Brainerd City Council approves $13.055 million general-obligation bond resolution

The Brainerd City Council voted to adopt a resolution providing for the issuance and sale of general-obligation bonds, Series 2026A, in the proposed amount of $13,055,000 and to consolidate certain assessable improvement projects.

Connie (staff) told the council the packet included a detailed pre-issuance report and the recommended action to adopt the resolution and proceed with the bond sale. The resolution was moved and carried to a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded votes of yes from Chezak, Stuenich, Erickson and O'Day and no votes from Johnson and Yeager; the resolution therefore carried.

Councilmember Gabe Johnson said he opposed the package because it included what he described as an expansion-cost increase for the fire department beyond the amount the council had earlier budgeted. “I spoke against it last time. I’m still against it,” Johnson said, noting staff requested $5,500,000 for a fire project and that he could not in good conscience support increasing that to $5,900,000 in debt. Staff and other council members said the packet reflected work to refine costs and that the bond proceeds would fund consolidated assessable improvement projects as described in the staff report.

The council also noted that details of the bond issue and the pre-issuance report were included in the meeting packet and that the usual subsequent sale and closing steps will follow adoption. No amendment to the bond amount was made at the meeting.

The resolution was adopted on April 20; the council will proceed with bond sale steps as provided in the adopted resolution.