Pine Island — Transcript
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Proposed Large-Scale Data Center (Project Skyway)
Fire Department Equipment Replacement
Community Infrastructure and Development Projects
Local Business Licensing
City Operations and Maintenance
Votes (12)
Approval for the purchase of outdoor all season AED for the cheese factory
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [0:29:21] · Seconded by Council Member [0:29:39]
The council discussed the staff's recommendation to purchase a climate-controlled AED for the Cheese Factory, centrally located to serve the Douglas Trail, pickleball courts, and the park. Funding was proposed from the charitable gambling fund (Fund 280), which the Fire Chief approved. The item included reviewing two quotes, with Advanced First Aid offering the most cost-effective option, and planning for signage.
Resolution 26-12: New Business Tobacco License for Island Tobacco
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [0:32:43] · Seconded by Council Member [0:32:55]
The council considered an application for a new tobacco license for Island Tobacco, necessitated by a change in ownership. The administrator clarified that tobacco licenses are tied to specific owners, not the business itself. Approval was pending the certificate of liability.
Resolution 26-13: Mobile Food License Renewal for 2Kman Krillin
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [0:35:36] · Seconded by Council Member [0:35:46]
The council discussed the renewal of a mobile food license for 2Kman Krillin, a food truck that typically operates on private property near City Hall. The administrator noted the distinction between licenses for public versus private property operations and praised the vendor's communication.
Resolution 26-14: Approving cooperative purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) for the fire department
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [0:41:04] · Seconded by Council Member [0:41:25]
The council discussed the urgent need to replace the fire department's expired SCBAs, noting previous unsuccessful grant applications. The purchase involved 25 air packs and one RIP pack, totaling $246,000, with a significant discount achieved through a joint cooperative agreement. The funding strategy involved contributions from Fund 280 (charitable gambling), Fund 250 (capital savings), and a 50% reimbursement from the Rural Fire Board.
Request to approve a quote for the graffiti coating on the community mural
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [0:45:51] · Seconded by Council Member [0:45:59]
The council discussed approving a quote for a clear graffiti coating for the community mural, which is nearing completion. The coating from Nick Slavic, costing $3,181.26, would allow easy removal of graffiti and protect the mural's integrity. Funding was confirmed to come from the Park Board's improvements account, which had allocated $10,000 for mural-related expenses.
Cheese Fest Detour Discussion
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
The council reviewed last year's Cheese Fest detour, which involved closing Second Street and proved problematic due to blocked traffic by semis at Lando Lakes and pedestrian safety issues. The Public Works department, in consultation with a council member, recommended not closing Second Street this year but instead implementing a 'no parking' zone on the north side to improve traffic flow and business access. No formal motion was required, only a general consensus to update the county.
Request to approve the purchase of a new boiler for the local library
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [0:54:57] · Seconded by Council Member [0:55:03]
The Library Director presented quotes for replacing the library's inefficient 1950s boiler, which causes overheating. The Hawk Service quote for a new 200,000 BTU energy-efficient model was unanimously recommended by the library board due to cost and customer service. The new installation, including new piping and a re-engineered exterior vent, is planned for April and is within the budget.
Ordinance 182: Approving the Reszone for Pine Prairie Third
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [1:00:07] · Seconded by Council Member [1:00:46]
The council reviewed Ordinance 182 for rezoning a portion of the Pine Prairie Third residential subdivision from Agricultural to R1 (Suburban Residential). This request by Bigalow Homes aligns with the existing subdivision zoning and proactively rezone a larger area to save future time and money. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval after a public hearing on March 10th.
Resolution 26-15: Approving a final plat for Pine Prairie Third
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [1:06:40] · Seconded by Council Member [1:06:50]
The council discussed the final plat for Pine Prairie Third, a 15-acre, 28-lot residential subdivision, following its preliminary approval. The Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval. Key conditions included accommodating a 40-foot trail link from the school to Elkrun Drive. Drainage concerns from a resident on Elkrun Drive were noted and scheduled for a site visit. A development agreement and final legal review are pending before the plat can be recorded.
Request to approve the purchase of the water slide project
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [1:09:59] · Seconded by Council Member [1:10:14]
The council approved Pay Estimate Number One for $77,500 to Global Specialty Contractors for the water slide project. This payment covers engineering and initial fabrication. Excavation is underway, with the slide expected to be delivered in early April. The project is primarily funded by the swimming pool capital fund (Fund 250), with any remainder from the unrestricted capital fund. The actual payment amount, after a 5% retainage, is $73,620.
Discussion: Lawn mower for Public Works (Capital Equipment Fund)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [1:14:55] · Seconded by Council Member [1:15:06]
The Public Works department presented three quotes to trade in a 2016 Ferris zero-turn finish mower. Based on operator preference, existing spare parts inventory, and positive experience with Ferris mowers (notably their full suspension for operator comfort), the bid from Loader Meyers for a model with a Vanguard 40-horse engine was recommended. The purchase will be funded from the parks capital outlay account (Fund 250).
Request to pay Olmsted County Public Works invoice for the bridge inspection
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [1:19:42] · Seconded by Council Member [1:19:54]
The council addressed an invoice for $72,420 from Goodhue County Public Works for the 511 Street bridge inspection. Although the bridge replacement was largely funded by state and federal aid obtained by the county, the city is responsible for 100% of the inspection costs. The recommended payment strategy involves splitting the cost evenly between the city's general fund capital outlay account and the general fund 250 capital account.
Notable Quotes (14)
So, one of the groups uh, presented the idea of purchasing an outdoor AED for Trail Head Park. uh this was pitched to you in a work session and uh you asked staff to get some folks together so we could present it to you here at this council meeting. And so this AED would be climate controlled. uh it's a climate controlled cabinet. uh we're suggesting fixing it to the crearyy. um that way it's centrally located to the Douglas Trail, the pickle ball courts and the park itself.
I would be recommending that we purchase this from fund 280, which is the charitable gambling. Um typically those are funds that we receive from the Pine Island Fire Relief Association uh that they get from um their gambling proceeds throughout town. They usually donate to the city each year. We put that in the fund to save for large capital purchases. Typically, we save those for uh fire department purchases. However, I have spoken with the fire chief. He's okay if we take this out of that fund.
So, Island Tobacco is um has been purchased by a new owner and so tobacco licenses are not for the business. there for um the uh each specific owner. And so because it's switching ownership, they would have to apply for a new tobacco license.
Yep. So, it's the mobile food license so that they um food trucks can operate on private property, but uh we do have a mobile food license for food trucks who want to operate on public property. So, this way they could I think they typically set up shop across from city hall, not parking lot.
So, the SCBAs um at the fire hall, most of them are expired. They have a 10, 15, 15 year uh lifespan... We've attempted to get them replaced because they are very expensive. as you can see on the quote before you is for um $246,000.
I'm recommending that 50% of the city's cost comes out of fund 280 because we can only replenish that account with charitable gambling funds. So we would not be able to replenish that account with funds from the Royal Fire Board. But then the other 50% if we paid out of fund 250, the capital fire department uh account and then when we receive the uh reimbursement from the Royal Fire Board, we can reimburse that capital fund uh 250.
Um, that quote is from Nick Slavic for $3,18126. Um, again, that would be to put that clear coating over top of the mural once it's complete. And essentially it makes it so that if somebody does do some graffiti on it that we can clean it off fairly easily with some warm soapy water essentially. Um it's just a way to help protect the integrity of that over time.
Yeah. The the issue that came up was the semis backing up to Lando Lakes and blocking traffic. good stuff for a lot.
Um, and Hawk Service has stopped by today just to kind of take a second glance to make sure everything was up to snuff with their quote. Um, and they estimate that our boiler is from the 50s. It's got the nice clean curved lines. It's teal. I mean, it it kind of fits that thing. And it's it whenever the temperature of the library gets over the outside temperature gets over about 40 degrees, it's hard to wear anything more than a t-shirt in the upstairs portion of the library, it just gets so hot and it's super inefficient.
Um the request for reszone is larger than the area they're currently platting. Um just to save time and money going forward. They don't have to then come back when they do their next phase and reszone again. Um they're just reszoning a larger portion now. um to save time down the road.
So the um the one condition that we had in the preliminary plot was to accommodate a trail uh possible trail uh link from the school um over to Elkrun Drive. Um and so the there was currently or there was a a 30- foot wide outlot. Uh we asked for a 40 foot wide out lot just to allow for a little more room um in between the homes there and then also just to accommodate any grading. Um and that was reflected in the final plat. So that uh condition was met.
So um as you remember global specialty contractors won the bid for the wateride project. Um they uh requested a pay estimate um pay estimate number one for 77,500 that covers the engineering of the project and then they began to fabricate the slide.
Before you use three quotes, uh to trade in our 2016 Ferris zeroturn finish mower, uh took in those three quotes and after taking a poll with our uh current operators, uh they seem to like those Ferris mowers.
Yep. So for the 511 street bridge, the county worked with us and got a state aid and federal um bridge replacement dollars. And so how that worked is that covered the construction and all but $10,000 of the engineering costs. uh with that the city was responsible responsible for 100% of the bridge inspection costs which was those services were provided by good county public works. Uh if we received that invoice from last summer and so the bridge inspection fees were $72,420.
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
Approved February 17th, 2026 regular city council meeting minutes, Pine Island Chamber of Commerce assembly permit application, Pine Island Pickle Ball Association Chiefs Festival Tournament request, Pine Islands and Roppa Gymnastics parking lot request, and Pine Island Community Education road closure request.
New business tobacco license for Island Tobacco.
Renewal of mobile food license for 2Kman Krillin.
Approving the cooperative purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) for the fire department.
Approving the rezoning of the northernmost portion of Pine Prairie Third from Agricultural (Agg) to R1 (Suburban Residential).
Approving the final plat for Pine Prairie Third, comprising 15 acres and 28 residential lots.
Charitable gambling fund, used for AED purchase and partial funding of SCBAs.
Capital savings account/Parks capital outlay account, used for partial funding of SCBAs, water slide project, lawn mower purchase, and bridge inspection.
An ongoing project for which the city is seeking bonding bill funds.
Grant funding being sought for the North San District, typically funded through bonding bills.