Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> [snorts]>> There you go. >> Good evening and welcome to the NewportCity Council meeting. Today is Thursday, August 6, 2026.We'll begin the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of theUnited States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nationunder God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Will staff please call the roll?>> Council member Schmidt? Council member Samara?Council member Engeman? Council member Taylor?Mayor Elliot? >> Here.Next on our agenda is to adopt the agenda. Do we have any changes to theagenda this evening? >> Hearing none, I'll move to adopt.>> I'll second. >> I have a motion from Council memberSamara and a second from Council member Schmidt to adopt the agenda aspresented. Any discussion? All those in favor say I.>> I. >> I. Those opposed? The agenda is adopted.Next on our agenda is kind of an exciting event for Newport. It's theMinnesota Recreation and Park Association Award of Excellence. And wehave JJ Williams with us this evening to present that. Andyeah, JJ, if you want to just talk from there and thenthat'd be great. >> All right. Good evening Mayor Elliot andCouncil members. As it said, my name is JJ Williams. It's an honor to be herefor the second year in a row now to present a Minnesota Recreation and ParkAssociation Award of Excellence. I would like to take a minute to firsttell you just a little bit about the Minnesota Recreation and ParkAssociation or MRPA. The association was formed in 1937to foster and the growth and development of parks and recreation professionthroughout the state of Minnesota. Presently, we have around 850 membersthat come from municipal, county, state, private, and commercial industries.The MRPA Awards Committee was created in 1987with the purpose of acknowledging both individuals and member agencies for theexcellence that they perform in the field of parks and recreation.The Awards Committee feels it is important to increase awareness andappreciation for the excellent work occurring throughout our state byprofessionals in the field. One of the ways we do this is throughthe Awards of Excellence program that was established to recognize agenciesand their staff for exemplary projects. MRPA members may nominate a project foran Award of Excellence in seven different categories.Administrative or management strategies, communications,parks and facilities, programming and events,sponsorships and partnerships, sustainability, and volunteerinitiatives. Nominations received are evaluated andscored by Awards Committee members with the top scoring nominations selected toreceive Award of Excellence recognition. On behalf of the MRPA Awards Committee,it is my pleasure to present an Award of Excellence to the City of Newport forits winning project of pedestrian and trail network planning.The committee was impressed with the foresight that went into developing thisplan and the investment and the long-term impact that this will have onthe public and the community. The Awards Committee would also like torecognize Derek Marson who nominated the project. >> Right.Come on down. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> Turn on. >> JJ JJCan you hear this back there? I'm going to pretend we can. So, JJ,it's such a pleasure to have you back for the second year in a row and I knowlast year was our very first award for our park system and it's reallysatisfying to be getting another one and I think improving our trails is justreally, you know, it was a priority for our residents in our latest park surveyand [clears throat] to see an outside organization recognize what these thiskind of planning can do and how it can help a community, you know, it's justit's it's nice to see it. It's you know, satisfying for our staff as well to feellike they're working on good things and and things that uh matter to even peoplewho aren't um necessarily part of the Newport um area. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you.>> Thank you. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> So, congratulations again to our stafffor their work um on that plan and for those who may not recall, it's uh itcalls for a doubling of almost the number of miles we currently have oftrails in the city and lots of cities if you know have plans with big ambitionsand it might take a decade, it might take two decades, but they just continueto chip away until they reach their ultimate goal. So, um that's reallygreat work. Um next on our agenda is publiccomments. As we have no members of the public in the audience today, I willmove on to the consent agenda. Do we have any changes to the consent agenda? >> Seeing none, I'll move the consentagenda as printed. >> I'll second.>> So, I have a motion from Council Member Sumner and a second from Council MemberSchmidt to adopt the consent agenda as presented. All those in favor say I.Those opposed. The consent agenda is adopted. Next on our agenda is theWashington County Sheriff's Office report and we have Sergeant Leggett withus this evening. >> Good evening. Had to think about thatfor a second. I'm Adam Mayer and council members. I hope you're doing well. It'sbeen a while since I've been able to be up here.Um >> [clears throat]>> Well, since I had uh a lot's happened out there and and andgood stuff as well. Uh obviously with the 4th of July, itwas a it was a good 4th of July. We did not have much umbad things happen per se. So, that was good to hear. Uh certainly somefireworks complaints uh which is understandable um on top of just normalthings that usually come about with 4th of July.Uh but happy to say no serious injuries or anything like that, which we're verygrateful for. Um I know most of you had read maybe theuh update from the Sheriff's Office about uh dispatcher helpinghelping uh baby being born. Uh what was not added in that was our deputy arrivedon scene and helped deliver that baby. So, our Deputy Gasner did uh did a anamazing job. He had never done that and he>> [laughter] >> did so, it was quite an experience forhim. Um but a very cool one at that, right? You get to get to bring life intothe world. So, it's it's a precious moment. He was very proud of that. So, agood job to Deputy Gasner as well for helping make that happen.Um with that as well, our our coordinated response unit, which isour partnership with detectives and a social worker, has been active in thecounty. And they have been very helpful here in Newport withsome folks who need the extra assistance.And they've been coming down here even at a day at a time to helpmake contact with some of the folks that we encounter on a continual basis.And I just want to say that that program isworking out extremely well with them coming down here. We kind of created alittle remote drop-in site within our office for them to come and and it'sbeen very welcomed by all the deputies down here. Um certainly that thatdivision could use could use more bodies. Um cuz there'squite quite a bit of clientele out there in the county that the sheriff's officecovers. So, but for what it's worth, there's a teamthat's dedicated to this community specifically and they've been extremelyhelpful. Even like I said, coming here on sitefor a day at a time in a week. So, it's been a wonderfulpartnership. I guess something to add to the public out there is that thecommunity services does have a crisis response team in a sense. So, if there'ssomething that they are in need of, whether it's food or shelter or anythinglike that, if they contact up there at community services, they can get them incontact with the crisis unit to be able to get them some of those resources. So,please by all means use them. That's what that's what that team is there forand I think it's underutilized with them.As as usual, we are still enforcing some of the speed stuff out there and justbeing visible. Doing a lot of directed patrols in someof the streets that uh maybe some of the neighborhoods have complaints on. I Iwill say that overall the ones that we've done, I have seen a decline insome of the speeds. Certainly, we're not going to catch everybody. That's justnot possible. Um and we do it more for educational purposes in a sense unlessit really warrants a citation. Uh as far as the main highway being 61,I have seen speeds increase out there. Uh just a couple days ago, 96 mph um andsome over 100. So, we are uh even though it's a small portion of Newport, that'sstill Newport, and we're going to make sure people drive safe on that road aswell. Um to remind people that uh recklessdriving doesn't mean just driving all over the road. If someone does go 30 mphover the speed limit, that is considered reckless, and we have brought people tojail for speeding 30 mph over. So, uh we're we're out there making surepeople know. We're going to We're going to make sure you make gooddecisions on that part cuz that's just that's just dangerous. But aside fromthat, I do not have anything further to passon. So, I stand for any questions. >> Any questions?Did the baby get named after the deputy? >> [laughter]>> I never found out the name of the baby, to tell you the truth, but uhsure he would have loved it. >> [clears throat and laughter]>> Okay, that's that's all I want to know. >> Fair enough.>> Thank you so much, Sergeant. Um next we have the fire chief's report,and >> Yes, Mayor, members of the council,um uh tonight I'll be actinguh fire chief. Uh unfortunately, uh Chief Marsan was unable to attendtonight. Um but that he did provide some updates cuz it had been a little bit oftime here. So, for our June calls for service, there were 28 total calls forservice. Two mutual aid calls to Saint Paul Park, one mutual aid call toHastings, and one mutual aid call to Cottage Grove. Uh for July calls, therewere a total of 24 calls. Uh, two mutual aid calls to Cottage Grove, one toWoodbury, um, and, uh, two from, uh, two mutual aid calls provided to Newport,uh, from Saint Paul Park, Cottage Grove, and Woodbury.Um, quick reminder, Buya is coming up on September 20th. Um,not that I have a favorite, but definitely get the Cajun.Um, there are five uh, offers to promotion probationary firefighters, uh,and once they have been signed on and sent back, they will go to council, um,for approval. Uh, they are also working withWashington County dispatch on updating Newport's response plan.And, uh, happy to answer any questions from council.>> [snorts] >> I think we'll we'll let you off the hooktonight. >> [laughter]>> Thank you for that, um, Joe. So, next, uh, on our agenda, we have theengineer's report, and our city engineer is, uh, um, out this evening, and so wehave, uh, his able assistant, I should say, here to help us out. But, I think,Joe, are you going to take the lead on this, or>> Mayor and members of the council, tonight I will also, not only be actingfire chief, >> [laughter]>> I shall be the assistant engineer, city engineer. Uh, first item for council uh,consideration is the Third Avenue improvement. Um, just a littlebackground here, Geislinger and Sons, they have made great progress on ThirdAvenue. The sanitary sewer and water mains are complete. The service lateralsto individual homes should be completed by the end of this week. Uh, temp waterhas been removed from approximately half of the homes,um, and storm sewer construction will begin, uh, we believe this week, andshould continue for about the next 4 weeks.Um city staff have been working with One Oak Geislinger uh regarding thecompletion of the work needed to be done on 17th Street adjacent to the pipeline.Um we have reached agreement on how that work can proceed. So, Geislinger hasprovided some costs for completing the remaining work, including replacement ofthe existing force main, construction of the storm sewer, and pavement boulevardrestoration. MSA uh is reviewing and evaluating these costs and will presenta formal change order at the August 20th council meeting. There are a few workitems associated uh that we are seeking advanced approval uh to allow Geislingerto get a jump on this. First one is storm sewer structures. There are fiveprecast concrete storm sewer structures that will be installed as part of theimprovements and the material cost of these structures is about 25K.There is about a 3-4 week lead time on this, so we're hoping to get a jump onthat. Um and get them on site. Uh also, there's a force main replacement. Thereis 580 ft of force main to be installed on 17th Street>> [clears throat] >> along with the removal of the existingstructures. Um and connection to the existing sanitary manhole on 2nd Avenue.The cost for this improvement is about 94,000and Geislinger proposes to use some of the pipe crews they have right now outon site on 3rd Avenue uh to begin the work uh the week of August 10th.Um once they complete the work on 3rd Avenue. So, with that uh the uhassistant engineer Hatch makes the rec- the respectfuluh recommendation to council to authorize the fabrication of the stormsewer manholes and the replacement of the fourth main force main on 17thStreet in advance of a formal change order to be considered on August 20th uh29th. >> It's 20th.Even though this is wrong. >> Any um questions uhfor Assistant City Engineer Hatch? >> [snorts] >> Nobody wants to understand thecomplexities of concave structures and water flow.Okay. With that, I will accept a motion as stated by umPeter Hatch uh to authorize the ordering of those um items.>> I'll I'll make the motion to authorize thefabrication of storm sewer manholes and the replacement of the force main on17th Street in advance for a formal change order to be presented at theAugust 20th Council meeting. >> I'll second that one.>> So, we have a motion from Council Member Schmidt and a second from Council MemberSumner. All those in favor, say I.Those opposed? And that um is approved.>> Uh Mayor and members of the Council, there are a number of uh projects goingon and uh I'm going to provide a number of updates here. So, first off, the 2025Street and Utility Improvements, Meyer Contracting has completed the insta-installation of storm sewer facilities and a grit chamber along 17th Street.They have restored a number of gravel driveways along the south side of theCircle K tank farm within the unimproved 17th Street right-of-way and havestarted reconstructing the intersec- uh intersection of Cedar Lane and 17thStreet. Uh this is approximately 110 ft east. Uh curb work in the intersectionis complete and pavement will follow the week uh next week.Um we have also completed and have been doing some testing on the waterconnection with Cottage Grove. There was a message that went out on Facebook. UhI think it was today and we'll be making the switch on August 12th. Uh theprogramming, integration, and testing work associated with the flow meter andpressure reducing valve is complete and uh Newport's water system is isbasically ready to go full-time with Cottage Grove. Umand yeah, so if folks have questions, there is an FAQ and more information onthe website. They can also contact public works.For County Road 38 improvements, these are improvements that are beingconducted by Washington County and it really does impact Newportsignificantly. Um They did open bids for the pavementresurfacing project around County Road 38, Maxwell, 21st Street and 7th Avenue,Glen Road and Hastings Avenue. Um County staff is seeking board approval nextweek to for the construction and they believethey will begin this in August towards the end of August. I do think it will becompleted in stages. There's a number of stages. Staff havewe have posted these stages and this information on the city website and ifyou bear with me for a second I can pull up the map. And where is it here? So all this information is contained onthe city website. You can see the project locations here. It is throughoutthe city of Newport. UmThere is information in regards to the scope of work,working hours, what's going to happen with trash and recycling and trafficcontrol, also the project contacts. That's all on our city website also.And then you can look at the staging. There's six different stages for thisstarting from the left going to the right. Stage A is Maxwell Avenue fromState Highway 61 Northbound ramps to I-494 Eastbound off-ramp. pavementstriping replacement only will occur under traffic during this stage.Stage B, Maxwell Avenue from I-494 Eastbound offramp to 21st Street, roadroadway work will require that Northbound traffic detours while work isperformed in the area. Posted detour route will be to State Highway 61.Stage C, from 7th Avenue to 20th Street to Glenn Road, roadway work will requirethat Northbound traffic detours while work is performed in this area. Posteddetour route will be Highway 61.Stage D, Glenn Road from 7th Avenue over State Highway 61 to Glenn Road, roadwaywork will be performed keeping one lane in each direction open.Uh and then stage F.Uh Hastings Avenue from Glenn Road to 70th Street, roadway roadway work willrequire that Northbound traffic detours while work is performed in this area.Posted detour route will be to State Highway 61.Um we do expect this work to be completed by the end of October, so it'sgoing to be a tough 2 months. Uh they will I believe work on one stageat a time, but this will be uh significant work and uh I'm sureinconvenient, but folks can go to our website for more information on thisproject. >> Can we keep people updated too thatstage one is done and or stage A is done and stage B. Justbecause you'll never really know till you get there and all of a sudden yousee the detour or a dead end and you're kind of finding your way around.>> Absolutely. I I I we can provide updates on our websiteum as the project continues. >> Yeah.>> Superintendent, did you have something to say?>> Uh I just wanted to remind everyone that they're going to repave the trails andthe along those roads as well. So, that'll be a welcome update to thesystem as well. >> That'll be excellent.>> Uh next item here, we do have tree removaland >> I just want to let people know there's alot of construction going on in Newport. I think one of the detoursuh during one stage of this project will take you through a neighborhood. Pleaseslow down. Please respect that it's only going to be for a couple of weeks.As I've said with the other projects, just plan ahead. Be patient. Be patientwith drivers who are a little confused their first time through these detoursand how the lane changes are working. Um and we'll all get through it and thereare no county projects scheduled for next year in Newport. So, two of our bigprojects are our county projects and and this is a great maintenance project andthis is how we take care of our community.>> Absolutely. Couple more updates here. Uh Eastridge Heights uh tree removal andbuilding demolition work on site is complete and crews have been working onmass grading. Uh although the mass grading agreementwill be uhreviewed. I'm sorry, that's for a different project. There is apre-construction meeting for the utility phase of the project scheduled this weekand we expect that the work will begin very soon and extend through the fall.Cherrywood utility work is complete with the exception of some minor punch listitems. The the pedestrian trail on the west side of Century Avenue was recentlypaved and the final lift of pavement within the development uh will be placedlater this fall uh and early next spring when construction from home buildersbegins to slow down. To date, 29 building permits have been issued forthe development. Happy to stand for questions. [laughter] >> Thank you for that great summary and Ithink I did get a question um earlier this week about what appears to be aroad uh between the Red Rock Cemetery and theuh what Newport Commons apartments.And that will be a road. It will connect Hastings Avenue to Sterling. It will bea secondary exit out of Eastridge Heights.Depending on when you drove by, it looked awfully steep. They've done alittle bit more grading uh since earlier this week. It looks a little less steep,but it will have the same grade as 65th um Street has. So, if you're wonderingwhere it's going to kind of finally end, that's it's going to be in about thatarea. I think it's just maybe a half a degree less than what we will have on65th. So, um yes, that will be a connection.Um and I think it'll probably be nice for the maintenance staff to be able tonot try to take that left turn off Sterling and get on to Bailey. So, um Ithink they'll they'll appreciate having that available as well. Any questions for um Assistant EngineerHatch? >> None.Moving on. >> [laughter]>> Moving on to the actual Superintendent of Public Works.Matt Yoakil. >> I feel I missed the memo that we couldhave gone, but >> [clears throat]>> Uh good evening, Mayor Elliott and council members. I have nothing formalthis evening. Um but I do have a couple of updates for you. Um the biggest oneis we're still accepting applications for the relief tree removal andreplacement grant. That's through the 28th of August, I believe. So, you canget a free tree to replant uh even if you don't get one removed, but uh like Isaid, I would encourage you to get your name on the list and get signed upsooner rather than later because it is limited funding. If you have anyquestions, feel free to give me a call at Public Works.Um and then also the uhbuckthorn hedge at Pioneer Park has been removed. Uh the grass is starting togrow, but it's a little bit uh um with it being hot and dry, it'staking a little [clears throat] bit. Um but you'll absolutely notice it when youwhen you get there for the uh Pioneer Day Festival. So, look forward to a niceopen, welcoming park. So, with that, I'd be happy to stand for questions.>> Okay. Any questions for Matt? Thank you very much, Matt.Moving on, we uh have the administration report.>> [clears throat] >> Uh Mayor and members of council, we havea couple items under the administration report tonight. The first one is uma resolution approving the Bailey Business Park grading agreement, and wehave uh planner Madison here to to provide an upgrade update and talkthrough that. >> You have a lot of people wearing a lotof different hats of this evening's meeting. Um, good evening, Mayor andmembers of council. Um, yes, in front of you for the Bailey development, they'vecome in for an early grading agreement. Um, so, a grading agreement, I'm sureyou all are familiar, um, but permits the developer to begin work on site. So,tree removal, some site grading, making sure the site's ready for development,um, prior to their pri- final approvals. So,for this site specifically, um, you know, it's a site that expands over afew different cities, and so it to aid in that, they're looking for the gradingagreement to begin grading work, kind of development wide, to ensure that they'regoing to be in a good spot once they get their final approvals. So, that's infront of you this evening. It's at the risk of the developer to begin work onsite, so they've provided the city a letter of credit, which will cover thecost if, you know, something goes wrong and they don't get their finalapprovals. Um, the grading agreement will expireupon those final approvals or upon agreement of a development agreementwith the city. So, happy to answer any questions, but I know you've seen a fewof these before. >> Yes, any questions on this? Councilmember Sumner. >> How long they think it'll take thisportion of their agreement to the grading activities?>> Um Mayor and members of the council, in conversations withum uh uhI'm sorry, I'm forgetting the name of the contractor, but they believe it'lluh begin soon here and go for I think 4 to 5 months. It's going to be prettysignificant. >> Oh.>> Yeah. It's It's going to be probably until the end of the year ifnot a little bit longer. >> So, it sounds like it's going to be amajor amount of removal and and regrading up there.>> Uh Mayor and members of the council, I believe the total acres it's well over200 that I believe. Uh that's the Woodbury and Newport area and thenthere's another significant maybe 80 acres in Maplewood. And I think they'regoing to be uh doing all that work and uh there is significant areas that needto be lifted and then some areas that need to be lowered and and then there'sgoing to you know, they want to get all the sites basically ready foruh the sewer and water infrastructure to be installed and then also frankly uhsome building to occur. Uh kind of timing on the building thatwould occur after the infrastructure is in and and the the grading's done whichwe're anticipating kind of first second quarterum for some of the buildings uh of 2027 with others uh on the on the projectprobably happening uh third to fourth quarter. UmSo, yeah. Yeah, but it uhIt's a much bigger than Eastridge. It's It's way bigger than than what we'reseeing at Sterling and Bailey. So, it's it it'll take uh more time there.>> Well, it just looks like such a flat area.It's hard for us from the road to realize how much adjusting of of thelevels it's going to require. So, that I just wanted toto warn people that it's going to be going on for a long time, but itshouldn't impact the traffic, I wouldn't think on Bailey. They're just anoccasional vehicle coming onto Bailey, but not not a lot, right?>> Uh Mayor and members of the council, we are requiring that the contractors andthe developers work with the county in order to receive the proper permits tohave access to Bailey Road. With that said, you know, I'm confident whateveris included in those access permits is going to be to to that standard. So, I'mnot anticipating anything that's going to becrazy significant, but uh yeah, who knows about the future.>> Okay. Just because there's so much traffic upthere on Bailey. >> Other questions?>> That was all I had on that. Just planning on Bailey.>> Yeah. Um with that then, I would entertain amotion for a resolution [snorts] 2026-60. >> I'll make a motion.I'll move the resolution 2026-60approving Bailey Business Park Grading Agreement. Do I hear a second?>> I'll second. >> Thank you.I have a motion from council member Sumner and a second from council memberSchmidt. All those in favor say I. Those opposed, the resolution isapproved. We have a couple of close session items. Um Joe, do you haveanything else for us before that?Then I will jump to Mayor and council comments and then we'll go into theclose session. >> Mayor and members of the council, no.Happy to stand for questions. >> Questions for Mr. Hatch?Hearing none, um I am going to just move our Mayor and council reports before wego into the close session. Um just uha lot of things happening. Um just to let people know last night the CottageGrove City Council did approve a resolution to make a request to thestate for the ambulance service uh to be moved into a different servicearea, which we would then be served by uh Fairview EMS, or what we all kind ofknow as M Health Fairview at the moment. And um, once it goes to the state, thestate takes generally about 10 days for an approval. They anticipate a September1 switchover date. Um, it should be pretty seamless. Cottage Grove willstill be back-up ambulances for us, just like Alina, and HealthEast, andWoodbury. You know, they all kind of work together, so if one one service umdoesn't have someone available, there's mutual aid agreements in place. Andcounty dispatch takes care of making sure that that happens. Um, just areminder that Pioneer Day, tomorrow night, Hoppers is showing at the PioneerPark, 8:00. And um there's supposed to be an ice creamtruck there, and some other popcorn, and some other treats. So, be sure and comeon out for that. And then uh August 8th, in the morning, they'll have the 5Krace, starting at 9:30, and a kids fun run at 10:30, the parade at 11:30. Andthen we've got a whole assortment of the petting zoo and car show, bounce house,um band, bingo, and the button raffles at 2:00. So, I encourage people to comeout for that. Oh, yeah, and get a button. Um, my button's at home. Um, butwith a button, you get all the corn you can eat. So, the buttons are $3, or fourfor $10. Um,and also earlier this week, I got a chance for uh ribbon cutting of a newbusiness in Newport, Untamed Magic. This is a family-owned business, and I got achance to meet the children that are involved with uh magic, ventriloquism,and uh balloon animals. And they do birthday parties. They've got a birthdayparty room for people or they come out to events. They've been at theWashington County Fair and done some things, and itsounds like they're a pretty accomplished bunch. So, it was really Itwas fun to see there, and the kids did a little bit of their their act as part ofthe ribbon cutting, so it was really fun. And it was very well attended. Andthey are located in Newport Plaza, which is the building where the post officeis. So, yeah. A lot of enthusiasm, a lot of goodenergy, and it was just It was a just a nice lovely event. Council memberIngeman? >> Uh the only thing I've got isfood uh food scrap uhat the RDF. >> [clears throat]>> And you ought to you know the the bags are freeand the containers you get at City Hall. >> [clears throat]>> And you just put it in your regular garbage.>> Yes, please do. >> Please do participate in that. It's thethe ton the tonnage that hasn't gone into our landfills is incredible, andthis program has not been around that long. Listen to Tom.>> [laughter] >> Tom has good advice.>> Yeah. >> Okay.>> I said >> Council member Taylor.Council member Schmit? >> No problem.>> Council member Sumner? >> Oh, yes.I was very fortunate to represent Newport in an eventin downtown Minneapolis, a three-day event looking at put on by the StateHistoric Preservation Office, the SHPO. And we had we hosted individuals fromdifferent um HPCs from Maine to Miami, from Arizona toOregon, and all states and cities in between.They were talking about the vast amount of interest there is in saving thehistoric- ly important areas and buildings withinour cities. Andthey also had a number of presentations by the members of the Dakota tribe andwe learned about OwamniyomniWakantipi, which is the manner in which the Dakotapeople recognize the important independent interdependence of theirlife lifestyle and beliefs and theworshipping of the earth. So, it is important for us here inNewport with our closeness to the river and the fact that wehave had the location of the of the Red Rock for somany years and this is a very his- sacred area for those individual tribalmembers that I think it's an honor for us to beto be part of an important part of their lifestyle. So, it was wonderful to bethere meeting people from around the country. I also had a brief moment totalk to the new consultant that will be representing and working with us here inNewport. So, I look forward to to working with her in the near future. Ibelieve she's coming on board. So, it's going to be able able to get Newportback involved with our HPC efforts. >> Great. Thank you so much.>> and also I've been mentioning that the the SchoolBus comes to Newport on Tuesdays and it usually meets down at the elementaryschool, but because of political activity next Tuesday, they're going tobe meeting at the library instead. So, if you come there, bring your family.They've got a meal. They've got lots of activity for kids. They've got a readingsession. They've got activities including they made cookies last time onon the grounds. So, a lot of things for families to be involved with.>> Great. Thank you for letting us know about the new locationfor Tuesday. So, next on our agenda is we have twoclosed sessions and I think what I'm going to try to do is read in both ofthose closed sessions on a single go. Otherwise, we read in one, we go intoclosed session, we come out. Wevote to go back into closed session. I reread. So, let's just see how thisgoes. So, we've got two things going on. One is to consider offers orcounteroffers for the sale of real property located at 155 21st Street,Newport, Minnesota. This is also known as Wilson Lines. The second item is thecity administrator performance review. So, umI have read the two items. The legal basis for closing theWilson Lines property is under Minnesota Statute Section 13D.05Subdivision 3C. Theitem to close for the administrator's reviewis Minnesota Statute Section 13D.05 Subdivision 3A.And I need to note that the employee is Joe Hatch. UmAnd so, at this time, I would entertain a motion to go into closed session forboth items. >> I'll make the motion to go into closedsession for both items presented. >> I'll second.>> I have a motion from Councilmember Schmidt and a second from CouncilmemberIngeman. The time is 6:12 p.m.Um Let's see. So, the City Council will nowgo into closed session. Umhere in the City [snorts] council chambers, only the city council anddesignated officials may initially attend the closed session. So, withthat, I think >> You got to go?>> Good evening. >> I think others need to move on.>> For your performance, you are probably going>> No, no, no, you got to go. >> Our meeting 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Is thatin person? >> No, it should be a Teams.Yeah, if yeah, it's it's a Teams. >> [snorts]>> I'm going to double check real quick, but Yeah, it's Teams. >> Yep.>> [snorts] >> Mhm.