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Pine Island Communications's Zoom Meeting

Pine IslandWednesday, July 22, 2026
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Call the uh July 21st city finance and city council meeting order. Still stand for pledges, please for the allegiance. I alian to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Great. Uh, first item of business adopt agenda. Can I get a motion on this? >> Hello. Do I get a second? >> Second. Motion in a second. I >> Holton. >> Hi. >> Randy. >> Hi. >> Verdon. >> I. >> That takes us to the consent agenda. Item A, June 16th, 2026, regular council meeting minutes. B, request to serve alcohol on public property. C, raffle permit for WGA for kids on September 19th, 2026 at Trailhead Grill. Request to sell corn at the city parking lot on County Road 11. E. Resolution 2629 accepting donations. F. Request to approve extension of recording deadline. G. Request to approve additional cameras at Aquatic Center. H. Request to approve water tower antenna quote. And I, request to approve updated personal policy. >> I'll move the consent agenda. >> Have a second. >> And a second. Elena. >> Hi, >> Wilton. >> Hi, >> Randy. >> Hi, >> Vernon. I That takes us to public input. Um, again, we'll ask that you refrain and uh give you two minutes after you state your name and address. And, uh, first person to call up signed up is Doug Sailor. Hello, my name is Doug Taylor. I live at 970 Solomon land southwestern pine. I worked in the technology industry for 20 plus years and I'm here because tight air fin. In the past months, some opponents have resisted this project with a level of aggression that does not reflect who we are as a community. This agreement is healthy and it's necessary, but hostility, personal attacks and attempt to intimidate our community leaders and businesses do not help us make better decisions. Look around this room. Both of us in maroon and gold inside and out and the majority of the pine island community supports the decision to move forward with this project. We are here because we believe in Pine Island and we believe in the thought leadership the city has shown. Project Skyhole will support local businesses and prepare Tine Island for controlled growth. That growth matters especially for our schools. With reduced state funding, our school district is facing real financial pressures. Without new revenue, we could be looking at an operating levy just to maintain basic services and opportunities for our greatest assets, our kids. Project Skyway is a key part of the future. We would generate hundreds of millions of tax revenue with minimal traffic impact on traffic noise and city service facilities will be designed to be quiet, contained, and low impact. Compared to the constant traffic on 52, the noise will be negative. There have also been concerns about water use. project will use a closed loop cooling system which continues to recycle sustained water rather than drawing large amounts from the city. It self-contained process to specifically avoid burdening local water resources. Project Skyway will be regulated by the state of Minnesota and the public utilities commission. Its energy man has been evaluated, planned for, indeed manageable than the state's existing infrastructure has been studied to meet our state standards for clean energy and large tariffs. So it does not increase energy cost to our residents. Council members, we thank you for your time, your leadership, and your guidance from the noise. We stand with you. We support you on project Saturday. We are also calling on NCEA to drop their lawsuit against Ryan companies in the city so the partnership of Google, Excel, Brian Companies, and the city can move forward. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, Jason Lindall. Good evening. My name is Jason Lindall. I reside at 10678 105th Street Northwest. I'm here to um show my support for the entire community, each and every person in it. Um I may not have anything to gain from this project, but our community does. Our schools will get funding, our infrastructures will get improved, right? and our business economy will grow. I would ask that the entire community that I'm here to support, whether you agree with me or disagree with me, please stop with the baseless accusations, they do they do hurt and they do matter. And this project may or may not go forward. But a year from now, 10 years from now, there's a community that needs to be together that needs to be able to go back to a time that I remember where we walked up and down the sidewalk, whether it was a farmer, a business owner, a resident that worked out of town, it didn't matter. You could say hello, go into the rainbow, have some breakfast, and talk about your disagreements. But in but in the end, we've we've resorted to attacks on on one's way of life, right? I'm a I'm a resident of this community. I fought to get back here. I had a life. I had a life with my family in a neighboring community 15 miles away. When I saw families that I grew up with moving to that community, saying how that community is better, I made a decision. It wasn't a decision to better my pocketbook. I bought the one house I could buy and that was my grandparents from from their estate when they were gone. If I could do anything over again, it would be move back here sooner to enjoy more time with them. But it was with a purpose to do something for the community. The first thing I did was took a job at the school and quit my electrical job, which has come under attack this last week as being something I do for an easy buck. It's not the case. It's hard work and love of this community. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Wendel Zort. Good evening. My name is Wendell Sward. I live at 838375th Avenue Northwest Orco. As some of you might be aware, I'm uh also involved in Progressive Tool Manufacturing. There are four businesses that right in our neighborhood. PTM, Lincoln Industries, uh the Farmers Elevator, and of course, Land of Lakes. The reason I mention that is that we're all been there about 50 years. And uh in today's world, I don't know if we could get approval. All of us process things. The data center processes data. At PTM, we make steel parts and plastic parts. We process steel into a finished product. Lincoln industries, they they take tubing and they make various products out of that. And there's also pleading involved. Farmers elevator, they're far grain. They they take all the grain from the country around here and process it, dry it, and there's a lot of fertilizer that they sell. Can you imagine the number of truck traffics that come the truck traffic that comes into the farmer's elevator? Land of lakes, they process what? Milk. They make a lot of good products. There's butter, cheese, all kinds of things like that. all the semis that bring the milk in there, the traffic and the noise. That's one of the the criticisms, the power usage, the noise, you know, and the traffic. It it's just a incredible to think how many businesses would be not be allowed to be today if they were condemned for these three items. We make a lot of noise at PTM. You got to wear ear protection in the plant. But outside our plant, you can sit down and have a lunch and it's quiet as a mouse outside. And most of these businesses try to control their thing. You know, the farmer's elevator, they've got fans going, you can hear it all the time. But actually you you the biggest noise that we have in the in the northwest part of Pine Island there is the traffic that comes off Highway 52 and Lando Lakes. How much power do they use? My my power bill last month was $25,000 at PTM. I'm the smallest company in that area. Lincoln's is more. Farmers Elevator is more. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry. >> We're at our two minutes. Can you wrap it up, please? >> Okay. Thank you for your efforts. I'm for the project. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Linda. >> Next up, Suzanne Blades. Good evening. Susanna Blazic, 1315 County 03 Southwest Pine Island. I want to take a couple of minutes to introduce myself properly and let you know about something I'll be doing for our community in August. I live just south of the Middle Fork Zumbra River with my husband and our four kids aged four, six, eight, and 10. In the years that we've lived here on Pine Island, we've grown deep roots and built a very strong community. By profession, I'm a researcher. I hold a PhD in social psychology from the University of Minnesota. I've spent the last 15 plus years designing and analyzing surveys and public opinion research. I've published in peer-review journals and I've spent my career at the intersection of data and people trying to understand what people and organizations actually think and need, not just what we assume they think and need. I say this to you to be very transparent because I take this kind of work seriously and I do it carefully. I'm here tonight to let you know that during the month of August, I'll be conducting an independent community sentiment survey of Pine Island and the township residents on the topic of the proposed hypers scale data center. I want to be stren I want to be straightforward about what this is and what it isn't. It is not an official city process. I'm not doing this on behalf of any advocacy group and I'm not here to push this community in any one direction. My goal is to give all of us a fair and structured way to put their views on record and to give this council a verified, credible snapshot of where your constituents stand so that your deliberations are as well informed as possible. The survey will run through August. Responses will be verified against Good Hugh County public records. Results will be posted publicly live on a website throughout the month of August. And once verification is complete, I'll compile a summary alongside a collection of residents direct messages to the council which I will submit to you formally in an open letter. I've left printed out FAQs at the back of the room and I'll email you the project plan. I'd be happy to answer any questions about the methodology and I welcome your awareness of this effort. Thank you. >> Thank you, Reverend Davis Dirkson. Reverend David Dirkson. I live at 340 Prairie View Drive, Northeast Pine Island, Minnesota. On May 22nd, 2026, just weeks before construction was expected to begin, the court ruled in MCA's favor. The order required the developer to stop all construction and pre-construction activities until the lawsuit was resolved found that MCEA has a likelihood of succeeding on the merits and denied the city and developers request dismiss the lawsuit. This courtroom win, the first in MCA's data center cases recognize that the city's environmental review should be fully examined for compliance with Minnesota law before any data center should be built. I'm quoting MCEA from their own website as far as how they read the injunction. Now, in this evening's summarized minutes from last meeting, it says for the same injunction, construction issues on hold until the plaintiffs receive additional information. Rather, isn't it? My point in that is that it's important that we are honest and accurate in what we depict. I've seen a pattern where things are presented as if we have no other option that we're mere victims of the process. But I want to tell you tonight, you guys have choices. You have options. I understand as someone who works for the government that sometimes those options are limited, but you do have options. One of those options is to be accurate in how you report what's going on so the public can hear that clearly. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Aubrey Dirkson. Aubrey Dirkson, Pine Island. I heard it reported that you admitted to making some mistakes in the process of this publicly, but it wasn't to the people that mattered. So, I'm giving you the chance to go on the record live and repeat that to the people here in the room to whom it actually matters. >> Are you talking to me? >> Yes. >> I'm looking at you >> clearly. What would you like me to say? I'd like you to go on the record and repeat what you had said to the people that did not matter. >> That did not matter. Every person matters. >> You went on the record apparently to a different community admitting that you made mistakes in this process. Not once according to the people present in this other community. That's what they are going out publicly saying. So if that is the case, >> the only >> your chance now is to go publicly on the record. >> The only thing that was said was that we wish we had started the website earlier for more transparency. That's the only thing. >> You wish you had started the website sooner. >> Yeah. The to be more public. That is what was said. So that the transparency issue wouldn't have been a concern. >> Is that the only thing that you consider to be transparency is a website? >> No. >> What else would you consider to be transparency? >> What else? >> Um all the meetings that we had, all the public hearings that we had, but I'll let you have a little extra time because we're talking back and forth and that doesn't normally happen. So, if you have anything else you would like to say, report. >> Nope. >> Thank you, >> Brad Lanners. Rod Lanners, 18 Island Heights Court, Northeast in Rod in Pine Island, Minnesota. Good evening. Your first duty as city leaders is not to protect the interests of a trillion dollar corporation. It is to protect the health, safety, and quality of life of people in Pine Island. No family should be asked to sacrifice their peace, health, or property so Google can expand its infrastructure. No amount of tax revenue is worth gambling with a community well-being. One of the most serious concerns is the relentless lowfrequency noise produced by industrial cooling systems operating 24 hours a day. This is not ordinary noise. It can travel for miles, penetrate homes. It cannot be effectively mitigated once these facilities are built. Research has linked chronic exposure to sleep disruption, stress, headaches, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, increased cardiovascular risk, and adverse effects on children's cognitive development. Some sound experts recommend setbacks of at least 2 and a half miles because distance is the only consistently effective protection. You have been repeatedly notified about these concerns. Yet, you have chosen to move forward without fully investigating or addressing them. That decision and its consequences rest with you. Ask yourselves who benefits and who bears the cost. The answer must not be Pine Island families. A recent Gallup poll shows that 71% of Americans do not want AIDS centers built in their communities. We are not for fearmongers or guinea pigs. We are your neighbors. We are your constituents. Put residents health and safety before corporate interest. Do not allow Pine Island families to become collateral damage. Thank you. >> Thank you. Beth Anthony. >> Good evening, Pine Island community, friends, neighbors, city officials, and representatives of Project Skyway. My name is Beth Anthony, and I'm a resident at 49550 195th Avenue in Pine Island Township. I want to thank you for the opportunity to address all in attendance, whether they're here in person or digitally online. Regardless of any of our personal opinions and beliefs about AI and any form of digital platforms, it is the worldwide future. I would ask that with this this in mind, let us be able to listen with open minds hearing what is shared this evening in a spirit of community and respect. These facts are important to me and I would like to just reiterate them. Google will fund 100% of the cost of its new energy service and infrastructure. This is not PA taxpayers money, but it will strengthen our energy resources, not deplete them. Google has already pledged 24 million educational dollars to the Pine Island schools. Google will bring jobs, more industry, more opportunities, and a projected $1.1 billion worth of Excel Energy's benefits to its customers over the next 15 years. Google will help provide an opportunity for $130 million worth of new city property tax revenue. I have come to the conclusion that opposing data centers in general and project skyway in particular is not in the best interest for accomplishing positive outcomes and outcomes in the world's inevitable future which is technology. I suggest that we begin to work with technology for the good. We cannot partner in the future if we are constantly resisting it. Accountability is key, but we also owe it to our families, communities, and al by also being held accountable to what is true, our attitudes, what is positive for progress, and what needs to be addressed when changes come up in a civil way. Google has provided data center reports. Ryan company has kept us updated through project skyway fact sheets. And with a little responsible research, one can have access to many non-biased webs. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, that concludes the public input. Let's move on to the administration. First up, resolution 2630, appointing a mayor of Pine Island and declaring a council vacancy. Anybody want? >> I'll move to approve resolution 2630. >> Motion. Got a second. >> Second. >> Delena. >> I. >> Holton. >> Hi. >> Randy. >> Hi. >> Merlin. >> Hi. And u acting mayor, can you just uh two two points about that if I may, please? >> 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. And then maybe you want to just announce what what action was taken by that resolution since you got a bunch of people in the room. 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. >> Thank you. >> Anything else, Bob? >> No. Yeah. No, thank you. That's it. >> All right. Swear in. >> Hi, Brandy. >> Hi. Hey V and I >> we will administer the oath of office now and then I gave you a copy to read off it. Repeat after me. I vloggy Valo. Do solemnly swear or affirm that I support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Minnesota. Do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Minnesota. >> And that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of mayor. and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of mayor in jurisdiction of Pine Island to the best of my judgment and ability. In the jurisdiction of Pine Island to the best of my judgment and ability. >> Thank you. Thank you for that, >> Miss Mayor. If I may, um, just for some more context as well, typically when there's been vacancies in the past, the council has >> solicited letters of interest and has gone through an interview process because of the unique timing of this vacancy. uh because the filing period is open for mayor. That process would conclude after the filing period has ended and so council had decided to appoint the um longest serving council member to mayor to fulfill the rest of the term and any interested parties then um who would normally submit a letter of interest for the office for the vacancy can just file for um that. So filing is open through next Tuesday the 28th at 5:00 PM. Thank you. Um, we'll move on to B. A request to approve Pine Island Fire Relief Association SC26. [clears throat] >> Good evening, council. My name is Jordan They, president of the Pine Island Fire Department Relief Association. In front of you is the SC26. uh each year we come approach the council with either possibly increasing our uh annual benefit level or keeping it the same. Uh looking back at the past funds that we have equipped through the SBI fund, uh we are looking for an increase this year. We are currently sitting at 9,200. We're looking to increase that annual benefit level to 10,800. uh with some of the SC sheets sitting in front of you uh shows what we will uh be putting in for appreciation in the SC this year. Uh last year we had done a 50% increase based off of where we are sitting in the SBI market at that time in July. Uh this year we are looking at uh having an annual appreciation amount being 80,000 and pushing us down at the bottom of that page. It then shows that we are still 106% funded with the annual benefit level increasing to 10,800. On the last page that was uh given to you guys shows that on uh line R shows zero contribution required from the city uh with that amount. Some other things that we did look at, uh, our fire chief informed us that we might be looking at adding some new members to the department in the upcoming future. Uh, with that being a, uh, possibility of numbers fluctuating based on how many individuals get hired, uh, we then added three individuals to our SC just to see what the numbers would do fluctuating wise. uh ages do matter with the annual benefit level being able to be paid out when the retirement age of 50 is hit by that individual. Uh so birthdays do matter when it comes to that. Three different individuals that we put in there did a few different age amounts uh anywhere from someone that is in their upper 40s to someone that might be just coming out of high school. So, um, just want to see if you guys have any questions regarding the SC26 this year and answer them if need be. >> So, just to clarify, you put in a three person buffer, >> correct? Yep. So, I believe the SC that is sitting front of you guys tonight, um, it's John Doe. Just some madeup names down at the bottom, uh, showing what their age would be for that hiring. And cuz right now 10 years being uh vested is 60%, 20 years is fully invested. So we have three deferred members currently on the books. Uh that member that is next step will be two years away. So, but just wanted to pretty much say that, you know, it's our as a president of the relief, it's our fiduciary duty with the relief board to make sure that we're getting everybody um pretty much with the time that they put into our department, getting anything, you know, covered that we can. So, the funds are there. >> Miss Mayor, if I may. Um, so, uh, the SC in front of you does not have those Jane Doe's. Um, just the SC that would be submitted to the state is the one in front of you. Um, I did review though the SC, that was my question. Back to the fire relief is if we were to hire more firefighters, can um, the, uh, fund still support that and they had already done the work. Um, and it can, the reason this is before you because obviously the fire relief association is its own entity. They govern their own funds. The reason it is uh before you is 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. And so our relief association has been um very responsible with their uh investments and funds, but that is the reason that it is before you. And so there is a slight risk to the city just in the fact that if those funds were not available, we would still have to pay out those pensions. Any further question? >> Yeah. Mayor, can I chip in one one additional comment? Elizabeth Elizabeth said what I was going to say. She said it better than I would have, so I'm glad she did it. Uh that that's right. One of the reasons that cities, although fire relief associations that deal with your firefighters pensions are a separate entity and they do their own investing. There is a mathematical formula in in a statute that none of us we would be punished. You'd have to be in jail and made to do it uh to read the statute. It's unreadable. But there is a formula in it um that lays out the hypothetical chance for a city to have to make a contribution if the right market things happen and enough pensions have to be paid out. So she covered all that. The other thing I think it's important to point out is that um uh getting attracting firefighters and keeping them pensions are a very important part of that and of course that is your business. Uh this is your fire department and so having good qualified firefighters is a p the pension level is an important part of that. So that's sort of the other reason that you're asked to weigh in on that. So I just wanted to put that on the record. [clears throat] >> Elizabeth answered nine. >> Okay. >> Make a motion to approve uh the Pan Fire Relief Association SC 26. >> A second. >> I and I. >> Thank you. Council, >> thank you. >> Right. We'll move on to C resolution 2631 approving the THC business license to Island Tobacco. >> Uh mayor and councel, um before you there is a resolution for a THC business license. Um Island Tobacco has had this license in the past. Um there's been a change of ownership, so the new owner has to go through that licensing process again. Um, since the previous owner, uh, how THC licenses are processed has changed. Um, low potency hemp products were originally governed at the city level. Um, through legislation, the state has now taken that over. Um, so there is a specific low potency hemp edibles license through the office of cannabis management at the state level. Um, Island Tobacco has filed all the paperwork with OCM with the state. um and it has been approved, we get notification of that. Then the business comes to us for registration of that license. So this is the registration piece. Um everything is in line with the state and um as well as our ordinance. So um they paid the registration fee and they are good to go if approved. >> Any questions? >> It sounds like we're reapproving what we approved. I make a motion to approve resolution 2631 approving the THC business license to Island Tobacco. >> I second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> Randy is I look at T resolution 2632 approving intoxicating liquor license to Mama Sulies. Uh, Mama Soulies has applied for a liquor license for their soon to open restaurant. Uh, 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 >> and I think they're still thinking August, right? You know, >> I'm not sure on their exact date. >> Yeah. Any questions? >> The same business. We approved the facade. >> So, is there moving along? I make a motion to approve resolution 2632, the intoxicating liquor license to mama. >> I second. >> All in favor? Delina. >> I. >> Holton. >> I. >> Vernon. >> I. >> And I will be I will be. >> All right. We'll move to E. request to order trail head park equipment. >> Uh so this goes back to over a year ago. Last June of 2025, the city was notified that we are awarded a grant that we had applied for through the DNR to replace the trail head park uh playground equipment with uh accessible equipment in addition to the pore inplace rubber surfacing. And so the timeline uh you should have gotten notification of the grant agreement uh this past spring. However, unfortunately um they're actually federal funds that trickle down through the state uh through the DNR. And so um because of multiple backups uh at the federal government level due to the um different shutdowns and things like that over the course of the last year, they're a little bit backed up and so we have not gotten that grant agreement. They're still working on that. They've indicated that there's no reason why they wouldn't issue that. In the meantime, they have issued a letter which is in the packet that says uh if we want to pre-order the equipment for Trail Head 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. And so, uh, staff is before you today wondering what council would like to do. Again, we haven't been there hasn't been an indication that we won't receive the grant for 50% of the playground equipment. Uh however, we do need to be in a position that if we are committing to actually ordering the equipment, which we can do, it's a reimburseable expense uh when we get the grant agreement after the fact, but there is a slight risk to the city that we may not get reimbursed if something were to happen to that grant program. Again, they haven't indicated any of that, but um I just want to make sure all of that is um known before you. So each year that we do wait on the equipment, there's a slight cost increase. And so just in the last uh like 10 months, there's been a $13,000 increase in the same exact park equipment. We're expecting that to continue to increase. Um so if council is in the position to replace the equipment, no matter what, whether or not we got the grant, uh it would be my recommendation to order the equipment. That way we have the equipment on hand. So as soon as we get the grant agreement, we can move forward with the replacement of trailhead park. If not, then uh if we only want to replace the equipment with the grant, then we should wait for the grant agreement. We do. So the grant covers 50% of the cost. We are covering our portion of that 50% through the unrestricted uh capital equipment 250 fund. We do have enough funds in that account. Uh just a reminder, those are non- taxpayer dollars. Those are dollars that the city has received through land sales um and the sale of Evergreen Place. And so 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. >> Thank you. >> Did they give a timeline? Wouldn't they think >> they did not? So they they keep telling us hopefully soon. Yeah, >> we've been waiting for that since March. So, >> and after reading through this, they stated too that we can't start any like prep work. >> Correct. This would Yeah, the letter is only to authorize the equipment. So, we we could order the equipment just because the equipment can take um like 8 to 12 weeks just to get the equipment in. And so, this allows us to order the equipment so that if we were to receive the grant uh agreement in those uh two to three months, then as soon as we get the grant agreement, we can start work. We don't have to wait for the equipment to come. But there is that slight risk that then the city would be responsible for 100% of the cost. >> We can't do anything no stump removal or anything like that. So we're >> correct. Any reimburseable costs, >> right? >> This is something we had talked about >> even if we didn't get the grant that that was >> to make it ADA compliant is what we're after here. So >> I think that's a good idea though. >> Yeah. Um I'll make a motion to approve the request to order the trail head park equipment. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> I >> I thank you. That's a very exciting um resolution 2633 approving tobacco business license to Gas and Go. It's pretty straightforward. There's been a change of ownership at Gas and Go. They have applied for um their tobacco license to be able to sell. Everything is in order. They paid and they have uh submitted all the proper paperwork to the city. So, we have a full application. Do we have a do we know an estimated time of when they're worse? I mean, is this actually going to open? >> I'm not sure. We've just received the application. >> And then Goody County Sheriff's Office will be doing the checks on this, right? Again. >> Yeah. So, um the sheriff's department does all of our tobacco >> uh checks for the city >> compliance. So, okay. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> I make a motion to approve the resolution 2633 tobacco business license to gas and gold. >> Second. >> Delina. >> I >> Randy. We'll move to G. Resolution 2634 approving updated signitories. 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 Breeze and then add uh mayor vice stale. >> I make a motion to approve 2634 for the updated signitories. >> Second. We'll approve Selena. >> I will be I. >> All right. So, we're going to move on to planning commission. >> All right. Public works and engineering. Um, a we have a request to approve 2026 street improvement project pay application number two. >> Hi, good evening, mayor, members, council. Um, I just want to make one clarification. Uh up in the memo of this pay application, it's right, but down below it says pay application one amount due. That's actually pay application two amount due. Uh you guys accepted pay up one last council meeting of 195,000. This one's upwards of 134,000. Um majority of that is water and sanitary sewer on the street project here. Um and then all but a few of the services on the west side of First Avenue are done at this phase. Um they'll be opening up Second Street hopefully here in the next week or two. Um I know you'd asked about that last last meeting. So um yeah, I'll be around for any questions if you have any as as you look through it. >> Will that open as gravel for a while then? And >> well, they got you're saying this road? Yeah. >> Yeah, they got to finish up storm sewer first. They're doing that as right now. That'll take week or two. Um, and then they'll be right behind that storm sewer crew putting on gravel. And um, I think they're going to keep this access closed for the majority of the project until it's just about done. >> Um, just because it's a pretty major thoroughare. They don't want a lot of traffic on um, while they're still actively working on the site. Um, that being said, there'll be access for those homeowners from like the church parking lot. Okay. >> On the west. Is there any concern for dust control then or? >> Yeah, I mean that's a case by case basis. The wet the recent rain has definitely slowed them down a little bit but um >> could be dry now. >> Yeah, in the past we treated that with as I mean as it dries out and as they start to get gravel down. They have water trucks that um we'll call them if >> if it gets bad. >> Keep an eye on them. >> Yeah. Yep. >> For sure. >> This is like the normal schedule, right? For payments. >> Yeah. We did the last payment last month. >> Yeah, just once a month. >> Yes. >> And month by month expenses as I go. >> So, >> you got it. >> I will also add that we're having aformational >> meeting um neighborhood meeting for those impacted by the project on Monday the 27th at 6 p.m. >> here. >> Yep. >> 6 p.m. >> Yeah, we scheduled that because we're kind of in a point of transition with them about to really start underground on Second Street. Um, I know there's a lot of Willow Circle residents that are anxiously awaiting um a start time, too. So, we'll just touch on progress and give updates for the residents that are interested. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Make a motion to approve the uh 26th Street improvement project pay application number two. >> Second. >> All in favor? Delena? I >> Holton. >> Hi, >> Burden. >> Hi, >> Brad. I uh we'll move on to B. Request for additional stop signs. >> So, we have uh request for two stop signs in town. They just both happen to be at Third Street and Third Avenue. One on the west uh northwest and one on the northeast side. Uh the one on the northwest side is just a stop sign at a coming out of Collins Parking Lot. Uh typically when we put a stop sign coming out of a parking lot. However, 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. The other request is with the construction traffic at Logic of English and just with that intersection becoming a little bit more busy, there hasn't been any stop signs and um there's a T road there and so we're requesting a stop sign on the avenue and so the street would be through but then on Third Avenue turning onto Third Street because that is a um a T. So you would be forced to take a right or a left that there would be a stop sign there >> and the entrance to that um >> is off of >> English is off of third right >> street >> logic >> third street yes they they will have an access their main access will be off of third street there will be a secondary access off of third avenue as well >> they're loading that way >> and is there another stop sign on there >> no that's just showing the >> that's just showing where the sign location thank like a legend. >> I just like that. >> Yeah. >> I'll make a motion to approve the additional stop signs. >> Second. >> I >> I will be I then we have a request to approve the PFA grant agreement. So this grant agreement is during the last year the city has been working uh it's a statewide program. Actually the state is working on programs to replace all lead uh water service lines in the state of Minnesota. The city partook in that and we did an inventory of everyone's water lines in the entire city. It uh we found 47 um water service lines that should be updated. And so the city applied for state funding for that which we are going to receive. And so 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. the city would pay that, but then we can reimbur or we can request reimbursement from uh PFA to replenish those funds at 100%. >> That's great. >> Is there a general proximity of where most of these are or is it scattered? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Mayor. >> Yeah. >> Can I ask a question? >> Sure. >> Greg, is this your thing? Are you the are you the guy in this? Um I I just I'm curious uh that the contract the grant contract looks totally standard. I I'm wondering because it doesn't speak to this. Is there a requirement for how you get consent from the property owner to do the work or how is there some way that that gets formalized and is that something that we've already done or you know what I'm saying? So >> yeah, exactly. No. Um thanks uh good evening mayor and council. So, um the 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, before any work on their property is completed, we'll we'll make sure to get that uh that authorization from them. >> And obviously, there's some kind of coordination with them about sort of what day and time they show up and dig up their yard. >> Absolutely. Yeah, because part of this if it's on the owner's side, so if they're replacing the service line all the way into the house, we'll have to cut a hole in the foundation wall or come up underneath the floor. And um and so it is a little bit of an invasive um process, but um but it would mean getting rid of the lead or galvanized line. So >> yeah. Yep. >> It's hard it's hard to imagine anyone would be the slightest bit opposed. So this is a very good thing for anybody that's going to get this done for free. But I I think it is important that you make sure that you know >> Yes. >> we don't have people out there saying, "Get out of my yard." >> Absolutely. This was for both lead and galvanized pipe. >> Yep. Okay. >> Yep. That's right. >> And I should also add that like Craig said, so the homeowners were made aware and they chose to be on the list for >> Got it. >> Excellent. And one other thing in the um in the memo too um council member Paul pointed out so we had 52 as part of our initial inventory we had 52 lead or galvanized ice that were reported to the state. Uh we since found that um that a handful of those have been replaced as part of previous projects. So that's why it's 47 um because that that is what is 50 up to 52 are authorized by by the state but uh we we know of 47 that are weather galvanized uh here right now. So uh that still rem leaves about 180 um unknowns which we have been made attempts to get a hold of the property owners to go look into the homes and and find out what u uh what type of service they have. Uh so we'll be continuing those efforts as another round of funding comes out from the state. >> Is there any stipulations with that like what it has to be replaced with? >> Um we'll be replacing those either with uh PVC or copper. So it'd be like a plumbing code approved product. So depending on how the contractor um approaches it, >> whether they drill it or open cut it. Yeah. >> Okay. Yep. Good question. And this was when is the funding for these types of lead lines runs out? >> Yeah. Yep. Good question. 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. Um the project order will be good for two years. So once we receive bids, we send that to the state. They look it over. uh they'll send out then a project order we're about Bob to review and then uh we'll get that back and that's good for a two-year period. >> So let's make sure we can work keep working for the 180 that we don't know yet. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Because the project order we don't know the exact timeline of when we'll receive that and when that will be approved >> and uh if we open bids and have it approved in September >> uh that leaves little time here before uh winter to get those uh replaced. So it'll likely be a spring construction. So the project Yeah. >> And for those bids, do they get like the list of addresses so they can >> Yes. Yep. Yep. We have a whole plan set that we and specifications that we submitted to the Department of Health for review and uh they did certify those. So Yep. Yep. So they'll have a whole plan set. >> All right. And make a motion to approve resolution 2635 approving plans and ordering advertisement for bids. Second >> and also approving the grant agreement. >> Oh, resolution 2635. >> So we have two agenda items. One is to approve the >> request to approve the PF grant agreement. Sorry, >> we can approve both at the same time, but if we could >> we got to approve the grant first. Sorry about that. >> I'll make a motion to approve the PF grant agreement. >> Second that as well. All in favor of Helina. >> Hi, Colton. >> Hi, >> I. And then 2632 approving the Wait, no. 2635 approving plans and ordering advertisements for bids. >> Made a motion to approve. >> Second, >> I thank you. There you go. Thanks for >> Thanks for catching that, Elizabeth. >> We're going to move on to E. request to approve a garage door replacement quote. >> I can take this one. >> No, I think he needs No, I'm just kidding. >> 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. Um and so they desperately need to be replaced. They've been having some issues with them. So, we did secure two different quotes. one from quality overhead door which would be the low quote at 10,810 and then um we have a second quote in the packet from Thompson's garage door and so this would be taken out of um just wastewater uh capital funds. So, are you happy with the two different types of doors that they're operating in those days? But you're okay with the overhead door? >> We sat on >> Okay. >> each and all. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, we're looking at an approval for quality overhead door for $10,800,000. >> Was it reassess? >> 11. >> Yeah. >> 11,000 then. >> Okay. >> I make a motion to approve the garage door replacement quote from quality overhead doors. >> Second. >> All in favor? Delena. >> I. W >> I >> Randy is I >> Okay, we'll move on to approving a quote for a 2026 street maintenance. Mayor Council, um we sent out uh plans for Mill and Overlay. Um we sent out we got three bids back from SNL Roster Sand Gravel and Elcor Construction. Uh Elor Construction come in at 158,51198. uh roster sand gravel was 169 725 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 175,000 so >> so just on that so anything over $175,000 for the engineers's estimate would have to be put out for bid. The reason we could obtain quotes is because the engineers estimate was under that threshold. The quotes came in then underneath the engineers's estimate. And so we do have other Milan overlay projects, but we're kind of dividing it out into two separate projects so that we don't do everything all at once. And so we'll probably have another round of um quotes at a later date for more work. We just want to get this this portion done as well. Um the streets that would be mill and overlay, we've already approved quotes and the work has been mostly completed for replacing the catch basins on these streets as well. >> Right. >> I'll make a motion to approve the quote for the 2026 street maintenance. >> A second. All >> in favor? Delena. I burnish. All right, >> ready to die. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thanks, Todd. >> All right, we'll move on to legal. >> Uh, mayor and council, I I was told you the last uh meeting that I gave you a brief report on the litigation. That's really the only thing in the legal category. I don't really have anything to add, but if you have any questions about anything you've heard about or want to ask me about, I'm happy to try and give you the answer. I again, I'm not litigation counsel for you, but uh I know what's going on sort of, so I'm happy to answer your questions. When does it reconvene again? I think the next one. >> Pardon me. >> Reconvene in August. Is that it? >> Uh, there is not a reconvene date that I'm >> Well, is it August 6 or something? Yeah, >> the hearing >> Oh, the hearing uh I that sounds right to me. Yeah. Yeah, I know it's an August date. I don't know. >> Thursday. Yeah, I would get the exact date wrong, but >> yeah, it's on it's on this Thursday, so the 23rd um that they'll be hearing making a motion for um to determine what the record is for the case, but then there would essentially get through this hearing to then move forward. >> Great. Appreciate it. Thank you for the update. >> We'll move on to claims. >> No, second. All in favor Delena I >> Vernon >> I >> is I department reports >> hello mayor and council and everyone here in attendance. Um library has been really busy with summer reading. We've had over 330 people, including myself, sign up for summer reading programs. Um, doing the challenge sheets and just having a really good time this summer. So, if you you still have time, programming will end at the end of the month, but we do have the challenge sheets all through the month of August. So, feel free to still come in. If any kids are interested in winning a movie treat pack or community coupons, I think we also have plants, herb gardens, and a book and a poster. Come on in. will get you signed up and taken care of. I attended a conference last month in um Ohio on America's 250th anniversary. Due to that, we do have a lot of programming that I've gotten set up and a couple more programs I'm hoping to get confirmed this fall. Um it'll be starting on the 22nd of September. Um and that will be with uh that'll be about history of the American flag, how it got designed, and um just how it developed. Um, Minnesota and the Civil War will be on the 28th of September. Um, hopefully we'll have a program with the Legion on the following week. I don't remember the date on that, October 3rd possibly. Um, on flag etiquette. And then we also have uh, history of American beer at South by Southeast on the October 14th. I love my partnership with Ann there the master brewer and she says I'll even brew beer so you can experience what colonial beer tastes like. Come to our program and find out more. Um I have other programs coming up. Um tomorrow I do have a program on managing money, a caregivers's guide to finances. This is through um Elder Network and I do have some handouts here. If you're interested, please um either let me know tonight or sign up with the information provided so they have enough information for everyone to go home with. That will be at the Lutheran church tomorrow at 2. And then this fall, I've got a sixw week program called Are You a Caregiver? This is also through the Elder Network and it's basically just helping you um caring for your everyone that we know who's aging. So um that's also a sign up um program. Come see me. I've got handouts for that, too. [gasps] And of course, the last thing I have is that I've got more HVAC issues. My one of my mini splits stopped working uh last month, so I'll probably be getting that looked at. It was fixed last year and the fix didn't take. They actually found a new leak in our coolant line, so we don't have coolant in that one. So, I'll probably be having to uh dip into our capital funds to take care of that program, that um cost. >> Is the person you might look at the same person that picked it last year? >> We'll be hopefully going through Hawk Services who installed our most recent mini split. >> Yeah. And then then I'll have an annual checkup with them >> to make sure everything stays running. Any other questions for me? Well, thank you very much. public works. I >> think they were happy about the hidden things. >> Okay. >> Um EDA. >> Yep. Uh I just wanted to give a shout out to uh Casey Serther over at the fire department. He helped me put together some information for a fire department grant through the uh Compare Financial and through that we were able to secure $5,325 for a new turbo draft and ice drainer for them. Um so they can use that to uh more quickly draw water when they're fighting fires out in fields and out in rural areas. But I just want to give a shout out to them. >> Thanks to >> Yep. Sorry. car show Sunday, July 26, uh right here downtown from 11 to two. >> And it's basically from this intersection. >> Yep. It'll be from this intersection right down there all the way up to the fire hall. >> Okay. >> Sorry. >> This Sunday, just the greater >> this Sunday. >> Fire department. Um county sheriff Mayor, Council Mike, Sheriff's Office. Uh, just a couple things for you guys tonight. Um, we have seen an influx in juvenile criminal activity in Pine Island recently. We are trying to combat that, but for the citizens and you guys, if you see something, please say something. Get a hold of us. Helps us out a lot. helps keep your guys' town beautiful like it always is. Try to avoid that vandalism and other things that they're doing. So, we kind of look at as like a broken windows theory, right? If we allow some little things to go, it broken windows are acceptable and then it keeps building. We don't want to see that happen. So, please help us out. We uh we're doing our best, but we can always use the help from the community as well. So, if you see some of that stuff going on, please get a hold of us. We'd greatly appreciate it. Always helps us. Um, second, we're coming up with National Night Out here soon, and we are always looking for uh neighborhoods and all that that want to host some parties throughout the community. We uh love coming to those, especially if you have really good food. Um, usually we try to pick uh those areas that uh you like to go to. So, in all reality, national, it's a great way to get to know your neighbors. A lot of people move in, people are busy. This is a good time we can get together and talk and and have a good conversation and get to know your neighbors with us there. If you have any questions, we'd love to answer anything that you might have. So, that's all we have. You guys have anything for us at all? >> Your deputies do uh drive by the like some of the parks after they close because I've noticed a lot of kids that are hanging out in the dark at these parks. Yep. >> They might be the ones. >> They do. And we're we're trying to really Okay. >> I just noticed that again the other night to yourself. So, >> it seems like we'll be dealing with them on the southwest side and all night >> to another park. Yeah, >> they're transporting to the northeast side and we're trying to get back over there, too. So, >> yeah. Yeah. Yeah. These ebikes and all that fun stuff lately at >> nightwood park. So, yeah, that's all we have. Any other questions at all? >> Yeah, >> we have. Yep. And it's not just your community. It's it's >> it's all over statewide. I'm seeing it nationally too where communities are trying to figure out what they can do to try to combat a little bit of it. They're great, but they also have to be kind of restricted a little bit on what's happening. So, recently we just seen what happened in Farmington with a a juvenile involving that where was struck by a vehicle. We don't want to see that happen. So, >> just to be clear, an ebike cannot be on a like a sidewalk or pathway or like the Douglas Trail technically even because it's motorized, right? >> Well, there's a little bit of technicalities to that. So, it all involves pedals and all that stuff, too. So, um we do have some things that I'm sure we're going to be pushing out here soon that we're going to be putting out on social media and probably get them out to communities on things that kind of show what ebikes are. You might have already seen some of the stuff that other communities are putting out, but something like that should be will be coming out at some point >> to put on website or whatever the city website to get. Yep. >> Just as anything, it's something that's new and it's been taken off and now we're just trying to play catchup. So, off trail. >> Some have been pushed off the trail into the weeds from these kids. And it seems like there's a group for the kids a lot. >> Sure. >> So, >> yeah, that's good stuff for us to know because if we can try to get that why it's happening and try to get those people that are involved in that because we have we've been issuing curfew citations, things to try to combat some of this. Um, so we'll definitely step it up if we need to. >> Yeah, just if you can send out like what all the rules are so then we can just reiterate them to the community and post them around and >> absolutely >> appreciate what you guys not all parents are aware. >> Correct. >> Myself included. So, I did my own research, but >> so you may vice that >> triggered something that I probably should have announced, but um for islands national night out, I believe there are still some neighborhoods that are doing it that Tuesday. However, due to the last few years, um the Good Hugh County Fair is at the same time and so there is it's been difficult to plan National Night Out in the past because it conflicts with um the fair. And so the American Legion and Fire Department decide to host the community national night out on Sunday um August 2nd from 5 to 7. So it won't be on Tuesday the 4th. And so um I believe they're starting to advertise that. They're following suit. I think city of good hugh started doing that last year just because of the county fair. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um anything for North Zimbro sanitary district or is that on your report? Okay. Um anybody from the image? >> Nope. All right. We can >> I did have a question. >> You're done. >> Any question? >> Okay. >> I did have a question. Elizabeth, did we get the payment stuff straightened out with um for the rents and stuff? I read the the Zumbrell uh North Zumbro thing. >> That's all taken care of now. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I just wanted to make sure that they were build and we got it all back into our fund. Excellent. Thank you. >> Looks like we're up for adjournment. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. Second. So moveton. >> Hi >> Vernon.