Okay. >> Sometimes. All right. Being at 6:00, we'll call the meeting to order. We'll start with the pledge. >> I pledge 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. >> All right. Is there any additions or corrections to the agenda? Seeing none, I'll take a motion to approve. >> Make the motion to approve the agenda. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thanks, Mel. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? Consent agenda. Any items on there? Not, I will take a motion to approve. >> Make the motion to approve. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Mel. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? Okay. Up next, visitors to council. Becky Wheeler, Care and Share. >> I'm assuming I can come up, all right? >> Yeah, please. >> I've been here before, just so you Um hello. Um my name is Becky Wheeler. I am a resident in Manorville. I'm also the director of early learning at the number education district here in Casson, and I've actually lived in the Casson Manorville area for more than 30 years. My kids are CAM students, so I just want to give you a little background of who I am. I'm also um on the board for the Casson Manorville Care and Share organization, um and every year we do one huge fundraiser in November, and we've typically had that at the Casson school building, and 2 years ago we actually moved it to the new fire hall and rented that area. Um a little bit about um Casson, our Care and Share um organization, is that we fundraise to provide support for families and children in Kasson and Mantorville exclusively. So, we are in this little tiny area with what we do. Um to give you a little bit of ideas of what we've earned over the years with this auction alone. In 2023, we made to $40,000. 24 was $49,000, and this last year it was 55,400. And every one of those dollars goes back to the Kasson Mantorville community. Um major benefactors of us um of our organization is SEMCAC. We um provide SEMCAC with about $20,000 a year. Um that helps with utility, rent, car repairs for citizens and families within our area. Um we do the Ready Set Learn backpack program. We do $5,000 for that organization. Um we do Place at the Table, which is at St. Peter's Church, which provides weekly meals to families. You don't have to be a member there, but it um we provide um $5,400 to that organization. Um Faith in Action, we did $5,000 the last few years. Um this year they didn't need any funding because they feel like they're good, so we moved that 5,000 actually over to the food shelf. So, we'll be giving $8,000 to the food shelf this year. Um and then our big contributor is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for Dodge County. Um Dodge County does not have a lot of big cities in it, obviously. Um so, we are the primary provider for that program. That program provides a book a month for children birth to the age of five. Um it's developmentally appropriate. It's mailed to their home. Um free to sign up. Um we provide $10,000 to that organization. Um without that 10,000, that organization would not be able to exist for the community for the children in Dodge County. Um our big our big benefactor for this is during the holiday season, we sponsor holiday gifts and meals for families. This last year we served 100 we were able to provide gifts for 180 kids in the Castle Manorville area. That was 70 families. And within that we provided $21,000 in Hy-Vee gift cards from from Castle Hy-Vee. So that's kind of what we do. Everything we do is obviously volunteer. We're a non-profit. Um so I'm coming here today just to throw it out there. I did send emails to the council members and the mayor and didn't hear back so I decided to come and talk instead. Um is that this past 2 years we were able to rent a reserve, the community room and the fire hall garage area for $250 for 2 days. This next year we've been quoted at $750 for those 2 days, which I get is a huge reduction and a huge discount compared to what it would cost other organizations perhaps. Um to benefit, but I wanted to share the awesome work that we're doing here in this tiny community of Castle Manorville and asking if that can be reconsidered because that is expensive for a non-profit, especially for us when we are giving back immediately. Um the fire department are huge volunteers during that um those 2 days. They are the men and women are incredibly helpful. Um we appreciate them. With that, they're able to get a liquor license from the city and they make a significant amount of money on the alcohol sales for our event also. Um so we it's kind of helps each other out a little bit in that. And so I'm just hoping that the cost the charges that we're facing for this next year for our November could be reconsidered to be reduced in some capacity to make it a little bit easier on our organization to be able to take that money and put it back into the community versus a charge for the facility. >> Okay. It's all I have. >> Thank you. Do wish the fire department was here. I was just curious what kind of income they make on that. >> You know, I don't know what the relief association makes off of that, but we can certainly check on that. >> They did at night. I know. >> It was 1,500 at one of the events, and the other event was like 2 or 3,000. >> So, this one probably is the higher one, I would assume. Okay. Okay. So, that would, you know, >> I did write a recommendation in there. for non-profits as long as the firemen are going to be there. Uh if that's it's totally up to you. >> [snorts] >> Like she said, I have been giving an accommodation the last few years, but this is the first year now that we've added the truck bay onto that. >> And that's where the difference in cost comes in from last years. >> truck space. >> Just to clarify, we've always had the truck bay. >> Yeah. You've always had it, but >> they didn't have a charge for it before. I just wanted to clarify like we've used both spaces in the >> Yeah. We've changed the policy when we realized the the manpower to go there, to move the equipment, the So, we were trying to cover the cost. That's Um I don't have a problem with it. The only thing I would recommend is the fire relief would too, if they're going to sell alcohol at that that they would have to designate part of that money to go to help offset the utilities, which you know, if they're benefiting it, and they want to benefit, which everybody wants to benefit the non-profits, I get, but maybe they can offset part of that utility on our bill because you know, do you got the Where do we come up with How much? I don't know, but I mean, I just think that would be fair. >> So by charging nonprofits or anybody who wants to use the fire hall by charging them more, is that to pay for the utilities? >> Well >> you won't have to dig into the relief association? >> Well the not I mean the the difference in charges that the the bay wasn't being charged for previously. And so the fire department came to us and said well we've got these folks who are using the bay now and there's all this extra related cost. So earlier this year the council made that change because I mean there's a difference between like the if I have a birthday party on the the smaller part of the building versus using the whole building. And I think the catalyst was actually the was it the fire was it the street it was the dance for the kids. Wasn't it the after prom thing? >> Yeah. >> That was that came up in February because they had asked about that and so that's when the council looked at making the change. >> But but I know part of the fire department too was they got a man at least two two people if not three and they got them fire up every vehicle, pull it out. So you know, we're just trying to cover the cost of the fuel for that, the wear and tear on equipment, the the loss of the air conditioning or the heating that's in the bay when they pull out. So we were not trying to make any >> But the benefit to that though is they're making a ton of money off of people who are bringing there for the event. Like that would be my like my challenge to that increasing cost is that they're making that up of of having that opportunity. >> But but the utilities are paid by the city and not by >> Yeah. I split the benefits of that hall. >> Yeah, they're they're a department of the city so all bills are paid by the city tax. >> But I mean I think that's a good point you bring up about the relief maybe subsidizing >> subsidize some of the cost. Then it works for everybody cuz then you know, cuz the fire department wants to be there. I mean we want the nonprofits here and we want to make sure that we're not putting the burden on all taxpayers. So if they are making if they can offset you know, how much I don't know, you know. Did you know, did So. >> Whether you're a non-profit or not, we're charging the same fee. Correct? >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Right now >> not trying >> Yeah. >> At present, yeah. We're not trying to make it harder for one group or >> No. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> So, it went from half of a percent you were paying before based on what you said about 45,000 you made 2 years ago. >> Um 2 years ago was 40,000. 2014 2024 was 49 and this year our net profit was just over 55,000. >> But they were paying $250 >> So, 250 >> And that was >> 250 on 45,000 is less than a half a percent. >> Right. >> Yeah, but now it if it's 750 even on 45,000, it's it's 1.6% of the overall. So, I don't know if we could >> Well, we certainly communicate with the Fire Relief Association and obviously take the comments into consideration. I mean, you know, the issue is, you know, does council want to create a non-profit charge? >> Mhm. >> Which would be something we could we could consider, too. I mean, the argument in the past has been, well, you have to treat everybody equally, you know, and that's that's up to you as a council. Like, do you make special allowances for non-profits? I don't, you know, I don't >> And we have talked about that. >> talk about, but >> Okay. I don't see a problem if we have local non-profits from Cass and Mandeville. I think that's fair. >> So, I think we have we'll put this back to more discussion and bring it back at the next meeting. >> Sounds good. >> And then we'll talk to the Fire Relief. So. >> Yeah. Get them involved in that. >> Yeah. >> Becky, when do you have to pay that by? >> Well, I don't need a deposit, thanks to Linda. Um so, then we typically just drop off a check like when I come to pick up like um the keys, we've we've paid or Bob will get a drop a check in the mail. >> I just want to make sure we didn't you didn't have to pay like in the next month where we >> No, hopefully their event Yeah. That's it tentatively blocked off. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. so we have some time to talk about this and find a good solution that work with our fire department, too, and see what we can do. >> That's why I wanted to come early enough so that we could >> I've got some opinions. Um I don't like the idea of making exceptions. I'd rather have us stick to the same policy for everybody. Um I get what you're saying that um we want to have the benefit there for local stuff, but as soon as we start like making our exception more and more specific, we now have to take the time to to verify that people meet those exception requirements. And I'd rather just not do that. However, if like this mentioned if if the fire department is choosing to be there for their own benefit, if they want to chip in or pay the fee in place of whoever wants to rent the hall, but that seems fine for me. >> Yeah, just to clarify, the relief association. >> Yeah, that's a different >> Yeah, that's the one that's actually earning the revenue off of the event, not the fire department state, so >> Yes, yes, I understand. >> No, I just want to be for the record. >> Yep, yep, the um the relief association, if they're benefiting from like joining this event and they want to chip in or pay for the fee because, you know, they're basically getting somebody else is creating an event and they're there to um assist and also gain some advantage for themselves. I I don't see a problem with that, but I don't really like the idea of starting to like carve out exceptions and then, you know, okay, is this nonprofit? Is it Is it really local? Is it not local? Is and and if we just do a blanket waiver for all nonprofits, then it's that's just subsidizing any nonprofit, which doesn't necessarily mean it's a good charity that we want the taxpayers to be subsidizing. So, and then I don't want to get into looking at everybody's charity and what they're doing and all that kind of stuff, right? So, that's kind of what what I'm thinking. >> So, should we put this on the agenda for August to have a discussion on? >> Yep. >> And we'll try and get some of that information. We can get the some costs from the fire department and see what the relief association's, you know, input is. Linda did a good job. She did She did >> put that together that memo and some thoughts she had cuz she's been dealing with some of this the last little bit and um we'll try and do some follow-up and I guess that sounds good. >> Do we need to officially table that then? Cuz it says request for council action, right? >> Yeah, I mean I think I mean if you want to table it, you can. Otherwise, I mean I think we can take it into consideration for the next meeting. >> Okay. Okay. >> Up next, we have Roberta with the Blaine Halverson Memorial. >> Hi. So, I'm pretty much here for the same reason Becky is. Um we are a local nonprofit based out of Kasson. If you want to know about BHM, I'll tell you a little bit about it. But otherwise, it's again same with the fire hall price. Um with the comment about the exception, um we are a small community as we all know, and the fire hall is the only place in Dodge County where it's big enough for us to have an event. Otherwise, we are looking elsewhere. Um a year and a half ago, we had an event at We hired the Dueling Pianos, and they came and we had our event free of charge at the VFW in Rochester, and it was great. We made a ton of money. Um do I expect us to get to the fire hall free of charge? Absolutely not. But we 100% of our money raised goes to veterans. Um veterans in crisis, canine dogs, um service dogs, um we provide furnaces for veterans if they need them. We bought them four of them so far, working on the fifth one. All in a matter of 5 years. Um And so for us being nonprofits to give up $750 or for us it'd be 400 to 600 depending on if we want both rooms in the fire hall. That's just kind of a big chunk of change that is not going into our community. So I guess I'm in the same boat as Becky. Any questions about what we do or other than veteran care? >> You know, I'm familiar with what you do. Does anybody else? >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> We will discuss that one also at our August cuz it all will be under one lump sum. >> Right. >> So. Okay. Uh now we have Bill and Trevor Strawn with Festival in the Park. >> I'm Trevor Strawn and this is my dad Bill. We are just volunteers on the Festival in the Park Committee. Um that's coming up August 7th, 8th, and 9th. We just wanted to come today. Um we uh got out of this practice of coming to City Council when Chris McCarran became mayor and he just gave you all the lovely updates. And uh since he has stepped back um from the committee and things like that, we just thought that we needed to get back in front of you guys. One, give you just some updates of some of the new things that we have coming this year. Um uh Kratos uh training center here in town. Um, Albert has done his uh strongman competition before last September and he's actually doing that in the park. So, we're hopefully going to bring in some more people with that and and a different crowd. Hopefully people who will uh stop at the food vendors and uh bring in more money there. We've had a couple of um great community members step up and have donated a little bit extra money this year for the belly flop contest um upping that because uh again I think over the years some of these have kind of fallen off a little bit. So, hopefully we can get more belly floppers there. Um but ultimately we just want to come and continue to thank you guys for the support, the use of the park um and uh again the resolutions and just the different teams that that help us in city departments. So, first and foremost we want to say thank you for all the support that as city council and as a city of Castle that that give us. >> We also want to talk about really appreciate what Ashley does for us keeping our finances um in order and in check for us and uh um without her and running the things through her we'd be kind of lost. So, uh also um our fire department we'd like to give a shout out to our fire department. Two years ago um we had a nasty storm come in a Friday about 8:30. They were the ones who helped us they were already up there with some of their equipment showing the kids and they were actually up there to help us clear the park. Uh we actually worked with uh a couple of the captains and at um if we have those issues again that they would help us get the park cleared of people. So, we have a process in place for that. So, our uh kickballers aren't playing kickball under the lights when the storm's coming. So, also appreciate the help of our police department um and the police reserves that uh, that have come and helped us. They have been, uh, a tremendous asset for us. And, uh, we do appreciate it that. As well as our parks board. Our parks board, we I've been I was on a parks board 25-30 years ago. And, um, what the man the land that they have to manage now and to and, uh, and, uh, control has increased and the amount of time and effort that they put into it. We appreciate that. Um, as parents and grandparents, but we also appreciate that as, uh, community members on this committee because we have a fantastic park up there at Veterans Park. That's in top notch shape, uh, beforehand. And you can't tell that anything was run through that park. Um, the day after we're done. They did such a fabulous job. So, we want to thank you, uh, ahead of time. But we also want to thank, uh, also as Trevor talked about belly flop. Anyone can belly flop. So, I was looking at the mayor. >> Yeah. >> But >> [laughter] >> I did my turn already. >> So, but, uh, we do appreciate everything that, uh, um, that the city does for us. Also the financial, um, gift that the city gives to us, uh, for this this event. So, thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Couple items under mayor's report. Um, August 19th is our next meeting. 5:00 p.m. We'll have a work session with Mike Bubani before our 6:00 meeting. And if people get a chance, you know, the fair's going on right now. And the pool is offering dollar days during the fair to get some people a little bit of break from the heat when they're at the fair. So. >> It was busy today. >> Yes. >> is not as cold as it was. >> No, but I bet it It good. >> [laughter] >> All right. Public forum, I had no cards. Public hearing. For us all, we'll call public hearing for the sidewalk extension. >> Sure, this is something we've discussed a couple of times and taking direction from council. So, included in your packet you've got information related to the uh those sidewalk extensions. Um you can take a look and see if you have any questions on that. Otherwise, we would uh we would do a public hearing and then we'd plan on having a second hearing uh you know, at another meeting probably in September to finalize that. >> Um before we start >> Sure. >> the one on 7th Street sold, so that one we could would come off of this. >> come off and I have adjusted and gotten another quote. >> That's got the you have the newest man there, I think. >> have the >> Okay. >> Hold on. That's the newest estimate, yeah. >> It's sold, but did they get a permit to build? >> Yes, I think you know, where they at with that? >> Uh well, they haven't applied for a building permit yet, but >> You do have the spec for what they're looking at, though. >> Yeah, yep. >> So, and >> And we have the purchase agreement from the lady who's selling it to them that states in there that they will put sidewalk in. >> Yeah. >> And what are the time frame? Usually you give them that year when they sell a >> Well, it's usually after the house is built. >> Sure. >> Yeah, okay. >> It almost sounds like they might be trying to end around the sidewalk thing. I just want to make sure that they were confident that they're going to build a house and put in the sidewalk. >> They've got >> I mean, they have they have relayed the the building that they're expecting. I mean, they did go on through Ian with getting a check off on what that would if it would fit the the lot. So, we do feel relatively confident. That's always a You're not wrong. There's always that possibility that it it it I think at this time we'd prefer not to install that one if they're going to install it themselves. >> Yeah. And if they're going to build >> Right, they're not we're not they're going to wreck it if they build it next to it. >> So then it would just be the two properties. All right. >> That's right. >> So we'll go ahead and open the public hearing. So if anyone would like to come forth, please come to the podium, state your name and address. >> Hello, my name's Bruce Bigelow and my wife Ramona and I are Castle residents. We bought and built a home in extreme northwest Castle in 2020. And then in uh uh I think it was 20 2022, 2 years later, the lot next to us on the west was vacant yet, so we decided to buy that and we found out who owned it and bought it. And we decided to invest some of our savings and we made a meditation garden. I don't know if any of you have heard of it or been out there to see it at all, but uh we're kind of proud of what we did with it and we opened it up to the public and uh we even had our pastor from our church dedicated and everything and we put a a gazebo out there and we have a storage shed and then just basically a lot of trees mostly and a nice pleasant place for anyone that [snorts] wanted to come out and uh meditate or pray or just uh uh be alone and contemplate any issues that they might have. So that's kind of what what uh it's has been happening out there ever since then and we've really enjoyed having the people come and visit it. Uh but we've already put so much into the property with the trees and the gazebo and and we really don't want to have to come up with, you know, especially $12,000 for 122 ft of sidewalk uh Basically, the property, you know, it hasn't got any home on it uh at this point and it it doesn't the sidewalk, if it were to be built there, it would doesn't take you anywhere except into a bean field that and we certainly would be able would realize that we have to put a sidewalk there once they develop it to the north of us, but right now it's just a real short stub. Uh no one's ever complained to us that they wanted to walk up to the bean field and back. It's like I said, it's really short and I would ask if we could have it uh delayed to building putting the sidewalk on until there's a need for it there when the you know, eventually probably somebody will buy that some of that farmland to the north of us and this uh then I can see where, you know, if the road is continued to we definitely would have to put a sidewalk there, but uh we don't want to do that if we don't have to uh and like I said, we uh don't want to put extra into it if if we could talk you into delaying until there's what we see anyway is a more of a need to to to actually put the sidewalk there. Uh so that's kind of why I'm here and asking if you would be willing to delay it until there's a real need for it there. Uh It's uh you know, if anybody needed to walk down that way, there's a you know, the road is right there, too. And I realize the guy on the other side when he built his house, he did put the sidewalk on his side of the street, so there is one there now. But uh I didn't realize, you know, that the all the other properties in town that were grandfathered in that don't have sidewalks and so I apologize for not reacting to the previous notices that we got from you. But uh that's what I'm asking, I guess, is if you if it could be delayed until is there's a real need there. Uh and I'm not sure how open you are to that, but if I if you if you can't delay that, I would request also to try to find somebody to do it cheaper than than I've already talked to a couple people that I could, you know, do it for less money than what the sheet said I I was 12,000 something for it. But does anybody have any questions for me on I do have a There was an article in the paper about our meditation garden if anybody wanted to see that or needed to see where it's at, but we're extreme northwest Cassin, right on the edge of Cassin next to the gravel road uh Gun Club Road, I guess everybody calls it. >> I live just seven houses down from you. Um We're the white house rambler. Down you go east. So, we >> East State down on 12? >> Yep. Um we're the white rambler on the corner there. >> Okay. >> Um the blue house to the west of me, on the other side of the road, we had they did not have sidewalk much like you did not have sidewalk on that lot. Um but they did add it in when we originally asked them to. So, they did even though it's a sidewalk nowhere, I have one, too. I have a sidewalk to nowhere. Um all of the neighbors that have dead end spots have sidewalks to nowhere in that area. I know it's frustrating, but it's it's part of the our long-term plan was to have sidewalks in all those areas. And when we built, we we knew that, so we added it in, even though it I basically again, it's going to nowhere. Um it's going to Snow's farm, but it's it was that area required it, and then houses that didn't follow that we did ask them to eventually do it and they did. Um one of our neighbors did that. >> Yeah. He had it He did it on it He had it someone else do it on his own, so it cost less, yes. >> Yeah. That was 2 years ago. Your sidewalk you built when you built the house on it though, right? >> Yeah, we did. >> This lot doesn't have a house on it. >> Mhm. And we've had a couple houses that didn't that families that bought extra lots in areas that had to have sidewalk and then did put sidewalk in eventually in Northwest close to us as well. >> Yeah. Well, I'm I guess I would just need uh you know, if you do have to have it done, uh could I have a little bit more time to to get my uh a friend of mine that does sidewalks and stuff and or has done sidewalks. >> What sort of timeline are you thinking? >> Well, uh he said it'd be about a month before he could get to it, the guy that I have in mind to do it, and he's quoted me about half of what what this cost would be. >> Oh. And we can close the public hearing and have a discussion if you want to. >> Uh if there's anybody else who [clears throat] wants to talk, but I mean I think that's something we can talk about for sure. >> All right. >> Well, if before Is there anybody else who would like to come up for our public hearing? Okay. Seeing none, I will close our public hearing and now we can have our discussion. So, >> I mean obviously you know, our perspective is we we do want these to you know, and then it's not just that we want to. I mean it's ADA requirements require it. So, it isn't a question of if, it's a question of when. >> That's up to the council, your direction, close these gaps. And we've got some a few only a few left. That's why we're having the public hearing tonight. Um and I don't know I don't want to speak for Linda or for Ian, but you know, if the resident can get it fixed, you know, we've given that option to everybody and and and we've had a number of people who've either done themselves or they hired their own contractor and I'm certainly open to that. If they can find something cheaper, let us know the contractor because we would we would love to know your contractor if we can get a better price cuz it is not easy to get and we recognize that and that's one of the reasons this has been a 5-year process. Council members remember we started this back in 2021. So it has been a long time trying to get all these these gaps filled. Um so I personally don't have an issue with um you know, if it's another month, I think that's it's okay with me, but it's certainly up to the council and what you guys how you guys feel. Um we do you know, we want to get it done. I think that's important. Uh so just following the direction of the council members what you've told us in the past, so. >> The balance for me is hard because we we had several people that were told 4 years ago, 5 years ago, hey you need to do this and they did take on that hardship to pay for it and they got it done and some didn't. So now like one of the facilities that we're looking at on this is it it's just taking so long. Um is this something that if someone in the future if like when we talk about taxes, when we do How do I want to say this? I want to say it the right way. We have when someone I think about Yes. Is this something that would qualify for that? >> It would. Absolutely. >> So even if we use our own crew that we've looked at, it's $12,000. Could a family that that can't afford it or a veteran or whatever qualifications there are, they could have filed for that waiver? >> Yeah, tip well, the petition waiver is is just a process where they're asking us to pay for it up front and then assess it to the property taxes. Which is how this would probably work process-wise for for Mr. Bigelow's home. Yeah. So it's not that he's going to be expected to pay it all at once. It would be over a period of time similar to our other street projects assessments that we do over a 15-year year That could be figured out with that additional waiver. You could set different time periods. If it was a smaller amount, you probably wouldn't want to go 15 years, you'd go 5 years or something like that cuz your your interest would accrue. Um but yeah, that's that's always available for residents. We've used it in the past for [clears throat] um I know we've used it for sump pumps. Had a couple of people do that. We've had some of the sewer repairs, some people have used that before where we we've taken that number from the contractor they hired, we paid that contractor directly, and that sort of thing. So yeah, that is that is that would be available, yeah. >> Okay. >> This concrete company was coming tomorrow, either. So if he only needed a month, you know, it's going to be about the same timeline. >> Yeah. >> I mean, if the goal is to get the job done, then I certainly don't have an issue with Mr. Bigelow contacting someone else to give him a bid, as long as we can see the progress moving forward so that everyone is in compliance. >> Right. >> Okay with that as well. >> Yeah. >> I would be good with that. Um if it saves him some money, just I think it does need to be done sooner than later. >> Yeah, I mean, so our second hearing would be in September. So I think, you know, our goal would be, you know, because at that point in time, what we could do is we could you know, the resolution that we're looking at approving tonight would include those names on that list. And if there's no action at that time, I think he would proceed, you'd say, "Well, we need to get it done." If there is action before that time period, then you could pull those off, just like we would if we were changing a street assessment. Somebody came back and said, "Oh, my water's in Seventh instead of on Main, what's being done?" So I think um you know, I think it's up to council what kind of timeline you want to give him. He's asking for a month. You know, do you give him until the 19th of our next council meeting to see if there's any progress, and then at that point in time, if there isn't, then we proceed. Otherwise, and I don't know what the date is for for that, but we'll certainly be in contact with Comet um regarding that. So yeah, I mean, I'm comfortable with that. I think at the staff level, we we just want to get these filled. I mean, it's it's the directive that was given. It's an ADA compliance plan. You know, the federal government said you have to have ADA compliant properties and we also know the development is coming to that northwest area. Um so >> Sure later. >> It's up to the council, but I think it's certainly something we could handle here. >> So will you look for uh a motion or >> Well, I think what Yeah, what we'll be looking for tonight would be to you know, we we we have the res- I think we have the resolution there, don't we? You have a resolution from Linda? >> I don't think there was. You said we didn't need a resolution until the final >> Sure. So I mean, and you're you've given us direction. You've had the hearing now. You know, if if if you want to give them a timeline, you know, I guess set that date. And like I said, we have our next meeting on the 19th. I think that would probably work pretty well in line with what we're talking about. At that point in time, we can get an update from Mr. Bigelow on what his schedule is and if it's going to work for him or not in terms of his contractor. And if it does, then then we can have that resolution we approved in September eliminating his assessment in his project. >> Okay. All right. So we will move forward allowing him to check for his contractor and come back by August 19th with a deadline of when he could put it in. So that way we can stay up to date with ADA and move forward with our So. >> All right. >> It's okay then for for me to put it in before that? >> Yes. Yes. Please do. >> Yep. >> Your garden does look very nice. >> And then if by chance if your contractor would like to reach out to the city just for future jobs we're more than welcome to talk to him. >> I'll tell him. >> All right. Thank you. All right. So committee report, there's none. Old business. >> Um you've got your AI compliance policy there. Bringing it back as an old business just to see if there is any comments from anyone on that. If there aren't any comments, at some point in time I would like to get this approved and promulgated to staff because we we do want to make sure that they're um you know, staff will be starting to use AI more and I want to make sure they have the guidance they need. >> Does anybody got any concerns or questions on the policy? All right. Hearing none, I would take a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve the policy for AI. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do we have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Thank you, Sheldon. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? >> All right. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Up next, new business, rental ordinance. >> So, I had received some emails, I think some council members had received some as well. So, included in there, we do have that email chain from looks like a Mr. Peck. Um and the mayor had talked to him a little bit, I think Dan, you did. >> Mhm. >> Basically saying, you know, we'll bring this to council. Periodically, we do get complaints about the rental ordinance and enforcement and compliance in the city, mostly from renters. Um, but sometimes from from land owners, too. On the other side of things, they complain about their tenants. Um, and and that's our process. But, so, you know, I know a couple of years ago we had we had had looked at a couple of these. We just wanted to put it in front of you again. And, you know, you've got the current ordinance that we have for rental housing. You've got two other ordinances from relatively similar sized communities in Minnesota that are are somewhat recent. Um, basically just and every city does a little differently and the question is how hard and how involved do you want the city to become? I know um, when Chris was mayor, you know, he had heard from a lot of landlords that they were uh, not necessarily interested in seeing a larger degree of cost related to um some of the maintenance with some of the properties. And so, he felt like where we were at with our rents was appropriate. It's up to you as a council whether you'd like to take any changes. This is informational. We we you know, I think Danny spoke to the resident. You you you saw an email from him and he wanted to make sure that people were apprised of it. So >> Yeah, we were just emailed back and forth a little bit is all it was. He had some concerns and I reached out to you and >> And we have a kind of the tough part about it and Ian can talk about >> this too is that there's certain things that we handle at city hall. For example, you know, he gets a complaint about grass, weeds, that sort of thing. We handle that and usually we work with public works, you know, for he sends out a letter about long grass or weeds in someone's yard. He gives them 10 days or 2 weeks from receipt of the letter. So he says, "Okay, today's the 5th of August. You need to have this cleaned up by the 15th." And at that point time, if it's still not cleaned up, he goes and checks it. If it's not, then he communicates with public works and they they go out and mow it. And then we send a bill to to the resident. So there's those kind of complaints and there's the property ones which are dealt with primarily through the police department, you know, with Amy over there, she kind of does the licensing for landlords and to a certain extent the fire department with Joel kind of you know, being sort of a point person for some of the on the fire side of it at least, some of the compliance issues. But to a certain degree those, you know, some of the properties kind of fall in that gap where we don't have a direct mechanism like we don't have a building inspector that we have on staff who just looks at rental properties. You know, we have one for new permitting, you know, obviously CMS does the new permitting and they do that kind of stuff, but a lot of cities do it differently. I know what the previous community I worked in, we had a employee who was a building inspector. He also worked the sewer plant sort of a sideline for him. But that would, you know, we would send him out and he would look at houses for rental compliance, too. And then they actually have a community service officer now who works at the police department in that town. But anyway, lot of talking for me and it's hot outside, so I will shut up. And if there's any questions, I I let me know, but it's just something that we've had occasionally people, you know, do bring it up to us, so. >> I mean, I speaking as a landlord, I can see both sides of this. Um I mean, I have a house not here in Atlanta that my property manager was lying to me about for 10 years. And when the tenant finally had enough and moved out, that's when I found out how bad it really was. So, would I have appreciated having to go through some of this? Yeah, actually I would have. I can also see it from the tenant's perspective. However, when it is going to be something that potentially increases the rent in a town where we already have some relatively high rents. But, from a protecting the tenant standpoint, some of those ordinances weren't too bad. Some of them were a little onerous, in my opinion. The the samples that were provided here. Um I don't think that it's a bad idea to consider this, but like you said, how do we enforce it? And that I don't know the answer to that. >> Well, and enforcing it, but then now there comes a fee, cuz you're going to have to pay. >> And then >> to have an inspection done. >> Yeah, so then that goes on to the landlord, which then they turn and pass on to the tenant. >> So, yeah, that's kind of a two-edged sword. >> If you have tenants living in conditions as described in this letter, >> Yes. >> you have what sounds like a pretty unsafe living condition. >> Yeah. Yeah. So. >> Well, we just wanted to get it in your hands tonight. If you have thoughts about it, we'll bring it back as another discussion point at a a later meeting here this year, but uh you know, always it's kind of that push and pull, you know, factor for sure, so. >> And how many rental properties do we have in town if you could find that out by the >> know of >> Uh properties or units? >> Landlords maybe? >> Landlords, yeah. If you could figure that out by the >> with Amy and see what she's got on her list. I'm guessing they're probably some unregistered units too I would imagine so. >> Because if we're going to we do look at changing it then we need to get everybody registered and otherwise it ain't going to work. So if we >> We'd love to get input from both the tenants and from the landlords what they see as an issue so. >> Cuz I think that'll help us too. So all right we'll bring that back for some more discussions. Okay next we have request for an auditor. >> Um this is informational for you. Um Sarah's worked on this I really appreciate it. We completed the contract for three year contract we had with with Corn Resnick now it previously was Niswonger. So we are going out for audits. Um how many did you send it to Sarah was it eight? >> Eight. >> Eight. So I think she's gotten maybe one or two responses so far. We gave them about a month to get back to us so Um we expect to see that information back on August 10th and then we'll be evaluating those and then in August we'll hopefully be able to bring that to you so you can select a new vendor for the audit for a 2027 well 26 completed in 27. >> And they're fairly local. I mean Rochester. Okay. So right in the the realm. Okay. Thank you. Um up next you got your Cass Fire Department relief bylaws update. >> Um and I won't speak to this I will let Dan and Linda because they are the members who go to the relief association meetings. Um you do have a redline copy there and you've got us a sum a summary of the proposed changes. I think a big just of what I read when I read through it was the changes from firefighter to the the member utilization the language because of the change to having just medical only members so >> There was They did that. There was updates >> [cough and clears throat] >> Excuse me, to what their current officers are jobs description were and because they were way out of date. So, they've been working on updating those. That was part of the bylaw and they had They're in the bylaws, so they needed to update the bylaws, so and kind of going through it with them a little bit, they realized that they had been doing some of this stuff and didn't realize that they didn't update the bylaws to match. So, it's kind of been So, it seems like a lot, but I think a lot of it's just been kind of things they've changed and they're just trying to update it and get it to match everything. Um And they did a little bit of changing on the compensation for the fire relief board positions. They've kind of been that price. What did they say, Lena? For how many years? >> Oh, it's it's been a lot of years. >> A lot of years. >> Probably 15 >> 15, yeah. >> or they since they've updated their uh fees or what they pay the officers. >> And they started realizing they kind of went through it and realized like the president does this many hours a month, but like the treasurer does a lot of more hours and the secretary does So, they kind of based it off of that is where they come up with their price and there was quite the discussion and and coming to that price, so but they just thought now was the time as they're updating the bylaws to update that. So, if there's any questions anybody had on that I guess they asked Tim. >> They also said stuff about the uniforms, too. >> Yeah. >> that as well. >> Yeah. They won't They will compensate their members a one-time per year dry cleaning. It's their fire relief. So. And it none of none of that money comes out of the fire department, so. >> And then if if if it's needed, which they will decide um if somebody has wrecked their shoes or you know, some people wear their uniforms way more often than the other ones do. Some only wear them once a year. But some are wearing them to all these different uh events and everything. So, I know that, you know, some people's shoes are wearing out. So, it's replacing those as needed and as approved. >> Right. >> You will see there's three trustee you know, for the board, trustee seven, trustee eight, trustee nine. Trustee number seven is fire chief. There's no the and then the other two are appointed by the mayor. Before it used to say it was the mayor. But they've got it in there stating that it can be somebody appointed by the mayor. Just >> That's a good option. >> Yeah. In case else. And the fire chief and the other two appointees get no compensation for being on the board. They're just on there as a vote, but they are voting member. But they cuz their job is to be there and listen and and Linda's on the board. She's been on that for many years. But she's usually comes with most of the knowledge of when they're asking stuff for the city. So. Yeah. But other than that, I don't know if anybody's got any questions or not, I guess I would take a motion to approve the Castle Fire Relief bylaw changes. >> I'll make the motion to approve the new bylaw changes. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do you have a second? >> Second that. >> Thank you, Sheldon. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you, everybody. We'll let them know that. And then up next, they have a quote for some fire department equipment. They were looking at some new battery-operated extrication equipment. They right now they have one hydraulic unit. And my request to them, and I still haven't received it, I don't know if they forgot, I wanted to know how often they use that equipment. So, I'd still like to see that before. And the other thing is too, if you look at it, you know, they have they have 30,000 a year for >> 40,000. >> 40,000 a year for equipment budget. And now they have a gambling fund through the fire relief association that has to they donate their profits back to the fire. So, I would like to see maybe if they between their budget and that, if they could come up with it. But I would like to know how often they use it. I do understand the reasoning for this cuz they would like to get two sets eventually, so they have them readily accessible. And they're interchangeable with your standard Milwaukee 18-volt battery. I was getting some more information on it, so it's actually handy that way. So, it's more convenient, which saves time, which can save lives. So, I understand, but I'd like to get a little more information from them. I don't know what your input is from the rest of the council. >> I think if if you have questions about it, we probably should ask Joe to come and talk about it. >> Does Does the police department have anything similar? >> Yes. Are Are equipment-wise? >> Yeah. >> I was I was I didn't know if you're going to any turns like a Yeah, I know it's me meeting again. I know there's some upcoming costs but >> No, do you have something similar tool wise? You You don't use an extra dick. >> do extra dicks. >> We let you let you let that to the fire departments. Because they got the personal property, you know, equipment to be in that area. >> I didn't know if it could be a shared expense or not something. Like you both use it but they it would always be at the fire hall. >> And it would probably be more of an access thing. So it's probably easier if they just the first responder has it or what not. >> Yeah, cuz they they would put one one they would put they'd like to have two units way he talked. They'd like to put one in that new truck they just bought because that one would be the truck that they would roll to an accident because it's >> How have their How has their gambling profits been in the last month or two? Have they provided anything to us? >> They always provide their numbers. >> They just made a donation of $25,000. >> dollars >> And at the end of June >> Yeah. >> to the fire department. >> Yes. So, so it's going well then. Yeah, and there's Yeah, there's guidelines of how they have to >> what they can spend it on and can't and >> So So they've donated it back to the fire department and then the fire department will use it for tools. >> Yeah, okay. >> And equipment. But they didn't have an exact list of what they were spending it on. But when it comes forth for us to approve, we will see it. >> Okay. >> So. All right, maybe if Joe can reach >> attend. >> Yeah, I'd just like to know how often they use it. >> Sure. >> And I don't know I mean if if that's the only question that comes up then I can we can reach out to him and see. >> Yeah, I I don't know if >> all this information. >> You know, and I know he's looking at two of them and I know he was hoping to take some of the money out of the fire truck that we just recently sold but we just bought them one and we took that money out of our capital improvement fund and I'd like to take that money from the sale that and put it back in it so we can keep buying equipment for the city. Cuz we have other departments that were relying on that money also. So, I know they kind of wanted us to earmark it, but >> I mean, if they they've got a budget for equipment and they're going to use that budget on these tools then >> I mean, the the real request at the end of the day would be to exceed their budget line item. >> Yeah, I don't know about that. I'm [snorts] not on board with that. >> Yeah, cuz this would be cuz >> we give them $40,000? >> $55,000 just for this one set. >> Yeah. >> And their tool tooling budget right now is 40,000. >> Right, well >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if the one I got is up to date, but I was seeing 2026 budget was 50,000 for other equipment. And then I see another one here for small tools of 20,000. So >> Yeah, this is not the small tools one. >> Yeah, and maybe the one you don't have is but if they if they chose to use the combination of those two items to to pay for all three of these items, I'd be okay with that, but I I'm not on board with going above and beyond what they've already been allotted. So. >> So, yeah, I'll reach out to them definitely and ask them >> Yeah. >> uh how often they use it and then ask them where they are on their budget line. >> Right, and I I think we actually included in the packet you can see the year-to-date expenses. Um that report's under I2. There's a financial report and the year-to-date. I know we're jumping ahead a little bit, but I did but I did want to include that. So, because I want to That was the question I asked Sarah was what have they spent in their capital so far this year because the only thought I had was if if they if the council did authorize them to exceed that line item, what I would choose to do is I would take that out of their next year's budget. So, it'd be like they'd be purchasing it early, you know, and that's I feel like that's a fair way to do it because at the end of the year if they don't spend that budget it doesn't roll over, but it does go into the general fund fund balance. So, to me if if we were going to exceed it by 15,000, I would say, "Okay, well, next year we're going to reduce it from 40,000 to 25." Um and that way you're accounting for it. It's a little bit like what we did with uh this the the module that we bought for the park system. We we exceeded that line item, but then we accounted for it the next year. >> Sure. Right. We do have one though. That's we >> Yes, this is Yeah, this is an extra. This is not, you know, they do have one. So, it's not a it's and it'll be in addition to what's currently being used. And Joe's been very up front, you know, the one they have works. It's not that it doesn't work. It's just they like to get the the new model. >> Yeah, which it's I understand. Cuz then they don't have to bring along the hydraulic pump and the whole of this >> It's a lot more, you know, my use a lot of >> It's lighter, it's user-friendly. >> Oh, man, it's you know, no cords, no hoses, no no >> Faster. >> It's easier to access to everything. You're not dragging anything around. I can see the benefit in it. 100%, but timing you know, is that something that we wait on, you know, means we have one. It's not like we're stuck without an a tool. >> Mhm. Yeah, and you know, and I'd love to see that they're gambling. But if I relief keeps going well, cuz their donations are going to go back to the fire department, which is going to help us out some of the costs, which which was the ultimate >> goal of that. >> goal of that. >> That's a goal. >> So. >> [sighs] >> Okay. Well, I'll reach out to Joe and see what his usage is, and then we can we can bring it up once again at the next meeting. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Sounds good. >> And I do appreciate him getting that number an exact number this time instead of an estimate last time. So. >> Absolutely. >> So, now we know exactly what we're looking at. So. All right. We are on to administrator's report. >> Sure. Well, I'll just highlight those couple things that we did skip ahead to. So, you do have your your monthly financial cash and investment summary there. Um we just made our um yearly transfers. Um Sarah's requested once we complete that audit, we use those um those numbers to send our actuals. So, we take that money out of our current accounts here and we send it into investments. So, so some of that money from especially from the utilities that we hold here locally and once we have that actual number, we're able to to kind of send it over to the the 3M fund, or 4M fund, sorry. 3M, that's the tape, not the fund. What am I doing here? Once again, you also have year-to-date expenses. So, this is, you know, kind of up-to-date for 6 months. So, we have started scheduling budget meetings with the department heads. Those are scheduled for the the last week of this month here. We're going to be meeting with them to go through their budget and then Ceres is me prepping the the ClearGov budget and also our our Black Mountain. So, then we'll have that meeting with Mr. Bubani. He kind of gives us that long-range financial plan, taking into account more of our projects that that he kind of looks at the big picture and then we get down to the nuts and bolts with the department heads. And so, it's a perfect time for us to be talking about these these potential expenses for next year. My report itself, I attended the EPPA national conference. I appreciate Compass for paying for it. I appreciate the city allowing me to go to that. Get an update there. It was very interesting. It was in It was in Boston, which is a is a very interesting city, a lot of history there. Um The biggest takeaway for me is that costs are going to continue to go up, but I think we're on the right track with our battery storage. That was what pretty much everybody talked about. It was And I saw today the the the the federal government, FERC, which is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is going to be derating diesel generating units by about 30% in 2028. So, if you are currently getting, say, 75% capacity rating on that, so it's like a 1 MW generator, you know, right now they give you 750 kW credit. They say, "Okay, it's it's going to run at that percentage." They're looking at derating those all down to like 40 kW, which means that if you're a city that has a load of 10 MW that you have to potentially cover. Like, as you know, we go to the markets, we buy capacity to cover our costs because we don't have the generation. Let's say Rochester, I was at Rochester earlier this year or yesterday, um they have 295 was their megawatts, that was their peak load yesterday. 295 megawatts where our peak load is 15. So, um they have they they don't have the capacity to uh to to meet their needs right now, so they're buying in the market. If their diesel gen sets get derated even 30 30% more, it's going to be even more substantial push those costs even higher. So, I think for us uh talking with Jared like, you know, we're going to continue to try and buy that battery storage to kind of fill that need as as quickly as we possibly can because it seems like that's going to be the best um use of funds. Otherwise, you know, I do have my meetings in there. You know, a lot it was a lot of good sessions, very interesting. Um you know, it's it's always interesting to see what different people are doing throughout the country. A lot of it's the same with the increase in the intermittent power sources, everyone's looking for, you know, how are we going to do this? You know, and a big discussion was about nuclear as a firm power that that meets those energy um criteria that some states have laid out, carbon free. So, nuclear kind of meets that goal, but so much of that stuff is 5 10 years out. It's it's an intermediate time period. It's going to be a lot of costs related to that. So, anyway, um you know, you can read through that I guess if there's any questions anybody has on that. Otherwise, you know, continue to have meetings here too. Um you know, we have I've had a lot of meetings with different developers about a lot of different properties, so it's it's interesting to see stuff is still happening. Um you know, and Ian's been very helpful with that, so I appreciate that too. So, the the residential market seems like it's going to be pretty strong for the next year or two at least, for sure. So, Yes. >> Do you know how we are doing on our panels and storage? >> Also, the small solar projects, I got an email today they they are staking for those. So, the ones that are ground mounted they're staking, the ones that are rooftop will be rooftop. Um so, they expect those to start in the next 2 weeks. The larger project, we received most of the panels already. Those are actually in storage up at public works. They'll start in um, and the battery I think is 13 weeks out. Okay. So I would expect probably early fall to see the installation start. Once they start, I mean, with the panels up for by the solar plant, that's going to They're just going to go, you know, it's They're going to start, they're going to start hammering, they're going to go. Um, so I mean, I don't want to expect once they actually start on that it's actually going to take that long. The interconnect agreement with Xcel Xcel, um, that is a little bit more difficult process, but in the meantime, we'll have that local resource for ourselves even if it has to just offset our load, you know, Xcel may We have to still finish the interconnect with them, but So yeah, I may I'm hoping to be able to enter both the batteries and the solar into the the MISO's capacity auction for next year. Like solar itself doesn't provide a lot of capacity, but the batteries will. And so that'll help with our cost for next year, so. All right. Thank you. Hey, you bet. Good question. All right. Um, you also got a Sunwood matter. Oh, sure. Yeah, and this was a We had to do a little research on this. Received this, um, and you can read through it. I've got Dan's got a paper copy here. Um, so it sounds like the folks that own Sunwood Manor, they've informed us that they're buying out their their loan with the USDA, which, um, you know, when in there it says anticipated date of termination, um, is in August 1st of '27. And you can read through it yourself and take your own takeaway. My takeaway is that in the fall sometime they are going to be moving away from an income fixed complex to a market rate. In here they do talk about how for current residents they're going to they're going to continue to accept waivers, they're not going to change rents, things like that. I would expect as those residents, uh, rotate out that they'll be increasing the rents. Um, which hopefully means that they make some improvements themselves. I know I've spoken with folks who say there definitely may be some concerns that that, uh, if they're looking at market rate they need to make some improvements for sure. So, informational from them, I think it's a state requirement they sent us these letters first time we'd actually seen that. So. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Do we have any recourse should they not continue to honor the obligations to the existing tenants or conditions or >> You know, I guess that would depend on how involved the council would want to get into it. I mean, it would become a legal question. You know, so if we were to receive a complaint from a tenant saying, "I was kicked out." or something like that or they're not accepting it. I would have to talk with the city attorney, but I would imagine that would be a larger legal debate. You know, in terms of like recourse we don't really have any control over it. If someone brought us just like this tenant who had a complaint about the maintenance, you know, there's certain amount we can do, but you know, I would say we'd probably get tied up in the legal pretty quickly. So. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Well. Uh next, engineer's report. >> Uh thank you, Mayor Connell. So, uh two items tonight, should be pretty short. Um the first one is a trail connection grant. Uh so, in your in your council packet is the award letter and a figure. Um and I'll just jump to the uh figure there. You can see we were awarded the 250,000 we applied to. Um I think this is our third award. Kind of we've applied about every other year. Um and then we also had a big federal project with our safe routes to school project. So, been pretty successful um and continuing to build these segments of trails. That is the maximum amount that we can be awarded. So, we kind of right fit our projects uh for that amount to kind of leverage our dollars as best we can. So, um what the project scope includes includes two sections of trail, one from our aquatic center to Veterans Memorial Parkway uh going due north uh timing into the Reagan addition and the Schramm addition um which they're in the process of constructing that trail um which goes all the way to 16th Street kind of the center part of 16th Street between the Dump Road um and the roundabout. So, that's going to kind of close that gap. So, if you live in northeast Rochester where at the high school, you could go right through the and go right down 16th Street and then cut across 16th Street come right in the back side. >> Caston What's that? Caston you mean? >> Yeah, what I said. >> Rochester. >> Can you throw that Can you throw [laughter] that map up? It's a long walk there, Greg. >> Potentially can. We We are actually talking about extending our 16th Street trail into Rochester, but it's some really high-end stuff with Rochester. So, uh we'll see if that ever ever gets done. >> Not for a while. >> Yeah. >> A long while, so yeah. >> Um that's another side conversation for maybe staff tomorrow about conversations there, but uh um Yeah, so then that would connect in. So, you know, that would serve it really provide a nice connector into our Veterans Memorial uh park there. Um the second one is actually part of a project that we were kind of already planning and got some other funding for. Specifically that housing uh fund money to extend uh water and sewer in the street to the west side of Maple Grove Cemetery there. Um we are planning on that. I think we got a half million for that project, which wasn't uh including the trail. We're not going to be able to cover the trail, so this 250 will help offset that trail that was planned to extend to the west there to the west side of the cemetery and tie into the the roads there. Um and that will extend from the um commuter bus stop there that um the the park and ride that we just constructed the trail in a couple years ago there. So, um help close that gap and then serve um not only Windsor Court, but also the cemetery and the future growth that we're going to see there at Windsor Court. So, you see that that's all noted. So, um good news. Uh I'm not sure if this is going to be a '27 or '28 project, but we'll um I think staff will work on that um and see where it goes. Um just wanted to note a couple things. We did get letters of support, so I just wanted to recognize the different agencies Dodge County, um ALS, which is owns Windsor Court, Big Low Homes, Caston EDA, uh police chief, and CAM schools all provided us letter credits. So, it's it's always good when you get a pile of letter credits in there in these applications that we found. So, we've been ultra-successful, so I think we're going to, you know, obviously keep it on the radar for future stuff. So, if there's trails that either the park board or the city sees um that can help close these gaps. I got some ideas. We've kind of built a lot out, but we're still some potential I I see out here. And I know on the comp plan there were some areas that um this the citizens were interested in that we could potentially incorporate maybe some larger projects I got in mind, but we'll uh we'll keep pushing along. If anybody anybody has it from the the public or council, just let us know and we'll look at including it. So, that's all we had on that. I'll pause. Any questions, comments, concerns on that? Okay. One other note since it's related to show on there, uh we do note that on-road cycle track along the Dump Road is a county project that goes from on the north end of the sunrise sunset trail. Um that is essentially removing parking along the west side of that road down to Lions Park to that trail there. That's going to be a couple weeks out. The county's going to be doing that. So, it's going to get completed this >> mid-August or what's their date? >> Yeah, I think they're a couple weeks out to start. That's a lot of concrete rehab, so they're going to be grinding on that concrete in the concrete road section from uh Main Street down to uh the roundabout at 57. And then they'll come in and stripe it later on. So, it'll probably be later on this fall by the time they're done. Um they don't have an exact schedule. We're looking for that the the road's going to stay open, so it doesn't need to be too impactful. >> Good. >> Um but that'll be wrapping up here this year, so we'll have that nice connection from Lions Park up to the Dodge County trail and really close that gap that a lot of people, you know, use on the road. So, um yeah, that's all I just wanted to ask since we're talking about it. Um no other questions, comments, I'll jump to the second item. All right. So, no action tonight on that one. Um we are requesting action on the second item. Um that is to do with the lead service line replacement. Um this is kind of wrapping up a multi-year push from the federal level to ultimately remove lead and galvanized lead service lines um across the country. Um previous work that we've done just to get every kind of speed, you know, we went through, did the reporting, um eliminated a lot of the newer stuff off of our map, and then ultimately reported back to the state on how many that we had. Um and then we're kind of at the stage we're at now, which we applied for funding to ultimately replace them. So, we're down down to 20, and actually after their staff met, we're down to 19 properties um that ultimately have galvanized services. This We also have a fair amount of unknown ones that we don't know what they have that are not currently being funded, but the ones that we believe are galvanized are currently being funded. Um we were awarded that through the state um with a formal agreement with the state and the city after our bids come in, and that's what we're asking you to do tonight, to review this plan, um go out for bids. So, uh we're not locked in anything yet, um but ultimately, if we move forward, um we'll ultimately have um an advertising that go out. Uh we'll bid it August 13th, and then in your August meeting, we will have uh potential um to award the contract. And the completion date we do have currently in June of '27. Now, uh on our end, we're concerned that contractor availability is going to be very difficult. We're throwing a lot of these out on the street. We have Ours are going out pretty early here, uh but we have a fair amount of other towns like there's 12 of our towns that we're working on, including the city of Winona that have hundreds of these. Um so, it's going to be kind of a uh blip in the contractor availability. So, we may end up pushing that out to late '27, um but at the end of the day, the work needs to be completed in '27 is what the health department's telling us now with their funding. Now, if all the cities and engineering firms in Minnesota come back and say, "We don't have any contractors," that'll be a discussion we'll have, but uh we'll work on that on our side of things, um but ultimately, that'd be the completion date. Um so, what's in here? What are we ultimately looking at basically doing? Um ultimately, the scope includes um city administrator and I are going to review a letter on that's going to come from the city administrator that will go to property owners with an agreement that's been reviewed by the city attorney that basically says we're going to limit our liability um to ultimately replace a private water service on private property, uh potentially from the meter in the home all the way out to the street, but they have to agree to some terms uh so we can limit our liability and ultimately do perpetual maintenance of that service um throughout time. So, the attorney's reviewed that. Um property owners going to sign off on that, um and then our contractor is part of the the plan in front of you tonight. Uh they're going to go out verify that it is galvanized number one before they do the work. Um they're going to pothole at those curb stops, verify it's galvanized there, and either pull a new line in uh to ultimately remove that galvanized line cuz we don't have any leads, but we do have some galvanized that still count um either from um the home out to the curb stop or the curb stop to the street. So, we have that all worked into the plan here on what they actually need to replace to get that galvanized out of the the water line. Uh we'll pull in new lines, hook the meter back up in the home, uh restore everything, um get that all hooked up, um and then ultimately turn the water back on, right? Um and then if everything goes well, uh they have a new water service now that the galvanized is out, and we take them off the list, and our list of 19 goes to zero. Um and then we're we're in good shape and it'll I think it's going to help us long-term for some reporting to the the state is going to require if we still have lead and galvanized. Um the unknowns is unknown. We don't know what what we're going to do with those moving forward. There's been some talk of the state funding additional work for us to go out and try to find those unknowns and determine what they are to get them off the list, but it's a lot of money going into removing, you know, the lead lead and galvanized service. I mean, there's up to like 20,000 a service across the entire country, you know, across the state. So, I mean, there's a lot of work going in here, so we'll see see how far that money runs out. Um but we're I think we're we need to do this. This is a good thing, and you know, the state is going to pay for it, so it is a federally funded mandate that federal government has paid through the state, so that's what we're So, we're doing. I'll pause there, see if you have any questions, comments, concerns, but uh in your council packet um is the resolution to approve the plans and advertise this before the bids. >> So, if I understand this right, you found no lead water lines in the city? >> Correct. >> Yep. >> Uh the only thing we found is galvanized, which a lot of the galvanized lines as they come out of the house meter, there was lead at the point where it goes to the main, they call it the goose neck. So, they're still concerned about that lead there, which we don't you know, we don't we didn't dig up at the road, we didn't verify that those galvanized are not got connected to the lead, so that's what the determination from the EPA has been that they need to be replaced. Um and they treat them just like a a lead, so may not be lead, but lead and galvanized in their eyes is the exact same, so that's what we're that's how we're moving >> So, you're not just replacing that that section, you're going to run all the way to the house. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> That's been the direction from the EPA and what what the scope of what we need to do. Now, if there was galvanized that ended at the curb stop, we'd only replace the curb stop to the street and then we would not replace it was plastic. If a house is reconstructed, they may have gone back to the curb stop, put plastic or copper in, that's acceptable. Then we would not run that line all the way to the house. >> Okay. >> And our um engineers are really we're uneasy whenever we don't know everything or you know our quantities, so we we got some extra quantity in there. We know that that quantity is going to fluctuate very significantly from what we have in here, but the way the agreement, the way I understand it's going to come forward is whatever the cost as long as not over 20,000 of service, which we're thinking 15 is where we're going to be at, um it's going to get covered. So, uh we have a lot of contingency items in there, too, if we run into something that's unique. Um that we just, you know, every house is different. It's just hard to quantify. Um you can see in there we do have little maps. Uh I guess the maps aren't in the plan, but we do have little maps where we've pulled off some of the quantity. Um we do have like hours for plumbers to hook hook the um water meter back up cuz that has to be done by a plumber, those sort of things. We have some contingency item in there if we hit something that's wasn't accounted for. Um so, we we've kind of covered ourselves, but um what this final dollar amount is, I don't know what that's going to be, but I mean that's been clear to the state that the state understands that they've given us a cap. If we're going to think we're going to go over the cap or we get bids really high bids, then we're going to go back to the state and have a conversation. Um other cities were awarded so much and they just said do whatever you guys can do, get them any done, and then when you hit your cap, just just stop and let them re-evaluate. Fortunately for us, we had a low number, we're not over our cap, but they capped each city. Um so, we're in good shape there, so yeah, it's it's a unique project, all new to us, too, so I mean uh bear with us like I kind of said the whole time. It's just we're kind of inventing stuff as we go, but luckily there's been some other towns that have been a little progressive. Um Albert Lee Albert Lee's already been doing this, so we've we've talked to them on and of how that's worked and adopted our plans and approach based on what they had. So, same thing with the city of Rochester. So, but there's a lot going in, so. >> All right. Is there any questions for Brandon? If not, I would take a motion to approve the resolution to put to go out for bids. >> Make the motion to approve. >> Motion to approve, do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Email, all in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? >> They are, sir. >> So, I had tonight uh towers up, so it just needs some paint on it, so. >> Uh any updates on 16th and how that's going with the road? >> Uh I think they poured the southbound um turn lane today, so um they just got to pave that up and then there'll be some restoration. So, the deadline's by the time school gets out, so I think we're trending that direction. So, yeah, should be good. Southwest, I think all the curbs down in Southwest, so they're tolerancing rocks, so I think we're going to be paving that pretty quickly. They raised some iron the the manholes and whatnot in front of like Casey's and that, so that's wrapping up too, so. >> That's good. >> It's good cuz we got a lot of projects in other towns starting, so it'll be perfect, so. Get our stuff done. >> Thank you, Brandon. >> Yep. >> Up next, we have personnel. Move firefighter Crystal Heim from probation to regular firefighter. >> So, >> I mean, I don't think she's back. I mean, sounds like she's met the criteria, so. >> Make the motion to approve. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Email, all in favor? >> Aye. >> All right. Before we do the attorney, there's just a it'll be a closed session, so there's correspondence if there's any information there. You'll see there was a CAM school survey in there. School sent to us, so there's a little reading there to see what the voters at least at that point said, so. Um so, at that, we will be closing the session. Close session, talk of land transaction with our attorney. So, if you anybody would like to stay, you know, we can step out into that room or outside, and then you can come back. If not, thank you. >> Are you coming tonight? >> Yeah. >> Can you see if Mel- Is Melanie on? Can you get up here? >> Um yeah, she actually she's on. >> Okay. Is uh close session recorded or not? >> Uh that's Melanie. I can >> Okay. I'm going to stop this one for now.