:** here. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [2:18] **Matt Montgomery:** If I could get a motion to approve tonight's agenda. >> **Jed Jeepson:** So moved. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Motion from Jeep. I think the second from Diane. All those in favor? >> **Council Members:** I. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Opposed. Carries. Gets us to our public input. Public input is intended to afford the public an opportunity to address concerns to the city council. [2:33] **Matt Montgomery:** The public input will be no longer than 30 minutes in total length and each speaker will have no more than three minutes to speak. Speakers may address topics relevant to the governance of the city. Speakers must sign up in advance, must provide their name, address, and the topic they intend to address. Comments must be on topic respectful, pertinent to city business, and adhere to the applicable data privacy rules. [2:51] **Matt Montgomery:** Any speaker that violates these rules will be asked to sit down, and if the speaker refuses to comply, they may be removed from the meeting. Speakers shall not address topics that are the subject of a public hearing. All such comments shall be made at the public hearing. The city council will generally not act on issues raised by the public input, but may choose to schedule consideration of an item on a future agenda. Tonight, we got Tim Demer. [3:14] **Tim Demer:** Hey, Tim. Hope this is working. Yep. I guess I'll just seems like I barely get started and the three minutes are over. But if I go to the next county over, they give five. And surprisingly, the guy talked for 10 until he was told wind it up and he went for another two 12 minutes. But everybody's different. We uh but I want to try to touch on just it's always brief. You know, you only three minutes. What you ain't got time. I'd like to sit down. What I wrote on the sign-in sheet, I said, "Seeking hope and finding or no, seeking help. Want help, [4:00] **Tim Demer:** but I'm losing year after year. It's declining for for all the not accessible countywide, statewide probably and and to certain some some people get the help they are looking for and need. [4:21] **Tim Demer:** But I want to touch on this part where on the back of all the police officers I believe it says serve. I was going to ask the chief to read this, but he was just kind enough to give me one of his serving with and this has been on there for quite a while to serve and I'll would like to add seek. I'm seeking integrity, knowledge, and courage. [4:47] **Tim Demer:** And the courage we it it stands out pretty clear. you know, they're very brave and courageous and they they get all our um utmost respect and you know, and and such. But um the it ends by just where it says dedicated to always do the right thing to do what is right. I don't feel the things from very [clears throat] not not all of the officers, but um um I'm not getting either a straight answer or no answer at all. And it goes count countywide. I I don't know any any how to bring it. My my days are [5:34] **Tim Demer:** numbered. I I think it's it's pretty it'd be pretty tough to keep living like this. And I just Nobody I bumped in my an ex- boss of mine. I haven't seen him in a couple years. And he's he he's no nobody has the um knowledge of and what I'm my hope is and maybe of others our hope that I hope this just coming up here this doesn't make me hated even more I feel hated ignored marginal you know all the I hold this up and I hope it does not and will not make me more and more and more misunderstood I'm so misunderstood from everybody I bumped into from the [6:21] **Tim Demer:** time I was born. My family, they they don't want to even take the time to, you know, listen. And this 3 minutes ain't going to do it. So, I hope somebody will listen to my cries. So, >> **Matt Montgomery:** thank you, Tim. [6:45] **Council Members:** Thanks, Tim. >> **Matt Montgomery:** All right. >> **Matt Montgomery:** All right. Uh that gets us to our consent agenda. Consent agenda items may be adopted under one motion as presented or may be removed for discussion and resolution as council business. Uh tonight item A, just and correct claims the accounting period ending on December 30th, 2025. Item B, meeting minutes for December 16th, 2025 council meeting. [7:09] **Matt Montgomery:** Item C, approve designation of the official newspaper for 2026. Item D, resolution 2853, designating the depositories for city funds and the fiscal year 2025. Item E, approve statutory tort limits. Item F, resolution 2854, accepting a $10,000 donation from Donald and Margaret Anderson Foundation. Is there anything the council would like to have pulled down? [7:34] **Matt Montgomery:** Hearing none, I would take a motion to approve tonight's consent agenda. >> **Chris Croninberger:** So moved. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Motion from Chris, second. >> **Lisa Noach:** Second. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Second from Lisa. All those in favor? >> **Council Members:** I. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Opposed. Carries. gets us to tonight's council business to asking everybody to approve the 2026 annual appointments. Uh there is a change to be made. Um Chad has requested that he stay on the cable commission. So everything will be updated. Uh Ryan will be removed from cable commission and Chad will take his place. Other than that, uh for the most part, council members are staying the same. I want to say thank you to Jesse Fox for his uh service on the planning commission, but his spot is open. Uh Sarah, I have not seen any applications from the general public for that [8:20] **Matt Montgomery:** position. So, that position is open. If somebody's interested, please come to city hall, fill out an application. We also have a spot still open in the cable commission for a citizen. Uh we have a few new people that are joining us in the library board this year, people that have served in different capacities in the past, but are are coming back again [8:39] **Matt Montgomery:** and serving on a library board. So, we appreciate them as well. Um, and I don't think there's any other open positions, are there? >> **Sarah:** No. >> **Matt Montgomery:** So, any questions, comments, or discussion about committees and boards and placement? [8:54] **Laura Zimmerman:** Were there any other people that had applied for things or >> **Sarah:** uh I think the only ones that did were the library board that are that have been appointed or are >> **Chris Croninberger:** I think there was an open uh citizen spot on the cable commission. So, >> **Matt Montgomery:** yep, there. >> **Chris Croninberger:** Don't meet very often, but if anyone with that kind of technical expertise or anyone who wants to get involved, >> **Matt Montgomery:** talk to Matt. [9:15] **Matt Montgomery:** Yep. Come to city hall, fill out that application, and then it goes through an email and then a phone call. And uh if they show that they're interested and don't have a personal agenda, happy to uh have them help uh volunteer for our community. >> **Jed Jeepson:** Yep. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Same goes for the planning commission. [9:30] **Matt Montgomery:** Any other discussion? Hearing none, I would seek a motion to approve the appointments for all the boards and committees of 2026. >> **Diane Johnson:** So moved. >> **Matt Montgomery:** We're going to go Diane got the first, Jeb got the second. Any further discussion? >> **Matt Montgomery:** All those in favor? [9:45] **Council Members:** I. >> **Matt Montgomery:** opposed. Carries. Gets us to uh I don't know if we have to do reports heading into the new year or we can just do around the horn. Let's just do that. Go around the horn. [10:01] **Matt Montgomery:** Um, just to address a couple of uh items that have been brought up recently with the ice rink and the also the scraping of the roads. Uh, when it's froze, our plows only sit on the on the on the pavement. We don't have ability to put down pressure. So, it'll scrape the muck off, but anything that's froze stays there, then it softens up in the rain and it becomes muck later. So, they are working on it. Tomorrow's going to be 40. It should burn most everything off tomorrow. And then we got more snow coming this weekend, it looks like, possibly. So, uh, just a little explanation on that. Um, as far as the ice rinks go, when it's warm during the day, we can't make ice. Um, we have a little kind of Zamboni like machine that, uh, pulls behind a tractor. Um, because of the soils and the asphalt that the the ice rink is on, we can't [10:48] **Matt Montgomery:** just flood it. We have to put it layer by layer, spray it on with that, our little Zamboni. And it takes several days to get a good base. And then when it we had a nice rink going, then it got warm. it all melted off. Um because of the ground, if we were to just flood everything, it just warms the ground. It warms it up and it just sinks into the ground. So that just an explanation of why we can't make ice, especially when it gets above 20 during the day. Um and you know, the ice the asphalt underneath the the the hockey rink is just makes it hard to work with as well. So, I apologize in advance, but we are cognizant of it and working on it, but we're kind of limited. Yeah. With with staff and time. [11:29] **Jed Jeepson:** No. And we understand it is it is mother nature and uh right now we're usually entering the coldest two to three week span of the year and it's been pretty soft 40 degrees gray with rain. So, it's hard to it's hard to make ice when it's 40 degrees out. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Yeah. >> **Jed Jeepson:** Can can I interject quick? So, Jed, we did have a conversation and and I had suggested something to you about perhaps painting the asphalt or whatever. Um, and John, I asked you too. I I I just don't know. Is there a chance that maybe our public works um or park board could could do a quick, you know, can we do something better with that space? You know, like I said, I've done I've probably used it for like 20ome years, that ice rink, and I love skating there. [12:11] **Jed Jeepson:** And I've got friends that use it still and their kids and my kids and all that stuff. And, you know, like I said, a long time ago, we we thought, hey, maybe we can help the city out by painting it so it doesn't melt as fast. I I don't know. You know, that might not be the answer. There might not be in the budget, but perhaps maybe we could do some sort of, you know, brainstorming to see if we can do something better up there that's cost effective. And I know you thought about or you talked about a liner potentially and that could get ripped up pretty quickly if it melts and all that other stuff. But >> **Matt Montgomery:** my understanding they they tried a liner a few years ago and within you know as soon as it got thin uh it got holes in it and it was a waste of several grand. [12:48] **Matt Montgomery:** So um it was a one and tried it once and it didn't pan out very well. >> **Jed Jeepson:** Honestly, it it needs to be completely redone. we need to be able to to to just flood it and it for it to hold water and then it would freeze and then thaw and then freeze and the water would stay there. So, um yeah, I'm I'm totally open to to >> **Jed Jeepson:** yeah and conversation or or you know >> **Jed Jeepson:** I'd love to help with you know I've got people that have used it for years that I know would have input and stuff like that too. So if the park board wants to talk about that or whatever, I'm open to talk about it and I would appreciate perhaps looking at that space better, moreful. So >> **Matt Montgomery:** yeah, >> **Jed Jeepson:** thanks. [13:30] **Matt Montgomery:** Anything else, Jed? >> **Jed Jeepson:** No, I'm good. >> **Matt Montgomery:** All right. Thank you, Laura. >> **Laura Zimmerman:** Um I was going to let the council know that um I'll be speaking up at the Economic Development um association of Minnesota, which is kind of the big economic development conference um at the end of the month. and um a couple of my other CEDA associates, we've been asked to speak about rural um Minnesota development projects, which usually it's all very heavily metro focused. So, I'll be speaking about our Hardwood Estates development project. So, it's kind of a big it's kind of a big deal, actually. [14:10] **Laura Zimmerman:** Um so, we're we're really excited at CEDA, but then it's really a great showcase and spotlight on Cannon Falls. um you know there'll be rep state representatives um big economic development um you know developers that'll be there as well. So I'm excited about that. Kind of a bucket list item of mine to be a presenter actually. [14:29] **Matt Montgomery:** Well congratulations on that. >> **Laura Zimmerman:** Um so um so that's one thing. Um also just letting people know that there are um lots are we have addresses and PIDs for hardwood estates. So, um, anyone's interested in lot sales for the next, um, phase of the development, um, those I can, we're not doing purchase agreements yet, but I can, if anyone's interested, they can let me know also. [14:55] **Matt Montgomery:** Awesome. >> **Jed Jeepson:** When's the estimate to start phase three? Is that a year, two years down? >> **Laura Zimmerman:** Let's get this one done. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Well, they're going [laughter] they're selling and stuff, right? So, it's definitely >> **Laura Zimmerman:** I've got I've got names on the list for this section for this phase. Okay. [15:11] **Laura Zimmerman:** [snorts] >> **Laura Zimmerman:** Um but uh we need to get some roads in first. >> **Jed Jeepson:** Just thinking a couple steps ahead, I guess. >> **Laura Zimmerman:** But, uh yeah, but those lots should be ready this summer. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Awesome. >> **Sarah:** I was going to say we can't start the next phase until we sell [laughter] out this phase. >> **Matt Montgomery:** We have to sell these lots to pay for the next phase. >> **Laura Zimmerman:** They're going it is going. Okay. [15:28] **Laura Zimmerman:** [laughter] >> **Matt Montgomery:** Yeah. All righty. Thank you, >> **Police Chief:** Hard to follow big deal like that. Um [laughter] >> **Police Chief:** go to those meetings. You know, things are are going well in uh the EDA world here, and I think that's pretty exciting news. Unfortunately for me, I'm in the uh the world of uh mother nature right now. Um just reminding people when it does snow, um we try to make sure that uh once we know from public works that they're going to come and plow, we get a posted on the city's Facebook page, the department page. Um this last snow, they uh really did a good job of getting off the streets. Um please, let's continue that. We still have a few more months to go. We do not like having people come out and discover that their car is not there because we towed it. We don't actually like them to come out and find out their car is not there period, but we really don't like it when we have [16:13] **Police Chief:** towed it. >> **Police Chief:** So, they can help tremendously by just getting them off the streets. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Have the numbers been good so far this year? >> **Police Chief:** Uh, we started off with more than I would have liked, but uh this last go round I don't think we had to tow any. So, that was good. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Good. Good. Good. Thank you, Chief. Sarah John. [16:30] **John McCarthy:** Thank you. Uh so I do want to acknowledge we will be scheduling our uh committee group from the planning commission and residents and the fair uh to discuss the fair ordinance here shortly. I just need to get that scheduled. Um when I was on break, it just didn't work out for me to to get active on that. So um but I did want to acknowledge a couple upcoming events, things that maybe the council members might be interested in attending. One is uh the first is the elected officials um institute or elected leaders institute from the league. Uh new also newly elected training or experienced uh training. They do have that starting January 20th with online um classes or [17:15] **John McCarthy:** courses and then they have an in-person event on the 6th and 7th of February in Plymouth. So if you're interested in in going to that, let me know. will help get you registered and and um work through the um lodging and and registration stuff. Uh the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, of which you're now a member, um they have a legislative action day on March 25th. [17:38] **John McCarthy:** They usually try to kick it off right near the start of the um the legislative season. So, this year is a nonbudget year, so it starts a little bit later. Um but that is has always been um very valuable time for me. Uh the the way the usually works is in the morning uh there are speakers. It's usually a few state and uh house and senate representatives from both sides of the party. The governor has been in attendance almost every year that have been able to go. [18:08] **John McCarthy:** And then um as the afternoon is left for you to meet with your local or your elected officials. And then um the evening there's a a dinner at Mancinis that they um host and a lot of elected officials tend to to come to that and it's a really good opportunity to kind of network and and have some conversations with those folks. So um you know in the past years when it's even even when we hadn't had items on the state agenda docket, it was always good to to kind of build those relationships and know get to know people. [18:42] **John McCarthy:** And then uh just further the league uh conference this summer is actually in Rochester um in the end of June. So so just upcoming ones if you have any interest in in attending. It's it's within the budget. So we've set those funds aside for council members to be able to attend. And then I did want to acknowledge one other item um for a couple of our employees. My sympathies go out to them. and they lost uh some loved ones recently, a a sibling and a parent. So, it's always a tough time of year. I know that for myself. Um my dad passed away this coming Friday. It would have been four years ago. So, so it's I know it's my sympathies go out to them for for that when when you lose a loved one this time of year. [19:29] **Matt Montgomery:** Thank you, John. Um Laura, >> **Chris Croninberger:** uh library board was cancelled, I guess. So, we did not meet last week. The report was sent out and then or not last week, last year. Um >> **Chris Croninberger:** and then [clears throat] quick question, just a reminder, I guess. Where are we at with the um nursing home property? What's the >> **John McCarthy:** latest? I was going to Yep. We have gotten uh representative from the nursing home owner in the ownership group from the nursing home was there today I believe in doing some security to board it up um and get the building secured. I had a conversation with them um before I left. uh they told me they're they're coming down, but they are very much on notice that something has to happen with that and if they want [20:16] **John McCarthy:** support from the city to to apply jointly to for the deed demolition grant that they need to get something to us very soon because that application deadline's in February for for this next goound. So So they're on notice, they're taking action to to secure it, but um at this point they don't I haven't heard anything in terms of a plan or potential buyer for the location. [20:39] **Chris Croninberger:** Okay. And then I'm assuming [snorts] McDonald's. Do we know >> **John McCarthy:** uh >> **John McCarthy:** in progress? They I think they stopped by and actually handed us a flyer for uh trying to get employees. So they're recruiting. So >> **Chris Croninberger:** thank you. >> **John McCarthy:** Don't know the timeline of that though. [20:56] **Chris Croninberger:** Thanks. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Yeah. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Thank you, Chris. Yep. >> **Diane Johnson:** Diane. >> **Lisa Noach:** Lisa. >> **Lisa Noach:** Good. >> **Jed Jeepson:** Jab. >> **Jed Jeepson:** Um I guess I'll just piggyback off Tim. I do feel like and I've always felt like three minutes is just >> **Jed Jeepson:** the it's the minimum amount of time that we can give people and I think it really showed when people were coming out about the data center and before that the fairgrounds and I just think people some people can do it in three minutes and some people they just don't get what they got to say covered because they're rushing it or they're nervous and I I think five minutes should probably be about the minimum that we give people and when Hey, you know, someone's on topic, we can give them a little more. [21:39] **Jed Jeepson:** He wrap it up. But I don't know. It's something I just keep coming back to time and time again. But, uh, that's all I got. >> **Matt Montgomery:** All right. Uh, I hope everybody had a great holiday season. Uh, a nice celebration into the the happy new year. [21:54] **Matt Montgomery:** Uh, I want to say thank you to uh Donald and Margaret Anderson, the $10,000 donation that's going to go to our fire department. And also a thank you to um the Beacon because it might sound old-fashioned, but we do have to have an official newspaper and they do try to cover ourselves and all the other, you know, the the school board and all the activities uh in our area and in the Randolph area. Um, and I know there's a lot of small towns that the papers are going away. And I think that we're really fortunate to have something like the Beacon. And I think Alec does a a really good job. I think he does a a fairly accurate, fair, and balanced. [22:30] **Matt Montgomery:** Sometimes I think that it might be uh autowritten when he has to say uh, you know, to to refer to the YouTube video and timing. That always kind of makes me laugh to to cite what was said when, but uh, we do appreciate the beacon. So, um, other than that, I would take a motion for tonight to adjurnn. [22:47] **Chad Johnson:** Motion. >> **Matt Montgomery:** Motion from Chad, second from Lisa. >> **Lisa Noach:** Second. >> **Matt Montgomery:** All those in favor? Opposed? We're adjourned. Thank you, everybody.