City Council reviews busy stretch of City projects and challenges

The Wabasha City Council met on May 5, 2026, at 6pm at City Hall to discuss a variety of topics, including the city budget and updates on multiple projects and needs.
Section 1.) Budget Review
Section 2.) Public Comment from All Craft Exteriors
Section 3.) City Updates
a. Committees
b. Baseball Field
c. Ambulance Services
d. Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
e. First Read Flood Plain Ordinance
f. Sale of Logan Avenue Parcel
g. AED at Athletic Field Complex
h.Velocity Trail Connection
i. Barge Terminal Financing:
Section 4.) Donations

Section 1.) Budget review:
The city ended 2025 with a general fund balance of approximately $2.16 million, reflecting a modest decrease from the prior year. Revenues and expenditures both exceeded the budget, largely due to federal funding for flood repair. The general fund also transferred $111,000 to the capital improvement fund. Special revenue fund balances increased, driven by the Port Authority fund. Capital project funds increased from unspent bond proceeds from the 2025 street project and from funds received through the Minnesota Housing deferred loan program for the Allegany Apartments project. The city's tax rate, taxes per capita, and debt per capita are higher than comparable Class 4 cities (those with populations under 10,000) and other Wabasha County cities. Staff noted that Wabasha tends to be an active city with more services and capital activity than cities of similar size. Debt service as a percentage of total expenditures was comparable to or lower than that of comparable communities. The city's total cash and investments at year-end 2025 stood at approximately $8.1 million. The council voted unanimously to approve the audit.
Section 2.) Public comment from All Craft Exteriors:
During the public comment period, Alex Ball of All Craft Exteriors, a Rochester-based company with many employees in Wabasha County, addressed the council regarding the city's peddler and solicitor ordinance (Chapter 116). His company specializes in storm damage restoration and relies on door-to-door outreach to connect homeowners with repair services after major weather events. He said companies that follow the permit process are at a competitive disadvantage compared to those that operate without authorization. He asked the council to consider faster permit processing following major storm events, as well as longer-term permits for established local businesses.
The mayor noted that staff had flagged this issue previously and that the City staff has been tasked with reviewing model ordinances from other communities. Current enforcement involves city staff notifying the police department.
Section 3.) City Updates:
a. Committees:
The Port Authority reported progress on several fronts, including a grant application for a master plan for the athletic field area near Highway 60 and the award of a second residential infill grant. Two upcoming Port Authority meetings were announced, including a joint session featuring the city administrator from St. Peter to discuss housing development.
The Park Board received a proposal from the Rotary Club to install outdoor musical instruments at Beach Park. Concerns were raised about proximity to the campground, and the matter will return for further discussion. A life-size statue of a Navy veteran, donated by the Mathias family, was approved for Veterans Park. The board also discussed a veterans memorial paver fundraising program and a porta-potty donation from Jason's Toilets for Eagle Basin Park. The Street Commission did not meet. Mayor Durand noted that a barred owl nest survey next to the city's Market Street project found no nests present within the project area.
b. Baseball Field Updates
City Administrator Caroline Gregerson spoke about the ongoing issues with the baseball fields, noting that the City had heard from many residents who were frustrated and disappointed that the fields still weren’t ready after two years. City staff and representatives from Bolton and Menk met on-site to assess what could be done and discuss next steps. It wasn’t clear if the fields would be ready for the baseball season. The previous fall, workers had regraded the fields to fix long-standing problems, which meant pulling up the old grass, adding sand, and preparing the fields for the new grass to grow. The grass didn’t take. After hydroseeding was completed, the City clarified who would handle watering, expecting the contractor to take it on. Gregerson said the city has listened to feedback and will keep working to get the fields back in shape as soon as possible.
c. Ambulance Services:
EMS Director Ryan gave an ambulance services update and reported encouraging results through April. He said full-time staffing costs are tracking at 33% of the annual budget through the first third of the year, which is right on pace. The service has taken 20 more transfers through April than during the same period last year. Revenue is on pace to exceed $600,000 for the year, compared to a budgeted $475,000. Call volume is up by 23 calls compared to the same period last year, and the service is handling 55% of available transfers, up from 43% last year.
d. Capital Improvement Plan (CIP):
Council member Friedmeyer reported that the CIP subcommittee has met with the fire department and ambulance service, and will meet with the police department. The group is reviewing department needs in advance of the budget process, with a focus on alternatives such as used and leased equipment and grant funding. A $50,000 grant was recently submitted to help cover public works snow removal equipment costs.
e. First Read Flood Plain Ordinance:
City Planner Kristi Trisko presented the first reading of an updated flood plain ordinance, required by the DNR and FEMA, with an adoption deadline of July 21st. 399 letters were mailed to affected property owners, with 161 residents responding.
The council's main question was whether to add a rule on repetitive flood damage to the city’s ordinance. This rule was optional. If added, it would mean that if a property owner files two or more flood insurance claims in ten years, with each claim being at least 25% of the property’s value, they would have to fully upgrade their building to meet all city requirements. The benefit is that people could get extra flood insurance coverage. The downside is that those who reach this level of damage would have to do major repairs to meet the new rules.
The Planning Commission had voted 3-1 to keep this rule. But when the council discussed it, they pointed out that the affected properties are old homes that have always been fixed up and lived in again after floods. They also noted that extra flood insurance is now hard to get or too expensive, and the city can’t help homeowners pay for big rebuilds. For these reasons, the council voted 4-3 to remove the repetitive loss rule from the ordinance. The issue will come up again for a second vote on June 2.
f. Sale of Logan Avenue Parcel:
The council approved the sale of a city-owned lot on Logan Avenue for $25,000 (reduced from the listed $30,000 due to the need for a sewer lift pump, as gravity sewer service is unavailable at the site). The buyer intends to build a new home and already has a prospective purchaser — a Wabasha County employee who currently lives outside the city and wishes to relocate. Proceeds will be used to reimburse the utilities fund ($8,000), reimburse the Port Authority for survey costs, and direct the remaining balance to the CIP fund.
g. AED at Athletic Field Complex:
Council member Jeff Sully advocated that the city install an automated external defibrillator (AED) at the city's outdoor athletic field complex, which serves tennis courts, pickleball courts, baseball fields, and the skate park. He cited several recent incidents in neighboring communities where on-site AEDs saved the lives of individuals experiencing cardiac arrest. The existing AEDs at the pool and city hall are either seasonally or hours-limited in availability. Separately, Clearway Solar offered a $10,000 donation. The council approved moving forward with the AED purchase, with direction to explore a temperature-controlled cabinet compatible with existing EMS equipment and to use a donation from Clearway Solar to fund the project.
h.Velocity Trail Connection:
Staff provided an update on the regional trail connector project. The exchange of federal funds with Goodhue County is proceeding, but is subject to ongoing review at the MnDOT planning staff level. Greenfield Township has not yet signed onto the joint powers agreement, which is significant since the trail route passes through their jurisdiction. A shared maintenance agreement will be brought before the council for approval as the project advances. If fund exchange approvals come through, bidding could start this year with construction potentially beginning in the fall.
i. Barge Terminal Financing:
A summary of upcoming financing activities for the construction of the Wabasha Barge Terminal was provided. The city will back a loan of approximately $170,000 annually, to be serviced by Port Authority revenues rather than the tax levy. A public hearing and ordinance posting will be required. A conservative financial plan has been built in to account for a potential ramp-up period before the terminal is fully operational.

Section 4.) Donations
LIBRARY
o $500 – John & Sue Hampe
o $300 – Carol & Bill Dunn
o $500 – Mary Polyard
o $1,500 – Jim Concidine
FIREWORKS
$250 – Greenfield Township
ATHLETIC FIELD
$5,000 – Wabasha Dentistry LLC
VETERANS PARK
o $7,149.85 – By Jim & Tram Mathias for a Life Size Navy Soldier
FIRE - In memory of Joe Dick
o $20 – Dan & Linda Binner
POLICE
o Microchip scanner for the pound – Bubbles N Biscuits