Call to order for the city of Canon Falls City Council meeting for Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. Get a roll call, please. Diane Johnson here. Zimmerman here. Chad Johnson here. Jeffson here. No here. Croninburgger absent. Montgomery here.
Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If I can get a motion to approve
tonight's agenda. Got a motion from Chris, second from Lisa. All those in favor? I oppose. Carries. Gets us to our public input. Public input is intended to afford the public an opportunity to address concerns to the city council. The public
input will be no longer than 30 minutes in total length and each speaker will have no more than three minutes to speak. Speakers may address topics relevant to the governance of the city. Speakers must sign up in advance, must provide their name, address, and the topic they intend to address. Comments must be on topic, respectful, pertinent
to city business, and adhere to the applicable data privacy rules. Any speaker that violates these rules will be asked to sit down and if the speaker refuses to comply, they may be removed from the meeting. Speakers shall not address topics that are the subject of a public hearing. All such comments shall be made at the public hearing. The city
council will not generally act on issues raised by the public input, but may choose to schedule consideration of the item on a future agenda. Leading off tonight, David, how do I say your last name? Kajawa. Kajawa from Three Rivers.
Thank you for the opportunity. Uh I was here about this time last year to talk with you all about our older adult services that we have here in Canon Falls. Uh Threeverse Community Action is a nonprofit that is assisting older adults in the Canon Falls communities
with uh our chore and homemaker program with meals on wheels and we have now started a new program for caregiver respbit. Uh our caregiver respit program is intended to help provide a break for caregivers in the community for uh so
that they may go see friends or go to the doctor's office in uh and be able to help provide them with a sense of security for a volunteer that's been trained to go into their homes and help spend time with the older adult uh their loved one or their care recipient. Um,
as summer rolls in, we are experiencing an uptick in older adults, uh, requesting assistance with things like yard work, in home cleaning, uh, and the like. And so, uh, as a followup to, uh, what I talked about last year, I just
wanted to, uh, let the council know that we are in search of volunteers as well as, um, uh, providing these services in the community. I do have some flyers here. Um, I can wait until the end to distribute them to you all, but they have some basic contact information for
helping get uh volunteers signed up as well as getting older adults connected to our services. Uh, thank you. Thank you, David. Uh, next up, is it Jan Fenner? Thank you. My name is Jan Fenner and I
live at 1128 West Minnesota Street in Can Falls. My topic is on the zoning amendment the city is negotiating with the Canon Valley Fair Board. Thanks to all the recent discussions related to the noise pollution from the track, I think it's safe to say that we're all aware that the city of Canon Falls is bound to
uphold the state's noise rules and laws. What I didn't realize, and perhaps you didn't realize, is that according to the NPCA, and I quote, "Noise area classifications are based on the land use at the location. the person who
hears the noise which does not always correspond with the zoning of the area. Therefore, noise from an industrial facility near residential area is held to an NAC1 which is residential. Um and those standards uh
NAC1 residential standards if it can be heard from a residential property end quote. Further, the MPCA and I quote again um guidelines goes on to state local governments are required to take reasonable measures to prevent
the approval of land use activities that will violate the state noise standard immediately upon establishment of the land use. This is from Minnesota rule 7030.30 end quote. So it seems according to the state
statutes the fair which is an association fair and not an egg society has been operating ille illegally and it doesn't matter what zoning classification you give the land upon which the fairboard operates. The bottom
line is this. There is no classification that would allow for noise generated by go-karts racing autocross racing motocross demo derbies or the like. and it's the city's responsibility to ensure the prevention of such land use or any
other illegal activity on the property. With that in mind, I'd like to reread the noise area classification paragraph I just previously quoted, but this time with the minor adjustment. Noise area classifications are based on the land use of the
location of the person who hears the noise, which does not always correspond with the zoning of that area. Therefore, noise from association fairgrounds near residential areas is held to the residential housing standards if it can
be heard on a residential property. Thank you. Thank you. That gets us to tonight's consent agenda. Consent agenda items may be adopted under one motion as presented or may be removed for discussion and
resolution as council business. uh tonight. Item A, adjust and correct claims for the accounting period that ended on May 15, 2025. Item B, meeting minutes 6, 2025, council meeting. Item C, accept resation and authorized posting of license and permit technician. Item D, approve fire
department probationary job description. Item E, approve a fire department new hires. Item F, approve amendment to escrow agreement with tract. Item G, authorize posting seasonal public works position. Item H, approve hiring of
Chuck Whidholm for seasonal public works position. Item I, approve user agreement of the tennis courts with the independent school district 252 Camp Falls. And resolution 2814 amending the economic development authority revolving loan fund policy. Is there anything the
council would like to remove to council business? Clarification on cap. Do you want to pull down or do you No, I was I I talked to John and I just wanted to clarify the jump from 3,000 to 100,000. Yep. So, uh
thank you, uh, Council Member Johnson. Um, so just to to make sure it's informed, um, for the community and the council, uh, we do have an amendment, this amendment for the track with track for the escro. The original one was for
30,000. Um, it it explicitly was only to be used for consultant fees. Um, so what we've and just an update, we've we've spent over 20,000 of that right now. We actually do likely have outstanding invoices related to that expense. Um, we
have received the full 30,000 for that escrow. We'll definitely be be using all of it. So that was the the impetus to start that. Um, going to 100,000 is hopefully just saying, hey, we we want to make sure that we don't have to come
back and ask again. I I don't know. I won't assume or give you a prediction on how much money would be would be spent on this agreement. But additionally, what we wanted to make sure was amended and included, which it is in the agreement, is that staff time can be
requested in this reimbursement as well. And that aligns with our de um development application process that we have. So or so when a project large scale project like this and others comes through we have a a fee um a permit fee
and then an escro requirement for that. However, we very much anticipate that that we'll we'll use all of it and that the intent for those is to be able to recoup the city's costs. So, um, you know, this is much far above and beyond what those typical ones do, but it is
within our authority to ask for for those costs being reimbured. And I think this just makes sure everything's in alignment so we don't have to go and do multiple separate agreements every time we take an application from them. We're good. Thank you. All right. Anything for
the council to be pulled down? If not, I would seek a motion to approve tonight's consent agenda. Motion by Jeff, second by Diane. All those in favor? Opposed? That carries. Gets us to council business. Item A tonight. Resolution
2813 approving preliminary plat and PUB plan for Hardwood Estates second subdivision. Laura. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um so if you hopefully had a chance to look through your packet um
the EDA is prepared and ready to move forward um with the third subdivision. Um so we have WHKS has prepared um the next uh phase of the project um which will be 27
single family home um lots. Uh we did remove uh twin homes from this next phase based on the market. Um originally when we had designed the initial POD, we did have twin homes in this phase, but um we just didn't have the demand for
it. Um so we've got contracts for all of the lots. Um if we haven't sold them already in our first phase. So um based on that and feedback from our builders, we chose to remove those. Uh, we did receive a recommendation from planning
commission last week um to approve and move forward and so I would entertain any questions that you may have regarding this. We did um replplat two of the lots that were in our first um in the first phase of this.
Um we did replat they were twin home lots and we did replplat them to u make them wider and make them single family home lots instead. Um, but I would entertain questions if you have them.
Anybody? If not, then this is very quick and easy. I would entertain a motion to um approve resolution 2813 uh for the preliminary platinum AUD. Motion from Diane. Would any of you
entertain a motion? No, Diane already got the already second. Second by Chris. All those in favor? I opposed carries. Uh all right, that gets us to reports. Uh finance
committee, we talked about in our work session, uh most of what we had talked about the senior center asking for money and then uh John, if you want to give us that preliminary. Yeah, go ahead. So, uh the finance finance committee met last week. Uh we went over I I gave them kind
of a first pre uh preview of the budget. Um I just have a process in which I like to format my the the budget um documents. Um so I kind of just went through and just at a very high level uh explained to the finance committee, hey
these are the various funds that we have general fund, special revenue fund uh and the enterprise funds. What are the departments or objects that are in those funds that of what they are what they're used for? how they're um how we're going to establish what you know what the
dollar amounts just kind of not not talking specifics not going line by line just but a very high level overview just of what what the budget looks like what are the components that are made out of it um additionally to that uh I will say trying to work right now scheduling this
with department heads who just sent out some notice but we do want to invite uh a another kind of joint Well, I don't call it work session, but a workshop, budget workshop, uh, with the council and our department heads to kind of go through just hey, who who they are, uh,
how their departments kind of things that they're operating and some of the major kind of capital items that they have in this upcoming budget to get a kind of a primer for the council to kind of um, understand what the needs are and what they what they face in there. And I
I' found this works really well. Um, so you can kind of and it apologize that it takes a lot of time. Um, but I do appreciate that when you get to hear the, you know, public works side of things with the public safety side of things with the with the admin and and
library services, when you can hear all those things together, it definitely puts that comprehensive um uh lens on all the things that you have to do. It can be a little daunting. It takes time, but it definitely helps in the end when starting with that and
then working through the process of of getting to the final budget for me and uh the other councils I've worked with that they really appreciate by the time we we conclude that hey, I I understand these needs better and I understand how to um you know take that information and
and align it, prioritize it with with everything else that happens in the city. Um because sometimes if that's just you know you get you get a row of them and it's one one by one and not everybody's in the room and you don't you know you don't hear them at the same
time kind of gets um the priorities of it kind of gets you and um and it not it's not a criticism of of departments. I don't believe that the staff here will operate that, you know, operates that way or has operated that way. But it
just it helps um I find for the council when they're making this decision in the end that when you've heard it from everybody um kind of all in a similar time frame, by the time you get to the end, it it it comes out and everybody feels more that it was a fair process.
And not not everybody gets what they want. never gets what they ultimately even need at times, but we have a better plan strategy for what's going to happen. Thank you, John. Mhm. Uh planning commission also met on May 12th and it
was the uh track update and the resolution for the beauty. Wonderful. Uh public works parkour. Did you catch anything? public works, park work. Yes. Uh so both items were in the um consent agenda. Uh
hiring Chuck Weed home and also hiring another parttime for the parts that help with mowing and mainten board the 19th. Um we basically went over the um how the ILS migration has gone so far.
We're two and a half weeks in and it went as smoothly as could be expected. There were some hiccups which we knew would happen. Um, one of them is that anybody who has been receiving text notifications about
holds, overd um those are currently not working because we had to switch to a new service and that has to go through the FCC approval process. So that it'll be
at July 1st at the earliest before text notifications will be available again. So please make sure your email is updated with us and the um URL the website for the
library catalog on the patron side is new. It's a changed one. So, if you have it bookmarked from before May 1st, please go to our website, click on the library catalog link. That will send you
to our new catalog and then you can bookmark that one and you can find out where your what's going on with your account. So, yeah, we talked about that. And summer reading starts next Tuesday, right? So, it's read around the world in
80 days. all ages. You get a reading passport with reading challenges and activities and you get stamps. Cool. It's fun. So, hard to believe that summer is almost here. I know. 40 some degrees and Yeah. All right. Uh we'll start going
around the horn. I know that we just went, but Jed, anything else that you got works? Um I just got word today that uh warrior uh tree care will be uh start next week removing the 17 dead ash trees around March. Okay. Uh, also MDOT is
going to restripe. They put temporary striping on everything that was uh, milled and overlaid last year on Fourth Street from Main Street to River Road. So, they will put permanent striping here in the next few weeks. Um, we're kind of coordinating with them. I don't know all the details on that yet, but
just give you a heads up. So, that's all I got. Thank you. Thank you. Can Can I ask a question because it's kind of lost on me, but uh, we were going to we were going to stripe the parking lot by the winery. Where's that at? Or Yes, that's We talked about it previously, but I now
So, last council you uh approved striping. Um we're just waiting for um I forget his name. Yes, Johnson to Johnson striping to uh to do that, but that is um we are going to work with him to come up with a
better parking plan for that area, but yes, it will all get restricted on parking. Thank you, Bill. Uh in addition to track development, just a couple quick updates and that is uh we have two out two projects that are still ongoing. The 23 24 street project which is
basically cannon. We have the we're in the punch list phase or completing the remaining items and we'll completing the final uh lift of black top down here in the next month or so. Uh same thing with uh Hardwood Estates uh two uh that the final lift of black top will be going
down there as we dodge all the construction traffic. So, I don't think we envisioned this many houses being built this quickly. So, that's really been great. And then, uh, the we have some paving coming up with the the street maintenance project for
25. And I think as Jed has told you, we're going out for bids for a continuation of that because of the great numbers we have the first pave. So, basically a lot of paving. Yeah. So, thanks, Mayor. Thank you, Bill. Laura. Um, let's see. In the last um few weeks,
I've actually had um three of my colleagues come up um from different locations in Minnesota to do tours in Canon about our housing projects, um about our redevelopment of the Cannonball project, our hardwood
estates, and the risk that all of you voted um to do. um and just how we've um been able to move that project forward. Um and then also the Timber Ridge development and how that sat idle for 20 years and now they've got four lots
under contract. Um there's actually a new house that there's a um there's foundation that's um poured. I was just up there today. Um so I mean it's really kind of fun to be able to showcase our community and what has happened. Even was able to showcase the John Burch Park
wall. So, it's it's inspiring to them to be able to go back to their communities. Um, and a lot of them represent multiple communities for them to kind of say, "Hey, this is okay. Now, how can we do something different for our community? How can we think outside the box like we
have here?" So, I just really thank you for your support um for the projects that we've been able to move forward. Um, and hopefully we can continue to do that. Um, and yeah, uh, to Bill's point, it's it is it's like ants in hardwood estates
right now. I mean, it's it's people are climbing all over each other. Dragways are getting poured. Um, I know that it'll be a a a coordinated choreographed effort, I think, with public works trying to get construction people off
the street so that they can clean it, so that they can get that second lift down. But um yeah, I've learned a lot about construction in the last year. I'll tell you that. Um but uh yeah, so it's it's pretty exciting and yeah, and being able to move forward with this process. Um
hopefully we'll be able to keep moving forward and break ground this so on the next phase cuz those realtors are just chomping. Good for us to get going. So that's all I have. Thank you, Laura. Nicole, just what I said. There you go. All right,
chief. Thank you, Mayor. So, Monday's Memorial Day. There will be a parade. Uh for that, we typically do not are not planning to do any parking or street closures. We just use the uh the route
of um main or street to mill up to first over to state. Um and we just utilize sort of a rolling roadblock. uh get them through and then reopen that. Usually in the morning traffic's really pretty
light. Uh we do get a lot of traffic that's headed west. Um you know that are the campers, that type of thing. But we've always been really good about just moving over to Minnesota and going around the the group. So I don't expect any difficulties in doing it. Just want to remind our local residents, one, the
parade will be done and two just expect some minor traffic uh rearrangement when we move through the road. That's all I got. All right. Thank you, Chief Sarah. Uh, yep, it is summer. They were mentioning
um swimming pool. Um, lesson signups. I just wanted to let you know that next week, the 27th and 29th at the pool, there will be lesson signups from 6:00 to 8:00 and then the May 31st from 10 to 12. And they're going to shoot for June
9th as the open date. Okay. So, if they can open earlier, they have to train their guards. And with school ending on the 4th and training guards and stuff, it might be closed. But if they can, we'll we'll post something on Facebook over the weekend or whatever. At the earliest, it would be Saturday or
Sunday. Yeah. But we're going to just say June 9th for right now for sure it will be open. Perfect. So, awesome. Thank you, sir. John, thank you. Uh, thank you. Um, Sarah did not mention we
got our the draft of the audit back on Friday. Yeah, cuz it's it's too soon. No. So, that that's good. We uh I actually got through uh the first uh narrative parts and and very positive feedback so far.
So, so very very good good things I think hopefully coming as I uh we we get through that and we see that presentation here coming up next month. Um just my other thing is I want to thank you for uh approving uh the the licensed permit technician. Um uh just
as an FYI for you and and the community uh I'll uh we're kind of sharing and splitting some of the duties but primarily the the zoning related code related items. uh I'll be working to address them and and receiving support from staff to do that. The license side
um Sarah is going to be kind of taking some point on on that. So if it's you know uh the mobile food unit things uh you know that might be coming up. I know there's there's other stuff that farmers market um you know some of those things
that are right now timely. Um so she'll be having um taking on those responses. So, we're kind of splitting in that, but we'll definitely welcome the support as we get it, but making no kind of assumptions that um it'll be speedy and we'll get somebody in that get the
ground running. But, um we have some really good uh we've already kind of really developed or found and and um I'm already kind of working through a strategy on how the training will work for for the individual hopefully once we can get them get them hired. Y awesome,
Chris. Yeah. I had just a couple things here. I just want to kudos to Jed and John for working on the softball fields down there at Archie Swenson and getting that in order. I appreciate that. Um I know CFYA does as well. Um and it just
kind of got lost in the shuffle part of the consent agenda, but I wanted to recognize the people leaving the fire department. I feel like that public service doesn't go unrecognized. Uh Greg Ha, 20 years service. Jacob Neutroot, eight years service. And I'm not going to try to butcher this person's last
name, but Juno, probationary person. Um, and then we got three new hires, Morgan Robber, Matt Milhouse, and Dave Silva. Just kudos to you all, I guess. Yeah. And, uh, Chief Miller had said just the other day, this is Cannonball's first
ever female firefighter. Awesome. So, yeah. And it looked like there was 10 interviews, too, which is awesome. People want to get on there. That's that's great. Awesome. Thank you, Jeff. Diane, Lisa, happy Memorial Day. There we go. Have a good weekend. Awesome.
Chad, um, it is getting nicer, so I guess uh, bug John and Sarah and gets uh, some food trucks in town while McDonald's is gone for a while. So, like on Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A, I think they're uh, another five minutes is what
they put on social media. So, yeah. Anything else, Chad? That is a good way to look. That's it. That's all I got. I hope they're doing market research. I hope that's why they came. Yeah. Uh exactly what Chris said. Uh congratulations to the people who did their service and to the the people who
are joining the fire department. I think that's wonderful. Uh what David said, Three Rivers is a great organization. Um I did uh Meals on Wheels delivery for a couple of years years ago. Um wonderful organization. So help them if uh if you have time and you're able to volunteer
uh the pool. Very exciting. I did see that Isaac had asked on social media. So, I'm glad you shared that. I do think that that is one of the things that is actually charming. I think in a world where we live with online points and clicks and credit cards that you go in person to see people and sign up for lessons with your kids and, you know, I
I think that's wonderful. So, I do think that's I'm glad that our town still does things that way. Um, happy Memorial Day. That's going to be hopefully we have better weather. And then uh all the student groups, the track and field I think had I I don't
want to say a number, but I think there were more than a handful of students that were all conference. So, congratulations to them. I know golf is getting ready for playoffs. Softball got the three seed, got their first win, got a double header on Thursday, and boys baseball got the number one seed. So, uh by the time we meet again, those
playoffs, they'll be hopefully still playing. So, uh without anything else, I would seek a motion to adjurnn. Motion. Motion from Lisa. Second from Chad. All those in favor? I opposed. We're adjourned. Thank you everybody.