The flag began. I pledge allegiance 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. like to welcome everybody to our Tuesday, February 17th regular council meeting. We'll jump right in with the consent agenda, which a few items on here, including our January 20th, 2026 regular city council meeting minutes. J February 4th, 2026 special city council meeting minutes, February 4th, 2026 city council work session minutes. Request for street closure for from the community education coordinator. Resolution 26-09 which is accepting February donations request from the Pine Island fire to re relief association for a temporary liquor license in June and request to approve emergency management director and deputy director position. I'll take a motion to approve. >> I'll move the consent agenda. >> I'll second motion and second. Any questions? Hearing none. Delena. >> Yes. >> Bolton. >> Hi. >> Burn. >> Hi. >> Randy. >> Hi. and David will be I we'll go into our public input section. We'll give two minutes again. We usually do. Um maybe come up and introduce yourself and list your address and we have Suzanna Blazic as our first speaker. Good evening. >> Good evening, council members. I'm Susanna. Hopefully this is 1315 Cali Road Southwest. >> Hello. Hello. This works. Here we go. Okay. >> Can be started, please. >> Okay. Thank you. Tonight, I want to talk to you about leadership in a community poll. First, leadership. You have been elected by us. We trust you to make decisions that represent our collective voice and serve our best interest. Being a leader means sometimes making tough and unpopular decisions. When those moments come, it's absolutely essential that you do two things. First, share your vision clearly and broadly and enable us to understand the why behind the decisions. And second, guide us through the changes with patience, empathy, and transparency. Doing this builds trust and unity. Yet, what we've heard so far about the Project Skyway Pine Island data center is vague and unsettling. In a personal conversation with a council member, we learned that the vision for Pine Island is to grow to 10,000 residents. Why? The only real answer we've received so far is growth. Again, why do the residents want this? Moreover, rather than engage us patiently, you have told us what is happening without much room for dialogue. If the elementary school can email me 13 times per week, you, our most important leaders, should be able to inform us transparently and respectfully about one of the largest data centers in the country. As our leaders, you hold a position of great responsibility, and we hold you to higher standards. It is your duty to be kind, patient, and empathetic. We don't have all the information, and quite frankly, neither do you. So why aren't you holding our hands, standing with us, walking us through this process, building trust instead of suspicion? Which brings me to my second point, the community poll. We've talked with friends, neighbors, parents, and residents. Based on those conversations, we believe about 80% of the residents oppose the data center. However, the same council member I mentioned before said you think the opposite. That 80% support and only 20% oppose. This disconnect is troubling. This decisions this significant cannot rest on belief. They require clarity and democratic input. I'm asking you to please hold a communitywide poll asking every resident what they want. I offer my experience. I've spent two decades working with large-scale representative survey data. We have the need. We have the tools. And we can and should run a fair and transparent community poll. Thank you. Sir, >> good evening everybody. Um, just before the February 4th tax abatement hearing, Elizabeth Howard accused me of presenting misleading tax impact numbers. I then listened as she and other city officials spent 40 minutes overwhelming residents with information that obscured the true cost of abatement requested by Ryan companies. I call that a snow job. An abatement never creates property tax revenue. It is money the city chooses not to collect, shifting the burden onto local taxpayers. Every dollar the developer does not pay must be paid by residents and local businesses. Payments were meant to help new or struggling businesses, not to subsidize corporations with vast resources. A multi-trillion dollar corporation is not needy. To make this clear, here's a simple math problem. Ryan owes a city 167 million. Instead, Ryan pays 131 million, gives 3 million to the community and 23 million to the schools. How much did Ryan not pay the city? 167US 131 equals 36 million. Wild Island just gave away $36 million, a 22% property tax break for the benefit of a trillion dollar corporation. residents and local businesses will make up that $36 million through higher property taxes. It is unbelievable to me, but it happened. After the herring, even Ryan companies acknowledged that the data center developer likely Google should not have requested this abatement just as Microsoft has stated is the right thing to reuse local property tax abatements. Thank you, >> Mr. Shy. That name for Evan. Welcome, sir. >> How you doing? >> Uh my name is Matt Shutty 300 Kenny Court Southwest in Pine Island. Um I'm just here in uh representing the Independent Order of the Oddfellows. Um a lot of you might not have even heard that it existed. I didn't either until somebody suckered me into it. Um but anyway, I've learned a lot um since joining a year ago. Um we currently um we've increased the membership um to 12 members and several have inquired since then. Um it was kind of an organization that in town was kind of uh just sitting in limbo and so we're kind of rejuvenating it. um the the Oddfellows the idea is to give back to the community and we are um kind of uh we're we're slowly working on ideas working with other organizations like the Lions Club, like the Legion to um do some different things for the community, do some fundraising things like that. Um but um with that, we also had a lot of updates to do. Um we have um we are we own a the Oddfellows owns a building in town here that needed a lot of updates and so through the help of the state um Oddfellow's organization we've been able to get secure a loan to get some things done. So we've had there was a lot of water damage. We got new roofing. We've got we've done a lot of work to the inside. Um, and so we've done some repairs to the post office that rents from us. And, uh, so kind of our goal is to get the front of that building looking like a like a new old building. And so it's it's getting there. And uh, and so anyway, I just wanted to stop in and um, let you know that it exists. And if anybody's interested or you know somebody's interested in giving back to the community, come come reach out to us. Thank you. >> Question. >> Yeah. >> So is that uh is the post office going to be expanding into that part of the building? >> Um we're we're looking into the possibility. Yes. So that they would have more space um yet not taken away taken away from the current space that that a future business can have. So, yep. >> Right. We're going to jump into administration. I think this is the shortest administration >> should we have here? We have a s one application for private by financial say. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh so in your packet you have an application from thriving financial or Jeff Lommy. Uh what they're looking to do is do some tuck pointing on the front of their building. There should be a photo in the packet as well showing some issues of the cracks in the in the brick work on the especially the second story there. Um they have a quote for $12,500 uh to do the tuck pointing and they're requesting $2,500 for the facade loan program that the EDA runs. The EDA has voted to approve this and the next step is just to bring it to council to get your final approval so that we can move forward with this loan and they can get to work on that brick work. Is this company that's the one that did the lighting? >> Do you know? >> I don't know that. >> What's quality restoration all masonry? >> Yes. >> Okay. That's what I That's what I thought. >> Same company. >> I remember correctly. >> Okay. >> Um >> and this is just like the Oddfellows. Right. >> Yep. Yeah. Exactly like the Oddfellows. So they would get the $2,500 then it' be forgiven over fiveyear period. Yep. >> Retain building. >> Um I'll move approval for the facade loan application for private. >> I'll second a motion a second to approve the loan. >> Yeah. It's a very nice building. So >> any other questions for >> hearing? None. Delena. >> Hi. >> Hton. >> Hi. >> Vernon. >> Hi. >> Brandy. I >> will be I let's jump into planning commission which is resolution 26-10 approving third preliminary flag who's taking this one right >> I can start out on this one Mr. Mayor. Um, thank you. >> So, we received back on January 5th um an application for preliminary plat um from Big Low Homes for Pine Prairie third edition. Um, this is an extension on to um Elkrun Drive Southeast um down by the elementary school. It's that northern road in that development. Um it's the development continuing north. Um so it will be approximately 13.8 acres. I believe roughly 28 lots will be created. Um it is currently zoned agg. Um we're anticipating a reszone application being filed um to get that updated to the correct residential zoning. We did receive that in the mail today. Um so that will be good to go for the final plat approval um next month. And then um we did have a public hearing on this um with the planning commission back on February 10th. um notice was published and mailed to all residents within 350 ft of the proposed plat. Um the planning commission did approve that unanimously um to move it on to council. Um I can pass it over to Craig. Um there are a few uh engineering conditions of approval that we have in the uh resolution here for administrative ones. Um we have like like most plats um we'll need a updated survey or title work um for the county attorney or the city attorney to review um and then my other um condition was the submission of that uh reszone which we did receive. So I'll pass over Craig and he can kind of run through the engineering requirements still. >> Thank you. >> And this is on the east this would be on the east end correct >> correct? Yeah. >> Yep. On the north side of the waterway on the east east side. So, yep. Um, mayor and council, good evening. Um, the couple of the conditions that I wanted to outline and and Stephen hit on one of them and that was the reszone. So, again, right now it is currently zoned agricultural. So, uh, there'll be a reszone request with the final plat application and the uh the other one is the u um in the uh report. It's number one. Currently, there's a 30-foot outlot um on the west side of the uh of the uh property, and we're asking that to be 40t wide. And what that would do is give us a little more room to um have a connection. Um most of the time that would be used as a pedestrian connection, but we are looking at an emergency access to from the school um to this uh development here. So um so that would be a good point of connection. Uh the developer Tony Biglo is here um with us tonight. So um he is in agreement with that uh condition as well. Um the other um conditions are just engineering related uh that um to submit with the final plat the final plans and things of that sort. So um staff is recommending approval. >> What would that that we were talking about? What would that >> tree look like? That was my question. >> Yeah. >> Yep. So it'd be a path. So, um, likely a 12t wide path and then there would be a crossing over the waterway there, too. So, that would likely be a bridge structure, um, over the waterway. >> You're wondering if the track. >> Yep. So, it go like um Yep. Just north of the track and then over on the west side of the track, too. >> And Elizabeth and I did meet with superintendent and and uh principal, too, to run through this idea and they're um generally in favor of it. Are you anticipating down the road we be looking at any kind of road >> out that way, right? Or >> Nope. Wouldn't be wouldn't be a road connection. No, but it would be um wide enough and be able to uh that crossing would be able to um handle any sort of um emergency access and vehicles. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yep. And that's not anything that's being proposed as part of this development. That's just something that we're looking for um for future connection. >> Okay. Any questions? There questions for >> Is that ideally going to connect to the out the sidewalk out at the the road? Um New Haven. >> New Haven. Actually, New Haven will have its own path that'll be constructed um this spring. And so that will connect down into Douglas Trail and then over um that there's a route over to the school there. >> So the path that comes out from like the bridge that's going to go potentially over the back of the waterway and from the school, where is that going to lead to? >> That'll go into the school property. So it'll go from the roadway, the sidewalk, uh within the subdivision on the north side into the school. >> Yep. Yep. And there would have to Yep. And they have a path there now, but they're they they're looking at other options as far as a parking lot. And so that might um kind of in that northeast corner there, too. Just throwing ideas around. So >> Okay. >> No. Uh but just Craig um sound like criticisms and I don't mean it that way at all but is it am I right that just sort of the way the preliminary plat plays out is a little bit confusing the way it's split >> as far as the street the sheet set the divide line >> when I looked at before and now I'm looking at again going up and I'm just I take it you have figured out how >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Fair. Yeah. So I mean as long as you're comfort obviously that's what matters. doesn't care what I just interested in dividing one between the two sheets. So, but that's fine. >> Yeah. >> So, she >> is she. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> I'm figuring that out. >> Yeah. >> Write this down. >> He challenged the visual. >> Well, this will be an action item council. We had a discussion during the meeting too about nine zoning for sidewalks and all the subdivisions. So Tony's aware of its motion to approve the uh resolution 2610 the Pine Prairie third preliminary. >> I'll second a motion in a second on the resolution. Any other discussion, questions? And thank you. >> All right. Uh Elena, >> hi >> Colton. >> Hi >> Vernon. >> Hi >> Randy. >> Hi. >> David will be I >> exciting. >> All right. We got public works and engineers going to be a request to approve quote for the office for the plan something that is needed. >> Uh good evening Mr. Mr. Mayor and council members, um I'm just here to ask for your blessings on getting this uh long overdue remodeling job for the out at the wastewater plant for the office. Um, I am looking at um taking this out of the 401 building fund and this would be because they included I've been in there a few times and it'd be basically that room where your desks are right now. >> Yes. Correct. Correct. >> And then getting that revamped and give you guys some space. >> Yes. some space. Uh they're looking at uh right now three corner desks and then uh uh some cabinetry around the along the east wall and then some upper cabinets and then a a table out in the middle section for to maybe for meetings and to eat eat at. >> Yeah. >> So >> Mr. Gak's the >> Yeah. Mr. Gadki is the one that's >> as feisty as his dad. It does good works. All right. >> So, during this remodel, we'll have to work out of the garage. >> Yes. We'll probably be out of the garage for a little bit. Um I uh had Bev come out uh today and he looked at what needs to be done with that side of things. So, they're going to take care of that at that time when he's there and they can get get to move whatever they need to move. >> Okay. So, >> was there an estimate on how long it would take the project? >> No, he did not. Um, I'm I'm thinking only maybe about 4 days to a week. >> So, >> because he's going to have everything built prior and then he'll just move it over. >> Oh, that'll be >> because he's he's come in and taken measurements and pictures and the whole nine yards. >> So, >> and Devcon will have all the hookups to >> Yep. They'll do that at that time. >> Power then. Will that be in the right spot for power? >> Uh, yes. And, uh, it we should be able to get at it a little bit more conveniently now. So, we're set pretty good with the power outlets and >> stuff like that. >> Just making sure you get >> what you need. >> Right. Right. No, it's a good question. >> Yep. So, um, typically it's pretty rare that we don't have more than one quote before you. Uh, the threshold for that is $25,000. So, this is below that. Typically, we get two quotes just because due to the um nature of this job just because everything is custom um for that room, uh, we decided just to go with one contractor uh, so that they could come in and and build the plans custom to that facility. So, and then in the meantime, they will be working out of the garage there at the >> um I'll move the approval for the code for the office model for the wastewater treatment plant. >> Second motion in a second. Any other question? What would be the time would you or when would you want to start or get this? >> The sooner the better. Well, with weather coming on and you know, hopefully it starts getting nice now and you know, it' be nice to get it in between the snow and the rain and everything else. So, whenever it's convenient for him, actually, so we'll work around them. >> Elena, >> hi. >> Hi. >> Hi. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, C. We got another resolution before resolution 26-11 which is approving the street private plans and ordering the bids. >> All right, mayor and council. So this would uh set the bid letting date of March 26th for the uh upcoming street project. Um that would include uh Willow um circle. Um it would include the um the water main extensions around that area too. um and the sewer to ex um to serve the uh development and um also Third Street, First Avenue and uh Second Street Southeast. Um Main Street was included in the original uh feasibility study and uh uh and the project. Um and that was mainly because the county was planning to um construct that roundabout in 26, so this year. Um then that got bumped to 27. Um but we were going to still install the utilities. We've got some sanitary sewer that's aged. It's um uh it's not able to be televised. So um there's um it's in it's in need of replacement. Uh but in talking with the county, they feel it's better that that gets pushed until next year when the roundabout project goes in. And then the reconstruction reconstruction of those two blocks from uh center street up to second street will be completed next year as well. So um so in the resolution you'll see that second whereas where it says we're looking at completing that in 27 instead of this year. So, would have been nice to get it done this year um to put Todd's and many of ours minds at ease, but um we'll we'll hope that it hangs on for another year. >> Yeah. And there was a a neighborhood meeting last Thursday night uh and uh some of the uh residents came. Uh there was some discussion about sidewalks um that uh staff will meet about and uh uh talk about right now. Uh sidewalks are in the plans um except for except for in Willow uh because that's there's not an immediate connection there to any other um sidewalk or pedestrian facilities. Um so uh but in the the third street and first avenue area, we do have them currently designed on both sides of the street. So, same. >> Have you been able to have any updates from the county regarding the bridge project out there and looked that for construction? >> Yep. Yep. So, they are going to they've got a precon actually that's going to be in a couple weeks here, next week or the week after. So, uh we'll go to that, but that will be um something that's going to be done here this uh this summer. I don't remember the exact dates of the closure, but it's uh sometime in May. So, they want us in there. Um, get the they're going to reclaim the the street and then the utilities would go in and then they'd work on the bridge. Uh, so that detour will be set up all summer. >> I believe May 15th was the date of the closure. >> Yeah. Yeah. May >> and that bridge, I think, was going to have a path on the inside the horse trail. >> That's that's my understanding. We'll find more out at the reconstruction meeting. I believe it's next week >> with the county um on what their plans are. >> Yep. >> I don't know if you've talked to Adam and Vanessa from the meeting at all. >> I have. Yep. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Because there were some discussions about, you know, like Willow Creek is or Willow Court is not getting the uh sidewalk around there. Culdeac because there's culde-sac nowhere to number three. And then the discussion about the sidewalk going down on one of the sides here. >> There was concern about how close it was going to get. And so Vanessa and Adam and I talked a little bit afterwards that uh we're we're putting in a sidewalk because there's kids and you know elderly that have to walk through there. Yeah. >> You don't know who's going to own the house down the road neither. So >> right >> uh question would be is if they can't get it if it's too close to his house. He was wondering about moving it to curbside, but you know, and if we move it to curbside, let's make sure it's like a 40 inch or something >> or 48 inch so that you can still put in mailboxes at certain spots and they could still make a path down through it, you know, for sidewalk and stuff and put enough slope on it, like a half inch or more slope so that water stays off of it. >> Yeah. Yeah. We we did look at that um early on in design where um especially on that far on on Third Street on the south end on the far west end. So by Second Avenue um that driveway is um that garage was very close to the right of way. So >> there was concerns about that. So >> yeah, I want to make sure they got heard and expressed here too. >> Yeah. So, there are some some different options there, but um you know, typical design is is sidewalk on both sides, and then it's really up to the council to decide if if it fits. And again, we'll we'll talk to staff. We'll talk through it after getting their input and and then uh determine if that should go in and bring that back to >> the St. Paul Church, the Lutheran church here, because they're >> talking of, you know, moving and putting a parking lot and all that stuff. So, >> make sure you guys are in the loop on that. >> Yep. Yep. Very good. >> I'll move for resolution 2611 approving the street project plans and ordering bids. >> I'll second motion and a second for 2611. Any other thoughts on this? >> Mr. Marius, if I may, um I just want to note that um we'll be considering the bids at a special council meeting on April 7th. Typically, we would have a work session that night and so we would be having a special council meeting April 7th at 6 PM and then our work session would follow that. I just wanted to note that >> point >> I >> Vernon >> I >> Randy >> Hi >> David will be I >> okay thank you >> Bob we're in your legal m you want to say things but I don't really have anything to say other than I owe Elizabeth a easement on the north zonro sanitary sewer district that's going to be reported on tonight and now I've said it out loud I actually am So there we go. >> Painted myself in corner state. I have to turn that around. We go on the claims. >> I'll second on claims. Delena >> Iton. >> Hi. >> Randy. >> Hi. >> Hi. Brings us to administration. Elizabeth, if you want to give any updates. uh just that you know summer projects are ramping up and so uh we're getting ready for street projects uh getting ready for our two park remodels and so we we had a meeting today to finalize uh trail head park and we had a meeting last week to finalize uh Collins Park so things are are looking good. >> Did we finally get final paper review? >> No. So for trailhead park we are waiting for the final grant agreement. Uh, so the state has the grant agreement. They had to send it to um NPS at the federal level for them to sign off. It'll come back. We're expecting it um late March. So it'll probably be be before you um in April sometime. So but that's fine. We we met with our account manager with um Game Time who we're ordering the equipment from and that timeline works for them. So, Collins Park will most likely be a late spring um remodel and then Trail Head Park will probably be a late summer remodel. So, we'll try to have them at different points in time. >> They were busy over the weekend just to see if they were >> Yes. >> What is going on at the library? >> The library is all about one town, one title right now. Uh, we've got, I think, three books here. One book at DMV and I think I've got two at the library left. So, if anyone still needs to grab a copy of Give a Girl a Knife, which is our community read, we've got like five or six copies left to give away. Otherwise, we can definitely u request them and get them checked out to them from another library. Um, but programming has been going really well for that. We've had uh I think 10 people at one event, 13 or 14 at the other one, and we had 10 people, which is like three or four more than usual, at book club this morning. So, yay. Um Saturday's program is all about jam making. We're having a jam making demonstration. If you want to come, please do. Uh if you want to come and get a free sample of jam, let me know so I can get you on the list. Um that'll be at the United Methodist Church um at 2 2:30 on Saturday. Otherwise, we have a wild rice presentation. It's basically talking about the importance of the grain uh from an uh master naturalist on the 26th, and that'll wrap up our one town, one title programming. So, lots of good feedback that I've received on that. Otherwise, the book sale we did over Winterfest almost made $400. So, thank you everyone for supporting the library with both donations and purchases. And the other thing I just highlighted with my report this month was just a snapshot of what I've done since the last council meeting in the community. So, uh, we do a lot of behind the-scenes work and I just wanted to kind of showcase just a little bit of that. So, that's all I have for you. Do you have any questions for me? >> Were you happy with the uh cement work and all that that was done? >> The cement work? >> The tuck pointing in. Yeah, that was last. Yeah, we really appreciated that >> in the same company. >> Yeah, they I'm glad that they uh they got the seal of approval. >> Yeah, wanted to make sure. >> Yes. So, thanks >> so much. >> Thanks, Rachel. >> Everything's clean. >> What's that? >> Cookies. Fire Department is January on record. >> 5810. >> So what we at 89 90 91 >> keeps the trucks in shape. >> Mr. Mayor, if I could go back to public works, I do just want to say um so I believe we did we finish burning the brush dump? >> No. >> Okay. So we're like 75% done I would say burning the brush dump. Um, we know it's kind of a pain in the butt. Sometimes there's smoky smells in town, but it does save the city about $46,000 by burning that rather than having that um chipped. So, um, we just want to thank residents for being patient with that. >> We don't need that much chips. And >> I do notice it, but that's okay. >> Yeah, >> it's nice you got the trees down at both. >> What? >> Not done yet. >> Oh. Anything else? Otherwise, we are going to wrap up here. No German second.