So, there's not a ton of changes. There was a pretty large overhaul last year. Um so, just some minor changes.

I believe I remember hearing um employees discuss was some prefer not to have it added to their paycheck as they thought they feel it. No, they don't. So maybe a gift card.

I think 50 is is good. I know many private entities that where it's far more. So I I have no issue having this as part of how we use our tax dollars. It's more than more than deserved.

Effective communication with the city fosters trust and transparency, encourages public engagement, and ensures that messages are accurate and coordinated across all departments.

But the texting, and again, I suppose it's person by person, but for me personally, those text updates that the city sends out, yeah, I find those to be the most impactful for me.

I will say that I'm very happy considering this is year one of having communications itself, let alone a plan, let alone labor, let alone um someone who is focusing on that. as a prime example, the website already is updated with news and the video from light up Lake Elmo like that. That's fantastic.

Council at that time a month ago requested that a third option be considered which would just maintain one turning movement, one additional turning movement and that's the right turn access from eastbound 36 to southbound Keats. So, that's just an add to the frontage road design.

I guess my only question is, do we have any concerns about the safety considerations? I mean, if it truly is collaborative on, you know, accidents that are happening, will it be will we have a vote at the table to say we want to keep this open even though there was one accident here or will MINDOT say no, we're closing it, they have the final say?

I mean it it is yes, it's a little bit of a leap of faith and um you know and working with a partnership those things those things happen when you you know you're working with other agencies whether it's the county or the state or watershed district and you just have to trust that the process works.

I don't know that 500 ft gives us the advantage that just because of the large lot sizes in our in our areas where we've heard the complaints of people not getting notified. It may be stressed to those people, hey, you live in the rural area, you may not be within the 350 ft. So, it could be advantageous for you to be on this push notification for public hearings, maybe attack it that way.

I mean that's something it could change in its policy to not allow commenting on land used items because um you know this could become an issue where you know you all start chiming in and we can talk about this in my presentation but you know it becomes a time when basically you're having a city council meeting over social media and then you're also getting predisposed to all these people's sentiments about the the project instead of at a public hearing.

It's funny because like the 350 versus 500 makes me think of the college football playoff. 12 teams. No, it should be 16 teams. Well, when it's 12, the 13th team will be upset. When it's 16, the 17th team will be upset. So it's exactly like you said it's a 500. Well then the person who's at 510 will be upset.

I think that is a good point to have some kind of legislative priority and plan, but maybe, you know, we could put our focus on those things um that are specific to Lake Elmo like um the water system. Um we could grant money if we're going to have to go to surface water, you know, to to pay the cost of extending that here. Another thought that came to mind as I sitting was, you know, we have trunk highway 36 frontage road where cost $5 million. We should be working with our legislator to get that in the bonding bill if they pass it.

But to me, far and away the most critical one is White Bear Lake. Like I I don't that is far and away the biggest thing. And yes, there are opportunities where most all the communities are on the same page of the absurdity and wanting a legislative solution.

Maybe we put on our hat and say, 'What if we could work with a program?' And I'm just this is just talking off the top of my head now. Okay. Where we put where we put a a 1% sales tax on pop and bottled water and that money goes to fund water issues in communities where we have PIFAs, we have nitrates, we have things like that.

if you have a city council Facebook page or Instagram page, it can become an issue if you are creating a public forum by allowing people to comment on your posts as an elected official. And then once you start thinking, well, I don't like this person's post because they said something mean and you either block them or take down their comments, then you're violating their First Amendment rights.

if it relates to a matter that's before the city council or will be before the city council, it's probably best not to discuss it or at least do not advocate one way or another about it. This uh brings to mind a case in Minneapolis.

I don't try and post things that are I might just share what's already out there on the website, but or um so I guess I'm not trying to take the place of any communications that happened from the city. Um just adding information for residents on timely or wishing everybody a happy Thanksgiving.