The date is February 11th, 2026, and the time is 6:00 p.m. The first thing on the agenda is uh pledge of allegiance. Everybody stand up. 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. >> Third thing on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda. And I'll make a motion. and I Ron Hanigraph move to approve the February 11th, 2026 city council agenda. >> Rob second. >> Rob seconds it. Any other discussion? Hearing none, we'll take a vote. Jenny >> Jenny I. >> Scott I. >> Karen I. >> Rob I. >> And Ron I. We'll go on. Section B the consent agenda. I'll make another motion. I Ron Hannigraph. Move to approve the February 11th, 2026 city council agenda. Is there a second? >> Scott, I'll second. >> Motion's been seconded. Any other discussion or comments about it? >> Hearing none, we'll take a vote. Jenny >> Jenny I. >> Scott I. >> Karen I. >> Rob I. >> And Ron I. We'll go to item C. Presentations and items for council's actions. We'll go to item number one, the public forum. Is there anybody in the public that'd like to use the microphone? >> Going to have to muscle their way in if they do. >> Anybody online that would like to make a comment? >> Hearing none, we'll close that section. We'll go on. Item number two, the In Noa County Sheriff's Office quarterly report and 2026 deputy introduction. Thank you for coming, Sarah, for all your manpower there. Mhm. >> Good evening. >> Can you guys hear me? Good evening, mayor, council, city staff. Um, thank you for having us. As you know, I'm Jessica Slavic, Lieutenant with the Noa County Sheriff's Office, and the liazison between our office and the city of Columbus. Uh, tonight with me, we have Sheriff Brad Weise, Chief Deputy Bill Jacobson, Investigator Shawn Merritt, and Deputies Grant Olsen and Matthew Bertina. Uh, so we will do introductions to start with and then I will turn it over to Sheriff Wise for a brief statement and then we'll move into the fourth quarter report from 2025. >> We'll go ahead and uh start with investigator Sean Merritt. >> Hi, Sean Merritt. Uh, been with the sheriff's office for 24 years, the past 13 years in investigations. Um, that one including uh investigating Columbus cases. Um, prior to that I was a field training officer and then taser instructor. Hello, I'm Deputy Grant Olsen. I've been with the sheriff's office for six years, actually seven and a half years total. Uh, a year and a half of that being with a as a CSO. Currently, I'm a patrol division. And I am a field training officer, a use of force instructor, and a taser instructor. Oh, thank you. >> Hi, I'm Deputy Matt Verina. Um, been a deputy for just over uh two years and one day and uh worked in Columbus for about two years now, too. And great to be here. >> Thank you. So, Grant and Matt are the uh deputies assigned to the Columbus contract for 2026. and then Shawn Merritt uh investigates all of the felony level misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor property crimes in the city of Columbus. I will now turn it over to Sheriff Weise for a statement. >> All right. Thank you, Lieutenant Slavic. Uh Mayor Councel, um I always get a kick out of hearing a deputy say, you know, I'm two years in one day. Um and I'm speak I'm looking at you, mayor, cuz in when I think about when I started in law enforcement, it seems like only yesterday. But now today I'm at 31 years in law enforcement. Um 28 for the city of Rabbits and the last three as sheriff of Anoka County. Um I'm sure you can relate. >> I got 30, but >> yeah, but it seems like yesterday, does it not? >> Yeah, it feels like it wasn't that long ago I was you. Um that said is that um of course we're honored to offer the law enforcement contract to the city of Columbus. We aim to provide the best service that we possibly can. And um I believe from where I sit, especially my experience working for a city police department itself, is that I know you get a lot of bang for the buck and that our deputies are committed to serving the citizens both in terms of their calls of for service and for traffic enforcement. I'm sure you hear a lot about it. It's everywhere. is that the issues related to people driving recklessly or ignoring semaphors or those sorts of things are things that are very important to us. And I assure you that our deputies are committed to providing the level of service that the residents of Columbus expect and that I also want to reiterate to them is that we're always respectful of taxpayer money. Um we know how serious of job it is to uh levy the citizens for the services that you provide. Um, and we aim to make sure that every nickel that we spend is money that's well spent on behalf of the taxpayers because I want you to know or hear from me directly that that's very important to me too. Um, that said, I thought I would maybe uh cover a couple of topics that I'm sure of interest is that um, for certain immigration enforcement is an important issue and I think you uh, should get an update as it relates to ina county. as I've said every single time that I've been here is that we we work in law enforcement heaven and we work in law enforcement heaven because we have city councils like you that we get to work with that the citizens are very supportive. Um they understand the difference between lawmaker and law enforcer and that we're appreciative of that fact. Um, as it relates to immigration enforcement, the words um, sheriff and best practices and what the future is for law enforcement have been talked about plenty lately. um especially as it relates to cooperation in terms of immigration enforcement is that um I met I w I was fortunate enough to be part of a Zoom meeting with the borders are Tom Hman that was last week and it was talking about how um jails in Minnesota work with the federal officials as it relates to immigration enforcement. I want you to know from me is that we do our best to communicate and uh work as cooperatively as we can with the federal agencies that are responsible for immigration enforcement. Um there are limitations to what we're able to do that are based on lawsuits. You know, unfortunately, that's a lot of how life is navigated. And um that said is that we have excellent relationships with the um with ICE and with immigration enforcement officials um because I have the fundamental philosophy and I think most people do too no matter what side of the of the issue that you're on is that it's much better for immigration enforcement to take place at a jail than it is to take place um at a front door of a home or at a business. and that anything that interferes with with um immigration enforcement taking place at a jail in my mind is a mistake and that we're doing all that we can to cooperate. And that's um that's not to say that there are other immigration issues that people are very passionate about because I hear about it all the time too. Um I hear the both sideism of it. But our our aspect in immigration enforcement is to enforce the laws that exists. And um I remind people constantly if you don't like the laws that exist, please talk to your federal lawmakers and have the law amended. That's how the s uh system works here in our country. Now that said, uh Columbus, the city of Columbus is vastly different than Columbia Heights um both politically and and just the organization of the city. Um, Columbia Heights has had um, well, they're navigating a more difficult path than we are, and it's it's probably just mostly related to numbers, but for the cities that we police, the eight cities that that we call our contract cities that we provide our primary services for, is that um, we've had very limited interaction with ICE agents. Sometimes people do call and ask us um, when an ICE operation is taking place. I don't think I don't know of an an operation that's happened in Columbus at all, but there have been a handful of them that have taken place within our patrol response area, and we've had 911 calls. The ICE agents that we've worked with, our deputies have worked with have been very respectful, very cordial. It's very business-like, which is truly the way the bulk of these incidents are going. You know, minus what you see on the news or what you see in Henipin County, it's just a whole different place over there. Um, again, which circles back to the idea that we're blessed to be where we're at, is that it's just more of a oh, I don't know. It's an attitude of of doing the things that we need to do in a manner that makes sense, that people can understand, and that we're respectful of of people in the positions that we're in. Um, but I just want you to know that that um, philosophically especially is that I hope that immigration enforcement takes place at the jail and that the transfer or the people they need to take into custody that that's as streamlined as possible. Um, so that so that these interactions that happen in neighborhoods and stuff are eliminated. And truthfully, that's all Mr. Holman asked of Minnesota sheriffs. So, I wanted you to hear that from me. And then the other thing that I'll mention to you specifically is the jail. Um I know I talked about it last year is that our our jail is failing and it's failing uh because the structure is falling apart like pipes and concrete and all sorts of things, roofs. Um the building is just falling apart and it's a big ticket item. It bothers me a lot that I keep saying the same things to you. I'm I know I said virtually the same thing last year. The building needs to be replaced and I wish I was telling you that a shovel's in the ground. Um but unfortunately is that um the county, Anoka County and the city of of Anoka have reached an impass which has necessitated litigation regarding replacing the jail um in the location essentially in the location that it's at. Um and it's a big deal because every day of delay is taxpayer money that's getting spent. Um the county attorney and myself and truthfully the county board are very active in trying to move this project along as quickly as it can. again mindful of the taxpayer money but um we we're going to move at the pace of the litigation and um I wish it didn't come to that but um it's it's seeming the only way that we're going to be able to build the kind of jail that we need to keep people securely in custody while they're going through the legal process to um to have their uh criminal charges heard. Uh but with that um I think I'll close my comments unless you had some specific question that >> I would just like to uh bring up uh a quick point about the DNR and the rifles. >> Oh yeah. >> Could you just explain how the county sits on that? >> Yeah. Yeah. Actually that's that's a good point. Um all right. So actually one of the conversations that I've had I learned something new too. I always thought, actually, I'm going to backtrack for those of you who aren't aren't um following the story closely, but essentially the top twothirds of Minnesota used to be rifle areas for deer hunting. The bottom one-third was shotgun only. I had operated under the assumption my entire life that that was for safety reasons. And apparently that was not true. The the reason behind the difference was um related to the pop deer populations that deer hunters with rifles were more effective at controlling a deer population and frankly the state of Minnesota took advantage of the bad shots with shotguns which allowed the populations to remain more stable or or less culling of the herd. Um that said is that I think it was last legislative session is that the deer hunters association went to the state of Minnesota and said we can do rifle throughout the entire state of Minnesota without any loss of safety. Um because we we all know that a rifle projectile flies farther than a shotgun projectile. Although shotgun projectiles are a lot different in 2026 than they were in 1945 when the law was written that created that shotgun only um area. Um but the legislature agreed that the state of Minnesota should be now should allow rifle hunting for deer throughout the entire state. There was a caveat in the law that said, "However, um, individual counties are free to um create an ordinance that would restrict or would continue to have it be shotgun only for deer hunting." So, the the conversation that took place within the county was um basically to the cities, what do you want to do for your individual cities? cuz cuz some cities do have restrictive ordinances like Andover that say that there are no firearms allowed in in certain areas. Um and for sure Columbus would be allowed to address this issue in any way they chose to. But I do know the prevailing wind among the county commissioners. They haven't voted on it, mind you, but the prevailing wind was to leave was to not second guess the state. basically say that that we're okay with uh deer hunting being rifle or allow rifles throughout the entire county and that um if cities wanted to create a more restrictive ordinance they were welcome to do that but that was um that's where we left it. So, I'm there wasn't a vote taken, but based on a voice vote or based on comments that I've heard is that it sounds like it's going to be um rifles will continue to be allowed unless now Columbus as a city wants to take action otherwise. >> Okay. Thank you. That was my question if uh so in other words if we wrote our own ordinance and I think I was talking to your deputy uh there that uh chief deputy that uh it would cover Carlos Avery too because Carlos Avery is in our city. >> Yeah. >> So if we decided as a council to write an ordinance restricting just shotguns only sticking to the same thing and rifles would be out it' be illegal then. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yep. Well, actually, I want to add I'm certain the kind of kind of deer hunting that takes place in Columbus is probably from stands, which which this is all stuff that again um it's become more clear to me that if somebody's up in a stand deer hunting, that means they're shooting down. And that the exper There have been a few other states that have had the shotgun only rule in place. Again, it was related to deer management, not safety. in that states that have gone away from shotgun to allow rifles is that there's been no difference in the safety of residents. Um that the projectiles again generally are pointed down. It's not like up north where people drive deer where they line up and move through a woods where they're where they're shooting a rifle from ground level. Um, I mean obviously that I I don't know the rural areas of uh Columbus well enough to know whether or not that that would never happen, but my understanding is is that there was no change in data from other states. North Dakota and Wisconsin were the two that were mentioned that went away from shotgun only areas. >> Yeah, I think we're going to have to have a discussion on that. >> Yeah, >> but we got a lot of people that border Carlos Avery. >> Yeah. And >> a lot of them would be a little more uneasy about having rifles, but you're right. Shotguns. >> Yep. Yeah. Mr. Mayor, you are in for sure, council, you're in a different predicament because you do have a very popular state park hunting space that residential areas. >> Anybody else have any questions for the sheriff? No, I just say to your point, yeah, is it is a unique area and having family that own land and it's it's not very uncommon to have structures struck by bullets. You know, it's just something you become used to. You don't make a police report. 20 years ago, my grandma was almost shot in her yard by a shotgun slug that hit her house. Um, there's issues with that. I'm an avid deer hunter, but I think we will have to take a look at what that looks like. You know, rifle travels a lot farther. A shotgun goes about 250 yards now with a Sabbath slug, but a rifle can reach farther. Right. So, just thanks for bringing the context. >> Thanks for allowing us. >> Yep. >> And what the countyy's doing. So, >> yeah. And and for sure, Mr. Mayor, council, talk to your county commissioner about your concerns, too, because it was it was basically a conversation a lot like this that took place last week at the I think it was last week, the elected officials update. It was a very informal conversation. The they were definitely leaning towards letting cities do whatever it is that they were wanting to do. I know that Carlos Avery did get mentioned in particular and a couple of county parks got talked about in particular that allow hunting. Um, and that was going to lead to a little more skull scratching on the issue. Uh, for sure. >> Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate that. >> Other questions? >> Okay. Thank you, Sheriff. Chief Deputy, do you have anything? Okay. Um before we get into the quarter fourth quarter report from 2025, I just wanted to give a few general updates from the sheriff's office. Um we have had and are continuing to have um some personnel changes with some retirements. We had our patrol sergeant Tim Day um recently retire with over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Um we also have Sergeant Rick Crier with our civil division who is retiring next month. And then in April um one of our criminal investigation division detectives. So, a lot of institutional knowledge and um experience that's leaving, but with uh with that always comes the excitement of promotions and developing new leaders. So, um the other update I have is we do have um we have a facility dog now. So, I'm excited to share that. We welcomed a Sedona to the sheriff's office a few weeks ago. She is a three-year-old yellow lab and golden retriever mix. Um and she was given to us by Cand Do K9. So, she was donated to us um from them. Um her handler is our victim advocate Tristan Gillespie and uh Sedona will be working with um our crime victims and providing services to them. Um I will now draw your attention to the 2025 report that I've passed out. Um specifically we'll discuss uh the fourth quarter 2025, but um this does show a comparison from all of the calls for service um and the the offenses compared to 2024. Um, so in looking at this, we did have 134 fewer calls for service in 2025 compared to 2024. But, um, as you can see, uh, still, especially with our last quarter here, um, Columbus is a great place to live. Very low crime. Um, zero burglaries. There was only one felony level person crime in this past quarter. Um, there were 11 thefts in the last quarter, 2025. Quite a few of those did come from running aces. I think just the casino in general um is kind of the perfect storm with people chasing their losses and dealing with some financial distress. Um combine that with the crowds and the easy distractions, it makes it easy um for somebody to snatch a purse off the back of a chair or in one instance um somebody took $475 worth of chips from a poker table. Um the good news is that uh the casino does have really good surveillance. Um, investigator Merritt was able to identify a suspect in the theft of the um the poker chips and she did admit to taking those poker chips, however, indicated that she thought that they were hers. Um, and she was agreeing to return those instead of um being charged with theft. Um, the other theft out of Running Aces involved an intoxicated female uh taking a a sweatshirt from the clearance rack and then uh she put that on and left the casino without paying for it. So, she was charged with a misdemeanor theft and issued a trespassing notice. Um, some other notable thefts uh that occurred in the city of Columbus. Um, we had one in December. Uh, we had a theft at American Auto Sales. Um, the business was not the victim in this instance. However, um a victim had purchased one of the vehicles from marketplace and then they had broughten a individual with them that he didn't know very well to drive that vehicle home for him. Um so when they got to the um to the business, the purchaser finished the transaction and then he provided the keys of that newly purchased vehicle to this individual. Um and then that individual is instructed to follow the owner back to his house in St. Paul. Um, however, that individual got into the vehicle and took off at a high rate of speed and um, the vehicle was recovered a month later um, on January 16th. So, that uh, that case is still open for investigation. Um, there was also a theft of um, at Camper World Freeway Drive and there's an individual who was staying in a camper. Um, while staying there, they also stole a TV out of the camper. Um there was damage um totaling up to $6,000 into the interior of the camper. Uh so that case is being looked into. Uh and then on November 14th, there was a truck stolen off the lot at DNT Auto Repair. A couple days later, deputies then observed that truck on Highway 65 and 147th Avenue in Ham Lake. They attempted to stop the vehicle. However, the driver would not step would not stop, excuse me. Um and then they entered into a pursuit. Uh that pursuit was eventually terminated due to the recklessness of the driving conduct by the suspect um being in opposing lanes on Highway 65 uh causing several vehicles to swerve and break to avoid a head-on collision. Uh so the deputies did uh terminate that pursuit. Um however, they did relocate the vehicle again at 181st and Highway 65 um turning into Village Green Trailer Park. Um the suspect then fled from the vehicle K9 track um in a K9 track pursuit um and uh with the use of a drone they were able to locate the suspect on top of one of the mobile homes. Um that female suspect was uh taken into custody. Uh it was confirmed that she had six warrants out of Henipin and Ramsey County. Um she also was in possession of 5 grams of methamphetamine. Um, so DNT was able to uh recover their vehicle and then that suspect was taken into custody by our deputies a few days later. Moving on to assaults, there were uh two assaults in the last quarter. One of them ended up being a gross misdemeanor uh domestic involving uh intimate partners where a a large glass mug was thrown at the other person and struck them in the face and that individual was arrested on the gross misdemeanor domestic assault. And then um in October there was a felony level assault and a robbery of a person that occurred at Carlos Avery. Um the victim had met another individual on a dating an online dating website. Um they met in Carlos Avery uh to look at the stars. Um unfortunately this was not a date and it was a setup. Um, while they were out in Carlos Avery, there were three masked individuals who approached the victim, held him down, um, struck him in the head, ribs, and groin area, stealing his uh, his vehicle keys and his cell phone. That currently, that case is currently active with our criminal investigations division. Um, looking at the calls for service again, you can see the damage for properties. Um, there were eight damage to property calls in the last quarter. Um there was a small string of vandalism to some mailboxes on Kettle River Boulevard ranging from the 17800 block up to the 18400 block. Um unfortunately um no surveillance or suspect information on those and the mailboxes had just been replaced. And then in October there was another uh damage to property call in which deputies responded to a road rage incident. Um, one of the drivers ended up getting out of the vehicle um, when they came to stop and approached the other vehicle, damaging the uh, the the side mirror and hitting that and striking it until it broke off. And deputies responded to that. So, other than that, um, you know, pretty again, you can see that the the crime rates obviously really great. The calls of service are down a little. Um, you can see that the traffic enforcement still remains pretty steady, as well as traffic arrest. Um, with that, do you guys have any calls of you wanted to highlight? >> Yeah, just because of the winter weather. Yeah, typically we do see that and um the spring and the and the winter weather we see an increase in the property damage and personal injury accidents, but you see they're up quite a bit from 2024, but personal injury crashes are are down. >> This is this is Jenny. Was was there an incident at Running Aces where there was an armed robbery I heard where somebody was held up um as they walked outside by two ladies in a van? I don't know much about it. Um, >> Deputy Grover took a report. Um, >> Deputy Grover did take a report about uh a robbery. It was a phone call report. I'm vaguely vaguely familiar with it, but um I there was it was a past action phone call. So, uh we didn't go out there at the time of the robbery. >> I got a couple more details for that. So, sorry. So, just from my memory, because I like to read through all the clumps reports on when I come back to work on my days off. Uh, if I remember correctly, it was one of those gold silver scam type of situations where people at Running Aces were offering, hey, come look at these like silver gold bracelets, necklaces, jewelry. Um, we'll give you a good deal. And then they ended up when they saw she had money in her purse, they ended up pulling a gun and doing and conducting an armed robbery. Um, but of course it was reported after the fact. Um I think by quite a good delay >> it was too I believe. >> Um but that's something to be aware of even at not just the casino but people will try to defraud you and it could escalate from there. So if it seems too good to be true it probably is. >> There was another incident very similar to that at Love's truck stop in October where um a couple approached a woman trying to they had a baby with them and they were trying to sell their gold wedding rings um saying that they were they needed a place to stay, they needed food. Um, and so she did end up purchasing those for $500 and later learned that it was it was they were fake gold. So, yeah, the scams continue. >> Thank you very much. >> Yes. And J, I can look into the one from recently at Renesus and get back to you with that. >> Yeah, I had only heard because I had a resident um and then I had kind of looked up some information about it and so that was the only reason that I brought, you know, came to my memory and so that was I was just curious if there was any followup on that. So, I appreciate the update on it. Um, and then looking at the the next page. >> Can I just I have a question about the accidents before we get too far about that. So, is it typical still typical for us to assist the state patrol on the interstate with accidents? And if so, about is there any idea how many of these PI and PD accidents are actually on the interstate rather than city or county roads? I do not have specifics regarding the location of where these happen, but I can most certainly get that information for you and determine how many are Interstate 35 versus the county roads or side roads. >> More curious than anything, don't go to any trouble. But >> no, that'll be easy to pull location data. >> No problem. >> This is Karen. I just have one question as well. Um I'm kind of new to the city council, so I need a little education. Um, I see that the medical responses are quite up other than the traffic stops. I'm just curious, um, as far as, you know, how much training do our officers get for medical training when they have so many calls like that? I'm just curious, do they get a lot of training in the medical industry or >> um, for law enforcement in Minnesota, at least at one point uh, before you graduate college, I believe you have to um, make a emergency medical responder certification. That's the level right below EMT. Um I've maintained my my certification for EMR um throughout my career and I think you have too, right? >> Uh they sent me it's like every two years we get I think it's an EMR refresher. >> Yes. Yeah. >> So it's not necessarily the official EMR because we are not required to keep that going. I think that's just >> more cost and whatnot. Uh but yes, we get emergency medical responder training which then it's like EMT and then the different levels of paramedic and whatnot. Um so certainly your life and death emergencies and basic u oxygen u zone that type of immediate interventions and especially since deputies and officers are usually the first on the scene of a medical. So we can provide that life-saving care right away and then paramedics and fire shows up to kind of tidy up a little bit and then take them to the hospital. >> You want to share a little bit? >> Sure. Uh we carry an oxygen tank um an AED Narcan and >> tourniquets. Uh the rescue pump and the rescue pump. >> Yep. Yep. more effective CPR with a actual like thing that sticks on the chest instead of just hands CPR. Um, and there's also that like Yeah, the pod thing >> that I think controls the oxygen flow. >> Yeah, it creates better. >> Yeah, something like that. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, of course. >> Thank you. >> And our fire department is really good. >> Any other questions? Okay. Um, I was going to point out that something that's new that you'll start seeing in the reports. Um we are um now starting to track any kind of mental health related calls. I believe when I was here um over the summer I shared that we now have an on-site social worker embedded in our sheriff's office um working alongside deputies and responding to any type of calls um that are mental health related or any crisis calls um any kind of community mental health issues from homelessness to substance abuse. Um so you'll see now that we are tracking the number of welfare checks um emergency medical holds and any sort of mental health calls. So, that's a new addition that you'll start seeing in the reports every quarter. >> Uh, real quick question, Jack. Do we I probably catching you off guard. Do we have any group homes? >> Yes. I And do we get a lot of calls at the group homes? >> Okay. Are they mentally mental health ones? Okay. Is do you have a regular one you seem to go to all the time? I think this is public because it's on the DHS website. Um, as far as my last checking, which is probably the summer, there's only one licensed group home in the city of Columbus. Um, and we're there fairly regularly for mental health concerns. Doesn't always end in going to the hospital, but uh we we respond there quite regularly. >> So, do you call an ambulance then too or do you just call up for mental health? >> It depends on the nature of the call. especially with mental health, it's just very a private thing that we can't go too in-d depth on. Um, however, of course, when they reach that threshold of harm self, others um or simply choosing to go to the hospital because they still do that. Um, then the ambulance would be called at that point and we still stay on scene until they transported or we come to a good conclusion. many many times for us too. Um even when I wasn't working in the city of Columbus, I would come out every once in a while to help out. Um oftentimes too, it we're going out there and we're just hanging with the people until they are able to kind of self-regulate and calm down a little bit. So, >> do you think it's out of control or do you think it's pretty moderate or >> I definitely think that it's a community problem, the mental health issues within the community, but I just wanted to highlight too that, you know, our deputies prior to getting the the embedded social worker that they are the the first ones responding these things. They do an excellent job. Part of the licensing cycle um all peace officers have to complete um specific trainings related to this. So, crisis intervention, um, mental illness, autism, conflict management, um, implicit bias training. So, it really, it really does prepare them for responding to these calls. And then the nice thing about having the embedded social worker is she's able to work alongside them and provide a little bit more long-term care and followup um, and get them connected with resources in the community so they can hopefully get them in the right direction and get them at the help they need versus having to respond to the calls over and over again. >> Well, thank you. Any other questions? Otherwise, that is all I had prepared for this evening. >> Thank you for all you do. >> Yeah. Thank you for coming and >> thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Yes. We'll see you in the spring for first quarter of 2026. >> Thank you. The third item on the agenda tonight is proposal for city hall needs analysis. Melissa Stein and Jonathan Loose Ral architects and engineers. Mr. Mayor, the city council has been discussing and planning for needed structural repairs and improvements to city hall since 2022. Two reports were commissioned in October of 2024 and 2025 that outlined the major issues that need to be addressed to keep city hall a functional facility. While these reports outlined issues with the existing roof and exterior wall components, their scope do not include recommendations for the overall needs of the building cost estimates or direction for renovation or new construction. We have reached the point where we need to either renovate this building or consider construction of a new city hall. On February 5th, 2026, staff met with W Architects and Engineers, a consulting firm that specializes in public projects to discuss a proposal for architectural services to address our facility needs. W will present a proposal to city council tonight regarding the selection of options and the process for achieving the objections the objections objectives of this project. So uh Melissa and Jonathan I've worked with them in the past. They do have several projects that they've done in an Oka County and some of our neighboring cities. I think Melissa mentioned to they've actually worked on a project with the sheriff's department in Forest Lake City of Wyoming. So, they're very familiar with these types of projects. And I will turn it over to Melissa and Jonathan. >> Um, I'll just give brief introduction. Thank you, Jack, mayor, council, for having us here tonight. Um, our firm is purely like 100% public sector and Melissa and I focus only on um our sort of government work within Minnesota. So, um, like Jack said, there's a lot of experience locally, but just throughout the state that we have, um, when a city is looking at, um, sort of facing these issues, and it's obviously pretty common because there's been some of your neighbors that have looked at replacement and renovation and, um, you know, I think, uh, we've got a pretty robust process to help you kind of discover um, maybe what the right answer is for the city of Columbus. Uh, and hopefully by that point, um, you're able to kind of move into whatever project you need to kind of sort of keep on pace with with what been described as trying to sort of wrap this up by the end of the year. And I certainly see certainly think that's feasible. Um, I think I'll let Melissa talk a little bit more about just the specific process that we might follow and then open it up for questions from anybody. >> Yeah. Uh, mayor, council members, I think you in your packets you saw kind of a brief proposal of what we um sent. It gives a little information, a little background about what we do as as a firm. I think it also indicates kind of what we would consider our our approach in this. Um, and really we're all inclusive. We want to make sure that whatever solution comes out of this in the end is one that you guys are happy with and that you know your community is happy with. And that can have a multitude of different factors that go into that, right? There's a lot of different criteria that you know have to come together to to make that solution. and we want to be here at the table with you as as you do that. So, we really start off by um talking through what are those what is that criteria? What are those objectives? You know, what are those things that we want to achieve? Um we we know that it's assessing the building, but there might be other things that we want to get out of get out of that. Um from there, we do talk to your your users. So essentially the different departments, the people that are actually using the space, you know, we would want to talk to to all of you um maybe in a workshop, right, to talk about the the council chambers that you have here as that would be something we'd want to assess. Um we would look at your building in terms of um infrastructure. So, we know there's some structural issues of this of this building, but we'd also want to look at mechanical systems, electrical systems, technology. Um, you know, looking at the age of your roof and your windows and and all of those pieces that make up a building, but then also looking at your needs as you're kind of in a growing community. Um, we're not saying you're growing tomorrow, but as we look that long term and as you guys are thinking about an investment, we want to make sure it's the investment for that long long term. And so we want to make sure that whatever approach you take really sets you up for that success as as you grow and as your community grows. Um and so we kind of take all of those those parts and pieces together and and with those we create different options and they can be anything from we just want to invest in this building and kind of do deferred maintenance all the way to you know we're going to I don't know build a a grand you know building on on the lake there or something right. Um, but we want to look at all the different parts and pieces and understand really what what is the investment that we want to make, what does that long-term growth look like, and really what's going to set you up for success as a city and as a community as as you grow and then we'll get costs will be part of that too. Um and so we want to make sure like I said I believe you know um education is is knowledge and so for you guys to be able to make the right decision you have to have all the facts and we have to look at that from different data points and so our process really does that. I think the only other thing I'll add is just the from what you'll see um from from our firm um and certainly there's no limitation to how many times we might come meet with you and look at different options. Um but I think just the sort of cadence of things is um we'll come out and do our own investigations. We'll do those um sort of meetings with staff um and then we'll come to council with uh probably likely at a workshop just so that there's open discussion about some of the issues. um we can talk about what some of our findings were from the existing building. We'll talk about some of the needs that exist. And so that might be um deficiencies that we see today in the space, but also just what you might project into the future. And so those sort of things once you find consensus on how to deal with those that kind of springboards into generating some of those options. And so then that would be another, you know, meeting with council to talk through some of those options. Typically there's going to be some staff recommendations there that are alongside um what our firm might see. Uh and then at that point you can sort of you know if it if everything moves quickly you can kind of say everybody coaleses around a single option and says let's move forward and at that point you engage our services to start sort of um design in earnest on a project to get it out to bid. So >> yeah, and Jonathan had mentioned coming to council, but we know that the community is is a huge stakeholder to this facility. And so we would be here to help support whatever that might mean in terms of getting that outreach and and getting that um community input, too. >> Any questions? I know a couple of us have sat down with you two already and listened to what they can do for us, but I think we all are on the course that something has to be done. >> We have to start somewhere. And I think uh my opinion is is this is a place we start right now. So I I see your cost is what 4500 >> or something. This this isn't going to be like two months from now. You need another 4500. No, we're we're we're >> we would say that's that's commensurate with kind of other studies we've done in terms of the number of buildings and square footage and things like that and kind of the timeline that you're looking at as well. So, >> you're probably too far back. You can't hear the squeaking going back. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Uh this this is Jenny. I I did see that you obviously had noted that you worked with other cities around Columbus, so you're familiar with the area in general. So, that was definitely a positive. Um, and so, thank you for working with the city on this. It's it's exciting. And I think a lot of us have been waiting a long time for it. I grew up in I mean, some of us grew up in Columbus and have been in the city a long time and uh this building looks exactly the same as I think when I was four or five. So, so we're excited to see maybe a little refresh even. And >> I'm your neighbor. I live in Forest Lake. So, >> this is Karen. Can I ask him when was the what was the your last big project for a city? Which city was it? >> Um, I would say we have multiple projects going on at once. Um, >> currently we're working with Forest Lake on planning their sort of public works project. Um, we're also working with Wyoming on looking at renovation of a facility that they recently bought to relocate city hall and renovate their and expand their fire station. So, those are sort of in design right now. Um, I guess uh one that was completed maybe a year or so ago was the renovation of Blaine City Hall. Um, >> so we did sort of an interior kind of remodel. A lot of that had to do with space needs too and looking at what their departments needed and how to shift things around for the future. Um >> we are currently working in East Bethl on um kind of a similar yeah a similar aspect but it's um looking at all of their facilities and kind of again like you guys they they know they're going to be growing. So what does that long-term growth strategy look like and how can we plan for that? Um so that would be one big one. Um >> White Lake would be a good one too because that's um we just completed the kind of expansion of their fire station renovation of police as well. So um that's one that's you know not too far from here. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I was say it might not be great but I know Jack mentioned it. We are actually working with the county of Anoka too on their jail project. So that's a fairly large project as well. >> If it if it goes Yep. as it moves forward. >> You got it. No, I'd just say I'm I'm confident with the work you do in the cities you've worked with. I'm seeing I've walked a lot of these projects that you've done and and designed and things of that nature. I've been helped with uh Jack and Jim on the preliminary kind of being in the carpentry industry and looking at what we got going on. There's some major issues with this building. So, I'm happy to get a professional opinion and get something moving forward. So, yeah. So essentially with that with your proposal, Melissa, could you just just give us just a quick brief overview of what your deliverables would be and what the timeline is? >> Yeah. So our deliverables kind of at the end of meeting with all the individuals kind of figuring out what that recommendation or what that solution would be is um I know Jonathan mentioned it we would come to council um we would kind of get a approval from council but we would also create a report so that you guys would have that um really we believe that we can get this all done within you know two months. We could probably work a lot quicker depending on how the solution piece is developed. Um, that's where we actually see a lot of time because we want to create options, want to make sure you guys have time to think about them, that we can review them, and then come back. So, that's the piece that maybe takes a little little longer. Um, but within two months we should be able to have, you know, a report that indicates all of the people we talked to, all of those different data points, all of that information that we've gathered along with maybe all of the different options that we would be reviewing and then a recommend recommended solution if there if there is one um with costs with those. >> That sounds great. >> Any other questions, comments? Well, I'll make a motion. Iron Hanigraph move to approve the wall and A&E proposal for facilitating planning and evaluation of options and their associated costs for the city hall project at an initial cost not to exceed 4500. >> Jenny, I second. >> We got a motion. It's been seconded. Any other comments, questions? >> Hearing none, we'll take a vote. Jenny, >> Jenny, I, >> Scott, I, >> Erin, I, >> Rob, I, >> and Ron. I, >> thank you very much. Appreciate it. Looking forward to it. >> Yeah, I'll email you tomorrow, Jack. >> Okay, sounds great. >> Sounds good. Have a good night. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Thanks for coming. >> Go on. Item number four, waiver request, public right away, Eastman with 14561 Ferman Street. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. I'm about to bore you to death with land use and planning uh related definitions and um hypotheticals for you to consider. Uh the applicant is requesting a waiver from the city of Columbus requirement that a driveway um open to the public be encumbered by a 66 ft ride wide public rightway easement. The waiver is requested to allow the proposed use of a driveway for public access to avoid practical constraints associated with dedicating a full 66 foot wide easement across a site. The subject property is located at 14561 Ferman Street Northeast, legally described as, and I'm not going to read that for you, um, and consists of approximately eight acres owned by Chad and Heidi Meer. The applicant proposes to divide the property into two parcels. The westerly parcel, approximately 5 acres in size and adjacent to Ferman Street, would be conveyed for construction of a single family residence. The easterly remnant portion of the property would be combined with approximately 20 acres of an adjoining 40 acre parcel under common family ownership, creating a single parcel of approximately 23 acres containing the existing residence. The sole purpose of this proposed lot split is to provide a single family home building site for the construction of an ADA compliant home for the applicant's daughter-in-law. Access to both parcels res access to both uh resulting parcels would be uh provided by a shared driveway private access corridor because the access serves more than one property and the lots would have full frontage on a public street. The proposed The proposal is subject to city regulations governing driveway access, private streets, and subdivision platting. The applicant The applicant asserts that dedication of a full 66- ft easement is unnecessary because the abuing property east of the subject property is wetland and cannot be developed. Therefore, there is no need for a 66- foot wide public easement across the two new parcels and seeks relief through the waiver process. The land beyond the proposed access corridor, in fact, is significantly constrained by wetlands. The adjoining 40 acre parcel is identified on the national wetland inventory and is recognized by the city as possibly unbuildable. Portions of the subject property are also partially impacted by wetlands. Due to these constraints, there is no reasonable expectation that the access corridor would ever function as a public street serving any additional development. Under city standards, driveways that function as public access routes are typically required to be constructed within or encumbered by a 66- ft right-of-way easement consistent with local street design standards and long-term infrastructure planning objectives. City code and development standards require that driveways intended for public access be designated to city standard be designed to city standard. Excuse me. Public access routes be protected by sufficient right ofway or easement with to accommodate pavement, shoulders, drainage, utilities, and snow storage. Allow for future reconstruction or upgrades and protect public investment and access rights. The 66- ft width standard mirrors local street right-of-way standards and is intended to ensure long-term flexibility even when a roadway is initially constructed to a lesser width. The city council retains discretion to grant waivers when strict application of the standards is not necessary to meet the intent of the ordinance and when public safety, access, and infrastructure needs can still be adequately met. Under section 7A800, the general provisions uh under property access uh establishes a minimum standard for property access in the rural residential district. A lot with frontage on a public roadway may obtain access via a driveway provided specific conditions are met, including limitations on the number of lots served, construction and maintenance standards, and execution of a developer development agreement. Section 7 A00 C6D further provides that for purposes of a lot with and access a driveway approved under this provision shall be classified as a private street. Uh moving on to the uh definition or actually section on private streets. Chapter 7 A allows private streets in all applicable zoning districts when approved as part of a subdivision development. Section 7811 requires all owners of benefited properties enter into an agreement with the city that includes at a minimum approval of rightaway easements as determined by the city attorney. Utility or trail easements as determined by the city engineer. Recording of agreements on the title construction uh according to city standards. Assignment of construction and maintenance costs to benefited property owners. Section 7 A 811 does not prescribe a fixed easement width, leaving that determination to the city based on specific uh sight specific conditions. under section 871G uh private streets provides that private streets shall not be approved except as permitted under chapter 7A and only after the benefited property owners enter into an agreement with the city addressing easements, construction standards, recording, and long-term maintenance responsibilities. Section 8 uh- 713 under lots requires that all lots take primary access from a public dedicated street or a street with legal status except where specific specifically allowed under chapter 7A and chapter 7A expressly allows private streets. Therefore satisfying the requirement when properly approved. Section 8713G requires that due regard be shown for natural features including wetlands and drainage in any subdivision of land. Section 8101 establishes lot configuration as an administrative process and expressly provides that the city retains discretion to require subdivision platting where appropriate. Staff finds the proposal does not qualify as a lot reconfiguration because of those uh identified four factors in code. Um, this proposal should be processed as a subdivision plat under chapter 8 rules. Uh, the waiver does not apply to lot uh configuration requirements or platting approval. Based on staff analysis of code, the city council has several policy and/or quasi judicial options available for consideration. Number one, you could act on the waiver request. The city council may approve or deny the applicant's request for a waiver from the requirement to dedicate a full 66- foot wide rightway easement as presented based on findings of fact and analysis contained in this report. Option two, the city council may determine that the shared access corridor should be classified as a private street pursuant to section 7 A800 C6D subject to the following conditions. All benefited property owners would enter into an agreement with the city. Uh a reduced width access easement uh should be granted and recorded. Construction standards should be defined and enforced and a long-term maintenance uh agreement responsibilities which what are clearly assigned and recorded. Under this option, the city council may approve a reduced easement with consistent with the intent of chapter 7A and chapter 8 while ensuring legal access, safety, and infrastructure protection. Option three is regardless of any action on the waiver request, the city council may require the applicants to proceed through the subdivision platting process in accordance with chapter 8 of the city code based on the determination that the proposal exceeds the scope of an administrative lot reconfiguration and results in the creation of new buildable parcels. Approval of a waiver does not uh constitute plat approval. And option four um is a separate policy action. The city council may direct staff to evaluate and draft zoning text amendments for future consideration, which would include amending chapters seven and 8, private street requirements to only apply to driveways or private roads which serve three or more parcels in the future. With that, the applicants are here uh as well as your city attorney who has some in-depth knowledge and conversation on the waiver request that can answer any questions. Mr. Mayor and Council, I just want to provide a little bit of context. This is the type of thing you'd normally see going through the planning commission. However, it's pretty standard practice. When a waiver request under the subdivision ordinance comes in, it goes to the council. The reason for that is then that sets the stage for other applications. So if if the council which has the discretion to grant the waiver decides to waiver some portion of the planning requirements that informs the type of applications that will follow and and will be processed through the planning commission and and to the council. So this doesn't eliminate as uh Mr. Berg said requirement to join these parcels, reconfigure these parcels. This is the first step to see if you're willing to wave to some extent the requirement for a full 66 ft rightway because as Mr. Berg pointed out and as the applicant's attorney has pointed out, it's highly unlikely and improbable that a road's ever going to go through that that wetland complex. The other thing that I want to point out that's unique about this application and and council for the applicant has described um requirements for reasonable accommodation for those with disabilities and I generally agree with the outline um that has been put forward by the applicant's attorney. So that's something that you would take into consideration in this situation because of the disability. Is there a reasonable accommodation that the city can make that doesn't harm the public and doesn't create a burden on the city? That's ultimately your call. Uh but I believe the the law and the requirements are well stated uh in the supporting documentation. Um the a little bit of background when we were discussing this um with applicant and the applicants council primarily through the applicants council when Eleanor was still uh with us um we wanted to find a a path that would both serve the the needs for access for the properties but also address the the need for accommodation. And so we suggested that this is pretty unusual. I don't think this council has dealt with a lot of waiver requests. Uh but it's at least a legal vehicle that puts the question squarely in front of you. And then as uh Mr. Berg pointed out, um you have a couple options. In the first instance, do you just simply wave the requirement or do we treat this as a private street? Um we we can get to the we believe we can get to the same place. Uh the benefit of treating this as a private street serving those lots is that um people can move, people can change addresses. We have to look at the long-term use of these parcels as they're created and developed and make sure there's something of record that clearly sets forth those rights of access. Having said that, we want to give the applicants uh an opportunity to address these questions uh knowing that if there's any further questions from the council, this could be laid over for another uh cycle, two weeks to to come back with any answers that might be necessary for your decision-m. I >> I have a quick question to you, Bill. So, if we went through the planning commission, why isn't this a variance? Why is it a waiver? >> Mr. Mayor and council, uh, that's a good question. It could certainly have proceeded as a variance. Um, we were, uh, essentially working with the applicant to find a kind of a more streamlined way to get the question answered so they could then bring in their subsequent applications for subdivision. You're absolutely right. That's a very good question. It could have proceeded as a as a variance request. Um, again, these circumstances are pretty unique and we wanted to find a way to answer the question by the council given given that it's paired with a reasonable accommodation request. That's not something that the planning commission has dealt with before and frankly, you know, some cities have that all laid out in ordinance. We don't. So, we thought to answer the reasonable accommodation request, we would bring it forward to you as a waiver and um and let you address that portion of the request and then they can make their subdivision application. >> This this is Jenny. Um, kind of relating to what the mayor asked, um, from what I hear and what I understand, from what you're saying, this would potentially then open the door for the planning commission to review shared driveways in the future. Is that what I'm understanding? So that they would potentially potentially be able to create um or revise the situation in which um we have now, right? because right now two people sharing a driveway have to have a 66 ft wide easement is what I'm understanding. >> A couple of uh council member mayor council member couple responses. Um let's take these in in separate uh buckets. Today we have up to two uh sites on a shared driveway in and the the um in the past some of those requests to alter that have come whether it's with or otherwise have come as a variance request. This is the first time we've had a request coupled with a reasonable accommodation uh under federal disability law and so that's why it's presented to you in this form. I don't know that it's precedent setting other than somebody also making a reasonable accommodation request. One of the things that we might consider is uh looking at other models uh other ordinances that specifically some of the larger cities have that embedded in their ordinances. So it's already sorted based upon um you know more uh frequent practice with reasonable accommodations requests. I think as a separate matter uh Mr. Berg uh suggested that there may be a policy discussion completely separate from this about whether you want to go up to three because we've had that request in the past for up to three home sites off a driveway. I think that's separate and apart from the request that's in front of you tonight. >> Thank you for clarifying. Sure. So, I think we're done as staff. If if the mayor wants to entertain uh comments from the applicant. >> Yes. Uh we'll take comments from uh if you want to make a statement or >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. My name is David Dhenko. I'm an attorney from DIT in Minneapolis. I represent Heidi, Chad, Justin, and Drew Lamier. With me tonight are is Heidi, Chad, and Justin. Drew Lamer unfortunately couldn't make it tonight. and she is the person sorry excuse me she is the individual with a disability and one of the two reasons for this request the first being the waiver the second being reasonable accommodation under the ADA and the FHA before I go into the boring legal reasons I would like my client Heidi to kind of discuss the practical reasons for this request >> good evening Mr. Mayor and council. Um I think most of you are familiar with the reason behind the request um because we have you know met with several of you and come before different meetings and planning commission in the past. But um my son to the right of me here, Justin, is married to a lovely girl named Drew. Uh who just turned 28 years old. And she is a mom of an 18month-old little girl and unfortunately has a progressive um neurological uh disease called spinal bar spinal beller atexia type 11. Um this is a genetic condition and it will progress over her life. Um, ironically, just today I took her to the eye doctor uh to help with her vision a little bit and uh it occurred to me how much help she needed just taking the the small flight of steps down in town square in Forest Lake today in Dr. Bar's office. Um, and it just reinforces the need for her to be able to have accessible home. Um, I also am a nurse by trade, a registered nurse, and I'd like to have my daughter-in-law nearby to help with her care into the future. Um, our family has been on the property for nearly 130 years. My dad, back in the back of the room here, still lives in on his property, which is adjacent behind us, and one um property over on the side. Um, so to say that um they might be some moving in the future is not real likely. We've been there a long time. Um we're kind of in our dream spot. Um so we have no intention of that. There's absolutely no intention of building and probably no possibility of building in the wetland. Um and we'd really like to see option one be the decision that the the council makes tonight. Um it's an emotional thing for us and so we're hoping to see you guys make that choice. Is there anything else? Okay. to address a couple of the issues that the city attorney had talked about. We are requesting a waiver uh which is a procedural allowance within your city code. So there was discussion about why waiver. answers because we can and this has made a lot of sense to bring this to the council quickly so we can talk about how we go forward and we believe a waiver should be granted again option one that was presented by the city staff in that that there's really no reason for a 66 foot wide public street there's no I think chance of development beyond the current home owned by Heidi and Chad Lamier there's a wetland that butts very close to their house and and the 20 acres beyond it's all pure wetland. So a 66 foot wide street would be very difficult to accommodate in how you calculate the street and setbacks from the street and the fact that you would likely take that out of the if you have a 66 foot wide street over the length of this long driveway. It really changes how you can develop the lot because you if you have a 5 acre minimum lot size and you have to subtract out of it a 66 foot wide street and then you have setbacks from the street then you have almost no building envelope to put a home because it's a very long narrow lot. The second reason is has to do with a reasonable accommodation under the uh federal fair housing amendments act known as the FHA and then the Americans with Disability Act, the ADA, both of which kind of work in concert and require local zoning authorities such as cities and townships and counties to make reasonable accommodations in their zoning when there's a person with a disability and certain criteria are met. Basically, there's not a big burden on the city. And here there would be no burden on the city. All you would have to do is let us grant the waiver. We can build the homes. Obviously, there's a process in order to get the permitting. But we're just asking to not have to dedicate 66 foot wide rightway along a very lengthy driveway because again it would basically render the lot unbuildable and allow a person with a disability the place where they want to live which is the requirement under both the FHA and the ADA. Happy to answer any questions but we would request respectfully that the city go with option one. >> Mr. Mayor and Council. Um just a clarification between option one and option two. I think they essentially get to the same place. I think if if the council decides that it wants to I mean we would not be recommending a 66 ft rightway in any case. So just to clarify that point as staff. Uh second, if you decide to go with option one, which is that that's your uh determination and and discretion. Um, we would require as a condition of that approval that there be an access easement because we want to make sure that they can meet the requirement for public access from a public street. So, it's it's, you know, it's it's incumbent upon us to make sure that before this is all said and done and there's a subdivision process that that they have to follow still that there's an easement that provides permanent access rights to those uh resulting parcels. So again, whether you go with option one and we call it a an access easement or you go with option two and we call it a private street, it really gets to the same place. And and I think the concern, as I heard it from their council before the meeting, is they don't want to have a concern with um setbacks from a private street and and and those sorts of things. So perhaps uh certainly from the applicants uh position, option one is is the easiest, the least burdensome. Um, but we I want to make it clear for the record because there's a process that's going to be followed after tonight on the subdivision request that that as as a part of this action and as a part of that action, there will will be a requirement that the the property be burdened with an access easement so that we can make sure that now and in the future all all lots have right to access from the street. >> That makes sense. Uh, I got a question. Since we're not going through the planning commission, I just have a uh, you know, I've been on the I was on the planning commission for what, six years or whatever, and I I look at it, Bill, and I think that can we have a public hearing on this? I'm just looking at the idea. What does the public say about this? >> Mr. Mayor and Council, there's not a public hearing requirement for the waiver. So you you are required to make a a decision either tonight or at a subsequent meeting uh on this request and so we don't have the ability to insert a public hearing requirement or one is not provided in our ordinance or in statute. And then the second question I want to bounce off of uh what Jenny said about uh presidents. What are we setting here in the future? I mean, do we have to go back and start looking at our ordinances on private roads and this whole policy we have? Mr. Mayor and Council, I would say um the precedent that's being set is because this comes in the context of a reasonable accommodation request, something that we don't I I've been a city attorney for a long time, this is the first reasonable accommodation request we've had in 30 years. So I I'm not terribly concerned that we're setting a precedent. Certainly the precedent would be that anybody with a disability should be treated the same under similar circumstances. So I if that's a precedent, I think that's one we can live with. Um but I don't believe that it creates a precedent for uh just the run-of-the-mill driveway request. And I think as Mr. Berg pointed out, you can have a policy discussion around that at one of your workshops. Uh deal with that as a separate matter. I I have one more question. Uh just looking at the I agree with you putting 66 I can agree about that 66 foot is kind of pushing it but that 40 acres you got back there that's the wetlands. Am I my is my math wrong? Are you making two lots out of this whole thing or is it going to be three? Is there going to be more of that 40 acres in the back the wet line that's going to be split off? So the 40 acres that is in the back is owned by my dad right now and the intention is to split that one time between him and us. 20 acres will go on to their lot and then the other 20 acres that I will still own would be a separate lot would be no there still only be two tax parcels. >> This will require replplatting. It's going to be made. It's going to make >> it this. So that property though back there is it would be accessible. Is it accessible to your property? >> Yes, >> it is. >> Yeah, we're on your end, right? >> Okay. So, we're not landlocking >> that piece of property. So, >> it's been considered except for the last few years, it's been property. We've been there for 130 years. I understand that. I I I see I know where you're coming from. I've been back there. >> Creek runs down the end of it. >> Right. Right. But I just wondered what uh when you do this >> there's an easement on my property that goes back there. >> Okay. >> When I built when I built my house in 76. >> So your property does touch this other that 40 acres. >> Right. >> Right. Okay. And so does yours, Heidi? Right. >> We own I own their family owned the 240s back to back. Front 40 is where we're buildings are now. The back 40 is the one where split up. They're they're right east and west of each other. They split up all the way across. >> I thought I was looking at the map and I thought some of that was owned by the Rice Creek or is it the what the parks or No, >> I own 40 acres behind me. Okay. But not 240s. >> Okay. All right. Anybody else have any questions? >> This is Karen. Are you guys currently sharing a driving driveway then with dad? >> No. So, you do have separate driveways for each property? >> He's He's two lots north of us. >> Two lot. Yeah, he's two lots north of us. >> There's a property between >> When my folks died, none of our family wanted piece of property. At that point in time I've been it was my lot was uh in in the norththeast corner of that 40 that runs along street and I didn't and I didn't have any road frontage back6 We developed it. Then we made changed my lot so I would have road frontage and then there was four more lots. Then we sold three other five lots on that. >> So will the shared driveway then be able to access to dad's place? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. That's what I wanted to know. >> No. He's there's a property between us and him. >> Okay. Mr. Mayor, members of the council, may I? >> Yes. >> The current home owned by Heidi and her husband is currently serviced by a narrow driveway that runs the length of their their 8acre parcel. It's my understanding that there would be no change to the driveway or its location or its width. It would still be there. The only difference is that there'd be a house closer to the road on 5 acres of land. So, we're not talking about changing really anything. It's just the driveway would then branch off like to the left as you're entering it, go to the new home, and then just continue straight to the current home. And it would not access any other parcels. And to address uh council's concerns about a private easement, I certainly concur. I handle a lot of easement and access issues in my daily life and it would certainly be very smart for the parties to enter into a private easement agreement and how they handle maintenance uh use and because at some point someone else might own property and it makes sense that they will enter into that. The reason option two is less desirable is that under option two, it appears that the private street would have to conform to city standards. And if it has to conform to city standards for, you know, whether it's paved and have gutter, then we're talking about a fairly expensive proposition for someone wanting to build a small house that's, you know, one story for accessibility purposes. So that's why we respectfully request option one. >> Mr. Mayor and Council, just another uh point that I think is is important here. Under our shared driveway ordinance, um there may be additional requirements uh on the driveway. Uh generally, I think it's uh I can't remember the width, but it's it's uh larger than a a driveway typically because it has to provide adequate um services, public services, whether it's ambulance, police, fire, 16 ft. Um, so those are the types of things that will come through the subdivision process. >> Before my mom passed away, the amate been in there dozens of times. >> It's all right. It still has to meet the requirements for a shared driveway. >> Never got stuck. >> That's good bit of history. Thank you. >> This is Jenny. Can I um Erin, can you pull up the concept plan? I just have a question about your um update. Did you update the concept plan in terms of what that looks like? Because if and I know some of us were at the planning commission meeting. I think um council member Bush was the liaison at the time. The original concept plan had divided your properties a little bit differently and that was a major concern in terms of the property width and what abuted the road and now we're looking at um really um one property being west and one property being more east. Is that correct? So one is full uh road frontage and the other is set back. >> Correct. >> So can you remind me is it 240? How how wide is that? It's exactly 220 wide. >> That's the That's the minimum requirement. >> No. No. How wide is theirs currently? Do you remember how wide your lot is at the road? >> No, >> I don't remember, but I think David's looking. >> And if not, that's okay. I just remember that was a major um one of the major concerns with the planning commission at that time. And so, this does change that quite a bit as well, just having this different concept because um if you look um right there. Perfect. Thank you, Erin. Hey Jenny Jim just pulled it up was 230 ft. >> 230 ft. Thank you Jim. So um with that original plan they had u one property would sit uh would have sat more north and then one more south and then they really didn't have the width for either property but this new concept does change that as well. Um and so I think just to make sure that we all had that update. Um I noticed that when when I was reading through but um it was was not something that was mentioned. And so I just wanted to make sure we all saw that as well. >> Sir, you're going to have to come up to the microphone at some point to record your statements. >> Tell them about the planned. >> Was this the neighbor? >> This just seemed like a better a better concept once we started talking to David >> from Kevin. >> Yeah. >> So you're not buying >> No, you're not buying a property to the north of you. >> We are not. And if I'm right, that property had a septic system. It kind of messed up a few things, too, right? >> Yeah. We we didn't really um travel down that concept too far after we got David involved. So, >> I think that's where you're coming from, Jenny. >> Yeah. So, so having this change also does change some of the original issues that the planning commission did. And obviously we're coming from more of an ADA perspective and there are other perspectives, but I just wanted to note that this change also does suffice some of the concerns that the planning commission had originally. >> So you have the frontage for >> the road, >> Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Yes. And that was the the point of making these changes that it made more sense and rather than having to do, you know, law land swaps with neighbors to get the additional frontage, this made it a lot cleaner. Then you'd have one lot on the road and then one lot behind it. And then you have a shared driveway with the easement. So the kind of the landlocked parcel isn't landlocked because they'd have access visa via the easement. >> Mr. Mayor, I just have a a question too. Uh again following up on the planning commission meeting. I was also there. If I'm recalling that correctly, did not the commissioner Robin address the 66 foot uh need for the uh driveway at that planning commission and actually talk about a potential variance even though I don't think it was voted on or am I not remembering that? >> I think this was formally in front of them. I think this was informally in front of them for a conversation. I don't think they >> Okay. >> they had any formal action cuz the applicants have not applied for a variance. So, we wouldn't have even had a hearing. >> Okay. >> Yeah. to my knowledge was just kind of a concept. Correct. And you were trying to get our feedback and um >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And actually we were we were told at the planning commission about that variance it was a pretty much a flat no that a variance would not be granted. So >> informally that's we got Yes. Yeah. >> And that's what I'm remembering. Thank you. Thank you for the clarify. >> And I think at that point Scott is just like there's got to be a way to get this done. Let's let's go back to the drawing board. I think we put it in city staff's hands in which Bill and Aaron, Jack and and their council work together. So, thank you for that. >> It's kind of the outcome I was hoping to look for as a creative solution to come up. You know, it this isn't every day that somebody comes with a hardship to us. And it it's up to us as a city to help out our residents, right? And I think that's what we're doing here. It's just coming up with which one of these two options are we okay with, right? I know there's probably some angst around going around the planning commission, but this is a very different thing than we're used to, right? And I don't say we're going around them. I shouldn't have said it that way. Right. >> I want to clarify that this this waivers always come directly to the council, at least in our past practice. So, >> right. So, not going we're not really going around the planning commission. We're we're utilizing rules that we have to work with. Right. So, I >> which is why I asked for clarification on the variance. >> Yeah. No, thank you, Scott. >> And Bill, maybe you can if you're done. Uh, Council Member Bush, I I just have a question for Bill. >> I've I've powered the zoning code. >> Um, I cannot find a spot where it specifically states that a private street once it's declared a private street by the council counts against the lot. I cannot find that anywhere. Now, an easement would necessarily count against the lot under the terms of an easement. However, a right-of-way would if it was declared a rightway. This language says easement right away or rightway easement. Now, you have easements that that encapsulate properties all over for drainage and or utility purposes and we don't count that against the property as width. So I don't maybe interpretation is is is key in this conversation is that if for instance option two were to be considered and we required a 12 foot wide e rightway easement dedicated for for future use and it never gets uh developed by the city because we know that beyond there there's no future development needs but it meets the ordinance. it meets it. It doesn't count against the property with um and the city gets uh guaranteed um uh utilities through there if need be in the future. You guys between yourselves work out the agreement for maintenance. It gets recorded uh gets replatted in the future when we all pass and move on. the next planner down the road that has to argue with the next property owner and the next property owner over who has rights and access and somebody wants to cut somebody off because the neighbors aren't getting along anymore. Um, believe it or not, that does happen. It's happened. Uh, and I've been in the middle of disputes between property owners from family divisions in the 1900s over access. And so, some of that is also protection and and gives this the city some security, too. So, um, and I think I I identified that under option two, the there's a bunch of avenues for determining the width in that dedication. Doesn't necessarily have to be 66 ft. >> Mr. Mayor and Council, just to respond, that's why I said really when it comes down to it, option one is not that different than option two. Option two is not that different than option one because whether you call it a private street or a private access, you know, driveway, you result in the same thing. We have private driveways. The the probably the best example that you're familiar with is St. Clair Lakes that that comes off of a public street which then turns into a private drive for the development there. It's it served multiple home sites, multiple new homes. Um it utilities are provided. It's actually served by public utilities um underneath the the street. I believe it runs in that corridor. So that's that's the kind of concept that typically would utilize a private street. Personally, I'm going to say I think you can go either way. And if the if the property owners have a preference for option one and there isn't a a future harm to the city, then perhaps that's the route you take. Um just to kind simplify this. Uh as as stated though, we want to make sure that through the subdivision process, the driveway meets our uh private driveway requirements. It's a sufficient width. Um there's agreement how it's going to be maintained. All of those considerations. Um as outlined in the staff report, you could go with the private street. Uh then we would be addressing the kind of issues that Mr. Berg brought up. Um I haven't scoured the the zoning code so I don't know whether that easement count know that private driveway would count against uh the lot area for instance or the lot width. >> Mr. Mayor, may I address the council? Mr. Mayor, members of the council, the reason that I recommended to my clients that we look at option one as opposed to a private street is in reading the code, I found that I I was it was unclear to me. So, in my opinion, there was maybe some ambiguity as to whether it was really a private street or whether there was some sort of a public interest in it. The terms a right-of-way easement to me, I do a lot of rightway easements, means that it's a public street. And that's where I'm I'm con concerned that it may accidentally be construed as a public street as opposed to some sort of private interest. And then you start having lot width problems because now it's public and now you subtract out the width of the street or the width of the driveway from the lot width requirements. And that's why we're recommending and requesting that we go with option one so we don't have potential future issues with whether or not the code is calling it a right of way which again we can talk to mind all day about rightaways that's you know public issue versus what's just a private easement. You know, I look at this, you're very wellversed in it, and so is Bill, but you talk about being confused. If you got one and two, and they're both the same. No, they're not. They're both one and two. Uh I I'm not confused on that. I mean, I I I I mean, I don't know. Maybe. >> Well, I'll just tell you, uh having listened to the discussion, you know, my recommendation, you know, we talked about this with Eleanor. suggested they come in given the reasonable accommodation request with a waiver of platting requirements. So that's that's what's in front of you. Uh the staff have outlined other options. We we are required in any application as a city to approve or deny. So if that helps um the the uh applicant has made a request for option one. And uh the only way we get to option two is if the applicant defers to to that recommendation and we have some discussions about how that would work. So the simplest thing to think about is option one is is on the table. Option two was an alternative. Um you as city council owe the applicant a decision on what they've requested, which is option one. >> Tonight, >> not it doesn't have to happen tonight. If you have concerns, if you want us to investigate further, um, you know, you can lay this over for a two week cycle, but if if the majority of you are comfortable moving forward, then you can take that vote tonight. >> Yeah, Mr. Mayor, this is Scott, if I may. Um, I think if we table this, make a motion to table this to February 25th, it would give me and maybe the rest of us that need it the opportunity to individually go uh meet with staff and council and and be less confused about it. I would appreciate the opportunity to do that. Uh, >> anybody else? Jenny, you have any comment? >> This is Jenny. I mean, I think going from the planning commission and and being through that process with this family, I think the the biggest thing for them is their ADA compliance and I I want to be respectful of their time as well is I believe and understand from at least last year that they were hoping to build at some point this year. Um, so I feel like putting this off, I mean, if if there's additional research to be done and everybody feels like you want that extra two weeks, then I won't, you know, fight against that, but I feel comfortable moving forward and taking a vote. >> Well, this this is Karen, just to be clear. Um, so we could look at option one, but we could put restrictions on option one as well, right? >> You can you can uh require reasonable conditions. Some of those reasonable conditions would be the requirement for an access agreement uh access easement and agreement that would combine maintenance that would also come up in as a condition of subdivision approval because the subdivision approval will be based upon private driveway access if you approve option one. So whether or not you condition that action tonight, I think that's a good thing to do and I can give you that condition. Um but it would it would come up again in the subdivision request. Whether or not you you condition your action tonight, the subdivision request would have that condition. But I can give you the condition that that I would recommend, which is that approval of the waiver is subject to a condition for an access easement agreement and a maintenance agreement for the driveway, >> which would be no problem in our for us. No problem. >> Well, and in addition to that, like you mentioned with the 16T driveway and then we also talked about the easement. What kind of easement would we be looking at in that situation? >> It would be an access easement that would benefit the properties that are taking access. It would burden the properties over which the easement runs. Um, but you could you could state it exactly as I stated that the um waiver of platting be conditioned upon the grant of an access easement and a maintenance uh e agreement for the private driveway. And what how many feet would the access agreement be? >> It's 16 feet. But that again would be um that would come through the subdivision process. So this condition would make sure that the the waiver that's granted tonight is subject to that easement. But also the same issue and condition would come up in the subdivision process. U because we have requirements for private drive within our code. Those would be operable on this application when it comes through the planning commission. It is 16 ft. 16 feet on each side of the driveway or is it 8t on each side of the driveway? >> It's a 16 foot total. >> So from center line it would be eight >> eight and eight. >> Eight and eight. >> Okay. Rob, you got anything? >> No. Mayor, >> do you feel like a vote or do you >> Yeah, I'd be fine on voting with it tonight. So, >> well, we got Jenny, you What about you, Karen? You want to vote on it? want a couple weeks to think about it or >> I think I'm okay. >> Okay. Which way? Okay. >> I think I'm I'm okay to make a decision. Make a decision based on what our attorney is advising to us. >> This is Jenny. I'm going to make a motion. This Sorry, I'm a little under the weather, so don't mind my voice tonight. Uh this is Jenny. Um based on our uh council's information, um I move to approve uh the waiver request to um grant an access easement uh and maintenance agreement for the private driveway uh located at 14561 Ferman Street. And that would be clarifying option one. >> Would you cross out 65 66 on there then? Oh, that's already etiquette. All right. I see. >> Yes. Including >> the 16 would be in a subdivision then. Okay. >> And including what Bill had mentioned, Jenny, as far as the conditions go. >> Yes. So, uh, subject to the conditions of the access easement agreement and maintenance agreement as provided by councel. >> We got a motion on the floor. Anybody want to second it? >> Rob, I'll second. We got a motion and it's been seconded. Any other discussion? Any questions? Hearing none, we'll take a vote. Jenny >> Jenny I. >> Scott I. >> Karen I. >> Rob I. >> And Ron I. Motion passes. >> That's a start. Another start. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks for coming. Please item five on the agenda tonight. Letter of support Rice Creek wash water. Uh why am I having a WMA >> waterhed? >> Water shed. Yeah. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Members of the council, on January 20th, 2026, the city of Columbus received a formal correspondence from Anoka County Administrator Jim Dickinson notifying the city of a vacancy on the Rice Creek Watershed District Board of Managers. The vacancy resulted from the resignation of Steve Wagman effective January 1st, excuse me, January 10th, 2026. Mr. Waggman's term was scheduled to expire January 17th of 2028. Um, the Rice Creek Wershed District is organized and governed under Minnesota Statute Chapter 103D and functions as a watershed management organization responsible for protecting and managing water resources within its jurisdiction. The Rice Creek Wershed District Board of Managers is composed of eligible residents appointed by the In Noa County Board of Commissioners. Noa County is accepting applications or was accepting applications from eligible residents within the watershed boundaries through February 3rd, 2026. Following uh review of submitted applications, the Ina County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to make an appointment to fill the vacancy on February 17th for the remainder of Mr. Wagman's unexpired term. Although not required, the appointment process allows municipalities or local units of government within the Rice Creek wershed district to submit letters of support for individuals seeking appointment to the board of managers. Letters of support are advisory in nature and provide the county board of commissioners with additional local perspective. The city has received a formal request from Columbus resident Janet Hegland uh to provide her with a letter of support. staff recommend that the council consider directing the mayor and the city administrator to sign the drafted um letter of support and submit it to the uh NOA County Board of Commissioners related to the Rice Creek WHED district board of managers vacancy as presented in attachment number two. >> Thank you Aaron. Just a little insight on this. Uh Janet has already interviewed with them and there were seven other I believe applicants and I believe that uh I Janet was the only one that asked for a letter of support from the city and I'm not sure but I think she's the only one from the city of Columbus that applied. So they can apply from uh anywhere in the county like Ham Lake they could apply to be on it or whatever. But we've had uh Pat Prryer on it prior to Steve Wagaman and I I just think it's best that if we have somebody on that board that's from our city keep us more advised on what's going on with the watershed that big area in our place. So that's why I uh well I can make a motion here unless anybody has >> Yeah, I got a question. Um, h how do we know that Janet was the only person that applied for that position? Because I've seen nothing except her letter of recommendation. I don't know who might have. I've heard that other people had from the city of Columbus applied for that and interviewed for it. So, Council Member Bush, I can let you know that I did reach out to the executive assistant to Mr. Dickinson and say, "Hey, what is the process? How's this work? are the local units of government notified that there's been a resident that has applied within there so that we have an opportunity and the response I got back was it's up to the individual applicant to approach the city for the letter of support. >> Gotcha. >> So if someone else from our city did apply but didn't come to the city requesting support, we would have no idea that they applied. >> Gotcha. under the filling of an unexpired vacancy. If it's a end of term and then a reappointment or a future appointment for a full term, there's a different procedure. And I learned that through this process as well, that filling the unexpired term is a little bit different than filling a full term. So, if whoever fills this term, there'll have to be another appointment at the end of this >> the end of this expired term, it'll start over and there'll be um an opportunity for the city to then submit three names um according to that other process. >> Okay. >> I think every three, it's almost like our planning commission, every three years they have to apply again. So, >> this this is Jenny. I do know one resident um reached out and let me know that he did interview as well. Um I did ask if he reached out to the city and he said he did not um he had gotten information back from the wershed but he had not um I don't know if he wasn't given that information but also didn't know uh but he he did let me know. He interviewed as well but had not requested any kind of um formal action from the city. >> So just noting that we at least had two Columbus residents. >> All right. >> But that was just based on a phone call I received. I don't even think they gave us would give us a list of who applied, would they? >> Not not under the um not under the filling of the unexpired or a short term. If it's a it's a full if it's a full cycle appointment, I think they let us know. We have then an opportunity to submit three three names from three candidates. >> And that's maybe that's where I was confused from the last go around when we reappointed Steve. Right. >> Right. >> Yeah. As I was as I was preparing, I was reading through past letters that of letters of support and I kept finding that there were the city submitting three names, three names, three names. So, I just finally reached out to Jim's assistant and said, "What's going on with this? What tell me why? Tell me what's happening." And that's where I learned that that there's a difference between a full term and an uh a resignation partial term. >> I think we had a problem, too, didn't we? Uh Rob, we never could get three. We always had two or something. Yeah, I think we ended up a couple people just threw their names in not really wanting it just to make sure we had three. It's it's kind of how it felt, right? Like they kind of backed out after >> last year when Mr. Wagman was reappointed. Uh, as Aaron said, the city could have submitted three names, but we did not get three, so we just submitted one since Steve is >> reapplying for an existing position. And there is two more years, approximately two years left on that term. So in two years there'll be another vacancy on that seat. Plus maybe some other vacancies that come up too with some of the other members. I think they're staggered terms like we have here at city council. >> Oh. Uh isn't it another watershed that has a couple openings? Creek has two openings. >> Yeah. >> Now remember Sunray Creek has very little. We have really no projects in Creek because most all of Creek wershed district is Carlos Avery in the city of Columbus. There's a little bit of area on the far western edge of Pine Street and some of that area down there, but that's the extent of any type of development that we have. So, I think on that uh Jenny, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but when you serve as liaison, I don't think you had too many Columbus projects that ever came up. Uh we had one incident that was um kind of a split over off of um Jawad drill street there off mine because it but it really this property bordered both. Beyond that I think that was the only Columbus related issue. Um and they may have some things that come up with the DNR but it's very few and far between. So >> any other comments questions? Well, I'll make the motion. I Ron Hanigraph move to approve and submit a letter of support for Dinoa County Board of Commissioners for Janet Hegland's appointment for the Rice Creek Water Management District Board of Managers vacancy. >> Scott, I'll second. >> We got a motion on the floor. It's been seconded. Any other comments or questions? Having none, we'll go to a vote. Jenny, >> Jenny, I. >> Scott, I n. >> Ron I. The motion passes. Uh, item number six, 2025 financial report information only. No action. >> You got the floor, Cheryl. >> All right. So, I was asked to uh draft a general overview, a preliminary overview of 2025. I want to stress that um we still have expenditures coming in. We still have revenue coming in. We are in the middle stages of our audit. So there will be changes to our final numbers as always. So um it just provided an overview of the city's financial performance and position. Um we are remaining in our stable financial condition. Uh revenues and expenditures are generally aligning with our adopted budget. Um there may be some areas where we have underspent, some where we've over spent. um but they are generally within our normal constraints. Um we are of a conservative fiscal mindset um and we are continuing to monitor all of the economic conditions um that support the city's ability to maintain our service levels while preserving our revenue. So, our total revenue for fiscal year 2025 uh was a little over 5.9 million and that represents approximately 114% of the budget. Uh I've pointed out some of the revenue trends and I've have an explanation of why it appears that we are uh over on our revenue. Um, I don't know if you want me to go into the detail or if you've already read the report. Um, the same thing with our expenditures. Uh, our expenditures, we are at approximately 90% of our budget. However, we are expecting a large bill from the Forest Lake Fire Department shortly. Um, we have estimated that bill to be $218,300. Um, we are still going to be re receiving billing from various vendors throughout the first quarter of this year, but we expect our expenditures to be under or at our budget. I also included a copy of our cash fund balance report um for your review um and our financial outlook is we are going to be maintaining the same um fiscal mindedness. We will always look at revenue trends um what pressures and economic conditions that may impact our future budgets. Um but our position remains strong and uh the final fiscal year 2025 financial information will be available after the audit is complete and we expect that to occur sometime in June. And I'm open if you have any questions. >> Any questions? I had a question. This is Karen. Um, just a question. Is the Forest Lake fire department at 2183? Is that like a normal amount every year that we pay? >> Yes, that is our budgeted amount. >> Do we have that money saved or do we depreciate that or how do we pay that? >> So, that is actually for their personnel expenses. Um, that is separate from any capital um expenditures that would occur. that is just pay for personnel services um in any year that they would need for the year. >> Okay. So, we're expensing it monthly for that expense. I mean, are we depreciating it or I mean, how are we pay I mean, do we have the money saved or >> So, we levy property taxes to pay for that? >> Oh, I got it. Okay. Okay. And then the vendors for 2025 that we have that are still coming in, are those? >> Yes. >> Okay. And some of those are included. >> I'm sorry. >> When do you think they'll all be in? I mean, >> um, usually, uh, by the end of the first quarter. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> If I, if I'm correct, the fire department, uh, pays what, 80%. And we pay 20%. >> Yes. >> So, that's how it's works out. Okay. >> So, when they do their budget, we know what our 20%'s going to be. >> Any other questions, Cheryl? Miss Jenny, I have a budget adjacent question. Uh, how is how is everything going uh with uh the Lakes Area TV? I know you just took that on >> any Did you have I know um we talked about potentially before. So, I just wanted to know because starting in 2026, that's falling under your bucket, I believe. Correct. >> Okay. Um we've had some challenges um with the software um and our new IT setup. Um but overall I mean any kind of transition is going to have its hiccups. I would say nothing to you know be considered major. Um, as we go through the first probably six months, um, we'll figure out our process, figure out how to create and make things more efficient, create better processes. Um, but overall, >> so you shared with me too, payday was yesterday and they got paid. >> Yes. >> So, it's going good. >> Good news. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> This is Karen. I just have one more, Cheryl. Um, yep. I know we have some money saved for our future building expenses. Are we adding more to that fund this year? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um, we had cut uh money out of our general city capital fund um for the prior three years. And this year when we were working on setting the budget, um we set a target of I believe $80,000 and we're trying to start building that account again. >> Okay. Just curious. >> So our goal was to get back to where we were in 2023. So that would be an allocation. We were putting in $115,000 a year in that account. >> Okay. >> No other questions. Thank you, Cheryl. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> Go on to item number uh D, consult with leaison staff reports. And we get to go to Brian right off the bat. >> Good evening, mayor and city council. Brian Bachm, consulting city engineer. I was just going to provide a verbal report on information we recently received from the soil boy contractor as we continue to do our due diligence on the potential water tower site at the corner of Gander Drive and West Freeway Drive. Um the they were out the first week of January and did the the deep borings and they were scheduled to come back the second week of January to do the shallower borings but due to the extremely cold weather that we had for the that 3-week period they have not scheduled uh the return trip on the shallow borings uh they are making arrangements now to come in to finish up on the shallower borings but we did get the preliminary results on the deep borings and what they're indicating is um in the upper 10 to 12 feet there is u loose sands uh in the upper 10 to 12 feet and below that there's firm to stiff sandy clay material down to 65 ft when they hit refusal with the cone penetrating uh boring machine. So the recommendation they have based on this information is they would like to go deeper. They would like to go down to 70 ft beyond the refusal point to determine uh what's below that point of refusal um and do additional testing on that material to make sure that we don't have um that we have suitable settlement that we don't have excessive settlement in the soils uh underneath the water tower. One thing we also want to avoid is the need for borings uh bar excuse me piling uh piling to go down to the bedrock uh because that would be an extremely expensive alternative if we had to go to to piling. So, the recommendation is to do uh uh one additional boring. Basically, take one of the 15t borings and make that a 70 foot boring. And the estimated additional cost is about uh $4,690 to go that additional depth uh for that and do the additional testing that would need to be done on that material. Um I guess uh we're looking to the council support on that. We think that's reasonable and appropriate. Uh because obviously uh we would prefer to do a um spread footing, shallow spread footing as opposed to having to resort to piling. With that, I'd stand for any questions the council may have. >> I got one question. What's the word? Refusal. >> Refusal. >> Yeah. >> With the uh the cone penetrating uh boring, it goes down to the point where they cannot push it any further. So it's point of refusal. So they hit firm material at 65 ft. They hit material that's firm, but they want to see if if they can how much further they can go down. And that would require uh just standard penetration boring, which is the augur type. They would go down below that point of refusal. >> Interesting. I didn't know what that it's. It's looking good though. The the property >> well it's uh marginal for the spread footing. We want to determine, we want to have a high degree of confidence that we're going to be able to use a spread footing. And so that's why the recommendation is to do this additional depth boring in that area. We don't want to have to go to piling because piling is expensive. We we had a discussion with that and I sent you that everybody that information today in an email. But uh the spread footing is a cheaper way to do that and it would provide stability assuming the soil conditions are suitable underneath that. Uh if we had to go to pilings, uh Brian said it would could possibly cost around $300,000 to do that. The property was appraised at 360. So, uh, if we do if we find out that these soils are unsuitable for spread footings without pilings, we may have to look at an alternative site for the water tower. We do have two were previously identified, but we were pretty sure that the second one, which is up around their wellhouse two and three, has the same similar soil conditions. The third one that was identified is on a site that's very small far north of there and is from a hydraulic standpoint and extension of other utilities is going to cost us about as much. So, uh, if this is why I think it's important to exhaust this last possibility on this last drill request to hope good information back on that and ensure that spread footings could be put in only for the tower and eliminate the pos the eventuality of us having to look for another property for that. I understand what pilings are, but the spread is that just like throwing sand down and a spread footing. >> Yeah. >> Well, that would be where they would use a kind of a wide base at the bottom and then put the footing on top of that. But it would be a concrete slab on the bottom that would go around the perimeter and then the footing would sit on that. So, that's a spread footing. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And that would generally be only 15 feet deep. uh instead of where piling would have to go down 100 ft >> that spread footing can carry the weight of the whole water tower. >> Yes, if the soils are suitable and there isn't excessive settlement uh and the criteria is very narrow for a water tower. You have to have less than two inches of settlement on a on the slab. So, uh it's a pretty a pretty uh narrow restriction on the allowable settlement because you do have pipes coming into the foundation from the side. So, you really have to limit how much settlement there is in that foundation. >> Mayor, if I could uh to Brian, so what's the chances that you hit point of refusal, we begin to bore again and then hit soft ground again? There might just be a vein of of rock or something of that nature and then we're going to hit soft soil again. That that could be a possibility, right? >> The soundings that they had, they were able to determine the the bedrock is down below and it seemed like there was consistent material from 65 ft and down. >> Sure. >> So, they just want to go down that extra 15 ft basically or 20 ft I guess it is. is they want to go down 20 ft uh to determine if it gets stiff enough that that'll uh minimize the amount of settlement. >> Okay. >> In that 15 to 20 ft. >> Thank you. >> But do we have to make a motion on this, Jack? >> Uh we'd like to go ahead and process this so they can go ahead with this. So, I think the motion would be to approve the additional boring at the price that Brian recommended so we can get this going and keep this moving so we can at least be working on the side acquisition for a future water tower site. >> Anybody want to make a motion or I'll make it? >> I can make it. How much was it, Brian? >> $4,690. >> Mr. Scott, I make a motion to approve uh uh the spending of an additional soil boring for the water tower site in the amount of $4,690. >> This is Karen. I'll do the second >> motion on the floor. It's been seconded. Any discussion? Any questions hearing? None. Go to a vote. Jenny >> Jenny I. >> Scott. I >> and Ron I. And the motion passes. >> Anything else, Brian? Nothing your honor. >> Thank you. Next one is city attorney Bill. >> Nothing your honor. >> Order in the court. Hold it down. >> Uh mayor and city council report. Jenny, you have anything? Uh um for my city I have a few other uh things under D, but I think for my city council, the only thing I had noted was that a resident noted that um our state flag appeared a bit tattered and I know the mayor and I had talked about that a bit about um talking with um public works about potentially just replacing that flag. Beyond that, I didn't have anything to report but will um in the next few numbers. Scott, >> do you have anything? >> No report. Karen. >> Um, this is Karen. I have a meeting March 24th between 2 to 3 for the watershed beast implementation funding and I also have a meeting April 27th between 4 and 6 for the lower lower St. Cry partnership meeting and the Wyoming library at the Wyoming library. >> Thank you. Rob, do you have anything? >> Uh, only thing I have to report. Uh, last meeting I was absent. Uh, had influenza B. So, I found found that out. I was driving home from work that night. So, I decided to go to the clinic instead of come to here. So, that's why I missed last meeting. So, just wanted that on the record. That's all. And my report, well, I'm going to take number four and number five. And that's for you, Brian, back there if you're videotaping because last time we had some EDA report. Uh, we have none tonight. We do have a meeting coming up uh in the future. Oh, up on February 19th of next week. Uh item number five, the park board report. We did have a park board meeting last night and uh Brad uh Norling was elected again as chairman. Andrea Msina was uh the deputy chairman. Uh they were voted in. They did talk about uh a little library box at the um at the park that was some Gina and the Lions Club putting it in there and they were all for that. It'd be by the tin by the playground equipment and stuff like that. They also met with uh three members of the uh Forest Lake Area Fast Pitch Association about the dugout and that's on course and there's another meeting coming up the 24th of March where we hope this all comes together and that the association will be giving us a check for $10,000 towards the dugouts to match and um somehow uh isn't it Matt Reard thinks that we can put do all three fields with 20,000. So, I guess we're going to see when that gets going. And um other than that, there's not much more going on in the park board. And I have nothing more than that. We'll go on to item number six is a planning commission report. >> Uh this is Jenny. Um reporting on the February 4th planning commission. Um there were three items on the docket of note. Uh, one was um Holiday on Lake Drive um over right off the freeway had a cup amendment request. They are looking to do a reconstruction uh as well as adding a a car wash. So that would be new for Columbus um as well as improve landscaping. So that was um approved and then if I if I remember correctly, Erin, will that be at our next council meeting? So that will be coming up at our next city council meeting. Um but they that did have the support of the planning commission. Um they we also had um a family the I believe it's the Foville family trust on 145th Avenue. This is kind of where they talked about that technology corridor. Um they are currently zoning general business. They have their land for sale. It is not selling. Um they have had it for sale I believe for a few years at this point if I remember right from their conversation. Uh they would like to be zoned light industrial. there has been interest uh in their land as light industrial um which is uh similar to the land south um of their property and so they are just looking for that change as well. Um and then the third was the uh discussion on commercial dog kennels. Uh this was a general discussion that was a more of a broad spectrum what was the opinion of the planning commission in terms of allowing uh commercial dog kennels in the city of Columbus. um but was not specific to any residents or you know their their situations going on. Um and so I think for what that is there was um some back and forth uh and discussion on um you know allowing for the potential of um like hunting dogs and training and things like that. There was some support there, but then also really understanding what that looks like from a control perspective compliance perspective. And so there was some concern on that side. Um, and then if that were to be a CUP or an IUP and there was some back and forth there. So, it really was just left as a discussion um, and not pushed forward to the council, I don't believe, Aaron do. Yes. So, it was just left more open. Um, and that was really everything that the planning commission did discuss. >> Thank you. Uh, we'll go on to item number seven, public works >> report. Mr. report item number eight, the city administrators report. >> Uh I've got two things, mine are both of them are good news. Uh today we officially entered into a purchase agreement with Bair Development Corporation for the sale of 5.7 acres of city-owned property immediately adjacent to and north of Caribou Coffee for a potential 200 unit apartment project. Uh those documents were signed, delivered, and sent and received by the development corporation. They acknowledge the receipt of that copies were sent to the city attorney. So they have a year to do their due diligence and hopefully maybe sometime in late 2027 or early 2028, we can see some groundbreaking there. The other uh item I'd like to mention is that the sale of the property directly across the street from that which we have a purchase agreement with Mr. Steven Saunders. He has indicated to me that they anticipate closing on that the end of this month through the first week in March. So those were two positive steps in uh getting some much needed retail development and some res higher density residential development within the freeway corridor and only where water and sewer is. So those are two sign significant steps moving ahead with both those projects. >> Well, great. That's great news. >> So let's hope the borings turn out and then we'll have the trifecta, right? >> Yeah. No pressure, Brad. >> Move on to item number E, announcements and reminders. Uh, President's Day holiday, city offices will be closed next Monday, February 16th, 2026. Planning Commission meeting February 18th, 2026 at 6 p.m. And it's a special EDA meeting on February 19th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. And our city council regular meeting will be February 25th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. And should we remember, I think we all got to remember what is it, April or March? We have that Columbus just looking. Yeah, it' be April 23rd is 4 pm to 6 pm. I know it's coming up and that's why we're having a special EDA meeting to try and organize that a little more. And uh and if I'm right, we did have another applicant that we may be interviewing for that. So other than that, >> mayor, question for you, fireboard, is that the 26th of February, was it? Uh you can get it to me after. It doesn't need to be on this. >> Okay. I don't know. I keep moving that around. >> I know we talked about it at that meeting, but I don't recall. >> All right. Uh >> any idea where Columbus is, where it coming up, where it's going to be held? >> It's it's held at running. >> It is running back at running. >> Yeah. >> So, with that, I'll make a motion for adjournment. >> Second, Rob. >> We got a motion on the floor. It's been seconded. Any other comments? Hearing none, we'll go for a vote. Jenny I >> Scott Iron I >> Rob I >> and Ron I meeting is hereby closed at 8:05