Okay, we'll call the uh August 25, 2025 council meeting to order. I'll rise for the allegiance to the flag of the United States of America >> and to the republic for it stands one nationice for all. Make a motion to adopt tonight's agenda with the addition of the supplemental payment summary to the consent agenda. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I >> uh presentations. Sheriff's office. Good evening, uh, mayor and council. Uh, July was our busiest month, uh, to to date. We had a total of 529 calls for service. We had six thefts, two assaults, and three damage to property calls. Deputies made a total of 37 arrests for miscellaneous traffic uh, excuse me, miscellaneous offenses. 218 traffic stops were conducted in the city limits, which resulted in 23 uh, traffic citations. Couple of our more uh notable calls throughout the month occurred uh on the 12th of of July at 2:20 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to an assault that was occurring inside of a vehicle somewhere near the area of 181st and Highway 65. Deputy Vitec located that vehicle at Highway 65 in Klondike and ended up stopping that car. At one point during his interaction with the passengers, a male got out of the vehicle and alleged that he was punched in the face by one of the other occupants inside of the car. The male had some redness and swelling around his left eye. The victim identified the male who was responsible for the assault. That person was also inside of that car. Um upon determining that we had a crime that had occurred there, the deputies advised this person that he was under arrest. This person resisted arrest and needed to be physically extricated from the vehicle. The male was transported to jail and booked on charges of assault and obstruction of the legal process. Uh the next evening on the 13th at 1:55 a.m. Deputy Martinez stopped a vehicle in the 18700 block of Highway 65 for driving conduct. While speaking with the driver, Deputy Martinez noted numerous signs of impairment and asked him to step out to perform standardized field sobriety testing. The driver did so but ultimately failed all the tests arass of him to perform. He submitted to a preliminary breath test which resulted in a BAC of.125. The male was placed under arrest for DWI and transported to jail where he submitted to an evidentiary test which recorded a final value of.13. The male was booked into our jail for fourth degree DWI. On the 19th of July at 11:40 p.m., deputies were dispatched to an address in the 22600 block of Wakonia Circle Northeast on a medical. On arrival, our deputies learned that an argument between the residents inside of that home had occurred, which resulted in someone falling down the stairs. The homeowner was belligerent and wanted us to leave. However, uh the deputies kind of knew something else was occurring here and interviewed everybody on scene. Um, as the deputies determined nothing, no crime had been committed, they decided to leave. But as they were leaving, one of the residents came back outside and told the deputies that things were escalating again to the point where if we were to leave, uh, there would be a potential for an assault to have occurred. So, the deputies later arrested a female there for disorderly conduct and obstruction of legal process and transported her to jail. And then finally, on the 30th of July at 6:40 p.m., Deputy Martinez stopped a vehicle on Viking at North Co Lake Drive because the registered owner had an active warrant out of Dakota County. While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, Deputy Martinez confirmed that the passenger did in fact have an active warrant and took her into custody on the outstanding warrant. On a subsequent search of her person in the interior of the vehicle, Deputy Martinez located 2.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine and two grams of fentanyl. Female occupant was transported to jail and booked on the active warrant and the controlled substance crime. So, as you can see, this month being it's one of our busier our busiest month uh thus far, our proactive numbers uh continue to increase, which is a good sign. Uh last year at this time we had conducted a total of 884 traffic stops compared to this year's total of 1,423 through July. That's directly related to the tips that we get from our community members when folks call in when they see things that just don't make sense on the roadways. So, um I'm always standing up for telling people and encouraging them to call 911. Please do so. um that affects our ability to get into those problem areas in our communities and then also uh address the problems that folks see when they're out driving. So, um I mean it's great to see that those numbers are increasing. It's great to see that we're out there taking a proactive uh enforcement approach to some of the issues that we're seeing on our roadways. So, enjoy the rest of the summer. I'll stand for any questions. >> I have a question. This increase, is this statewide? Have you noticed or is it more the me seven county metro or >> Yeah, I think I think the metro numbers uh some of the traffic fatalities do tend to increase especially this time of year. I haven't seen a recent figure for this year to date through July. But for us, we're right at where we usually are for a lot of things, which is good. If we're not lowering it, we want to stay the same. Um but seeing us increase our traffic enforcement efforts um has been a huge help, I think, to keep us that that that quota or that standard the standard number that we've seen throughout throughout the year. So, um I'm excited to see what the fall will bring. Hopefully, we'll see a decline in some of the things some of the crashes that we see every now and again. So, >> thanks. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mayor, >> Fire Chief, Mayor, members of the council, good evening. Um, for a fire department update, um, since we last spoke, we've done an additional 81 calls. Uh 43 of them medicals, 23 good intent, eight hazard conditions with no fire, three service calls, two fires, and two false alarms. Um we did have one um structure fire in that time. It was a lightning strike, a presumed lightning strike that our crews responded to at 3:30 in the morning. they were able to have a very uh swift and positive effect on that fire, essentially saving the house. Um, our crews worked uh very well. Uh, our captain, uh, Ryan Henry was in command of that fire and, uh, by all accounts, he ran it the way it was supposed to be ran. Um we had our five uh new people start on August 11 or 12th. Uh they went through a new port uh new hireer orientation with the department. They were assigned or introduced to to their mentors who are going to help get them through that probationary process. Uh going forward in uh September, we intend to uh re-engage with the recruitment campaign, get the message out there that we're still looking for people. Uh the goal is to get three additional people to be able to uh attend the academy that starts in January. So we would have a total of eight new hires um starting in uh the academy in January is the goal. um with uh potential retirements uh that will actually still increase our numbers, which is always a good thing. Uh other than that, I don't have any other updates, questions. >> What is a good intent call? What does that mean? >> Uh that's going to be your smoke alarms sounding, uh CO alarms going off, that kind of deal. >> Okay. Thanks, Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Public forum. Um, Channing Stall. >> I see. I'm Chan Stall. I live over on uh 227th Lane just off of East Bethl Boulevard. Um, I'm here as a member of the Anoka County Election Integrity Team. I've spoken with y'all before uh on the issue here and I'm here to ask for some push back in terms of um East Bethl maintaining local autonomy and control of the elections. If you look at the second page, we kind of summarize it. I also sent y'all some uh videos about 10 days ago. I don't know whether anybody had a chance to look at those, but um basically on July 22nd, the Anoka County Board passed on a vote of 5 to 7 uh a motion to affirm that the unelected county auditor, Pam Leblanc, gets to decide whether cities or townships use electronic pole pads or paper rosters. uh we think this is a usurping if you will of uh something that is legally belongs at the municipal level and I won't go through all the detail there unless you want me to but if you look at the about the next to the last page it summarize uh the basic uh state law that delegation to a municipal uh official requires the approval of the governing body of the municipality. And that's essentially what they've done with the with the motion they passed is they've delegated it to you without your approval and that's a violation of the law. We don't have any legal standing, but we're going around informing the cities of this situation. And I I think if you remember my presentation last time, I get pretty passionate about the importance of local control that you guys represent the the great citizen servant uh presence in in American government. And it's vital to our elections that uh we control things as far down in the system as as possible. And this is a real um serious threat. I think they ran right against state law. Um and what concerns us is if they can do this with telling you you have to um do what they say on poll pads versus paper, uh they'll be able to tell you the same thing on other aspects of voting quite possibly in terms of rank choice or use of artificial intelligence etc. Uh it's just a a principle I think needs to be pushed back on our system and the US is designed to work from the bottom up, not the top down. And I'm very passionate about the bottom up part of it and asking for you to review this issue with me. Um, I've got suggestions for pushbacks on the next to the last page there in terms of our request uh for action there. But I would encourage you to look at these videos that we prepared that really summarize in greater detail than I have time to explain today the the nature of of what what happened. And uh we we're here to answer any questions or concerns over time here as this goes up. Um ASID has no legal standing. We're just basically informing the cities of what's happened and uh asking for your your push back on this as well. We also suggest that you might uh not just take our word but have a lawyer also review the the status of it and then I don't know which of the city organizations you belong to whether it's the uh LMC or MAT uh to see what they they think about it but I think a dangerous precedent has been set and actually a violation of state law here and u just ask your report. If there's any questions, I'll be glad to address them. >> Any questions? >> All right. Thank you, sir. >> You bet. >> Consent agenda. >> Make a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. I'd like to pull item D as in dog and G as in grace. >> I'd like to pull V. as in boy. >> Any others? >> Have a motion. Do we get a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor with the amended agenda say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? None heard. Item B. B. I'd like to table these minutes. I need to go through them because there's some stuff missing. So, I'll make a motion to table. >> Second. >> We have a motion to second. Any discussion? >> Not being heard. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Item D. Item D is the pay estimate number one for the 2025 street surface improvement project. Um, I just had a question on this as to what project or projects it was because there's no description describing which projects it were except for 2025 street service improvement. Uh, Mr. Mayor and Council, I believe this is the um uh the Taylor Street project that we're working on right now. the overlay and curb work that's being done by the golf course. I believe that is this one. >> Okay, >> this is the first payment on that. And I I just got a report that we put away around $600 some thousand dollars annually for road work and this is about 1 million roughly we're paying on this project. So it's um about a year and a half's worth of uh what we what we set aside. So, this is just one of the first payments in that. And if it's any different, I'll correct that for you. But I believe that's correct. >> Okay. Yeah. I >> You said Taylor Street over by >> the golf course. Hidden Haven. >> Hidden Haven. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, if we can just have these labeled in the future, that'd be fine. >> Yeah. I'm not sure why it's not labeled, but I will I will get with um I will get with uh Nate to make sure that that's done next time. All right. Uh with that, I'll make a motion to approve item D. Have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. Any further discussion? None being heard. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. Item G. >> Item G was uh intern for digital file transition project. Um is this we initially had this hiring for an intern. Is this to propose it for pointing out for part-time or uh hiring the person that uh um apparently staff met with for this? >> Yeah, Mr. Mayor and councel. Um initially we had established an intern uh that was going to come in and due to an emergency that person was not able to start andor you know uh follow through on that on that internship. Um since then we've met with an individual that uh would be able to come on a part-time basis and work um and understands that it's a uh project specific type of uh role. In other words, it it you know after the project is done, which we're estimating 6 months or less, uh that um there would not be any further work needed at that point. Uh finding somebody for 6 months is proving to be quite difficult. Uh so um the fact that this person I think this person has other employment perhaps um you know on other you know u maybe in the evening work or something like that that that they do. So it looks to be a pretty good fit. Um and uh and so we're looking to extend the offer to them and with your approval of course and if that's the case we can get this project rolling. In addition to this the as staff we've been meeting and determining how we can also speed up that process with our daily activities here to kind of you know work through some of the files as well. So there'll be a combination of the two essentially is how we plan to tackle the the transitioning of this paper files to digital files. Okay. Cuz uh normally we'd have some information about the applicant, a resume, a name, something that would be presented to us in our packet that we could at least see who we'd be extending the offer to. I believe I sent that in the council update um on Friday, but I can send that to you again as far as that information. Um yeah. Okay. Uh, with that, I'll make a motion to approve item G. >> I'm going to abstain from this because she's a friend of mine. So, >> okay, we have a motion. Do we get a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? >> I do have one question. How many years are we talking about of files that need to be converted? >> That's a really good question. Um, 100? No, I'm not sure if it's 100. There's quite a few. Um and and there's uh the undertaking of this is no small feat and so no one has really wanted to grab the bull by the horn so to speak. Uh we realize that you know we we keep getting calls for example hey you know has a sewer you know work been done and when was the last time a perma was pulled out a roof etc etc. we have to physically go back and try and find these files. Uh being able to pull it up on a on a, you know, computer basis. We, you know, under a property address, any and all information right there is just going to speed things up so much better. Uh there is some pain, you know, before we get to the gain. So, uh, we're trying to, uh, we're trying to trying to mitigate that as much as possible and, um, and get through this in a, you know, like I say, six months hopefully is the plan. >> Is my understanding that we do have the equipment that'll handle that. >> Um, not necessarily. We have right the new uh copers today scan and uh and we are going to try utilizing our copier here but in the event that it um it starts to interfere with normal office duties. We may need to rent another copier for a short period of time. Um but we're going to try it with our current copier to make sure we can we we can save the money if if uh if at all possible. Okay. Any more discussion? Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Unheard. Motion passes. Item 8G1. >> Mr. Mr. Mayor and Council, um we often have come before you for dates for the town hall meetings and uh generally in the fall we have a town hall meeting where people gather um in the senior center there first and then they come in here and uh we have kind of a question and answer time and uh so I wanted to bring this uh before you to um to get your input on uh when in November you would like to have a town hall meeting. I know that last time we we swung and missed when it came to coffee and and cookies and things of that nature, Council Member Urkl. So, we'll we'll make sure that's there this time, but >> it's a lot more than that. I I'll help you. >> Okay. We'll uh we'll we'll put something together there. So, um and uh maybe that'll draw more people in. But at any rate, um I have four dates that are on here that could be a possibility if you so wish. and um and whatever you pick we can advertise and plan for. Well, I have no conflicts on any of the dates. One thought is if it's November 5th, might be a little warmer than the 13th, 18th, 19th, might get more people out. I don't know. Wednesdays don't work for me, but okay. >> The 13th would be >> great. That's the next one, right? >> Yep. >> 13th. >> Good on the 13th. >> I'm good. >> Yeah, I guess we're going with the 13th. >> Let me just see if Mr. Mayor, I can pull up uh Minnesota deer hunting for 2026. >> Is it the first weekend? So, uh, what date is that going to be then? >> Thursday, >> not the 13th. Okay. >> The 8th. Okay. I remember it's usually around the 5th or 6th or something like that. I thought, boy, that's going to limit some people coming in probably. Okay. So, November 13th, we will um we will set up for that and um and prepare for that meeting. All right. Uh, item 8G2. >> I'll be abstaining from this item. >> I'm going to make a motion to table this item. >> I'm going to second that motion. I have a motion. Second. Discussion. And being heard. Uh when do you want table two? >> Next meeting. >> Next meeting. >> Okay. So that would be the uh I don't next meeting I guess. All right. We have a motion and a second for to table this to the uh next uh council meeting. All those in favor I >> opposed. Abstain. Motion passes. uh staff items. Mr. Mayor and Council, just have a couple of updates. Um and um I've sent this out also on the Friday update for for yourselves, but I wanted to also make folks aware of this. What just happened to my computer? Um essentially, we got a um uh Midco called us and uh was doing a site survey at the city here. Uh they are essentially moving from what's called Midco TV, I'm sorry, to Midco TV from the um from the typical cable uh that they have. And uh and I know a lot of people turn into channel 10 and watch cable and uh and this is going to be a change essentially to Midco TV. This is going to be more of an onlinebased format and um and I will remind folks that we've also had YouTube TV which is also an onlinebased format but most pe some people like to take like to tune in to the cable channel. So uh wanted to make folks aware of this. This will be uh for those that are technologically challenged. We we will certainly offer our services here at the city. anyone has any questions on how to once this transition happens, how um how to, you know, log in or pull it up or pull up the website and essentially be able to uh be able to watch uh the council meetings live and or go to YouTube and watch them uh live. Um I I think um I think there'll be some push back of folks out there, but seems to be the way that um the industry is going that they're moving away from cable and going to more of an online type of a base of operation. Uh the other thing is uh Midco did recall um uh the city was awarded uh dollars from Anoka County for a broadband project. They did start that project and they started first on Brianwood Lane uh Brierwood Lane, sorry. Um which is uh goes right past Paul Johnson's property. I notified him that that's what they're doing out there and he was very excited to hear about that. So uh again these this project is going to be ident has identified areas where connectivity is low uh and um and uh and we'll be providing uh high-speed internet options to those areas which I think is long overdue uh and it's taken them a little bit while to uh to get this project uh started but nevertheless they're underway. uh our hope is that they'll be done here before the snow flies and that uh folks will have um have those options and then that will also benefit this transition as they go into Midco TV type of delivery. So at any rate those are my updates unless there are any questions any questions. All right, council reports. >> We had a booster day meeting and we have uh some changes to the leadership of uh or the members of the boo booster day committee committee and there's two people I'd like to thank for their service. Uh Dan Dos has ran the car show for over 10 years. he and his partners put a lot of time and effort into promoting it and making it happen. Uh really would like to thank him for all his efforts. Uh he always did a fantastic job for that and he he's such a great guy. He found a replacement to keep the car show running. So thank you Dan Dos. Another person I'd like to thank is Scott Snyder. Uh Scott has been on the committee for me uh many years and he was in charge of booking a lot a lot of the bands and entertainment. Uh if the the last booster day meeting we had a mariachi show. Uh that was new and different and fantastic and that was because of his efforts. Uh that was just one example. So, I'd like to thank Scott for all the work that he has done over the years. And uh I again put out the call for anybody that would like to volunteer. Uh if anybody has connections for entertainment, uh bringing in bands, bringing in other things. Uh please and you'd like to volunteer, please get a hold of us. Uh the the committee works very hard to put a promote and put on a show and festivity for the city of East Bethl. It's a city celebration and we'd like to include everybody in that. But in order to make that happen, we do need the volunteers to pull it off. So, uh please if you're interested, reach out. Uh we could certainly use the help. Thank you. So Scott is resigning too. >> Yes. >> Oh, sorry to see that. >> Yep. >> He did really good job. >> He he did he did >> um I attended a airport meeting and they are planning a celebration for uh 2026. I need a new thing for this microphone. And they are looking for entertainment. Scott, we could use you. Um, they are looking for ideas to they're going to have vendors there. They're going to have the E EAA, the Young Eagles, uh, are going to do a pancake breakfast there. It's going to be a really big event involving multiple communities, fire departments, um, flyins, all kinds of things. So, um, if you have ideas, if you have entertainment, if you have anything like that, give me a call, send me an email. I would love to be uh announce that at the next meeting. And that's all I have right now. >> I'm just curious, we got a complaint form on this property. Have we proceeded anything with this? I I'll have to check with Nick. I'm not sure if he's followed through on this. >> Dog one. Yeah. >> Yeah. I had a lot of calls on that property >> on Third Street. >> Okay. I can follow up. >> Okay. >> Send me a copy if you want. That's all I got. >> And that's a property with the dogs. >> Okay. The Upper Rum River Wershed Association will be uh meeting very early uh at the next meeting September 2nd. We are touring Lake George and the water uh shoreline projects that we've been associated with and then the meeting will proceed to uh the city hall in Oakrove where we have our normal meetings starting at 6:30. So um I look forward to getting out on the water and seeing some of the stuff that our dollars are being used for. Good time. >> All right. Motion to adjurnn. Somebody motion to adjurnn. Second. >> Second. >> Have a motion. Second. All in favor? I. I. >> Meetings closed.