The Hampton City Council met on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Hampton City Hall for the Regularly Scheduled Meeting. Present were Mayor John Knetter and Council Members Jerry Huddleston and David Luhring. Nick Russell was absent. Also present were Erica O’Connor – appointed to fill the remainder of Councilmember Anthony Verch’s term, Brad Fisher of Bolton & Menk, Chris Meyer, treasurer, and two members of the Randolph-Hampton Fire Department.
Regular Meeting Called to Order – Mayor Knetter called the regular meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Disclosure of Interest – Mayor Knetter noted that he is a member of the Fire Department and would abstain from participating in any voting regarding matters involving the Randolph-Hampton Fire Department.
Approval of January 20, 2026 Special Hearing, Public Hearing, and Regular Meeting Minutes – Motion by Luhring, seconded by Huddleston, to approve the January 20, 2026 special hearing, public hearing, and regular meeting minutes. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 3-0.
Approval of Disbursements - Motion by Luhring, seconded by Huddleston, to approve the disbursements. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 3-0.
Public Comments: None
Petitions, Requests, and Communications: Chris Meyer presented the 2025 Treasurer’s Financial Summary, explaining that it is the required annual report providing an overview of monthly balances, including the checking account and Diamond Money Market accounts, with details on deposits, interest, disbursements, and transfers throughout the year. He also reviewed the City’s escrow accounts, noting that the landscaping and stormwater escrow primarily consists of accumulated interest from prior years and is used to hold deposits for new development landscaping requirements until those obligations are met. Meyer reported that the Lemons Rayspark escrow, related to the oversizing of a water main serving the Rayspark area, will be addressed at a future meeting, with plans to notify the responsible party and return the remaining funds.
Meyer also provided an update on the draft financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025, noting that a preliminary cash-basis draft had been submitted prior to the February 14 deadline. He explained that additional schedules and accrual-based statements—including accounts receivable, accounts payable, enterprise fund reporting for water and sewer, and fixed asset depreciation—will be completed and presented at the March meeting before final submission to the State Auditor by March 31. The Council thanked Meyer for the update and his work to keep the City in compliance.
The Council then considered filling the vacant council seat and reviewed the application submitted by Erica O’Connor. Mayor Knetter noted that O’Connor was the only applicant and provided background information, stating that she has lived in the city for over twenty years, assists with bookkeeping for her family’s local auto repair business, and would provide representation from the 240th Street area of the city. Council members briefly discussed the appointment, and Mayor Knetter expressed his recommendation for O’Connor. Motion by Luhring, seconded by Huddleston, to appoint Erica O’Connor to fill the remainder of Anthony Verch’s council term. The motion passed unanimously. O’Connor was then administered the oath of office by the City Clerk and took her seat with the Council.
The Randolph-Hampton Fire Chief presented a request for approval to purchase a used air compressor and four air cylinders for Station Two, explaining that the department’s current compressor cannot fully pressurize the upgraded air packs installed in 2020, leaving approximately ten percent of cylinder capacity unused. The estimated cost for the remanufactured equipment is $15,000, compared to approximately $36,000–$37,000 for a new unit, and the purchase would leave about $13,500 remaining in the department’s equipment fund for the year. The Chief noted that Randolph had already approved the request and that purchases over $10,000 now require approval from both cities under the joint powers agreement. Motion by Huddleston, seconded by Luhring, to approve the funding request. Motion passed unanimously.
Firefighter Andrew Gilquest then presented a request from the Fire Relief Association to increase the annual retirement benefit from $3,800 to $4,500 per year, noting that the pension fund remains well funded at approximately 126–129 percent and is primarily supported by Relief Association fundraising activities. Mayor Knetter abstained from voting due to his membership in the fire department. Motion by Huddleston, seconded by Luhring, to approve the benefit increase. Motion passed with the Mayor abstaining.
Gilquest also requested approval to maintain the deferred interest rate for retirees who defer their pension payout at 1.25 percent. Motion by Luhring, seconded by Huddleston, to approve the request. Motion passed with Mayor Knetter abstaining.
Ordinances and Resolutions – None
Reports of Officers, Boards, and Committees:
Engineer Report – City Engineer Brad Fisher of Bolton & Menk provided an update on the water tower project, noting that progress had slowed during the past month due to cold temperatures but has resumed with the recent warmer weather as crews continue working to bring the new tower online. Fisher reported that the star lights have been brought up to code and are now installed and operational, marking a milestone in the project.
Fisher also requested council direction regarding the remaining decision on the old water tower, as the contractor is coordinating with subcontractors and planning demolition work for the spring. Councilmembers discussed several options that had previously been considered, including relocating the entire tank or preserving a larger portion of the structure in the city park. Those options were determined to be impractical due to the presence of lead paint and the high cost of mitigation and long-term maintenance.
Mayor Knetter presented a concept suggested by a resident to salvage the top portion of the tower and relocate it to the city park to serve as the roof of a pavilion structure near the ball field, providing shade for park users while preserving a piece of the city’s history. The council also discussed salvaging the “H” from the “Hampton” lettering on the tower as a historical element. Councilmembers noted that donations and park funds could potentially be used for future improvements such as benches or signage recognizing the history of the water tower.
After discussion, the council agreed this option would preserve part of the tower while avoiding the significant costs associated with preserving the entire structure. Motion by Luhring, seconded by Knetter, to direct the contractor to salvage the top portion of the tower for use as a pavilion roof in the park and demolish the remaining portions of the structure. Motion passed unanimously.
Fisher then presented a proposal previously discussed with the council regarding implementation of a web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) for the city. The system would transition the city’s mapping and infrastructure data to a web-based platform owned and maintained by the city under its existing license. Motion by Luhring, seconded by Knetter, to approve the GIS proposal. Motion passed unanimously.
Water / Sewer Report – Mayor Knetter reported that significant issues were discovered with the ventilation system in the chlorine addition area of the water and sewer well house. Due to corrosion and equipment failure, the ventilation fan and related components were no longer functioning, creating a serious safety concern for anyone entering the building. Killmer Electric inspected the system and determined that the motor had failed and wiring issues were present. A repair proposal totaling approximately $6,000 was received and approved by the Mayor, as it falls below the city’s $10,000 authorization threshold, and repairs are scheduled to begin immediately.
Knetter also noted that new sewer regulations will require additional sampling for total suspended solids prior to discharge beginning this spring, which will add an estimated $35–$50 per test. Discussion also occurred regarding a recent informational meeting hosted by the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services concerning long-term regional wastewater planning in the southeast metro area. City Engineer Brad Fisher explained that the meeting focused on gathering input from communities regarding potential future trunk sewer extensions and possible changes to regional wastewater treatment facilities. At this time, the City expressed no immediate interest in connecting to a regional system but requested to remain informed as planning progresses.
Park Report – No report was provided due to Councilmember Russell’s absence, though park improvements had been discussed earlier in relation to the water tower pavilion concept.
Street Report – Councilmember Luhring reported that streets are generally in good condition but noted several developing potholes that will be patched in the coming weeks. He also confirmed the city will be scheduling spring street sweeping.
Unfinished Business – None
New Business – Mayor Knetter reported that Chris Meyer, who had been assisting with water meter reading duties following staff departures and a retirement, has requested to step back from those responsibilities due to increased workload. In response, the council discussed creating a new part-time position combining water meter reading with backup clerk responsibilities to provide additional support and redundancy for city office operations, particularly in light of new state leave policies.
The position would primarily involve quarterly meter reading duties and cross-training in clerk responsibilities to ensure continuity of city operations if staff members are unavailable. Councilmembers discussed the importance of flexible hours, training time, and occasional regular office presence to maintain familiarity with city processes.
Motion by Knetter, seconded by Huddleston, to draft and post a job listing for a part-time water meter reader and backup clerk position with a proposed hourly pay range of $18 to $23. Motion passed unanimously.
Adjournment - Motion by Luhring, seconded by Huddleston, to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor. None opposed. Motion passed 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Kelly Roan