The Hampton City Council met on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Hampton City Hall for the Regularly Scheduled Meeting. Present were Mayor John Knetter and Council Members Jerry Huddleston, Erica O’Connor, and Nick Russell. Councilman David Luhring was absent. Also present were Chris Meyer, Treasurer, Brad Fisher of Bolton & Menk, Attorney Anna Yunker, and Marlin Reinardy.
Regular Meeting Called to Order – Mayor Knetter called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Disclosure of Interest – None
Approval of June 9, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes – Motion by Russell, seconded by O’Connor, to approve the June 9, 2026 regular meeting minutes. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 4-0.
Approval of Disbursements - Motion by Russell, seconded by Huddleston, to approve the disbursements. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 4-0.
Public Comments: Marlin Reinardy asked for clarification on 47 and the scope of the upcoming road project, specifically whether sidewalk sections would be removed. Mayor John Knetter explained that the project includes improvements to pedestrian ramps within the project area and noted he had met with Dakota County staff and utility locators earlier that day. City Engineer Brad Fisher added that all pedestrian ramps will be upgraded to meet ADA standards and that several uneven sidewalk panels will be replaced to eliminate tripping hazards, while the primary scope of the project remains a mill and overlay. Reinardy expressed concern about the numerous water curb stops along the street and whether they had been identified to prevent damage during construction. Fisher confirmed that all curb stops are included in the project plans and will be adjusted as needed, and Mayor Knetter stated they are also expected to be adjusted during construction. Reinardy recommended that the curb stops be physically flagged or painted because they could be difficult for equipment operators to see. Following discussion, Mayor Knetter directed staff to contact Dakota County to ensure the curb stops are clearly identified, which is expected to start the following day.
Petitions, Requests, and Communications: Mayor John Knetter recommended rescheduling the August City Council meeting from August 11 to August 18 due to his planned absence and because the City Hall building would be occupied for the primary election on August 11. Council Member Russell moved to approve the date change. During the discussion, Treasurer Chris Meyer recommended beginning the budget review at 6:30 p.m., and the Council agreed to incorporate that start time into the rescheduled meeting. Council Member O'Connor seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.
Ordinances and Resolutions – None
Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees:
Engineer Report – City Engineer Brad Fisher of Bolton & Menk provided updates on several ongoing projects. He reported that the water tower improvement project is substantially complete, noting that the old tower has been removed, its footings demolished, and the site restored. The historic "H," the red top, and portions of the tower legs were successfully salvaged for potential future use at the city park. Remaining work consists of minor punch list items, including SCADA system updates and staff training, which must be completed before final project closeout. During the discussion, Mayor John Knetter suggested that the former tower site could eventually be converted to a gravel parking area rather than maintained as turf, but the Council agreed to consider the improvement at a later date to avoid additional project costs. Fisher also updated the Council on MnDOT's Highway 50 reconstruction project, explaining that the current closure between Highways 52 and 61 is expected to continue through late August, after which work will shift east with additional closures near Hinton Avenue, Holt Avenue, and Hogan Avenue. Local access will be maintained throughout construction, and Fisher encouraged the Council to monitor the MnDOT project website for updates. Finally, Fisher reported that the City's GIS web application transition is progressing well following staff training, with only minor enhancements remaining before the system is ready to go live.
Water / Sewer Report – Mayor Knetter reported that both backup generator lift station generators were serviced and found to be in excellent condition, with no issues identified. A detailed service report was provided. He noted that Brad had already covered updates regarding the new water tower. Knetter also reported that the flow meters in the pump house will need to be calibrated or rebuilt within the next few months to meet state requirements. Aside from these items, there were no additional updates.
Park Report – Councilman Russell reported that the contractor for the water tower project is tentatively scheduled to meet on Friday to review the project after being unable to attend earlier in the week. The contractor has received photos of the project and will provide a cost estimate following the review, with additional information expected within the next month. Russell also noted that weed control will need to begin soon as the parks are becoming overgrown, and staff will contact Ottomatic to perform the work. Regarding the ball field scoreboard, Reinardy reported that the existing scoreboard is currently operational after repairs, but Russell advised the Council that replacement will likely be needed in the future, with a preliminary estimate of approximately $10,000. Russell noted that funding is anticipated to be available in next year's park budget, which includes $25,000 annually, and the project will be discussed further during the upcoming budget meeting.
Street Report – In Councilman Luhring's absence, Knetter reported that a pothole at the corner of Main Street will need to be patched and confirmed that the patch of grass near Highway 52 is the City's responsibility. Council members also discussed concerns about overgrown weeds along the road edges and on a vacant parcel across from the former bank, noting that several complaints had been received. The Clerk was directed to send a letter to the property owner requesting that the parcel be mowed. The City will also determine whether Ottomatic is available to mow the area near Highway 52 or arrange for the work to be completed using a tractor and side mower if needed.
Social Media/Website – Councilman Huddleston reported that there were no social media or website updates.
Unfinished Business – None
New Business – The Council conducted its required annual review of the City's Data Practices Policy, as required by state law by August 1. Knetter explained that the current Data Practices Policy remains in effect, while a separate email retention policy under consideration would establish a 14-day retention period for transitory emails that are not considered official records. Attorney Anna Yunker clarified the distinction between a data practices policy, which governs how the public requests and accesses government data, and a data retention policy, which establishes how long records are kept. She also noted that the model policy provided by the Minnesota Department of Administration is optional and that state statute defines classifications of public, private, and confidential data. Council members discussed the Clerk's responsibility for determining which communications qualify as official records subject to retention requirements. Councilmember Huddleston suggested returning to the discussion later in the meeting to allow Attorney Yunker additional time to review the current policy. The Council agreed to table the discussion and revisit the matter later in the meeting.
The Council reviewed a quote to update the City's Code of Ordinances books. Knetter explained that the proposed update would replace the existing binders with newly printed volumes, even though only a small portion of the ordinances have changed. He noted that the current system of updating individual pages in the binders remains effective and questioned the need to incur the expense of replacing the entire set. Council members discussed the availability of electronic copies of the Code, including on the City's website, and agreed that maintaining the ordinances electronically is more practical and allows updates to be made easily. Following discussion, the Council reached a consensus not to proceed with purchasing new printed ordinance books.
The Council reviewed a list of overdue water utility accounts. Knetter explained that the Clerk is given broad discretion to work with customers and establish payment plans before delinquent accounts are brought to the Council, with the goal of avoiding water shutoffs whenever possible. The Clerk clarified that delinquency notices had been sent to customers but that shutoff notices had not yet been issued. Following discussion, the Council directed the Clerk to send shutoff notices to delinquent customers while continuing to work with them to establish payment plans whenever possible to prevent service disconnections.
The Council considered a request from St. Mathias for approval of a one-time gambling license and liquor license for the annual Fun Fest. Russell moved to approve both licenses, and O'Connor seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The Council returned to discussion regarding the City's Data Practices Policy. Attorney Yunker advised that a closed session was needed pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.05 for attorney-client privileged discussion. The Council approved a motion to enter into closed session, with the motion passing unanimously. Following the closed session, the Council reconvened in open session. Huddleston moved to approve the City's existing policies and procedures under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, and O'Connor seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The Deputy provided an update on recent scam attempts occurring throughout the county, including individuals impersonating construction workers, utility workers, or law enforcement officers and requesting payment through gift cards. The Deputy reminded residents that legitimate agencies will not request payment in gift card form or call individuals to resolve warrants in this manner. The Deputy also provided an update on the Highway 50 construction project, noting that the roadway remains restricted to local residents and businesses with direct access, and that other traffic must follow posted detours. The Sheriff’s Office has increased enforcement efforts, including issuing citations for unauthorized traffic through the closed area, which is a misdemeanor offense. The Deputy reported that traffic violations have decreased since enforcement began and encouraged residents to follow detour signs and avoid the construction area for safety reasons. The project is anticipated to continue through approximately September or October.
Adjournment - Motion by O’Conner, seconded by Russell, to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Roan
