All right, being at 6 o'clock, we'll call a meeting to order. We'll start with the pledgece 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 everybody for coming out. Got a couple items to add to the agenda. A2K, the Patty Nelson sewer forgiveness form and AH2 resolution calling public hearing for sidewalk sidewalk extensions. Is there anything else anybody else has to add or corrections? If not, I would take a motion to approve the agenda with the additions. >> Make the motion to approve with the additions. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Sheldon. All in favor? >> I >> I post. Thank you. Consent agenda. Is there any items in there? Not. I would take a motion to approve. Make the motion to approve. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Paul. All in favor? >> I I Okay. Um, maybe we move the public forum up there, Mr. Mayor. >> Yeah, I think we'll move the public forum up be quick. So, in the public forum, we have one card from Nell's Pearson. If you'd come up to the podium, state your name and address. >> Good evening. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Usually my voice carries without a microphone, but my name is Nell Pearson. I am a candidate running for the Minnesota. Oh, you want my address is 4415 Valley Court, uh, Southwest Rochester, Minnesota 55902. I don't live in the city limits, though, so don't hold the Rochester address against me. Um, I'm I'm a candidate running for Senate District 24. uh our uh esteemed uh uh state senator Carla Nelson had made the decision recently to not run for reelection which came as a an astonishing consideration and uh while at work I was getting several phone calls and I couldn't figure out why and it turned out she had made the announcement from the Senate floor that day and uh um we've put together a campaign and we've gotten hit the ground running and this is one of the first meetings that we're getting to. I don't really even have a full stump speech yet, but um just by way of introducing myself, I grew up on a dairy farm in a town called Butterfield, Minnesota. It's out in the southwestern part of the state. So um I I really feel like I identify more with Dodge County and and the towns here than I than I do sometimes when I'm in the city limits of Rochester. uh was noticing and and I'm just, you know, we'll probably have to do some research, but I noticed that similar to the uh Monday meeting of the Rochester City Council, you guys have a resolution accepting a donation to the Cass and Fire Department. And actually, if you look at the the agenda in the city of Rochester, they also had a donation of $2 that they were accepting. Uh and that had to be a line item in their agenda as well. and I had to go through the whole thing to just see the mayor will actually have to sign that that resolution and proclamation. So, I I'm uh kind of curious to know how much your contribution is cuz I I'm guessing it's a little more robust than that. But, at any rate, um I do just uh just by way of introduction again, I I do have some experience in the Minnesota legislature. I did represent uh Olstead County. I represented 14 of its 18 townships uh for eight years in the Minnesota State House. So, I'm familiar with the legislature. In 2022, when redistricting occurred, uh I was drawn out of my 14 townships except for the one township I live in. So, I lost 13 of my 14 townships. And towns like Steuartville, Yota, Dover, um Chatfield, those communities, Viola, go for counts tomorrow. So, um, those communities that I knew to grow and love and and lived in even, um, they they had gone away from my district and so I would no longer be representing those folks and, um, made the decision not to run then in in 2022. So, um, with Senator Nelson's announcement, I actually get 38% of my old district is in this Senate district now. So, a lot of my old old territory and then the beautiful communities here in Dodge in Dodge County. We're very excited to be here in Kassen. Uh obviously familiar but not not familiial. So So uh looking forward to to uh getting to all the events. Uh we've got a big agenda for this weekend in in Hayfield. Uh heydays and and obviously Dodger Days uh in Dodge Center, too. So really looking forward to it. Love to get to know people better. Um I I'm easy to get a hold of. If you can remember how to spell my name, it's just Nells. So, it's nels, which my website's nells.com. My email is nells@nells.com. So, pretty easy to remember. Uh, look forward to getting to know each of you and and thank you for the work that you do. Um, one of the things I really respected and going to these to the all the meetings that I went to in my previous district, I actually made the commitment out of the 14 townships to attend at least one township meeting every year. Um, and that's election year or not. I was there 14 with 12 months. You know, it's a it's actually a pretty big commitment. My wife says I shouldn't talk about it because it really doesn't sound like that much. But when you add in the cities of Chadfield, Dover, Yota, uh, Steuartville, and Rochester, that's 19 meetings every year that I just had on my calendar automatically before I started. I'm not making that commitment yet uh when I run for Senate. But I do want to be familiar and uh I I just always find that this level of governance is is one to uh to admire. Uh that closeness to the people is is really where it all begins and and that's what I want to be for you and your voice in St. Paul. Uh but also your ears. I I want to be listening to what issues you're dealing with. So please call me out to any meeting you think I need to uh specifically attend because of a state issue that's impacting you. I'd love to hear hear and get those invites. But I always tell the story about one of the township meetings that I'm at and they're giving the roads report, you know, and the guy's turning to him. He says, "Hey, how are the Johnson's liking the regrading of the road?" And he says, "They're great. They're waving at me again." And it's that level that you guys have to experience every day. These are your neighbors. These are your friends. And uh it's important that they're waving at you, right? So, thank you for all that you do and and uh look forward to hopefully serving you in St. Paul in the future. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Up next, uh be visitors of council. We'll do the audit presentation. Well, there you go. >> Hi, I'm Kaylee Lent from Conresnic, previously Smith Schaffefer. Um, as you may know, we were acquired by a different firm this year and still operating out of the Rochester office with the same people, just uh we're a much larger firm now and operating under a different name. So, we performed the audit again this year. We're issuing an unmodified opinion. It's a clean opinion. It means we feel the financial statements are fairly stated in accordance with GAP. We didn't have any issues with the audit. We met with Tim and Sarah earlier to go over the financial statements in greater detail. And tonight, we'll go through the PowerPoint in a more summarized version. Minnesota legal compliance. We test various areas like collateral held at the bank, the bids throughout the year, and the letters that we send all the council members to disclose to us if they have any conflicts of interest. Then we didn't have any exceptions with that testing. The management letter, we do have three comments this year. Segregation of duties just due to the size of the accounting staff here at the city. Preparation of financial statements just means that you rely on us to help prepare those reports. And we did have some audit adjustments. Taxable tax capacity um has been increasing the last several years as the value of the homes have been increasing as well as the new developments. So up to just under 7.8 million. So with the increase in that tax capacity been city's been able to continue um to increase the property taxes we're receiving. You can see on the next slide had property tax collections of 4,543,000 on a levy of 4,492,000. So we did collect more levy than we or we did have higher levy collections than we levied. Um uh part of that is because of $70,000 was received for excess tiff this year when the tiff was descertified. that money gets sent back to the city. Um, just noting too that the property tax is about 34% of your total governmental revenue at the city tax increment revenues here. You can see that decrease there as there was a desertification of a tip. So, we're down to just the one um tip district left at OpEdan. So, $81,000 received in the current year. Local government aid on the next slide or LGA. This is based on state formulas. You can see it's pretty flat from 2021 to 2023. They gave the city a nice a nicer increase of about $17,000 in 2024, but then kept it pretty flat in 25 and gave you about $1,600 increase. It looks like they're giving about a $4,000 increase in 2026. Um so again, keeping it pretty pretty flat again. So not in there in the second bullet point that LGA is about 10% of the um revenue of governmental revenues of the city. When you look at those revenues together here, um 2025 on the far right, so the tax increment dollars were down some in that tan with the descertified um assisted living prairie meadows. The general property tax levy was up in the bright blue there as the levy was increased those collections and with excess tiff. So it's still the um most significant aid we have at the city. LGA in the purple remaining pretty flat and charges for services was down some in the yellow. Uh we had decreased pool revenue this year. Um things that go through that category too are the fire calls, uh planning and zoning and the ice arena um funds. Assessments in the green there were up quite a bit is there was some several significant prepaid assessments this year. Uh the largest being the 16th Street Northwest extension that was paid in full about $533,000 this year. General governmental expenditures. This is the mayor and council, elections, clerk, zoning, illegal government building stayed pretty flat from compared to the prior year totaled 550,000. Um did increase in 24 with um the city doing donation to the festival in the park. And then 2025 was stayed in line with that. Um there was increased legal fees with the fence ordinance this year. Even with it being up a little bit, it was overall under budget by about $49,000. Public safety expenditures mainly related to the police and fire departments and building inspection. So totaled 1.9 million was up about 304,000 from the prior year. Most of that increase is related to building inspection costs. Um but this is just the expenditure side. There was also significant increase in the permit revenue um side of that as well. also offsetting that. On the last bullet point, just noting that public safety um does account for about 47% of the city's governmental expenditures, not including your capital costs that you would have yeartoear. Public works expenditures on our streets, snow removal and ice, the lighting and sidewalks totaled 696,000. So it was up about 210,000 from the prior year. um increased repair for repairs and maintenance and the public works did contribute to the 2025 project this year about 170,000 culture and recreation um parks the recreation the swimming pool ice arena library totaled 1.58 million it's up about 75,000 we did have increased salaries in the parks and library this year library expenditures totaled 478,000 uh it's up about 32,000 and again the library salary is the wages and the health insurance um increase this year looking at all those categories combined on the next chart um the orange is the 2025 year it's the last 5 years comparing so general government about the same just up slightly public safety that increase with the building permits public works with the repairs and the contribution to the 2025 um project not a a lot of cost for health and welfare. Culture and wreck up with the park and library salaries. Um cemetery costs pretty consistent. Most of that's mowing related unallocated this year was up some um coded 20,000 to siding and window down payment this year. And then the economic development and tiff can fluctuate when there's tiffs that get descertified which is why it's down this year with the descertification. Looking at the reserves then the general fund fund balance. So the unassigned fund balance and the general fund just under 3.6 million. Um comparing it to next year's uh budgeted expenditures of 4.7 million. So we compare those as a percent it gets to 76%. Um pretty comparable to 2024 did bring it down about 2%. Um just noted that the city maintain tries to maintain about 50 to 75%. So just slightly out of that range but pretty close. Um, also to note, this is just a general fund. The city does have all other reserves, the stabilization fund, the permanent revolving fund, and then the new fund that was created this year for general capital projects. But the general fund did do a large transfer of 950,000 to start that fund. the library fund fund balance. Um you can see in 2022 was uh lower there as the used some reserves for the building project built back up those reserves with a larger donation in 2023 and then it's been building the reserves um since. So total fund balance at 363,000. The EDA fund is that supported through the property tax levy um maintain their fund balance at 162,000 um compared to the prior year. the EDA financial assistance fund. This this fund is administered by an outside entity. Uh there is one loan outstanding for 58,000 um to mill work. Um total fund balance has been consistent the last several years. Not a lot of activity here. So it's maintaining right around that 236,000. The EDA revolving loan fund. Um, back in 2022, the city the EDA fund transferred in $75,000 to this fund, maintained that balance, and then in 2024, the decrease there with some write offs of uncollectible loans and was able to recoup some of those costs with one of the older loans paid back um a portion. So, back up to 113,000 uh fund balance. And that's available for future loans at the city. And that fund's operated by the city's discretion. debt service funds. Um 2025 in the blue, the far right did add the city did add a new 2025A bond this year uh for the water revenue bonds. Um the next bond to come off will be the 2020B go bonds and um that will be paid off in 2028. So nothing in the next couple years. We are just continuing to pay down the current debt that we have. So total at 22.7 million of bonds outstanding at the city. Net pension liability. Um this isn't a true amount that's owed by the city is forformational purposes. We are required to report it in the financial statements. We receive these um the dollar amount from PAR and it's determined by an actuarial study can fluctuate yeartoear. You can see sometimes significantly um depending on how it's the market's doing as well as the assumptions that they're using to determine their numbers. But the last bullet point there shows what their estimation of how um that the general fund is um funded by 90% and the police and fire is 91%. So relatively um well funded as far as a pension plan goes. So they're saying the city's portion of that underfunded plan is 1.4 million. the net pension asset on the next slide. Then the fire department is a similar um situation that gets determined um they're actually overfunded by 286,000. So if everybody needed to get paid out right then they had they have access in there. So that's why they call it a a net pension asset capital projects. Then this is one of the other funds that has reserves and the stabilization fund is continuing to build reserves up um it's at 2.2 2 million. Um, again, this year, no expenses in this fund. The general fund did transfer in $100,000 in 2025 to this fund. Moving to the utility funds, uh, starting with the water, uh, water is supported by the rate payers. So, the green there, operating revenues did increase with the rate increase as well as the usage up. So, total of 1.4 million. Um, expenses in the yellow there stayed relatively flat comparable to prior year and depreciation there in the orange. So operating revenues coming in um cover the operating expenses as well as depreciation by that blue there. So the income of about 466,000 in the the water fund this year. The water fund uh balance sheet items then the cash and investments there in the green um did use some of those funds decreased about a 1.5 million down to 842,000 as some significant capital this year. So, um the Southeast Water Tower and Wellhouse project ongoing and then transferred out some funds for the um 2025 street project as well. Um the yellow is the bonds payable. So that did increase with the new bonds coming on. So we did get those funds from the bond to use to make those capital payments. So total bonds outstanding in the water fund at 6.4 million. wastewater fund. Um in the green there, operating revenues again, uh we this actually kept the base rate the same and the usage rate went down slightly. Um but with usage increase, the revenue still did increase slightly. Um also related to increased connection fees is the new developments, um Oscar Meadows and Reagan Edition. Um depreciation there in the orange too is about 564,000. So operating revenues are covering operating expenses and depreciation by the blue there, but what 1.1 million expense is down slightly. We had some increased repairs for the infiltration pump in the prior year. We didn't have that we didn't capitalize. The wastewater fund cash and investments continuing to increase building those reserves up to a cash of 6.1 million. There hasn't been a lot of capital the last several years. Um the wastewater fund does generate about 1.5 million from operations. So what they charge its customers versus what they have to pay out for um supplies, operating supplies and employee costs. Um but then they also have their capital cost as well as the debt payments um to owe. So um did see another increase this year paying down the bonds in the yellow there. So what 3.3 million >> that was one thing we talked about during the work session would be utilizing some of that cash for that bar screener project as well as the INI the 600,000. So electric fund um had a rate increase you can see in the green there the operating revenue is increasing so up to 6.1 million. Uh the expenses were up and most of that increase was was with the power purchase contract in the blue there the income of 1.4 4 million. So revenues covering those expenses resulted in the 1.4 this year. Electric fund cash was able to maintain those balances, those built up those reserves the last uh couple years. Um but no capital in 2024 and then this year about 1.5 on capital with the solar fields cost. So even with that significant capital was able to maintain those reserves as they're generating generating cash. So as you recall, you know, we paid cash for that first half of that project. So we we're in a good position there. >> Yeah. So still no bonds in the electric fund and maintain that your cash balances there. Storm water fund um rates increased here as well. So in the green the operating revenues are up total of 619,000. um salaries were up some there in the yellow, but was able to maintain that blue column of the income about the same as the prior year. So 328,000 income in the um storm water fund. Depreciation is the most significant cost there as we're seeing in the orange. Storm water fund also building their cash reserves. They're up to 1.6 million. Increased um another 375,000 um in 2025. paying down their bonds there in the yellow, just over a million left. Um the storm water funds generating about 475,000 from operations and then no capital costs this year, but then they make their bond payments and then have a little bit of interest income allocated there. So they were still able to build up their their cash. >> So a big portion of that would be to buy down that Southwest water retention project then too. So, and then the liquor fund um operating revenues were down this year. That's that's net of their cost of goods sold. So, that's 336,000. Just noting in that last bullet point that each year um the liquor fund transfers 16,000 to the general fund and that was increased to 20,000 in 2025. So, operating income of 81,000 there in the blue this year. expenses remain relatively consistent with the prior year. Liquor fund cash at 568,000. In 2024, there was capital cost of 28,000 for the parking lot. Uh so able to build back up some of those reserves this year. There wasn't any capital. Um liquor store generates 28,000 from operations and then we have some interest income we allocate there for their cash balance for their portion. And just to summarize again, the general fund reserves um operate operated at a slight deficit in the general fund at about 11,000. Um just remembering though that they did transfer out 950,000 to the new the new general project uh capital project fund. Um so any balance at 3.8 million and the unassigned balance at about 76% of the next year's budgeted expenditures making the city's making their debt payments timely. the ongoing projects listed there for the 2025 street southwest reconstruction, the water tower and wellhouse project and the flood control project. Capital improvement fund reserves at 2.2 million and then the water and wastewater rates are covering their operating cost and increasing their cash reserves. And then the electric fund has cash reserves at 7.5 million. Do we have any questions on any of that information? Maybe more a question for Tim. Um, the library reserves, what can those be used to pay for? >> I'm sorry. >> The library reserves, what can we use? What what can those be used to pay for? >> Well, typically in the past, they've used it on uh building related items. Um, and the library board does uh typically direct those projects. I know when we had that reduction in their fund balance, it was due to the the remodel and and uh reconstruction over there for the the water leaking they had in the roof failure back in 2023. Um, but I think that they've uh chosen to kind of hold that donated fund itself intact in terms of their I don't think they're planning on utilizing that for anything in the future. I would expect they may use that for some scholarships. They'll take the interest off of that and use it for that, but for the time being um I think they've kind of hold that reserve. Anybody got any questions? Oh, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, up next is committee report EDA. >> Yeah. So, we just had a couple of applications considered earlier this month at the EDA meeting. Um, the first was through the business facade improvement program. The application was submitted by 507 FAST. Um they're located at 4019th Street Southeast and they've requested funds through the program to go towards a couple of signs which they've installed. Um I've included in your packets photos of the signage that was already installed. Um so you can see what it looks like. Um the project cost total was $97711. Um, and since this is a matching program, up to 50% um can be can be uh requested through the program. So, um the amount requested is $488.56. Um and the EDA did recommend approval of of that application. If there's any questions about that one, >> do you need a motion? >> I would like a motion. Yes, please >> make the motion to approve the $488.56. >> Thank you. >> Do we have a second? >> Yeah, I'll second. >> Thank you, Paul. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> oppos. >> Okay, motion carries. And then your next one. >> And then the next application was through our our brand new program, the technical assistance program that we just launched. Um, this one is from uh, Becca Bergie, a local home business woman. Um, she's got a couple of different businesses based here in Kassen, but the one that she's requesting funding through is for her photography business called Forever Use Studios. Um, essentially she's requesting um the opportunity to uh connect with a a technical assistance provider out of Rochester. She wants to uh make her improve her brand and website to better serve her clients and strengthen her business presence um through a few different ways. So, um, and then the the assistance providers called Izzy White out of Rochester. Um, so there's a website and everything. You can check it out. Um, seems credible to me. Um, yes. Uh, so essentially through this program, we'd be looking for an approval from the council tonight. um that basically allows um the the project to move forward um with the understanding that they would be receiving um compensation for a portion of the project funds um after it's been completed. So um there's another form that they would have to submit along with evidence showing that um their portion has been paid. Um and then this and then the city portion would come after that. Um, and so for this this project, it's a it's a $4,000 project. Um, but through the program guidelines, they can request um up to $1,000. So that's the amount that's being uh requested. And the EDA did recommend approval of this application as well. >> So I would make a motion to approve Becca Bergie's application. Just before that though, I just want to note that no money will be sent to her until the project is 100% complete. >> Yep. Yep. That's that's accurate. >> Any other questions? If not, we'll take Ryan's motion. Do we have a second? >> Yeah, I'll second. >> Thank you, Paul. All in favor? I >> I thank you. Motion pass. Uh up next, old business, the disc golf course. Sure. Including your package, you've got some items and I think uh um Johan brought in some updated information too here. So, I know that the park and rec board had a meeting last night and had some additional discussion on it. And uh I think u Yan's here tonight. I think he's uh looking for the council to um potentially make a choice whether they'd like to affirm that $10,000 for the project this year or not. And I'll let him speak for himself, of course. Thank you, Tim. Uh Mr. Mayor, uh members of the council, city administration, uh thank you for hearing me tonight. Uh the park board did discuss this project. I brought it up a few weeks back, so you had some time to think about it. Uh it is mostly the same as last time we brought it. Uh we have made an addition to the project uh in that having walked out where the course was going to go with uh Ben, we discovered that uh Cassen has some real hidden gems along Masten Creek and the places uh on the third page where you see we highlighted in pink uh we intend to put a a walking trail along those spots. So it would be a walking trail that roughly follows uh Masten Creek. Uh it's a wooded area, so it' be a wooded walking area in the shade. Uh it also uh highlights a oval at the bottom of the page called a scenic area. There's a very uh large historic poppple tree. It's got to be 8 10 ft in diameter at the back side of that. We intend to clear out that area, make it kind of a not only a place for a basket to go for nice disc golf play, but also uh a resting area along that walking path. Uh because of the inclusion of the walking path, I have updated the uh costs somewhat from what you had in your packet. Uh we uh the bottom of the uh chart shows you the increased cost. Basically just putting in some benches and a little bit of landscaping improvement uh to make this a more than just a sporting uh improvement, but one that appeals to the greater public. Uh what I am asking the council to do tonight is uh uh just generally approving the idea of the uh project which the park boards has approved and then to allocate the uh $10,000 that was uh is currently unallocated because the joint ventures fund did not fund this year to a matching fund so we can spend the summer clearing some ground, raising some awareness, uh getting public support for the project. I'd like for at least a third of the project cost to be public or uh publicly funded, not by the government, but by the people who are going to enjoy it. Uh so a matching fund is a great way to help make that happen. I did have one question on your map there, Johan. >> Yes, sir. >> Um for hole number 13, I think the way you you've got it drafted right now and obviously it's fixable. It's um that where they'd be teeing off from I think is not on our >> That's correct. As we discussed when we actually put that on I I that's one of the places I don't think it'll even require a tee because there's already asphalt that runs down the right of way. We'll just clear that corner throw from the asphalt which is in the rightway back into the rightway. So the the placements you see on the map are approximate. Uh they aren't uh final placements. Those will be done as we get a little farther down the road and we'll present uh those uh probably 20 uh 27. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate that. And we did talk about that at park board yesterday. There's some holes that could be adjusted or moved if we can't get the property owner to work with us. >> Okay, very good. Any other questions for me? I thank you for your consideration. I could speak for park board. It It's a project that we think is a lowcost project, but will have a lot of positives brought to that park and to our community. Um, just in talking, I went to the sports headquarters just the other day and told showed them the project, talked to them a little bit about it, and they they think it's a great idea. It'll bring in a lot of frisbee golf people that want to be more competitive, could bring in tournaments, which could bring in revenue for some of our businesses. Um, so it's a for a cost it it seems like a positive and a good use of an area that we're not really using. Well, with the added walking trail, I think you're going to have a lot more people that are interested in scenic walks. As you can see with Dodge County's little park there behind Quick Trip in the northwest, people walk through that and there's not much to look at in there, but it is quite used. But I think this would add a lot and more and more people are looking for a short little jog like that to to look and I I agree with the beautifification of the area is really going to help. You know, we've got a lot of overgrowth out there. it it's going to actually look a lot nicer and I think it's going to give that more of a safe feel for the community in that area. >> We have talked about soccer fields between like 7 and 15 are in the grass area. So those wouldn't impede that at all. So it still leaves for room for other projects at Lions Park. >> Did you discuss a budget for the uh the pink uh trail? I don't think we discussed a specific budget that was updated budget line was that the walking trail at 2700 >> correct? >> Yes, sir. >> Just to be clear, I I did go and walk myself in this this not quite this route, but I went further back into the woods to the west and there there really is a lot of interesting stuff to see out there. and uh you know it's uh if we can get some more utilization for the park I think it would be be wonderful at a low cost especially >> is outside of the 10,000 from that we put into to joint ventures have we reached out to that group even though they're not putting money in this year to use some of the funds they still have Dan >> no we haven't know Manavville's profited quite a bit the last few years maybe it's time to meet with them again and push for that a little bit. >> Uh uh Ben and I have talked that we intend to uh make a request at the next joint ventures meeting in August that they would also help with this project. >> Would would their donation be similar to what we did like a matching or would you want it just a straight? >> Uh the intention was to ask them to uh fund the baskets. >> Okay. Since that's kind of that fund is to buy things that you would not normally. >> Yep. >> We would ask them just to fund that line item. >> Okay. >> My only question is we can allocate money that we've set aside for joint ventures. We have the ability to allocate that to this project. That's not an issue in any way. >> Yeah. I mean I think uh you know obviously with the request from the superintendent not to fund that this year you know we're working in accordance with what she's requested so I think you know in essence I consider it to be unallocated at this time. >> Okay. >> Any other questions or input? I I'm in favor of making that donation that we had originally allocated to joint ventures as a matching grant. So >> a motion. >> I'll make that a motion, but I want to make sure it's a definitely a match so that way there's more input from the public. That would be my motion. Do I have a second? >> I would second that. >> Thank you, Sheldon. All in favor? >> I >> I opposed. Thank you. >> Look forward to seeing this carried through. >> All right. New business. >> I'm a little conf Maybe I'm just Maybe I heard it wrong. We have approved the 10, but we can't tell this the joint ventures what to do. Correct. >> Correct. >> That is that's >> right now. We still have to talk to them. >> I thought I heard it wrong. All All we did was donate our 10,000 that we normally would have donated to joint ventures as a matching. >> Okay, there we go. That makes more sense in my head now. Thank you. >> This sounded funny. Sorry. >> Okay. Nope. Doesn't hurt to clarify. >> All right. Now, new business. >> Sure. Um, this is just something for consideration tonight. It's nothing no action required. Um, I do have a uh policy for proper use of uh AI. Um it's something that is coming up more and more with we're seeing more and more employees potentially utilizing these uh these uh services and these utilities. Um and it's something that I can only imagine will continue to be used. Something that the League of Minnesota cities and many other cities are are dealing with as well. So this is a policy that uh I'll admit is mostly mine with the feedback from other other cities as well. So of course there are things that can be changed. Um, like I said, informationational. Just wanted to get in front of you tonight so you can take a look at. Um, if there's anything you'd like to see added or changed, uh, let me know and we can we can get a redline copy. But I do think it covers a lot of the things that we know of right now. Um, it's such a fast changing environment from 5 years ago till now. And I'm sure 5 years from now, it will require a lot of additional revisions over time. >> Okay. Thank you, Tim. Next uh resolution calling for public hearing. >> Sure. And I'll I'll take this Linda if it's okay. Um Linda's included this resolution calling a public hearing for the sidewalk cast and sidewalk extension as directed by C council. A public works director uh was able to get some uh numbers for those uh three projects and we'll we'll be assessing those uh to the uh benefiting property owners. Um that information once this or ordered will be in the July meeting. So we'd be getting letters out in a public notice in the uh the newspapers required by the 429 series uh state statutes. Do anybody have any questions for Tim? Not I would take a motion make the motion to approve public hearing notice. This will be at the July meeting. >> That's correct. So, we have a motion to approve the public hearing for cast and sidewalk extensions. >> Second. >> Thank you, Paul. All in favor? >> I >> I opposed. Thank you, everybody. >> And we'll send those three properties another contact before the meeting. >> That's right. They'll get the official notices. >> Okay. Just we don't want to have them come and say we didn't hear anything. >> Okay. administration's administrators report. >> Sure. I've got a couple things to highlight. Um, we've got the uh most of you are aware CHS is planning to uh close or sell their location here. I think it's likely it'll be uh sold. Um, it seems like that would be the most value for them. However, it is potentially a a 10acre site that could be redeveloped if uh if something else happens there. Um, I know that some of the properties already been transacted. the feed store itself was uh sold to a different um vendor and they're they're operating per currently. So that's a good thing there uh for local farmers and and users of those products. Um Mandot has changed their funding formula. Um so wish they would have done that 5 years ago when we were doing the Highway 57 project. So it's maybe a little bit too late for us, but for another 20 or 30 years, maybe they'll keep tweaking it. But it will benefit other cities in our area um in terms of how they they split those costs out. Um, partly they're saying a lot of the smaller smaller communities especially would struggle to make the kind of financial commitment that for example we did with Highway 57. I know that colleague of mine up in Wamingo like they have a rebuild schedule probably in the next couple of five years here and I think they would it would be a it'd be a heavy lift for them to kind of get the bond funding there. Um, audit results, we'll have a resolution for you at the next meeting to accept that audit. Um, in the meantime, if you have any questions on any of the actual audit information, which was included in your packet tonight, the you have the executive summary that she went through, but the audit itself is available. And, uh, if you have any questions on that between now and the next meeting, please let me know. I'd be glad to go through it. I know Sarah would too. I think I want to appreciate Sarah's work. Uh, she put a lot of man-hour in. Um, probably a lot of them. Uh, Linda and the other support staff here has helped as well, but she put a lot of the time in. um you know for a 20-minute presentation probably you know 120 hours or something like that go into it. So it's um and you know the positive is when it's a good audit you know everyone goes oh that's nice >> and it's only when it's a bad audit that you might have a problem but in this case uh we're glad to have some really positive results. Um the uh couple other things in there electric uh system report I we talked about that a little bit already. Uh the the 2 megawatt battery is under construction. and we've received some shipments for the 2 megawatt solar field. They're looking at August for installation uh for that uh probably starting up there behind public works. Um and then including your package, you have additional police hiring. Um and I've apprised the council of the uh some of the financials of that um and received feedback from everyone. I've also got included your your monthly financials report for a upto-date current uh as of April 31st. So, and I would take any questions from anyone. So, when we go to work with Mindot on the next big project, can we remind them of how much more we spent on a project a couple years ago? >> I'll let Brandon do that. >> Thank you, Brandon. >> Thank you, Tim. Engineers report. >> Just a couple updates don't mind, mayor. Um, Southwest Reconstruction, all the pipe is installed. Uh, so we're just finishing up building the roads there. I think they're all gravel now. Um, so wrapping that up in the next probably month. So, that'll be um open and we'll be done with Southwest. Southwest Tower mentioned earlier in the meeting the tower construction's going on. That booster station building should be coming here in the next month or two um to set the booster behind city hall here and wrap that up. Um so we are looking at wrapping that up this construction season. The tower and the booster that need to go together. Um and then 16th Street as you probably well are closed um and the schedules to have that open up by school. So that's what we've given them for a schedule. Um likely see some additional developments coming forward. Been approached about some developers that we continue next phases. So that's all good um in that sense. So that might be coming forward in the future. So staff's be working on that starting tomorrow. So it's exciting. Continuing to grow. That's all I had. >> Thank you, Brandon. Um, excuse me. Personnel have the memo from Police Chief Hansen. >> Oh, Chief, if you want to discuss it. Obviously, the memo's including the packet. So, um, our police chief's recommending an additional police officer hire, and I'll let him talk about that a little bit. Yeah, we've been allocated 10 officers originally in 2023. We haven't been able to fill that position and this is one of our reserve officers that just passed the post test and skills and we'd like to hire him as full-time officer. >> Um, quick question for you on that. If we go forward with this, is that going to reduce your overtime, which you're already over budget? >> So, we we were short three officers at the beginning of the year. So, that's it will reduce the overtime now for the rest of the year. So, we'd be able to cut that out of a good portion of that out of next year's budget. >> In the future, I will keep on asking more because I would like to get two officers at all times. Right now, we don't have enough officers to cover that. So, um when we work short a lot of times of one officer, we have a new state policy for uh a domestic uh response where we're supposed to send two officers. That that's obviously the best policy, but uh it's now mandated. with it mandated. Can you call in the county as well to come with you? >> Yes, we do the same with them, especially like Manville calls. >> Yeah, there was just Yeah. >> Have there been any calls where you haven't had been able to get the county to come help? >> No, they're they're always willing to help and we do the same. >> Anybody else got any questions or I'm just I'm just trying to figure out because right now it's not in our budget. So, we're trying to figure out where we're going to foresee the payment. You know, one of the ones like say I was looking at cutting overtime. But the other one I'd be looking at is possibly not upgrading squads as often and maybe even cuz you know that's 20ome,000 40,000 a year but maybe even I don't know how many squads you got now and how many officers but maybe if you start leaving them sitting at the station and they come to work and getting the squad you know you switch from day to nights. So that might be some way of saving. I don't know. We're just trying to figure out how we're going to pay it. So that's one of the ways I'm thinking. But >> like I said, originally we were budgeted for 10 officers in 2023, right? >> So I >> I know >> we've been we've been looking at, you know, how we we were short, so we were looking at cuts and we put more into overtime and took that part of that out. So we're just trying to figure out how we're going to cover it. How do your how does your staff feel about losing some overtime? >> It's it's a double-edged sword because you're you're losing some pay, but you're you're have working less. Are they are there any worries or positives to that for them that they've talked about? I >> I would say overall they'd be the majority officers would be happy to have less overtime. There's some that like the overtime, but >> because I know one of our concerns is always when we we try to be as competitive with pay as some of the other local departments, but if you take overtime out, does that decrease a little bit of the pay they think they're going to bring home? >> I I don't think that affects uh whether or not they they would just like somebody would decide to stay here, go to somewhere else based upon the overtime. >> Okay. >> Anybody got any other questions? This wouldn't be for a full year of pay. It'd be half a year. Correct. >> That's right. >> Yeah. >> I think uh you typically you would have him working uh by himself by uh when would you think that would be? September or >> November. November. >> Yes. >> And I I haven't purchased a we did not get a vehicle yet this year or some other capital pro u items like a radio. So, we can hold off on that, too. This doesn't include insurance and all the other things. >> No, no. You You would usually figure an officer starting at base pay with all their benefits and it's usually in that $100,000 range >> per year. You just >> How many vehicles do you have right now to Dan's question? >> It's eight. >> Eight. >> Eight vehicles for nine. >> 10 like >> So it'll be eight for 10 now. >> Yeah. And you know, obviously, you know, I talked to Tim a little. The chief would, excuse me, chief takes his home, which is understandable. I would assume that the sergeant would still take his home. It's It's some of the other officers, some of the newer ones without that. What I would look at, you got days and nights. Maybe we can park it here and the other one takes over. I know some people like to have it a certain way, but I think that would be a huge cost savings. And I know it's done in other areas but not all. So which is and that would be cost savings for both fuel and and the vehicle sent. But so I would look at if we could see what we could save on that. >> Sure. >> Just pencil it in. See if it maybe it won't work but we can at least look at it. Um, anybody else got anything? >> If you think it's going to help the department, then it's a good thing. We just have to find a way to budget it, plan for it. >> And and I'm glad that we actually have people that are applying again and we have people that you already know. That helps. I mean, you've been working with them. That's a bonus. I think if if there's anything that you can think of too maybe to I know the radios and stuff like that you just mentioned but you know if there's anything else that you can think of tell them >> yeah if there's any little things that you can >> there's little things >> but I know it's hard >> I know there's lots goes on and I know you get more calls >> so I understand >> so we're looking for a motion then >> that's right >> yeah Okay, I'll make the motion to approve the hiring of Connor Finley at that pay rate as stated in step one. >> And would when would that start date be? >> Uh we're looking at like September 6. >> Oh, >> or sorry, not se uh July 6th. >> July 6th. Okay. September earlier, so >> it's a big difference. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um so yeah, we have a motion to hire starting July 6th. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Sheldon. All in favor? I >> I oppose. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Chief. >> Um, sorry, where was I? >> All right. Personnel recommendation to hire a deputy fire chief. >> Chief wants to come forward. >> Yeah. And I want to say I really appreciate all the work that the council members put in along with uh Chief Fitch. It was a lot of time commitment to help with the interviewing process and I I think that it was a very thorough process and obviously with a position like this that may not come open very often it uh kind of behooves us to take our time but I know that uh it's a lot extra when that happens. So thank you very much for that. >> And I like to thank him for the update on the job description too. >> Yeah, >> that was quite helpful too. >> Were we supposed to approve that job update description? >> We did. Oh, that was in the Okay, my bad. >> Was that in the consent? >> Didn't we approve that last? >> I was supposed to come today. >> I didn't think we had cuz I we I think we were waiting for Paul to be able to review it and Okay. >> offer some comments. >> Yeah. >> Well, >> the deputy chief one, but decided that we needed to still >> We still need to do all the rest of them. >> Oh, the rest of them. >> Yeah, cuz you had added fire and EMS. I thought we did deputy chief and not the rest. >> Yeah, that's where I got confused. Sorry. >> Okay. >> Okay. if we can double check that to make sure. >> Yeah, >> thank you, Elena. >> Yeah, >> yeah, it was a was a a good process. It was a difficult process um as uh the council members that were a part of that and and the mayor um at uh we offered the position and and um on Monday uh I had a meeting with that uh applicant. Um he decided he was not uh ready or prepared. um to uh accept that position. So, we were able to uh uh have a meeting and have a conversation with uh um the number two candidate and offered it to him. Um and he has accepted that position. So, um I updated that letter for for Tim and Linda. Uh hopefully you guys got that update in the packet. Um so uh that would be if upon your approval uh we would be promoting uh Captain Cody Miller um to deputy chief. So >> what's your plan for backfilling then that position? >> Uh we would just get it posted right away. Uh give it a probably a couple weeks and >> Okay. Do we need to do a job description update for that one too? >> Well, I'm going to sit with Linda and and have her get all of those to me. Um, so we can I'll get a committee together and we'll start going through all of them because they're at this point they should probably all be updated. So, >> do we need to have somebody else for the relief then too if Cody is switching that job? >> No. Um, as long as it's not the chief's position, um, him as deputy chief, uh, CJ held that president's position as well. So, Yep. >> Yep. So, on the relief side, we're we're okay. Um, but yeah, Linda and I are gonna um work on updating the rest of those those job descriptions and getting those red lines to you guys. But yeah, upon approval, we'll we'll just start the back fill position because obviously we we've got Cody's captain's position that we need to fill. So, >> I would uh take a motion to approve the deput position. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do we have a second? I'll second. >> Thank you, Sheldon. All in favor? >> I oppos. >> Thank you, everybody, and thank you for your time to everybody that was on that. >> Yeah, thank you. >> All right, we are now on to attorney. Do have anything for us? >> I can give you a brief update um on the Nory cases. Um so uh the first case uh was uh the enforcement action that the city initiated against the norries. Um that is up to the court of appeals. So uh they filed their brief initially in the middle of May. We have now responded um we submitted that on Monday, our responsive brief. Um and I sent that to y'all by email. So if you're having trouble sleeping, you can read those. Um they're about 35 pages long each. Um and uh they get one more opportunity to respond to our brief and then the court decides whether or not they will have oral arguments on the case. If they allow for that, they schedule it. We make the oral arguments. They decide. And then you know what they decide? it either they affirm the district court's decision. Um that means we win. Um if they send it back down to the district court, then we go back to that level. Um on the other case, the Norris uh have challenged in district court the revocation of their conditional use permit. Um and that is the case where we have the attorney uh Paul Merwin from the League of Minnesota Cities assisting us with that. Um he has scheduled a motion to dismiss on that case um based on essentially race judicata which means the issues have already been litigated in the district court and she's decided those issues uh in our favor. So he doesn't get to argue it again essentially. Um, so that is scheduled for September 1st in district court. Um, and that's where we're at. >> Okay. >> Thank you. And I just have one note for you. We as a council discussed a little bit of potentially having you come in once a month or as needed. So, >> absolutely. >> Which we've had that discussion. So, >> y I can It's a way to save the city some money if there's not anything on the agenda that we need to comment on. >> Happy to >> come as needed. >> And if you have something, let us know and we can add it. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for that. >> Yeah, no problem. >> Um, other than that, we have correspondence. I did just want to highlight number two under correspondence. So, that is the updated population estimates as of last summer. Uh the state demographer sends those estimates out every year and each year we've been averaging about a 100 new residents in her estimation. So um we would guess that we're probably about 7,400 now with the additional of the the new apartment complex opening on the north side. We're expect to continue to see that pace of growth. So okay, thank you. Um >> round table >> round table. Any discussions there? I'm hearing none. Uh, take a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Thank you, Ryan. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Sheldon. All in favor? >> I post. Thank you, everybody. Look at >> that. 7:00.