Good morning. That is United States. Did you remember all the words? You got all the words. She's a little heavy. I just got Oh, you're okay. Perfect. We were That's all.
We were lagging behind is about what happened. Um, can you call the roll call? Sure. Mr. Steinberg here. Mrs. Rooric here. Mr. White here. Mr. Lewis here. Mayor Whittington
here. We'll open up for public comments on anything that isn't currently on the uh the agenda. We have anybody in the audience that has anything extra. All right.
Comments. You said public comments on anything that's not on the agenda. Oh, I don't know if it's on the agenda. All right. Thank you. All right. Then we'll move into the agenda. Looks like we have one addition
um that will put the new business right at number eight. The RFP for design and engineering services. Anyone have anything else to add to the agenda? Look for approval.
Motion for approval of the agenda. So moved. Second. Have a first and a second. All in favor? I. All opposed. [Music] Look for approval. A motion for approval
of the minute meetings. Meeting minutes. Motion. Second. We have a first and a second. All in favor? I. All opposed.
We'll look for the consent agenda. Anybody want to pull anything out of the consent agenda for more discussion? I'd look for a motion then to approve the agenda. A consent agenda. Motion. A second.
Second. We have a first and second. Any more discussion? All in favor? All opposed. All right. All right, moving on to the public hearing. Um,
I need would like a motion to open the public hearing. Allow comments. I'll motion to open the public hearing. All right, first. How about a second? Second. Have a first and second. All in favor? I. All right, we're open in the public.
So, what we would like you to do is if you want to make comments, read something or something, please step up to the podium so the folks at home can hear. Um, you have to be really close to the microphone unfortunately or very loud. Um, so
want give us start us out. Perfect. Can give your name and address and All right. So, my name is Sally Comfort and I live at 245 Oak Drive. Um, so as you all know, during last month's meeting, there was a significant amount of information that was shared about my
property. Um, intentional or not, a fair amount of the information was either exaggerated or just plain wrong. In the interest of progress and constructive conversation, I will not be addressing each of these items. However, um you've been provided with an insert in your meeting packet sharing with you some
information on the benefits of pollinators and the risks our ecosystem and food supply face due to the rapid destruction of pollinator habitats. The information included was sourced from several sites including the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources uh which operates the Lawns to Lagumes
program. Lawns to Lagumes is a nonprofit program that aims to increase habitats for at risk pollinators in residential settings. Prior to the construction of my garden, I consulted with the lawns to Lume staff, attended webinars, and reviewed countless documents on their
site. I then proceeded with preparing the space using one of their recommended methods. I procured seeds from the Minnesota chapter of Feeasants Forever, purchased established plants from Edenville uh nursery following staff recommendations, and included several plant samples from my mom's garden just
a few blocks away. Progress started slowly but surely. Several of the seeds we planted grew into beautiful plants and flowers, and the garden has come alive ever since with several bee varieties, small birds, dragonflies, and butterflies. My family and I have spent countless
hours working on this space. In fact, just before last month's council meeting, we installed a 36-inch wide mulch path on the side of the garden that aligns with the moors. Uh we added that mulch path also into the middle of the space as well to intend uh to
continue to add mulch pathways around the other property borders. These efforts will continue to improve our accessibility into the space for management of the area. And as a side note, we have always had direct access into the garden through a gate built into our privacy fence. Over the
weekend, Council Person Rooric and I met with a local prairie grass expert, Henry Panowitch. Henry is a current member and a past president of the of a local prairie enth enthusiast group. He provided incredible insight recommendations and offered ongoing
guidance throughout the construction and maintenance of our native grass and pollinator garden. While Henry's expertise in is excuse me while Henry's expertise is in establishing and maintaining natural prairie, he did share with us that the preparation method we chose for our
space was not what he would have recommended. He indicated that in removing the sod and tilling the soil the way that we did, we essentially woke up various weeds and less desirable grasses that were previously held at bay by the turf grass. When this happened,
many of our intentional plantings suffered and be and had become overrun. Please remember we followed the guidance of Longster Lumes and their guidance wasn't wrong because as as with everything there are differing opinions on methods for accomplishing a task.
Henry suggested we take subst substantial action to give our space a makeover to allow our work to be more fruitful for years to come. This process will take time, years in fact, and that is key. This was our first year. We learned a lot. We learned what works,
what doesn't, and what we can do differently going forward. As Maya Angelou said, do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. With that said, our intent is to do a substantial cleanout of the area yet this fall. Next spring,
we'll be effectively starting over in much of the space while maintaining the mulched areas already installed. We will also maintain in the area um in the center there's perennial bulbs such as tulips, irises, and hyasin as well as comb flowers, dlies, and blackeyed
susans. All things that bees love. We appreciate that the council is charged with adopting a city code that aligns with the state statute without infringing on it. and we would appreciate due consideration of our current efforts as well as our future plan and overall intent. We would like council to consider uh code
modifications that are fair, reasonable, and attainable so that so that others can feel encouraged to take on a project like this on their own property. I've been heartened by the positive feedback we have received in support of our efforts and also encouraged to see that council person Rooric just this weekend
installed dozens of bee and butterfly friendly plants and flowers in her numer numerous landscape beds. I don't know if there if Edenale has plants left. She went she went whole on um her project and ours will have tremendous positive
impact. Thank you for your time. Mayor Woodington, city council, I'm sorry to interrupt, um, but I did get a message from somebody watching live that they can't hear. So, they do want people to go to sorry to the podium, right? He even talked about there's
differences in heights of the prairie grasses. So he talked about making a distinction for he in his recommendation recommending lower prairie grasses because that way they don't grow to such a height that they start to collapse under their own weight. So he made some recommendations like that as well.
I didn't notice in other ordinances if they've created that deciding you know the difference between the two. They seem to be more general. Yeah. And that was one question I asked um both Henry and even his wife being a retired lawyer is um or attorney is
if we could put in there height restrictions or if to get away from that height restriction it's just um putting in that you have to mow every year between a certain time and I specifically asked Henry from a native grasses standpoint um how does he feel on that and and he said no you should
absolutely not mow every year it should be every three years mowing it down. So, I I think that's where there's some okay, then how do we address the code or the ordinance on not having it too high? Um, and and that was where some of the conversation was um of learning for me of from a professional that has what 38
acres of it or whatever and does the district and St. Peter, you know, very involved versus residents that have to live with it or maintain it. um what what is appropriate and how do we keep it to say we want the short grasses in city limits without
can we put that height restriction on there or not I'm not getting a clear answer and that was going to be one of the questions I had for the attorney is um without saying you have to mow it every year is height restriction on there or is it more that we can just list that it is recommended that that in
city limits it's short grasses not tall grasses so kind of how to address that piece Um, and I think, you know, without speaking for them, they learned a lot on um, what can be changed and um, what looks clean and good, what doesn't, and how it takes time over the course of
three, four, five years. Um, doesn't happen overnight. And I know same thing will happen with all my plants. They're going to look terrible between now and next year until they actually take root. Um, so that was one of the questions I had for for our attorney is um without
having to enforce mowing when it might not be appropriate, how do we still enforce that height disregarding her property just in general that um other properties don't become I mean I noticed one in in Regency that it's almost to
the roof line and is that weeds or is that native plantings and um is it intentional? Is it not? You know, and I think that's some of those questions. I think there was also a lot of conversation about what we consider to
maybe be short is, you know, we're used to turf grass in just about every inch of our lives. And so, you know, he talked a lot about some appropriately sized kind of short grasses are still 18 to 24 inches tall. I mean, these will never be the height of turf grass. And so, if people are expecting that, then I
think there needs to be a bigger conversation about that. And so that was why, yeah, like Beth said, she did kind of hold his feet to the fire a little bit about what would you recommend? And he kind of just kept motioning to about that 18 to 24 inches of height. That that's still considered a low height
natural native grass. No, native grasses, ornamental grasses can get quite tall, right, and out of hand. Okay. Well, and I think most of it is vague because Most cities
aren't going to have the personnel to go out there and say, "Oh, that's tall grass, that's short grass, that's a flower, that's not a flower." So, I mean, it's bagged for a reason. Um because we can set anything we want, but if we don't have the the right
people to go out and look and tell us what's going on, then what's the point? Well, I I totally agree with that. What's the other thing too is making sure that these get started out to where we don't have neighbors having issues,
you know, so that setting that groundwork to, you know, understanding when you know you're going to do it, you know, what your restrictions are and you know, as you live around it, you know, what what should you expect, right? So,
I would I would have a hard time expecting looking out my backyard and seeing six or seven foot you know, plants that aren't trees. We're hoping trees are bigger than that, but but yeah, so anything that we do put together still has to fit within the state statute. So that's going to be the
the fine line we walk. Um well, we aren't looking for any answers today. We're just looking for some input. The other, and I don't know that we necessarily talked about it or I asked with within um the professional, but the other question I had
specifically for our attorney is it's very clear what a noxious weed is, right? I mean, the state defines that. Um what's not clear though is what is considered a weed and we would normally just kill it off or
mow it down and what is allowable under the natural grass. um landscape policy. Example, um ragweed, it's not a noxious weed, but it
it's just an annoyance, right? Or it's a it's an allergen or stuff that way. So, um or as they claim it, potentially problematic to one's health. So h how do we look at those that aren't un categorized under a noxious weed but
should be protected under something else or you know where do we fall on some of those pieces that um you can't say well it's it's problem act one's health so cut it down because you could say that with some of the trees or some of that you know because there's allergies everywhere. So I I don't have an answer to that piece
but I know that was one more piece that kept coming up. Um, so the plants that aren't noxious but are in that category that would be considered a weed or a nuisance piece. Um, and I don't our ordinance isn't clear on that besides anything over 8 in is needs to be mowed
down. I I don't I guess I'd look for guidance on that piece. Jennifer, will we be having a uh community forestry person working with us anytime soon? Unfortunately not. The funding was uh removed for that position. So that that's really unfortunate. this would be
a perfect project for them to to help with. So, what did Henry say about every three years mowing? Did did you have a positive outcome or outlook on that or you in favor of that? We'll pause for
see that. So yes, in short, there's a few different ways to kind of go about either um managing or bringing back to life these native prairie areas. And that's kind of the that's the distinction to make too, right? As far as which which route you're pursuing. Is
it more of the native prairie or is it more of the pollinators? I mean they even use in large areas they'll use fire to come in and and deplete an area and have it you know regenerate after that. So yes mowing is a fruitful effort for sure. He said a year was too short. Right. Correct.
Did he say what would would two years be fine, three years, three is what he he recommended. It was the two to three. It was kind of you know it's crop dependent to some extent. You know how did the seasons go? What was our Yeah. Did we receive decent rain, snow cover, that kind of thing.
It's it's difficult to pin down. Um but that's why, you know, he exists and that's why his organization is they host public events and they come out with volunteers and and look at property and and do the work, too. So, we can also look to lean on them. I definitely think we should have
something about mowing in there. That Well, I mean, because yes, but again, how are we going to know the date of the mow? Are we going to write it down and send it to city council and say next, you know, years from this date you have to mow. I mean
that's again another thing where it's subjective, you know. I mean even if you're out there all the time managing your own stuff. I mean like you said the birds I mean the wind it it'd be very hard to keep that up maintained over the course of several years. So I think a mole
every three years would also help your argument of saying I am managing it. I every three years I'm I'm taking care of it. I'm starting new. I'm doing my best. You know I' I've done the research. It would definitely help your argument in saying that yeah, I I am managing I'm maintaining my my natural landscape. And
I mean, as far as, you know, when we're going to do that. I mean, maybe we should just have something you come in like, hey, I plan on doing, you know, a managed landscape in my area. This is what I want to do. This is when I can mow it. You know, I just a check in with the front desk. I mean, it
won't cost anything, but maybe just making it official with the with records. I I think has something about there being mowed every two three years should definitely be in there in some regard and there are some cities that have chosen to do a permitting process like a
zerocost permit but it's more notification and communication I think than having a lot of teeth to it so it it does spell out this is the intent maybe this is the size and shape and location but it's it's not getting into the weeds for a terrible pun opportunity there I think something like that would be
great you know so whenever they come and we can give them some information too that we just find on the internet of that Minnesota like hey this is so that way you're not going completely blind you know here's something that could help you start your your process and I don't know lessons learned like don't till up the soil well I appreciate
it depends on what your outcome is what you're looking for because yeah if we were going full native prairie mo or tilling it up was the wrong move but that wasn't our sole intent for the place you know we wanted a mixture of of of different things and different heights because it is a large space and so we wanted to make the most of it. So,
yes, lesson learned. I appreciate you coming in giving your spiel on this and learned a lot. And I do like the at least ways to get to the middle easily, you know, for for maintenance. I think that goes back to,
you know, what's your plan to maintain it, right? So, my plan is that I have I have these walking paths I can kind of because like you said, no matter how hard you work, there's going to be noxious weeds in there all the time popping up. So, Right.
They're just under the surface and then they they come to the top, right? So, yeah. And as far as getting into and and I mean, my mom has a bit of a a hobby with with gardening and things like that. And so, you know, we can I was able to kind of lean on all three of my parents and and
it's not a matter of this is not walking through a forest and so difficult to get through. We're not afraid of doing the work. It just we got to, you know, we need to kind of regroup. Did you pass? I know that you're looking at an
ordinance for trust. You know, we're looking for an ordinance that includes it taking this on to just be res. And I think you need to look at commercial as well. The I live on the north side of the tracks. The railroad has never
trimmed anything and that is all weeds over there. So I think if we're going to if we're going to clean up Eagle Lake and make it a pollinating friendly city, which I think we need to. I mean, we have to be better at taking care of our earth. I think we have to look at that
part, too. I think, you know, because there's businesses that let it go, too. I mean, that that's just the way it is. So if that could be something that you include in that as well, that would be great. Well, right now I think that falls within our turf grass kind of process,
right? So um the railroad is the railroad as I've been told. Um, and that comes back to being a small community. We could have a full-time person going out and doing weed patrol and taking a
look as we grow these gardens, you know, all these little nooks and crannies, which I'd love to have within the community that's are being overgrown and not maintained. Um, so balancing that that those pieces out is where we're
trying to be. So, um, just looking over my notes. So, I I mean, I looked at probably a dozen different because, as you guys know, I I'm stuck in this middle point, right, in um awkward situations and things like that, not only with where I
live, but also being on here and can see different perspectives. Um, unfortunately, hear different stories. um doesn't matter to I mean it does matter to me which one's right or wrong but in the end it's trying to get something that fits citywide not a sole property right um so did the research to
find out what are other communities doing what other ordinances are there and I keep coming or I kept coming back to Mano North Mano specifically because that's our area that's what people are going to compare us to them not us necessarily to a Rochester or to a
Bloomington Minneapolis any of those Um, but I did see several different communities that did have permitting. Um, and I kept going back and forth because permitting does add more time not only to residents that have to do it, but also to city staff that we don't
have that resources to do already. Um, but the one that I did like and I do still feel that permitting is good was from the board of um, water and soil resources and because it just kind of laid out step by step and not that city staff has
to go through and confirm every plant that they're going to do or where things are going, but it says that they did go through and make sure they're following city ordinance. They are they looked at the noxious weed list. Did they get the right site plan? So, it kind of put that effort back on the resident to know that
this isn't something that you're just going to say, "I don't want to mow it, so I'm going to do it." It has pretty big steps behind it so that if it's not being maintained, city staff can then go back and enforce it rather than having to take a half a day like a normal um
building permit and really examine it. Um it also gave us in our my opinion gives the list then of what residents are intentionally trying to put in whether it's a native grass, rain garden, um pollinator, any of those that are that
are um acceptable under the state statute that they are intentionally doing it. It's not just someone that's letting their lawn go. Um so when that call comes in, we can say yes, they are or no, they're not. You are out of city ordinance. Fill this out. Do this. clean it up and you have
this many days to do it. So, we kind of have some teeth behind it, but the effort is on the homeowner or the resident doing it, not on city staff per se. Um, and then that would also give a a date to when it was put in and when it's expected to be mowed down then at that
point. I agree. I think a permit process make it as easy as we can still have would be beneficial. What What um one did you find that in? Um it was the one that Sally put into, but it was the Board of Water um and
soil. So the BWSR um sample permit. Uh I also found one from the city of Crystal and some other ones, but that one was the cleanest and easiest. And then I think we can adjust some checkpoints of um things that we would want them to at least say whether
they did it or not. I looked at this list. um and and it would just have some teeth behind it if they aren't doing what they're supposed to. We can say, "Well, you said you did and you signed off on that sheet, so you now have so many days to fix it." I think signage could go a long way, too. And they talk a lot about it on
that page, they actually when you sign up and kind of register with them, work with their program, you can they actually send you a sign that just kind of again, it's another call out that it's intentional and it kind of piques people's interest, I think, too. So, like I have that uh I put it on the
park side because I thought families may see it and kind of be curious. Okay. I do think it's important though as well when when reading them you because when I went into this I was naive with it. It's like why would
why would anyone want to make more work? You can just go out and mow, right? Um I get the pollinators, I get saving the be I get all that, but man, it's really easy just to go out and mow. Um, but reading real deep into all of the benefits to it of of putting in there, um, a lot of them had what is the
purpose or what is the intent so that not not only the city is saying this is why we want to do it, but other residents can read it and understand that this is why a neighbor would want to put it in. Um, so kind of having some of those bullet points of the purpose,
what are definitions, um, what types are allowed, who applies, you know, to your point of is it commercial property, is it not? And Mano, I think, had that very clear of who's allowed, what zones, um, residential, commercial, what districts, any of that. Um, what the requirements
are, having setbacks, I think, is key. um maintenance of it and what happens if you're in violation. You know, I think the hardest part of this is the nuisance part, right? Right. Um the reason why we're here is because one thinks it's a nuisance and one
thinks it's not. So, I mean I don't know a good way of making that happen. Um I don't know if a bigger setback is needed. I don't know if I mean obviously the maintaining part is a huge part of
it. But that's kind of the reason why we're here. So, and that's probably the hardest part of this whole thing. I agree. And I think it's a lot like chickens, right? People loved the idea of chickens and they got chickens and found out how much work it is to
maintain this, right? So, I could see where we could get a lot of people that, oh, this is going to be great. I'm not going to have to mow. and then all a sudden, you know, so that's why I kind of love that, you know, you got to mow it off every three years because it's a lot of work.
And again, only if that's appropriate. You're not supposed to mow a bee garden every every three years. I mean, so like I said, we we will have to get granular on that. I'm if I the areas that are destined for prairie, then absolutely they need to be mowed down. But other things like that are intended for those
pollinators. Some of those things are intended to only be actually be kept to about 18 inches tall throughout the winter if it's more of a stock style plant so that bees have a chance to winter down inside the stocks for instance. So mowing it all the way to the ground would actually be harming the space instead of improving it.
So we'd also well but if you mow it in the spring it may not um that kind of thing. Um, so we really would need to make sure that people designate what they're doing, right? And then that kind of kicks off how it should be maintained.
Okay. I think that the stickiest part is that gray area. I mean, a noxious weed is very clearly defined, right? We we know that it's that non-noxious, but consider it a weed to most residents. And is it or is it not?
And I can't answer that, you know. Well, I think just in those two words I come back to in the beginning, intentional and maintain. Y some people's intentional maintained is you got a row of plants and they're trimmed and there's and others are, you
know, it's it's it's those kind of things. So, um it might also be helpful to make sure I understand what you guys deem to be an acceptable setback. It's not just about size and distance, but you know, I did express that I've already put in a 36 inch wide path on one side and it was a
substantial length about 90 feet or so. Um, is that acceptable or does it need to be grass between the two properties or should it, you know, be some kind of hardcape or something like that? Clearer understanding of that would be helpful. I think we'd have to make sure that's we
have the setbacks to find there. So, yeah. And I think there were other cities that called out, you know, if you're on a corner or boulevard or something like that, that there were much stricter height restrict restrictions and setbacks because you can't impede traffic. Of course, if a person can't see around the corner what
they're turning on to, it's no different than planting a tree too close to the road. So, that seemed reasonable to include as well. Do we have any more discussion? We want to kind of I think we've got a lot of things to kind of you know and this this
is a start, right? So, we'll put together I'll put words in Jennifer's mouth. She loves that. Um we'll we'll come back with an example. So, we'll put something together and then we'll have a couple public hearings. Um kind of flush that out, run it by the the lawyers and
attorneys and make sure we're within the statutes and things like that. So, I don't you know, this year is this year, right? So, we're probably looking at, you know, hopefully by spring. So, as people kind of start thinking about these things, we'd have something in place to kick off the new growing
season. So, so I I guess if we don't have anything more, we can close the public hearing and move on or people have more questions, discussions, things like that. All right. So, I'd look uh for a motion
to close the public hearing. I'll make that motion. Second. First and second. All in favor? All opposed. All right. Now, we're off to one to the scheduled guest.
Um I think you're up. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I am Vicki Holthouse. I'm with Abdel Financial Solutions. Um, I work with a team of about 30 people who specialize all in day-to-day accounting and finance
support for cities, counties, um, school districts, special districts. Um, no audit on our team. It's all strictly operational support. We do things like rate studies, long-term plans, helping cities select and implement software,
um, providing support if they have interm vacancies. Um, but a couple of the projects we enjoy most are the process EV valuation work that we do and the training component as well. Um so tonight we submitted a proposal to the city council for consideration um to help you take a look at your current
reconciliation processes um and help migrate the city to utilizing the module within the system for reconciliations as well as um some technical support catching up on reconciliations and then
providing training on the new process of how to do um how to run those reconciliations within the system. Um, we find that anytime the accounting system has an integrated reconciliation process, that tends to be the most
efficient process. Um, and also just helps mitigate risk overall. Um, but it's helpful to know that city bank reconciliations are a lot more complex than your standard small business. We have a lot of integrations. We have data
coming from different places. Um, there's a lot of different timing issues with cash receipts. And so it's it happens quite often that cities have to kind of create processes to kind of work through that and work around it. And so our hope is to help you evaluate that process and then bring it back into the
system. Um I think you're considering a couple of different proposals for this type of work. Um but and so those proposals include both the technical support completing the reconciliations. Um but the piece that I think really
stands out about ours is both the migration to a better process as well as the training component. Um, so what I shared with your city administrator is we really like to customize our services. We want to support cities where they need us as long as they need
us and then help you kind of take things and go from there. Um, so what we'll do with our training is we use what's called a gradual release of responsibility. We use that internally as well as externally when we provide client training. And it's a three-step
process. So the first month we do you watch. The next month you do we watch and are there for support. And the third month usually the client takes that new process and they operate it independently knowing that we're there by email, video chat, whatever it takes to help if if things go off the rails.
Um so that's the proposal that we have laid out for council this evening. We anticipate that from start to finish um we probably be working with you through the end of January. um ongoing ongoing support could be there if needed, but that's that's
typically how long the process takes for other communities that we've helped support with the same. Um and with that, I guess I would just pause and answer any questions that the council has for me on our proposal. I would like to know.
Yeah, one of the members of her team was actually a former deputy city clerk of mine who I know is very good with accounting, Jesse. I don't know if she'd be the person on site here. Um Jesse would be the person to come on. Yeah. So I have the utmost confidence. Yeah. Her work.
Um Jesse would come on site and she would bring an associate from our team as well because they would actually support virtually ongoing just with any catchup work. Um but she would kind of be steering the project and they they are just wrapping up the same project for another city in northern Minnesota
in the next couple of weeks. So the timing is perfect. So what accounting platform do we use? Banyan. Banyan. And obviously you guys are familiar with that. Very well versed. It's the most highly
leveraged software in this state. Um with most the communities where we work with. I would say about 70% of the communities that we work with use Banyan. And one of the things I kind of like that is a little bit different between the two proposals is you're proposing not to create a process outside of
Banyan. is all within to functionality. Yep. Um things can go ary with that module, right? And so like I said, it's not uncommon um to have to create systems outside of the reconciliation module, but I have full confidence we
can get you to level. It is something that we've been struggling with for quite a while. You know, we get caught up at the end of the year. we don't find any issues thankfully. Um but that doesn't mean that's you know we shouldn't be more responsible and and and do that on a
monthly basis and make sure everything's proper. Plus it it makes the the end of year cleanup, end of year audit and all those things go a lot smoother and obviously and cheaper. So, I think we're long overdue to just help
staff get some good processes and bring it back into the system. And I mean, that'll help for future planning. Um I I just think it's a good a good move and something that's probably just really long overdue and something we talked about on the phone too were the um the
Gazsby standards and governmental accounting and it's complex and it just it's getting more and more complex every year with the new changes that come out and it's hard. Yeah. the especially the last few years we've had a little bit of a break from new implementations but the amount of
things that your team has been asked to do for year end the last few years has grown substantially um the standards are very technical and very difficult um so we've we've we've augmented a lot of communities with year-end support and projects just like this um I know you
have a lot on your agenda tonight so I want to be brief and then take pause so you can move on and make your decision later in the meeting but I just want to call out a few things that are in the scope of the work so you know very clearly what we would be doing for you. Um so uh the the first piece as um
Jennifer mentioned is we will come on site to do a one-day assessment. It may not take a full day um but we will explore both the reconciliation process and then other accounting processes because sometimes it's your other processes like cash receipts that cause the reconciliation timing issues at the
end of the month. Um we'll provide you with an executive summary of recommendations. They could be efficiency recommendations, control recommendations, how to better leverage systems recommendations. Um so we'll provide an executive summary to the council of um our findings after we
complete that process working with your staff. Um and then we'll begin the process of providing that technical support to prepare the system for you to start doing the reconciliations inside of it. Um, we'll provide assistance catching up any reconciliations that
might be past due because it's better to learn a new system when you're not treading water trying to catch up on past work. Um, and this will include a rec if needed, this will include a reconciliation of your 2024 audit numbers to ensure that we're starting with a good base to work from. Um, and
then we'll provide that training that I talked about, which we anticipate to take a three-month process. Um, going through the process repeatedly, uh, month over month for three months. And then finally, um, sometimes we find there's just issues reconciling cash
balances by fund because again, when you're working with the city, you're dealing with anywhere between five and 20 different essentially business operations within one accounting system. Um, so things can get off and it can get challenging to figure out. So we'll provide any technical support that's
needed to just ensure that you're reconciled and ready for your 25 audit. Any other questions? Does the estimated cost that you gave us, does that include or just to be clear, that includes reconciling any of
2025 that has not been reconciled? And is there something that you would say, okay, it's been 10 hours. That's what we figured. We're capped out. Now, it's going to be an additional expense because we went over what we thought it was going to take. That's correct. So the estimate that I provided, so it is a um time and
materials quote, right? So the estimate that I provided is based on the work we've done with other communities. So uh to take for example the city that we just finished in northern Minnesota, they originally asked us to come in and reconcile all of 24, get them set up in the system, train their staff. They came back and said, "Hey, that works so
great. Catch us up for 25." Um so we were very clear with them all along the way where we were progressing with budget. And we said that's great, but we're at about 75% of budget. So a change order of X might be required to complete the work, but by then we knew exactly how long it was taking us each
month to complete. So we were able to accurately calculate for them what any additional work would cost. I don't anticipate any additional work right now because we know the scope pretty clearly. Um, and so that estimate includes everything that I just talked about in the scope of work.
Perfect. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Maybe I should also note note too if it's okay that we are going to have the whole office um work on this. So we have our um our new our other position too. So we have cross training at the same time. Perfect opportunity to do that which is just something else that's
really hard for small cities to sometimes tackle and get that cross trainining. So that's another value that isn't you're not going to see when you're reading through this but that's something I'm really excited about. Absolutely. And when we provide that training, um particularly if we're providing it virtually, we'll hit record
on Zoom. You've now got AI notes for the future. You've got videography. So if you ever have to transition it to a different person, you've got that training captured for a future date as well. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. Thank you.
Moving on in new business, Fox Meadows Housing Development. Uh, Mayor Whittington City Council, did you want to get that taken care of uh while Vicki is here and then go back to the other guests? We could do that in case there's any questions. Do you'd like to jump ahead to that?
Sure. All right. So, on page 89, I won't read through my memo. Obviously, Vicki did a great job with her presentation. I think answered I know she's answered all of my questions. We've talked multiple times and I feel very confident in the services that will be provided. Um so as
a staff person after reviewing both proposals, talking to the different uh firms, I I would u recommend um the city council strongly consider the proposal from ABDO. This past year, we we spent a little bit more money on our audit because we it
took us that much to kind of get things together because all the new statutes and fun things like that. I'm not an accountant. I will never be an accountant. I'll never work as an accountant. Um but as as this what I've
seen within both proposals was that we would get to a place where one we can do this quickly and easily every month and then we can go into the audits every year um in a much better shape and and keep the cost of those yearly audits down because they are the yearly audits
are quite expensive. Um and we and we want to make sure that through the year of the audits we get a clean audit letter just because that affects our bond rating and all those kind of things. So as we do all these big projects um it it keeps our cost down. So I think everything
we can do within reason and you know we should um as we move forward. Well, and one difference if you don't mind me adding in the difference between ABDO and the one from ID Bailey, they didn't um reference bringing it back into the system. And I think that is absolutely key that we retain the ability to
understand and you know train our staff so they have a good foundation on how to manage the process because I feel like we got some help this last time around, but when those spreadsheets are created outside the system and somebody else created them, it's not helpful to our staff if they're not even trained on how
to tie everything. and we have multiple accounts. It gets very complex and there was two things that I liked. One of them was that and the second one was that we did as much as we can within the system that we already pay to manage and maintain. Right. So those were the two biggest differences I
saw within the within the two proposals. One is it the whole goal is to get it back to us and get us on our way. And the other is it's within the system. So we're not needing to maintain another side system to kind of make you know do
those other kind of things. So So with that any other questions for other parties or is the intent then to go your recommendation I guess too um would be to go with Abdo for the accounting stuff and then is ID still would we do our
audit at the end of the year? Then they would still do our audit. My hope is that through this process that we'll be able to clean things up and be ready to move forward and not have to have these reoccurring issues. Um, and I think having a little separation between the firms, I guess to me, I'm kind of looking forward to that. And I I've
worked in another city, it's been a number of years now. Um, but with ABDO, they do a wonderful job on the auditing side as well. So, I have the utmost confidence they'll do a good job. So would your intention be if we approve it to get started as soon as resources
become available? Absolutely. And um well this wasn't a budgeted expense or something that we planned for. Um we did not hire another position. So we've actually cut back on our staff. So we do have some um you know money that unfortunately we'll have
to dip into that but so we do have some money to cover that. So can you remind me for the 26 budget? Do we have money set aside for this process to I mean because I hopefully we won't have to use it but yes I did put it put in I mean I would expect some at least
questions being asked and things that come up that we would need to tap into it. Okay. Yep. No, I like that too because it pulled some of those funds that we were looking to spend next year back into 2025 which we have some leeway in because we
didn't fill that position all year. So it alleviates some of our bonding issues. Not bonding, but we have good staff and I think investing in this process will help us invest in our staff too with training. So I think it's it's just long overdue. So
and it also helps with the 2025 audit. Yep. I like training everybody. Me too. Yep. Very much so. Any other questions? Look for a motion to approve going with Abdo and
having staff sign the contract. I'll make that motion. First and second. Any other discussion? All in favor? I. All opposed. All right. Thank you.
Perfect. Thank you. Now we're back to the the second presentation. Uh Miss Wise for Well, I get Whitington all the time. So, hi, my name is Mary Lee. I work with a
nonprofit 501c3 called Pets and I'm here tonight to talk to you about uh TNR. So, thank you for having me. Um TNR stands for trap, neuter, spay, release. It's more of an effective and human way
to approach the increasing numbers of community cats or owned cats that are speeded. Um, it's become a mainstream in communities um because it's a benchmark of human care for animals the right way.
Um, in the past it would be people driving off from a nuisance call, dropping a cat off out in the country, shooting a cat or dog. Um, poisoning. So, this is a more humane way to do it. Um,
we have been uh practicing TNR in other local areas such as Jainsville for the past four years. Um, we're worked with North Mano and we're work we've worked with Mano. Um, it's become more a lot of
calls here in Eagle Lake and we do this all volunteer. I'm the most active of our group and I'm getting older, but um I enjoy doing what I do. So, um last we were Diane. Um I've
been working with Diane. No, no, you're fine. I just been working with Diane who was very active at benches and active with helping cats in the Eagle A community. We were looking at numbers and in the trailer court alone in the past three
years we've had 99 cats either removed spayed neutered. What we do is focus if there's kittens or pregnant mothers. Um if they're too far we don't abort the kittens, but we put them in foster and then we adopt them out or take them to other rescues
um such as benches. Four pets works right along with benches and medium spirits who are great rescues in our area. um 99 cats in three years at the Eagle Lake Trailer Court and then other areas of Eagle Lake. Um I came up with another
probably 15 cats that we've rescued. Um we spend we have five clinics a month. We travel two hours to go to a lowcost spay neuter clinic. It's all volunteer. Um we do a lot of fundraising as a
501c3. We have some grants and a lot of donations um which helps us continue our work. The shelters right now are overwhelmed. Police are getting called. Um by doing TNR, I do believe that it helps. I
believe there's less police calls to nuance calls. Um the average lifespan of a feral cat, a feral cat is one that's not used to humans. Um somebody has either tossed it out, they had kittens, the kittens become feral and they form
what they call a colony. But the average lifespan of cats outside is 5 to seven years. And we mostly focus on helping cats. We do help people with low income when they get a dog and they can't afford to spay and neuter. We'll either set their appointment up or try to offer
some money towards their spay and neuter. Um it's become this is the worst year I've ever seen for cats. I don't know about the police calls, but it's the worst year I've ever seen in southern Minnesota. And all the rescues will tell you the same thing. They're
overwhelmed. The staff is overwhelmed. Um, so going on to tell you about um I've worked in Jainsville. We went to the city council meeting and we looked at euthanization of cats because if the
police pick them up, it's more to euthanize a cat. And shelters right now won't take cats. um they're not in pound contracts. Very few are anymore. So, by doing $40 per cat in Jainsville and they build uh twice a year, I put down the
address where the cat was caught or trapped. I get the community involved. Um whether it's fundraising just so they're they're aware of the problem situation. Um, uh, North Mano. I got a call, was it
last year, the year before, a colony had formed over in lower north off Lindel and Center Street and Tyler in that area. We trapped 27 kittens, nine adults, and we got them to rescues. We got them fixed. Um, but imagine if they
weren't caught. It would just be, and that's what I'm I'm finding at the Eagle Lake Trail part. It's been non-stop. And it's not just um people I know like Diana that was at the trailer court. It's other people at trailer court. Um I've tried to find out where these cats
are coming from. My first thing is is there a farm close by? Um but I truly believe that people are just turning cats out at this trailer court. Can't prove it but um so it just makes it really hard. So that's what I'm here
tonight to propose to see if you guys would be interested in helping with the financial burden of cats and lake specifically the trailer court. And I did get a copy of the letter um from Regency about I'm not sure if you guys
have seen this um about what they plan to do or how they it's just enforcing it is another thing. So any questions at all? Could I ask Can I ask a question, Mary? How
much did you say it is per cat? Did you say $40? Okay. 40 per cat. And I look at what it would cost euthanizing. I'm 150 maybe at least to euthanize a cat, a problem cat. Or and that's if you can get into a vet because the vets were
short of vets in the area. They're overwhelmed. They like high paying customers. So, um it's hard just to get like a feral even to get spayed or neutered. That's why we travel two hours to Wilmer to Forest Lake to Minneapolis.
So, 15 to 20 cats each trip. Mary um is very humble. I think she has just in talking with her on the phone um about all that she's done in Eagle Lake, I think it's it's just incredible how much she's helped us. And I if we think we have a problem now, I think we'd have
a much bigger problem our hands had you not been helping. So, thank you. Yeah. Think of that. not many cats having kittens or reproducing it would be worse. I like to think I make a dent, but just when I think that way, I get a call from the police department or the sheriff's office and people asking for
help. Yeah, I'm getting older and it's hard to find young people to volunteer. So, anyway, thank you. Any questions for Mary before should we Mary? What do you think would be a reasonable number if the council
wanted to consider um setting aside money for what you're seeing in Eagle Lake right now? And I have to tell you after I talked to Mary, I got connected with her um actually was your neighbor um council member Lewis's had a cat in their garage and she and I was talking to her and I said, "Oh, no." Um and she
said, "Well, some some um nice lady messaged me and said she would come and help." And I said, "Is her name Mary by chance?" And sure enough, so I mean it's you're really making a big difference in our community and I really do think we need to do something with this. For instance, that's the kitten a kitten
in their garage for five days. They didn't know what was in there. They had the door up. Kitten took cover um a block over. We rescued a kitten the week before and I'm pretty sure they're the same bunch, the same um family of cats, but both of them spayed neutered were
adopted and so it's a good thing to to use it that way. So going back to to Jennifer's question, what what do you think would be reasonable? I don't know how your budget is. Um Oh, it's it's ugly like everybody else. We got to throw that. Um no, we want to
be responsible. you know, we thank you for all the good work that you've done. You know, probably the you know, what I'm being told, one of the biggest things on the alternative Facebook page is cats. Yeah. Um, you know, I think it's it's it's a growing issue. It used to be dogs and
things like that, but it's cats. So, you know, we want to be responsible and help out as, you know, you're obviously doing some great work in our community. So, well, and we we try to educate at the same time, but um it's if they'll listen I I do believe in microchipping. So, I
always encourage them to get their cats microchipped if they haven't. So, if it gets lost, at least they can take it to a vet or I think does the sheriff's office have a scanner? Yeah, they have scanners with them so they can scan. I know they do.
But I usually look for the cat people in each town when I get a cat call and see if they can help me so I don't have to do the traveling. They can watch the traps. We do provide traps, you know, and carriers, that kind of thing. make appointments.
Yep. Dian's Eagle Lake pregnant kittens kittens that I fly with and we've all they've all been taken care of. Oh, that's fantastic. And that's just that's just this year. And when we do TNR,
I think people come and I really do. I think you're probably a known quantity and that's what's happening. Um, when we do TNR, what we do with most of them, if they're unowned, we tip their ear. So, it's a universal uh sign that that cat's been tipped. It's sterilized, had its first set of
vaccines, and you know, it's good to go five to seven years hopefully. So, um, with our winters with, you know, getting run over, things like that, that's the way it is where if we take care of our cat right in our house 20 years,
So you guys still dance around the question. Well, if I do the math just for this year, I mean four or five grand is what I'm coming up with. Um I don't know like what I did in Jainsville, they gave me $1,000 to work with the first year. So and we got a lot we got a lot under
control I think that first year, but just when I say that now the phone calls are starting to come in from Jamesville. So, all it takes is one person moving into town and having kittens and cats and turning them out. And I do believe that's what's happening at the trailer court. I just can't prove it.
Which is worse, us or them? Jainsville. We're better, right? Right now, you guys are Jainsville was four years ago. So, maybe more than a thousand. Well, and I can I can always I can always update you guys, too. the
number to get us better than we've already done a lot. So, no, I think as we look through the budgets, you know, that's going to be a focus here in the next couple months. You know, I think yeah, at least a thousand, you know, looking to, you know, getting up to that, you know, that
three to four 4,000. I think I wrote, not to interrupt you, mayor, but I think when I was talking to you, Mary, I think you gave me a number of possibly uh over two grand for Eagle Lake this this year. Yeah. That would be if I charged you for all these cats this year. This year. Yeah. So, I think your number
is pretty close. Probably what we're going to We've done a lot just this year. And we've got good records this year. Again, I like your accounting stuff because I don't like to be an accountant. May I real quick just ask a question. Mary, um what is the age group for um
say adoption? Um a year and younger. Um adoption, we adopt them all. Even seniors the They've got to be nice. Y we can't take a feral cat and adopt it out. But what we do is we have a barn cat program. It's called barn cat, a working cat program. So if we do have a
feral, if it's causing, if it's a nuisance, we've got people that don't like cats, they're going to do something to them, then I try to relocate that cat. But once you relocate a cat into another place, you have to acclimate it in a building closed for at least two or three weeks just so they get to know the
surrounding. Otherwise, if you let it out, it'll run. running and then it won't have a food source and end up who knows. So because benches has only been our our resource for any stray cats and yes they're overwhelmed with with them. So
you're always our second point of contact which um I got to talk to the blood county because they think I'm a dog person too and keep dogs. Yep. And we have just so everybody is aware that we have identified one problem area. Um I think out of that
residence we re removed 44 and I think they were missing 12. So um fairly recent probably mid to midsummer probably. So I bet some of those were probably coming from that area. So this year you Yes.
Okay. [Music] Oh my goodness. They just keep coming though down at the trailer court. Diane, I also want to put out on behalf of the trailer to work with whatever we need to do to help out because it is a problem. We are
seeing it and as we did we put out the letters now we want to work with whatever whether it's helping live places we are absolutely willing to help out as much as possible. Are you the contact person? I am the
manager this evening. What's your name? My name is Jamie. Jamie, thank you. But I think it was only addressed with the trailer court after there was the complaint, right? Then then the courts but yeah we are
but nobody was addressing it before that it was it was it was a problem and it see no blame on one person in particular by any means. So it sounds great Jimmy thanks for stepping up and then you guys can kind
of get together and see what we can do. The thing why cats live in trailer parks because the skirting they can go under skirting, you know, the skirting's not tight. Um, abandoned trailers. There was one trailer down there several years ago that bunch of cats.
So, I think we'll try to put 2,000 in our budget at least and then see what we can do as we go forward, you know, with other other requests. Thanks a lot. Thanks for what you've done so far. Thank you, Mary. Thank you, Diane. What about cats that aren't feral? And I
say it as neighbors can attest, and right now I like it because I saw a mouse over the weekend in my in my front yard. Um, but a particular black one that likes to roam our neighborhood all day, several times a day with a collar on. So clearly it's somebody's cat that
wants to put a collar on it, but not keep it in their yard. How do you handle how do we handle ones like that that are clearly owned, just not maintained and kept in their own yard? That's very true. that our dogs love to sit and bark at and then other neighbors are mad because the dog doesn't stop
barking because a cat is in the yard. So, I mean, it's not just the feral cats, it's the ones that are correct. Call Mitch. I was going to say too, I think we in in talking with Mary and with uh Lieutenant Gayler, we just
really need to work on the education component and um you know, we haven't done a good job at the city side because honestly up until recently, I haven't heard of it was always dogs. Dogs are loose. So, we try to educate the residents about make sure your dogs are always leashed. Well, now it's the cat
problem. So, that's something we've talked about, too, is we just need to really ramp up our efforts on on the educating um and how to, you know, don't don't take a kitten, it's might be cute, don't bring it home and then just decide to set it outside because we're going to
have a lot of problems. And I I learned a lot myself about how many litters these cats can produce. And I think the average person isn't thinking about that at the time when they think that they decide they no longer are going to take care. Yeah. Like our friend who's like, "Yeah, I fed it, so I kept it warm." But I'm like, yep.
So, we will try to do maybe working with Mary, we'll try to do some um you know, educational efforts and absolutely we can. Yes, we'll be in contact. Perfect. Perfect.
Thank you so much. All right, moving on to the next presentation. I'm not even going to attempt the last name after I butchered Mary's last name. So, is Blake Blake here? I don't see Blake here. Um,
do you want to talk? Do you do you want me to give you a brief overview? Okay. Uh, mayor and city council. Um, we were contacted by a party that was interested in possibly acquiring a property that is just outside of Eagle Lake in Manito Township.
um the interested party had contacted uh the city to find out what is the process for annexation and then um resoning. So we reviewed all those uh processes. However, um the individual had wanted some sort of asurances and as we've
reviewed with individual you know you have there are certain processes by law we're required to follow for reasonzoning for first of all I should back up annexation then resoning. Um, so that individual was told we can't give any assurances, but they sure would be welcome to come to the council and
address the council. But, um, so obviously they're not here. You don't need to probably review it any further. But, um, you know, when these when these, uh, requests do come up, they'll obviously come before the council and the council can consider annexing in uh,
property around the community. And, um, we always want to grow uh, commercially. So this in this situation, we had somebody that wanted to demolish a um an isore on a property and put up a commercial structure. Um however,
because of its location, we would not have been able to extend sewer and water and we would have had to had an agreement with them stating if we the city would enex you into city limits, you would not have city services and you know and then at some point in the future if there were city services available, then they would have to agree
to connect. But so that's basically kind of just a highlevel overview of um the discussions that took place with this individual. If you have any questions, let me know. But no actions required. Moving on to new business. So we took care of the proposal for Abdo um Fox
Meadows housing development phase two. All right. uh mayor and city council. Uh we went through phase one with uh Fox Meadows and they had an escrow account for um the infrastructure that would be the roads um you know things that the city um acquires once a project is
complete. Um and that went well. Now we're on to phase two. Um the extended BLACE and there's some other uh work with that as well. Uh but the total escro amount set aside that was agreed to was $34,400. Um, right now we have a draw request in
the amount of $228,922.54. Um, this is primarily for uh the Blaze Avenue East extension. I did review this with the uh city engineer and he uh recommended that we go ahead and reimburse this mount. So, what we need this evening is just approval from the
council to go ahead and release the amount requested. Right. Any questions? Or look for a motion to approve the the draw. I'll make a motion to approve the draw. We have a first and a second. I'll second.
First and second. Any more discussion? All in favor? I. All opposed? All right. Fire department proposal. Good evening, mayor and city council. Thank you for your time this evening. Uh so we are here uh to ask for your
consideration replacing one of our fire trucks. Uh it's 4312. It's a 1999 uh Pierce Telesports, our ladder. Um so on page 147 of your packet uh really starts our we'd like you to take a look at uh has some information on our current 4312. So again, it is uh 1999 uh the
standard we like to follow the national standard for replacing uh firet trucks for the recommendation. That's uh NFPA1 1911. So in NFPA 1911 they state that hey once it's over 25 years old uh they really don't recommend putting a lot of money uh into the firetruck at all. Uh
it's just not worth it that they've seen uh across the country. And so that's kind of the the guideline that we're using for uh our recommendation. And on uh July 6th of this year, we discovered that there was a crack in the weld at the base of our ladder. Uh it's where the supporting rams where they do the
lifting of the ladder up into the air. Um we found two major cracks in that component. Uh and at that point, uh we decided to take the ladder out of service. So it can still be used as a bumper truck. Uh but based on its age, uh we are recommending retirement of
that apparatus uh at this time. Uh if we move uh to page 43, excuse me, on page 148, a little bit more on our current truck, uh kind of describes some of the decisions on why we're recommending go in the direction we'd like to go. Um so we purchased 4312 back in 2010. We
purchased it used, purchased it from Brinley Mountain Fire Apparatus down in Alabama. Uh we've been uh based on the age of our current truck, you know, but we've been looking into this for a while. Um fire departments are really holding on to their trucks much longer uh than they have in the
uh based on how expensive these things are and uh based on the current used market, you know, we'd have to spend probably 500,000 to get something that's 20 years old. And so, if we're going to follow the standard of 1911, uh that doesn't make a lot of sense to put that much money into something that's already
going to be almost at the end of its life cycle uh with uh NFP1 1911. So, uh that kind of brings us uh to the next page, 149. If you want to go into detail on NFPA1 1911, uh certainly that's there for your review. on page uh 152, there's
pictures of the cracks. Um, you know, we're really surprised by that. We've really put a lot of pride into our trucks. We've taken very good care of our truck. Uh, it's never been used as a hammer, for example, on scene. Um, it's never been any accidents that we're aware of since since we've owned the
truck. So, we were really surprised in July when this came uh to light that, hey, there's significant damage uh that we should really stop using that. Uh our recommendations on page 155 starts uh with a new truck. Um so last year we
started uh really taking a closer look. Uh we had peers come out. They brought a demo truck uh in July and so we were able to uh take it to several buildings in town to make sure this would be a good fit for Eagle Lake. Uh and we really feel like it's a good balance. It's a good balance uh between the
capabilities and what we can do with the truck, but it's also not nearly the most expensive truck on the market. Uh how we would pay for that is on the next page on 156. So uh we would recommend putting uh $700,000 down
starting in January. Uh the $700,000 would be guaranteed in state of Minnesota. We're required anytime we would prepay for something. Uh state of Minnesota requires a performance bond. So um you'll see the first couple pages. I think the contract was like 1.85
million. there's an additional $5,000 and that's that performance bond and that's the numbers that are toward the end of our presentation. So the performance bond guarantees, hey, the city's going to be delivered a truck or we're going to get our money back if we prepay. And by prepaying we get a
discount of almost $60,000 if we commit that $700,000. Um so the $700,000 that would come from uh two different sources. It would come from our capital improvement fund that we've been saving uh for new truck for a long period of time and it also come
from our gambling money um $100,000 from that. And that's on page 180 of your packet. Um this is from our 2026 uh budget session from September 9th. Behind the scenes, we've been uh working on our capital improvement plan uh really since 2010 and we've been saving
money um towards this project uh since that time. We're not asking for any additional funds uh from the city or from the city budget. We just ask that you follow the plan that we've had in place since 2010 uh funding our capital improvement plan. So the 700,000 would come from the money that we've set aside
and in the future the money that would go toward the capital improvement plan, we just ask you put toward this truck. So what we've done uh in the past, we just ask that you you would continue that. Uh those numbers are in more detail in the next couple pages. 181.
At this point, I would turn it over. Anything else you wanted to add? Well, the the things I had to add, he I don't even know why I'm up here. He covered everything so clearly. Um, the stuff I wanted to include was more of the reasons why we need a truck like that. This truck that we're looking at
is 107 foot reach. It's 107 foot reach. The truck we currently have is a 65 foot ladder. um which uh kind of restricts us quite a bit in our reach for some of the build buildings that we need to get to. Um for
instance, uh 93 Maple Lane. Um in order to be able to reach the roof on that building, um we would literally have to be up in the front yard with uh the truck we currently have. Um with uh 107 foot ladder as we took it out and drove
it around and um took it to a couple of different places actually in town. um extended the ladder to see the reach. We're actually able to reach the peak of of the building um being out in the street. So, take for instance, you're not always going to have the opportunity
to drive up in a front yard. There's vehicles parked. There's all kinds of different restrictions forbidding you. We won't talk about where squad car is going to be. Um you know, just different things that would keep us from being able to get up where we need to be, right? So, um there's there's that.
There's um two different places we took it. We took it at 75 Thomas Con Lane. So if you go right from the curb to be able Then there was a couple of other calls that we um we needed to be able to
utilize a ladder on. Um you take for instance um Dave Andri's place when his when his body shop got on fire out there. Chuck's body shop, we use that a lot for both um aerial and um egress um which is what we tend to be able to use
the ladder for a lot um besides force suppression. Um that uh egress especially in some of these newer places like you just you know, you're talking three stories now to be able to actually reach that second or sorry, the third floor window and allow place for
somebody to escape trapped inside. It's probably one of the biggest things that we can do with this truck that we're not able to do with the current one that we have. Um there's been a couple of other things. Um when there was a fire out at Ginsel's in the elevator out there, we
um excuse me, we had to utilize Mano's truck. Um, ours just didn't have the reach for that leg that we would have needed. Um, there's um, WW Blacktop which I know that isn't in our community, but um, that's kind of the
way all of our little fire departments work around here, right? In mutual aid, we help everybody else out. Everybody relies on each other's equipment as much as possible in order to be able to get the job done. Um, so, you know, WW Blacktop, there was um, hands and sanitation
whisies meat market Jamesville. So there's quite a few situations where we've needed a ladder that we not only for ourselves but for other people and that reach is quite beneficial. As you said 65 is a
lot. So we understand this is a lot of money. We take our fiscal responsibility very very seriously. But we believe this is the right truck. We believe this is at least a 25 30 year for the city of Lake and surrounding communities. We believe it's capable of everything that we
needed to do. Uh and tonight we'd ask for your support. We open up any questions that you have council. I guess I'll start with my little spiel. Uh most of my questions have already been answered with you guys today. I talked to Trent uh was it last Thursday
night? Um, you know, with $1.9 million, it's a 107 foot truck. You know, a lot of my reservations initially was, you know, do we need a truck this big? You know, I know that we're kind of a smaller city, but I know we have townships as well that we got to cater
to. Um, a 75 ft truck is still a lot of truck. And from what I understand, if you know, if we went from a 107 to maybe a 75 ft truck, we'd be saving, you know, $300,000 that we could be using towards other things. Um, you know, even with this spiel, at the end of the day, if
you guys say we need it, I'm not gonna argue. I'm not gonna argue with you guys on it. Um, but I do have reservations on it. If we need a truck that big, you know, especially when we're only 5 miles away from Mano to where if we have a rare situation, do we need a longer ladder? They're right down the street.
Um, again I it just seems like a lot of truck for us when I feel like we've been making a 65 foot truck work for the past 20 25 years um to jump up such a larger
truck. Again, a lot of my questions have been answered. I get it. It just I wouldn't be doing my job as a council member if I wasn't critical on such a large purchase. Sure thing. I appreciate you taking the time. uh to meet with us and discuss the truck purchase. So, a little bit about
this truck. It's it is a unique opportunity. It's part of a dealer allocated stock program uh through McQueen. So, it's something that that Pierce and McQueen have worked out ahead of time. It's not that uh it's a very standard truck. It's something that we don't have a lot of customized options in. And because of that, they're able to
deliver it much faster. They're able to deliver it in August, September, uh next year. Otherwise, the timing would probably be like four years out. Really be a longterm. the 75 truck, five foot truck is not part of the dealer allocated stock program. And so I had them price that out just to see, hey, in the past it was a big difference in
price. Is it still a big difference in price? Because the dealer allocated stock program, it's $25,000. So for $25,000, I was thinking on, hey, what could that be similar to? And to me, it's kind of like a parking lot, right? Parking lot would be a lot cheaper if it
was grass or if it was gravel, right? But we'd really like it if it's cement or black top, right? And so there's reasons like that just like a firet truck. So for the reach is really really important. Have we been able to make it work? Yes. Does it compromise several things in the fire ground? Yes, it
absolutely does. And so we would recommend uh sticking with that dealer allocated stock program. I think uh there's a couple benefits in there. Uh one, it is a cheaper truck because it's part of that program and two the turnaround time uh is definitely a lot more beneficial for the city.
So, you said it was $25,000 difference between a only $25,000. I think that's a moot point now, as people might say. Um, I arrest my case. Good work, Nick. Um, also, if I could real quick, um, there
was a fire um on um right next to the uh city shop down there couple years ago. Um, we tried attacking that that fire on the third floor with our ladder. We were not able to reach up to where we needed to be able to spray the water from in
order to stop the water from sorry the fire from traveling from one unit to the next. We were only able to get the we weren't able to get up where we needed to be with this7 foot ladder would have been able to make that difference.
That's the difference between the two. I think my question is, you know, finances that we have this year are okay, but you know, as we're seeing out in the the world, they're going to be getting a little tighter as
we go through the next three, four, five, 100 years. Um, we've got $102 million left on this. Where is that going to be coming from? We're spending a lot of your You guys have been doing a good job of, you know, kind of planning for that. Do we have enough to when we
receive the truck? Is that when the payment of 102 million comes from? So, the payment it would be on a 10-year lease to to purchase. So, the 10 year uh the 10 year lease once it's done that the city owns a truck for a dollar. Um so, as part of that, um the city currently puts away about 160,000
almost not quite that every year uh for truck purchases and truck replacement. We would just like to allocate that money toward this truck. Uh so, we think the money's there. The money has been there. Um that doesn't use all the money that's in the firetruck fund. Uh so we're currently we have about a million
dollars in there. Uh that leaves 400,000 if there's a bad day uh that the city can do something else. Does that tie your guys' hands for the replacement of another truck that might need to come up in the coming years or what when is the next truck needing to be replaced besides this one? The next
truck that's up is the rescue. Um, that would be in 2036. Okay. I hate to ask this, does it fit in the building? It fits in the building. Yeah. So, the truck that that we spec here is the exact truck that they came with the demo.
Okay. So, they brought it, we tested, make sure it fit. We brought it home and we didn't have any holes in the garage door. So, all right. Perfect. So, Any other questions from the council?
So, the truck that we're wanting to sell, I think you mentioned pay like maybe $5,000 we're hoping to get on auction for that thing. So, the broken ladder, um, you said that it could be a pumper truck. Is there something that we could use that truck for as well or would is selling it just the best option
for that thing? So, it really comes down to space in our current station. We don't have a lot of space in the station. Um, the best way I think the best perspective on that is to look at our ISO rating and how much that's going to uh homeowners insurance uh for our residents. So there is a section from
ISO rating that that looks at backup pumpers. Um it doesn't carry that much weight. Um so really it comes down to we don't have room in our current station. Uh and there really isn't a big benefit to have it. So if we're selling it at auction, it is
sold asis where we are not fixing anything else on it. Sold as is. Yeah. And that's why you're saying it's like $5,000 we're hoping to get because we don't You're saying that we don't you probably won't get much money for that thing at all really for Yeah. The teleports that are in good operation right now are going at like
15,000. We saw the bids at the last truck that we just sold. Uh the first time we went around it was at five. We had a floor at 10. That's the only reason we got 10. So when it's all said and done, they there's zero value in them. There's not much in that truck. Again,
this that truck has been it was a South Daytona truck, so it has 60,000 miles on it. That may not seem like a lot for a consumer vehicle, but that's a lot in fire truck miles. That engine runs a lot more lighting or whatever the case might be. We got to make sure that truck stays
running at all times. So, the engine hours at least what the mileage is. So, we would advocate just like we did last year with the turnout year. Uh the council approved it uh let's say in
October, but uh we wouldn't didn't move forward until January. So, this is a 2026 budget item. Uh we wouldn't look to spend any money uh here in 2025, but we would look uh for the council. We're asking is you consider to approve this this year to get everything moving, but
then in 2026 that's when the payments would start. And you're saying what's the delivery? Uh August of September or 2026. Wow. That is that's extremely fast. Yeah.
Any other questions from the council? Expensive truck. I think that when you explained it at the budget meeting a couple weeks ago, it was really well thought out and explained well. Um, and I think that, uh, honoring what you guys have done with the other councils in the
past, too, I think this, as what Deputy uh, Lewis mentioned about the, uh, price difference not being really much of a thing. I think that this is the right decision to make at this time before inflation gets to fire trucks, I which
it already has. But I think that one thing I like about what the fire department does here in Eagle Lake, just on a side note, is how you have that riser for this is going to be replaced in 2040. This is going to be replaced. That's a very helpful thing to have. Um,
and it makes me feel confident in making an informed decision to uh make a motion to get the truck. So, is that your motion? That's my motion. We have a first. I'll second that. I have a first and
second. Any more discussion? No. My my reservations were answered. Um so no I got anything first and second. So all in favor I All opposed. All right. Thank you.
Thanks guys. All right. Pricing for 2025 sidewalk repairs. We got the the fall to do it. It sounds like. Yeah. Um so in your packet you will see a
quote from um Clint Adams concrete for um mainly sidewalk on the sewer. A lot of it is uneven and trip hazards and things like that that
need to be replaced. Um so I I was requesting that we move forward with that bid and um he can have those done by the end of the month. So
we have the budget always have ask the budget question uh 30,000 perfect kind of close here. It's very mathematical and that and that's part of what takes so much time
is, you know, going through with these contractors and, you know, looking at, okay, these sidewalks are the worst. Now, how much can we get, you know, to maximize as much of that money as we can.
Um, so I'll make a motion to accept bid first. Oh, I'll second. Okay, Nick's got the second. Any other discussion? The only thing I would say is I have no problem with all of this, but if we can
get it done more in the summer, um I I get it takes time, but now that we're pretty much to the point where everybody's going to be moving inside and and more shovel and snow. Um hopefully. Um I I I'm every year I feel like it keeps happening later and later. I don't understand why we can't do it so
that it's done more midsummer versus late fall. makes juggling any easier. It does. So that's my only comment. Any more discussion? All in favor?
I opposed. All right. So, looks like you're up again. Yeah. Um, so attached in your packet is a um estimate from Melters Tree Service for
um he put ash tree removal, but it's any tree removal. Um, when I talked with him, um, we talked about kind of like making a a contract, you know, and maybe doing, you know,
getting a set pricing for, you know, 3 years. Um, so I I think that is from talking to him that's his price for like the next three years on tree
removal would be is the 9500 for um 10 trees um to be taken down and then 10 to be trimmed. Um, with that, I would ask that we have a little bit of leniency on, you know,
being able to get a few more trees taken down. Um, I know this year we have probably 15 that could come down that are really ugly looking. So, um, but
this gives you the, you know, the basis of what we would be getting for our money. And okay, so I know, you know, we've I think there's several trees down in the park we need to start
getting through because they're, you know, they're in the later stages now. They're starting to do some bad things like leave branches hung up in branches kind of thing. So So do we have an idea where these tin
are or that's something that you guys will determine? Um, back when I brought my first, um, estimate or request, um, we had a bunch picked out. Um, before he comes and does
them, would probably just go around and just re-evaluate and see what what is the worst and whatnot. And I know, you know, down at Lake Eagle Park, there's probably 30 trees that could come out that would be
beneficial to the park to come out. Um, but we also have like Freys Park, there's a few trees up there that are um in need of being gone. I'd like to focus on the parks if we
could um just because we have a high concentration of littles um there. I hate to see anything happen there. Um we're looking about two grand a tree. Is that my math is mathing right?
Oh 1,000. See, my math wasn't it be like I think you figured about $400 per tree to trim and was it $800 to take down. Um and that's grinding stuff too.
Yep. And that's estimated. So, you know, the price could fluctuate a little bit. You know, if a tree Yeah. If a tree is bigger than that 25 inch diameter. So the question I brought to both the minister Bland and um Andrew Hartman was
like we have with our technology services with CTS or other services we we're contracted with them um if something comes up we expect them to be here right and in the past we've had good relationship with Plugg or we've had good relationship with Meltures
where they have came and helped us after some emergencies um when they haven't had to. So I said, do we have or can we um is there any appetite anyways to to say, okay, we're going to allow, you know, is it 15,000 a year with the expectance expectations that there's
going to be at least 10 or 12, 14, whatever that number is of trees coming down, but this is what we're going to give you um or a lot to it every year. Um and I already have it in so that we're not again getting to to fall and just starting. some of those things can be happening throughout the summer as as
they come up or on an emergency basis. It kind of has a little more teeth for meters to say, "Yeah, we will be there. We do have your back." Um because you have our back, too. So, we've already got them designated and known they can fit them in or correct. Correct. and and then will that also save some cost too because they've
already mobilized into Eagle Lake and can do you know I don't I just it it was just a question and and I know from another small you know sitting on where we sit too it's um it's it's nice to have to build those relationships and then in return a lot of times discounts
or um we're we'll trim an extra tree and it's not not on the books type of thing too. So, not that they would do that, but just whether there was any appetite from the council to be able to say um like we do with some of our other services in more of a contract, an allotted amount and um have that moving
forward. And and with Meltures, um we've had a a good working relationship with them since I started. Um and Nick there that's now taken over. Um I've known him
for a long time. Um, and like with these storms that we were supposed to get this summer and you know, I just I would just text them, you know, hey, are we are we good? If we're, you know, if we need you, you'll be here
right away. And it's always, yep, just let me know. Um and we've had the conversations of you know is our city the priority you know and to them like if there is a a windstorm that
comes through and things like that we're right now we are their priority you know as far as okay you called us now we're going to come. So that's why you're talking about more of that contractual arrangement. That's Yeah, we've got it sounds like we got a good partnership
with them now even without a a two or three year contract, but it'd be nice to kind of cement that a little bit. Yeah, that was just just kind of a thought. I I'm not looking at handholding and going out and knowing exactly what tree is coming down or, you
know, with the AB and all of that stuff. like I I would hope that both Melters and our public works staff would look at that, address the trees that need to be done and take action um specifically in the summer before we have a massive limb hanging over a park or playground
equipment and stuff. So, um so do we want to do something with this and then look for 26 27 contract with them? I'd make a motion to approve this tree removal um requested amount as laid out.
First one second. I'll second. First a second. Any more discussion? All in favor? All opposed? We're getting close. We're getting closer. Um number six, follow up on
request for two parties to purchase city land. Mayor and city council. This won't take too long. Um, I just wanted to let you know that um, following the last city counciling that um, there was some discussion where we talked about two parties that were interested in
acquiring land by their respective properties and after consulting with um, uh, Blue Earth County and um, you know, the city attorney and then talking to staff and also getting feedback from the council, you guys um, gave some good
points. Uh it's it's not looking like it's in our best interest to sell either of the parcels that were uh looked at with interest. One of the parties did ask though um for the city to look into um how much the property owner can come onto city property and help with
buckthornne because it's very invasive. We know that. But all over um and so I did reach out to the county. I'm just waiting to hear back from them because they said they didn't recommend any major clear cutting um in that area. So, I'm just trying to work with them to get a plan and and try to figure out what we
can do because I understand the property owner's concern as well. So, I will um I guess my purpose in bringing this up tonight uh it is not recommend this time that the city um entertain those inquiries to uh purchase land and I just want to give you an update on on the
reasoning why. Will you be reaching out to the two? Yes. Yeah. And do we need a city goats? Um I think that would be a wise idea. Yes. Thank you. They love Buckthornne, I guess. Right.
All right. For the next one, uh, number seven, MMUA membership. All right. Uh, mayor and city council. Um when we went through our uh recent um thorough personnel policy review and update, uh one thing that was identified
as needing to be updated was um implementing uh random drug and alcohol testing for our DOT employees. And so we have that current language in our policy. Um now to manage that process, it's um something that we're looking to
contract with MMUA. Um it's uh Minnesota uh municipal utilities association. They do uh drug and alcohol testing. They have a consortium. Uh so it's recommended that we contract with them and they'll handle all the paperwork as far as scheduling the random um testing
and um it's it's a requirement we have to comply with. So really don't have much of a choice here. Uh but we have our agreements very standard. Many cities work with MMUA. It's very common. Um and again it's um coincides with our
language and our policy. Just need a motion to approve that. Look for a motion to approve the the contract contracting with MN UA. I'll make that motion. We have a first.
We have a first second. Uh all in favor? I opposed. All right. others. Eagle Lake helping hands. All right. Uh mayor and city council, I'm going to go back to one item that I added. Um I apologize for tonight. Um
write it down. Nope, that's okay. So, the city received um funding for uh design engineering for the connect pedestrian connectivity project along um facade 27.
Um and it gets to be a very complicated process with the federal funding. I think I've explained that to you guys all before, but the good news is we keep moving through the process and I've relied heavily on DOT to provide guidance and that's been really helpful. Um, but just to summarize here, so the
next step in the process we was we had to release um requests for proposal and so I put that out. I published it in our um newspaper. I posted it online league Minnesota cities marketplace and we got one um proposal back is from Bolton Mink and they're very familiar with the
project. Um, so I'm not sure if the city council has to take action. I tried to reach out to Blue Earth County. Um, and I was not able to speak with the engineer, but I talked to his assistant engineer and he's going to follow up with me tomorrow. But to air on the side of caution and keep the process moving,
I would just ask the city council to um, you know, accept staff's recommendation that we go ahead with both and make to do the design engineering. it will be covered by the carbon reduction program grant funds but because it's federal funding basically the county is the conduit and they have to or the fiscal
agent if you will so I'm assuming it's going to take blue county board action but I think it's good that the city can say we you know city staff has reviewed it and recommending it and there is no dollar amount attached to this it's just request for basically
qualifications but they call an RFP so Looking for a motion to accept staff's recommendation. I'll make that motion. We got a first. I want a second. I'll second. First and seconds. Any other questions? All in favor? I.
All oppose. Perfect. Now we're back on track. Um you go like helping hands. All right, we'll make this quick. You guys have the flyer in your packet. I'm very excited about this concept that um Lieutenant uh Gayler came up with. uh
Eagle Lake Helping Hands. It's a just kind of summarize, it's a community initiative that brings law enforcement, youth together, um community service organization, the Lions Club, and our goal is to um you know, promote um volunteering with youth, working
alongside law enforcement. Um the sheriff's department has done a phenomenal job. I didn't say that very I can't say that word very well, but you know what I mean. um they've done a a wonderful job in the school and building um strong relationships with our youth. And so I think this is just another kind
of natural step that they get to work alongside them and um just try to inspire them to give back to their community as they um you know grow up and and so I think this is just a really exciting opportunity. We're working to um get people to sign up right now and
to find properties that uh may be may be in need of assistance. So, um, with that, uh, that's all I have for that. Um, I want to just say one thing. I think it's great to have just to have the interaction, positive interaction between the youth and and the law
enforcement. I think that's great. And I think it, you know, it's great for officer Lieutenant Kaylor to come up with this project. I I hope it uh we have tons of volunteers, but uh I'm sure we'll be putting it out on our our sites here soon. So, I think it's a great
idea. I think it's it's something that I know the scouts did way in the past and I you know was it was great fun actually you know with a bunch of kids and breaks and mud so it's perfect I think um I know I'm don't want to talk longwinded but it it's just so
refreshing to hear all the youngsters refer to our deputies by name deputy Lewis Deputy Bergman um Lieutenant Gayler I mean they just that that connection that first um no I they know you Deputy Lewis Yes, they do. Every time we drive by your
house, Ohio, I thought you was a Gayler. Bye. Oh boy. Well, we'll work to change that. So, all right. But keep up the good work. Yep. Appreciate it. Thanks.
All right. Uh, next item I just wanted to bring to your attention. I received a complaint about um, uh, Regency of Minnesota. just uh that's the um trailer court here in town. Uh we've been kind of working through some issues with um
you know overgrown unkempt lots um items that are considered nuisance um cat overpopulation um just some other uh concerns in the in the park. And so, um, Lieutenant Gayler,
uh, public works director Hartman and I, we sat down. I think we've had a couple meetings with the, uh, Regency with the regional man manager, then also with, uh, Jamie and trying to kind of work through some of the issues and it's, it's definitely a work in progress. Um,
you know, we've, um, would like to see a little more proactivity and getting these issues addressed so that we don't have to be on that complaint basis and having to always be contacting Regency, it'd be nice um, to not have to have that. And so, we're working together.
And when I mentioned the regional manager, uh, her name is Kim Sty. She's not able to be here tonight, but I think she might be available on phone if necessary. Okay, perfect. And perfect. And Kim's been a great um person to work with over the years. Um I I've been uh
really um happy to um see in the last couple years I think maybe 10 or 11 units have been removed. And that was something that um Okay. Okay. So, that's something we've been uh
working with uh the park on and um you know, just really I know we just had a recent issue with brush and you know, we had sent a notice and and it um didn't get done. So, we're just hoping that, you know, through the working together that we, you know, can just get
compliance sooner rather than having to keep sending notices and my brush when they should be removing that stuff themselves off the property. So, I'm going to be sending out notices saying, "Hey, this isn't just for anybody. It was a it's a it's a
small thing for when I'm mowing the lawns. I can send it there. I time I take it out and I have taken out several times, but just so many people so much on just so much. It's a lot for one or
two small trails over and over and over again, right? Well, and I think what we've talked about and stressed in our meetings, too, is that, you know, as as expensive as it is to purchase a new home, to be able to see the trailer park, bring in some
newer um uh trailers, and be able to kind of clean up some of the existing stuff. That's what we want to see happen. And so, we just really need to I don't know if we need to get an agreement or something. anything we can set up. We we're we're not there yet on all the solutions, but I just wanted to let you know we received a complaint. We
are trying to Lieutenant Gayler has been wonderful to work with. Um and uh we are trying to make progress and it's it's not happening overnight, but we're hopefully going to be able to um you know, work with all the parties and try
to get some some action taken. And it's an important thing for our community as people come in. We want to make sure that, you know, we have new development cropping up around there and we want it to look nice and we want the people that live in there to feel safe and to not um
have to deal with that when they're um taking care of their property. So, it's not looked in a long time. I grew up there and back then everybody kept up their bonds. They were held accountable. Um people aren't being held accountable
at all. They don't registered vehicles there. I've seen kids running around with bottoms on and I mean in my opinion it's just people aren't being comfortable and that's the bottom line and we say I mean
they say things are getting done there quite often don't see I think what um what we did a few years back to be able to get um those doz dozen or so. Maybe it wasn't even a
dozen, maybe 10 to 12 units out of there. We had worked with the city attorney and law enforcement and we just had to keep after it. So, I think we're to that point again where we need to go through, if the county sheriff's office is willing to work with us, go through there, kind of make a list of the things that would be, you know, um, deemed
nuisances. Work with our city attorney and what we can do and and work with the park. I I don't um you know I do appreciate Kim uh working with us and and they want to u be a partner. So we just we have to continue working together and we have made some progress but I agree there's things that need to
be addressed and resce and I don't know how busy she is. That's not But I just think that things could have been addressed a lot sooner than Yep. Absolutely. No, I I agree with that
and we need to stay on top of it because it it's a you know, makes a big difference as you're coming to town and and if if it's not being taken care of, people, you know, might think twice about wanting to live in Eagle Lakes and and like we I said, we owe it to the people that live there that are taking care of their property to try to help
where we can. knowing that there's limitations to and that's why we need to consult with legal counsel because as much as we want to go in and clean things up, we don't always have the legal right to do that either. So, it's kind of a just got to figure out what um you know what our recourse is and and work to do
work to try to get a solution. Yeah. Kind of going back to like you know the cats a little bit ago. You know, it seems like a lot of the issues coming from Regency I kind of feel like they should be kind of helping foot the bill of this. Kind of come back to some of the accountability as well. Well, I mean, if people are getting charged, I
don't know, $10 a month and extra or well, I don't know, something, maybe they'll start looking out a little bit harder, policing their own stuff. You know, I don't know why we should be footing that entire bill when most of the problem seems to be coming from one area. I think my frustration is I feel like
every month we come back to the they're great to work with. We're making a little bit of progress. We're making a little bit of progress, but if my yard or I had 12 cats running around my yard, there would be no I mean I
action would be happening immediately, right? Or within the 10day allowance on day 11, they'd be out there mowing. They'd be out there taking. So I where I feel like we're and maybe we're not. I don't know all the legalities against what we can and can't do, but um or you
guys are saying you're taking pride in it, but every time I drive by, I don't know if it's literally native grass that's taller than the fence or the weeds, and we're being very critical of a resident on things that um may or may not be be maintained, but those in that
in that place aren't doing it either or there's a massive brush pile between units and the fence by um autumn winds and you know, so at what point is we're working on it. We're working on it and action actually being done and having some pride in that area. I mean, my kids laugh when we drive by and they're like,
"Hey, the toilet's still on the porch." So, I I totally respect and appreciate all that you guys are doing and and any meetings that are being had, but meetings are one thing and action and change is something different. Well, I think too, not to interrupt you, but something I think that's important that
we don't want to overlook here is we don't have an active um uh compliance officer that's in in the sheriff's office. They don't have to help us. We contract for law enforcement. They've been very good to work with us and they help us with it. But at the end of the day, it is the city's responsibility.
And the problem is we don't have a compliance person that goes around unless usually it takes a complaint. I mean, we're a complaint basis. You know, that's how we um we operate. And you know, I just don't have the time to drive around town. When I go out for my runs and my walks, that's when I see things and I try to get things
addressed. And I know public works tries to, but we might just have to work with the park and get a, you know, a schedule. I don't know. I don't know what the answer is right now, but nobody is um if we're going to do it to them, we're going to do it to everybody in town, too. Right now, we operate on a
complaint basis because we don't have Do you guys are you happy with what it looks like right now? No, absolutely not. So, I mean, in my mind, when it's privately owned, why aren't you guys taking the action before it's coming, even getting to the city standpoint, right? Um, I don't know
how it goes. I mean, is residents complaining to you and then you aren't doing anything. So, then they finally say screw it and complain to the city or I mean, just like we're talking again, not going back to the native grass, but how does that violation step piece process work? and to where it's got to
be daunting to have to deal with the nuisance complaints and the cats because I do agree I I'm willing to put whatever we within reason whatever we need to to get rid of these cats but it shouldn't be the city's responsibility to get rid of the cats when it's a problem within your guys's complex whether they get
dropped or not you guys aren't addressing issues on a timely fashion cats are being brought in and left in unit I mean 44 cats that is completely unacceptable and and how it gets to that extent. Um, I don't know. I just feel
like it's like, eh, not my problem. Let the city take care of it or wait until someone complains or vehicles aren't moving and there's so much weeds growing around, no one's complained. Well, frankly, I haven't wanted to be that person that sits in count, you know, complains to city staff every week on
what next nuisance piece we can keep doing. But for me, it's just like take pride in what you guys have there. and it could be a an amazing area when when we're talking lack of lack of units or lack of housing. There's a lot of empty lots in there. Let's get more new units
in and and revitalize that. And I know we talked about that probably four years ago here of how can we revitalize that area in affordable houses or units. Um, no one wants to move into it. I'm not defending Regency, but I will say they've gotten rid of a number of units. It looks it they did and so
like that for a long time. No, no. Yes. Yeah. No. 100%. I said I grew up there and there wasn't seen ever. Well, and it could be like you guys are saying the perfect opportunity to Yeah. When I drive in there to go to my mom's,
it's embarrassing. It's flat out embarrassing. I would I would put a trailer in there to save my life. Not Not right now. I wouldn't. And that's to stay because it can it could be a good place.
I I've lived there for over 50 years and it's the worst it's ever been and I don't want it to close down because I like living there. I like I just like it. I'm happy there and I'm an old lady. So, I guess
I appreciate you guys' efforts. I hope that we can continue to have more improvement made quicker and um driving by it every day to get home for the last um 10 plus years. I would just I'd love to see the revitalization come to fruition and um continue bringing in
new, taking out the old, figuring out some of those things and having that helping hand from the residents that do live there so that that can be another asset versus bringing in more highdensity multif family. Um bringing in things that are actually affordable for people to move into. So that's I guess what I would have to say. No,
I I think so. You know, I don't know if we just kind of come to you and Jamie and say these are our expectations, what we'd like to see and and see how you can progress and work with the residents on getting there. Um, you know, the
relationship's been improving since I came on the council. Before, you know, a couple years ago, there wasn't a relationship between the city and so that's better. We made a little bit of progress, but now it's like you said, you know, the branches need to be picked up. You know, the ditches need to be
mowed when they're dry. Um, we'll take care of that next year. That's been a, you know, that's, you know, that's some of the things. And then, you know, especially as we go into next year when we start looking at the new pedestrian path that goes right in front of there, you know, you know, we want to make sure
that's that's kind of a nice place to kind of come come through there. So, you know, I you have more pull, if you will, with the residents. We have none. Um, so just getting you to, you know, getting them to the toilet is kind of a fixture
now in days, which we wish wouldn't be, but you know, here we are with that. But, um, it's one of those things of, you know, we'll we'll be working with you more more closely, I think, as as we go through and push. And just real quick, I I
So, I respect all the um like the abandoned trailers or the trailers that were, you know, kind of in a needed to be removed. And but now that there's vacant lots, um I think it kind of all starts at the top because uh the abandoned lots are not being maintained.
And then once the individuals living there see the abandoned lots and the condition that they are in, I think they feel like they maybe don't have to maintain their properties because the abandoned lots or the management is not maintaining the rest of the areas up to I guess the standards that we're uh kind
of expecting. So I get it that there's only two of you. Um it's kind of pretty overwhelming. Um, but if we can kind of I guess put in some effort to maintain the areas that are empty and I think maybe the hopefully the residents will
kind of take your lead on um kind of making their properties look more presentable if management can do the same on I guess the rest of it. I I think it would have that potential. But yeah, I mean I agree. It's just my
vision um when we first got over here was just to try to clean it up and um I think it's getting worse. So, um what I mean I know you guys have the abatement clause in your city ordinance. I mean, that's a possibility, but uh I mean,
it's going to put a lot of work on public works, but just know that you do have the abatement clause, and if you have to utilize that to I guess help maintain it, then that could be a possibility. It's all on you, Jamie.
No, no, I totally agree. you know, if if you see, you know, the the lots that aren't there's no trailer on, if those are nice and presentable, I think that'll that'll flow into the rest of the park. It's a great place to start anyway. Um, like I said, you know, we're
going to be putting about a million dollars into that road here next summer. Um, that's right. is that we're kind of landing with the new. So, it sounds like maybe after kind of listening every what we should probably look at is a memorandum of agreement or
understanding of some sort and just try to get um you know as many of these things addressed and it's going to take proactivity to get it. We can't just have an agreement and not follow through with it. That to me would tell you the expectations we have for you know
there's the residents responsibility and then there's the rest of the park right so having those expectations in writing and kind of the the follow through you know if it's not met you know we go down through to the baitment priest where we step in and do in charge kind of thing
so I'll work with the legal counsel and I think it's a pretty daunting task um I think it needs to be taken a step at a time because there just there's a lot there. I mean, I agree with everything Tenant Gayler said. You know, we got these these trailers that get removed
and the trailer's gone, but now the lot there's still left behind metal and scrap. You can't even mow it if you want to. You know, there's just a lot of work. And I mean, the broken window theory, we probably all have heard this at some point. I mean, if if one thing doesn't get addressed in
a timely manner, then other things going to build up. before you know it, we're left with this huge task of now we even know where to begin, you know. So, yes, there needs to be more accountability. We do need a a memoranduming of understanding. We need a plan put forth so that we're all on
the same page and get get working on it and hoping we can get it taken care of. Well, I think something that would help is obviously you're one person. Um, I think it would help if you and Kim would hire whoever you need to hire to to take
a huge I did recently hire another some of the task that it was just 17 things in one day. I'm only able to do five, you know, having that extra hand to try
to Some of those lawnmowers, especially those empty lots and stuff, we're able to try to keep that under control. Once those things go in, they are really hard to get back out.
But we found a way to make it work and we're trying to maintain. Well, we will I know we're running here long on time here. So, um we'll have a staff report back at the next meeting
and I'll keep in touch with um Lisa and um and Diane and we'll keep in touch. So, thank you guys. Thanks for being here. We appreciate all your comments and all your help. Thanks for all your help with the cats, too, over the years. Appreciate it.
I've got three right now. They're fixed already. Mary's already got them fixed. Just have to get them tamed down so we can find homes for them. Thank you. Cats, cats, cats. Thanks, Jamie. We'll be in touch, too. Thanks. And I'll talk I'll follow up with Kim as well. So, thank you.
I do want to say real quick, Jamie, before you leave is I don't want to sound like I'm ganging up on you. I hope you don't think that because I have worked with you a few times and you've done a great job. I just think that we just need just more hands over there. It's probably between you and Kim, I guess, but we just we just need more people over there to help because it's
it's a lot of work for just you. And it's going to happen one way or another. So, as we you know, is it, you know, something that we can get through or is that something that we have to come in and you have a large number that Kim has to deal with?
Well, we appreciate Well, we appreciate him Jamie being here tonight and Kim um I know that there's a lack of action on some of these issues, but at least I'm getting a response because that a lot of times is some is half the battle is getting a response. So, we'll just keep
working at it and you know get a council says I think is once you get it cleaned up and you start that nice to the point where it's maintainable then it's going to be easier but getting it to that you may need you know some extra push and help.
So, absolutely. All right. Thanks. Keep it up. Thanks, Jamie. City administrator. Okay, I I will hurry, guys. I I can talk fast. All right, so we've got the year-to- date expense and
revenue report, employee leave balances. Um, we did we got a mailer from Excel Energy. Um they're going to be putting together their um final report by the end of October which will include summaries from all the hearings they
held, findings of fact and conclusions and recommendations. Um how set does that line that the that's in the packet? I I don't know. This is the first I've gotten any communication since I submitted um our concern. So um
hopefully we'll get more information. As you guys see that it kind of comes down to Eagle Lake and across and we really don't want a high transmission line just north of 14 and that potential you know expansion into that. So if
we did submit a comment with our concerns um by the deadline so that should be reflected in there. Um but I will I will do some more checking. I just got that in the mail um put it on here but I'll um see what I can find out. Um we already addressed the trail project um fire contracts with
townships. So uh last year we went with the automatic renewal provision um because there was a lot of stuff up in the air with the fire hall being talked about and now that we are going to be the city's purchasing a new fire truck. Um I do think it would be a good time to
get a subcommittee from the council and then the fire department um chief assistant chief and sit down and start negotiations for next year because now we actually have a tangible number to say look we are getting this lab truck it is benefiting you um your insurance
rates um and you know they need to come to the table. That's what that's what our request is going to be when we go to negotiate. So with that just need to start thinking about um getting a subcommittee and my goal would be let's get through the end of the year um and then look at you know January February
kind of start getting some meetings scheduled um RCCIP update uh we're um just continuing to meet uh met with the school got an update on the um renovations that are going to be taking
place this summer. Basically, the school representative said the um school will be offline this summer. They're going to be putting um AC throughout the building. They're going to be doing the renovations associated with the classrooms that'll be available for child care and um that there will be uh
no programming at the school. We did ask specifically about ACES and they said, "Yep, it will be coming back. It's just there's no programming available at the school this summer." And so we just recommended to them to please get ahead of that with the messaging, let parents know and um you know just don't drop any
surprises on people as sometimes has happened in the past. So so far um that was a good meeting and looking forward to seeing some more communications from them here um shortly. And then um the mayor and I have continued to meet with uh the superintendent and the school
board chair try to talk about ways we can work together uh to promote the elementary school. Um next item leaf collection that'll be starting here on October 13th. Fall cleanup is October 18th and we have the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee will be
coming to Eagle Lake on October 23rd as part of their uh bonding request tour. And then I just have one other item. We got a request from a resident, excuse me, that had some concerns with children biking, walking, um, and coming off of
the little kind of walking trail onto Lassour Avenue and then also onto Linda Drive, Peggy Lane, and wanting to know if the city could put um either paint some signs letting people know, you know, watch ahead for vehicles or put
some signage up. So, I think it was a very good, you know, reasonable request and uh public works dropped off um a catalog for me to look at signs. I might hand it back to public works and have public works figure out what signs they want. Um it wasn't it wasn't public works director Hartman that that dropped
this off on my desk. Um but we we have a parkboard meeting too on Thursday, so we'll probably talk about this. And um then we also need to revisit um the signage now at the park because we haven't gotten that up yet. and then um
you know any painting on the parking lot uh that we need to do for handicapped accessibility stuff. So with that, I know I kind of talked fast, but that's all I've got unless you guys got any questions for me. So any questions for administrator? All right, council member reports.
Anyone? kind of updated on anything. Nope. All right. I don't have anything either. Announcements. Regular council meetings November 3rd EDA 23rd of October. Park board the 9th October 9th and then
planning commission on the 20th. So I think we just look for a motion to adjourn. Second. All right. else. Thanks everybody.