Akeley council adopts suite of administrative resolutions and the 2025 levy; auditor search begins

Across regular sessions in 2025 the Akeley City Council passed a series of administrative resolutions to set account signatories, authorize automated payments and fund transfers, accept donations, and adopt financial controls needed for 2025 operations.

Early in the year the council approved routine housekeeping resolutions including bank signatories at First National Bank of Walker-Akeley Branch (Resolution 2-2025), authorization for payments prior to formal council authorization (Resolution 3-2025), and policies allowing wire/automated transfers (Resolutions 4–5-2025). The council later accepted multiple donations for community events and projects (Resolutions 8-2025, 9-2025, 18-2025) and approved reimbursements and transfers tied to capital and grant-funded work (Resolution 13-2025 transferring state aid to road capital accounts).

On Dec. 17 the council adopted the 2025 tax levy, collectible in 2026 (Resolution 20-2025). Kristi Kath, the city administrator, presented budget and levy scenarios earlier in work sessions and recommended modest increases to cover new state-mandated items such as Minnesota Paid Leave and routine operational costs; the council approved a preliminary levy earlier in September and then adopted the final levy in December.

Miller McDonald, the city’s auditor, notified the council it will not provide auditing services for the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2025. The council directed staff to distribute a request-for-proposals and to identify a new auditing firm to perform the FY2025 audit and provide services beginning in 2026.

Councilors noted the need for stronger vendor payment controls, better inventory participation by council and staff, and improved documentation when moving to online vendor payments — points raised during the auditor’s presentation earlier in the year. Staff were directed to return with RFP responses and recommended policy language for vendor online payment controls.