The Slayton City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday at 6:00 p.m. All council members were present.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by approval of the agenda, which included the addition of a discussion about a dehumidifier. Minutes from the July 24 meeting were approved, along with the city claims, including a few late additions.
The council briefly discussed an upcoming regional coalition meeting that conflicts with the county fair. While interested, members noted the scheduling issue may impact attendance.
Council members Blake, Chris, and the city administrator reported on a two-hour meeting and site visit with Star Tribune energy reporter Walker on the ground for weeks, despite the job reportedly requiring just 30 minutes to finish. Orenstein’s article is expected online Thursday, with print publication over the weekend.
Council member Kate and the city administrator also reported on a Wonder World community meeting held the night before. Although attendance was low, the meeting covered revised building plans to reduce construction costs. The estimated project cost has dropped from $3.4 million to $2.1 million. So far, about $650,000 has been committed, with contributions from the city ($225,000), Wonder World ($200,000), the capital campaign ($25,000), and other sources ($100,000). A critical deadline was noted: physical construction must begin by April 1, 2026, to qualify for a lease extension through July 2027. The capital campaign is expected to ramp up efforts now that the project’s scope and budget are more defined.
The City of Slayton received a clean audit opinion for the year, meaning the city’s finances are accurate and in line with all legal requirements. Auditors found no signs of fraud or serious errors, and overall, the city was praised for responsible financial management. The city staff were also recognized for their cooperation and accurate recordkeeping, which is especially notable given the small size of the team.
The general fund, which covers most day-to-day city services, ended the year with a slight deficit—meaning expenses were a bit higher than revenue. However, this was expected and tied to planned projects. Importantly, the city still has strong reserves, with enough money saved to cover about 10 months of operations. This is well above the standard recommendation of at least three months, putting Slayton in a strong financial position.
The city’s water and sewer funds are also in good shape. Rates have been set at levels that support the long-term maintenance of these systems, and the city is keeping up with repairs and improvements. Another positive note was the Slayton Fire Relief Association pension fund, which is currently 100% funded. That means there is enough money set aside to cover all future obligations to volunteer firefighters— something not many cities can claim.
A few minor issues were mentioned, such as a missing approval signature in one case, but nothing that raised concern. Staff have already taken steps to fix those small items. Overall, the audit showed that the city is managing taxpayer money responsibly and planning well for the future.
The Cannabis Ordinance was reviewed, and several points of confusion were addressed. Issues arose around the criminal vs civil penalties in enforcement, with the council questioning whether both types of penalties could be applied for the same violation. There were also inconsistencies in the ordinance, particularly with application fees vs registration fees. The ordinance needed clarification to make it consistent, as the current language was confusing and contradictory. Specifically, there were issues with renewal fees and the temporary cannabis events provisions. The council determined that more research and revisions were required, with additional input needed before finalizing the ordinance. No decisions were made on the ordinance until the necessary cleanup and reviews were completed.
