Goodhue City Council Meeting Minutes
City Hall ~ March 26, 2025 ~ 5:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Ernie Valenzuela, Council Members Joe Benda, Michael Brunkhorst, Chris Schmit, Jeannine
Nagel, Administrator Lisa Redepenning, Admin/Asst City Clerk Lori Luhman
Absent: None
Guests: McCrae Olson, Nick Gravemann, Travis Huemann, Brittany Huneke, Marc Huneke
Call to Order
Mayor Valenzuela called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.
Approve or amend Agenda
Attorney Vose commented about the Variance on the consent agenda that Council has agreed to adopt from the
February 26th meeting. Mr. Gravemann has said that the City ran out of time and there is a State Statute that we
needed to act before now and can’t approve it. Attorney Vose does not agree with that and explained that to Mr.
Graveman. In Attorney Vose’s view, we did comply and that is the communication that he and Mr. Gravemann
had.
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Schmit, seconded by Benda, motion carried 5-0-0.
Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the March 12, 2025, city council work meeting minutes was made by Schmit, seconded by
Brunkhorst, motion carried 5-0-0.
Approval of consent agenda
Resolution No. 25-07 Approving Zoning Ordinance Variances for 203 and 215 N 2nd Street apartments
City plans to continue processing the payments for training, with request that Fire Department or Joint Powers
Board Member or Treasurer act as liaison between the two to facilitate training payments.
Fee Schedule Change wording Approval to change Water Minimum/Base to Water Minimum/Base/Per Unit
Resolution 25-05 Approving raffle application from the Jaycees for May 5, 2025, located at Heritage
Park
2025 Volksfest event requests
Motion to approve the consent agenda as read, was made by Benda, seconded by Schmit, motion carried 5-0-0.
Old Business
Council discussed the status of the North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District (NZSSD) bonding bill and the effects
it will have on the City of Goodhue if it goes through and if it does not. When this NZSSD project is complete,
the City Engineer estimated the cost for sewer per residence to be around $90 per month. The member cities
have had to start saving $25,000 each year to start saving up for the NZSSD Sewer project. With much
consideration the City Council discussed a gradual three-year increase in monthly sewer rates instead of starting
with a high flat rate. The increase suggestion was $5 for the rest of 2025, $10 for 2026, and $15 for 2027 to
prepare the residents for this increase and the ability to support the sanitary sewer project. A motion was made
2
by Schmit, to increase the sewer base rate for the next three years by starting with a $5 increase for 2025, $10
increase for 2026, and $15 increase for 2027, seconded by Benda, Motion carried 5-0-0.
Council member Schmit shared that for the last year and a half, the Goodhue County Sheriff Department has
been utilizing office space in our building. Schmit recommends that we allow them to use that space because
the City benefits from them spending extra time (Over and above what they are contracted for) in the City of
Goodhue because Goodhue is centrally located for them, and in turn Goodhue benefits more by having them
here more. The council agreed to have the City Administrator try working directly with the Sheriff’s Office to
negotiate something that will work for both entities to account for the accommodation, the use of the office
space and report back at the next meeting.
New Business
On Friday, March 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. the City received a Conditional Use Permit from Marc and Brittany
Huneke for R1 use in R2 of the ground level of 308 1st Avenue (Previously known as St. Luke’s Church). The
lower space was approved last year for apartments. The current request is to use the ground level as a
community space with the name The Goodhue Sanctuary for community members to rent by donation. A
public hearing will need to be scheduled for the next regular meeting for a public comment period. A public
notice will be sent to the required neighboring property owners, published and posted as required. A motion was
made by Schmit to hold a public hearing for a Conditional Use Permit for Huneke’s on April 23, 2025, at the
City Council meeting, seconded by Brunkhorst, motion carried 5-0-0.
The City of Goodhue Zoning Ordinance does not call out ground level solar panels, so it would be assumed
that they are not allowed. If you would want them to be allowed, the Zoning Ordinance would need to be
changed to reflect those details.
The City’s Administrative Assistant/City Clerk has completed her one-year probationary period and
Administrator Redepenning recommended the increase of .50 per hour. A motion was made by Benda, to
approve the Administrative Assistant/City Clerk increase of .50 per hour, seconded by Schmit, motion carried
5-0-0.
Council member Schmit made a motion to hire the Sheriff’s Posse for Volksfest again this year for Friday and
Saturday, June 14 and 15, 2025 from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. for the $1,200 as in the past, seconded by Nagel, 4
aye, 1 nay, motion carried 5-4-1.
Council member Brunkhorst stated that the Fire Board is still working on things.
Council member Nagel announced EDA was meeting tomorrow.
Approval of Bills
A motion was made to approve the bills by Schmit, seconded by Brunkhorst, motion carried 5-0-0.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made at 5:57 p.m. by Council Member Brunkhorst, seconded by Benda,
motion carried 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Luhman, Administrative Assistant/City Clerk
