Winnebago Fire Chief Bret Osborn poses next to the newest member of the Winnebago Fire Department, Kayla Wyman, who was officially hired at the Winnebago City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

A report about a potentially dangerous dog and discussion about how to approach the Minnesota Paid Family Medical Leave premiums were both on the agenda at the Winnebago City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Police chief Nathan Goette presented the council with case report 25-1093, detailing a recent incident regarding a potentially dangerous dog.

“I was dispatched on July 25 to investigate an animal complaint at 158 Cleveland Avenue West from Shannon Allen-Dohm,” Goette explained. “A dog, whose tag identified it as Lily and belonging to Andrew Bergemann, had gotten into her chicken coop and killed one of her pet chickens. Lily has a known history of escaping from Bergemann’s property, and fits the city criteria for being declared a potentially dangerous dog.”

Goette also shared that Bergemann disagrees with the designation, and has requested a hearing to dispute the claim. However, Bergemann was not present at the City Council meeting to discuss his side of the issue.

“Seeing as Bergemann is not present at tonight’s meeting to discuss the issue, I would suggest that we go ahead and declare this dog a potentially dangerous dog,” mayor Jean Anderson suggested.

Hearing no further discussion from the council, a motion was made and seconded to declare Bergemann’s dog a potentially dangerous dog. The motion was passed unanimously.

City administrator Judi Hynes presented the council with a memo about the new Minnesota Paid Family Medical Leave policy, which will be going into effect state-wide on Jan. 1, 2026.

“This new legislation will be going into effect in January, and part of the new law states that a premium must be paid,” Hynes shared. “This premium has been set at .88 percent of gross wages, and there is an option for employers to pay 100 percent of that premium, or split the premium cost with the employee, with each party paying .44 percent.”

Hynes went on to explain that during union negotiations with Winnebago’s two unions, she had been informed that the unions wanted the employer to pay 100 percent of the premium.

“According to my estimates, I’m projecting that the employer paying 100 percent of the premium option would cost us approximately $7,900 – $8,200,” Hynes remarked. “I’d like some guidance on how to proceed, especially since this request came from only one union – the other didn’t bring it up at all in negotiations.”

“I think we should stay in line with what other cities are doing with this policy,” council member Calvin Howard commented. “The way I see it, it’s not worth having upset employees over $4,000, which is what we would pay if we decided to do the split option.”

Council members Chris Anderson and Paul Eisenmenger both voiced their support for the idea, citing that it would keep the unions happy and avoid further complications down the line.

“I agree that we should pay the full 100 percent of the premium since it would keep both unions happy, in case the other union decides to bring up the issue in further negotiations,” Anderson shared.

Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to pay the full 100 percent of the premium for the Paid Family Medical Leave when the policy officially goes into effect state-wide on Jan. 1, 2026. The motion was passed unanimously.

Other business discussed at the City Council meeting included:

•The council entered a closed session to discuss employee disciplinary matters in relation to a complaint brought against employee Gavin Barnett. After the meeting was reopened to the public, a motion was made and seconded to open an investigation into the allegations against Barnett. The motion was passed unanimously. Following this, a second motion was made and seconded to suspend Gavin Barnett without pay, but maintaining employment benefits until the results of the investigation come back. This motion was also approved unanimously.

• Pay Estimate 13 to Ulland Brothers in the amount of $584,203.69 was unanimously approved.

• A contribution of $3,230.55 to assist the Baseball Association in paying the electrical bill for the scoreboard located in the West City Park baseball field was unanimously approved.

• A motion authorizing the prepayment of a new ambulance in the amount of $296,858 to MacQueen was unanimously approved.

• The purchase of a new bi-directional broom for the Street Department from Yeager Implement in the amount of $2,500 was unanimously approved.

• The purchase of four new bias-ply tractor tires from D & K Tire Service in the amount of $2,114 was unanimously approved.

• The resignation of Kelsey Espeland from the Winnebago Ambulance Department was unanimously approved. She has served as an EMT for 10 years, and her final day was Sept. 1.

• The resignation letter of Jesse Haugh from the Winnebago Fire Department was unanimously approved. He has served as a firefighter for 29 years, and his final day was June 15.

• The hirings of Kayla Wyman to the Fire Department and Sara Arbreiter to the Ambulance Department were unanimously approved.

• A step-pay increase for city employee Michael Sharp was unanimously approved. He has moved up to Step 2 with a wage of $32.95 per hour, and is now eligible for a $1,500 bonus, effective as of Aug. 28.

• A step-pay increase for Street Supervisor Clint Eastman was unanimously approved. He has moved up to Step 4 with a wage of $30.77 per hour, effective as of Sept. 7.

• A motion was made and seconded to hold a Special Council Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the preliminary budget. The motion was passed unanimously.