The Hampton City Council met on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Hampton City Hall for the regularly scheduled meeting. Present were Mayor John Knetter and Council Members Jerry Huddleston, David Luhring, Anthony Verch, and Nick
Russell. Also present were Cory Bienfang of Bolten & Menk, Chris Meyer Treasurer, Erik Porten, Viviane Vang, and various residents in attendance.
Regular Meeting Called to Order – Mayor Knetter called the regular meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Disclosure of Interest – None
Approval of March 11, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes – Motion by Luhring, seconded by Verch, to approve the March11, 2025 regular meeting minutes, with Mayor Knetter’s amendments. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion
passed 5-0.
Approval of Disbursements - Motion by Verch, seconded by Russell, to approve the April disbursements. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5-0.
Public Comments: Erik Porten addressed the city council by acknowledging that, while there may be political differences among members, most likely share common values—truth, honesty, and a desire for good governance. He questioned why these values, which both sides of the aisle claim to uphold, seem difficult to consistently practice within the council itself.
He pointed to language in the meeting minutes up for approval, which suggest the public should reach out directly to the council with questions rather than submitting what the city describes as excessive or redundant data requests. Porten argued that he had done just that by emailing the council last month with findings and questions focused on truth and transparency. He said his email challenged the mayor’s earlier claim that the city had incurred over $10,000 in costs from data requests—something Porten said didn’t line up with the actual figures from Bolton & Menk, the firm handling the city’s data work through February. He thanked the council for amending that claim in the current meeting materials.
Porten also raised concerns about changes to the city’s data practices policy. He reminded the council that under Minnesota law, inspection of public data must be free. While cities can charge fees for copies, they cannot charge for viewing information—regardless of how the data is stored or any costs the city might face in retrieving it. He said the city's recent handling of this issue may have been based on inaccurate advice, and encouraged councilmembers to verify legal guidance for themselves before making decisions.
To underscore his point, Porten shared a recent experience: a data request of his had been marked complete around March 12, but he was told he couldn't view it until the mayor had reviewed it first. On March 24, city staff informed him the mayor had signed off, but access was still delayed due to an unresolved fee schedule. He ended by asking whether that fee schedule is now available, and whether the council intends to formally adopt or recommend it.
His allotted three minutes expired, and the council thanked him for his comments.
Viviane Vang spoke to the council about plans to convert the old Black Stallion building into a welcoming and inclusive funeral home that serves the diverse local community. She emphasized transparency and community involvement,
promising an upcoming open house for neighbors to learn more, ask questions, and share feedback. She expressed excitement about becoming part of the neighborhood. The council thanked her for her presentation.
The Deputy gave a brief update, warning about ongoing mail and storage unit thefts. He advised not to mail checks or leave them in mailboxes and to check storage units regularly. Residents should report any suspicious activity. He also mentioned the availability of four speed trailers and asked for suggestions on where to place them.
Mayor Knetter requested placing a speed trailer on Belmont again, noting its positive impact on slowing traffic, especially with small children nearby. The Deputy agreed to add it to the list. Councilman Luhring thanked the Deputy for effective speed enforcement near Highway 47 and 52. The Mayor and Council expressed their appreciation for the Deputy’s service.
Petitions, Requests, and Communications: Cory Bienfang of Bolton & Menk, standing in for Angie Smith, provided an update on the status of the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) process. He explained that Angie Smith was unable to attend due to a prior commitment and that his update would focus on the final AUAR plan presented at the March meeting.
The council had previously approved the submission of the final AUAR plan to the Environmental Quality Board (EQB), starting a 10-day public comment period. This comment period has now closed, and the only feedback received was a letter from the Metropolitan Council. The letter confirmed that the AUAR was complete from a regional perspective and offered additional considerations for future steps, such as potential amendments to the comprehensive plan and MUSA changes. Bienfang noted that these comments were in line with the information already included in the AUAR.
Bienfang then introduced Resolution 2025-03, which calls for the adoption of the AUAR by the City of Hampton. He reviewed the various steps that have been taken up to this point, including voluntary public engagement through open houses. The adoption of the AUAR is the final step in the process, and if the resolution passes tonight, the AUAR will be published in the EQB.
Councilman Huddleston asked why there were separate motions for approval and adoption. Mayor Knetter explained that approval was required to submit the final plan for review, while adoption formalizes the council's recognition that the AUAR is complete and ready for final action. Bienfang added that adoption is a technical term used in this process, and that it signals the AUAR is in its final form.
Regarding the 10-day comment period, Huddleston inquired if there had been any objections or feedback from state agencies. Bienfang confirmed that the Metropolitan Council’s letter was the only feedback received.
The council also discussed concerns about water appropriation, with Huddleston asking when the city would know if there would be any issues with water use, especially regarding well impacts. Mayor Knetter clarified that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) handles water permitting, and that any potential issues would not be clear until a development proposal is submitted for review. He noted that the city has no authority over DNR decisions, referencing a past experience where a well was approved by the DNR despite local concerns.
Councilman Verch added that the AUAR is a planning study, and the specifics of water usage and impact would only be known once actual development proposals are made. He praised the AUAR for its thoroughness and comprehensive data. The council acknowledged that while the AUAR provides scenarios for water and sewer needs, the final decision on water use would rest with the DNR.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
Resolution 2025__03 – Resolution Adopting the Final Hampton Industrial Area Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) Motion made by Luhring seconded by Verch to adopt the Final AUAR and Mitigation plan. All voted in favor. Motion passes. 5-0.
Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees:
Engineer Report – Cory Bienfang from Bolton & Menk provided an update on the water tower project. Construction preparation is underway, with the official start scheduled for Monday, April 14th. The first phase involves extending utility lines (water and sanitary) from the frontage road to the tower site, and this work is on track to begin as planned. However, Bienfang noted that, as with any large construction project, there are variables like weather and contractor schedules that could affect the timeline.
The project is expected to take longer than typical utility projects due to its complexity, with construction phases including utility work, foundational work, and the tower's erection. Bienfang explained that the project is anticipated to span the rest of this year and into the next, with a final completion timeline of approximately 12 to 16 months, as Mayor Knetter mentioned. Councilman Verch asked if work would continue through the winter, and Bienfang confirmed that work would depend on weather conditions, but the project’s phases would continue throughout the year. Bienfang emphasized that this project is different from typical street or utility projects, as it involves multiple
contractors and phases, which may lead to a less consistent construction timeline.
The council thanked Cory for the update, and there were no further questions.
Water / Sewer Report – The city is addressing maintenance needs in the sewer system. Replacement rods are needed for the control structure, with a proposed switch to stainless steel to prevent future corrosion. One of the four air pumps used for pond aeration recently malfunctioned but was temporarily restored. A new pump is estimated at $2,200, and the recommendation is to purchase one and rebuild the others as needed. Discharge is not expected until mid to late May, per Mayor Knetter, as the system currently has ample capacity.
Park Report – No major updates since last month.
Street Report – The city is awaiting the spring street sweeping schedule, which is especially important since the fall cleaning was missed and streets are in urgent need of attention. Drive-arounds have begun to assess maintenance needs, and overall, the streets have held up well so far.
Councilman Huddleston raised a question about whether to mention the new .gov domain now or wait until next month. Mayor Knetter responded that only one bid has been submitted so far, and a possible second is still pending, so a full update will be provided next month. Councilman Huddleston asked for more information on the bids. The Clerk explained that On-Site submitted one bid and is still waiting to hear back from two other vendors. Mayor Knetter noted the existing bid was around $2,500, though he’s not familiar with typical website costs. Huddleston added that he has another potential contact and is open to On-Site if they have government website experience.
During the meeting, a resident inquired about street sweeping costs and asked why the city no longer provides water to the county for sweeping, as it once did. Mayor Knetter explained that arrangement is no longer in place and, although the city has tried to restore it, it hasn’t been successful.
Unfinished Business: None
New Business: None
Adjournment - Motion by Russell, seconded by Huddleston, to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Roan