CITY OF CLAREMONT
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
7:00 P.M.
Mayor Jared Sultze called the Regular City Council Meeting of the City of Claremont to order on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Jared Sultze, Council Member Krystal Sultze, Council Member Ethan Johnson, and Council Member Donna Gregory. Absent: Council Member Debbie Ellis. Others present: City Administrator Elizabeth Sorg, City Attorney Mark Rahrick, Scott Eells, Kelli Ortiz, Derek Gasner, Kindra Gasner, Ashley Martin, Travis Martin, and Timothy Hudson.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda was made by K. Sultze, seconded by Johnson. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Input
Ashley Martin from Hayfield introduced herself to the Council as a candidate running for District 4 County Commissioner. She invited attendees to review her responses published in the DCI and encouraged residents to bring forward any county-level issues they would like addressed if she is elected.
Tim Hudson, East Street N., offered several comments on agenda items. He expressed concern about the ongoing trend of increasing property tax levies, noting that residents on low and fixed incomes who have not built equity are finding the increases unsustainable. Regarding the pickleball court, he supported the volunteer effort to paint lines as a cost-effective solution, noting that the existing court was seeing more activity. On the proposed dog park fencing, he questioned whether the estimated cost of approximately $17,000 represented an appropriate expenditure at this time. He also raised questions about the purpose of the Harmer Park fence and the upcoming parcel split, asking specifically what the repurpose of the split would be and what the market value of the property is.
Kindra Gasner, E. Front Street, clarified that her request on the agenda to paint pickleball court lines would come at no cost to the city. She stated that her family would supply the paint and perform the work themselves, and she was seeking only the city's permission to proceed.
Approve the Consent Agenda
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda, consisting of Minutes of the August 4, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting and Resolution No. 26-18: Resolution Certifying Past Due Bills to Dodge County for Collection with 2027 Property Taxes was made by K. Sultze and seconded by Johnson. Motion carried unanimously.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee
Motion to approve the financial reports was made by Johnson, seconded by K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Payment of Bills
Motion to approve payment of the bills on the amended bill list was made by Johnson, seconded by K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Parks Committee
Council Request
The Council considered the request from the Gasner family to paint pickleball court lines on the existing basketball court in Henning Park. Gregory expressed support for the volunteer donation of time and materials, while raising a question about the current placement of the basketball hoops and whether any planned relocation of those hoops should occur first, so as not to require repainting. Mayor Sultze and others noted that discussions had previously taken place regarding moving the basketball hoops, but that the posts are embedded in concrete beneath the slab and would need to be cut off and rebuilt, which had not yet been resolved. Users of the court appear to have little attachment to the existing basketball infrastructure and for the current season the group could simply paint a pickleball court configuration and revisit the basketball hoop question in the spring. Council Member Gregory suggested a parks committee meeting in early spring to address the basketball hoop matter comprehensively. Johnson suggested the city should formally authorize the work since it would be conducted on city property. Motion to authorize the Gasner family and their group to paint pickleball court lines was made by Gregory and seconded by K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel Committee
No report.
Planning And Zoning Committee
No report.
Public Health & Safety Committee (Health, Fire, Police, Weeds)
Rental Property
Inspections
Administrator Sorg reported that she, Donna Gregory, and Debbie Ellis had met to discuss establishing a rental property inspection program for the city. The committee recommended that the city begin conducting inspections this year if possible, or next year at the latest. Sorg noted she had a call scheduled for the following day with a third-party inspection company to review the scope of inspections, particularly focusing on health and safety criteria. The committee recommended inspections occur on a two-year cycle, with the cost of inspections to be borne by the property owner. Sorg indicated that the city code would need to be amended and that additional guidance would be sought from the inspection company. City Attorney Mark Rahrick clarified that cities issue rental licenses as a precondition for renting property. If a property fails inspection and the owner does not bring it into compliance, the city may ultimately revoke the rental license, removing the owner's ability to rent the property until it is brought back into compliance. He also noted that structural safety issues would involve the building inspector and could potentially result in a condemnation. Mayor Sultze noted that the immediate concerns motivating the discussion included the absence of basic safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and CO2 detectors in some rental units. A full report was expected at the next meeting.
Gregory raised a question about the ownership structure of the Claremont Manor, noting that it was unclear who ultimately owns the property. City Attorney Rahrick indicated he was still working on that question. Mayor Sultze acknowledged that the management company, Lifestyle, does not own the property, and that the actual ownership appears to be a board or investment group, which makes identification difficult. Council Member Gregory referenced a Southeast Minnesota meeting she had attended where the concept of long-term affordable housing structures with grandfathered terms was discussed, and asked that the ownership question be properly resolved. City Attorney Rahrick suggested that the rental license application process itself could be structured to require disclosure of ownership information, which would help address this concern.
EDA
No report.
City Engineer
Derek Olinger
No report.
City Administrator
City Administrator Sorg shared a community announcement. Residents Cindy Johnson and Jamie Sultze are organizing a food shelf fundraiser and community supper on Monday, October 5th at the Legion from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Donation boxes will be placed at local businesses by Labor Day, and collected items will be used to stock a community refrigerator known as Larry's Fridge. The supper will feature homemade soup, rolls, and a dessert bar at no charge, with monetary donations encouraged. The event is planned to repeat on the first Monday of each month from October through March. Sorg indicated she would post the information on the city's website.
City Attorney Mark Rahrick
No report.
Old Business
No old business.
New Business
Fence Estimates for Harmer Park and
Dog Park
Johnson introduced the fence estimates, explaining that the request for a dog park fence estimate was initiated to give the Council a general sense of costs for future planning purposes, and was not a proposal for immediate action. He suggested a potential location on the east side of Harmer Park. Gregory proposed that, before the city proceeds further with a dog park concept, a community survey should be conducted to gauge resident interest, noting that several people had previously expressed doubt about whether they would use such a facility. Mayor Sultze agreed that a survey would be appropriate when the idea is more actively considered, and that any survey should include estimated costs so residents can make an informed response.
Regarding the Harmer Park fence itself, Mayor Sultze noted that he would like to obtain additional quotes, having spoken with another fencing company that indicated they could submit an estimate. The Council agreed to table the item and seek additional bids. There was also a brief discussion about whether the city's own setback rules—requiring fences to be placed two feet inside the property line—would apply, and whether a variance might be needed given the proximity of the property line to the intended fence location. Mayor Sultze noted that the property is in the process of changing hands, which adds a further consideration to the planning process. The fence estimates were tabled pending receipt of additional bids.
Truth In Taxation: Set Date for Public Input on Final Budget and Levy
Sorg noted that the city has historically held the Truth in Taxation public input hearing at the regular December Council meeting. She confirmed the date would be December 1st at 7:00 p.m. at the regular meeting location. Motion to set December 1 at 7:00 p.m. as the date for the public input hearing on the final budget and levy was made by Gregory and seconded by K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution No. 26-19:
Approving A Parcel Split
City Attorney Rahrick explained that parcel splits in the city limits require city approval before Dodge County will process the split. Sorg clarified that the split involves a parcel adjacent to Harmer Park, and that the purpose is to separate the farmstead with bins and storage structures from the homestead. A diagram was referenced to illustrate the division. Attorney Rahrick confirmed that the split would have no effect on taxes or existing city obligations. Motion to approve Resolution No. 26-19: Approving a Parcel Split was made by Johnson and seconded by K. Sultze. Motion carried unanimously.
Council Member Ellis' LMC Learning Experience
Council Member Ellis was not present. No report was given.
Final Word
No final comments were given.
Adjourn
Motion to adjourn was made by K. Sultze and seconded by Johnson. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
Elizabeth Sorg,
City Administrator
Jared Sultze, Mayor
