Good evening. With it being 06:00, we're gonna call our meeting to order and start with 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. Roll call around the horn, please. Peterson. Aura. Steichen. Nash. And Olsen. With that, we have our agenda. I didn't see any additions or subtractions. Really solid. Since we don't have any, I will entertain a motion for the approval of our agenda, please. So moved. Second.
Motion by Nash, second by Bora. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. With that, it does bring us to number four, our consent. Any questions or comments regarding our consent agenda? Hearing none, I will entertain a motion. Steigen, so move. Motion by Steigen. Second. Third Second by Peterson. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. With that, it does move us to number five, public comment period. Peyton, has there been any formal request to speak before council this evening? None received. K. K. Once again, encourage the public to participate in our process.
It does help us make some progress. With that, it does move us to number six, and we have six alpha. We have Lakes Country Community Action Partnership. We have Kristen Phillips with us this evening, on behalf of the Community Action Partnership. Kristen, the floor is yours, and thank you for coming. Thank you. Thank you so much for having us tonight. I am not Laurie Schwartz, our executive director. She is not feeling well this evening, so I am here. Although I have lots of experience with Cap LP, I am entering my twenty fifth year working for Cap LP.
I've worked mostly in the head start division, and spent time just right down the street here in our head start classroom, and recently have moved into an agency position. I'm the senior director of program operations, so I work closely with all of our divisions in, providing services. So I'm gonna give you an overview of those tonight so we can go to the next slide. There's not me. That's Laurie, our executive director, and she has been with Cap LP for thirty years, something right around there. So she's been there for a long time.
So, Cap LP turned 60 this summer in August. We provided our sixtieth year of service in this community. We were born out of the war on poverty, out of Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty. We are a part of a nationwide network of community action agencies, and the saying is if you've seen one community action agency, you've seen one community action agency because services really are tailored to what's happening in each community, and we'll talk a little bit about that.
And then we offer ages from prenatal all the way up to senior services. So this is our mission, and this is really what we design all of our services around and that is to eliminate poverty, empower families, and engage communities. And so as we are determining what's best, that is kind of our guiding star for what programs we wanna implement here to, end generational poverty. We are governed by a tri parte board, and so that means one third of our board is public officials,
one third of our board is private sector, and then one third of our board is consumers, people whom have actually used and qualified for our services. And that's a key part to, the services that we provide because we hear right from consumers what they need and what would be most helpful. These are our core values, and we wrote these as an agency about ten years ago. And we really live by these. These guide the services that we give, and they guide our interactions, with our 135 staff.
And if you ask staff why they wanna work for Cap LP, they will very, very frequently say because of the core values. And we really these don't just sit in a binder. We really truly try to abide by these and live by these every day. This is our community needs assessment information, and so every three years we do a deep community needs assessment by looking at data and meeting with consumers. And so for the last and we update it annually. And so for the last few cycles that we've done of that community needs assessment,
these were the most, these were the areas that popped up as folks needing the most support in, and that's, childcare, employment, housing, coaching, and reliable transportation, and then, training. So we have four divisions that are committed to working towards those issues. That's Head Start, Child Care Connections, Economic Empowerment, and Housing. So I'll start with our Head Start program. This is Patty Lopez. She is our new Head Start director, although she's been with Head Start for many years, and she, I can go to the next slide,
sorry. So the programming that we run is we have early head start, we have head start, and head start we have full day and half day classrooms, we have a site at the family service center in North Moorhead, We have a site just down the road, and then we have, one on Belsley Boulevard. So what is early head start? So that's happening right here in your community. Early head start is, really focused on engaging parents as their child's first and most important teacher and so
we do that through an evidence based curriculum. We do that through support so we know that if a cupboard is empty and families are going to be hungry that it's really hard to do things like read stories at night. So that's really done through a comprehensive approach to make sure that families have everything they need to be their child's first and most important teacher, And so that is done, that's a year long program, we run all year long, we do 52 visits a year, lasting an hour and a half,
right in the family's home, and it's not to build a relationship with the child. It really is to support the parent in building the relationship with their child. And then we have, you can go to the next one. We have classroom services, and so, what that looks like is that is a structure where we have a teacher and teacher assistants and they use a curriculum and, again, provide evidence based services. Again, parents are at the center of that. We know that things like attendance, and parents showing up for teacher conferences really make a difference in long term outcomes.
And then next we have our child care connections division. Our child care connections division serves 21 counties in Minnesota and the entire state of North Dakota. And so, the supports that are provided through that are helping child care start up, both family child care, center child care, family, friends, and neighbor, or that more informal child care, so helping them get, started, providing coaching to make sure that they are able to provide quality services. We do observations and assessments to help them learn and grow and develop their services.
We do training and, advising for professional development for both in home and center based child cares. We offer grants, so for programs that are just getting started, we offer them grants for purchasing equipment because it's expensive to start a child care, and then we also, administer scholarships and CCAP programming for families. This is our economic empowerment director, Robin. And economic empowerment, really is about moving people out of poverty. This is our newest division, and this was born out of that some of those things you saw in the
community needs assessment. So that would be people having a need for coaching, people having a need for, job training. And so that first bullet is our job training services. We work closely with M State to provide, career pathways that will ensure that families have a, living wage. So things like welding, certified production technician, and, certified nursing assistant are some of those that we offer. And then we have refugee resettlement, sorry, our seniors program, which we provide a monthly food box to,
seniors that are in need of that, Our whole family, which really is that coaching, and so that is our newest programming in this division and that really is based out of the Aspen Institute's research around ending generational poverty. And we know that when you can work with a family that has a child under five and really provide them long term coaching with no end to it, as long as they need us, that that really can change people's lives and move them out of poverty. So that can be helping them go to their child's conferences,
that can be helping them prepare for a job interview, or helping them talk to, a childcare provider about a child. So it's really whatever the family needs us to be to get to their hopes and dreams. And then financial well-being, we do financial freedom, we do home buyer, and soon we will begin our free tax preparation, which is a very, very busy program. And then here we have Emma Schmidt, our housing director. So we have three staff that provide homeless homeless outreach, and so they really are out on the streets every single day visiting with folks,
that need services and may fall through the trap cracks. We have housing on calls, so that's for families and, individuals that are at risk of losing homes and need some support with rental assistance, homeless prevention, and then, supportive housing. And so those last two are, staff that work closely to ensure that families have everything they need to keep their housing. We also so we have a few locations here in Morehead that you heard me talk about. We have this location right here down the street, and we have some housing staff there.
We have some economic empowerment staff there, and then our head start programming. And then we have our family service site and our Belsley site, and then we have this, our Wilkin office. It does all these same services in Wilkin County. This is our annual report, and I believe Lori emailed you the full report. And so this is a document that we put out annually that is a quick snapshot of all of the services and outcomes that we have. So, you can take a look at that. It's a little small there, but that's an overview of CAP LP.
Do you have any questions? Questions from counsel. I got a question from Ms. Phillips. How are you funded? That's a great question. So each program is funded a little differently, but, as a whole, we're funded we have federal funding, state funding, local funding and then some donor funding. I suppose in the last the last few months or last forty days or whatever, I suppose there's been a fair amount of stress amongst all of you on how you're gonna make this work and what's gonna how it's going to exist? Yeah.
We have certainly we are a part of a lot of nationwide networks, so we're part of the National Head Start Association that helps keep us up on what's happening. We're a part of the National Community Action Agencies and then a part of the Minnesota Community Action Agencies. So we have a good network, making sure that we get all the information we need. I was at an event that you helped sponsor. And, do you work with trans people that are translators with your with your clients? We have we subscribe to what's called the language line.
So, yes, we are able to work that's a Minnesota program that we're able to work with to support all languages, and they really do have a vast, variety of languages. So we've yet to find one that they couldn't help us with. That's what I had learned that evening. Yes. Appreciate your work. Oh, thank you. Anything else, mister Stegan? Yes. Can you speak just a little bit to the cooperation that you have with other organizations? You'll see, like, various things that Cap LP offers that may overlap with, you know,
some of the goals and missions of what it occurs in those other groups. Can you speak to that? Like, how you all talk to one another? We absolutely are definitely a referral agency, and we depend on our community partners greatly. So, for example, in this community, and I have been worked closely with the head start program. I was the director for several several years. I've taught out here for a couple of months when they needed a sub. So in, this community, we certainly have worked really closely with Dilworth Public Schools.
They provided early intervention services for Head Start. So that's things like speech and physical therapy, and education support. So we've worked really closely with Dilworth Public Schools here, and they've been a great partner to us. We are a part of a housing group for the whole, FM area. Emma, our housing director, is a part of that COC that really makes sure that housing for, the uniqueness of this community being a border community that we make sure that we, are filtering people to the right direction and where they need the most supports.
M State, you heard me talk about that they provide our training. There's lots of community partners that we work really closely with. Those are just a couple. Yep. My question really just focuses on, like, the number of kids. You said there are 17 kids in Head Start and are Yes. To deal with. Is that do you keep track, like, how many students are young kid I don't know if it's students or whatever. Mhmm. How many students could be in head start that maybe aren't for one reason or another? That's a great question. Like, a need that's not being fulfilled? That's a great question. So we do always have a wait list.
And so we do try to work closely with families that we know aren't gonna get on the wait list to filter them to say, example, the tots program here or in Morehead jump start, because we do have an idea of how statistically, how many kids turn over in a year, and we definitely will not get through that whole wait list. People would sit on it all year, and so our goal for those families is to find other programs. And we don't do intakes really at all with anybody that doesn't qualify with the
income because they would never get in. Any other questions? Thank you again for coming out, Chris, and we appreciate you being here tonight, all you do for our community. So thank you. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. Peyton, thanks for I mean, the overlap is really interesting to see how like the services are intertwined and they work together. So, with that, we are gonna move on to number seven, with our fire department. Seven alpha is resolution twenty five sixty one, accepting a donation from Tractor Supply Company for the Dover Fire Department. Chief.
Mister mayor, members of the council, Tractor Supply Company would graciously donated $250 to the fire department. We normally use these donations for our Fire Prevention Week and fire activities, so that's where I'm seeing it go. So we appreciate all community support in that aspect. Any questions of the chief? All right. Thank you very much, chief. Hearing no questions, I will entertain a motion for Resolution 20 five-sixty one. Steichen so moved. Motion by Steichen. Second.
Second by Nash. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Alright. With that, it does move us to number eight. Planning and engineering, eight alphas, resolution twenty five sixty two, authorizing the submission of highway safety improvement program. There's a grant application for a roundabout on 34th Street and 8th Avenue Northwest. Peyton, who's proposing this? Thank you, mayor, members of the council. This is this actually came out of a recommendation from our 8th Avenue corridor study that we completed last year with Metro COG.
And one of the improvements as part of the Phase one segments that they were referencing in their corridor study was the improvement at 8th Avenue and 34th Street with the installation of a roundabout. At a meeting at MetroCog a couple weeks ago, I was sitting next to the city engineer of Moorhead, and there was discussions going on about other projects. We were there for a different reason. But there was a HSIP program
grant funds that was applied to a project in North Dakota. And recently, these funds became available. We didn't learn about them until, like, three weeks ago, through the state. There's a a safety action plan has to be done prior to, and there are certain requirements that they've loosened up, we'll say, at the state level, allowing this project on a functionally class roadway to make it eligible. The project would be done in 2028, so we're still several years out from the project actually happening.
What we are proposing to do is both entities. So the City of Moorhead, they're going to be reviewing a similar resolution tonight to put forward their own application. And our goal would be for us both to not jointly apply but apply separately and show the cooperation between the two, entities. And hopefully, between us, we could get up to $1,500,000 We don't know for certain if we're going to get this grant funding, but this came about somewhat last minute.
We knew about it coming online, and we thought we should apply for this. And we our intent would be to combine this with our future mill and overlay project that we have slated to do with the City Of Moorhead in 2028. So this would be part of one larger project at that time at Apex Engineering, provide an updated estimate, which is about $2,000,000 in there. And there is maybe you might see a little bit of discrepancy between,
like, what the filing of the application is and what the total estimate is, but their number includes all the engineering and overhead cost, whereas the just construction cost side of it is $1,800,000 plus or minus in there. So in short, it's a $2,000,000 project that we would be splitting with Morehead regardless, and so we thought this would be an opportunity to apply for said funding. It doesn't obligate us to do this even as part of this phase. But if we strike gold with it,
this gives us an opportunity to further investigate this improvement. Questions for Peyton. What if we don't like roundabout? Mhmm. Okay. It's a great question. That's why I ask it. No. It's like a little bit more serious. So, so since we're gonna no other questions from council? Am I the only one? Well, in all reality, there's already a light there. What's the point? Why is that, quote, an improvement for an intersection that's already protected? Yeah. I I'm just going we're going about what the corridor study is recommending. I think it's for a few different reasons.
One, I do think it's it's been identified as a high safety risk. Whether that's lights there? Yes. And there's also I think it's just a movement issue as well, because it does queue up a little bit at times. And I know there's a lot of confusion that you would think would help with just simple stropping, especially making a left hand turn coming on to 34th Street going south. A lot of people really struggle with that for whatever reason. But I think it's just clarity overall with the intersection. I can't really speak to the full corridor study and why that was recommended,
but I do know roundabouts are more preferred method. Oftentimes, do you see with engineering studies, hence, what you're seeing on Highway 10 right now as opposed to more controlled accesses with streetlights that do have functionality issues at times from electricity standpoint or overall maintenance where this is you obviously, there's gonna be some maintenance that goes along with the roundabout, but you throw them in. Roundabouts are safer, generally speaking, from a major accident standpoint because usually it just takes sideswiping,
shots from your left, right. It's not head on collisions or anything like that. So they're I think they are proven to be safer now. Again, it's probably getting outside my depth to talk too much more fluently about a roundabout. So I'll leave that one. So when we're looking at this from the cooperative standpoint between us and the City of Morehead, that's so is that what can what's the strategy about filing separately? Just so that we can each get a 750,000. Is that the max? Yes. Okay. So and I guess we would get it for 8th Avenue because we own 8th
Avenue. Right? So this would be that's how we tie into this? Because I'm concerned about, like, us own like, the ownership of 34th. Will that play a role? And how does that we just had a, a lengthy conversation about this corridor at our last meeting. I just wanna make sure that This is already tied to our maintenance agreement with them. Alright. And, again, just just wanna make sure that again, so we'd be applying ultimately for 8th Avenue because that's what we don't. Right? That's our contribution. Like, I'm not just saying like, from the application point of view. I'm just trying to figure out the mechanics of it all because we don't own 34th.
We own 8th. Right? Correct. K. I just, again, just trying to figure that out. And it there there's no like, if we got one if if one municipality was and was fortunate, is that enough to move the project forward? Or or what are we thinking? Don't know. Don't know. But $750,000 is a good start regardless. So I think that's that's why we thought we wanted to go and apply for it. And, often, these funding streams, they're just keep shooting your shot. Right? And, hopefully, you are able to land some of them. Yeah. No. And,
again, I I get I'm just trying to understand the the the philosophy behind the the grant and the cooperative nature to make sure that we're in step with Morehead and we're not out stepping our own selves, I guess. So I I don't have any any opposition to this. I'd like to have a cooperative agreement. I Paul. And and I think as I mentioned in there, the city would reserve the right two years two or three years when this project is done to determine how to best fund it, whether it be from road improvement monies or if this is something that we would
end up especially assessing for. You know, that's how we're doing our current road improvement on 34th Street, to the south of there. So same type deal. Right. And then if if this doesn't fall through, it's no guarantee that we'll do the project at all? Yep. Correct. Okay. Yeah. Mr. Steichen. Mr. Mayor and Peyton, I know the Highway Safety Improvement Program is dealing with safety out there, and this might not even be approved when it gets analyzed. But on your in the packet, it shows another roundabout over by the Aldi.
Is that a separate thing, I'm guessing? Yes. That's so as part of the corridor study, that is what they had recommended, which that one I feel like really needs it and actually probably more than this one. But, yes, that's shown to be another roundabout there at that location, crossing about six lanes of traffic. No. Any concerns from maintenance or running fire trucks through roundabouts? I don't know. It could be a maintenance pain, but depends on how big they make them. That's my main concern. So if you have to do maintenance on them, you said you can do half the land.
Come up here, Mike. You're not speaking. Sorry. Scott, you guys yep. Thank you. My thought is if if it's big enough and you have to do maintenance on it, you can do half the lane Yeah. And still keep half it open except for, like, semis because we've done that in the past. But other than that, it takes a little bit more work plowing and stuff like that, but it's they're doable. Okay. We had these same questions with the Highway 10 corridor study, and it came out to the size. And they will be mountable, and I don't know if these are mountable or not. It looks like it is. And that means we can just run over the edge if we need to depending
on how, you know, like in the winter, how the snow was set or whatever. And we had the same concerns there. So in short, I don't think I like them, but doable, yes. K. Any other questions for our leadership, if you will? All right. So are there any other questions for Peyton or conversation regarding this application? So hearing none, I I will entertain a motion for resolution 2,562 to see where, the Highway Safety Improvement Program grant application takes us.
Motion to approve. Motion by Nash. Steichen second. Second by Steichen. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. With that, it does bring us to eight bravo. We have a public hearing on resolution twenty five sixty three, our border cities tax credits. It is $6.28, and we'll call our meeting to order. We'll open our public hearing, and begin with staff presentation. Peyton? Thank you, mister mayor. At the last Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed the two applications that we have this year for border city
tax credits, both West Main and U Haul at $7,500 They're repeat customers. We have the ability to do border city tax credits according to our policy for consecutive years as employee credits. You get $3,000 the first year, up to $15,000 And then second year, you get $1,500 per employee, max of $7,500 And, so how our process is set up, the planning commission first reviews it then forwards on the recommendation to the city council. And we've had lots of new businesses that come to town.
Not everyone takes border city tax credits at times. And not sometimes, there's more rigmarole they fill on their end, maybe at a corporate level or whatever it is and don't fully take advantage of the program. And not all types of businesses are eligible either. There are certain ones that are not eligible. But we are talking about ways to potentially expand the program a little bit. So in Morehead, for example, how they what they use for their program is a, effectively, like a workers' comp credit
that users can, take advantage of in the community. I'm not sure how it's applied or based on how many employees or what their maximum amount is, but they pretty much open it up. They have a lot more money to play with than we do. But we still we're carrying a pretty heavy balance in there, at this time, and we want to be sure we're using the funds. So $15,000 a year is frankly not very much, so because depends on what your appropriation is. But I would say we're up to around it might be in your packet. I don't remember off the top of my head,
a quarter million dollars or so that we have available to us. But we want to yeah. Always we're always continuing to explore options on how to better expand the program. It's also good to have it for a rainy day too. Right? And, maybe sometimes there's certain programs or industries that need it more than others, and we're trying to find a way to just help out our businesses any way possible, even some of our legacy businesses here in town. But anyways, the motion, before council this evening is to adopt a resolution for U Haul and West Main
Pizza. Alright. Thank you, Peyton. Is that the end of staff presentation? It is. Alright. So with that, we'll move on to public comment. Is there anyone here to speak or online to speak in favor? Second call in favor. Is there anyone here or online, to speak in opposition? Second call in opposition? Without public comment, we will close the public hearing at 06:32 and have council discussion. Council, are there any questions on what Payton is presented? Alright. Hearing no questions or comments, I will entertain a motion for resolution twenty five sixty three,
the border cities tax credits. So moved. Okay. I got a motion by Nash, and a second by Peterson. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Perfect. Thank you. That does move us to number nine. And number nine alpha, we have our consideration of the updates to the city code of ethics and personal personnel policy manual, paid family medical leave, and eyewear reimbursement. Wow. Peyton? I can probably thanks, mayor. I can probably speak better about roundabouts than I can paid family medical leave, but I'll try and do my best.
You you and everyone in the state right about Yeah. Exactly. That's okay. So as I work my way through this here. So, in in your packet, what I've we have to adopt a family medical leave policy. The state instituted in 2023 this wage replenishment program. So think of like a longer term, you know, illness or medical reason or other family emergency that would require an employee to take off an extended amount of time. Employees are still have the right to utilize if they have enough accrued,
let's say, PTO, to be utilized, which is what everyone does currently. And but this provides no matter how long someone has worked for an organization to take advantage of this program. So it's both and it's a split between employees, so it's a deduction that will come out from their paycheck. So how the factor works, point 88% is deducted, and that's the payment that goes towards this program. We pick up, we, me and the city, picks up 50% of that amount,
and the, employee picks up the other, point 44%. So as an example I think maybe I put an example up here. So we're actually doing that. Yeah. Well, it's in the packet there. But so if an employee was paid $500, I think it would be, like, $2 and some change that gets deducted from your paycheck and the city picks up the other half. At the end of the day, it's still ultimately the employee's responsibility to register because it is a state run program, not a City of Dilworth administered program.
They have to register with Dean. They have a new division within their department that oversees all of this. You know, a few caveats. Employees do not earn vacation or sick time. We look at it almost like as a pause in employment when someone is under, paid family medical leave. However, employees would reserve the right to cap off because you're paid just a percentage of what your normal wage is. And so we would allow employees to deduct from their vacation or sick time,
PTO, whatever it is, to make up that wage difference if they wanted to be made whole. And this seems to be pretty well in line with what most other communities are doing, same with the fiftyfifty split. So we're just really falling in line with what, others are doing. This is something that we did, have reflected in our union contracts, something we talked about through the whole process. And yeah. So I don't know if there's any other questions with respect to it. The policy that you have, 99% of it's just, the sample policy that the League of Minnesota Cities sent to everybody.
So that's now gonna be incorporated within our policy manual, how the law reads. There was a there is a requirement that all employees have to be notified by December 1 of this even though everyone knows it's coming, and they'll sign off on it. So assuming approval, there'll be something in everyone's pay stub next week receiving or this later this week that acknowledges this and basically says if you want to take part in paid family medical leave, you have to register with the and work with your supervisor.
Is there anything I can answer about paid family medical leave before I move on? Any questions from counsel? I have one. If because I I do wanna ask this question. Because the top one back one more, please. Oh. Alright. Because the, the the top off, did we, like, did we put that in employee contracts already? Because the state statute says, what, that we may. It's not a guarantee that they can. We may. So did we do that? I I ask because I don't remember. You did the union contract? We did. Yes. K. We discussed that. Yes.
And, again, I just want like, I wanna make sure because when we say that, it makes perfect sense. Okay? That's all I needed to know. Thank you. And I think we're just gonna have to see as the program goes on who will take advantage or utilize the program. I do think with municipalities, and I'm just I I don't know if this is right or wrong, but I I do feel, you know, being a municipality, you were often required to, go extra lengths as far as whether it be holidays, competitively with, vacations, balances, things of that nature. So usually, an employee is gonna have everything,
that they would need for most instances. You know, other private employers may not have as robust systems as we have in the public sector, but we're just gonna have to see how this unfolds. We don't know yet. No one knows. I did sit two weeks ago. I sat at a a law conference, and they went over this. And there was a panel of three attorneys, and that was a lot of their responses. The questions is we're gonna have to wait and see and work it out to make sure we're able to figure it out. So as we do this,
I just wanna make sure that our employees continue to be taken care of. That's all. That's my number one concern. The other item within the policy manual that we're looking to update is the eyewear reimbursement. It's not in our policy right now. It was in our former policy manual that went away ten, eleven years ago now, the Excellence in Dilworth Handbook. And the one that I've found was from 2002 where it's referenced in there about that everyone receives the benefit. And even then, it was a $250 benefit.
And so what you have in your agenda packet actually has I mean, it's not much, but a couple of paragraphs there on an actual policy, what's to be used for, how it can be utilized. It's on a calendar year basis. Receipts have to be turned in. And another thing that we I discussed with the council a few weeks ago is about just increasing that amount to $300 Again, we're no telling how many years, probably thirty years with it being at $250 And,
so I just we talked about increasing it to $300 at that time. Julie? Just to clarify, you say it's not currently in the policy manual? Correct. It was in our excellence in Dilworth One. It's just something that's continued on. We just I neglected to put it in probably when we were updating the policy manual. Go ahead. I'm just and I again, it's not an issue, should it increase if it hasn't for so many years. My thought process was was if it didn't make it into the manual because we went to the high deductible policies with the HSA.
I didn't know whether or not it did, but, also at the same time, it's a practice we've been doing without it being a policy, so I'm not really sure how it plays in. I will say those two were not linked in the sense that when I was doing the policy manual, it had nothing to do with us and insurance at the time. Those were two separate projects I was working on. So so we've been there's been a, eyewear or whatever, eyeglasses, contacts Mhmm. Reimbursement for how long? I don't I don't know.
At least twenty three years. There's no employee. Ever it's lasted more than longer than any employee that's worked here right now. I'm just looking checking out the background. Generational. Yeah. Well and I guess, is this the right is this the right spot for it in in policy and and not contracts? Like, because if this is the right spot for it, like, let's put it in there. Let's let's formalize it and be done with it. To me, that allows it to con continue on. I don't know what else the council thinks. Questions, comments? Tend to agree. Are there any other questions or comments? Alright. So then then, Peyton,
when we when we look at this, so the really, we have a couple updates. One is with the new PFMLA and then the eyewear. Right? Yes, sir. We break them down one at a time. I I didn't any questions or comments regarding, the new paid family medical leave for the state? Julie? I know. And this is again, as I'm reading it, because I feel like we understood it, and that's why we're, like, make sure they're whole, and that's why we're offering. But I feel like there's gonna be more to come as legal looks through this because I'm not sure we can allow them to use vacation and sick if they're giving
them automatic leave with reduced pay Mhmm. Because they're already taking the full time for twelve weeks. Now this would allow them so we can allow them to basically have more hours. Mhmm. You know what I mean? Right. And they can't Again, this might happen. You can't be. That's already in in statute that that you know, let's say they they make a $100 a day, and if they take all the leaves and vacation, whatever, they can only make a $100 a day. They can't get any more or anything less than whatever they would earn per day. So they can't get extra time. They can't get extra pay or anything like that.
That's a good point. But we wanna make sure that if the state's giving them $50 that we make sure that if they have the time and the resources in their sick leave or whatever, that they're able to utilize it. And I think that's I wanna make sure that that I wanted to make sure that we're clear on that and that was actually in there because that was a negotiation. That's what I was making sure of. Yes. It's yes. So, anyway, that was our intent. Right. We'll make sure that I'm just hoping deed handles it all, and I don't have to go to the state. It's a state program. But I know. So but what's gonna ultimately happen is,
like, we still have to you know, if they're using a half a day to become whole, there's still gonna be some accounting on our end. Yeah. That'll be fun. In that case, yes. And I don't know how that will work, just to be honest, but we'll make it work. Arithmetic. I know. Well, and that's at the end of the day, that's patience and perseverance, right? It is. And even though I think the general sentiment is that most people are allowing the top off or whatever you wanna call it like that, I do go back and forth with it at times. And then just from an administrative standpoint,
I'm not sure what you can bring up, 60% of a wage or whatever it is. So Well, there's a scale based on how much money you make. Yes, exactly. But if we're using the PTO to help out that 40% in the numbers. I'm not exactly sure how they align. It's not like, well, I'll take one hour for my PTO. It's gotta be a numerical value. Right? So that's for finance people to figure out, though. I'm sure there's a spreadsheet for that. There you go. Good luck, Perry. Yeah. Yeah. Make sure the books match. Yeah. And and no pressure,
but I mean, it's only people's livelihood that are gonna wanna make sure they get paid on time. So I really hope there's not a holdup in Saint Paul. Let's hope that this runs smoother than getting a plumbing permit from the state. Did I say that out loud? I might have. Any other questions about the glasses or eyewear reimbursement? Because that's the second part of this motion. Are we solid there? And, again, it's in the right spot. We'll put it into a policy and makes it in the right spot. Okay. That that would have been my question. I would just wanting to clarify where you wanted it here in negotiations. So No. If it if the best spot for it is in policy,
then we put it I'm I have I think so. I don't care where it goes as long as it's formalized and accepted and It's never in union contracts. We've had people in the union take advantage of it forever because it's just been a city practice or policy, however you wanna look at it. And with if it becomes a city policy, then even our nonunion employees would have the benefit. I think that's the most comprehensive way to approach it. So policy would make the most sense. Any other questions or comments from counsel? Alright. Hearing none, I will entertain a motion for nine alpha.
I'll make the motion. Motion by Peterson. Second. Second by Borra. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. With that, it does bring us to number 10. And I'm not gonna this is my most I've been waiting for this all week, since it was highlighted to me as to how we're actually gonna do this. Number 10, we have a public hearing on miscellaneous assessments. We have one public hearing, held for the listed miscellaneous assessment resolutions. So with that, we are gonna open up do we have to open it, Peyton? My only recommendation would be to at least recognize what they all are.
I will read them. There you go. I'll read them. So with it being 07:46, we'll open our public hearing and begin with our staff presentation. Peyton? Yes. We have a series of unpaid bills that have gone out to individuals for nuisance violations, yard mowing, and other miscellaneous stuff. Alright. Is that the end of the staff presentation? That's it. Thank you. Alright. Thank you. With that, we are talking about, miscellaneous assessment resolutions for, resolution twenty five sixty,
a miscellaneous assessment for unpaid utility bill at 312 1st Avenue Southwest. We're talking about resolution twenty five sixty four. Miscellaneous assessment for unpaid yard mowing, at 901 7th Street Northeast. We're talking about resolution 2 565, an assessment for unpaid yard mowing at 503 4th Street Northeast. Again, a resolution 2,566, miscellaneous assessment for unpaid yard mowing at 111 Main Street North. Additionally, we have resolution 2 567,
a miscellaneous assessment for unpaid nuisance violation fine at 203 4th Street Northwest. And then we have the final resolution 2568, an assessment hearing for unpaid nuisance violation at 1315 Southwood Drive. And with that, that is all of our listed public hearings and the assessments. Is there anyone in the audience to speak in favor of any of these resolutions? Second call in favor? Okay. Is there anyone online or in our audience that is here to speak in opposition
for any of the identified resolutions? Second call in opposition? Alright. Hearing no one to speak here or online in favor or in opposition, we're gonna call close our public hearing at 07:48 and have council discussion. Questions or comments from council? Hearing none, I will entertain a motion for all six of the resolutions that are mentioned in our packet. Steichen, so moved. Motion by Steichen. Second. Second by Peterson. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed?
Motion carries. That does bring us to number 11. Council members' concerns and committee updates. Round the horn, please. Pass. We had a Heartland Trail meeting. It seems like they're still wanting to do that. So I guess they're gonna update us as I don't know. What is that your takeaway from it? Does it get closer to us needing to decide things? They're gonna give us another update? Yeah. So this was the first, I guess, going back to when, originally started. I think back in 2014, they had a Heartland Trail committee that,
you know, was spearheading the effort here. And it encompassed not just Clay County, but also Becker County at the time. You know, last year, we just or just this past year, I'm sorry, we just wrapped up the Heartland Trail study and came forward with a routing analysis and recommendations on how this can be built out. So the establishment of this group is strictly just Clay County voices and how we can best align our goals and vision with how to bring it
together and start strategically lobbying and applying for funding for this and making some determinations on is this segment going to be a state trail versus a regional trail? Who is gonna have overarching responsibility of the Heartland Trail? Who's gonna be the, you know, the driving force and what sections? That's what this group is gonna be tasked with. This was more of a kickoff meeting, introducing it to folks that maybe do not have a lot of, familiarity with it like I do.
And so we'll see where these next steps take us here. Looking forward to it, though. I think one of the questions that they kinda were still wanting to know is, like, maintenance side of it. The who's going to be responsible for that part. So that's something to just think about, know that that's gonna be something that'll come up eventually. And then Tuesday, December 2, we have our tree lighting event. So if you guys are free, come see Santa and get some hot cocoa and make some s'mores and take some pictures. That's all I got. No? Thank you, Homer. Mr.
Steichen? Yeah. Since our last meeting, shout out to all the veterans out there. Veterans to activities. I went to quite a few. It was pretty exciting. Public input meeting on the community center. I like the visual of the posters. You can actually see in description and size and you can it's almost like almost like being there for the most part. So very clear, poster, very clear pictures of what what it's envisioned to look like at this point. The webinar on the cyber security, as much as we hate to hear about it,
it's pretty important to make sure you take that information and be very very very careful. I mean, there's always multi steps ahead of the average person. So the Metro COG meeting, the big thing well, a few things, but they come up with a community profile and you can find it online, but I gave, Peyton and Angela a copy. It's pretty it's broken down really easy to follow far as population size, demographics, it's just an easy you can get a really easy picture of so many parts
of the community, how it's all brought together, and they did an excellent job. The Highway 34, Highway 10 Intersection is open. Yay. So, looks like they got it done in the nick of time here, so that's good to see that. And, shout out to both Morant and DGF football teams. They came up a little bit shorter than what they would have hoped for, but they still it's still pretty impressive that they, got as far as they did and for all the support and the parents and the coaching involved. So, it's pretty exciting to see as far as, you know,
Breckenridge was local for the most part too. So it's always it's always fun to have local participation in those state tournaments. So, congratulations for as far as he did make it. So that's where I'm going to end. Thank you, mister Steichen. Julie? Okay. So in addition to those things, I just wanna say thank you to officer McClain Hayes who's been with us. His last day will be tomorrow. So, just wanna acknowledge, that time and effort that he's put in. And let's see. So one of the things I thought was interesting that chief Rawson shared with me
is I didn't realize or maybe I didn't know or forgot, but the whole working with UC Hope Kids that the police department does on Tuesday afternoon. I didn't know that. And so I just wanted a shout out to that, effort that you're putting in with them to support the kids. Appreciate that. And shop with a cop will be coming up too right after tree light shortly after tree lighting time. So that'll be coming next month. Thank you, John. Hey. Just happy Thanksgiving. Oh. It's the one thing that I was gonna say. It's
right there. Right there it is. Right? I'm also gonna say thank you, Peyton, for finally taking care of, the laundry list of miscellaneous assessments to finding a more efficient way to address those and still maintain, our statutory responsibilities in going through that process. That's a game changer. And for that, I'm gonna be thankful. With that, we have our bills before us. I will entertain a motion. Is there any discussion on the bills? I will entertain a motion to pay the bills. So moved. Motion by Nash. Second by Steichen. Second by Steichen.
All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. With there being no further business before Council this evening and a long weekend before most of us, call this meeting adjourned.