Let me take the head off with it and we'll I'll call the meeting to order. Uh we'll start with uh a roll call. McKe here. Lantern here. >> Friedrich >> here. >> Veron >> here. Nicholls >> also here. >> Perfect. You like to stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I 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. >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yeah. >> I'd like to ask for a moment of silence. Uh just to acknowledge the recent loss of life in Minneapolis. Moments like this should remind us that justice and liberty demand our constant care and restraint. A free society is judged by whether liberty and justice are truly secured for all under the rule of law and with respect for human dignity. So I ask that we observe a moment of silence and reflect on our common principles. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate you bringing that up. It's sad. Anytime there's a loss of life for sure and definitely keeping I hope many are um Minnesota residents and and um federal agents and everyone that temperatures can cool down and and uh hopefully everyone stays safe. for sure. Thank you. All righty. Um on to agenda approval. Um so does anyone the staff have any changes for staff? >> Uh we just had an update to the city council schedule which was put on the dis and it's now uh published. >> Okay. >> No other changes besides that. Mr. Mayor, >> any changes from council? I had one suggest. >> Okay. My suggestion was we'd move 9A to six to be part of 6C. And process-wise, I would recommend that we just eliminate 9A. When it gets to consent, I'll pull 6C. We can amend it to include acting mayor, discuss that, and then approve all the annual appointments together like we usually do. Um, and then get do the rest of consent, and then we just have the one item remaining. If that works for council, I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda as amended. >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> I. >> Hi I. >> No gets to pick. >> Okay. No presentations. And now we have open forum for uh items not on tonight's agenda. NJ. >> Uh, so this is an opportunity for anybody who wants to speak on something that's not on this evening's agenda. Uh, need to fill out a white card which is over on the table over there. Bring it to me. Uh, when called upon, state your name and address at the podium. Uh, limit your remarks uh to three to five minutes. Um, and make sure that you address the dis uh address the council with your remarks. Uh, Mr. Mr. Mayor, we only received one email of which you have uh and uh no other emails. >> Sounds good. If there's no one else, I will go ahead and read uh the email that was sent in and requested to be read from I'm assuming he'd want his name uh stated with it. Uh Wendell Brainer, uh who wrote in um stating that he is I'm unable to attend the January 8th city council meeting. So, here is my emailed comment. Uh, read Mayor McKe's public memo regarding adding government space. It is my opinion that adding a new government building to Corkran landscape is asking too much from the citizens of Corkran to support this tax liability, particularly on the heels of a significant city tax increase payable in 2026. There is a is there a comprehensive uh rationale to the need? is a Corkran fire department and needed facilities going to benefit the residents over hiring local fire department. Just saying we need more space is tough. Where uh where can people see the exact reasons why it's necessary? Thank you, Wendell Brainer uh on Le Pond Lane. That's what he had to say. And I and that just does remind me um probably a good time to mention a couple things. Um in terms of the process and public engagement opportunities, we do have a number uh council. It's in your and I'm assuming in the packet online. It's in the updated um schedule looking ahead >> which will also be published in the quarterly newsletter. >> Yes. Cool. And there'll be a whole bunch more coming out about it I'm sure on the website and all sorts of stuff. Um but just off Off the bat, we do have public engagement, input, opportunities, open houses, that type of thing already scheduled for January 27th, 6:30 to 7:30 in the council chambers. February 12th, 10:30 to noon at the Bellweather Clubhouse. March 3rd, 6 to 7:30 at St. Thomas. April 28th, 6:00 to 7:30 at Public Works. May 5th, uh, TVD for the time and location, but that should hopefully be figured out soon. June 2nd, 6:00 to 7:30 at Hope Community Church and August 4th at night to unite at public works. And then there'll be some other stuff. I think one other thing will be mentioned later today in the meeting. Um, that uh will be part of the public engagement process. So, it will be pretty extensive. Um, and and we really look forward to the feedback because it'll be super helpful to figure out exactly what the future campus looks like. So, just wanted to get those data out there earlier. Like Jay said, it'll be online and all over the place. It'll be hard to miss. So, uh, but just wanted to get it on people's radars early. And with that, seems like that's it for open form. So, we will move on to consent, which consists of 6 A through six uh J. I will pull 6C. Does anyone like to pull anything else? >> Okay. Uh then I will entertain a motion to approve consent agenda items A, B, and D through J. >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Perfect. Thank you guys. And then six C. First of all, I'll go ahead and um make a motion to amend the annual appointments list to include the acting mayor for 2026. Um and then well, I guess maybe we should have that discussion now to amend the whole thing in there with the name. My recommendation if you're interested, Jeremy, would to have you continue in the role um kind of as we've done with past president um seniority. Uh John served in that capacity uh when he was on council and uh then since then which was just this past year you have and I try to keep it as a minimal commitment so it's not having to do meetings all the time but >> I hope you remain healthy and in office >> do my best but are you interested if >> I will be >> um then I would make uh the motion to amend 6C the annual appointments to include clude 2026 acting mayor of Jeremy Nichols. >> Second. >> Second. >> Uh, did I make the motion? Actually, >> you can. >> I entertained it. >> Move made. Seconded. There we go. >> That works. Um, any. >> No. Uh, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Abstain. >> For God's sakes. Vote for yourself for once. Would you >> pull the bottom up? >> All righty. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Okay. And then on to our remaining item. Um, we have a public hearing for Woodland Hills Event Vacation. So, I will go ahead and open the public hearing. If anyone would like to speak on this item, now is your opportunity. And not looking like it. So, I will entertain a motion to close the public hearing. Go ahead. >> Second. >> Second. You can There was three people that your choice. >> I got one. >> Good deal. Um and then yeah into the item itself. >> Sure. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah. Item 7A is a ease vacation uh for a lot within Woodman Hills. This is a request from Hansen Builders who are requesting indication for a portion of a drainage and utility easement around the perimeter of lot 8, block three of Woodland Hills. Um when this property was platted in as part of the Wooden Hill subdivision in 2024, uh the developer and surveyor u dedicated what would be considered probably a generous amount of DNU around the perimeter of the property and um exceeds what our typical um DNU requirements are um for this law. Mr. >> Yes, >> DNU means what? >> Sorry, my apologies. Drainage utilities. Thank you. Just for anybody that doesn't know. >> Yeah, thank you for pointing that out. I alphabet zoom. Um, so this has resulted in um a little bit of a constrained buildable area within this lot. And now the builder uh is requesting on behalf of the property owner that a portion of that drainage utility easement be vacated so that they may be able to construct uh that bump out on the back side of of the proposed house there. Um So staff, planning staff, and engineering have had a chance to review the requested vacation and have no objections with it. So at this point, um staff would recommend that you move to adopt resolution 2026-04, which would approve that, uh easement vacation for lot 8, block three of Woodland Hills. >> Great. Thank you. Any >> Yep. Mayor Council, I just actually realized I there's an I just caught this in the figure. The 5 foot sideyard DNU easement at the bottom of that shade needs to be kept in place. So it's just a little bit of a er erroneous emission there. >> Okay. >> So if we can if I'm allowed to amend that verbiage so that we maintain a fiveyard sideyard ement. So I think if they just a sketch goes all the way to the property. >> Okay. >> Do we need to amend anything in the text of the resolution? So basically this yard should go all the way through here. I apologize. >> No worries. Amend that. My recommendation. >> I'll go ahead and make a motion to amend per Kevin's direction there. >> I'll second that. >> Any discussion? >> Oh, go ahead. >> N I got questions. >> So that Okay. Sorry. That's the right angle tree there. So that's where what I so they just had an issue. So this is actually I don't know how we want to deal with it. This is the correct >> that's the correct figure. >> So that's yeah that's the leg the proposed legal description of the um vacation area. So that would address Kevin's amendment to the to the previous exhibit. So if if council were to approve the resolution as drafted, it would reflect the exhibit that's on the screen right now. >> Gotcha. Sorry about that. I just saw that on my figure and I wanted to make sure. >> It's all right. My my question is the effect of that easement to neighbors. No real effect other than we notified the neighbors saying there was a change in that easement but no effect to neighboring properties. >> No, they they basically have excess easement. So we just make sure it meets our rules. They have excess easement. Sometimes that happens when the grading plan changes. They just don't go back and modify it. Our engineering looks at what's needed and if they give us more, we don't comment on it. >> Um, in this case, we did look at this closely with the new plan and there's enough room to maintain the drainage. So, we don't need this. We wouldn't require it. So, we're okay releasing it. >> And I understood that, Mr. Mayor. That makes sense. >> Yeah. >> I don't mean to involve, but they're the only neighbors that showed up. So, >> there is a the property line setbacks remain unchanged. Yeah. >> So, >> yeah. >> Okay. >> I I did have one question. This is I think back in the corner where when we did the sidewalk, I think there was a fair number of like dead and dying ash trees and buckthornne and things like that. Do we know if the developer is planning to mitigate any of that before they construct the home sites? >> I could follow up on that. I haven't been to the site in a while, so I think they're still This doesn't change any of the conditions of the development contract, so I don't know what's been completed or not. I can look into it follow. >> Thank you. >> And then we did have a so I think maybe further questions if there are any might we should do the finish the vote on the amendment first. So, I'll call that vote. Um, which was just amending it to Kevin's changes or uh language. >> I I think Dwight actually clarified that that the description. >> So, do we not need >> So, the amendment is not necessary. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Just I was looking at this markup. So, there's this figure is inacc This figure is correct which has the legal. >> Okay. So, we don't need it. Then I will >> take that back. >> Take it back. >> Yep. Um, then if there's no further questions, I will entertain a motion to approve resolution 20264 approving the easement vacation for lot 8, block 3 of Woodland Hills of Corkran. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> All those or any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Then on to staff reports. Uh, two exciting things. Uh, mayor and council. Uh Matt Selmmeer, our new finance director, will begin on Monday. >> And I am thrilled. Uh >> he sounds like uh >> he's he's coming coming to us from council. We'll have him here in front of you so that you all get a chance to meet him soon enough. Uh but um yeah, staff staff uh did a great job about finding us a good person and I'm really excited to get him started. I had the conversation with Abdo about our transition plan on Wednesday. Uh, and at this point, I think it's wisest for us to let Matt kind of drive the train when he's comfortable to let them go. Uh, but right now, the plan is roughly at about uh 3 months. So, that that gives us a left seat, right seat, and uh I'll call you if I need you. And then so uh by March 31st, we we should be done. When they're no longer consulting, do we want to make them our auditor again instead of the newer vendor we use? >> They're a lot more expensive. >> Are they? >> I thought the new group actually did a fantastic job. >> And and and also it's very interesting that they were offsite. They they were faster. They were thorough. Uh so I wouldn't recommend that. >> Okay, great. >> But someone we can give in the back. >> They EDTO did a good job for us when we needed them. Yeah. uh to do the things that we needed them to do and then when we had to go out for another auditor I think we found a great one. >> Okay. Excellent. >> Uh and then the other comment is uh um staff met yesterday with a company called community perceptions uh which is going to conduct the community survey for us as part of the um facilities analysis and so we're working on the timeline but uh I confess I was skeptical about surveys and they're going to mail the surveys to every home and then the home gets a unique code. So, one of the reasons I don't like it is there's been ballot stuffing when I've done surveys before in which people not even in the community are engaged in the survey and in influencing the results. So, in this case, it's limited to our residents and then even if they have special, it's only for a household that can vote and they can only vote once. >> So, uh very excited. That's all we have to say. >> I was I was on that meeting as well and I was somewhat skeptical at first, too. And I was really impressed with the the breadth of their process uh the accuracy of some of the stuff they process. >> 94% accuracy in terms of the feedback that they get and what the outcome will be. >> Yep. in terms of public >> and the kind of unique team they have there of everything from construction people to or you know previously construction people to uh data analytics people to a former reporter who reported on small med you know to similar municipalities like us in I think Wisconsin yep previously um so it's just a lot of different perspectives that kind of together >> could have a pretty cool um outcome and and get us some really useful data and it was um quite affordable. Honestly, I think the price was fantastic. Um so yeah, I think it's it's a no-brainer. That coupled with our public engagement opport you know, meetings that I talked about and um kind of putting all that together, I think will give us a really good robust process and get us to the best possible solution for the facilities. >> Yeah, I'm excited, Mr. Mayor. >> Likewise, Mr. Mayor. Yeah. >> And a big thank you on this new hire. Thank you to all the staff that put another sardine in the can, if you know what I mean. By by the movement around in the email you sent out already tight places. Please thank staff for their patience while we step through all of this >> offered. Is that still the case with that? >> So, so we did make musical chairs. Uh there's a lot of people in new spaces. I I think I sent that note out to you uh as of Wednesday and also super awesome that staff did it and I had nothing to do with it. >> A mutiny. I >> I was going in to check on like, "Hey Kevin, uh how are things going?" And his office was already set up and I was like, >> "What?" >> It was it was amazing. >> We have an uh anything else for Sacramento? >> Oh, sure. Anything for council reports? >> I can never shut up. You guys already know that. Um, tremendous number of responses to my cell phone on how public works handled the ice. Um, even going above and beyond in one case, but I'm not going to share that one. But, uh, that team is doing a great job. >> Yeah. on very difficult weather conditions. >> Any issues this here in town? >> I left my driveway tonight and spun out and whatever. But that's not their fault. That's just me driving onto my icy gravel road. But uh >> Sounds like driver error. >> It was It was I was I was distracted by >> by the by the cow looking at me out the garage door window as I was driving out. calls looked great this evening. But uh again, great job. And then I already shared with you Jay on the comments from one the one person. Um that was very neat. And anybody wants to hear that, I can tell you later. But that that's great. Kudos to you. >> Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Anything else? >> One question. Yeah. >> Um I just want to confirm because I'm starting to do some cleanup. Um, Corkran cleanup day May 2nd. First Saturday in May. Yes. >> Right. Okay. >> Sounds first Saturday. >> Okay. >> I may not >> I'll be adding some of those other things more on the schedule. >> Yep. >> I don't think I'll be here. Unfortunately, I almost always miss I made it last year. It was fun. >> It's fun. >> It's a great thing to be at because the stuff that comes is just interesting to see what >> There was like two couples that had like They're trying to beat each other for the number of runs I did. That was like eight or nine rounds. It was >> remember it was something crazy. You and I and and JCB and Malicia, I think, were out front in this. >> Tom, it's okay if you're not here. We have a great acting mayor. >> There you go. >> There you go. You got to figure out the whole system of what's allowed and what they get >> they can drop off. >> Two years ago than it looks. Two years ago, I salvaged the John Deere side by side battery operated and the kids that ended up with that are driving the wheels off of that. >> Nice. >> Added some electronics and it works great. >> Love it. >> Awesome. Well, with that, um, we have our 2026 schedule as touched on before in the packet. Um, I believe it's goal setting is our next meeting, a 5:00 start for the work session. Uh other than that, as Jay mentioned previously, 5:30 unless otherwise noted uh for future work sessions. Um and I think that's all I had on that. Could be a record. >> Could be a record. >> You said 202, correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> For the goal setting. >> Yep. >> All right. And with that, >> can I make a motion to adjurnn? >> Yes, you may. Do you have a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I.