uh council meeting. If you please rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America >> and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> And again, welcome all of you here tonight. Glad you're here. Weather's not great, but uh it's nice in here. All right. Uh, roll call. >> Uh, council member Tradewell >> here. >> Mayor Ralph >> here. >> Council member Bray Johnson >> here. >> All right. Obviously, Council Member Wy and West are absent tonight, but hope to see you at the next one. Uh, announcements. Does anybody have any announcements? >> I do not. >> Actually have a few of them here. Uh, one, I think most of you have been here before, but that black book in the back has our agenda and all the supporting documents for it. Uh you certainly can look through that if you'd like. You can also find that information on our city website uh under council meetings and agendas. Uh with that, on September 22nd, we're going to be having a meet the candidate forum here. We have some of the candidates here in attendance. Uh we're going to be starting at 5:00. It's just going to be kind of a meet and greet. You can come ask the candidates questions if you'd like. And then from about 6 to 8, uh, we're going to actually have something a little more formal that the candidates will be up here asking questions um that the audience has. The two running for county commissioner will be here, the five uh running for city council, and then um council member West who's running for mayor. So hopefully you can make it out. You are able to view it on our website as well, but it's nice to see you here. So hopefully you can come. Um, [clears throat] I also received uh a message today from school board member uh Rob Shonrock. Um, he had an update actually with a photo of the uh improvements on Cedar Drive and he said even though uh we were not able to do quite what the school district wanted, uh, huge improvement and so u school board was happy with that. So glad we're able to do it. And I think the last thing is um which I'm sure most people are aware uh we had our hearing uh this last Tuesday with the Supreme Court over over paper rosters. Uh the Supreme Court already ruled uh in our favor. So uh if you hadn't heard about that now I guess now you have. All right. I think that's it unless somebody else has any announcements. >> I'm good for now. I'll wait till later. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Uh setting of the regular agenda. Uh Lauren, do we have anything to add or remove? >> No changes. >> Okay. I'd look for a motion to approve. >> I make a motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> Motion by Council Member Bray Johnson. Second by Council Member Tradewell. All in favor? Indicate by saying I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion passes. >> Uh we're going to be doing a proclamation on Constitution Week. Just want to verify. Is anybody here for that? I don't think so. We don't do too many uh of these. Uh we do Constitution Week and we did the 250th anniversary of our country. So, uh we don't do too many. So, these definitely are uh these proclamations are are good. So, I'm going to read it here uh just so everybody knows what we're even talking about. So, uh proclamation number 2026-02 again shows we don't do very many. uh the city of Oak Grove, County of Anoka, state of Minnesota, a proclamation for Constitution Week. Whereas the Constitution of the United States of America, the guardian of our liberties, embodies the principle of limited government in a republic dedicated to rule by law. And whereas September 17, 2026 marks the 239th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention. And whereas it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable memorable sorry anniversary and to per and to patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion and whereas public law 915 guarantees the issuing of the proclamation each year by the president of the United States of America designating September 17th through the 23rd as constitution uh week. Now, uh, therefore, I, Weston Ralph, by virtual of the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Oak Grove, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week and ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals the framers of the Constitution had in 1778 or 1777. 7 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through the guardian of our liberties remembering that lost rights may never be regained. Now therefore be it resolved that the city council of the city of Oak Grove in the state of Minnesota does hereby proclaim the week of September 17th through the 23rd of 2026 as Constitution Week. So with that, I think that's great. I'm glad we do this every year. And I would look for a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion by Council Member Tradewell. Second by Council Member Bay Johnson. Uh all in favor indicate by saying I. >> I. >> I. Motion passes three to zero. Uh we are now to the public forum. If there's anybody here that would like to talk to us about an item, come on up. about an item that is not on the agenda. I would ask for you to come up to the podium, state your name and address for the record. Try to rel or try to limit your remarks to three minutes. And again, if it's an item that's not on the agenda, I always like to remind people too if we get to an item that there is something you do want to talk about and I'm kind of forgetting to ask honey, just, you know, raise your hand or something so we we hear from you. >> All right. Again, if you can state your name and address for the record. >> Uh Taylor Morris. Uh uh uh let's see, 2745 21st Avenue. Um I wanted to extend uh congratulations to the city council and the city of Oak Grove on its uh recent Supreme Court win. Uh we now have the responsibility in produ in producing a safe and secure and free and fair election. I would like to remind the council that Trump lost in 2020 election and that he has repeatedly lied about this indicating that he has won when he has not. He had he has negated the votes of 81 million Americans including mine. Um he cannot be trusted uh to promote fair and safe elections. Uh I implore the uh council to keep this election local and uh congratulate them on their win. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Taylor. Anyone else? Come on up. Public forum, right? >> Yeah, I think so. >> All right, come on up. Just an item not on the agenda is I guess what I'm asking. All right, come on up again. If you can state your name and address for the record. >> Certainly. Uh, just on Helmrech, 18435 Rum River Boulevard. >> Thank you. >> Um, would it be okay if I had about six minutes? >> Sure. >> I tried to cut it down, but it just didn't get there. So, >> I've never cut anyone off. >> All right. Sweet. Appreciate it. >> Don't got too much going on tonight, so that's a bonus. Right. >> All right. So, all right. Well, as I stated, my name is Justin Helrech. Uh, I live at 18435 with uh my fiance, Melissa Fedor. Uh, thank you for all of your thankless work. Thank you officers as well for what you guys do. Appreciate it. So, uh, but with that, I will start. Uh, earlier today, we submitted a seven-page request about the IUP at 18475 Rum River Boulevard. Uh, please accept and preserve it, investigate the permit, and conduct a documented condition by condition inspection. We are not asking for a decision tonight. That belongs on a later public agenda once the record is developed. This did not begin as a neighbor dispute. We never had the chance to know our neighbors. They did not live at the property when we first contacted the city because activity had already begun or business activity had already begun. And they had not introduced themselves to us as they had the other neighbors. You may wonder why it took us so long to return. Uh we knew we needed stronger evidence with less emotion attached to it. Some earlier emails were emotionally charged and may have sounded accusatory. That was not our intention. We apologize if we um if our tone caused confusion or hurt feelings or underlying concerns uh or our underlying concerns remain sincere. Last April, we asked the city to intervene before further investment made correction more costly. We believe the business was too large for a residential area and knew their business plan and the residential life we had been living could not both continue as envisioned. We support dreams, but not at someone else's expense. We needed the city's help to avoid becoming the bad guys, but we were told a complaint was required. Our RC or Rum River Consultants contacted Mr. Davis almost a month later and inspected the property approximately two weeks after that. The property was found compliant despite business material remaining and no proof that the renter had vacated. That process allowed the business to continue, cost us the chance to build a good relationship with our new neighbors, and from our perspective, placed the business ahead of the 18-year residents who would bear its effects. On July 17th, 2025, we brought concerns that we believe showed the scope of the operation had not been disclosed through the IUP process. We expected an investigation. Instead, right in front of us, that information helped expand the IUP and allowed Ryan Chase companies to continue while key points were accepted based on people's statements. Watching that happen was one of the hardest and most bewildering experiences of our lives. As far as we know, on August 2020, our August 2025th complaint to boat Rum River Consultants was never addressed. That was another missed opportunity to act before the situation became what it is today. Those who supported Ryan Chase and companies would not experience the same effects we would. We asked for accountability but were left stuck between a rock and a hard place. Excuse me. Uh later city officials described principles that apply directly here. Council member John West repeatedly emphasized that the city must exercise diligence and protect residents living near IUP properties from negative effects. He explained that operational size means more than acreage because employees, trucks, traffic, noise, and outdoor machinery can make a business incompatible with a residential neighborhood. He also described an IUP as an opportunity for a business to grow until it can move into a commercial space. Council member Mike Wy emphasized Oakrove's residential character and the unfairness of making residents live with continuing industrial type activity. Mayor Weston Ralph acknowledged that neighbors neighboring owners have property rights too. He identified outdoor manufacturing and noises as legitimate concerns and recognized a process problem when applicants invest and build before reaching the council, putting the city in a difficult position when it has the authority to when it still has the authority to say no. Council member Angie Bray Johnson recognized the freedom to operate a business from one's home, but condition that freedom on not harming neighboring residents or the environment. Council member Paul Tradewell described residential use as the city's first priority and business use secondary. He stated that IUPs need meaningful guard rails when their size or operation begins affecting neighboring residents. Planning Commissioner James Clark supported allowing others to use their property as they choose, but only when that does not affect their neighbors. Planning Commission Chair Alan Hall distinguished businesses that store equipment before performing work elsewhere from production conducted on site. He explained that on-site production created additional work activity, shipping, deliveries, and vehicle movements. And he expressed concern that an earlier manufacturing related approval may not have received sufficient scrutiny and may have snuck through. Planning Commissioner co-chair Joel Jeepsky recognized that a business can reach a size at which it begins affecting other residents and stated that the city must remain conscious of that threshold. These are attributed summaries of statements made during recorded public meetings. The existing transcript document provides the meeting dates and timestamps so the city can verify them against its own recordings. I have that for you guys if you would like it. Um for nearly a year and a half, this has harmed our health, relationships, work, and home. Our home was our sanctuary. Now we rarely host gatherings, enjoy our patio in the park. Misdirected deliveries and visitors. Noise and overnight flashing lights keep us on edge. We began looking for a house in August 2025 and even offered Mr. Davis the opportunity to buy our property. Our letter asked the city to reconcile the May 30th inspection record with its June 29th compliance statement. Our media is indexed but not attached. The city should preserve its inspection record first. In my opinion, inconsistent procedures cause this mess for us and apparently for other residents. This is about the process, not any one person. Applications, inspections, renewals, complaints, and enforcement should follow the same clear steps every time, especially with, you know, the amount of staff change you guys have and everything. Uh, I enjoy this type of work and would be more than willing to assist in a preparation to help prevent any other family from experiencing this. Uh we want in we want incompatible business activity moved to a commercial location, a dependable process for everyone and our home to feel like our home again. And that is all I have to say. So um >> you said you [clears throat] submitted something to the city recently. >> Yeah, just today. Yep. Yep. Today. >> Yeah. Yep. Yep. I do have a paper copy of that if you would like that as well if I should submit that and I can grab them. Uh, where would you like me to submit them? To >> you or >> Are you saying to the city or or just to us? >> Yeah, to the city or Yeah, whichever. I brought plenty of copies. So, if you guys want one, you can have one. [laughter] >> So, does anybody want a copy of anything? >> Give them to Lauren. >> Just to Lauren. Okay. >> And then he'll give us or you can hand them to us right now. Whichever you prefer. >> Okay. Well, they're back there. So, I'll go grab them. Okay. So, all right. >> All right. Thanks, guys. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else here for the public forum? >> No. All right. We'll move on here to presentations. East Bethl Elementary School. >> You must be Elizabeth. >> All right. You can just come up here and just state your name for the record and what school you're with. >> Okay. >> What's your last name? >> Oh, yeah. >> My name is Elizabeth Shimchuk. I am here representing St. Francis Area School District, but specifically East Bethl Elementary. would you like? >> All right. >> Uh so that you can see what I'm talking about and I believe I will be sharing them with you. >> Oh yeah, give it to us and then one too. Thank you. Okay. So, what you are looking at is a proposal for a mural completed by the students of East Bethl Elementary for your new uh city hall building. We noticed that uh it's been under construction. We're not entirely sure of when the opening date is, but we would try to we want to try to match some [clears throat] sort of opening ceremony type uh celebratory public art made by our students um on display in the community. So, one of the buildings was obviously your building, the new one. Um, and the proposal would be either you let us So, what you're seeing is murals that we've done in the past since I've been hired by the school. And what that is is the entire student body. So, a little short of 500 elementary students work collaboratively to create one large painting. Ideally, it was to paint on the surface and make it permanent, but with the rules of the district, um, we're just painting them on very large canvases, so it's not permanent and it can be moved. Um, a couple of ideas was one, we make something custom just for Oak Grove City Hall. You can give us themes to work with. Um, we could use the murals that are already on display and have a rotating exhibition like this year is on loan from East Bethl, you know, our 2025, etc., etc. Um, but I did want to say that yes, it's a painting on a wall, but what it says to your community is the message that I'm trying to um, this is why I'm here is this message so that the students feel heard and part of the community as well as the families. And as far as I know, I'm not aware of any public art that is in Oakrove. I know in St. Francis, there is a Spongebob mural on the backside of Manetti. Um, but if you look at the content of what we're designing, so metaph metamorphosis is a is a painting that symbolizes the transition from elementary to middle um through the butterfly. Um, we could do something similar like this with your building, more of a portrait of the building and more symbolic meaning behind it. Um, if you would like to do something, we could do something patriotic. You can do an American flag. We can do whatever you want. Um the first one, Van Seuss, was more of combining Dr. Seuss and Van Go together. Um more of a castle theme, very East Bethl, uh culture related. Um Mr. Brad actually happened to be one of the biggest exciting things that has ever happened to East. Um Mr. Brad made the newspaper. It was a teenage owl that came to our campus and we called the Raptor Center and a volunteer came to help out this little teenage owl and um the students thought it was so cool that we made a mural about it. Um Murphy is our latest. He is our therapy dog that just retired and in homage to his service to our students in helping them regulate emotion um in healthy ways. Uh we dedicated a painting towards him and his service. Um the last one that you're looking at, colorful crayons, is just you know crayons looking like kids playing on a playground. We recently got a new playground from our PTO and that was a huge celebration. So the ones the examples that you're seeing are are the students came up with everything and we voted. But we can take something that you give us and create something collaboratively as well. And I was just wondering if you were open to such an idea and if so um just talking about the logistics not obviously today uh but eventually when how big and what a building depending upon who you ask will give you a different date of when it's going to be done. My date is November 20th, but they have a different date in mind later. Um, I guess I'll be honest. I I'm more open to this than I thought it might be being that it's more of maybe a canvas type of thing that is there. I just get a little nervous of building a building 14 million and then just, no offense, let the kids just, hey, paint what you want on the walls. I just don't think that's good stewards of us for the community, but of something whatever large you're talking about. Um, if we could find a place, I'd be more open to that than again just painting on the wall. >> Um, >> I kind of like the idea of maybe it is something that is more specialized to our city or with kind of the rotating thing, but I kind of like the idea of something that's more specialized to our building or the city of Oak Grove. Um, so I guess that's my feedback for now. if anybody else says >> no I I like that that I the ideal of a canvas versus the other better too and I mean yeah something about community and fire trucks or stuff like that and um no I think it'd be definitely something to entertain like you say right now we don't even know what the space looks you know how [clears throat] we do we know colors and stuff like that right but we don't know the actual feel till you walk in but um I would think there's got to be some place that we can do something and then like you say, kids can come from the community and you know, I did that butterfly or whatever else. So, it's it's a way to get people to feel like they're part of something. So, >> I like I agree. I think it's a great idea. I would love to see the kids involved and of course something that can be moved. Maybe it's something that's rotated out every few years or something, you know, as because kids move on and having them always engaged with that's I got to do that, you know. I think that's really cool. I love the idea. So, thank you for uh bringing it up to us. >> Oh, thank you very much for uh offering the space and for uh putting me on the agenda a little bit earlier. I appreciate that. I guess my thought would be just to give you some direction. >> If there were some ideas based kind of on the conversation we just had now like are you talking a 3x5 or a 20 by 30 or you know what I'm saying? I'm talking feet or like maybe you could give us some ideas of the size of >> So roughly the size that we do at East Bethl is about the size of that panel behind you. >> Okay. All right. >> Isar. >> It's got to fit in my car. Usually the first one's a little bigger because I built it. I pre-built it, then unbuilt it, and built it again. But that's a lot. Um, but it could be any size you want. >> Oh, it really can. >> Yeah, maybe come up with a few more ideas. Usually our council's attendance is normally very good. Uh, just kind of catching us in an off day here, but I would think it being something that's not permanent on the wall that's painted, I think the there'd be a lot more interest here. >> Yes. So, all the paintings that you're seeing in that packet I gave you are on stretched canvas that are hung on a hook with wire on the back. So, you can literally take it off or on the wall whenever you want. >> Right. Oh, sounds good. I think we did have one question from the audience. >> Oh, I'm just saying you should fire truck. >> Okay. >> Kids came up with the the new building as the portrait and then in the foreground a fire truck with kids meeting the firemen. >> That's what they came up with so far. >> Yeah, I like it. Maybe even the chief could be on it. >> There you go. >> Yeah, we'd love to have his face. [laughter] >> Chief. Got to get the chief's face. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Make sure. >> I think that's uh I think that would work out well, especially and so forth. But >> so, normally mural month is in May, which gives us the entire year to plan. So, even if the construction doesn't isn't complete by November, um there's uh really no timeline to this where it has to be done by X, Y, and Z. Um, my second quick question would be I have another brainchild child to do a district art show in a public space. So, it would be hosting tiny little bits of East Bethl Elementary, St. Francis Elementary, and Cedar Creek Elementary. And would you be interested in hosting? It would be impermanent. Nothing would get damaged on the walls. We would use um painters tape to hang any kind of artwork and it um it wouldn't damage anything, but it it would invite the community in. >> I'd say work with our city administrator on that, but I don't see a big issue with that. >> I mean, we want to show show the building off to the community, too. I mean, it's it's their building, so >> All right. that would be more of a March thing during youth art month now that the state has recognized it along with the national recognition. I appreciate your guys' time. I thank you very very much um for hearing me out. And what would be the next steps moving forward? Wait for all council members to decide or >> come again with more information. >> Maybe send our city administrator Lauren just an updated email of some of the ideas and then he can forward it on to the council. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Great. Moving on here. >> I have one comment on that. Uh >> thank you for coming in tonight. We we have also had a couple other community members that are interested in murals on the new building. So, if you haven't, I suspect you'll hear from others as well. Wasn't something we really contemplated with the new building, but as it was going up, we've heard from a few people that are interested in similar type stuff. >> Okay. Yeah, we can talk about it. I I personally am not interested in somebody painting on the wall a brand new building, but I like this idea. >> But sounds good. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> All right. Approval of uh minutes for our work session and regular meeting on August 31st, 2026. I would look for a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> All right. Council by me council. Wow. Motion by council member Bray Johnson, second by council member Tradewell. All in favor? And you keep by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion passes three to zero. Lieutenant, I don't know if who's who's putting on the presentation tonight, but looks like you are. >> All right. Well, Mr. Mayor, city council, city staff, and residents of Oakrove. I'm here to present the stat uh the monthly stats for the sheriff's office, and I'm going to do July and August um side by side when I go go through these here. Uh so for the month of July we had 327 calls for service and in August we had 245. And then I'll just kind of do them side by side as they break down as follows here. Uh we had zero burglaries and then one burglary. Uh eight thefts and then two thefts. Zero criminal sexual conduct and two sexual sexual criminal sexual conducts. Uh four assaults and then two assaults. One damage to property, one damage to property. uh one personal injury accident, then two personal injury accidents, 11 property damage accidents, and then 12 property damage accidents, 40 medicals, and then 35 uh 16 animal complaints for both months, uh 12 alarms for both months, one felony arrest [clears throat] in July, three in August, uh zero gross mis, three in August, one misdemeanor arrest, and four uh we We had zero uh DUI arrests in July. We had three in August. Uh we had one domestic assault arrest uh in each month. We had one warrant arrest in July and two in August. We had 156 traffic stops in August and excuse me 156 traffic stops in July and 125 in August [snorts] resulting in 24 citations in July and 16 in August. and then I'll just talk about um a little bit of the activity for for each month here. On July 3rd, this is in the 2100 block of Old Lake George Boulevard, we had a missing person uh report where a woman had reported that her husband had been missing. [snorts] He had been gone for about two hours in a vehicle. Uh he couldn't be reached or located. Uh he did have a a long history of getting lost. Um, deputies responded to that call for service, utilized, uh, various technologies that we we have at our disposal, uh, ended up locating his phone, uh, made contact, um, with that individual, were able to get him to hand the phone off to another individual and coordinated with local law enforcement, um, and then, uh, get him reunited with family. So, that was a a nice outcome. He happened to venture all the way out somewhere into Wright County where he was found. So, a long ways a long ways away from home. On July 5th, this was the 3,800 block at 205th Lane. This is an assault situation where deputies responded to location twice. Uh the first time was because there was multiple people with 100 plus vehicles at the house. Apparently, the homeowner had rented out their uh pool uh for use. However, more individuals showed up than what it was rented out for. Uh there was also some concern due to the number of vehicles in the road and in the yard and whatnot. um where the where the homeowner was calling for assistance. Um the deputies assisted the homeowner at that time. However, they were um called back on a 911 hang-up call a little bit later that same day. Um two females had apparently um been assaulted with some pepper spray and wanted to pursue charges on the individuals that were responsible. However, they had already left the scene. Uh and that assault remains under investigation. On July 9th, this is in the 19900 block of Vintage Street. This was an ATV complaint uh where an ATV was ripping up new construction lots and the new development in that area. Uh deputies went out. Um they did identify some juvenile suspects and then um did go and speak with their parents um to cease that kind of activity. Uh on July 13th, this was the 3500 block of Viking. This is another assault situation. A physical fight broke out between neighbors. Uh charges are pending in that case. uh as we're waiting uh for the severity of injuries reports on July 14th, the 2700 block at 20st with this was an illegal dumping on private property. Uh a deputy had assisted an elderly uh victim in finding um some potential resources to help pick up the uh the trash that was left behind at that location. On July 16th, this is the 3500 block of Viking. This is a theft of mail situation. And the victim in this case receives mail notification about mail delivery from the US Postal Service informed delivery system. It's actually a pretty slick uh system if you want to know what's uh being sent to you. Um on this particular date, they found that their mailbox was open. They were expecting some uh important documents. Um this allowed them to act on the situation a little bit sooner, make the report if uh mail was found by deputies or reported found elsewhere at another date. Um, I just wanted to highlight that um that this is a it's a free service by the the postal service. You just go online, you sign up for it, and I think you get um like a like a picture emailed to you or something similar like that. Um so, uh help you keep track of important information coming your way. Uh on July 16th, this was in the 19800 block Orchid Street, a warrant arrest situation, a Sandy County Sheriff's Office requested deputies to go to the location and look for a male who was uh wanted out of their county. That individual was located and also taken into custody. And then on July 17th, this is at Swan Lake and Cedar Drive, um we had a complaint um of illegal dumping of about 26 tires along the roadway. um pretty significant uh event. Um I believe that was even on excuse me, excuse me, city property if I remember correctly. Um we do have possible suspect information identified. Um so that situation is still uh an active investigation. And then uh going into August here on August 6th, this is the 1000 block of Sims Road. This is a warrant arrest situation. Uh deputies served a warrant arrest for an individual wanted on a felony. They were located, arrested, and transported to jail on August 8th. This is the 19800 block of Lake George. This is another DWI arrest where a deputy had stopped a driver for multiple traffic violations. Observe signs of impairment, had the individual conduct field sobriety um and ultimately arrested, transported to jail with 0.15 BAC. On August 11th, this is at the 2007 20700 block of Lake George Boulevard. uh an assault situation where deputies responded to a gunpointing incident. Uh deputies were able to take the suspect into custody uh without incident uh very quickly. Uh that individual was transported to jail and this is still an active investigation. On August 16th, the 18900 block at Lake George Boulevard. This is a third degree DWI arrest where a deputy had stopped driver for a traffic violation. Observed uh observed signs of impairment. uh field spray tests were conducted um arrested and transported to jail with a 18 BAC. Uh we had another DWI stop on August 22nd in the 18100 block of Flamingo. Um again stopped for traffic violations observed signs been impairment field sprite tests were conducted. Uh driver was arrested transported to jail with 23 BAC on [clears throat] August 23rd. This is in the 600 block of Sims Road. This is another warrant arrest and a recovered stolen vehicle incident where a deputy was patrolling the area and was aware of an individual at the location that had multiple warrants for their arrest. Uh the deputy observed activity at the location and stopped out and immediately observed the wanted party uh flee on foot from him. The individual was ultimately taken into custody and transported to jail. Uh while at the location um they also um found that there was a stolen vehicle um on that property as a result of that arrest. Then on August 22nd, this was the 18100 block of Flamingo Street, another third degree DWI where a deputy stopped a driver for failing to stop at a stop sign. Uh they appeared impaired, field sprite tests were conducted, and that driver was arrested with a 23 BAC. Uh and then I also wanted to mention up at uh Lake George County Park on August 29th, we had a couple uh vehicles that uh were broken into. The vehicles were locked, windows were up, but they broke the windows out. Um stole some um items out of those vehicles. U mainly um some wallets, purse, uh some cash, miscellaneous things. Um it's always good to lock your vehicle. We like to see that. However, you know, if you're going to be leaving your vehicle, um it's we we do see these types of things happen um at parks. Their vehicles become easy targets. So, um, might behoove yourself to, uh, leave some valuables at home if you think you're going to be leaving your vehicle, um, you know, out of sight, uh, for any length of time. And then I also want to highlight, uh, we do have our, um, annual sheriff's office open house coming up on September 24th. That event is running from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Uh we're going to have lots of squads to show off, recreational vehicles, our marine unit, SWAT team, K9 demos, our laboratory will have some things set up. Crime scene unit has some things set up. Um large number of community partners and whatnot to uh to share with the public. So encourage uh those of you that are interested to stop out and see us at the open house. That's all I had for the city council tonight. Unless there's any questions that I might be be able to answer for you guys. >> Any questions? >> Um, I had a few calls about the electronic motorbikes and scooters in neighborhoods. Um, do you guys when you see somebody on them that probably shouldn't be, do you stop them and educate them? What's the procedure that the deputies follow with that? It's always going to be discretional up to the deputy if there's going to be enforcement action taken or educational. I would say I would venture to guess and that's all I can say right now without having information in front of me. Um, primarily the individuals that are going to be riding around on these things are, you know, our our youth, our kids in the neighborhood. So, um, I would say primarily it's going to be more educational based. maybe a phone call to parents um if they're they're close, maybe escort them home, talk to the parents, let them know. Um rules of [clears throat] the road. Um we've we've seen some tragic events in and not in this community, but in neighboring communities, you know, and just last month here. Um so, it is important that uh kids stay safe and operate them where they where they can be. >> Thank you. >> They wanted to remain anonymous, but I'll probably call you and let you know. Sure. >> So, thank you. >> Anything, Paul? >> No, [clears throat] I don't. I just wanted to comment, Lieutenant, on a couple of these stats. I want to start it off, though, by saying that you guys have I'm talking to all three of you, I guess, uh are doing good quality work in our city. We're happy to have you. I don't think you're going to find a council in this county that supports your agency more than this city right here. >> [clears throat] >> But the number one complaint we always receive as the mayor or council is traffic. Now, I'm sure that's every city, but in our city, that's like the biggest complaint or these scooters these days, but that's a problem like everywhere also. But when I'm looking at, you know, your stats for the month, and I I I understand just looking up there doesn't paint the whole picture, you know, and that's for everybody in here. that doesn't that's not the only thing they're doing. Uh but when we keep harping about, you know, hey, we support you guys, but our city is looking for traffic enforcement. Um again, that doesn't mean that we're looking we're looking for you to use your discretion. Clearly, some people deserve a ticket. I'll be honest, and some maybe don't. But when we're paying the sheriff's office about $2,500 a day to police our city and we're getting four traffic stops a day, I struggle with that a little bit. Again, if you look at the stats, clearly there's a lot of good work being done. I mean, just getting what it was three or four DWIs here this last month off the road. That's great. That's what we like to see. But >> it's hard for us to justify that. you know, all the support for you guys and not making too much of a wave about the the increase every year. Um, we just kind of need, I guess, your guys' assistance, too. And again, none of us are looking at, hey, go ticket every single person. Some people deserve it, and I'm going to let you guys decide that. But I know we've brought this up a few times before, and and I know I'm not the only one. Council member uh West talks about this a lot, too. We just need your help. So, it helps us. It's hard again for us to tell the people, "Yeah, we're we're listening. We're letting the sheriff's office know and then we've got one traffic stop every six hours." So, I'm just kind of again, if you could just try to help us so we can help you. Uh we would appreciate it. Um outside of that, great work. Appreciate it. You guys are visible. A lot of good things going on. Um but I just felt I need to bring that up. So, if you can support that in any way you can, that would be great. >> Yeah. And we do. And I I'll tell you, I I review these stats, you know, every every month when they come out from our office, you know, I peruse them. They get sent off to the city for for you guys to look at as well. And then I ultimately present them at these council meetings. When I saw the stats uh for the last couple months, um anytime I see a drop, especially if I see a drop with calls for service, okay, well, we have productive time that can be utilized in other ways. And I've mentioned before, certain deputies like to do certain types of activity. Someone might want to dig at no known drug houses and and sit and watch and and and wait for people to leave and and drum up drum up intel information, you know. And then there's others that do like the traffic enforcement amongst a whole host of other varieties of activities that we we are charged to do. Um, but one thing that's always been consistent from the council for for for years here is is traffic safety. So I won't say traffic enforcement, but the whole goal is traffic safety, right? Keeping speeds down, keeping crashes at bay. Um, we we never know what we prevent by being out there and being visible, right? So, that's something that I that I took note of and I actually spoke about this at our our command staff meeting last Wednesday and I said I I fully in intend that the city the city's going to comment on when we have a reduction in calls for service and then I also have a reduction in traffic enforcement. Um, that can be a little bit problematic and it's hard to explain the why. Again, there can be a whole host of reasons that I'm not aware of, but I know it's always been important to the city council. So, that's the message that I wanted to convey today is that it is concerning. It was concerning enough to bring it up to the sheriff, chief deputy, and our patrol commander on sidebar convers sidebar conversation with them that we need to, you know, keep in touch with what the the wishes are of the city here and keep up that activity. Um, and then I invited two of our patrol sergeants this evening uh to hear that message as well. Um, because these these are the guys that are are charged with supervising all the deputies on on the road and they're aware that we've we want to see the the traffic safety if if enforcement comes and a citation needs to be issued, then that's at the discretion of the deputy. But we do want to be visible out there and and making sure that we're productive with our time with some proactive activities. So, um, I thought it was important that the the sergeants see that this evening and and they can bring that message back to the troops as well that, hey, they this this is what they want. You're supported, but we also want to to see uh a little little more self-initiated activities, you know, when when our calls for service are are trending downward. >> And clearly, the residents in this city want their loved ones to get from point A to point B safely. So, whatever we can do to do that, that would be great. Yes, sir. >> Thank you. And thank you for coming. Anything else? That's all I've got for you. >> Have a good night. >> All right. You as well. >> Thank you. >> Thanks you guys. We appreciate you. >> Thank you. Have a good night. All right. [clears throat] We're up to the uh the levy here. Preliminary levy. >> Levy. Um, I know I've said this many times, but some of you are newer here in attendance that we have to vote on a preliminary levy. It can go down. It cannot go up. So, we try not to just have it, oh, we'll put it out high and we'll just keep working on it. We have it pretty close to where we think it needs to be, but we still have a couple more meetings throughout the year to see if there's some areas that we might be able to uh shave a little off of here or there because ultimately um you know, we don't want to tax people more than we need to. So, are you starting, Carrie? >> I am. I am. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and members of the council, members of the public. Um, as the mayor has noted, we are here to present the proposed 2027 general fund budget and the preliminary property tax levy for 2027. This is an opportunity for the city to just um really show their financial plan and how they invest to support city services and infrastructure. So, the proposed budget tonight continues to focus on maintaining essential city services while balancing the rising operational costs that we all see. Key priorities include public safety, infrastructure, equipment, replacement, and long-term financial stability. >> So, on the next slide, we will >> second. Is your microphone on? >> Should be light on >> just a little quiet. I could hear you. I didn't know if people at home could or not. So, recording should pick it up if it's on. Right. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Here we see the general fund revenue. The general fund is the city's primary operating fund and supports everyday service such as administration, planning, public safety, public works, and parks. Property taxes remain the largest and most stable revenue source of the funding city services. Other revenues in the general fund have been budgeted conserv conservatively consistent with prior year budgets. The budget tonight proposes using approximately 187,000 of available fund balance to reduce pressure on the tax levy. Local governmental aid still remains at zero, meaning that the city services continue to be funded primarily by local taxpayers. On the next slides, we will take a look at the general fund expenditures. Most expenditures changes are tied to operational needs. We do see um a 3% cola in all of these expenditures but for public um for the staff and but here we cover some of the additional items that will affect the different departmental costs. Administrative costs increase primarily due to insurance expenses associated with the new building and planning and zoning expenses decrease because the comprehensive plan was budgeted in 2026 and falls off in the 2027 budget. Computer services expenditures decreased because we had significant technology upgrades and server replacements in 2026 that also fell off in the 2027 budget. On the next slide, you'll see that police services increase primarily due to the increase in the contract with the NOA County. fire management costs increased because of um consideration of adding an additional full-time fire chief position. This investment helps prepare enforce the public safety um priority of the city and then this is offset partially by part-time staffing adjustments that help to offset that increase. Public works costs increase due to higher fuel, materials, services. Parks also increase reflecting more um allocation of staff time devoted to park maintenance activities. We are um doing a cost allocation to more reflectly more accurately reflect the actual time spent in the different areas in the general fund. On the next slides, we're looking at [clears throat] the capital impro improvement program, which focuses on long-term investments rather than day-to-day operations. Under roads, you see that road and street permits remain one of the city's highest infrastructure priorities. Maintaining roads today helps avoid significant higher construction in future costs. So, we have $742,630 budgeted for road improvements. Public works equipment. There's several pieces of equipment that are budgeted to help replace items that have used surpassed their useful life and we're trying to keep up with those replacements. Public works has a budget of 115,000. And then public safety also um looking to invest in radios and tablets and a larger cost is a replacing a 2001 pumper truck with a total public safety budget of 1,289,000. And then looking at um budgeting, we budgeted for parks and recreation trail maintenance 65,000 each year for a total CIP of $2.2 million. On the next slide here is summarizes the proposed levies in comparison to other years. The levy is one component of the resident's overall tax bill along with the county school district and other taxing districts. But this um you can see under the proposed 2027 levy that those are our proposed general fund capital levies and then the debt service levy to um assist with paying for the bonds which you can see a overall increase from 2026 of $117,219 which equates to 2.5% levy On the next screen here is where we see the impact looking at the tax capacity and the property valuation. Tax capacity increased here in 2027 by over a million dollars. This helps allocate the taxes um that are levied by the city across a bigger piece of the pi, bigger pie. Um and overall you see a city tax rate decrease from 25.549% to 24.224%. And on the next slide, this shows the historical property tax rates and the trending over the last years. You can see the gentle dip from 2026 to 2027 with that small increase. And then the next slide, this is the historical trend on where the budget is spent. As you can see, um the green is your general fund levy, which has stayed pretty consistent. The capital, the city has focused focused on making sure that capital is supported for any future purchases. And you see that in yellow as that commitment is obvious there. And then the black is the debt service. And then green is EDA which is usually a very very small portion in the last few years has been zero. And then the next slide this is the overall general impact to home values. The taxes according to home values. This um shows the value of the home and what property taxes have been over the past years. Take into consideration, this doesn't take into does not include market value exclusions um does not take into consideration if your market value of your home increases. This is as if your market value would stay the same, you would see a reduction of 6.4% 4% in your taxes for the city alone. And the next slide, this shows the general fund revenue trends and in a graph. This breaks down um according to the different types of revenue you can see here. And then it also shows it in a graph form. And the next slide also is the general fund expenditures by their function. You see general government, public safety, public works, park and wrecks and then the miscellaneous and then also in graph form. And on the next slide, this is is there one more back? Oh, sorry. General fund revenue expenditures. This just goes to show the comparison here is where you see on the revenue side, the orange piece of the pie is 80.9% of your budget is of the city's budget is made from is supported by taxes and any small special assessments, which currently there are none. And then the 2027 expenditure budget, you can see here that 47.2% 2% is spent on public safety with the next highest being the general government at 26.7% and public works at 22.6%. And the next slide, this is just a breakdown of the general fund expenditures by department. And this is where you see also the changes that we discussed earlier in the general fund expenditures and some of those changes. >> Carrie, the mayor and council, [clears throat] I always like to stop you on that one. >> Yep. >> Because it always looks like we're getting a pay increase. Ours is staying the same, but is it is it the newsletter that's included with that or what is? It's some of the operating expenditures whether it may be um you know the newsletter I think there's telephone >> right >> move the newsletter into ad administration starting this year that have been causing increases in years past. >> I just like to point that out because >> in the last four or four years ago there was a $25 a month increase and before that I think we'd looked back 20 years and there was nothing. So there still hasn't been anything in four years. Um but it always kind of looks like that's what's happening. So I just like to pause you and talk about that. But I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> The operational. >> Yeah. And I think the increase uh for next year is related to since it is an election year, we could potentially getting new council members. Mayor, there is a little bit of money in the budget for training. We put on election years. >> Yeah. >> For new council members. >> Okay. I had somebody ask me, they thought I made $46,000. >> Oh, wow. That would be great. [laughter] >> Make 599 bucks a month. So, it's nowhere near that. >> Not quite there. >> All right. Go ahead. >> All right. And then I think the next slide is actually our final slide. We request tonight um approval of the general fund budget, the city levy payable um 2027 and the EDA budget and levy. But I am happy to answer any questions. Also, >> I think we're pretty close, but let's I'm sure somebody has a couple questions. >> Um, not at this second. >> Go ahead. [cough] [clears throat] >> Unless I have wrong numbers. Um, by only putting 100,000 into the public safety this year, I show us having a shortfall unless we basically if we if we would if we don't next year and the following years, we'll have to average about $267,000 per year to have the money there when we need to replace the 2013 freight liner. Now, in my opinion, there's two things, right? we can increase go from 100,000 to next year we'd have to go 250 maybe even a little higher to get there in 7 years from now 6 years or push out the freight liner one of the two and I know we can push it we can kick it whatever you want to call it down the road a little bit but I don't like that at 100 and I know we want to keep it low and I I'm just saying we're going to have to pay for it later and I've run the number 15 times over and over and it's the same each way if we're shorting by 100 you got to spread that 100 out now over the next 6 years to get it back which is about 20ome which the numbers work. If we would do it this year then you average about 242 a year. So you go from 267 to 242 take that times six years it's $120,000 swing. So but you're consistent. You can stay more consistent with your number all the way through. We don't have to. I'm just saying if we don't my recommendation would be to kick out the 2013 out a couple years. that'll help us get there and so that we don't uh do that because you you like you you and I were talking let's look out five to 10 years really anything beyond that's really hard really you're focusing on five and being aware of the five to 10 I'm just saying at seven we'll be we'll be a little bit short at our current we'd be way short if we stayed at the $100,000 line because there's not enough in there for that after that tinker so >> right and and our projection out is to gradually increase that levy for all the asset acquisition funds. So then that that levy as it increases hopefully your tax capacity also increases >> and then we can get a little back there. >> So that makes that a little bit easier to absorb rather than just jumping up and staying at that same amount. Um so that's we do have the the levy gradually increasing I believe every two years. >> Yeah. And I got and I support what's out here. Don't don't take it wrong. I support it and [clears throat] would vote for it. Absolutely. I just want to go on record saying that at current and yes, we keep hoping things grow but you know things have slowed down each year a little bit and you know we're three years behind so we don't feel it for three years. I just wanted to make sure we knew that on our current pace with the dates we used there, you know, we'll be short and I know you've seen it too. you'll you'll you'll be short on it. But um other than that, the the other fund looks great and we're going to hardly have to raise that to keep up with the public works one. >> So, which is nice. That's going to help us stay on a steady budget for the next many years. So, I just wanted to bring it up. That was it. And like I said, totally support what she put in front of us tonight, 100%. So, >> the uh [clears throat] like was it 12,000 or 13,000 for the 2060? Did I miss that or was that not added in there >> for the comp plan? >> Yeah. >> Did that get added in, Carrie? >> I think the numbers are still going to be right because we'll just transfer 12,000 more. >> What was that in there? >> And I thought we we said that the total was only around 10,000. So that could easily be absorbed and not have to plan for the next 10 years $1,000. >> But how much are we paying for the 2050? I think it's 60 before the grant. About 60 before the grant. >> And then what's the grant? >> Uh 25 to 30. >> So maybe that's more than we need. But I still think we should do something, >> you know, versus coming up in 10 years and then you got to do a lump sum. Who knows what it's going to cost. >> Even if you had 50% of it, it's 50% less you have to come up with. So, >> right. >> Yeah. I thought we were >> um >> Can you go back to the tax rate? two a couple screens I'd like to All right. So, [clears throat] I I'll admit the budget is the hardest thing about this position because there's the needs and there's the wants and everybody has a different interpretation of what a need and a want is, right? But when you talk about this 2 and a half% levy increase, that talks about additional spending. But some people always think that that means their taxes are going to increase 2 and a half%. Right? That really doesn't mean anything when it comes to your property tax. It just means there's that much more spending. Now, why is there more spending? Well, at a city like Oak Grove, as the city continues to grow, I know not everybody supports that, but it's just what happens. There's more roads, there's more services, and all of that costs more money. You know, the sheriff's contract alone is another $50,000 next year. What's the alternative? Go without, start your own, build a police department, you know, add double the cost to that uh fire department. [clears throat] So, there's only so much we can do. I know we could look like heroes right now and we could drop this thing significantly and just start doing escros for road overlays. That's 742,000. We cut that right out and then when the city comes and does our roads, it's going to cost us 10 or $15,000, you know, so that's not fun. Um, you know, we've been the fourth lowest tax rate city in the county for a few years now. when we added the building $14 million, we were still the fourth lowest. So that shows how much distance there is between the fourth and the fifth. And I'm guessing way too soon to know where this would put us. >> Yes. But you in comparison to other cities, you're right at where other cities are, if not lower. So >> and so here we're actually looking to go down, not up. Now, when people get their tax statement and the school board hammers them and the county hammers them, we can only do what we can do with the city. But the reason why I pulled this up here, and I already know some of you are going to probably chuckle because you already know what I'm saying, is my that year there, the 18.41%. I was sitting in council member West shoes. I was running unopposed. I was running for mayor and I wanted to help the mayor who was sitting here and that big jump was supposed to happen that year. Big jump. We were actually going to start because I'm going to go to another slide here in a second. We're going to start actually putting money into the capital funds. So when we need to buy a firetruck for $1.2 million, we can, right? Um, but what I did is because I wanted to help him out and I thought it was the right thing to do. And honestly, I still think it's the right thing. The year before we had a surplus, $463,000. So, what did we do? Instead of that big jump happening his last year as mayor, we put that money towards the levy and that's why you got that big dip. Guess what? The next year there wasn't $463,000. So, guess what? It went up. And that was a very challenging year for us. We had to make adjustments to staff wage. We had to actually buy some things and that was a really hard year, especially as the first year as mayor of the city that it's a huge tax increase. What hurt even more is the second year that we added the building, but that needed to be done. And if anybody thinks it didn't need to be, then go take a tour of this place with the fire chief and you'll understand why it actually needed to be done because I didn't want to do it. I don't know if anybody wanted to do it, but again, we felt that it was the right decision to make. So, as you can see, we've been starting to gradually go back down, but what would that have looked like had we not put that money there? It would have been pretty consistent outside of adding, you know, for the building. Now, we're kind of in a situation like this again. Last year, we had $356,000 in additional revenue. So, what I'm proposing, and that it appears most people are are interested in in taking about half of that to help bring that down, how do we justify taxing more if we got money just sitting here not being accounted really for anything, right? But if we took that full $3656,000, we might have a closer number. It wouldn't get us down to the 18.41, but it's going to make us look really good again. And then guess what? Next year, those of you that are sitting up here are going to be my year there of the 22.27%. So for me, even though going out, I'd like to look like this great hero that really brought taxes down, but it's not the right thing to do for the city. And so I think this will be a nice soft, you know, adjustment I guess you could say and hopefully next year it can come down a little bit more because we also have more people contributing to um you know the taxes for the city. So what we have is at 356,000 and we're using like 187,000 and then I was saying hey let's take 13,000 and put it towards um the60 comp plan. Maybe we don't need to do that but that still gives about $156,000 that can help soften the blow next year. And I would say we don't have to decide it tonight. put that into your FIREC CIP and you got $250,000 in there this year, which will make you feel better, will make us all feel better. >> Yeah. >> Because or else it's just sitting out in this account and maybe next year instead of doing what Carrie is thinking that you're going to need to do, maybe you won't have to do as much because there's more money in there already. So, um, if you go one more slide forward. So, here, and then I'm going to stop talking here in a second. You see those the yellows or or not? I guess they're kind of a yellowish color. That's the capital. You see a few years there that there isn't any yellow. Those are years the council and I was a part of it didn't put any money into the capital because why? Hey, let's keep taxes as low as we can. And then the fire chief comes and says, "Oh, we need a truck and we need this and we need that because it's breaking down and it's 20 plus years old." or the public works director. I did I went out and stood under the hoist as it was above me and I could see holes through it. It didn't make me feel very comfortable standing underneath it. But I felt if I don't feel comfortable standing beneath it, how do I feel comfortable with them driving this? So the city right now for the people out there who are just, you know, making a bunch of noise that don't have any idea what they're even talking about, the city financially is a good position right now that unless something crazy goes on, I don't see anything too crazy going on for the next handful of years. And the only way it would go crazy is if I played that game right now and said, "Let's use all that money or let's cut roads and do all that and just start assessing everybody." But I can promise you nobody's going to want a 10 or $15,000 bill when they come fix your road, you know. >> So, um, >> especially not when you did the neighbors for nothing two years ago, >> right? >> And that's been been my argument all the time. Let's say you just got your road done this year and now yours is up next year. Yet you've been paying a little bit every single year for the last 20 years, but now you're going to get the full assessment because we don't want to tax the amount that we should. So my only real question here is this building, what is this building going to cost to keep operating at whatever level in 2027? because if it was up to me, I would vote today to tear this building down in January and not put another dime into this building. So my and if you don't have that number, that's fine. But it's going to cost something, whether it's insurance or or something. And I'm not talking about repairs and that type of stuff. I just mean just >> keeping the lights on. >> Yes. Utility type stuff. Uh and insurance because it's going to cost something. And that percentage can also go into this two and a half percent to bring the levy down more. But um and my only other last thing and we can talk about it later too because it's kind of a part of this but kind of not um though it's probably worth bringing it up right now just because unless somebody might think oh we got to do something different here is the charitable gambling account. this account that we thought had $62,000 in it uh last meeting. Well, one we bought one of that fire truck for 25. So, that takes that off, right? And then there's still a transfer that needs to be done for 2026. And then if you do all the explorers and uh heart safe and all of that, that account balance as of today, again, taking away all of that is $5,139. >> Wow. far less than what we thought. >> So, I wanted to bring that up now just in case that might affect something for the budget. But I like the idea of keeping $10,000 balance for the whatifs, right, of what that money can be used for. It's this charitable gambling that can be used for certain things, but it can't be just like put into the budget to reduce the levy, right? Uh but you can buy fire equipment, you can pay for the fire explorers and heart safe and those types of things. But [clears throat] if we're trying to keep a $10,000 balance and if Explorers is going to stay at 5,500 and heart safe it's 3600 more money is going to continue to come in but would it be fair Lauren to say estimate 2025 a year >> would come in. So I think that's something that we're going to have to look at. I don't think that's going to change anything right this minute but >> but setting it up for the future years. So, all right. Uh, any other questions or comments? >> Well, I'd like to make a motion. >> And if we can do that, if you're ready. >> I think we're ready. >> All right. Well, then I'd make a motion for resolution 2026 138 adopting the preliminary 2027 property tax levy and general fund but budget. >> All right, I have a motion by council trade. Second by council member Ray Johnson. Any further discussion? Again, >> this could always go down but it can't go up. >> Um hearing none. All in favor indicate by saying I. >> I opposed. >> Uh motion passes. You want to take on resolution 2026139 adopting the preliminary 2027 EDA levy? >> Sure. I'll make that motion too. Resolution. Yeah. So moved. >> I'll second. >> Motion by Council Tradewell, second by Council Member Bray Johnson. Um I do have one question. Did we just do this in the EDA or we set what we're going to put on here? >> So the EDA like other advisory commissions is a recommending body. Where it gets a little weird is the council is the EDA. You have different titles, but you're the same body. So, this is just like a planning commission recommendation or a park commission recommendation. You recommend to the council. Council takes final action, >> right? I'm the president of that. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> And just to note, I mean, this I think is your three or four now where you've levied zero dollars for the for the next year. >> Yeah. All right. All in favor indicate by saying I >> opposed. Motion passes. >> Thank you, Carrie. >> Yep. Thank you, >> Chief Engler. No consent agenda. You want to do that? >> Oh, well, come on up. Anyways, this a consent agenda only take a second. >> How much on consent tonight? >> Oh, claims and account. That's it. >> Motion to approve. I didn't see a problem. >> Second. [clears throat] >> All right. >> That quick. >> These are basically all the bills for the city since our last meeting. So, hang on one second. I got to finish this then we'll get you talking. All right. Did you make the motion? >> I did. >> All right. Motion by council member Tradewell. Second by council member Ray Johnson. Call the other one here. >> All in favor indicate by saying I >> I opposed. >> Motion passes. Thank you, Paul, for catching that. >> Chief, you're up. >> Are you sure? >> I think I think so. >> I got a short one this week. [laughter] All right. To start with the two new the two new towels we went down and picked up, they're at public works. Um we're waiting to put radios in them and then we'll put them in service. Um we have two new folks that have put applications in. I'll be orientating them and seeing how it goes. Um, tomorrow we have a blood drive at St. Pat's and of course um our pancake breakfast will be October 4th from 8 to noon. Um, fire prevention will be the week of October 5th and we will be participating in Cedar Creek Elementary and um, East Bethl Elementary. Um, and then of course we'll do pump testing in the beginning of October. So we'll see if there's anything wrong with the trucks. Any questions on that? >> Nothing. >> I have a question for you. Have you heard anything about the grants that you applied for? >> Not yet. Um, they did, what I did read was they let a few out just to see how the process was going to go. So they haven't let a block of them out yet. Just a few. So we have not heard anything. You Lauren, you haven't heard anything yet. Have I? No. >> Because the ETA was this fall, wasn't it, that they were going to >> Yeah. Was the federal government. So >> the way those FEMA grants work is they like release them. >> Yeah. >> A bunch or a handful at a time. They do over a couple months >> and then I think they'd let them see how they take and then they'll dump a bunch. So >> Okay. Hopefully we'll find out soon. >> And what's the timeline for the radios for the new trucks? >> I just have to order them. It should be a couple weeks. Hopefully they're in service by October. Well, middle of October. It's almost October now. So, all right. For the month of August, we had two building fires. Brought us to 32 for the year. Uh grass fires, none. Uh smoke investigations, none. medical incidents, 42 of which seven were heart attacks, one stroke, and five difficulty breathing. No motor vehicle accidents we were called to, zero rescues, only one gas leak, three carbon monoxides brought us to only 48 calls for the month and 340 for the year. So, I think we're down a few from last year. >> Any questions? I have a question before you're done, but you have any questions about this? >> Do you have any other questions? >> No, thank you. >> Go ahead. >> No, >> I'm good. >> I just want to talk fire trucks real quick. >> Okay. >> Maybe help me. >> I'm willing to purchase >> in the room of what what these are all about >> because it sounds like we're buying lots of fire trucks. Yeah. Right. And so the two uh officer trucks, I think is what you call them. >> The two new tops. >> So can you just explain what we paid, what they're used for, and um just a little brief synopsis if you >> Well, we were due to replace one, and we do not we're we're endusers. Um and we have a gentleman that finds these um and we typically find them for $50,000. Um, and the lighting package on them alone is typically around 30 to $35,000 and we pay around $50,000 for them. Well, this gentleman found two of them for $25,000 each >> with the lights >> with the lights in them. So, we we decided to purchase two of them. Um, and now that we have them, um, we could replace one and one that's really old. Um, but in my way of thinking, it's just preliminary that it's maybe a good idea to possibly, and again, this is just thinking, it's not put into practice yet, is maybe it's a good idea to use these Taho with the medical calls and thus leave those 554s, 550s, those big rescues sit, right? not use them and maybe just respond to these medicals in Taho. You know, of course, this is all preliminary and it'd have to come back to the council for your approval. So, that's the idea behind them. They're cheap. We can run the wheels off of them and for $50,000 and the lighting cost $30,000, it's it's a good idea, I feel. >> Right. So, they were they were budgeted for in the first place. >> Yeah. Oh, that's all budgeted. >> Yeah. You just went a different direction, right? And you were able to get two, right? That should last us for a while, right? >> That uh >> we could sell them in double our money, >> right? Um and then the big fire truck, >> the big one. >> We're talking a million plus >> 1.2 >> 1.2. So we clearly have CIP, so we have the money for it. It's not really I mean it is a part of the budget, but it's not like we're going out and asking for 1.2 million right now for a firet truck. >> What's the life expecty? How old's the other one? >> The other one, I believe, is uh >> 2001. 20 >> be getting rid of. >> Yeah. The the one that I'm looking to get rid of. Yes. >> So, [snorts] it's 25 years old. Yes. >> And it will be older because I don't know if we can. >> It takes up to two years to get one. That's if we order it now. >> Is that order? >> Did you tell me to order one? >> Oh, no. He didn't. >> I'm sorry. Isn't that what you >> Well, we don't have to pay when we order, [laughter] do we? Well, we get if we do pay ahead, we get a substantial break. If you remember when we did it last time, they I think we got $40,000 off. >> Was significant. >> So, I'm just saying the the current one that we have, it's 25 years old. It probably would be closer to 27 years old by the time the new one actually comes. >> And so, I would assume this new one would last >> 20 25 years, 30 years, >> right? all the plumbing in the old ones because at that time we were we were only running them 10 years and selling them because at at a 10-year replacement that's kind of the magic number where the the use to the value of them is maximized. Okay. Well, if we go to the 20 years or more, much like the last one, uh Lauren maybe can help me out. What do we get for $25,000? >> Yeah, not much. So I would I would anticipate the same if not less for this one. Um so what we did with the new one we purchased, we used instead of using carbon steel, we used stainless steel and aluminum bodies. So all the piping is stainless steel. The body is aluminum or stainless steel. So it should stay together for for sure the 25 years up to even longer depending on the electronics and everything else, >> right? >> So we're trying to get better value to the city if you want to keep them till the end of use, >> right? >> Is the idea. >> Yeah. I was just trying to get out there. It's not like every five years or fire truck. >> No, we have too many vehicles to replace them every five years, >> right? >> Yes, ma'am. Um, this 2001, has it had any pump issues? >> Oh, yes. The >> Is this the one that's had significant amount? >> Yes. There's been a lot of work done to that truck. Yes. >> That's E21 2001 pumper. Why do we call it a pumper? I mean, it's still a fire truck, right? >> Engine pumper. >> Okay. Engineer. >> Eventually, it's just time to replace it, >> right? >> Continuing money into a 25y old truck. >> Mhm. I think that's it. >> Anything else? >> Order tomorrow. >> Have a good week. >> We're missing a couple council members. [laughter] >> All right, Chuck. >> So, yes. Uh, well, good evening, Mr. Mayor. Council, uh, don't have a lot for you, Mr. Mayor. You're stole my thunder a little bit about the school. Had some positive feedback on that. We drove by it today and they were queuing down 191st as well and we asked them to do that and they the school did an excellent job of throwing signs out there and educating the people to do that. So much appreciated. Uh Aspen Glad third edition that that'll connect ultimately Raven to uh 226 within the ponds development there that they're going to start grading uh later this week and then they'll finish that up. They'll do the actual construction other than the grading that will occur next spring. And uh there will be some curb replacement done up on Sand Trap Crossing up on Zion Parkway there. That'll that'll occur next week. >> Was it just missed the first time or? No, it's um with that new development going in, they had to cut in, you know, every 60 85 ft cut in sewer and water lines. >> Oh. >> And so that kind of So we we held off replacing that curb that was all >> on purpose. >> Yes. Balded up and needed to be replaced. We waited for the development. So the developer is going to replace it through that section. He's disturbing all that curb and gut. >> Is he doing that in phases, too? is he doing the whole thing at once? >> A good question. He's he's doing it in phases. So, the first phase is all the properties that abut Zion. >> Yep. >> You know, and he's he's covering the cost of the curb. He's going to patch the road and then the uh the agreement was that with the overlay, you know, that his his half of the road, he would cover the overlay and then the the the eastern side would be covered in next year's maintenance project. So, that's when that that'll get done. So, he's he's tempor temporarily patching the road this fall >> to hold it till next year. >> to hold it till next year. And then presumably, I haven't talked to him lately about it, but the thought is is, you know, sometime after he starts selling a couple houses or something, then he'll take that second phase, which will bring Pawns Drive in and up and culde-sac, that new road that's going. So that's why we held off on that tar and the curb and everything because we knew it was going to be being all ripped up to bring in sewer line and hook hook up the new houses. >> Exactly. >> Okay, perfect. >> Looks different without all that big broom that pond there. >> Yeah. >> Uh that's pretty much the highlights I guess if there unless you have any questions for me this evening. Um you may not know but do you by chance know anything about Sims Road and the closure? here. I know it's East Bethl, so you may not know anything about it, but it was open and then I heard there was a sinkhole and it's like closed until further notice. >> Yeah. Emergency closure on it. >> You know anything about it or not? >> Uh my apologies. Not a lot other than it's I've seen the detours and that sort of thing. So, >> okay. Not a problem. I thought just maybe your group of people talk about those things. [laughter] >> I'm trying to think. I think it's in October where we get the twice a year the the county highway guys will get all the engineers in the county together for >> and have a lunch and gossip and talk about things like that. >> It doesn't affect me much but I'm guessing people that are taking their kids to school every day a pain. [laughter] >> Yeah, I hear about it a lot from people. >> It [clears throat] says it was a a settlement issue near a culvert muck. So, probably one of those things like 22, they got to dig down 30 feet now to get good soil. >> Yeah. Kind of like on 221st. I you know, I don't know if they're searchcharging it like you had to do with 221st. >> Dig way down >> way down and put the used tires in there to to bridge. >> No, they used to Yeah, they used to do that. >> That's what I was wondering originally. The tire complaint the deputy was talking [laughter] about was that the construction people bringing tires out. Speaking of 22, h have you heard the update at all from the county about the east side of nine >> um >> with 22 what they're doing if they're >> they're still weighing their options as well. They >> Yeah. >> trying to [snorts] figure out what they're >> which direction they're going to go. >> Okay. >> I believe they're leaning towards a reconstruct though. >> That's the latest that I heard, but I wasn't sure if there's been something said since. Okay, >> thank you. >> But when they do, Chuck, I may not [clears throat] be here anymore, but I they promised me designated turn lanes at Night andale and Flamingo and then there was some consideration of some of the other ones. >> Yep. >> So, I'll be at the mean. >> Yeah. Good. Good. >> You know, they did offer to I I may have mentioned this. I apologize if I I did, but with that roundabout going in on 181st and nine there. The county is more than happy to come in and talk to council and answer your questions, you know, prior to an open house. I didn't know if that was necessarily warranted or needed, but if if you would like them to come up to talk about that project, they >> I think more Andover people came to the first one. So, >> yeah. >> Yeah. I don't think we need I my vote would be we don't need it till the open house. >> If they want to just come and give us a update of their projects, I guess that might be beneficial, but >> yeah, >> but I don't think we they need to come just for >> No, not specifically for that. >> Sure. Okay. [clears throat] >> I know they were looking for funding and had to buy some, right? Had to buy some little bit of land or something or >> Yeah, that's Yeah. >> Yeah. buying land, not necessarily the funding part, but buying land. >> All right. Any else? >> Thank you. Thanks. All right. City administrator updates and discussion items. See, code enforcement is the first first one on there. I think you had some additional stuff you wanted to talk about relating to code enforcement or not. >> Yeah. Uh so there's the uh monthly report from Rum River Consultants on the active cases and a summary of all of those. And then in addition to that, I had sent you a list of I think it's three that uh have gone through the code enforcement process. Administrative citations were issued. Um after the 30 days of acrewing administrative citations, they still weren't in compliance. We stopped. So they weren't continuing to acrue those. So, all of those have gotten to between two and $3,000. Uh, we've sent them a couple notices that if they don't pay, they'll be assessed to their property taxes. Um, so there are three that remain in non-compliance. Um, and it's more for information tonight, but I think at some point the council is going to have to decide, do we want to restart the code enforcement process on that with the administrative citations? Do we um go the criminal route like we've done in the past or the civil route which we're testing on not testing but uh enacted on one of the other uh nuisance properties uh 22730 Cedar Drive which is in progress. [clears throat and cough] Just wanted to make you aware that there are a handful of those that are out there that um have reels, but by and large most of the cases are not issued administrative citations. they're bringing them into compliance. >> Probably be a good conversation for all five of us here. >> Y >> see where we want to go with that. >> So that's fine. Just wanted to update you on that and we can talk about that when the full council is back together. >> There is one that I don't want to name the address here, but it's been on the radar on here many times and I see it's not on here and I was doing a little door knocking this weekend. I see the is a disaster again. So, I'll fill you in. >> Okay, sounds good. >> I don't want to embarrass them at the meeting here. So, >> no problem. [snorts] >> Great. Uh, couple other updates. Uh, the newsletter um has been mailed, so I would expect that to be arriving in mailboxes this week. We'll get it posted on the website this week, too, and I can send out the link for the council to share. Um it's the uh fall newsletter uh in an election year. So typically most of the content is dedicated to the profiles of the candidates running for mayor council and then also the county commissioners that uh represent the city of Oak Grove. So that will be uh out this week. >> Suppose it was being printed before we found our news out, huh? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So when you're talking about the >> Oh, >> Supreme Court decision. What news are we talking about? Oh, >> I think that's what you're talking about. You make sure. >> Nope. >> Yeah, >> we're on the same page. >> It was already sent to the printer before that. >> I figured. But >> uh mayor mentioned the meet the candidates forum will be next Tuesday uh here at the council chambers. Um preliminary budget was approved tonight. We'll send that off to Anoka County. Uh and then the uh the mayor indicated it could be lowered but not increased as we move into the final budget later this year. Uh I think it was on that slide but the final budget is the uh first meeting in December. So December 14th is the date we're looking at the truth and taxation hearing for the final 2027 property tax levy and budget. Uh I guess I just do this now. The building committee is meeting on Wednesday. So, there's a number of issues. We're going to talk to the contractor about um outstanding items, some of the items that have been brought up at uh the past council meetings in terms of landscaping and such. So, we'll have uh we will uh be meeting with the contractor this Wednesday to discuss a lot of stuff. >> But referring to landscaping, Warren, I just want the audience to hear from you. There's been a lot of noise online about the city's wasting money and everything else. So clearly the landscape company could be doing a little better job when it comes to like laying the grass and watering. But what is our responsibility for that? What are we as taxpayers out when they have to go and replace some of that? >> Nothing. Uh you know it was part of the contractor's bid. So, the contractors managing the construction project and all the subcontractors doing the work, which the landscaper is a subcontractor of the general contractor. We've brought our issues forward to them. Um, noted our concerns. Um, they submitted a pay request uh recently uh and they asked for uh say it was $150,000 uh for the landscaping work done to that point and we uh did not uh pay that. So, um, of the landscaping requests, they've requested close to 100%. I think we've maybe paid 40% of that, uh, to date. And, you know, we've told them >> 100% then. >> We've told them that, you know, if it's doesn't meet the standards, we're not going to accept it. >> And if they have to if we don't accept and they have to replace it, you know, that is at the contractor's cost. We've paid for it to be properly installed, >> right? But it's not going to be added to >> they also beyond that they also have to warranty it too which is very standard for landscaping projects beyond the just the installation. We're working with the contractor this the general contractor on that issue. >> They agree there's a problem. >> I I want to speak for the contractor. >> Okay. >> I mean we can get into that on Wednesday with them. >> All right. Sounds good. their phil not their philosophy but they have basically said you have to let them complete the the work and let them do their job which it's their project so we're letting them do that at this point >> um that that's it for that get more general building updates you know there's a lot of [clears throat] a lot of work is starting on the inside now the finished work and such um there's been tile has started primarily the bathrooms and the uh the locker rooms on the fire department side. A lot of painting has occurred uh throughout the city hall part and the apparatus bays. Um the uh windows are just starting to go in. Uh the windows and doors for the entryway to city hall were installed last week. So now they're able to secure the the building uh because those were installed last week. They've started to install windows this week. So, we're uh starting to see progress every day. >> And what about the date of completion? [clears throat] >> I think it's November 20th. >> Uh November 20th is the date they have told us. There are [clears throat] a few things that could affect that. We're going to talk to the contractor that about that on Wednesday. They did formally request some additional time to complete the fire department side beyond the November 20th, >> but having the generator come in is a huge that was one of the big blocks >> that was something that was going to hold up the completion, but uh I believe that's being installed tomorrow. >> That's that's good news. >> Yeah. When the power goes out, you need someone to open the garage doors for the fire truck. >> Well, for them for getting an occupancy, it it was tying in more to that. I just mean for the average person. Call 911. You want them to show up and not be stuck in a garage. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We don't have batteries. >> That's true. [clears throat] >> Right. Uh just do a couple other things. The parks commission is meeting uh Wednesday night and then the planning commission is meeting on Thursday night. >> Um and then I did have one thing in the packet uh related to the Veterans Memorial. So the parks commission met last month and uh believe a landscape architect from MSA professional services presented to them um to develop a concept plan for the veterans memorial. Also along with that a a project estimate or construction estimate so that the the city would have a document to show people what that is going to look like to start fundraising um for the project. So, I do have a proposal in the packet from MSA Professional Services. Uh, but I did want to talk to you a little bit more about the Veterans Memorial Project in general. Um, I don't I'm not looking for a vote on that tonight or approval for that. Uh, talking with the city attorney, there are a couple other steps that we should take before we start expending funds on this project. Uh, one of those is passing an ordinance identifying this veterans memorial as a project of the city. So we should do that first before we start spending funds on it. Um secondly, if we want to be able to access park dedication funds for that, we should identify that particular project on our long-term CIP and uh parks capital projects. So that's not currently on any plans. Obviously the council's talked about it for a long time, but it's not formally in any document. So I think if we want to potentially use park dedication funds for the project, we we should do that step at some point, too. Um so uh the city attorney will be here at the next meeting. Uh my proposal is we pass the ordinance identifying this as a project and then we can entertain proposals at that point or after for the for the project. Um the charitable gambling fund is an acceptable use for uh uh recognition of military service veterans memorials. So those are funds that can be used for this project. Um the uh if you remember right the Oakrove Lions also I believe in 2021 or 2022 gave a donation towards this project as kind of to start it of $12,000. So we continue to hold those funds in a a dedicated project fund for when the city begins this project. Sounds good. >> My update on that. >> Any else? That's it. >> Oh, sorry. I do have one other uh fall recycling date is coming up here on Saturday, September 26th. So, that will be before the next council meeting. >> Uh the price sheet is in the uh the fall newsletter. It'll be available on the website and at city hall as well. that will be here in the parking lot on from 8 to noon on Saturday, September 26th. >> I missed the days of the free doughnut and the seedling. >> We might bring some of that back in next year. We've talked about the recycling with the recycling program about uh some of the things that we've done in the past. Funding is available for them. >> That oak tree is about 15 feet tall in my backyard now >> that you got from here. dishwasher off. >> Yeah, [laughter] I remember Sherry giving me a tree. It's back at my old place. >> Anything else? >> Uh maybe a plug for the parks commission. They are uh sponsoring a photo contest for uh four seasons in the parks. So, they're looking for photo submissions in uh parkland or uh just in the city of Oakrove for from each season. uh that's running through I think next year is at the end of March 2027. So there's uh there's a ad in the newsletter, there's a submission you can submit it on the website and then um we're having Ike from uh RAP one sign and graphics. Uh print up some signs that'll be placed in some of the more heavily trafficked parks in the city. >> Maybe there's a bunch of kids at East Bethl Elementary School want to do that. That >> was pretty good if they really did do that. >> Yeah, >> I was impressed. >> Anything else? >> No more. That's it. >> Start with you, Paul. Anything? >> No. I again, thank you and and everyone else that helped pace it and everything else for what we accomplished. I think like you say, even if you leave this whole thing did pretty well with budget and that's a big accomplishment. We've done a lot of other things, but that's a huge accomplishment, too, besides the city hall. So, or in the fire station, but >> definitely a team effort. >> Yeah. Yep. But some of you went down and sat and this that and the other. So, >> and including this guy over here. >> Yeah. Did a lot of the work. >> A lot of lot of good work. >> Oh. So, thank you and everybody. So, that's it. >> Angie, >> um I again wanted to talk about um this win that we had with the Supreme Court unanimously. um choosing our city to have autonomy and um over our elections and thank you for being our mayor leading us in this. Um it was I know you and I took quite a few beatings from the county at county meetings about our stance on this particular statute which was viewed in our favor. So thank you for that. Um, autonomy is important and I think that's great for our city to have that. And also there has been some confusion. I've seen people posting online or asking questions. This is about rosters, not ballots. So, I just wanted to clarify that because some people have thought it was about ballots and it's about rosters and our autonomy making that decision if that's something that we would like to use or not as a city. So, Thank you. >> Yeah, it seems like there's a lot of mis I don't want to say misinformation, just confusion. >> Yeah, >> confusion. Can I just say one thing to that? I did let the head election and assistant head election judges know on Friday about the decision so that they know where the city is at on those. There are some logistical things that we will have to work through and some things we're still trying to figure out, but at least I'm letting everybody know um where where we're at with that. I'll send out an email to all the election judges later this week, too. >> I think I can speak for everyone that a lot of people think that, oh, they don't trust the elections and they don't this and they don't that, they don't know what they're doing. All along we've been talking about just securing our elections and verifying. And I don't think anybody up here has ever said there's fraud and there's this and there's that. It's just we want to make sure that your vote counts and yours and yours and yours and whatever the results are at the end are what the results are. So, um it's not this big conspiracy. Uh it's just we want to verify and we're not the only city who wants to. Um and that doesn't mean it's that because our candidate won or didn't win or whatever. So, um, I look at even the the purr that I've been pushing and pushing, all of us have for a few years, the post-election review, and look what happened in St. Francis. >> You know, one council member for the primary for mayor was one vote ahead. Well, the county, they did um per post-election review, recount all the ballots. Guess what? Now it's tied. They draw a name. the person who had the extra vote is now out and because the other one of the ballots wasn't filled in correctly. I get my I what I'm understanding is somebody put like an X over filling it in. I don't know why people can't figure it out. Um but I also say does that mean that that person's vote shouldn't count just because they were confused and they put an X? It should count. So, um, you know, in the Ganache and and Nelson race here, >> that changed by I want to say 20 or 30 votes. And so, again, we just want to verify that things are are working out right. So, um, >> I don't think anyone is ever doing something on purposely wrong, but why would you not want to validate check your facts? You're just just putting a check mark and saying, "Hey, does it equal what we had?" Yep. Okay. Done. I'm saying use your tabulator, but then let's count it too. Do both because there can be human error, too, you know. >> Yep. >> As you just said that there has been some. >> Right. >> Uh, anything else? >> No. Thank you. >> All right. I got a few things to go really quick. Lauren, is there any updates on the east side of Lake George putting the uh posts in? >> I I don't have an update. I will check in with Matt, see where they're at on that. Good. Uh, and then [sighs] we, uh, beginning of the year, we came up with our goals and priorities, and now we're coming towards the end of third quarter. I don't know if at the end of the next meeting, you could just give us an update where we're at. Clearly, it's not all going to be done. We know that. Um, and then this building, I know that staff would like to uh present a couple of ideas, but I think we should get that thing going here. Either go with the ideas or don't, but I'm just gonna have a hard time paying to, as in what you said, keep the lights on for a building that's just sitting here with no use. >> Um, so I'd like to get that on a future um agenda. And then last, I'm not looking for support here. I'm not looking for anything. I'm just kind of throwing an idea out there for you guys just to consider, right? And we can talk about it down the road. you know, we're we're considering a full-time chief, and I think it's time for the city to do that. I think the city has grown enough that there's a lot of need and demand by the community, by firefighters. Um, you know, it's part of our budget. Hopefully, we get the grants. That'd be >> that'd be even better. But I don't I just don't really want to push this full-time fire chief. If if we're going to do it, if there's not the support, that's fine. That's not what I'm asking for right now. But I don't want to push it off. Oh, let's start it in June or whatever it happens to be so we can take the budget from two and a half to two and a quarter or something like that. I would rather do it right if we're going to do it. And what I mean by that is if we're moving into this building like December 1st, I'd like to have a full-time fire chief if the 2026 budget allows for it to start that day instead of the well, we still have a part-time chief. We're trying to move and we're trying to I mean, I'm imagining once you move into a new building, even [clears throat] a full-time chief for a few months is going to be very busy with just getting things set up and and so on and so forth. So, I'm not looking for any comments from really from anybody. It's just maybe we could get this on a work session here the next time we have a full council. And let's see what the chief has to share, what Lauren has to share, and financially if it could happen and what the support of the council is. That's really all I'm saying. So, and that's it. I [clears throat] don't know if we want to schedule uh I mean, is there enough support to have a work session? >> Oh, absolutely. Well, yes, for [clears throat] me. >> So, there's at least three people that want to have the work session. >> Okay. >> And the other two don't really matter right this moment. >> I think uh probably that one in October, maybe the first one in October. I think we do have at least one council member gone at the next meeting if I remember. >> I think John is two in a row. >> Yeah, >> he said. >> Yep. >> So, >> if we can do it at the next one, I would be okay with that. But I think probably that first one in October. I think we can do October. Looks like October 12th. >> Yeah. Uh what day of the week is that? >> Monday. Monday. October 12th. >> Okay. So, that's I always remember. Isn't there one we move but this one we don't? Is it Columbus Day? I'm >> Well, we're confusing. I know what you're doing. We We did this last year, too. Uh we we have our meeting on Columbus Day. It's not a holiday that we're open for business on that day. >> Okay. All right. >> Okay. That works. >> Does that work for you guys? >> Yep. >> Maybe five o'clock. >> Yeah. You want enough time? >> I'd rather finish up early enough to use the facilities and whatnot. I can do that 5:00 p.m. this October 12th. >> Mhm. >> I didn't check, but I don't schedule stuff on her. Try not to. >> I guess you can send some out because I want to make sure the others >> Yeah, I'll make sure they can. Um, and the last thing before I close, I actually meant to to read this earlier. It's very short, very short. [laughter] >> Um, this is basically in a nutshell my response to the lawsuit. All right. Is that, [clears throat] and you might see this on some media outlets, maybe, maybe not, but I said, I'm happy to hear the Supreme Court interprets the statute the same way we do and ruled in our favor. I hope we can all, and when I mean all, the council and Anoka County, uh, can put this behind us and represent our community members the best way we know how. As mayor of Oak Grove, I am committed to doing everything in my power to secure our elections. Nowhere in there did it safe. I think there's fraud and all this other stuff. Um, but that's that is my response in a nutshell. So, with that, uh, our next Am I missing something? >> Nope. >> Oh, your point. Yeah, I was pointing at you. >> Our next regular scheduled meeting will be Monday, September 28th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. That's Yeah, it's the next we'll be having that. So, I would look for a motion to adjurnn. >> I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Look for a second. >> I'll second it. >> All in favor indicator saying I >> opposed. We are adjourned. Thank you for coming. What if two funny