Call the Tuesday, September 15th meeting to order. Starting with the pledge 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, we're going to start out tonight with the consent agenda. We have item A, August 18th, 2026 regular city council meeting minutes. B. Request for temporary liquor license to Church of St. Michael. C. Request for street closure and no parking for homecoming parade. B. Request for street closure for transportation fair for ELC. Request to approve the new hire Josie Hart for the part 10 live. >> I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> No. >> All those in favor? Delina. >> Hi, [clears throat] >> Vernon. >> Hi, >> Nelie. I We'll move on to public input. Tonight we have first off Reverend David Dirkson David Dirkson. I live at 340 Fairview Drive Northeast on an island. It marks today marks the one-year anniversary of when we learned in our small community about Project Skyway. This is when we showed up at the meeting or as was reported in the news when opposition came out of the woodwork. Now, one thing I want to point out is when we make choices, we don't always get to choose the consequences. And one of the consequences of keeping it under the wraps was that there was a lot of people upset because they felt like they were manipulated and deceived around this project and we're still dealing with that aftermath. Then a I had no idea what that was a year ago or around a year ago and I had to learn that. And this is common whenever we talk with news organizations. We have to explain what a AUR is. [snorts] And so to say that technically we have the opportunity to weigh in on this project when we didn't know the basics of the process or really what the project was put us at a disadvantage and was downright manipulative, deceptive, done to suppress our voice as a people. I know you all have been made aware of the recent sediment survey that was done for our community and it reflects the national uh feelings towards data centers being built near near homes. 75% of this local community oppose this data center. 71% according to Gallup poll oppose an AI data center built near their homes. So I would submit to you that for those that think the support is 80 85% which I've heard thrown around, what is your evidence for that? If you have evidence for that, you should present it because that actually flies in the face of a lot of polls and evidence to the contrary. And if we're all about representing the government, representing the people, where is my representation? Where is the representation of 75% of my neighbors? I'll just leave you with that question. And next we have David Montquin. >> Hello, David Montquin. 2041 13th Street in Rochester. Um, so yeah, my name is David Montquin. Um, I'm a rank and file member of ASME Local 319 and I'm also a member of worker strikeback and I'm here in solidarity with all of the working people in Pine Island who have been fighting this data center for a year now. Just like Reverend Dirkson just said, across the country, cities, counties, and states have been passing moratoriums on data centers. So far, 22 states have enacted some form of moratorium or temporary pause on data center construction, and hundreds of local governments have instituted moratoriums at the local level. A recent Yuggov poll found that twothirds of people in the United States opposed data center construction. And a recent local poll found that three4s of respondents oppose the proposed data center in Pine Island. And the rapid proliferation of data centers across the country are devastating to local environments. Project Skyway in Pine Island is estimated to use millions of gallons of water per day. And on top of this, communities with AI data centers have reported contaminated water supplies, making it unsafe to drink or bathe. And the AI technologies that these data centers are being built for is absolutely not for the betterment of working people's lives. It is notably used for mass surveillance of working people, for deportations, for the genocide in Gaza and brutal warfare in Iran and across West Asia. Both parties on the Pine Island City Council do have the authority to rescend or cancel building contracts. Anything short um of cancing the construction contracts on this project is a betrayal of the working people in Pine Island. And working people see right through this and they will throw every elected official who refuses to cancel this project out of office in November. This is why I'm a member of workers strikeback and why we're preparing to launch a national campaign against AI data centers, flock cameras, and the AI billionaires everywhere. Solidarity. Next up, we have William Moyer. My name is William. I was born and raised in Rochester and I'm a member of Worker Strike Back as well. Recent studies have shown that AI is expected to replace upwards of 300 million jobs by 2030 on a global scale. This on top of anticipated energy costs due to Project Skyway alone drawing an estimated 35% of the entire state's current energy usage. Ordinary working people are estimated to already be spending 6% of their necessity necessary expenses on utilities and the rapid proliferation of AI data centers will exacerbate this crisis. Current projections indicate that in less than 2 years current costs may rise by as much as 30%. tariffs and imperialist wars notwithstanding. When the 2008 financial crisis came around, my parents worked and saved such that I was unaware of the presence of the threat we faced. That's not the case for working people now and definitely not for work for future generations if this is allowed to continue. The fact that regardless of what the vast majority of constituents across the country want, the pockets of corporations are eminent domain in their own right. Multiple states in the US have passed laws ending tax cuts given to data centers for their supposed economic development. Illinois, Washington, Arizona, and New Jersey have all temporarily halted tax cuts for data center development because of the massive anger by working people who have been nickeled and dimed by the large energy corporations. But working people should also not put one ounce of faith in the Democrats and Republicans of the city council or anywhere. In fact, that in fact it was a Democrat from Duth who authored the bill that would allow big tech companies to have massive tax cuts and build data centers through 2077. Elect every elected representative who claims to represent working people should be fighting these data centers tooth and nail not to greenlight their construction or giving millions of dollars in tax breaks. both the Democrats and Republicans on the plan city council like both excuse me is why I'm a member of working strike back and why I am building a nationwide campaign to fight data centers. you. >> Now we have Ethan Triick. >> Hi. Uh my name is Ethan Tedric. I live at 728 Wilmir Drive in Zimroto. Uh my my name is Ethan and I'm a member of Workers Strike Back. I'm here in solidarity with the working people of Pine Island who are fighting this data center and who also and also the thousands of working people in the southeast Minnesota region that will face the environmental degradation uh from this project. Uh project skyway is unpopular uh and directly against the interests of working people of Pine Island. By pushing through this uh project, elected officials on Pine Island City Council and are showing the everyone whose interests they actually represent Google's the project has been temporarily halted through the courts because of the massive pressure put on political establishments by working people in Pine Island and across the state. uh people of uh Egan, Apple Valley, Inber Grove Heights, Minneapolis, Rosemont, and hundreds of towns and cities across the US have all passed temporary moratoriums on data center development because of the massive pressure put on uh them by on their elected officials. Not only does this project harm working people of Pine Island, it also severely harms the entire region's environment and other towns uh who share the prairie duchen and Jordan aquifers uh like in Zombroda where I live. Massive damage to environment. A few temporary jobs and even fewer permanent ones do not serve the working people of Pine Island and working people should not accept the snake this snake oil. The only people who benefit are the ones that control billions and trillions of dollars like Google and the tech billionaires that are building data centers across the country. Every elected representative who greenlights us these projects whether they were uh cajol or influenced through fake promises of economic development can and will be thrown out of office by working people in the next election. Uh the Pine Island City Council members have shown the only way to stop this data center is to put enough pressure on uh them in an allocious struggle of working people to force them to resend any and all contracts. And next we have Brad Lanners. Rod Lanners 18 Highland Heights Court Northeast in Pine Island, Minnesota. We have been steamrolled. Members of city government, supporting building a hyperscale Google data center this close to homes means putting economic interest ahead of the health, safety, and quality of life for the residents you are here to serve. If you disagree, do the research. Project Skyway is a massive industrial operation, not a routine light industrial facility. Its scale, energy consumption, cooling infrastructure, noise and environmental impacts demand rigorous independent scrutiny. A light industrial zoning label does not make a hyperskll data center light, nor should it be used to sidestep the level of environmental review a project of this magnitude demands. Its impacts including continuous low frequency noise, industrial activity, extraordinary energy demand, and broader environmental consequences must be independently evaluated, not to dismissed by assurances from the project proponents. Low frequency noise can travel miles, is difficult to mitigate, can disrupt sleep, and affect health and quality of life. where infrasound distance is the only effective mitigation. These impacts cannot be ignored. Yet Ryan and Google appear to be doing exactly that while city government refuses to meaningfully address them. This is not fear-mongering. It is not propaganda. It is not politics. Is a demand that the city government do its job. No profit, political pressure, or economic incentives should outweigh the health, safety, and well-being of the people who live here. Public safety is not negotiable. You were entrusted to be stewards of this community. Respect your residents. Do not ignore us. Protect us. Next up, we have Joe Blazic. Joe Blazic, County Road 3 Southwest, Pine Island, Minnesota. As you know, my wife is Dr. Susanna Blasic, who recently carried out the Pine Island sentiment survey, and her results are clear. The majority of Pine Island residents and township respondents do not want or approve of Project Skyway, Google's plan to install a hypers scale data center. And given just how far we are in the process, it comes as no surprise that not a single person has stepped forward to acknowledge and take accountability for making a decision that so clearly circumvented the democratic process. Additionally, little did we know Pine Island might have the highest concentration of statistics experts of any small town in the state of Minnesota who emerged to discredit the study. Rather, they just demonstrated on an open forum that they do not understand statistical analysis. And you'll find this entertaining. Your representative from Ryan Companies, who's here tonight, attempted to lecture me about how democracy works while at the Google event last month. I told him, "You will not lecture me on democracy. You know how we all know there's no democratic process happening here in Pine Island? When there is a unanimous 5 to zero vote in favor of every decision leading to the data center approval, including but not limited to deciding to zone light industrial, even though it's clearly of an industrial nature, order approving an orderly annexation agreement, approving a tax abatement, approving the final plat and au to name a few. And to those who rush to criticize a survey because they don't like the result, answer me this. Where is the data that shows the exact opposite of what Susanna found? You know, the poll, survey, or referendum that shows majority of Pine Island and townships support construction of the hypers scale data center quite literally in their backyard. The answer is that data doesn't exist. Even the former mayor said in a onetoone meeting that he thinks the majority of the town is for it based off a pulse on the community. We deserve decision-making based on fact, not feeling. If you don't like the data before you, fine. I'd enthusiastically encourage you to perform a study of your own that goes directly against this survey, state, and national polls. Please, we are all waiting. Now, we'll move on to administration. We have item A, resolution 2640, certifying proposed 2027 preliminary levy. Mayor and council, there's a resolution before you certifying the preliminary levy and then there's also a resolution certifying or um approving the 2027 budget. Uh what is before you is a 7.92% levy increase for 2027 that's being recommended by um myself, department heads, and both the uh budget committee. However, just because we are looking at a levy increase, that does not mean that we are looking at property tax increases. Due to our tax capacity increase, uh we are actually looking at a slight decrease. So, per $100,000 residential valuation, we're actually looking at a decrease of $487. Uh mind you, this is if your home's valuation uh does not change. And so, that is up to the county. If a county does change your home valuation, that would affect um the property tax rate either up or down. So, some of the things the new budget increases uh or what the new budget uh includes is a 3% cost of living increase uh for staff wages. It increases increased payroll for fire department. Uh we are increasing officer pay that has not been increased in the seven years that I've worked for the city. And so, we are recommending a increase for the officer pay. And then also uh to compensate for the increased call volume, we have a 12.29% increase in our Goodyu County Sheriff's Office contract uh equating to $64,275. We have a $2.50 per capita increase uh for the Broa area ambulance. We budgeted 22% increase for health insurance premiums and dental insurance premiums. Uh this most likely will come down prior to the final levy being set. If you recall last year, it was estimated that premiums would increase only about 17%, we had budgeted 20%, they came in at 22%. So this year the budget committee um advised again they're looking at premiums are looking at a 14 to 17% increase is what they are hypothesizing. However, the budget committee wanted to uh budget for a 22% increase in case it comes higher. Again, you can lower that number once we get our premium numbers um in October prior to the final levy uh in December. We are also proposing a full-time staff member to split time between city hall and the license bureau. So, um the license bureau operates really well when we have two people working. if anyone takes vacation or is sick, uh we experience really long lines in the license bureau. And so this would help offset that when looking between whether we should hire a part-time or full-time staff member. Uh there's additional work at city hall that could be done. Um our finance department is one person and she could use um some assistance. And so uh we are asking for that additional staff member. Um that would not take effect until 2027. We have $30,000 budgeted uh to increase more seating and more shade at that aquar. That was one of the number one things we heard about the pool this last summer, the lack of shade. And then we also have an increase of $30,000 to the uh park board. They have requested this to assist with tree removal for dead and um diseased trees in the parks in addition to building and parking maintenance. Currently, those line items are coming out of park improvements uh for playground and they would prefer they're asking additional dollars so that they can use those dollars for playground improvements. Um and then these dollars would go towards those tree removal and the building and parking maintenance. So overall, we don't have a lot of large projects budgeted for 2027. And so I do believe that this is a lean budget. Again, for state statute, we can set the levy at a certain dollar amount in September. We cannot raise that prior to the end of the year. We can only lower it. So, typically, um, we budget at the high end of things and then we're able to narrow that down by December, uh, just because if something comes up, we cannot raise that levy amount. We can only lower it. And so, typically, we continue going through things with department heads. Uh, for instance, when we get quotes for, um, some of the smaller projects, those quotes are only built for 90 days. And so, uh, we kind of choose the higher quotes and then closer to December, we'll get the, um, we'll get more definitive quotes that then can carry over in 2027 that we can utilize. So, I do expect this number to come down slightly prior to December. >> I think we go through this every year with the insurance [clears throat] never ready at the preliminary budget. We have to estimate, you know, last year we got burned, but we'll do it best we can and thank you for that. >> We'll make a motion to approve resolution 2640 certifying the proposed 2027 uh preliminary levy. >> Second. All >> those in favor? Delena. I >> Vernon >> I be and I'll do resolution 2641 approving the proposed 2027 preliminary budget. >> Nothing more. >> Same information. No. I'll make a motion to approve the 2641 uh proposed preliminary budget. >> All approved. Elena, >> hi. >> Vernon, >> I you have item C, the request to approve employee assistant program agreement. >> Yep. So, um, one thing that council's highlighted, um, over the last few years is being important to them. This staff retention. Um, so we're kind of always on the lookout for um, additional staff benefits um, to help uh, attract and retain uh, good employees here in the city. Um, as part of our membership with the Southeast Service Cooperative, um, they give us a reduced price entry into an employee assistance program, an EAP. um this uh employee benefit program that the city pays for that gives employees access to uh short-term counseling and financial counseling, family counseling, different um kind of health health and mental health benefits um that sometimes aren't covered under your your typical health insurance or things like that. Um we did get a quote from the same provider before joining SSC. Um it was about $2,000 a year. Um, with our membership with SSC, it's only $18 an employee. Um, so it shakes out to about $280 a year. Um, so there's quite the cost savings um through our membership with them. So we do have the money in our employee development fund for the remainder of this year to cover um we got an agreement from them. It could start tomorrow um and have this available to employees right away for the remainder of this year. Um and then we would have it included in the 2027 budget for next year as well. Any questions? >> No. I make a motion to approve the request for employee assistance program agreement. >> I second. >> Approve. Delena. >> I. >> Vernon. >> I. >> And I'll be I. We'll go on to planning commission. We have resolution 2642 approving minor subdivision. >> So in your packet um we have an application for a minor subdivision from logic of English. Um minor subdivision process is uh simple land split process um when platting isn't necessary um for small land divisions splitting one parcel into two dividing two into one really like I said simple land divisions. Um, one of the allowable uses for minor subdivisions is to um, subdivide a portion of one property and add it to the next. So, no new parcels are being created. It's just the simple transfer of land from one to the next. Um, in your packet, >> [clears throat] >> um, after the memo or after in the resolution, there's a map. Um, the logic of English property is property A. The property they're looking to subdivide and have added to theirs is property B. Um, if you look at the map, there's kind of a uh the outline portion in red um is in between the Logic of English property and the highway, but it's actually owned by the property owner to the north. Kind of a goofy setup. Um, it's remnants of when they platted Highway 52 many years ago. Um, doesn't really make sense. Logic English has expressed the interest um in purchasing that from the property owner to the north just so they own the frontage to Highway 52 there. Um to us it makes a lot of sense. The land owner to the north um agrees they have a contract uh purchase agreement in place. Um we had Bob Mos's office do a title opinion on this. Um the land is free and clear for that transfer um in their plat opinion. So before you is a resolution 2642. There is a handout. Um the resolution that you have in front of you differs slightly from the one in the packet. Um, in speaking to Bob, he suggested including the full legal property descriptions of the properties as they sit now, as well as the legal description of the parcel that will be transferring. That way, the the county has all of the information um when this gets recorded that they should be able to accomplish what we're requesting. So, um W I want to give a shout out to WSC on the engineering firm working with the applicant. They were extremely helpful in getting that information over to me. everything I have asked about beyond. So, >> and just to kind of note here at the planning and zoning, it was stated to that it's not reszoning any of the land. It's just transfer of land. So, >> I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2642 approving the minor subdivision. >> I second that. All in favor, Delina. >> I, Vernon, >> I, and I. We'll move on to resolution 2643, approving the final PL for the Walther edition. >> So, in your packets, you have an application for a preliminary and final plat. Um, our platting ordinance allows preliminary and final plats to run together. um in the case of efficiency and you know if everything looks to be in order with the city being the one doing the planning on this and being the applicant um it seemed to be the most efficient use um of time and dollars to run those together since we would be the ones reviewing um the plat anyways. So what we have here is plat of approximately 22 acres to create eight um new commercial lots and one outlot. This is of course the Walter property on the north um side of town along County Road 11. Um we had a public hearing before our planning commission um last week. They approved the recommendation um unanimously to plat this. Um I know we've had conversations in the past. The outlot that's being created um would hopefully be eligible for sale to um current property owners up there. And this would allow for additional commercial space and um possible city facility space in the future. Um we did send out the plat to Good Hugh County. Um they had some comments on the access point. They just wanted to confirm that all access would run through um what's platted as an extension of Second Street. Um and then all access to the lots internally would be off of that road. That was kind of what our assumption would Also, they just didn't want multiple access points off County Road 11. Um, they did also have some comments about if traffic counts were to grow over time um as that becomes more developed, the addition of possible turn lanes um off of County 11. So, that's just something that we'll have to keep in mind as things get built out up there. But, that was really their only comment. Um, we did send it off to MDOT as well um a couple months ago and we have not heard anything from them. So it must not be a real concern of ours. >> Good news, right? >> Does border Lindot property. >> So would the construction of the road through there would that be 37 feet then or wider to accommodate a turn lane as well from the >> Yeah. So, um, the roadway itself, Second Avenue, which is shown at 37 just on Tuesday because there may be auto turn for the county. >> Yeah, I know on 11, but we would probably if that becomes a high traffic area would want turn lanes maybe on ours. >> Yeah, potentially. Um, you know, majority of the trail head is probably going to be made over there. We could widen that entrance um to accommodate to the other lane um to to for those rides, but mainly that traffic would be traffic east. >> Okay. >> But yeah, >> because that would be I guess a future concern if since it's stubb to go continue on, we don't know what the future will be for that draft coming. Yeah. silver. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Right where it leads us up to 11. >> Our our road, not county road. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Mayor, >> if I may, I have one question for staff for Stephen. Uh, now I've lost my page. Oops. Uh, well, I'm finding it. Uh, Stephen, there are three conditions in the resolution for approval. Uh the second condition uh refers to um I think refers to buyer developer in the future completing grading and other um engineer recommended uh things on the site. >> The first condition refers to completion of I found it now completion of storm water treatment ponding uh improvements. I I take it that's the future developer that would be doing that too or is that a condition that would be done now? >> So I believe that would be condition that would be completed by the city. Um the parcel in which the pond sits on is a property that the city intends to attain. Um there is an existing pond or the subdivision directly to the west. So this would be an addition to that pond. The city is going to assume ownership that portion of the pond also. So then this way we would just own the whole pond and it will sit outside. >> Great. So mayor, if I can just follow up. So I guess I'm just trying to get at um often when a final plat approval has conditions, condition one, for example, would be a condition that has to be completed before the plat gets recorded. I take it given that the city is the owner in the platter. We're saying we're not saying that. I'm just trying to make a record that we can record the plat [clears throat] even in advance of those ponding improvements being completed and that's what's intended. >> The intention would be that we would be able to record the plot plat without those improvements and those improvements would come at the time of the other public improvements like we got out. >> Okay, very good. Thank you. >> It does stay in there too, Bob, that the uh developer shall you know. >> Yeah, it indicates that when we do develop it, it needs to have that in there. It'll actually it'll actually need to be done I think when the road goes in because that's our water basin that storm drains are going to. >> Yeah. Yeah. And mayor and council I don't want to make too big of an issue of it but you're exactly right council member. The second condition says that the future future buyer developer is going to do the grading and utility stuff. Um one doesn't say one way or the other. And so I just want to make a record of the fact that >> the city's going to do it but we can record the plat before the city does it and we we've done that. So, we're we're good to go. I think >> you're right. Yeah. Number one didn't have that, but yeah, it says Dumbledore. >> I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2643, the final plot for Walter Edition. >> I second. >> I'll approve. Delina >> I >> Dan >> I >> I now we'll move on to public works and engineering we have item A request to approve the aquatic center slide pay application number three. >> So before you council is still kind of wrap up of summer projects. We have pay application number three for the water slide project um from this summer. Uh as you may remember from last meeting we did withhold this at the time um just because there was still some cleanup work that had to be done. We there were some timeline issues that were addressed with the um the contractor. Uh we met with them at the pool. Um they were very agreeable to um some suggestions we had uh for the cosmetic work and some additional um additional work that they would do um on the pool to make good for um kind of that lapse in timelines. Um so we have a list of of work for them to do down there. So that's why we're moving forward with pay application number three. This is really the biggest payout of the project. Um that accounts for most of the slide and pump delivery and install. Um there is a fourth pay application of the retainage of about $25,000. Um that one we're going to hold on to until next month. Um just so we can get some more details of the book that they're going to do uh in writing before we release that change. So we're kind of peacemealing this out, but this should be a good portion of their budget cost. Awesome. >> I'll make a motion to approve the aquatic center slide pay application number three. >> I second. >> I'll approve. Delena >> I. >> Vernon. >> Hi. >> Noi. I. We'll move on to B resolution 2644 accepting bid for the water service replacement program. >> Okay. Good evening Mayor and council. So, um, if you remember, the Department of Health has made it, um, a goal to replace all lead and galvanized service lines, water service lines, um, in the state. And the city did receive a million dollars in grant funding, uh, for 47 uh, service line replacements. And, um, so recently we opened bids on the, uh, on the replacement of those 47 lead service lines. Uh, we received, uh, seven bids and the low bid was BCM Construction. uh they're out of farbo in the amount of $619,936. Um so it's well under the million dollars that was um that was included in the funding. Um that million um or above that $619 for construction would include reimbursement of our costs as well for designing and oversight and and that as well. So, um, so the, uh, recommendation, uh, from staff is to award to, uh, BCM Construction in the amount in the amount of $619,936. Uh, the next step in this, if approved here tonight, would be to, uh, send uh, this information with the award up to the uh, public facilities authority. They're overseeing this program. And, uh, and then we would see receive another grant agreement. We had the master agreement that Bob and his team reviewed. Uh we'd receive another um agreement that would be project specific uh for this. And um we we're expecting that within the next couple months. So this work would um happen next spring and uh likely I don't think there's going to be time to get these done here this year. Um and then uh but from the time we get the grants um um all executed, grant agreement executed, we have two years to spend the fund. So um so again, the recommendation would be to award them. >> So in theory, they have two years to get done. >> Correct. Yep. >> Anticipated by question when? >> Yes, that's right. >> And you've worked with BCM before? >> We have. Yep. Yep. They're a good reputable contractor. Um they do good work. So >> no concern. >> Yep. They do. All right. >> Any further questions? >> No other questions. >> Thank you. Make a motion to approve resolution 2644 accepting the uh bid for water replacement program. >> I second that. I'll >> approve. Delina >> I >> Vernon >> I >> I we'll move on to the request to approve the parking lot improvement at trailhead park. >> So we have three quotes before you this evening. Uh what this would do is it would remove the existing concrete pad uh in front just east of the cheese factory building. Um it would run all the way from kind of where um the existing concrete was now all the way down through barike um all the way to the path I believe. And so that concrete is literally breaking and um breaking up before our eyes. And so it's starting to cause um major tripping hazards. It's just hard to get around down there. And so we did uh try to bring this to the park board. Uh we've been having difficulties getting a quorum um during the park board. However, the present members at the park board did refer it to city council um for approval uh of the work and they were in support of it although they come to a formal vote. There are three quotes. The lowest quote is from SL Contracting for $31,770. I believe the work could be done yet this fall. Um, and so then we can get that smoothed out. They could read you uh the portion. Um, so I I think a reason why there's such a big discrepancy between their quote and the other two quotes is they are already doing work in town on other projects. And so they uh didn't have to put their mobilization fees on this. And so that is why there's such a discrepancy. nothing. Um the the work is the same between the folks. >> So the area that they're moving the concrete removing the concrete, are they putting concrete back or it's going to be asphalt to ash, right? >> Y just asphalt. >> Yep. >> Correct. >> And it'll continue all the way to the end of borrowed lake. >> Borrowed lake all the way down. >> Yep. >> Yeah. There was some discussion with the park board about possible um doing some sort of landscaping something like that. Um it was ultimately decided that rather than doing landscaping in the ground um we would pave all the way to um actually we're leaving a 6 in 12 in 6 in 6 in buffer along the cheese factory just because we don't want to dig right next to the cheese factory due of historic nature. And so we would leave six um inches of concrete and dig down. And then the parkour does plan on doing getting some large planters and doing some uh landscaping on some large planters there along the cheese pack. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I'll make a motion to approve the parking lot improvements at trail head. with SNL contractor. >> I'll second. >> I'll approve. Elena, >> Vernon, >> IB. It would be nice to finally get that taken care of. >> Um, the next one we have is request to approve the 2026 street improvement project pay application number four. >> Okay, mayor and council. So this is uh for work completed on the 26th street project here in through the month of August and that would include um some of the surfacing items, aggregate base, some of the utilities and everything that has been completed to date. Um so the pay request amount is in the um in the amount of $579,59067 and um we would still have close to $64,000 retained. that would be 5% of the contract um amount or the work completed to date. So, uh we would recommend uh going ahead with um and authorizing payment for that. >> Do we know when they're going to be doing side ops and stuff out here yet? >> Well, yeah. So, just a quick update on schedule. So, um their completion date is the end of the month. So, uh we are um anticipating it's going to be close to that. Um we have a another meeting. We've um asked for an updated schedule for them because that date is rapidly approaching here, but um econ is supposed to uh continue here this week with the surfacing items in the next uh couple weeks here. So um so it's anticipated that we're going to be very close to being done by the end of the month, but um it may may run over just a touch, but we'll get a better idea from them uh from Elcon here this week. So does that include like the seating and stuff too that is supposed to be done or is it just the roadway? >> Yep. So it is it would include the siding as well. Okay. >> Yep. >> Yep. That's that's what the completion um date was set for. The substantial completion includes all the work on the project uh with the exception of the final lift of pavement which will happen next year and then structure adjustment as well. So, >> we're quite thankful they got that area by the school done in time for school. >> Yeah, that was uh that was that was good. >> But yes, but it was good. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Any questions? >> I make a motion to approve the 2026 street improvement project pay application number four. >> I second. >> I'll approve Elena. I >> Vernon >> I >> and I'll be I we'll move on to resolution 2645 ordering the assessments. >> Okay. So the next couple items kind of go hand in hand here. The uh state statute requires us to hold a public hearing on the proposed assessments on the project. Um typically um as we as we gear up to uh end the project here uh we've had this at the end of the year um following the uh substantial completion. So that would be um October 6th is when we're planning to have the uh public hearing. Uh there was a special council meeting or um work session I guess planned for that night as well. So uh looking to um um have that at 6:00. Um but as we look at the resolutions, the first item uh would be to look at the um um at the uh cost to be assessed to the property owners. So in total the project cost is estimated to be around 2.64 64 million. Um, and that's estimated because we are estimating some of the costs for next year for the final lift of of pavement and then some of the items uh that they need to wrap up with here uh towards the end of the month as well. Um, of that 2.64 uh the uh assessment amount based on your assessment policy is $561,730.74. So uh looking that to that uh for that amount to spread across um the property owners based on the assessment policy. So um again that first uh resolution 2645 is declaring the cost to be assessed and then ordering the proposed assessment. So um if approved we'll go ahead and get all the individual letters uh sent out uh or prepared and sent out to the uh residents. We'll be doing that here this month or this week, sorry. Um and then uh that'll give them a minimum of two weeks notice uh per the statute. So it'll also come out in the paper twice um for notice of the hearing. So we'll send that certified mail. We'll >> make a motion to approve resolution 2645 ordering assessments. >> Second. >> All in favor Delena. I >> Vernon >> I >> and I'll be I and then we have 2646 ordering the public hearing on assessments which is set for October 6 at 6 p.m. >> and make a resolution to approve 2646 ordering the public hearing on assessments for October 6 at 6 p.m. >> Second. All in favor Delena Ian >> I thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thanks Craig. And then we have the request to approve the Hillrest water tower change order. >> Yep. And we'll tackle that one here next month. We'll get that in front of you. Um might be able to get the memo to you in time. So um we'll also have that along with a uh with a pay application which we just received uh from the contractor. So that contract amount is 395,000 uh for the rehabilitation of the Hillrest water tower. um uh that progress has been um uh being made and it's that they're doing a very good job uh with that. Uh but that change order is due to the insulation um on the water stand pipe that comes into the into the tower. Um it was um the plan was originally to remove that and then replace that. However, it was u um it was water logged and it had a lot of uh condensation, a lot of water in it. So, uh, we're just re re, uh, recommending to replace that, um, with some new insulation. So, uh, that would be in the amount of a little over $7,000 to do that. So, just an FYI for you this month. So, >> so deferred until next month. >> Deferred to next month. >> Perfect. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah. >> Thanks. >> All right. We'll move on to legal. How are you, B? >> Yeah, I'm very good, mayor and councel. Um, thanks for letting me walk in four minutes late. Um, I don't have anything that I need to tell you about. I'm happy to answer questions, but uh, nothing I need to formally report. >> Sounds good. >> We'll move on to claims. >> I make a motion to approve claims. >> Second. >> All approved. Elena >> I. >> Vernon. >> I. >> Nelie. I. Now we'll move on to the monthly reports. Elizabeth. Uh, I'll just give a shout out. So, I don't think we have anyone here from the fire department, but on Friday for September 11th, our fire department um uh they helped the um various organizations of Pan Island and they did a salute to service program at the home football game and then they also did um a little presentation Mary and we were there at the American Legion. So, I just wanted to give them a shout out of taking time out of their week to do that for our community. It was very great. >> We got a lot of positive comments back on that. So, thank them for this. >> All right. Now, we have the library. How are you, Rachel? >> We're good, too, [clears throat] >> though. Library life has been busy. Of course, I was out last week enjoying the Northshore and the North Woods, so I got my report in early. Thank you so much for letting me do that, city staff, and for uh you all for approving my new hire. So, that'll be very exciting. Joseph will start with us next week. So, looking forward to that. Uh we are looking at having a library board retreat this fall. Um we are actually it's going to probably get pushed now to the uh first of the year just due to scheduling issues. Um, but we do currently have uh two openings that'll be opening up in January and another that's open now um due to our resignation. So, if anyone is interested, please reach out to me. Either call the library or email me or stop in or whatever and I'll give you more information on that. Uh, if you pass the library last month, end of the month, you may have seen Heidi and or I with nets outside. We caught and trapped um monarch butterflies and tagged them. So when they make their trip south, they will hopefully show up on any of the censuses that they do down there for the monarchs and just really the kids were really really interested and parents to to hear about the project and uh we actually spread the word and it sounds like a couple other families will be doing that next year with us. So super fun. >> So how do you tag butterflies? >> Very carefully. Um they all have um you there's a organization that you pay to get the kit. >> Yeah. >> And then you get tiny little stickers. They're about a quarter the size of your pinky nail. >> Okay. >> And you there's each monarch has a mitten shape on one of their w on their on the outside of their wings and that's where those stickers go. They each get one and then you measure them and you identify if they're a male or a female and that way they can just get a little bit of data as well. So, it's kind of nice to fail. >> It's a lot of fun. Oh, we'll make sure we just publicize it next year so you can maybe come by and see what it's like. Otherwise, America 250 is coming up quickly here for the library programming. I have um things starting on the 22nd. We'll be in a high school forum room with the history of the American flag. That's through the um flag store out of Rochester Herid flags Heralds. I'm really looking forward to that. Um he's going to have a lot of good examples for us. And then we also have Minnesota and the Civil War. That'll be a little bit more of an interactive program on the 28th. Um that's a really highly um requested or not requested but recommended speaker, Arank Kind. Um so looking forward to seeing him. The Legion will be doing a presentation on flag etiquette on the 6th. We're having our history of American beer at this brewery on the October 14th. All are welcome to that. There's no registration, but if you want to sample the beer that she's making for us, you do have to be drinking age of 21. >> What's that? >> Does that call like is there going to be an October fest this year? Do you know? >> I would believe I would bet there will be. I have not talked to Anna about that though. And then we also just give a heads up, we have a reading challenge going on right now. Um, I don't think we've received any fulfilled um, sheets yet, but if you're interested in doing a reading challenge and getting put in a couple of drawings, stop by, pick up a sheet. Uh, we also have uh, fall story time and all those good things starting up. Story time is moving from Wednesdays to Thursdays this fall. And then we've also got our snack time book club, which is for more middle school kids. And then books at the brewery. I think she had 30 people at the August one. um where she's telling stories that they'll um South by Southeast. They have a used book seller there with uh they've got a bus that they sell out of and then I think Ann and the crew at South by Southeast are also doing promotions and special things for the kids. So, lot of fun times there. There's a couple more coming up. And that's about what I have. Are there any questions for me? >> Are your mechanicals all working? >> Mechanicals are all working. We actually had our gas meter replaced today and then he made sure that everything was working after that. So, yeah, very exciting to have a have air conditioners and boilers all ready for uh winter coming up here. >> Okay, good. >> I know we're in that weird phase right now. >> The middle stage is the hardest. Yes. >> Oh, thank you so much. >> We have public works. Well, what if I we wanted to hear you talk? [laughter] >> Couple of things. Uh Bryson staff started removals on park equipment trail head backed it all out, ready to grade a little bit. And then on the first phase of mill and overlay, we're about 95% done. They just got manhole cings to do. I guess they pretty much finished up tonight. So >> So all good things. >> Thank you. >> EDA. >> Yes. Good evening, council. Um, so I just want to give a brief update on Lincoln Industries. I I'm sure everyone is aware that Lincoln has announced their closure with most staff being laid off uh starting October 26th um with some staff remaining on until about April uh 1st of next year and which at that point the plant will be closed permanently. Um so as far as what we're working to do from the EDA perspective is we're working to touch base with Lincoln Industries management. Uh we were uh sent a letter by their director of people relations. So, I'm working to get in touch with her with a primary goal of possibly getting workforce development or other organizations in there to help employees make that transition to a new uh job. Um, after that, we'll be thinking about what's next for that building. It's about 65 70,000 square feet there. Um, so just try to work with Lincoln, figure out when they're going to list that property at some point next year. Uh, any contaminations on site, what do we do with that? Um, and just start working through that process. Uh but I just wanted to give you all an update that just letting you know that we are aware and we are working through some of that right now. >> And I did see that some of the businesses around like uh Lando Lakes and few others were hiring people or had positions open. >> Yep. Yeah. Some some local businesses absolutely have positions open. I don't know if we'd be able to absorb all 55 people who are going to be laid off, but it should be able to absorb some of that. >> Yeah. for the chemicals or the hazardous stuff. Is that from the plating that was done in that building or >> I I I can't say for sure right now. We would have to do some phase one, phase two uh environmental assessments before we'd be able to answer any of those questions. >> Okay. Thank you. >> No problem. >> Thanks, Mitch. >> Thanks. >> We have one from the fire department. I don't think so. Go County Sheriff's Office. Mayor, council, staff don't have much for you this time, which always a good thing, right? So, you guys have anything for us at all? >> How are things progressing on the ebike situation? >> I would say that's continuing to be a work in progress for the sheriff's office. So, and it's not just the sheriff's office, it's communities nationwide. you know, it's uh I just saw recently there's a bigger city in the state that had a ebike takeover and it was kind of intense. So, we're hoping that doesn't happen in the county here, but uh we're trying to make preparations and trying to get things figured out on on that aspect. So, [snorts] more so we've gone on the lines of education first with the young kids and then uh the enforcement side will maybe hopefully not have to come but might have to come later. that working through the SRO there at the school and >> yeah, you know, I'm sure there's a lot of things going on there. I can't speak for what uh SRO Mavs has been doing down there. Um but I'm sure we do a lot of mini outreach through the school with him as well. So, yeah, >> council, I do have a quick update on that. Um, SRO Maze did stop into city hall and kind of gave us a rundown what he's doing at the school um and kind of gave us an update on the information that they've worked into their programming over there. Um, it sounds like they've worked it into their DARE programming um and have a whole portion on eBike education um at different grade levels out there. So, that has already been implemented. They're working on that. >> Good. >> All right. Thank you. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. Anything else? >> No. Thank you. >> All right. Thanks for your time. >> Yep. Nothing for cemetery boards license bureau. >> Anything for North Dumbo sanitary district? >> Anything for the northro sanitary district? >> Uh no, we just continue to meet. Uh the district is looking at having a joint city council meeting um in November. That way any newly elected officials from any of the communities could attend as well. Um, and that way we could bring everyone up to speed and we could put it before the four city councils on just what decisions have to be made since we received state funding those timelines. Uh, we have four years I believe to expend those funds. And so we do need to um decide if we're going to move forward, if we're going to wait for another bonding cycle to receive the rest of the funding, if we're going to implement phasing. And so the engineers have been working hard to figure out what the different options could be so that they can be presented to all the uh councils. >> And mayor, I can I can add taking off my city attorney hat and putting on my um North Zumbro attorney hat. Um I I have been tasked with uh working now on getting the joint powers group, the the city uh uh cooperative agreement group turned into a actual district with taxing authority and with authority to to uh to do the things that need to be done. So that that seems like a big legal step forward in the progress of the district. >> In order to accept the funds, I think we have to do that, right? If I read that correctly. >> Yeah. And you know just I I know you all understand this but for the edification of the public uh you know that the sewer district has authorities statutory authorities uh once it's formed to do things um beyond what the joint powers group could do including as you're pointing out receiving and expending the money for something other than planning activities actual construction activities. uh and then obviously raising the funds and spending the funds to to have the up and operating sanitary sewer service for the for the member cities. So there are a lot of things that the district can do including receiving the money that uh the joint powers group can't can't do. >> I think with that board I think there would be a representative from all five parties involved. Right. >> Yeah. Um under the joint powers agreement um any step forward toward formation of the district will have including the the uh the non- voting member the the uh the tribe um will have input and they there'll be more process before we actually have a district. But yes, um you're right that they all have uh representation. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Beth. >> All right, it looks like we're up for a journey. Make a motion to adjurnn. >> I second. All in favor say I.