Oh, good evening and welcome to the Rapids City Council meeting for Monday, August 3rd, 2026. If you could please rise and join us for the pledge. 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. >> Let's call the role. >> Council member Griscoak >> here. >> Council member Butler >> here. >> Council member Novak >> here. >> Council member Gesler here.
>> Council member Armstrong here. >> Council member Carlson >> here. >> Mayor Cook >> here. >> Lost track of my phone. I wanted to make sure it was on silent. [laughter] I don't appear to have it. >> All right. [snorts] Uh let's see. Why don't we uh approve of this evening's
agenda? >> Move approval. >> Second. >> Motion by Gu Gesler and a second by Butler to adopt the agenda. Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. And the agenda is adopted. >> We're up to our minutes from the July
21st, 2026 meeting. Mr. Mayor, >> I move to approve the minutes. Second >> motion by Novak and a second by Butler. Any discussion or corrections? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed.
>> Motion carries. Two abstensions. Gesler and Armstrong. Um and then we have just a whole bunch of items on our consent agenda. >> Um >> your honor, before we continue, >> Yes. >> could I get a hard copy of the agenda? I'll just run back and get it. I phone
doesn't seem to be loading it. >> All right. >> Oh, thank you. >> All right. First item is to adopt resolution 26-81 calling for a public hearing to vacate drainage and utility easement located at 12547
Riverdale Boulevard. Uh the vacation is being considered due to a portion of an existing easement on the Costco site that needs to be vacated and reestablished for the proposed gas pump area. A new drainage and utility easement will be created as a separate
document and the new easement will be brought to the city council for acceptance at a future date. And this is all part of them buying the TGI Friday building and moving their gas pumps over to that side. So, we're looking to adopt resolution 26-81,
which calls for a public hearing on September 1st, 2026 for a vacation of a drainage and utility easement for Costco located at 12547 Riverdale Boulevard. Next item on our consent agenda is to
approve a joint powers agreement with the In Noah Henipin School District for a pickle ball facility at Northdale Middle School. uh they came to us earlier and proposed that the city split the cost of the project equally and the public would be invited to use the
courts during non-school hours and days when school is not in session. The total estimated cost of the project is $220,000 and the city share would be $110,000 in the 2026 budget is $50,000 and the park improvement fund for a joint
project with them. um as the district had indicated last year was interested in this. Um and then the balance of the city share of the project, another 60,000 would then be add or can be added to the 2027 budget. Um we have a joint powers here agreement here between the
city and them that formalizes the terms of the arrangement and this would add this would resurface the existing six tennis courts to create 12 pickle ball courts. Um uh okay. So we're looking to
approve the attached joint powers agreement with the inaipin school district. Next on our consent agenda is to approve a temporary onsale strong beer and wine liquor license to Rapids Northstar Lions for the military softball
tournament at San Creek Park. Um this is going to be on September 11th, 12th, and 13th. The fees have been paid. background investigation is being completed and the certificate of insurance has been ordered. Uh the temporary on sale strong beer and wine
liquor license will be valid from 8 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. from September 11th through September 13th. Approval of the temporary on sale strong beer and wine liquor license is contingent upon that background investigation and submittal of the insurance. Um, but we're looking
to approve a temporary strong beer and wine liquor license for Rapids Northstar Lions for use at a military softball tournament to be located at San Creek Park, 1008 Northdale Boulevard on
September 11, 12, and 13, 2026 contingent upon a successful background investigation and submittal of a valid certificate of insurance for liquor liability. Um, next on our consent item five is to
approve a waiver of fees for portable the portable stage for an NOA Ramsey Community College. Um, Anoka Ramsey has their big concert coming up September 17th called uh, Rhythm of the Rapids.
And the money they raise um is money to inspire learning and help with student success. The portable stage fee that the city owns uh is $540 per day, but Anoka Ramsey Community College is a partner of the city, particularly during the Fourth of July community celebration. The
college allows the city to use its parking lots for public parking during the event, and members of the college work with the organizing committee on lighting needs and other requests as needed. They attend pretty much every carnival meeting that happens through the year. Um the city also has a
facility use agreement for parking lot 4 at the college which has been used in the past as an overflow parking uh during the Rapids street lighting festival. We also use it I know for the firefighters open house. Um so staff members feel this cooperation and
partnership make it reasonable to wave the stage use fee. So, we're looking to wave the stage fee of $540 and the city will require Anoka Ramsey Community College to sign an agreement and provide liability insurance listing the city as an additional insured.
[clears throat] Um, the next item is to adopt resolution 26-76 accepting a grant from the state of Minnesota for a fishing education program. The police department applied for and received a $2,500 grant to be
used to implement a fishing education program focused on youth and underserved communities. The grant is funded by the state of Minnesota through the commissioner of national resour natural resources. Um so while the exact date and details
of the program are still being developed, the goal will be to create a how to fish event within the city focusing on youth and families. This grant will be used to provide all equipment and supplies needed to fund the event and once finalized, the police
department will advertise the details of the event. So, we're looking to adopt resolution 26-76 accepting the grant from the state of Minnesota commissioner of n natural resources.
Um, the next item uh is to receive the schedule of electronic payments. We do this at every council meeting and we are looking to receive the schedule of electronic payments from July 16, 2026 through July 28th, 2026.
Uh the next is to adopt resolution 26-77 accepting a donation of a police K-9 and training. Uh Mr. Mark Mcdana, a retired long-term K-9 handler for the city of Rapids Police Department, owns and operates a police K-9 training business
named Mcdana K9. And Mr. Mcdana is donating a police K9 and the associated training of the dog and handler to the city of Rapids in support of the police department's K9 program. And the training program for the dog and handlers approximately 16 weeks of
classroom learning, practical exercises, and testing. Once completed with training, the dog will be certified as dualpurpose, meaning it can be used for criminal apprehension and firearms detection. This will be the first firearms detection trained canine in
Anoka County. The new dog will be named MAC and will be partnered with Officer John Roth. The team will start training in a few weeks and the value of this donation for the K9 and training is $22,500. So, we're looking to adopt resolution
26-77 accepting donation of police, K-9, and training. And for those keeping track, we have two items left on our consent agenda. The next one is to adopt resolution 26-78
appointing Andrea Hatchet, Tim Boer, and Julie Gardner to the Sustainability Commission. Uh there are currently four vacancies on the sustainability commission and staff solicited applications for the vacancies and reviewed three applications.
Interviews were conducted for the three applications. After review and discussion the three applicants, Andrea Hatchet, Tim Buer, and Julie Gardner are recommended for appointment to the commission. So we're looking to adopt resolution 26-78
appointing Andre Hatchet, Tim Buer, and Julie Gardner to the Sustainability Commission. And if I'm mispronouncing those names all three times, I apologize. Um, and then the last item on our consent agenda is to in planning case
26-27, approve [clears throat] the final plat Maric art, which is the old fire station 3 2831 113th Avenue Northwest, Ibiza LLC. and the plan. The applicant is requesting final plat approval to create
eight lots for the purpose of building an 8-unit single family residential development. This application was submitted on July 28th, 2026. The associated preliminary plat was approved by the city council at their July 7th, 2026 meeting. The planning commission
held a public hearing on the preliminary plat and subdivision variances at their June 18th meeting and with no public comments received. At the meeting, the planning commission voted to recommend to the city council approval of the preliminary plat and variances. And then at its July 7th meeting, the city
council voted to approve the preliminary plat and requested subdivision variances. Uh this final application relates to the two parcels. Uh the final plat has not been significantly altered from the preliminary plat and no new engineering firing I'm sorry firing no
new engineering fire or sustainability comments have been added since approval of the preliminary plat drainage and utility easements are shown on the final plat document and the final platars will not be released until staff have determined that all relevant conditions
of approval have been sufficiently met and building permits will not be issued until the remainder of all conditions have been met. So we're looking in planning case 26-27. We're looking to adopt resolution 26-80
approving the final plat for Marik art subject to conditions stated in the resolution. And that's our consent agenda. >> Your honor, >> council member Novak, >> I move that we approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Motion by Novak and a second by Geisler. Is there discussions or questions? your
honor. >> Uh we'll start with Council Member Novak. >> Um this is actually a question for Chief Steiner. Uh Chief, I've been a firearms instructor for 23 years. I've never even heard of a dog that could detect a firearm. Tell us a little about that. >> Well, there's um it's a new thing to
Anoka County, but the dog is trained in the detection of firearms, both for the purpose of locating, say, in vehicles or discarded firearms uh from somebody that may be fled on foot. And the dog is trained, I believe, on primarily the oils and and sense from discharging a
firearm. It's a first in Anoka County, but there is one other in the metro area that I'm aware of, and it's a it's a new resource for us, so we're excited about it, and it'll still serve the the basic apprehension function that most of our dogs do. >> That is absolutely incredible. [clears throat] That's
>> we're excited about it. So, >> cool, Mr. Mayor. Council member Carlson, >> I just want to thank Mark Mcdana and Mcdana K9 for donating yet another right >> very valuable dog to our police department with this training. He's an incredible trainer. He is known
everywhere. As a matter of fact, I think his last year as a K9 handler in Kon Rapids, he won the state championship and uh incredible trainer and uh I think that this train's leaving the station pretty soon with [laughter] K9 with Mcdana K9. So, it's it's great that we
uh it's great that we uh uh took this opportunity to have yet another donation from Mark Mcdana. Uh like I said, he's been very very generous to our police department. >> Mr. Mr. Mayor, council member Armstrong, >> I I would like to echo what what uh uh
council member Carlson said with regard to uh Mark Mcdana, great great cop for Rapids for years and years and years and great partner for the the Rapids Police Department K9 unit. Um, also I just wanted to to uh compliment
the city staff on the uh on the coming up with the the pickle ball court idea. Um, I that that's in my that's in my ward and I've driven past those tennis courts I don't know how many times and they looked decrepit,
>> unused, etc., etc. So, it with with all the calls that we've had for for more pickle ball courts in the city and and I think it's a great idea, great partnership for the use of that. Um, I also wanted to give just a quick shout out for the uh for that uh Minnesota
softball military appreciation tournament coming up in September. If if you haven't been to it, uh I would I would highly recommend you you go out there on on the on September 11th. Um they have a a special tournament that
day for the different military branches. Um the the color guard and the the um just the festivities that go on down there are just are just a great thing to be a part of. And last but not least, thanks for the three new appointment
appointees to the sustainability commission. I know we're constantly looking at filling those additional positions. So, thank you for anybody that's volunteering to help with those. >> Yeah, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Council member Butler. >> Uh, Council Member Armstrong took a lot
of what I was going to say. So, you know what I what I would just add too is that there's still one vacancy on sustainability commission and we definitely would encourage residents to apply. We we really appreciate all the citizen engagement across all of our commissions. >> Yeah. I would just uh do a little piling
on on the uh the military softball tournament because when it hits and it hits on September 11, >> it's always a even bigger deal. It's a very somber, very impressive opening opening ceremony and they have that on
that'll be on the 11th and then there's also a ceremony on the 13th and then it's just lots and lots of tournament play in between and it's uh pretty impressive. So, all right. Any other discussion or questions on the consent agenda? >> Mr. Mayor,
>> Council Member Krisco, >> I just wanted to make one quick note. We had a long consent agenda tonight. Almost everything that we're doing tonight is on the consent agenda. Uh, but I just wanted to point out we've talked about all a lot of these things. I see four of the items we've done, we've talked about in work session, the other things we've talked about as well.
So, uh, business that was pretty much all done prior tonight. That's why on the consent agenda, I did have a question on the K9. Uh, Chief Steiner, does that bring what does that bring our strength to in K9 force, sir? Is that >> Council Member Grisco? We have three
apprehension K9s. Uh, two of them uh dual certified in narcotics and this one in gun detection. Then we have one facility wellness dog. >> Okay. So, four total. >> Four total. Okay. Thank you. >> Different purposes completely, but >> Right. Exactly. Thank you. That's it. >> Cool.
>> All right. Any other discussion? We have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying I I opposed. And the consent agenda is adopted. And we are up to item 11, which is to consider resolution 26-79,
accepting a local housing trust fund grant from the state of Minnesota. Mr. Brown, you want to hit the highlights on that one? >> I can. Yes. So, staff had uh submitted an application for this grant several months back. Uh this was a new program that was funded by the legislature over
the last couple of years. Uh aren't a lot of strings attached to it other than that the dollars have to go toward serving the households meeting the established income guidelines. We of course have a wide array of housing
programs here at the city. Uh so we're able to simply use this grant to supplement those. So what we had submitted was to use uh these funds for our deferred loan program which serves households earning earning 60% area
median income or less. Uh that allows them to make improvements to their home and the loan uh doesn't has a 0% interest rate and also doesn't have any required monthly payments. So it's simply due when the house is sold. So
those dollars are actually tied up for for a fair fairly long time in some cases. So the amount of this grant is $150,000. It's basically a 50% match. Over the last few years, we've uh loaned out around $100,000 a year through that
program. So that would basically uh pay for about half half of the program over the next three or so years, which is also the term of the grant agreement. So, I can answer any questions, but pretty straightforward. We're simply using it to supplement uh our existing
programs. >> Very good. Any questions of Mr. Brown? >> Mr. Mayor, >> council member um Butler, >> I move that we adopt resolution 26-79 accepting a local housing trust fund grant and approve a grant agreement with the state of Minnesota. >> Second. >> Motion by
Wow, it's gone. Butler, second by Gesler. Discussion, >> Mr. Mayor, Council Member Grisco. Well, obviously it's great that we're getting this grant from the state of Minnesota. It's a it's a large grant. It's $150,000. So, I just had one quick question of Mr. Brown, and if you don't know the answer
tonight, that's fine. But I understand that the grant funds from the state of Minnesota are coming from the uh local affordable housing aid legislation, or how or where is the funding coming for this? Is it Aloaha sales tax? >> It it is not. I I don't I don't know the
exact exact answer. I know it was budgeted basically through the state's uh general fund. It is it is not coming from the sales tax proceeds or LAA th those are dollars that we simply receive twice a year from the state. Those are incidentally also going into our local
housing trust fund uh to help fund those various housing programs. >> Okay. Well, regardless, it's nice that we're getting $150,000 of uh of uh tax money back into the state of or the city of Rapids. Thank you. >> All right, we have a motion and a
second. Any other discussion? Hearing not, all in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. >> And that motion carries. [clears throat] We are up to the open mic public comment portion of the meeting. If you are here for open mic, please
come up to the podium. It provides an opportunity for the public to address the city council on subjects that are not part of the regular meeting agenda. You are invited to express any concerns they may you may have which are relevant to the affairs policies or practices of the city of Rapids and you'll be
limited to three minutes. Uh please approach the podium. State your name and address and all remarks will be made from the podium and address to the council. Uh what do we go? That should be enough. [laughter] >> Thank you, Mayor Cook. Members of the council, my name is Derek Lind. I'm I
live in Ramsey. 28-year resident, Ramsey, four-year member of ASI, ANO County Election Integrity Team, a private citizen group. Uh, tonight's subject is EAC certification of the machine tabulators. If you could, if you
could take that packet, please, and turn to the very last page. So, it's the last, it should be page 16, I believe. There's some yellow highlighting there. This is a letter from ESNS, which is our machine tabulator manufacturer. They sent this
letter directly to Inoka County and they said, "You got to take those certification stickers off the machine. You're not certified." And the reason you're not certified or we're not certified is because of the modems. If you could turn back two more pages, there's another letter. So, this would
be on page 13. Actually, it's a two-page letter. Also got some yellow highlight on there. That's a that's a letter from the US Election Assistance Commission. We call it the EAC. This is the federal body.
They sent that letter directly to ESNS and they said, "We got a problem with your your machine tabulators. You got to take those stickers off." And that's what that's what triggered this. If you look at the dates of this, this is March 2020 and then April of 2020. This is right about the same time that COVID
hit. Um, and then one last page. If you could look at page four and five, it's towards the front. Page four, please. This is the Secretary of State's website and Noa County's website. Their communications to the public. If you
read through that in your own time, they say federal this, federal that. They're making the public think that these things are on the up and up on the federal side. So, what we're asking you to do is compare this page, page four, with those two letters that I just got done showing you. Now, it's a long
packet. I'll let you read that on your own time. Couple other points I want to make that the state of Minnesota, we've been pressing the state of Minnesota and the county on this, and they're admitting to us, yeah, they're not EAC certified, but they don't have to be. We're saying that's fine, but let's let's get that out to the public. Let's
let the public know that the machine tabulators that we use to count our votes are not federally EAC certified. Uh this was featured in the movie Minnesota Mau. The other thing to to pay attention to here is there's a strong commitment to the modems. This is really
about the modems and the tabulators. That's why they had to take the stickers off. I think if this was something that came to me, I would have said, "Okay, fine. Let's take the modems out. We don't need it." But there was there was a commitment to those modems. They paid extra for them. I think they they submit
the um the early totals. I don't know why they had to have them, but they they kept them in. Um I'm not sure if you guys have checked any of your votes when we do the post election review. I don't know if Rapids has been selected in that. You only do four out of 128, but it's kind
of interesting. We put a lot of faith in these machine tabulators, and according to this, they're not federally EAC certified. Last comment. If you guys want to invite us back for a work session, you know, I can spend more than three minutes up here on a microphone. We can have a little more dialogue. We got some people that have been studying
this a long time. That's up to you. So, with that being said, do you have any questions for me? I know you probably weren't expecting this, but it's a lot to digest. >> Thank you. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it. Have a good evening.
Thank you. >> All right. Anybody else to address council for open mic this evening? Mayor and council, my name is Dave Ecbomb. I uh excuse [clears throat] me. I went to the U commissioner's meeting and I spoke at that time concerning the uh
decisions that are being made with the uh old they call it the old the family center mall which is I'm about a block and a half away from that. So I'm a little concerned. [clears throat] Dave David Eckbomb and I'm at 11206
Crocus Street Northwest in Rapids. I've lived at that address for 42 years. Since 1984, excuse me, [clears throat] I've seen multiple changes around the community from the location of businesses, new businesses coming to the
areas. I mean, I could go on and on what I've seen come and go to my own home. There has been significant number of upgrades in the and I'll tell you why I'm thinking or saying this in a second. specifically to the outside, including two times I've shingled the house, new
siding, I tore down a garage, I put another garage up, concrete driveway, planting new trees. You get the picture. I'm sorry to say that few improvements have been made to the Family Center Mall with the exception of of uh Grand Slam.
Thanks, Mike, for doing the things at the Grand Slam. And it's a a success. we've seen all the people that go over to Grand Slam. Uh recently, uh District 11 was there and so they made some improvements as well. Uh some some time ago out the outside of
the building was painted, lights were added along some of the potholes were added along with some of the potholes were filled somewhat recently, but for the most part, the building and the outside building is a mess. Uh when I went to the commissioner's
report meeting, they had 11 propositions and I can read them quickly. Paint the exterior. Replace the weather sealant along the bottom. Add decorative decorative lighting. Replace all rusted metal exterior doors. Work with the staff to add landscaping to the parking
area. Repair deteriorating sections of the asphalt. Restripe uh paint parking light poles. Repair secure fence around the loading dock. Remove the vacant Burger Time building and dumpster enclosure. Repair paint.
Clear scrub vegetation vegetation uh covering the pylon sign along Crooked Lake Boulevard. And then there's other things. A sidewalk along 113. It goes on and on and on. The point is is that this is kind of a disaster over there. And I've been watching this over the
years. I've seen the businesses kind of come and go. And now we're at a point where I'm hoping after seeing the work that was done with the two malls that are west of me on Crooked Lake by Kudrass Boulevard
plus the uh the beautiful bridge uh over uh by by Lilyutt all the building that took over the area where the old uh post office was. You know the area I'm talking about Sniders was in that area. the homes that are being built and the
and the ice arena. Beautiful ice arena. My my granddaughters use that. The new fire station. Unbelievable. It's like the Taj Mahal. But now I see the Family Center Mall and I just go, "What's going on here? Why
haven't we had some new new buyers?" I understand that the old buyer has is is now deceased and and the and the kids are probably somewhat unloading the site. The building dates back to the 60s
and if a person I'm I'm sorry we're way over the three minutes here. Are you are you just about to the end? >> Just about done. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. So anyway, to kind of come to the end and I'm sorry the three minutes, but but we've we've seen so many good things happening within in
Rapids. We we appreciate it. But now we're coming up to a charter school that's been designated to be at that location. And not only a charter school, but there's a religious religious group coming in there, too, which is we have a copy of the architectural drawings, and
we can kind of see that that's going on. Okay. What we need is as neighbors, we want transparency. The the what was the purpose of the particular charter school coming to this particular area. Isn't it necessary to have neighborhood
input? Let's be transparent. The neighbors want again to be have input. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. This is not my cup of tea. [laughter] My name is Vicki Akbomb and I'm his
wife. Um I'm going to talk primarily about charter schools. But first, I want to ask you to please look at the commission um meeting and listen to what he had to say before. It
talks about um the road s systems in that area and it t and there was something else he talked about. I can't remember what but those are very important to this whole discussion.
However, when it comes to um charter schools, I want to ask are there sprinkler systems in the building? Who knows? Um it's a school zone. It is not it it is not a school zone. It's a commercial
zone. That's important. Um are there enough bathrooms in that area to accommodate 500 plus students?
There weren't when I was in that um building. Um, I'm wondering about a gym for that school. Sometimes charter schools don't think gyms are important. I heard a people say
last time, "Oh, well, they have a recck room." A recck room is used for games, parties, relaxation to be used with virtual reality and social video games. We need gross motor activity areas,
not video games. Are the rooms large enough for for school activities? Are they do they have fresh air? Do they have windows? Is there enough room in those classrooms to move around for students for um student
engagement? um busing and drop off, pickup and [clears throat] drop off for for um cars. That really bothers me. I saw some area for if you look back, you can find
the areas for buses and how they have that set up. But I didn't hear anything about drop off and pickup. And that's important. I've been in charter schools. I've worked in charter schools. And I can tell you that
sometimes that is not um what am I trying to say? It's not safe. It's just not a safe area. And I heard nothing about drop off and pickup. Um I'm concerned about crosswalks
patrols. There's three busy roads there and one road is 113th. And I heard people say, "Well, there's just not that many people living there." But there are people living there, and that's important that we respect those people
living in that area. Um, so crosswalks, not only for the safety of the kids, but for the safety of the neighborhood, should be available. And then outdoor play. I've been told I' I've heard,
well, we can kids can play anywhere. They can play on a parking lot. Really? And and a parent comes in. This happened to me. A parent comes in to where the kids are playing and the parent says, "Well, I can pick my kid up here. I pay
for this." And it's not safe for a parent to drive their car where the kids are playing. These are grave concerns in my my estimation for a charter school anywhere and for our neighborhood.
Like Dave said, we've been there 42 years. We don't want to move. Are you going to force us to? >> This is Go look at that place. It's a mess. >> We drive by it all the time.
>> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> A block away. It's a mess. >> Help. >> Totally. I totally understand. Thank you. Anybody else here for um open mic? [clears throat] And we will close that portion of the
mic of the the meeting. Why am I closing that? I got a couple responses. We uh we had two folks visit us for open mic last meeting and the first one was Mr. Scott Nellis uh with concerns about
the storm that had gone through and um additional street sweeping and uh we got out immediately after that and and swept that neighborhood. And the takeaway is residents and property owners may choose to
proactively assist in protecting storm water by adopting a storm drain and providing volunteer cleanup activities. Um but even ahead of that um staff encourage residents and property owners to submit non-emergency maintenance
concerns by using report it the city's online reporting system found at the city's websitem.gov and requests can also be made by calling public works 763755-2880 option three and leaving a message
there. um we we really when streets do get um get to be a mess, we do want to get out there and sweep it up, but with over 400 lane miles, we might not know that it's messy. So, it'd be good to let
us know. Um and then uh the other uh person here for open mic um I was uh uh wondering about the legal authority to require franchise agreements for broadband providers including gateway gateway fiber and
there are numerous benefits to franchising for the broadband provider the city and the public versus right-of-way permitting. Right ofway permitting is limited to construction installation in the right of way while franchising provides an agreement for specific public benefits for the use of
the public right ofway. And these benefits include compliance with city code, streamlined access to the public right ofway, improved permitting efficiency, potential for preferential positioning, defined dispute resolution/c customer service mechanisms, better
access to city data and planning coordination, and a reasonable build out of the system in the city. And there's additional things. Uh the city is open to negotiating franchise agreements with broadband providers like Gateway Fiber, but to date no provider has reached out to the city for that purpose. And that
is the end of our open mic responses. And um I just wanted to be clear, I know I was smiling. It's not because I disagree with anything you said. We are we are really dialed in on that property
>> for sure. But it's it's private sale, private. It it didn't go the way we were all hoping it would go. Um but we'll get a response from staff and and believe me, we all heard you.
Um all right, other business. Council, >> Mr. Mayor, >> council member Gryler. >> Uh I just wanted to uh double down on the reported use. Um reported is a great resource. Um I've used it to report roadkill. staff comes and gets it out of the street for you. Uh potholes, downed
limbs, dangerous things on trails, you know, overhanging brush. It's really a way for the citizens to let us know that, hey, work needs to be done here. And staff looks at it, prioritizes it, and gets to it. It might not be the instant, depends on the severity of it, but it's really a great way for citizens
to let us know that something needs to be done. Um, and it keeps track of it and really easy for them to get out there, especially public works, they've got a lot to do. Um, and they really prioritize getting those done. So, I just wanted to double down on that. Uh, the other thing, >> can can I add on to that just for a
second? >> Um, to add on to that, >> um, street lights. >> Yes. >> They have no idea the street lights are out because they drive in today. So, it's uh it's important that those get mentioned. >> Yes. So, please let us know when you see things. That's a a great way for us to come and help you.
>> And when you see them flashing, when you see them flashing, know that they're on their way out. Okay. Now, Council Member Gesler, back to you. I'll quit interrupting. >> Thank you. Uh, the other thing that I was gonna mention, uh, today there was a blood drive up at city hall here. I happen to have a chance to go. I really want to encourage folks if you are
willing and able to please do that. There is a blood emergency right now, um, for both Red Cross and NBC. NBC does uh, Memorial Blood Centers does have a facility in Riverdale um, to go visit. So, if you're able, please consider. Um, there's there's really a big need right
now. So, just from a public opportunity, think about that. Thank you. >> All right, you're on. >> Council member Novak. >> Council member Gesler stole my thunder. I was actually over at uh the Memorial Blood Clinic in Riverdale this last Tuesday donating blood. Uh there's a lot
of different ways you can do it, folks. And as he said, there's the second blood emergency right now going on just this summer. I believe only about 4% of the population actually donates blood. And odds are at some point in your life, you're going to need it. So, please, if
you can donate, it's going to save lives. You know it will. Thank you. >> All right, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Council member Carlson. >> Heck, they even called me. I was at NBC [laughter] on Friday morning. >> Yeah, absolutely. There is this severe
shortage right now. And I just want to mention, of course, night tomorrow night. Great way to get out to see your neighbors. And there's going to be a community night at Lions Park from 5:00 to 7:00. If you don't have anything going on in your neighborhood, go down to Lions Park and there's a community
one going on there. Uh last last concert in the park is on Thursday, Revolution 5, a Beatles tribute. Probably the biggest crowd that they'll have all year. It's a great great uh uh great
music. Um last concert this Thursday, Rapids Dam at 7 o'clock. Do you know if we're going to have shuttles for that? Because in the past we have um because the parking fills so intensely for that.
>> Mr. Mayor, I do not. But we will look into that and let you know. >> Um and then the other thing I'd say is get down there early. If you get down there at 5:30, you'll have plenty of places to park and put your chairs. And the Northstar Alliance will be serving dinner from 5:30 till 7. And it's uh
it's a great way to start the evening. All right. Um we still got our uh farmers market Wednesday afternoons over at the ice center. Uh any other business to come before council? Yes, Miss Lensmire. >> Mr. Mayor, council members, a reminder
that next week, Tuesday, is the primary election. So, the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you have questions about where to vote, please give us a call at the clerk's office and we will help you find that. >> Awesome. Yeah. So, this week our council
meeting is Monday night because tomorrow night is night to unite and next week um Oh, next week we have a workshop. Never mind. >> Nobody cares. [laughter] >> It's just won't be on Tuesday, >> right? >> Mr. over here. Council member Armstrong,
>> I just wanted to to uh give a a shout out to uh Mercy Hospital. I kind of had to smile when the the three gentlemen were talking about donating blood. They didn't Thank goodness I didn't need it, but uh um few weeks ago I had a I had a
fishing mishap. Tiny tiny deal, no big deal. But five days later, I'm up in northern Minnesota and it becomes a big deal. Um, and when I discovered it, I had my choice of waiting 2 hours for a
clinic to potentially be opened up or drive 3 and 1/2 m 3 and 1/2 hours back to Rapids to have it addressed here. And thank goodness I did. Um, because if if you ever think you're having a bad day, go go to the waiting
room at uh or the emergency room at Mercy Hospital. Saturday afternoon, there was over 50 patients there. And I thought I was having a bad day, but there was others having even even worse day. And the the front office staff, the
security, I I thought security was there to do security. They do a heck of a lot more than security as far as helping patients out and whatever else. But long story short, what I thought was a slight little fishing mishap ended up that I was in the hospital for four days. They
did emergency surgery. I was in there for 4 days. Realized it was significantly more seriously than I than I thought. But that being said, um Dr. I was I was asked not to give full names, but Dr. G and his uh surgical team, uh
the nursing staff, Jack, Rose, Cece, their attention to patient care, their their kindness and uh just overall care that they gave not only to me, but to a number of patients that I saw there on the floor. Um I'm not telling you
anything you don't already know. We got a great facility over there, great partner here for the city. But boy, when you need them at the spur of the moment, we are so lucky to have them. >> And I can't say enough about them.
>> We are very fortunate to have Mercy in town here. That's for sure. >> And if there were 50 people in the waiting room, there were at least another 50 in the rooms in the back. >> Yep. Yep. They were they were hopping. >> All right. Any other business to come before council this? Yes, ma'am. Council
member Geyser. Uh, one more thing that's going to happen before our next big meeting, uh, on Sunday the 16th from 11:00 to 1:00 at the civic center here is the school supply and kids clothes swap um, being hel uh, the our folks
over at the recycling center and staff is putting that together. But, uh, so August uh, 16th 11 to 1 at the civic center, school supply and kids clothes swap. >> All right. >> Right in time for school.
Perfect. All right. Any other business? >> Motion to adjurnn. Second. >> Motion by Carlson, second by Butler to adjurnn. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. We're adjourned. [music]