RUGBY CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2026 – 7:00 PM

ARMORY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND MICROSOFT TEAMS

Mayor LaRocque called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Council members recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was taken by LaRocque. Council Members present: Schneibel, Larson, Kraft, Santjer, Reinke, Lotvedt, Zachmeier and Nelson. Also, present were Chief Bommersbach, Troy Munyer, Public Works Director, Attorney Mickelson Hendrickson (by Teams), and Auditor Stewart. The council considered the agenda. There was an addition of Gaming Site Authorizations, Open Records Request, Dangerous Buildings and removal of Tracy Hageness under Public Comment. There was a motion by Larson to approve the agenda as amended. Second by Schneibel, all voting yes, motion carried. The council considered the regular council minutes of May 4, 2026. There was a motion by Nelson to approve the May 4, 2026, regular council minutes as presented. Second by Lotvedt, all voting yes, motion carried. Sara Radomski and Cameron Thornberg, Heart of America Medical Center, addressed the council regarding the Ambulance Taxing District. They explained the June 2, 2026, Special Election for the Ambulance Taxing District. She informed the council of the reason for the funding request of up to 15 mills. Radomski informed the council what the funds generated by the mill levy would cover for the Ambulance Service. There was lengthy discussion regarding the history of the current ambulance service in the community and the imminent future costs of the service. Radomski encouraged residents to vote at the June 2, 2026, Special Election that will take place at the Heart of America Medical Center from 8:00am-7:00pm. Chief Bommersbach presented the April 2026 Police Report. He explained that the department had 84 calls for service, 63 citations, 15 arrests, 2 vehicle accidents and 25 medical assist calls in the month. Bommersbach explained the two K-9 deployments during the month. The first one was at the high school, to search lockers. The second was a search warrant, on a residence in town resulting in 4 arrests and seizure of 156.94 grams of MDMA, 72.94 grams of methamphetamine, 3.2 grams of fentanyl powder and multiple items of paraphernalia. There was discussion regarding the truck traffic in residential areas and downtown now that the DOT Hwy 3 project has resumed. They discussed the importance of the railroad, keeping the crossings open during this time. There was a motion by Schneibel to approve the April 2026 Police Department report. Second by Kraft, all voting yes, motion carried. Laurie Odden, CVB Executive Director, updated the council on the upcoming events that the Chamber and CVB have lined up. Odden explained that a mural will be happening on the Lees Bar west wall this summer. The artist is donating her time. There was a motion by Lotvedt to approve the CVB minutes and financials. Second by Zachmeier, all voting yes, motion carried. Brian Hoffart, JDA Executive Director, updated the council on the recent topics that he has been working on in the last month. He explained that Envision is looking to rehabilitate the old campground just to the west of the C-Store. Envision purchased that property last year and understands the need for campgrounds in the community. This would bring 12 campsites back to the community. Hoffart explained that he has been attempting to locate grant funds to assist Envision in this endeavor. However, the grants he has found do not fit the scope of the project. Envision is looking to find a funding source to assist with the rehabilitation. They had a lengthy discission regarding the benefit the additional campsites would bring to the community. There was a motion by Lotvedt to approve the JDA minutes and financials. Second by Santjer, all voting yes, motion carried. Buildings: Portfolio Holder Lotvedt explained that next week he has a crane service coming to straighten three light poles at the ball diamonds. He explained that they will dig out around the light poles and fill with rock to help keep them straight. Lotvedt is hopeful that this will help long term. Lotvedt explained that if Envision gave the city an easement, the city could possibly put a sewer main in for the proposed campsites. The easement would assist the city in providing a main to the Hometown Liquor store that is currently having sewer issues, and something will need to be done. Lotvedt suggested that $40,000 would be the cost to the city to install this line. Lotvedt explained that Envision has discussed potentially annexing their main office and NAPA business into the city eventually. Installation of the new sewer main, to assist Envision’ s rehab of their campsites, would fall in line with a future expansion of the sewer main should an annexation to the west occur. There was a motion by Reinke to approve $40,000 from the sewer fund to install a sewer main, if Envision moves ahead with their campground rehabilitation and agrees to an easement to the city to also serve Hometown Liquor. Second by Lotvedt. There was discussion regarding the details of the installation of the sewer line and meter pit. LaRocque called for a roll call vote, all voting yes, motion carried. Finance: Portfolio Holder Nelson explained that Brady Martz is working on the city audit this week. Ordinance: Portfolio Holder Zachmeier questioned if the council wanted her and the City Attorney to proceed or table the ordinance regarding parking in yards. Mickelson Hendrickson discussed some of the questions and clarification that would be needed from the council to proceed with this ordinance. Zachmeier and Mickelson Hendrickson explained that the current nuisance ordinances would address many of the concerns of the council. Mickelson Hendrickson plans to have a draft of the nuisance ordinance revision for the next council meeting. Zachmeier recommended to table the ordinance regarding parking in yards. They discussed the current nuisance ordinance enforcement and penalty requirements. Zachmeier discussed a letter received from Kristi Tonnessen regarding the mobile home park behind her house and the overhang of a tree. Nelson explained that the tree near Tonnessen’s property is scheduled to be removed by Houim Tree Service. He just hasn’t had time to remove it yet. There was a motion by Zachmeier to table the draft ordinance 474. Second by Lotvedt, all voting yes, motion carried. Public Safety: Portfolio Holder Kraft had nothing to report. Chief Bommersbach explained that he and the building inspector have cited 9 “Dangerous Buildings”. Public Works: Portfolio Holder Larson stated that City Wide Clean-up had gone well. An inquiry has been made into Circle Sanitation regarding other cleanup options. Larson explained that they are working on patching potholes and sealing street cracks. Prairie View Estates is still too wet to put anything down to fill their road holes. Recreation: Portfolio Holder Santjer explained that the back fence on the diamond will need to be put back up once the light poles are repaired. The pool and baseball programs will begin on June 1. Library: Reinke provided an update to the summer programming at the Library. Reinke explained that the food pantry served approximately 70 families at their last distribution. Kraft questioned what the plan is for the STOP sign at the Hwy 3 and 1 st St intersection. They discussed the location of the STOP sign last fall and agreed that it was not a good location. Nelson will contact the ND DOT and see what can be done. Reinke commended the Building Inspector and Chief of Police for taking action on the Dangerous Buildings. The council reviewed the Notice of Subaward from the ND Department of Environmental Quality. This is an abandoned auto fund grant for $50,000 to remove abandoned autos or mobile homes within the city. Stewart explained that the funds must be spent by June 2027. There was a motion by Lotvedt to approve the Subaward from ND Department of Environmental Quality. Second by Reinke, roll call vote, all voting yes motion carried. The council considered a local permit application for the Prairie Village Museum. There was a motion by Schneibel to approve the Prairie Village Museum local permit. Second by Nelson, all voting yes, motion carried. The council considered gaming site authorizations for the Rugby Jaycees at IC Dubbles and 3 rd St Station. There was a motion by Schneibel to approve the Rugby Jaycees gaming site authorizations. Second by Larson, all voting yes, motion carried. Lotvedt explained an open records request from Council Member Schneibel regarding the signed letters that Lotvedt had received to date regarding the parking on lawns. Lotvedt provided a flash drive to Schneibel with the documents he requested on it. Alice Schmidt, city resident, addressed the council regarding her “temporary” water that is set up because of the Highway 3 construction project. Schmidt explained that May 8 they were hooked up to temporary water feeding off of Michael Smith’s home via a hose. She explained the foul smell of the water and that her household was unable to consume the water because of the smell. She also informed the council about the 8 hours they were without water and that they had not been informed that the water would be off. Munyer explained that currently the contractor is pressure testing the new water line. Once the two water samples are taken and pass the state testing, her regular water service will be restored. Munyer anticipated this will be done later next week. Lotvedt explained that Schmidt should be running her water nonstop to help keep the water in the hose from developing the foul smell. Schmidt explained that she will not leave the water run if she leaves her home. The council thanked Mrs. Schmidt for her time. Yvette Rozmarynowski and Mark Millang, city residents, addressed the council regarding the fence at Parkland Drive. Nelson explained that Rozmarynowski and Millang had requested a fence and Nelson contacted the mobile home park owner to install the fence. Rozmarynowski and Millang would like the fence placed on the west side of the alley. Lotvedt explained that as long as the Fire Department and utility companies can get through the alleyway, he does not care which side of the alleyway the fence is installed on. Before a fence can be installed, a city building permit will need to be obtained. The council thanked them for their time. The next meeting is scheduled for June 1, 2026, at 7:00p.m. There being no further business to transact or come before the council at this time LaRocque declared the meeting adjourned at 9:16pm.

Frank LaRocque, Mayor

Attest: Jennifer Stewart, City Auditor

(June 6, 2026)