Okay. I'd like to call to get call to order the city of Kenny Paul's city council meeting October 21st. >> Roll call. >> Diane Johnson. >> Um here. Zimmerman >> here. >> Chad Johnson
>> here. >> Jeepson >> here. Absent. Croninburgger >> here. >> And Montgomery absent. Okay, stand for the pledge of 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. >> Okay. Can I get an approval of the agenda, please? >> Second. First by Jeff and a second by Johnson. All in favor?
>> I. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. 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 3 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 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 subject to 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 during public input, but may choose to schedule consideration of the item on a future agenda. All right, Jason Reed. That's what I get for getting here early.
Uh, good evening. Thank you for having allowing us all to speak in speak here tonight. My name is Jason Reid. My family and I are Canon Falls residents. I have worked on electrical construction sites for 25 years. Everything from houses, uh, condos, commercial,
education, government, medical, and currently on a data center project in Rosemont. I just want to highlight a few of my experiences with the data centers. Uh, they are really good construction projects to work on. Uh there
there's a real sense of uh we're too small. There's a real sense of pride to complete a project that size. Uh people from all over the country talk about these projects in a good way. Uh this project would help families of workers from many states, especially
Minnesota. Uh this project will provide opportunity for many to make their lives better. Uh it would provide direction for many right out of high school. Uh these projects can employ up to 1,200 people. Uh all the construction projects that I have worked on try to spend as
much money locally as they can. Uh the local suppliers are a huge part of these projects. Uh people need to eat. Uh there's food trucks, catered lunches are very common. Uh the more local the better. Uh the future is bright and you
have my support. Thank you. >> Thank you. I am going to butcher the last name. Jason, >> sorry. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. Very tiny. >> No, it's sorry.
No. Uh, good evening. Um, not a professional speaker either and I also work on the data center in Rosemont. Um, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you on the proposed data center here in Canon Falls. Uh I just want to take a minute to speak up for the
thousands of workers that these project provide for. My name is Jason Sevenaller. I grew up just outside of New Trier. I current I am currently working at the data center here in Rosemount on Highway 42 as a professional carpenter foreman. Was
trying to think of what I wanted to say and I figured out last night that in my I've worked in 14 states in the last 31 year career. Um, I want to take a few minutes to share why this project matter matters. It's not just to me, but to our broader community. This is not just
another construction project. What we're looking at is 2 to 3 years of steady work right here at home. It's significant. It's a large scale job site that doesn't come around often. Um, and having one close to home means a
lot for working families like mine. um thousands of working families. Uh many of us are in the trades, electricians, carpenters, pipe fitters, plumbers, operators, and more. This project offers meaningful, well-paying, highpaying
uh substantial amount of work for a substantial amount of time right here at home. We're talking about more than a thousand field employees and not to mention a wide variety of on-site uh management that supports our field
employees. Um besides the field employees, the Rosemount plan included a setup of main office on site approximately 22 trailer houses wide with 50 additional trailer offices to support the operations. I
believe there's 76 support trailers on site. That means even more local jobs um and opportunities. Superintendent, safety managers, project managers, accountants, cleaning crews, snow plowing crews, um lots of subcontractors,
lawn care, engineers, security, and lots of them that I forget. Uh and then beyond the construction bay, I heard at the job site there'll be 200 permanent jobs that stay on site. Jobs that stay in the area long after the building is complete.
From my 31 years of experience, 15 of the years as a superintendent, my experience once the anchor company moves in, other smaller companies will follow, which in turn creates more construction jobs and opportunities. That's not just good news for the
workers, it's good news for the entire community. When we work close to home, we can be at home with our families. We rent rooms. We stay at local hotels, eat at restaurant, local restaurants, shop at local stores. In short, we spend our
money in this community. Um, this project is an investment in our workforce, our economy, and the community. Again, thank you for the time to let me speak, and I hope you support the initiative. Thanks a lot. [Music]
>> Thank you. Um, next I have Jason George. >> Jason number three. Thank you very much. Um, I want to echo much of what my fellow Jason just said and just highlight >> where these people are from. Aren't they supposed to live here? >> Yeah. >> I am Jason George. I am from St. Paul,
Minnesota. I work for Ames Construction which is headquartered in Burnsville, Minnesota. And we built a lot of your roads in this area, I believe. And uh, we build a lot of data centers. That's why I'm here tonight. Um, just want to talk about the family aspect of the jobs that Jason highlighted. Uh, heavy civil
construction is what we do and that means travel for a lot of the workers. We have a lot of members uh, Minnesota workers right now in other states. A job like this is an opportunity for them to come home. I think you heard it from Jason really well. I know, you know, thousands of these workers myself. I
used to run the 49ers union and get elected by them and represent them. The opportunity to come home and work in their own area is a huge opportunity for them and it means a tremendous amount to their families and their kids. They get to go to the game at night. They get to go home and sleep in their own bed. It's
a rarity in this industry and I hope that you all will take advantage of this opportunity and and create this big construction project so people can come back home and work in the area. Appreciate your time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next I have Nora Felton.
Thank you for your time again. Um, I just have a few quick questions. >> Can we just ask everybody to give name and address? >> Norah Felton, >> you forgot that for the first two. >> I know. >> Can we say that for them because I'd like to highlight that they don't live here. I do.
>> You said in prayer. That's not >> I live in K. >> This does not count on my time. Um Nora Felton, I live at 33079 County, 24 Boulevard, Cannon Falls. I farm over in the Randolph flats. My questions are um
the tax revenue. You realize the land is still in Dakota County. Dakota County is not going to give up their tax revenue. So, the idea that you're going to get all three 30 million in tax revenue is kind of a question. I actually have people working on that. You guys should
probably check that out yourself. I really appreciate our construction workers and the unions. However, um after two or three years are over, you guys will be long gone and whether or not we have water and electricity probably won't affect you. Um, I noticed
that there was a letter to the editor article in April whereby the public works director was asked whether or not the city sewer and water was prepared to take on the needs of the new data center. The answer was no. Um, I am
concerned about the November 6 drop dead date as the being the time in which this needs to be approved. I'm wondering um this the uh rumors have it that you don't need uh a no that you absolutely have to have a no vote because if you
just don't have any vote come up at all it will go through as being approved and I'm wondering how that came about and um who engineered that. I'm questioning the 250 permanent jobs when any of the research I've done online um has said
that most of these data centers can be maintained um depending on square footage um usually by two to three people um that's far from your 250 permanent jobs. Um we are sitting in Good Hugh County. The land has been a
next um to the city. However, the counties don't change. So, I'm not really sure about the metro area housing and the metro area transportation tax. Again, I am very concerned about the fact that I don't see how or why the
water use can't be um reused um using some of the new technology and um at the very least have it treated to um so that it could be uh put in and recharge our aquafer.
And I just want you to remember that I've checked out with the state agencies and I have worked with them before and while the council may feel that um your state agencies, your PUC, your DNR, your soil and water are your backdrop that in
case somehow or another you didn't get all the information that somehow they're going to come in their white knight clothing and save the day. this will be on you and it will be on you for the rest of the life of this area. So please take your decisions and at the very
least if you could slow this process down so we all had a chance to read through all the material and see what has happened on the east coast and in all these places that have rejected uh the same kind of a buildout. Thank you.
Um, next I have Dallas Larson. >> Yeah, I'm Dallas Larson, 409 Richest Drive, Cannon Falls. Several weeks ago, I was here to speak in favor of the data center. Since then, there appears to be a group of individuals organizing against the
development. While I've read their their uh arguments against the proposal, I don't find them very persuasive. They do raise some reasonable objections and those I think can be handled through uh the development agreement.
Those include water supply, noise and light pollution. I met with your city administrator and I'm satisfied the city has the opportunity to mitigate the potential problems by negotiating a strong development agreement with what appears to be a cooperative developer.
I also made a suggestion to Mr. Rodmacher that uh and I'll offer that suggestion to you that the city should consider sending a small delegation to visit a site where a similar facility has been built and has been operating for at least a couple of years so that you can talk with that city and find out
if there were any issues they found after feeling the actual operation. Uh things that they might have missed or concerns they might have afterwards and maybe talk to some of the adjacent properties to see whether their experience has been what was expected at the time.
a better a better better some extra research now than having regrets later. Another suggestion I made to your administrator that you do not leave the noise issues to be enforced by MPCA. Figure out what the acceptable standards are now and build them into the
development agreement with an escrow fund that can easily be accessed by the city in the event of violations that are not promptly addressed. Make the penalties significant and painful so that you get their attention and they can't ignore you. As I said last time, Canon Falls has
very high taxes and they seem to be increasing at an alarming rate. School district is proposing a very large increase in their levy and I see you approved a double-digit preliminary tax levy for next year. That's not a responsible levy in my opinion, but that's for another time.
This proposed project has a potential to add tens of millions of dollars to the city tax base without significant increase in corresponding government services. I believe the project on balance is going to be very beneficial for Canon Falls and I support it.
>> Thank you. >> Um Anna Lindell Lundal. >> Good evening council. I have here in my hand the signatures of over 500 people address. >> Yes, I'm from Canon Falls. I live on Oaklane.
There's over 500 people that have signed this petition from the Canon Falls area that do not want this data center to be built. I just wanted to ask the council to consider why you haven't been listening to the voices of your constituents. Okay. Now, I have another article here
that says that in areas where data centers have been built, electrical costs have gone up by over 200% in the last 5 years. So, I have to ask you again, most of you live here in town. Are you not concerned about this? You're not concerned about the impact that this
is going to have on lowincome residents that live in the city, myself included. I can't afford another utility bill increase. I just want to remind the council that you work for us and we voted you in to represent our interests, not the
interests of tract, not the interests of big billionaire tech companies. You work for us. I want to remind everyone of that. And I want to make sure that you understand how important this is to us. All these people here tonight, we have
other important things we'd like to do, but we're all here because this is important to us. Thank you. Thank you. >> Um Luke Lundall, Luke Lundall, Canon Falls Oak Lane. My wife just spoke. Um, I guess bottom line
up front, obviously I'm 100% opposed to this data center going in. I bought my first home here back in the spring and everything that I've worked for, I don't want to have see pulled out from under me by seven, eight individuals that
decide that, oh, we can get a quick chunk of change to, you know, fix some city utilities and with no long-term plan for the future of how this is going to pan out. Everything that I've heard about this data center, it's all well, we're going to bring 1,200,500 jobs,
whatever it is construction. Well, that's a construction job. None of these are long-term. On the news article tonight, they said it could potentially bring 1,500 jobs over 10 years. Well, when it comes to construction jobs, that's that's nothing. That's that's completely
inadequate and doesn't really move the bottom line as far as bringing jobs to this town. Secondly, we don't have an end user in mind. So, we really don't even know what we're doing with this. If we're going to build this facility and then try and woo a big tech company to come in here and take this place, you
can look online at all the different news articles about this. These companies don't get to have to pay all these taxes and boost the city tax base and then the actual residents of the
town pay less taxes. Like last time I checked, these places aren't moving in and funding the local school and all the residence taxes go down. The school stops asking for more money every year. None of this happens. Usually these places, we build this facility. Now you got to woo somebody in to actually take
up this land and do something with it. Well, now we got to go begging to these big tech companies, the Metas, the Alphabets, one of them to come in and take this. They're not just going to waltz in now and say, "All right, yeah, we're going to pay our fair share." No, now it's you got to court me to come in
and take this. You built this now. Give us a good deal to come in. I don't see how this has any long-term benefit for this community whatsoever. All we're seeing is increased costs on the people that actually live here and plan on the future. We don't even know, say, 10
years from now, if this whole AI thing takes a different direction, renders this thing useless. Now, we're the residents sitting here holding a bag when there's multiple cities here. Farmington, they're suing their city council because the council's not listening to the people. Pine Island,
they're fighting it right now. They've got a council meeting tonight, but they're going after them. Herman Town, the council ignored all the people there. They zone, they improved the zoning. They haven't moved forward yet on the actual done deal, but we all know where that's moving. action needs to be
taken by the city if the elected representatives are not going to do their job looking out for the best interest of the citizens. Thank you. Shamaya Spec. >> It's Shamaya Spec. >> Thank you.
>> And thank you very much. Um, my name is Shmaya Spect. Um, I live at 35591 County 25. Um, and to be 100% transparent, I do work for the DNR. I am not here as a representative. I'm here
as a citizen of Can Falls. I do not work with policy and planning. I do not work with ecological water resources. I'm sorry, please. >> I'm holding my hand here. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. I thought I was projecting enough. Um I also want to address the citizens at the top, >> of course.
>> Um to make sure that they fully know I am the creative director for the agency, so I work with communication staff often. Um, dear mayor and city council members, I am writing and speaking as a concerned resident regarding the
proposed track data center and the recently approved AUR. I appreciate the city's efforts to balance economic development with environmental oversight and long community planning. However, I would like to request clarification on
two points. Does the AUR contain enforceable mechanisms or conditions that limit the scale or scope of the data center project? In other words, in their language in the AUR development agreements or zoning regulations that
clearly prevents project from growing beyond what the original um originally was reviewed, such as significant expansion in water use, energy demand or physical footprint without triing further review. Scope creep is a real concern, particularly at projects like
data centers and can grow quickly. Without clear limits and thresholds, the environmental impacts could exceed what was originally evaluated in the AUR. Will the city commit to requiring a full environmental impact statement, EIS, if
tracked proposes expansion beyond the AUR's revised or reviewed scenarios or environmental assumptions. This would demonstrate that the city remains committed to the environmental due diligence even after the AUAR's
approval. Community members and council member Diane Johnson is quoted in the beacon on August 12th have expressed concerns that key environmental details were deferred to later stages. A commitment to requiring full further study if impacts change would help
rebuild public trust. I respectfully ask the council and andor the planning department to provide a public response to these concerns. Transparency and accountability are critical when overseeing projects of this magnitude, particularly when they impact multiple
jurisdictions, school districts, and natural resources. Thank you and thank all of you. Thank you. Good evening, council. My name is Joshua Kina. I'm a business representative for the Iron Workers Union, Iron Workers Local 512. I live in Farbo, Minnesota. I
represent six members that live in your town, uh, and 15 others from the surrounding area. Uh, I am here on behalf to speak for the data center. Um, we've heard a lot of good things from your community members, some of the men,
women in the trades. Um, my stitch was going to be a little bit different. I'm going to change that and just go off the cuff. The trades get hammered on for temporary jobs. We heard tonight about uh 1,500 temporary jobs.
And this thing, well, believe it or not, those temporary jobs are always in your communities. They're in the surrounding area. They put my men and women to work. My daughter was a beneficiary of those temporary jobs. And
that's what we do. That's what we do. We build things in the state. We make infrastructure better for the residents of these cities and towns, regions and districts. We like an opportunity to work in our home area because these data centers, they're not going away.
They're just going to go somewhere else. and the people that live in your communities are going to move to those places to build them. This doesn't stop. It is what it is. We have an opportunity for something beneficial to our
community that's going to raise the tax base and give future opportunities to your children moving down the road. Last month when I spoke here um I talked about Meta and De Moine. When Meta came to De Moines 10 years
ago, they were going to put up one data center, right? 10 years later, they're still building out that project. It's a huge benefit to the men and women that work in that area, their children growing up. That tax revenue goes back into the schools. It goes into your
infrastructure. and it gives my daughter an opportunity to go to college cuz that's where she's at now cuz I make a good wage and the people in these communities should as well. Appreciate everybody's time coming here. Um
but on behalf of my membership, I would hope that the council would approve these project moving forward. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I gonna struggle with this one.
>> User. >> Hi, my name is Anne Boozer. I live at 6658 296th Street East in Canon Falls. Uh, thank you for letting me speak tonight. Um, just to back up a little bit, I think this whole thing started out the the wrong way. You know, it was
advertised as a technology park when everybody knew it was a data center and it was a little bit further down the road before they really started to talk about a data center in the technology park. And I just want to let you know that all business is not good business.
And it feels like this is being done to the community, not with the community. That's all I have to say tonight. And I hope and that hope that you listen to us, that you listen to your citizens. A petition with over 500 almost 600
signatures. Do not be a Herman town. Listen to your citizens. Thank you very much. Thank you. I'm good. >> Okay. >> Redundant. Uh >> John Wilcox,
>> John Wilcox, uh 324 Kovville Street West, Canon Falls. I have some concerns uh about the data center as well. I appreciate much of the information that was provided here, but I have some questions about uh the
uh particular uh aspects of the UA AUR, excuse me if I pronounced that wrong. How this contract is pulled together. I have specific concerns based on my 46 plus years in the industry of broadcast
industry where we implemented uh and and my job was installing and maintaining. So I I ran the gamut. I even at times purchased equipment. We saw computer equipment evolved from what it was 15 20
years ago to uh some very small high-speed uh very noisy servers. Uh I used to walk around in my server room, we called it our tech core, and I put a a meter on my phone. Now granted, that's not the best
noise meter that's available, but it gave me a a basic indication of what I was dealing with. It got to where I couldn't even hear myself think in that room. Uh and so I I didn't stay in that room very long. Uh so I have cons
concerns about noise issues. There are some concerns about air pollution. Uh generators. There's lots of generators that have to be used to uh maintain these facilities. Uh there are specific articles that have been uh and
statistics that are proven as to the potential of rolling blackouts. And Minnesota is in one of the highest regions in the nation. I think it's rated at a zone five or something like that. Excel Energy and other utility
companies are way behind the curve. They were way behind the curve when EV vehicles were proposed. They're way behind the curve on on the current data center uh boom, if you will. And data centers, yes, they're going to come, but
the questions I have are how are they going to come? Are we dealing with the water issues? Are we dealing with utilities? Are we dealing with the potential increased costs to uh consumers, tax base? Uh there are uh other concerns I have. Uh
I'm going off the cuff here. Uh my my experience has been that things are only going to get noisier and noisier. Uh many of the uh videos and and
articles that I have read online uh humans are being affected by the noise level. Children can't sleep. Adults can't sleep. animals are being affected by the noise level. And I will finish with the footprints when these contracts
and I appreciate very much comments were being made and questions that were being asked about what's in the contracts. Will they have to come back to the table to be reviewed if they're going to grow? And every site that I've seen online has
started out with one or two of these very good goodsized buildings and they soon doubled, quadrupled or grew by tfold and it affected those populations surrounding that those data centers.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much at 6:31. Did I have that timing right? >> 633. >> Okay. >> 234. >> I'm sorry. >> Okay.
Um Oops. I'm sorry. Tammy Reichkes will be our last. >> Do you want to say it right? It's right here. >> If I knew how to pronounce it, I sure would. Thank you for understanding. >> All right. I live here. So, I live at York Street North, Canon Falls. I'm a
resident here. So, let's go. In September, Good Hugh County stated that they are going to be r raising taxes by 6 and a half%. Canon Falls is voting on a school referendum that will also raise taxes. In March, Dakota County Electric announced that they will be raising
prices by 11%. Excel Energy this month stated that they will be rising raising prices by 13.2% over the next two years. This despite a $2 billion profit last
year. Between the year of 2023 and 2024, Minnesota car insurance prices jumped by 55%. Almost double the nationwide average. Minnesota homeowners insurance are projected to rise this year by 15%.
Bloomberg states energy costs when looked at with a five-year period over surrounding data centers by using different analysises of grid status and DC bytes that energy
costs go up by 80% within 3 years and 267% in 5 years. Now then there's the NERK report that states in January that MISO our energy grid is only the only one out of 11
regions that is high risk for outages. High risk and this was before there were data centers in place. Now let's talk about the AUR. There's 38 pages of common section in these pages. They state it is not known at this time. Once a project is designed it is it will be
identified as specific projects are identified it will be determined. Further coordination with the DNR is needed if add additional appropriations are needed. Further evaluation and designs are will be completed prior to development to understand any potential constraints. Does any of that sound like
a firm answer about what is going to go on in our city? We've heard a lot of lovely commentary from people who will make money from this data center. We have people that don't live here and are asking you to prove this because it will
make them money. We have a city administrator who does not live here. So, this will not affect him and it will make him money. It won't make the rest of us money. It's going to, as I've listed all these things,
hurt us. So why is it that they have so many questions and more questions and more questions that they cannot answer? Because tract is not the end buyer. They don't live here. These people that came up and spoke in favor with the exception of a couple don't live here. If you say
yes, that means they get more jobs, but then it hurts us with our tax money. And we didn't even talk about the long-term litigation in cities like Farmington that the impacts on the wildlife, the decrease in home value for anyone up to a fivemile bubble.
We live here. We've got 500 names over that on that list. Can you look your neighbors in the eye? Can you when you approve this? If you approve this, I hope you can look us all in the eye. And remember, we've been filling out petitions. We've been
coming to these things. We've been filling out foyer requests. So, when it's time for re-election, you'll either say thanks and we stood up for you or we'll know how to get you out. Thank you. Okay, so moving to the consent consent
agenda is what we have next. The consent agenda items may be adopted under one motion or presented or may be removed for discussion and resolution as council business. A. Adjust and correct claims accounting
period ending October 15, 2025. B. Meeting minutes for October 7, 2025 city council minutes. C. Approve 2026 police squad replacements. D. Resolution 2832, approving a cooperative snow removal
agreement with Mindot. E. Resolution 2833, accepting a $4,000 grant from Minnesota Energy Resources Cooperative. F. Approve hiring of three volunteer firefighters. G. Second reading and adoption of
ordinance 411, an ordinance authorizing the sale of parcel number 52140140. H. Approve subscription to record ease with Goodyu County. I resolution 2834
amending turnkey alley vacation. J. Resolution 2835 approving reszoning from urban reserve to general industrial. K. Resolution 2836 approving conditional
use permit for data centers, data center substations, overhead transmission lines, and building height. L resolution 2837 approving tracked final planned unit development.
M. Resolution 2838 approving variances from city code section 152.153 J for tract. N resolution 2839 approving preliminary plat for Canon Falls
Technology Park. O resolution 2840 accepting of the small town grant of $1,000 from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. P. Approve Good Hugh County Prosecution Contract.
Q. Resolution 2841, amended proceeding preliminary report and calling public hearing on 2026 street and utility improvements. Is there any the council would like to pull down?
>> Yes. I N. >> All right. N and come council business B. I through >> I through N. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Just which ones did we just pull out through N?
>> Okay, so that's six. So that will become B, C, D, E, F, and G of council business.
Okay. With the removal of I through N, can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> I'll move. >> Second. Motion by Diane, second by >> Lisa. >> Lisa. All in favor? >> I I >> opposed.
>> Carries. Okay. Council business a comprehensive plan proposal. >> All right. Thank you, council. Uh so tonight, um I just wanted to make sure that it was uh brought to your attention. We received a proposal from
CEDA for the comprehensive plan update for 20 uh that will start in 2026. Um excuse me, my file isn't pulling up. Uh so with that proposal we we did only receive the one um look we we asked for
CEDA to give us a proposal to do a comp help us assist us with a comprehensive plan update. U CEDA who also is our um lower quality works for them and we have contracted services for their community development services but they have a whole another set of employees and
groups that do these comprehensive plan updates in other communities. uh one recently uh close by is they did with Pine Island um and had a you know I reviewed that plan and had really positive feedback in the work that they did. I was excited about the opportunity
that they have additionally uh for other engagement services uh for the community uh related to that that work and our plan you know was last formally approved uh I believe in 2003. So it is uh long overdue for for an update. So thank you.
Um, so with the proposal and the additional costs, it's uh around $38,000. Uh, in our preliminary budget that we set aside for 2026, we've budgeted $40,000. So, we do have enough to uh cover the costs for this um for
this service. Additionally, um there may be other things that we have and need uh like related to the engineer for some technical technical information or data. um I do believe that can be either covered within this agreement or you know we can you know work to keep those
costs um around that that $40,000. So, uh, I was also encouraged that their projected plan for for this work is takes about 6 months, which I would expect it to be at least the the minimum for this. Um, another comprehensive plan
update that we took took a couple years to do, but um, I'm excited for their plan, what they proposed, uh, in terms of, um, the way that they're going to go about doing this. So, I know Lauren, Izzy, and I met with uh, Annie um, and I was just thoroughly impressed with with
that work. So, I wanted to make sure um council knew about it and we had a chance to to express uh the need because from the time that I started here, that has been one thing I've heard pretty consistently from a lot of the council members is updating the comprehens. And I think this is a very good proposal for
us question of course. Um and it it looks like a very good contract and I'm very excited about this process. Just a question. It mentioned a steering committee. uh what does that consist of or >> um usually it's around people that uh
can help guide and engage like help the people that are coming into our community tell them like here's the people to talk to that are in this sector kind of helping to I I worked through this we we called it a strategic um strategic planning process but our steering committee was made up of
community members but they we helped guide our consultants to the areas and people to talk to so if we wanted to engage with youth in our community. So, talk to the school, talk to the people that are uh adviserss for these various
clubs that have really active uh leaders that are probably willing to engage and participate in in stuff like this. Talk to, you know, who do you connect with at the senior center in terms of um getting in front of that organization? Who do you talk to that are involved with the service organization? Who do you talk to
from the spiritual community? You know, various things like that. So that that would be from my experience that was my um working with the steering committee prior to to that. They're not the ones, you know, dictating what's in there, but they're helping to guide and and making sure the contacts with the folks of of
your community are are made. >> Okay. Can I get a motion to approve the comprehensive plan proposal? >> So move. >> All right. Motion by Ryan and a second by Diane. All in favor? >> I.
>> Motion carries. Um, council business B. Resolution 2834 amending her key alley vacation. >> Can I get some more information on what the error was?
>> Yep. So, previously it was approved um but it was approved without a survey by a licensed land surveyor. So it was approved with just a an image of where the alley vacation would be. Um so to make it correct for recording with Goodw
County, uh we need a resolution with the legal description of the alley vacation. Um so we have a survey that shows the vacation and also includes the proper leg legal descriptions. Um that way we can get the alley recorded with good
county. Um and so that it'll it will run with the land and um make it better for the city and um the property owners as well down the line. >> Um so it's it's split between equally among the abiding properties. >> Okay.
>> So >> another question. >> Okay. Can I get a motion to approve council business? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. A motion by Lisa and a second by Chad. All in favor? >> I
opposed. Motion carries. Council business C. Resolution 2835 approving reszoning from urban reserve to general industrial. I would like to really think about this one. There's houses that are right next to it.
I don't think it should be industrial. This unanimously passed the planning commission. Is that correct? >> Yes, >> I believe so. >> That's correct. Yes. >> Reszoning did. Yes. Trying to think because of the two meetings we did have items approved before. Yes, this one
did. >> Yeah. Planning planning commission did unanimously recommend the resing. >> Yes. I guess I I don't really if you're going to build anywhere, there's going to be something around it somewhere. And there it's a 250 ft setback. They're talking
about a lot more trees. It It's just sounds a whole lot better than people are putting out to be. Um I guess I don't have a problem with it. I understand that it's close to some people, but
>> and and I I would echo what Lisa is saying. I mean, I feel horrible for the people that have homes up there. Um, and I think though part of the problem is whenever you build in a township that doesn't have the zoning restrictions and
and there is the possibility of being indexed into a city, you always run that risk. And um and that I think is happening all over with cities expanding and they annex things that used to be you know country roads and everything else and suddenly
they become part of the city and um it's difficult if I can. >> Yeah. >> Um so when we were discussing the annexation of this we we met with the township representatives. So we had the planning commission town the town the
chair of the planning commission for the township was part of the conversations. The uh township supervisor chair was part of the conversations. Their uh attorney was part of the conversations. Their uh environmental consultant engineer was a part of the conversations
as well. So they they definitely expressed the um their concerns about us developing in this area and what sort of components of this could be um built into to mitigate that. Uh in our you
know discussions we you know discussed that the development application and the plans uh unit development that you know we have before us tonight would be a part of the process. We shared with them a lot of the um recommendations that we had. I think we heard some requests for
some additional things that were incorporated into the agreement as it stands today. So, I think there was input that was heard and recognized uh on behalf of the township by the city uh for for those changes. Uh they definitely expressed concerns related to
the water as well with the irrigation well that's on site and and putting those terms into that development agreement. Uh, additionally, so in our conversations with the township that they they did, you know, share with us their concerns and ultimately in the
process of the agreements that we have for the orderly annexation that, you know, our addressing of those concerns met those folks satisfaction. They then subsequently approved it as well.
>> Right. My understanding is but whatever was asked for they received and as well as what we are working on with the development agreement >> they have gone above what we've asked for as a minimum such as trees um we
asked for a bigger um Chad you just touched on it >> the tree line at 250 step back for the residential >> so everything that we've asked for has been addressed and gone above and be beyond and whatever. Say it's not the
technology part, but if anything gets built out there, it's going to be loud. It's going to And if there's trucks coming in and out, say some other type of business goes there, that's going to be loud, too. I I really don't have a problem with it. So,
just put that out there right now. Houses can go all around town, but they haven't been they haven't for years. That's why we the city had to get in with the EDA to start with the hardwood estates. >> Timber Ridge has been going up for years. It still hasn't been completed.
>> We can still do the houses and the data center. >> Any comments or thoughts? any additional or can I get a motion to approve? >> Make a motion to approve it. >> I'll second it.
>> So, a motion to approve council business C by Chad and a second by Ryan. All in favor? >> I >> I >> I. >> Any opposed? >> I. >> So, that's a 3 to one. 4 to one. Can't
count today. >> You can vote, >> right? Right. Right. So, four to one. Motion passes. >> Uh, brings us to council business D, resolution 2836, approving conditional use permit for data centers, data center
substations, overhead transmission lines, and building height. Uh the recommendation from the planning commission on this one was three four and two against. Um I I spoke then
against approving it and I will speak again tonight against approving it. Um I do not believe the data center is in the best interest in the community. I do understand the the allure of of tax dollars and what they can help contribute to the community and I
appreciate that and I certainly appreciate all of the people I've heard from talked to both in favor of this data center and and opposed to it. Um but my you know I' I've been torn by it
but my bottom line is I I really am not able to support approving that conditional use. You just don't like data centers like nothing that we can really >> kind of what you're saying, right?
>> I I'm not saying yes or no. I'm saying that I think we could do better and have a more appropriate um industry for our town. ask that we refrain from any displays like that because we are a community. We
have people passionately for it, passionately against it. And I think bottom line is however we go, we will still continue to be neighbors and hopefully we will still continue to care about one another. and and that I think is the most
important thing is that we still be a community. >> Any other thoughts or questions about this item? Can I get a motion to approve item D? >> Second.
>> A motion by Ryan, a second by Chad. All in favor? I'll ask for a roll call. >> That's fine. I got it. D. >> Thank you. >> All in favor? >> No. I doesn't roll call me. We have >> Sarah will call the
>> each council member for their vote. >> Don't we usually do once there's multiple names for a roll call? We can we can do that in advance. >> It's just a little procedural if you want. >> Okay. Okay. Sounds good. >> Chad Johnson
>> here. We're going to vote for it. Hi >> Novak absent. Croninburgger. >> Hi >> Diane Johnson. >> No >> Zimmerman. >> No. >> Okay. Motion passes.
Um council business E. Resolution 2837 approving tracked final planned unit development. Thoughts or questions on this one? >> At least you pulled it down. >> Nope. Just wanted a separate vote.
>> Okay. You want a roll call on this one, Diane? >> No. >> Okay. Can I get a motion to approve council business E resolution 2837? >> Make a motion to approve. I'll second it.
>> Motion by Chad, a second by Ryan. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes 4 to one. uh business council business F resolution 2838 approving variances from city code
section 152153 for tract are we again just want to vote and actually I'll I'll just make one comment kind of on all three of these um my obviously I did not want the
conditional use to be granted once it is uh granted in the majority of the council rules uh then I feel my job is to make sure that these next three things uh do as much as possible to protect the interests of the city. And I think our
staff and engineers and attorneys have done a good job on putting together uh hopefully agreements that will protect us now and going into the future. And I would certainly hope future city councils and administrations
uh follow through and don't end up going backwards. Yeah, I would just add to that and agree. We've been working on this. We've had many many work sessions trying to ensure that we are doing what we believe
to be the best thing. Um we have had our attorney, city administrator, our engineers have been working on this for 10 months. This isn't taken lightly. So I just wanted to add that and agree. Um, >> can I get a motion to approve item F?
>> So moved. >> A motion by Ryan, a second by >> second >> Chad. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes 4 to one. Uh, council business G resolution 2839
approving preliminary plat for Canon Falls Technology Park. >> And just double check again, we did take care of the things the engineer had asked for. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Yes. Or I'm sorry.
>> Nope. Go ahead, sir. Please. >> Yes. And actually Diane, if you want if you just said pass, I'm sorry. recommend approval conditional upon those items being addressed in the final plan. >> So I would recommend approval conditional upon those things being
included in the final plan. >> Correct. >> And again just to reiterate so the last three those passed planning commission unanimously just for awareness. >> Um so you would like to make a motion. I
did make that motion. Yeah. >> With the conditions. >> With the conditions. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. A motion by Diane with conditions and a second by Chad. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries.
Uh that brings us to reports. Um Maggie is not here, I don't believe. um planning commission. I mean, we pretty much went through everything, right, Diane? >> Okay. Um and then so we'll go around the room.
Um Laura, anything? Um they broke ground on the next phase of hardwork estates today. Um so that's exciting. So we'll have uh lots available in the June. Um otherwise, you've approved a couple grants. One of them was from Minnesota Energy Resource.
The 4,000 will go toward amenities at Johnbridge Park. Um for new trash receptacles, uh some new picnic tables, and hopefully some since there's no trees left. Thanks, Jed. Um we'll put up maybe some canvas um shade sales or
something. Um then the other the 10,000 or the $8,000 grant from Smith will go toward um some our local foods um initiative and kind of promoting that. and also creating some um some updating some welcome brochures for
new residents of the community. >> I'll just give an update on McDonald's again breaking ground on demo tomorrow. So good news. >> Thank you. Thank you acting. Is that the right title? Um,
>> just call me, Laura. >> All right. Thanks, Laura. Um, well, as as uh Laura mentioned, we're breaking ground while we're wrapping up our other projects. Basically, we're just getting our projects finished for the winter paving. Uh, Jen will talk a little bit specifically about what we have. Otherwise, nothing more to add.
>> Thank you, >> Jen. >> Uh, yeah, we so we wrapped up all our mill overlay projects for the for the year um out on the industrial park. Uh and then our McKenzie Circle, North Kate, uh Dakota Street, and the John
Birch Park alley. So, those are all done. They look great. Uh we do have some potholes and some sink holes that public works is working on that. Hopefully, we get some good weather we'll take care of. And then we're getting all the trucks and everything prepped for winter.
That's all I got. >> Diane or no, I'll go over here to Mr. Chief McCormack. Well, I don't want to cut Diane off. >> Um, I did have a chance to talk with Maggie today. Okay. >> As you know, we're already mid October. Uh, the next upcoming event uh we plan
with the the chamber coordination on some of the things would be the trick or trot. Um, that'll be on uh Friday uh 31st. Um I believe it's from 4 to 6, but it might be 3 to 5. Um I'm not positive
but you'll see information on it I'm sure in the weekend as well as their website. Of course after that we will get to um Dr. Falls and she is working diligently with uh the planning that event. She was asking some questions regarding it. So you may see her at a
future council meeting talking about some of those uh those aspects. That's all I have. >> I was I was trying to see if I could see that really quick but I'm not going to pull it up fast enough. So all right. Thank you, Sarah, you good?
>> All right. And John, >> I just want to thank everybody for their their work on this project. It has been a long time coming to get to just the stage for for this vote. I appreciate everybody's diligence and reviewing the the process as we've moved forward. Uh
and it's there's still more things to come, but we are definitely putting in place the agreements that provide the protections that we need related to this. It's not just by tonight as it's going through without any sort of
oversight. We will be monitoring this and approving things very thoroughly. >> Thank you, Diane. Um, one thing I know it was a long meeting and we were focused on something but one of the things on the consent
agenda was the uh firefighters the retirements and I think we should mention that uh Kyle Rap 28 years Ryan Paulie 15 years and Joe Stocker four years. So uh our thanks I think to those folks for their service to our our town
and our community. And then I was looking through my notes and I realized um it's been a long time since we heard about what's happening with the nursing home property and I know that the council had directed I think our attorney to check into getting a
response to them and fixing up and I guess I would like kind of an update. >> Sure. Um the update is we have had sent out uh inquiries to the owners of the property and received no response. So, we'll be taking some further action to
address uh to ensure that we get either compliance or we move forward with the other options that we discussed in the previous meeting. >> Laura's got something to add to that. Um, I actually did receive a call from someone that is um I don't know if he's a real estate agent that's representing
the nursing home or if they were asked to represent um listing the property, but um I've had a couple of calls this week. It's only Tuesday. I've had two calls with them, one this week, one last week. um and uh
was looking for some real estate agents locally that would maybe be interested in listing the property. So, I did connect him with some real estate agents that now it's in his court to connect and see if anyone locally would like to represent listing.
That's haven't told you till just now. Tada. >> I didn't receive that information. So, I was Thank you for Thank you for that. Thanks for that update. All right, Lisa. Uh, update for the trail. Uh, meeting dates were changed to
October 28th and 25th to back to Tuesdays for at least a few months. So, we'll see you from there. >> Um, for me, I guess I just kind of, you know, love working with Diane up here and usually we have a really good
exchange of ideas. Um, I just feel like she's putting it out there. She's not really for the data center. I'll put it out there that I think we're doing this right. Bring a lot of opportunity to Canon Falls and you know if we do it right it could be a template for
everyone else on how to do it and um we've heard how other towns are doing it wrong so we can improve and we can do it better. So that's what I want to put out there. Thanks >> Ryan.
Um, I'll just kind of pick it back up a little bit of what we were talking about earlier. And, um, I know there are definitely voices on both sides. Um, generally the folks that come are the
ones that are against. Um, I have talked to many of my neighbors, many of my constituents that are absolutely in favor of this. So, I want it I just want to acknowledge that I respect both sides. I respect both opinions. Um, I've
taken that into account and I'm just that's I guess that's all I want to say. Um, with that I will take a motion to adjurnn. >> Move. Second. >> Sorry.
>> Motion by Diane, second by Lisa. All in favor? I