Zimmerman City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Dave
Earenfight
Dave Earenfight, the incumbent, is running for Zimmerman City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 3 candidates are running for 2 seats.
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The race · City Council
- 01Dave EarenfightYou’re reading
- 02Larry FarberIncumbent
- 03Karen Michels
Background
- About
- Owner of Crazy Dave's Auto Sales who served as Zimmerman mayor for a total of 22 years. He has served on the city's EDA and Planning Commission and is a former volunteer firefighter.
Dave Earenfight and Larry Farber hold the two council seats on the ballot; Karen Michels was the only other candidate to file. Elk River Star News
The terms of Dave Earenfight and Larry Farber expire Dec. 31, 2026; the terms of Josh Bondhus and Harley Wells expire Dec. 31, 2028. City of Zimmerman
On the record: Dave Earenfight
16 sourced01City Administrator1 sourced position
Voted yes on appointing Clerk/Treasurer Kary Tillmann as interim City Administrator with an interim pay increase to Grade 17, Step 4 (passed 3-2, September 2026).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Sep 21 2026 · Sep 21, 2026LinkHow the council voted
02Property tax levy2 sourced positions
as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote
Suggested at the Sept. 21, 2026 meeting that the council use uncommitted reserves as a budget-balancing tool instead of increasing the levy.
Own statementZimmerman City Council minutes, Sep 21 2026 · Sep 21, 2026Link
Voted yes on the preliminary 2027 levy of $3,419,953 (unanimous, September 2026).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Sep 21 2026 · Sep 21, 2026LinkHow the council voted
03Sidewalks2 sourced positions
Voted yes to approve plans and order bids for the 3rd Avenue North/10th Street West project, which adds a sidewalk on the north side (unanimous, April 2026).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Apr 20 2026 · Apr 20, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Moved the motion and voted yes to order the 3rd Avenue North/10th Street West improvement project after a public hearing (unanimous, April 2026).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Apr 6 2026 · Apr 6, 2026LinkHow the council voted
04Garbage collection1 sourced position
Voted yes to stop researching an organized garbage collection model for the city at this time (unanimous, August 2026).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Aug 3 2026 · Aug 3, 2026LinkHow the council voted
05Wastewater plant2 sourced positions
Moved the motion and voted yes to hire Magney Construction as construction manager at risk for wastewater plant expansion pre-construction services, up to $120,000 (unanimous, July 2026).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Jul 20 2026 · Jul 20, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Moved the motion and voted yes to approve a NERO Engineering agreement for preliminary design of the Phase II wastewater treatment plant expansion, up to $663,153 (unanimous, November 2025).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Nov 3 2025 · Nov 3, 2025LinkHow the council voted
06Housing development2 sourced positions
Moved the motion and voted yes to approve the preliminary plat of The Homes at Fremont, a 212-unit planned residential development (unanimous, July 2025).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Jul 7 2025 · Jul 7, 2025LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes to approve the final plat of The Homes at Fremont (unanimous, July 2025).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Jul 7 2025 · Jul 7, 2025LinkHow the council voted
07City staffing1 sourced position
Voted no on a $350 travel stipend for out-of-state City Planner interviewees (passed 4-1, April 2026).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Apr 20 2026 · Apr 20, 2026LinkHow the council voted
08Lake Fremont2 sourced positions
Voted no on a contract of up to $12,500 to cut a weed navigation channel on Lake Fremont (passed 4-1, June 2025).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Jun 16 2025 · Jun 16, 2025LinkHow the council voted
as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote
Said in June 2025 that it is appropriate to request funding for Lake Fremont weed cutting from the Fremont Lake Association and Livonia Township.
Own statementZimmerman City Council minutes, Jun 16 2025 · Jun 16, 2025Link
09Business licensing2 sourced positions
Voted no on a mobile food unit license for an ice cream truck (passed 4-1, August 2025).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Aug 4 2025 · Aug 4, 2025LinkHow the council voted
as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote
Said in August 2025 that he did not think it appropriate to license an ice cream truck when two businesses in town sell comparable items and pay property taxes.
Own statementZimmerman City Council minutes, Aug 4 2025 · Aug 4, 2025Link
10Water system1 sourced position
Voted no on a $29,611 change order to repair municipal Well #5 (passed 3-1, September 2025).
Council voteZimmerman City Council minutes, Sep 22 2025 · Sep 22, 2025LinkHow the council voted
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Dave Earenfight: their words and their votes on the same issue
Lake Fremont
In their words
Said in June 2025 that it is appropriate to request funding for Lake Fremont weed cutting from the Fremont Lake Association and Livonia Township.
Jun 16, 2025 ·as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote ·Zimmerman City Council minutes, Jun 16 2025 · Jun 16, 2025
On the record
Voted no on a contract of up to $12,500 to cut a weed navigation channel on Lake Fremont (passed 4-1, June 2025).
Jun 16, 2025 ·Zimmerman City Council minutes, Jun 16 2025 · Jun 16, 2025
Business licensing
In their words
Said in August 2025 that he did not think it appropriate to license an ice cream truck when two businesses in town sell comparable items and pay property taxes.
Aug 4, 2025 ·as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote ·Zimmerman City Council minutes, Aug 4 2025 · Aug 4, 2025
On the record
Voted no on a mobile food unit license for an ice cream truck (passed 4-1, August 2025).
Aug 4, 2025 ·Zimmerman City Council minutes, Aug 4 2025 · Aug 4, 2025
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