SHEBRURN — The Sherburn City Council met on Monday evening. Leeann Swanson, Becky Tish and Mark Gaalswyk from the Theatre Improvement Committee asked the council for help with replacing the server so movies can be shown with the digital projector.

In 2025, the city budgeted $24,000 to the theatre and spent $20,000. The committee asked about if the $4,000 could be put toward equipment. They asked if pull tab money could be routed to the fund for the server which will cost over $10,000. They mentioned that a grant writer was working with them to help in that way. Gaalswyk explained his idea to sell advertisement to be run before each movie at $25 or more a night. Generating $31,000 is possible with this solution and it would help fund a contingency fund for future repairs like a projector if that would break. He suggested 10 percent of those revenues be used by the city for additional help at the city hall. The clerk said no contact or revenue from the owners had been routinely sent to the city which owns the building since Covid times. The council asked the clerk to contact theater management, Mike and Nikki Schwartz. The council would like to see reports about the theatre and perhaps quotes for servers and where to purchase one. Donations will be collected at the city hall and the city would purchase the server.

Greg Burkhardt gave the auditor’s report. The audit is clean or unmodified. There were three concerns or suggestions with policy (internal control) adjustments; audited adjustments, additional office staff needed, and invoices within three to five days to be paid. A missed statement from the last audit was improved and better tracking is evident. Financially, the city is stable. The General Fund, which includes governmental activities like state aid and most expenditures, is in good shape with $1.3 million. The business activities such as water, sewer, TLR and liquor store, have had increases in their fund balance in the last two years, especially water and sewer and liquor store. The Temperance Lake Ridge has decreased in the last five years, though revenue looks good. There was a $4.7 million debt in 2025 and a deficit of $300,000. The supplies and personnel expenses have jumped substantially. There are large expenditures that will be paid up in the coming years. It was suggested that the city watch that fund and find out why there is a decrease. The liquor store had a deficit in 2023 and in 2025 had a $10,000 profit. There have been adjustments with management and supply levels that helped that report and sales have been good.

The council has received three proposals for the Emerald Ash Borer problem with trees in the city. Two were removal proposals and one was a treatment proposal. There are eight trees in the park and about 90 trees on boulevards. The treatment would need to be done at least once a year for a cost of $100 a tree or $50 if the public works does the treatment with the company’s liquid. The council said it would replenish treatment to the eight park trees and make information available to the public if any resident would want to have the treatment done instead of removing a tree that is infected. The treatments for the tree and bug would likely be less expensive than cutting the tree down and hopefully save the tree.

The council approved purchase of a payloader with a blade and reserved options to get a blower later from Ziegler. They had two quotes and chose that one for $263,000. The old payloader is in bad shape and may not have lasted for this coming winter. The public works employees had safety concerns and parts were hard to find, too. They plan to use the return money from the fire truck loan as part of the purchase money and have some budgeted for that purpose.

In other news:

— Public Works and City Hall have asked that there be a deposit requested from those who reserve the shelter house and if things are not put back and garbage not picked up the deposit will be kept but if things are done the deposit would be returned. The council approved a $100 deposit when reserving the shelter house.

— The council approved appointing a personnel committee to help with negotiations with the union.

— A demolition request for the 103 South Lake property was approved with $2,500 if it is completely demolished.

— Representative Bjorn Olson made his yearly trip to city councils with a time at the Sherburn City Council meeting. He spoke about some things done in the legislature.

— The council approved the IT Midwest quote for the technology contract for the city.

— The Police report included information that the police department was recruiting for another officer. They were very busy, especially with one officer less now. The citations for non-mowing of grass is underway and people seem to be doing the mowing.

— The clerk report mentioned affidavits of candidacy for the election in July. The clerk asked for a budget session at the first meeting in July. It will be only a five month review but since there are new council members and they could see how the sessions are held the meeting perhaps would be good in July. The council approved the budget meeting. The clerk reminded the council that she would be attending training at the MN cities conference in Rochester.

— In the fire department report, two members have moved and it is now at 17 members and one EMT. They are recruiting members and their training has completed. They have been very busy with a call about every 28 hours.

— The council went into closed session for some employee annual reviews. The next meeting of the Sherburn city council is scheduled for July 6, 2026 at 5 p.m. at City Hall.