On the agenda: Foley 07-07-26 – Minutes — data center (Jul 7)

CITY OF FOLEY, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING – July 7, 2026
The Foley City Council held its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. on July 7, 2026, at Foley City
Hall.
Members Present: Mayor Brandon Voit, Councilmembers Jeff Gondeck, Debra Mathiowetz,
Gary Swanson, and Stephanie Lloyd
Members Absent: None
The pledge of allegiance was recited.
Motion by Swanson, seconded by Lloyd, to approve the agenda.
Motion carried, unanimous.
Motion by Mathiowetz, seconded by Lloyd, to approve the consent agenda.
Consent Agenda:
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Approve minutes of June 2, 2026.
Adopt Resolution #2026-20 Approving Additional Election Judge.
Adopt Resolution #2026-21 Accepting Donation.
Approve Domestic Abuse Response & Arrest Policy Update.
Approve New Life Development Agreement Amendment.
Approve payment of bills.

Motion carried, unanimous.
Mayor’s Comments and Open Forum
Debra Olson, 600 Dewey Street, requested the council to approve a moratorium on data
centers and city water treatment facilities will not support a data center. Olson also had
questions about payment to Xcel Energy regarding South Fairway gas installment.
Public Hearing – Liquor License – Pantown Brewing
Voit recessed the regular meeting at 5:34 p.m. to conduct the Public Hearing on the
temporary liquor license for Pantown Brewing at Grand Champion Meats on Sept. 23, 2026.
No one spoke.
Voit reconvened the regular meeting at 5:34 p.m.

Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Voit, to approve the temporary liquor license for Pantown
Brewing.
Motion passed, unanimous.
Department Reports
Police Department
Chief McMillin gave an overview of the June stat report. There were 403 calls in June. Call
number was down from June of last year, but the individual calls were more severe such as
gross misdemeanors and domestics. The Bicycle Safety Rodeo had 125 kids and gave away
62 bicycles.
City Engineer
Jarod Griffith gave an overview to the council of several action items. He recommended
approval of Pay Application #10 for the 2025 Northside Improvements project for
$393,602.07.
Discussion and questions followed. Discussion regarding resident with damage to side of
the garage. Unclear as to what caused damage.
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Gondeck, to approve Pay Application #10 for $393,602.07.
Motion carried, unanimous.
Griffith gave an overview of Change Order #1 for South Fairway Estates and asked for
council approval. Discussion and questions followed.
Motion by Swanson, seconded by Lloyd, to approve Change Order #1 for South Fairway
Estates.
Discussion and questions followed.
Motion carried, unanimous.
Griffith gave an overview of Pay Application #1 for South Fairway Estates for $91,036.12.
and asked for council approval.
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Voit, for approval of Pay Application #1 for South Fairway
Estates for $91,036.12.
Motion carried, unanimous.
Griffith gave an overview of the status of the 2025 Lead Service Project. Of the additional
six services, four have been replaced so far with the other two scheduled for this Friday.
Restoration, turf, and concrete work is expected to take place over the next couple weeks.

The 2026 Lead Service Project the pre-construction meeting was held in late June.
Electricians will reach out to residents the end of July to coordinate the ground electrical
part of the project. Discussion and questions followed.
Public Works and Fire Department
Mark Pappenfus, Director of Public Works, gave an overview of maintenance items. The
punch list for the wastewater project is very small. Discussion and questions followed.
Pappenfus gave an overview of the 5th Avenue project joint overlay with the county. Will
bring it back to the council in August with more information.
Fire Department has had 10 calls in the last six days including a house fire.
Discussion and questions followed.
Administration
Sarah Brunn, City Administrator, gave an overview to the council on several items. Staff is
working through offers on South Fairway lots. Discussion and questions followed.
City will make the last payment of the first half of the industrial park property in August.
Brunn asked for permission from the council to prepare the documents to complete the
purchase of the second half so it can be worked into the city’s budget moving forward. The
first phase purchased about 30 acres. There are about 20 acres left to purchase. The
council agreed.
Brunn gave an update on pool policies. There have been complaints and concerns
regarding parents wanting to sit inside the fence during swim lessons. Staff has concerns
given the number of parents and also with some who have small children with them makes
the pool deck very congested. The rule has been they must stay outside the fence during
swim lessons. Parents don’t like the rule and want to sit inside the fence close to the
swimming lessons. Moving forward, only parents who have a child with a disability
accommodation may be inside the fence during swim lessons. The rule is in place to make
sure that the lifeguard on duty has a clear view of the pool without distraction. Discussion
and questions followed.
Brunn explained the water treatment plant presentation will need to be rescheduled and
proposed July 21 or Aug. 4. The council agreed to July 21.
Brunn reminded the council election filing opens up on July 14 and runs through July 28.
Candidates will need to stop by City Hall during regular office hours to file. The office will
remain open until 5 p.m. on July 28 for filing.

She also confirmed the library hours have changed. She encouraged council to contact the
commissioners for further updates on the library funding. The change only affects this year.
Not sure about next year. It will depend on the approved county budget.
Staff is also working on some Caselle issues and training. Caselle is the financial software.
Staff has struggled with Caselle scheduling training time. Staff has had some preliminary
training and has practiced with some of the pieces. We also onboarded a new employee.
Questions and discussion continued on water treatment plant. Brunn stated that given the
city’s overall debt load she is not recommending to move forward on all new projects at this
point. The state has only offered a portion of the funds needed for the project. Staff is still
looking at other funding sources. Voit talked about the importance of knowing the cost of
the water treatment plant given that residents have said that better water quality is
important to them.
Debra Olson, 600 Dewey Street, asked when the new company would be up and running at
the old Pouchtec building and using the city’s water/sewer. Voit answered that he was
under the impression they would be up and running by late fall.
Questions and discussion regarding South Fairway Estates. Brunn said there is a good
amount of interest from developers.
Old Business
Voit said that Foley Fun Days and the Big Splash were great events. He also thanked all
involved in making those events a success.
New Business
No new business.
Motion by Lloyd, seconded by Voit, to adjourn.
Motion carried, unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

_______________________________ Sarah A. Brunn, Administrator
(Minutes By: Sara Judson Brown)