The Hampton City Council met on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at Hampton City Hall for the Work Session and Regularly Scheduled Meeting. Present were Mayor John Knetter and Council Members David Luhring and Nick Russell. Absent was Jerry Huddleston and Anthony Verch. Also present were Brad Fisher and Madison Richard of Bolten & Menk, Marlin Reinardy and Ryan Otto.
Work Session Called to Order – Mayor John Knetter called the City Council Work Session to order at 6:35 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the framework and policy direction for the City’s forthcoming Cannabis Ordinance, which will regulate the sale, manufacturing, and cultivation of cannabis within city limits. Mayor Knetter emphasized that the city aims to align the ordinance with Minnesota’s state cannabis statutes while maintaining appropriate local control.
Madison Richard explained that cities cannot issue cannabis licenses, as licensing authority rests with the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management. Municipalities may, however, implement registration ordinances to maintain local records and conduct compliance checks. She cautioned that registration would create administrative costs and legal liability. The council agreed to defer all registration responsibilities to Dakota County, which limits cannabis establishments to one per 12,500 residents, avoiding duplication and local liability.
The discussion then focused on zoning and land use. Richard noted that retail sales would be appropriate in commercial districts, manufacturing in industrial zones, and agricultural cultivation in agricultural areas. Indoor cultivation could occur in industrial zones, while outdoor cultivation would require proper screening, fencing, and security. The council reached consensus on these zoning classifications and agreed to maintain flexibility where industrial and agricultural uses overlap.
Buffer requirements and operational hours were discussed next. The council agreed on a 500-foot buffer from schools and residential treatment facilities to anticipate future development. Business hours for retail cannabis establishments will align with existing liquor regulations, generally 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and limited hours on Sundays, ensuring consistency and minimizing legal challenges.
Signage, noise, and odor standards were reviewed. The council agreed to follow state restrictions prohibiting cannabis imagery in signage and to apply existing city sign regulations. Noise limits will comply with MPCA standards, and odors must not be detectable at property lines or within adjacent tenant spaces. Council Members noted that existing odor controls in city facilities provide a suitable model for cannabis operations.
Finally, the council agreed that Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) would be the preferred mechanism for regulating cannabis businesses rather than interim permits. No separate local cannabis fees will apply beyond standard CUP application fees. Madison Richard will draft the ordinance incorporating the council’s guidance, which will be reviewed at the next meeting and later presented for a public hearing. Mayor Knetter thanked Madison Richard for her guidance and noted that the session clarified zoning, regulatory responsibilities, and operational standards.
Adjournment - With no further discussion, Mayor Knetter adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
Regular Meeting Called to Order – Mayor Knetter called the regular meeting to order at 7:05pm.
Disclosure of Interest – None
Approval of September 9, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes – Motion by Luhring, seconded by Russell, to approve the September 9, 2025 regular meeting minutes. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 3-0.
Approval of Disbursements - Motion by Russell, seconded by Luhring, to approve the disbursements. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 3-0.
The deputy provided an overview of recent law enforcement activity, highlighting that scam activity remains widespread in the area. He described a new scam involving individuals sending explicit photos and demanding money to prevent public disclosure, as well as scams where perpetrators impersonate law enforcement and request payment via gift or prepaid cards. The deputy emphasized that legitimate law enforcement agencies never request such payments and encouraged residents to help raise awareness.
The deputy also reviewed juvenile curfew hours: children under 12 must be indoors from 9:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m. (Sun–Thu) and 10:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m. (Fri–Sat); ages 12–14, 10:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m. (Sun–Thu) and 11:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m. (weekends); ages 15–17, 11:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m. daily. Residents were encouraged to report suspicious activity. He additionally noted that archery deer hunting season is open and referred residents to the Minnesota DNR website for guidance.
Mayor Knetter reported vandalism at the city park pavilion, including multiple incidents over time. The deputy stated law enforcement will increase patrols during evenings and weekends. Council members discussed potential deterrents, and the deputy recommended security cameras. The council thanked the deputy for the update.
Public Comments: Mayor Knetter introduced Ryan Otto to discuss a minor price adjustment for snow removal services, noting the city’s contract allows modest increases. Ryan explained the proposed changes included $200 for plowing, $75 for salt, and $125 for salt pickup and hauling, reflecting slight operational cost increases. The council agreed no formal motion was necessary and expressed appreciation for Ryan’s reliability.
Ryan clarified that the current contract remains in effect through the 2024–2025 season and must be renewed for 2025–2026. He also discussed maintenance issues, including a few potholes, a low-hanging tree near the post office, and snow removal responsibilities at the new water tower site and hockey rink. The council confirmed these responsibilities and emphasized prompt responses to additional plowing requests.
The council thanked Ryan for consistently maintaining city roads and public areas in a professional and timely manner.
Petitions, Requests, and Communications: Mayor Knetter raised concerns about inoperable and unlicensed vehicles in the city-owned Main Street parking lot. He proposed installing signage to address long-term storage, with council input on wording. Council Member Luhring suggested language stating, “Inoperable and unlicensed vehicles will be towed,” while Council Member Russell proposed adding a 72-hour limit.
The council agreed that clear signage and consistent enforcement would address resident complaints and directed staff to draft signage guidelines. Knetter noted that the regulation would apply to all city-owned parking areas, and the item will return for formalization. Council members also discussed potential updates to the city ordinance to ensure consistency across municipal properties.
Ordinances and Resolutions: Mayor Knetter introduced Ordinance 2025-08 regarding the Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP), aligning city infrastructure improvements with Dakota County’s planned mill and overlay project on County Road 47. City Engineer Fisher provided background, explaining the LRIP process and noting that municipal support strengthens the county’s application for state funding.
Resolution 2025 – 08 In Support of Dakota County’s Application to the Local Road Improvement Program for the County State Aide Highway 47 Reconstruction Project from Trunk Highway 50 to County State Aide Highway 86 – Motion made by Luhring and seconded by Russell to approve In Support of Dakota County’s Application to the Local Road Improvement Program for the County State Aide Highway 47 Reconstruction Project from Trunk Highway 50 to County State Aide Highway 86. All voted in favor. None opposed. 3-0.
Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees:
Engineer Report – Brad Fisher of Bolton & Menk provided an update on the Water Tower Improvement Project. He reported that paving on Lincoln Street, including the final wear course, was completed and drainage was satisfactory following recent rainfall. Restoration work at the water tower site will occur after major operations are complete. Painting and coating of the tower are ongoing but delayed due to weather, with completion expected later this week or early next week, depending on temperatures. Following painting, the electrical contractor will install wiring in about a week to ten days, after which the tank will be disinfected, final grading completed, and site restoration finished, marking the end of this year’s construction. Pay Application No. 6 was included in the disbursements for approval, and Fisher confirmed that the contractor agreed to extend the project deadline to June 30, 2026, to allow additional time for demolition of the existing tower.
Fisher discussed transferring the star lights from the old tower to the new one. The contractor will remove and install the lights at no additional cost if the city allows a short schedule extension, though a minor charge from the electrical contractor was incurred for a dedicated electrical line. Installation and testing will occur soon, weather permitting. Mayor Knetter and Council Member Russell confirmed the stars had already been removed from the old tower, and Knetter noted he would replace the bulbs before reinstallation. Fisher will coordinate with the contractor’s coating specialist to align timing with testing plans.
Council Member Luhring raised concerns about verifying the approved paint color and options if it did not meet expectations. Fisher acknowledged that any changes would require a change order brought back to the council for discussion. He accepted responsibility for approving the paint specification and will review his notes and coordinate with staff before proceeding. The council agreed to review documentation and discuss potential changes at a future meeting prior to authorizing any additional costs.
Fisher then addressed plans for demolishing the existing water tower. The contractor provided conceptual renderings for salvaging the tank and is willing to honor original alternate bid pricing if the city chooses that option. He explained that removal would involve detaching the roof and cutting access holes to allow proper crane lifting and balancing, which is standard for tanks of this size. Fisher shared photos to illustrate the process and potential staging areas and requested council direction by December to align with crane scheduling and site logistics.
Mayor Knetter commended the visual examples and confirmed the proposed removal method aligns with industry standards. He noted that structural modifications, such as cutting access holes for lifting beams, are normal and can be repaired afterward. Council Member Russell agreed with the approach, and Council Member Luhring asked whether accurate tower dimensions had been provided to Council Member Jerry. Fisher confirmed that while exact engineered drawings were unavailable, all existing documentation had been shared and field measurements could be taken if needed.
Water / Sewer Report – Mayor John Knetter reported that hydrant flushing will take place later this month. He stated that the city is still discharging at the wastewater treatment plant and that all sample results continue to look good. There were no additional updates for water or sewer operations.
Park Report – Council Member Russell reported that, aside from the recent vandalism at the park pavilion, there were no new issues to report. All repairs and restoration work at the pavilion have been completed. Mayor Knetter commended the appearance of the dugouts and thanked Russell for his efforts in overseeing those improvements. Russell also shared that he had spoken with Mr. Kelly at Randolph School, who confirmed that their ongoing project is still expected to be completed this fall.
Street Report – Council Member Luhring reported that several street repairs remain necessary before winter and recommended obtaining patching material to minimize potholes and road damage. Council Member Russell asked whether it would be worthwhile to hire a contractor for hot patching before the asphalt plants close for the season. City Engineer Fisher advised that asphalt plants typically shut down in early to mid-November, depending on temperatures. Luhring agreed to make a few calls to check contractor availability and pricing and, if unable to secure assistance, proceed with cold patch repairs as needed. Mayor Knetter asked to be updated by the weekend.
Russell also inquired about scheduling street sweeping before winter. Luhring stated he would coordinate with Kelly to schedule the work, noting that last year’s sweeping occurred too early and resulted in poor results. Russell suggested asking the contractor to also clean the hockey rink area, which is currently filled with pine needles and debris. Luhring and the City Clerk agreed to reach out and see if that could be included in the upcoming sweep.
Unfinished Business – Gambling Ordinance: Mayor Knetter opened the discussion on the gambling ordinance and proposed adding a section to require full council approval for any organization not currently authorized to operate within the city, while leaving existing language unchanged. Council Member Luhring supported the amendment to ensure oversight and maintain local resident involvement. Knetter noted that organizations are licensed by the state and that the fire department has withdrawn from operations. Knetter asked the Clerk to confirm with the city attorney that the proposed amendment is allowable. A motion to add the amendment was made by Luhring, seconded by Russell, and approved unanimously.
Pavilion Vandalism and Security: Mayor Knetter and Council discussed recent vandalism to the women’s bathroom at the city pavilion. Luhring recommended filing a formal report with the sheriff’s department, which the council agreed to do. The council also discussed the potential for submitting a claim to the city’s insurance, contingent on repair costs relative to the deductible, and will verify the deductible amount before proceeding. The discussion included security options for the pavilion and other city properties, such as installing trail cameras, either cellular or Wi-Fi enabled, to monitor activity and store footage locally or on a secure server. Luhring offered to consult with a security specialist on feasible camera options, and the council agreed to continue exploring solutions to minimize potential vandalism, including at the future water tower site.
New Business – None.
Adjournment - Motion by Russell, seconded by Luhring, to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Kelly Roan