Pine Island — Transcript
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Proposed Hyperscale Data Center (Project Skyway)
City Administration and Governance
Local Infrastructure and Public Works
Community Services and Public Safety
Votes (12)
Resolution 2630: Appointing a Mayor of Pine Island and Declaring a Council Vacancy
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~25:30] · Seconded by Council Member [~25:40]
The resolution was to officially appoint a new mayor to fill the term vacated by former Mayor David Freeze. The longest-serving council member, Randy, was appointed. The city administrator noted the unique timing of this vacancy meant the council decided to appoint rather than solicit letters of interest, as the filing period for mayor was already open. The new mayor, Brandy V. Stalo, then took the oath of office.
Pine Island Fire Relief Association SC26 Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~33:00] · Seconded by Council Member [~33:10]
The Fire Department Relief Association requested approval to increase the annual benefit level for firefighters from $9,200 to $10,800. The association's president reported the fund is 106% funded, requiring no city contribution, even with a buffer for future members. The city administrator explained that council approval is required because the city is ultimately liable for pension dollars if the association's funds become insufficient, while legal counsel emphasized the importance of competitive pensions for firefighter recruitment and retention.
Resolution 2631: Approving THC Business License to Island Tobacco
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~35:30] · Seconded by Council Member [~35:40]
Island Tobacco applied for a THC business license due to a change in ownership. The administrator clarified that state legislation now governs low-potency hemp products, and Island Tobacco had already received state approval from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), making the city's role a registration process. The application was found to be in order and compliant with city ordinances.
Resolution 2632: Approving Intoxicating Liquor License to Mama Sulies
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~37:20] · Seconded by Council Member [~37:30]
Mama Sulies, a soon-to-open restaurant, applied for an intoxicating liquor license. All required paperwork was submitted, with the exception of the certificate of insurance, which would be pending. The business had previously received approval for a facade, indicating their project was progressing.
Request to Order Trailhead Park Equipment
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~41:30] · Seconded by Council Member [~41:40]
The city had been awarded a DNR grant in June 2025 to replace Trailhead Park's playground with accessible equipment and pour-in-place rubber surfacing. Due to federal government delays, the grant agreement hadn't been issued, but a letter allowed pre-ordering equipment at the city's risk. To avoid annual cost increases (already $13,000 in 10 months) and prepare for construction, staff recommended ordering the equipment. The city has sufficient non-taxpayer funds (from land sales and Evergreen Place sale) to cover 100% of the cost if the grant were to fall through.
Resolution 2633: Approving Tobacco Business License to Gas and Go
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~43:50] · Seconded by Council Member [~44:00]
A tobacco business license was requested for Gas and Go due to a change of ownership. All necessary paperwork was submitted, and the application was in order. Goodhue County Sheriff's Office conducts compliance checks for such licenses.
Resolution 2634: Approving Updated Signatories
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~45:10] · Seconded by Council Member [~45:20]
With the appointment of the new mayor, Brandy V. Stalo, the city's bank account signatories needed to be updated. This involved removing former Mayor David Freeze and adding the new mayor to ensure proper financial management and authorization.
Request to Approve 2026 Street Improvement Project Pay Application Number Two
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~49:20] · Seconded by Council Member [~49:30]
The second pay application for the 2026 street improvement project was presented, totaling approximately $134,000, primarily for water and sanitary sewer work. Progress included near completion of services on the west side of First Avenue, with Second Street expected to open as gravel in the coming weeks. Dust control measures would be implemented with water trucks, and a neighborhood meeting for impacted residents, particularly from Willow Circle, was scheduled for July 27th.
Request for Additional Stop Signs
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~52:20] · Seconded by Council Member [~52:30]
Two requests for additional stop signs were reviewed, both at Third Street and Third Avenue. One sign was proposed for the exit of Collins Parking Lot, to enhance safety due to increased traffic from new playground equipment at Collins Park. The second sign was for Third Avenue at its T-intersection with Third Street, in response to increased construction traffic from Logic of English. The aim was to make these intersections safer and clarify traffic flow.
PFA Grant Agreement Approval & Resolution 2635: Approving Plans and Ordering Advertisement for Bids
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~59:00] · Seconded by Council Member [~59:10]
The city approved a PFA grant agreement for a statewide initiative to replace lead and galvanized water service lines at no cost to homeowners. An initial inventory identified 47 lines for replacement, with further efforts to identify about 180 unknown lines. The city will manage the project, including bidding, and then seek 100% reimbursement from PFA. Consent from property owners would be secured before any invasive work, which would likely involve spring construction due to the timing of bid approvals. The agreement covers through 2033, with replacements using PVC or copper.
Request to Approve a Garage Door Replacement Quote
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~1:01:40] · Seconded by Council Member [~1:01:50]
The council reviewed two quotes for replacing the original garage doors at the wastewater treatment plant garage, which were experiencing issues. The lowest quote, from Quality Overhead Door for $10,810, was recommended for approval. The replacement cost would be funded from wastewater capital funds.
Request to Approve a Quote for a 2026 Street Maintenance
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member [~1:03:40] · Seconded by Council Member [~1:03:50]
For the 2026 street maintenance (mill and overlay) project, three bids were received. Elcore Construction submitted the lowest bid at $158,511.98, which was recommended for approval. This project was kept under the $175,000 threshold, allowing for a quote process rather than a full bid. The city plans another round of quotes for additional street work, and catch basin replacements on these streets had already been completed.
Notable Quotes (18)
Uh one is council member did ask if she could vote on this matter. Uh and I indicated that she could. Of course, you theoretically you could recuse yourself, but uh there's no legal reason not to vote on that.
With a resolution 2630, we are appointing Brandy as the mayor to finish out the term that was vacated by David Freeze for this year.
So filing is open through next Tuesday the 28th at 5:00 p.m.
We are currently sitting at 9,200. We're looking to increase that annual benefit level to 10,800.
The city does need to approve any pension increases because if anything were to happen to those dollars, the city is on the hook for those pension dollars.
Getting attracting firefighters and keeping them pensions are a very important part of that and of course that is your business.
Low potency hemp products were originally governed at the city level. Um through legislation, the state has now taken that over.
They have submitted everything except their certificate of insurance and so if approved we would just have that pending. uh that certificate of insurance on file with the city
if we want to pre-order the equipment for Trailhead Park, we may do so. However, that is at the city's o own risk that if we did not get the grant agreement and if something were to happen, we would not be reimbursed for 50% of those funds uh which the grant is for.
We do have enough funds in that unrestricted account that we could if the grant did not come through that we could pay for the total replacement of the playground equipment either way.
So, for all of the city bank accounts, we need to have signitories on the accounts. That's who can sign checks and who can uh deposit funds. And so, with a new mayor, uh we need to remove David Freeze and then add uh mayor vice stable.
This one's upwards of 134,000. Um majority of that is water and sanitary sewer on the street project here.
Due to the increased traffic at Collins Park with the new playground equipment, uh there's already one stop sign and so we just thought to make that uh intersection because the parking lot kind of comes into the intersection a little bit safer just to make it clear that um people coming out of the parking lot should be stopping before they turn into the street.
At no cost to the homeowner, we can replace those lead service lines. This is a grant agreement for those dollars. So the city would be um the next item would be putting the uh project out for bid for a contractor to replace those lines.
Yes, we did notify the property owners that have lead or galvanized lines and we'll be getting consent from them, but yeah, it doesn't specifically spell that out in the agreement.
So the uh so this master agreement covers it through 2033 because that's what the goal is of the state is to have all the lines replaced by that point in time.
So, we have two quotes in the packet to replace the garage doors at the um wastewater treatment plant garage. And so, those doors are original to the building.
Elcore Construction come in at 158,51198. uh roster sand gravel was 1697 725 and SNL came in at 187 06 730 so I'm recommending to go with Elcore and we have some other streets we'll be doing but it keeps us under our threshold for 175,000
Ordinances & Resolutions (16)
Minutes from the previous regular council meeting, approved in the consent agenda.
Permit for WGA for kids on September 19th, 2026 at Trail Head Grill.
Resolution accepting donations.
Request to approve an updated policy.
Resolution appointing a mayor of Pine Island and declaring a council vacancy.
Pine Island Fire Relief Association's annual report for benefit levels and funding.
Resolution approving the THC business license to Island Tobacco.
Resolution approving an intoxicating liquor license to Mama Sulies.
Resolution approving a tobacco business license to Gas and Go.
Resolution approving updated signatories for city bank accounts.
Payment request for ongoing street improvement work.
Grant agreement from PFA for lead and galvanized water service line replacement.
Resolution approving plans and ordering advertisement for bids for the lead and galvanized water service line replacement project.
Reports provided by Google about their data centers, mentioned by Beth Anthony.
Information provided by Ryan company about Project Skyway.
Order referenced by Reverend David Dirkson in MCEA's favor, halting Project Skyway construction.