CITY OF CLAREMONT
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2026
7:00 P.M.
Mayor Jared Sultze called the Regular City Council Meeting of the City of Claremont to order on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Jared Sultze, Council Member Ethan Johnson, Council Member Donna Gregory, and Council Member Krystal Sultze. Absent: Council Member Debbie Ellis.
Others present: City Administrator Elizabeth Sorg, City Attorney Mark Rahrick, City Engineer Derek Olinger, Jamie Sultze, Nicholas Sultze, Lisa Martinez, Ed Krenke, Tracy Boyum, Elise Ness, Bret Nordstrom, and Tim Hudson.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Agenda
Administrator Sorg asked for one addition to the agenda: the opening of a savings account to be placed under the Finance Committee reports. Motion to approve the agenda as amended made by Council Member K. Sultze and seconded by Council Member Johnson. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Input
Nelson Pearson, candidate for Minnesota State Senate, introduced himself to the Council. He noted his prior service in the Minnesota State House representing Olmsted County and described his current district, which includes Dodge County and portions of Olmsted County. He encouraged residents and officials to reach out with any concerns where state government intersects with local government, and provided his contact information.
Bret Nordstrom, W. Front Street, expressed frustration regarding the proposed replacement of the city's snowplow truck. He argued that an employee's inability to operate the equipment is a personnel matter, not a justification for selling and replacing the truck. He also expressed a broader concern about the Council's willingness to accept public input and make changes accordingly.
Tim Hudson, N. East Street, addressed several topics. He noted his presence at the recent budget workshop as the only member of the public and raised concerns about the proposed 6% tax levy, characterizing it as part of a pattern of annual tax increases without corresponding spending reductions. He echoed Mr. Nordstrom's concerns about the snowplow truck. He argued that city government should focus on creating incentives for private business rather than operating businesses itself.
Tracy Boyum, 4th Place, expressed concern about the accessibility of city records and the general openness of city government. She described feeling that requests for public information had been met with resistance and referenced a concern that she had been characterized as harassing a city employee for seeking information she believed she was legally entitled to as a taxpayer. She also lamented the lack of amenities in Claremont and suggested the city conduct a community survey to identify what residents want.
A broader discussion followed between residents and council members about the perceived disconnect between the Council and the public. Mayor Jared Sultze acknowledged the issue and noted ongoing efforts, including exploratory conversations with a potential gas station developer and work on attracting a food and convenience type of business to town. Council Member Johnson reflected on feeling welcoming but sensing a gap he could not fully explain. Council Member Gregory mentioned that a presenter from the League of Minnesota Cities conference, a specialist in community dialogue and conflict facilitation, had expressed willingness to come to Claremont and work with the Council and community, which was received positively.
Approve the Consent Agenda
Motion to approve the consent agenda, consisting of the Minutes of the July 7, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting and Resolution No. 26-16, was made by Council Member K. Sultze and seconded by Council Member Gregory. Motion carried unanimously.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee
Administrator Sorg presented a proposal to open a municipal savings account to generate interest on funds currently sitting idle in the city's checking account. She explained that when the levy is received there is money that could be earning interest until needed along with TIF funds sitting in the checking account. Moving $300,000 into a savings account would earn better interest while remaining accessible for operational needs. Motion to open a savings account was made by Mayor Jared Sultze and seconded by Council Member K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion to approve the financial reports was made by Council Member K. Sultze and seconded by Council Member Johnson. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Payment of Bills
Motion to approve the payment of bills, including the added bills distributed at the meeting, was made by Council Member Johnson and seconded by Council Member K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Parks Committee
Council Member Johnson noted that the playground at the park is low on mulch in the playground area and asked whether it could be replenished. The Council discussed timing and agreed to place the mulch replenishment on a future agenda, with a preference for addressing it in the spring. Discussion also touched on the status of the park pavilion, which has been delayed due to a personal matter involving the contractor.
City Attorney Mark Rahrick raised an item regarding the availability of trail grants, noting that the City of Medford recently received a grant for a pedestrian trail. He suggested exploring whether a similar grant might be available for Claremont and gave the Administrator a person to contact for information.
A discussion followed regarding Harmer Park and the issue of visitors to the park using a private driveway adjacent to the park to access the ball field. Mayor Jared Sultze proposed exploring the installation of a fence—potentially a chain link fence—to separate the driveway from the park. The Council agreed to obtain cost estimates for various fencing options and bring the matter back the following month. Access for individuals with mobility limitations was also raised as a consideration, with some discussion of a gravel path to the bleacher area. Gregory wondered whether local volunteers could install the fence.
Personnel Committee
No report.
Planning and Zoning Committee
No report.
Public Health & Safety Committee (Health, Fire, Police, Weeds)
No report.
EDA
No report.
City Administrator
Administrator Sorg provided the following updates:
The city's domain name has been changed to cityofclaremontmn.gov to meet state naming requirements that distinguish municipalities from townships and other entities.
A local tree service was identified via security camera footage as having improperly dumped large tree stumps at the city's brush dump. The company was contacted and agreed to remove the oversized material.
Administrator Sorg and Maintenance Supervisor Casey Dahl met with Al-Corn’s Project Engineer to discuss their ongoing modernization project and the possibility of connecting to the city's water and sewer system. The city requested information on anticipated water usage to assess capacity, and the matter remains in early exploratory stages.
A meeting is scheduled for next week with Council Member Gregory, Council Member K. Sultze, Administrator Sorg, and a chamber representative to discuss the possibility of attracting a gas station to Claremont. No commitments have been made and this too is in the early exploratory stage.
The Public Health and Safety Committee will meet on the 18th to review the rental inspection procedures and develop recommendations for the Council.
City Attorney
Mark Rahrick
No report.
Old Business
Snowplow
Mayor Jared Sultze reiterated his position that the city should not purchase a new truck unless the existing one is sold and the replacement is funded by the proceeds of that sale. He noted that he had spoken with a city resident who indicated the current highway truck is manageable. Council Member Johnson reported that he had spoken with the same resident, who indicated he would be willing to work with current maintenance staff Casey Dahl and Richard Klindworth to practice maneuvering the large truck. Council Member Johnson also noted he had contacted a Bobcat dealership in Rochester about winter snow equipment rentals, which are billed by the hour, and was awaiting a quote for comparison purposes. The Council acknowledged that the primary challenge with the truck involves the side blade's interaction with tighter city streets during turning, and discussed the fact that the city can ask the township to use its grader for winging snow off the road. The consensus of the Council was to pursue training with former staff before considering any equipment changes. No motion was made.
New Business
Rules of Decorum for
City Council Meetings
Administrator Sorg presented a draft Rules of Decorum document based on League of Minnesota Cities guidelines. The document outlines expected conduct at city council meetings for both the public and council members. Council members discussed the document and noted it largely reflects existing practice, but puts expectations in writing for public clarity. Motion by Johnson to adopt the Rules of Decorum for City Council Meetings, seconded by Council Member K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
LMC Insurance Renewal Liability Coverage Waiver
Administrator Sorg explained that as part of the city’s annual insurance renewal, the city must elect whether to waive or not waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability. She explained that not waiving the limits caps potential lawsuits at $2,000,000, while waiving them would expose the city to liability in excess of that amount. She noted that the city has historically chosen not to waive the monetary limits and recommended continuing that practice. Motion by Council Member Johnson that the City does not waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability, seconded by Council Member K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution No. 26-17:
Resolution Approving the Proposed 2027 Tax Levy and Proposed Budget
Council Member K. Sultze explained the procedural context: state law requires the city to submit a proposed levy by September 30, and the amount submitted acts as a ceiling—the final levy adopted in December may be equal to or lower than the proposed amount, but cannot exceed it. She expressed a preference for proposing 6% rather than 7%, noting the Council's intent to bring the final levy in below the 6%. At a 6% increase the total proposed 2027 tax levy would be $597,493. Motion by Council Member Johnson to approve Resolution No. 26-17, setting a proposed 2027 tax levy with an increase of 6% ($597,493) and approving the 2027 proposed budget, seconded by Council Member K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously. A public hearing on the final budget will be scheduled for December 1st at the regular 7:00 p.m. city council meeting.
Council Member Ellis' LMC Learning Experience
Council Member Ellis was not present. This item was tabled.
Council Member Gregory's LMC Learning
Experience
Council Member Gregory provided a summary of her attendance at the League of Minnesota Cities annual conference. Key sessions she attended included: Tim Shriver and the Dignity Index: An opening session focused on the concept of dignity in civic interactions. Council Member Gregory emphasized that the framework applies in both directions—council to citizens and citizens to council—and described it as a "full circle" model for respectful dialogue. Elections Presentation by Steve Simons: A session emphasizing the seriousness of election administration, with a strong message that complaints or concerns from any citizen will be prioritized for response. Successfully Managing a Disruptive Meeting: Council Member Gregory attended this session twice and noted the presenter—the same dialogue specialist referenced earlier in the meeting—is willing to visit Claremont. Fraud Schemes: A session on identifying and preventing fraud. Green Step Cities: A session on low- and no-cost actions cities can take to support sustainability goals. Council Member Gregory also highlighted an additional conference session in which attendees from similarly sized cities (under 2,500 population) were grouped together to share experiences and best practices, which she found particularly valuable.
City Engineer Derek Olinger
WWTF Mapping
City Engineer Olinger discussed the wastewater treatment facility mapping issue that had resulted in unexpectedly high costs during a recent water line repair project. Council Member Johnson summarized the situation: a contractor was hired for what was estimated as approximately a $6,500 repair to a water line near the water treatment plant. When workers excavated at the location indicated on the existing maps, the pipe was not there. After several days of excavation and investigation, the line was eventually located in a substantially different location than what the plans showed, resulting in a final bill of over $20,000. City Engineer Derek explained that discrepancies between design plans and actual field conditions are not uncommon in infrastructure projects. He noted that contractors are required to provide marked-up as-built plans at project completion showing any deviations from the original design, but that the quality and completeness of those submittals vary significantly. In this case, it appears the water service pipe was installed in a different location without that deviation being communicated or documented, and the engineering firm was therefore not aware of the change. Olinger acknowledged that the amount of time and cost associated with locating the pipe—multiple days rather than the typical matter of hours—was, in his words, "a pretty big red flag." He stated he could not explain why the search took as long as it did without more information about what occurred on-site, and was careful not to attribute fault to the contractor without reviewing that record. City Attorney Rahrick noted that the as-built plans are a contractual deliverable, and raised the question of the city's right to rely on them. He observed that the plans themselves include a disclaimer noting that information was "prepared in part by information provided by others." The Council discussed the practical limits of the city's recourse, given that the project dates to approximately 2004 and the bill has already been paid. Council members and members of the public in attendance expressed frustration at the cost borne by taxpayers and the difficulty of holding anyone accountable after such a long period of time. Olinger confirmed he would update the maps to reflect the actual location of the water line as now known. He also offered, going forward, to be engaged earlier in similar projects so that he could advise on scope and cost management in real time. The Council acknowledged the lesson learned and agreed that greater oversight of contractors and tighter communication with the city engineer during future projects would be prudent. No formal motion was made.
Final Word
Tim Hudson followed up on the earlier public discussion about business development, asking whether the city maintains any record of businesses or individuals that have attempted to establish something in Claremont. He suggested that understanding why proposals are not advancing would be a useful first step.
Mayor Jared Sultze responded by describing efforts to recruit a gas station, including outreach to CHS and Casey's General Stores, and acknowledged the structural barriers: the cost of extending water and sewer infrastructure under the railroad tracks, the county road access requirements, and the fundamental challenge that prospective businesses cite insufficient population as a barrier to entry. He described the situation as a "vicious cycle" in which population growth is needed to attract amenities, and amenities are needed to attract population. He noted that a co-op model has been explored based on successful examples from other communities, and expressed hope that community members with ideas would bring them forward.
Tracy Boyum shared that she had contacted Casey's General Stores directly and they asked for a map identifying a site for the company's consideration. Administrator Sorg received the same email and sent them the information they requested and they still said no.
Adjourn
Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member K. Sultze to adjourn at 8:47 p.m., seconded by Council Member Johnson. Motion carried unanimously.
Elizabeth Sorg,
City Administrator
Jared Sultze, Mayor
