Perfect. Are you ready? Yeah. Well, we're just waiting for a council member. We'll wait for a few more minutes and if he hasn't been able to get here yet, we'll go ahead and get started. So, now that Jennifer's back, we can go
ahead and get started. We'll go ahead and call to >> order to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. >> Car would you do the roll call, please? >> Mr. Steinberg >> here. >> Mrs. Voric >> here. >> Mr. White >> here. >> Mr. Lewis >> here. >> Mayor Whittington
>> here. Open up for public comments if have a public comment if you're not on the current agenda. I think you guys are going to be put on the agenda. So, I think we're on the spelled out.
>> Is this going to Is this one that's going to be put on the agenda? >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah, we're going to put you on the agenda. Perfect. All right, we'll close the public hearing now. We're back to the agenda. We got a couple amendments to the agenda. >> All right. Uh, mayor and city council,
we just like to add under new business. Um, there's a a memo at your spot. Hopefully, it should say council packet financial information. It's just a followup to the last um discussion or the last meeting the discussion we had about information um that it can be put
um in the packet um related to cyber security and fraud concerns. And then the other item um it wasn't a formal business item. It was just going to be under my report so we can add it to wherever you want on the agenda was just to give a recap of my conversation with Al Anderson um and a question he had
asked about Valley Lane. >> Okay. Where did where do we >> um since they are here we can have it um we could just do it right away. Okay. >> Um after um you go ahead and get get things um moving on the agenda. Maybe we
could just do it under presentation scheduled guests and we can just get it addressed at that time so they don't have to stay. And then u one we have a special guest in the audience. We have Deputy Ian Compton and so um I'd also like to add him to um scheduled guest
and we'll let Lieutenant uh Gayler introduce him and that's all. Thank you. >> Perfect. So, we're going to add Mr. Anderson right at new beginning new business. Is that good? >> Sure. And then the financial packets uh
updates. We'll do that on number eight. And where would you like to Should we make him say the whole thing? >> All right. Go ahead. >> Well, I was going to say we could Were you joking? Or we could I was thinking we could just add him to scheduled
guests as well. >> Right. Perfect. >> I didn't know that he was going to be at tonight's meeting, but we're happy to have him here. So >> So scheduled guests, you with Where do you want to put scheduled guests? >> Uh, just right under presentation. Scheduled guests. We can have him if that's all right. That way he doesn't
have to stick around for the whole meeting. >> I'm just looking for that one. Where's that one at? I don't see that on my new business. >> Uh, so it's on right before new business. >> Oh, present. >> Yep. >> I hate when it hides down there. Okay.
All right. So with those changes, I'd look for a motion to approve the agenda. >> I'll make a motion. >> I have a first. Do I have second? All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. Right. Uh approval of last meetings
minutes. Motion to approve. >> Make a motion to approve. >> Have first. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> First and second. All in favor? >> I. All opposed. Anybody like to pull out any the consent
agenda items for further discussion? >> If not, I'd look for a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> First and second. Any other discussion? >> All in favor? >> I >> I.
>> All opposed. All right. Presentations. Yes, >> you want me to go first? >> Yeah. >> All right. So, uh, Deputy Ian Compton will be, uh, I shouldn't say appointed or whatever,
but, he, uh, graciously designated himself to, uh, take over for Deputy Bergman. So, um, I'll let him kind of explain his past, uh, years of experience, and, um, we're just excited to have him. Has a great personality, very approachable, and a very strong
work ethic. So, we're excited to to have him over here in Eagle Lake. >> Sure. >> Hi, guys. >> My name is I have worked since April of 2022. I'll keep this short. I know
there's a lot on the agenda. A little bit about me. I started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2015 and I served there until about April of 2022 when I made the transition up to the beautiful state of Minnesota. I am I am a resident of Eagle
Lake and that was one of the big contributing factors of why I chose to come from a broader county at large to Eagle Lake. Um I love the community. I love everybody here. It's been a fantastic experience so far and now I can kind of get to know the in a
different capacity. Um, and learning joke is now I never leave. Yeah, thank you very much. Yeah, everybody's been fantastic. Uh, that's that's pretty much me in a nutshell and I can't wait to get to know
everybody and especially during the summer a little bit more. Right now, I'm kind of hiding in a spot. Well, thank you very much for having me. >> Welcome. >> All right.
>> We'll have the Iowa talk later. So, >> um Okay. So, we're going to do the next presentation. >> All right. So, um welcome Deputy Compton. We've really enjoyed getting to know him in the front office and I think he'll um do very well in Eagle Lake with
his personality. So, welcome. Um, so the next item we have uh Al Anderson in the audience and his son Brett and um another me family member >> better half >> better half Brett's wife. Um they are
here tonight. Um Al reached out uh uh earlier this year to talk about uh Valley Lane where Brett and his wife live. And I'm going to try to pull up here on the big screen here if it gets warmed up here a picture of Valley Lane to kind of show you um what they're talking about. But um basically
uh had kind of provides some background on it's an older um access into the um into that development over in that area and um in need of some work and I can turn it over to public director Hartman
and also Brian Sarf is aware of the uh situation as well and they can give some background but really the reason to bring it up to you tonight is you know as staff just give you some background information about it and find out um if you want us to push forward. We have the street and utility reconstruction project coming up this summer and other
street needs um and kind of where we want to go um with this and uh getting it on the list of priorities. So, I'm just going to connect my screen here and I'll show you what I'm talking about. Okay. So, it's not probably the easiest
to see, but I'll try to get it a little bit larger um here. But so, you've got um what I have highlighted in the um blue from the beacon, that is uh Brett and his wife's property. Um and there's
an access into it. and looking at um here I'll go backwards um this way this roadway here going in um is very narrow and um in some need of work. I can let uh
public works director Hartman talk to you a little bit about um the condition of that road and kind of maybe some future repair work that could be done on that. So, >> or maybe we want the Andersons to address you and talk. I guess I I'm not
sure. >> I think that would be great. And could you zoom out a little bit just so I more context where that >> Perfect. If you guys could step up the microphone so folks can hear at home. winter right now. But um >> I guess uh
>> too much stuff is one of those unique roads where it was kind of grandfathered in to the city. And if you can tell on the south side here where Val actually is, there is no rightway for the street. This is city
property, but the road itself is on railroad property. Um it's hard to tell here, but the grade is significantly higher at the At the top here, the road gets narrower than it is down here. So, as the cars are coming up, when I'm coming out of my driveway
looking to the south, it's hard to see kids coming up on bicycles or people running or walking their dogs or cars zooming up there. There's been a lot of near misses coming out of our driveway and both for me and our neighbors. Um but the main thing is that the the road
itself is kind of shifted onto the railroad property and the concern of us residents is that we don't want to get stuck with the big assessment they pay for a road when it's just a minimum road. Now
um I don't know how far off track here but um the the width of the road changes and you can see up here that this road was only 20 ft wide. It was doubled in size when the town point subdivision was when this was created. When the full
four lots were added, the road was doubled in size here to accommodate future development. But h development came and it was all these small little houses. The city didn't see a need to make it a full street. And then district moves on and they built an
aplex there. And there's a, you know, all these cars back up onto the alley to get in and out of their driveway. And at the top side here, they're backing down the hill to get in. So, it makes it's really inconvenient when they're trying to back up. You're trying to get out of your driveway, other people are coming
over. It's kind of a a point of concern, I guess. I'm my wife and I developed that and then some rules got changed. As you can see at the very top the actual alley that's there is on
private property on property right right there and the city did purchase this years ago. It's just kind of a grand it started out bad and it's getting worse. >> It's getting worse.
This area needs improvement substantially. It's been neglected. I think it just got put put aside just because of the fact that they weren't sure what to do and it got kicked down to handle in the future and I guess our
suggestion is now but two things they don't want and it's one thing to to be assessed for a huge huge assessment and I question how much you want because you don't want to
smoother it is the faster the I guess we're asking if we could have permission to maybe engineer the city administrator plan on the south side here. Scroll down a little bit further where the the go
under the road. There's just a culvert here, but there's two more lots that are added on here that I'm assuming are multif family lots that can be putting or something on there. >> And those and those come out onto Valley Lane. Is that that's the access
>> and the tend not on industrial road, but all this is owned by the same person. >> Okay. Who do you assess when it's on Valley Lane? Is everybody on Valley Lane? This gets assessed by someone else. They put into multif family projects and this is another multi family. A single person
lives here and a single guy lives there. It's like that's it. There's no more people on there. Another thing is that if you draw imaginary line from Valley Lane to the east, there's 100 homes. >> There's 100 residents there. 96 or something from there in that area. And
some of it's not developed. there potentially quite a few people coming in that area. Two two other things is that it would be nice if they're they could put some signage here guys
>> and also >> a danger situation is when you come up here for the rivers right here a person could easily sneak through It's all preliminary and if we could
have permission to meet >> Okay. >> No, I appreciate the background. You guys can explain it better than I can living it and your frustration with the situation. And um as I had mentioned to Brian Sarf and um Ally just before we
incur too many costs and looking into because to to get together more information feasibility report and so forth, you know, it we start incurring costs and I just wanted to bring it before you and um get some direction from the council. >> But it clearly I mean you can see
there's there's a need for some work to be done here. >> And um another thing everything the top of here down all this, all this road is 15 years old. This was put in before this building was built. It's been resurfaced from the road here all the way north, but this part is what it's
always been since this building was built 15 years ago. And it's never been sealed that I can remember. And it's just all little chunks of black top the whole the whole way from I think 2018 2019 21 and 22 it was all marked off to be slated to be replaced and looked at
included in price but then it was never nothing's ever done. I just was always concern. It's like, well, they marked it. Does that mean they were going to do something? They realized it was a bigger project and then they just walked away because they didn't want to do it. A lot of people use that road. I bet there's probably 10 people a day to drive by
just to drive down the road. Like I'll come in from work and follow somebody. >> I guess one of my questions would be how accurate those boundaries are. Is that from Beacon? Blue County Beacon. >> Yeah. >> Just in my personal opinion, it's not always the most accurate.
>> This this in this case it is. Okay. >> Well, it does make sense to kind of spend some time with Brian, but not a lot of time because he's kind of expensive. Um, but no, I think to have some kind of preliminary discussion would be probably in order. You know,
especially I don't like the the streets potentially being, you know, below the the arms um those kind of things. So, um would we need just uh some kind of >> we could do a um not to interrupt you,
mayor, but we could just, you know, direct staff to work with the city engineer to come up with just a some sort of a preliminary kind of assessment or, you know, unofficial kind of findings on potential next steps >> because we would have to kind of throw in there too, you know, how we would pay
for it and who would be assessed and maybe not what the assessment might be, but at least who's on on the roster for it >> if you go back I guess 10 years runs east and west >> okay so that's just
>> always treated that as an alley okay >> they never assess the people but if you go back farther valley north and south existed it me that really north lane but they connected agency.
>> Okay. >> Connect from the county >> road south. >> Mhm. >> Okay. You know, I'd look for a motion to kind of direct staff to kind of do a little
preliminary research on this. >> I'll make the motion to direct staff to do some preliminary research. >> I'll second. Have a >> first and second. Any other discussion? Uh I would be willing to meet with Al and the committee and all of you guys to
figure out some uh processes. >> Sure. Great. >> Thanks, Kar. >> Uh any other discussions? >> I just thank these guys for bringing it forth because >> I had no idea. >> I I had no I mean I thought it was just a gravel road that is, you know. So, so
I I thank you guys for bringing it forth and and especially if more development does happen and things like that, we want to stay a safe place. >> Yeah, we need to get ahead of those two outlots there. >> I just want to say, you know, we did have a neighbor that passed this winter that um the England became aware of
their address, but like we've had multiple times that um we had a renter down there at one point and the police had arrived to our house saying that it was us. see her like, "Honey, what's going on?" >> We can take a look at that, too. I don't
know. What do you What do you guys use, Spencer? You know, when you >> get the address, >> all the addresses are basically our active map and we'll drop us a pin. Um I will
say it is very difficult to navigate. >> Okay, perfect. So >> I see our Lieutenant Mitch is concurring. Yeah, I fully fully agree. And yes, it does get kind of confusing down there and pretty narrow for
emergency uh vehicles. So, >> more people that are renting down there, but we weren't there for bad. >> Perfect. All right. Do we vote? No, we didn't
vote. All in favor? >> I >> All oppose. All right, perfect. So, Jennifer will give you guys a call and kind of get some things set up. All right. Thank you. >> Thanks for being here tonight. >> All right. Uh, new business updates to
fire department handbook. >> Jennifer. >> Um, yep. I might be able to. the council should have it in front of them. Um I'm not able to connect. We had a new um some firewall updates, so for some reason I can't connect my drives to the
screen. I can just get my email. Um but I might be able to pull it up in my email. So if you just want to have the council walk through what they've got um on their computers and I'll work to get that. >> Uh Spencer, fire chief department. Um in front of you or in your packet, you
should have a revised version of the uh personnel policy that is fire department specific, but it also includes um some portions of the city policy, you know, specifically the uh drug alcohol policy which is adopted by you guys last year, which we also have to go through with
department members. Um but we spent uh I would say over the last year uh myself as president um officer group um spent a fair amount of time with Jennifer uh the Minnesota Valley Council of Governments going through this comparing to other
policies uh throughout the region in the valley. Um and just something that we want to stay on top of um to make sure that we're compliant with everything as more I would say instances arise with with personnel um in the department. We just want to make sure that we have
basically all boxes checked. So we can handle those situations the right way. So um we reviewed this as department put it three times. Um brought it forward to you guys as we are moving forward to adopt it. We can have everybody uh on
it. So that goes in their file at the department and at the city. Um and then of course anytime they would also be signing >> and uh mayor and city council um and fire chief Spencer I do have it up on
the screen now if you'd like me to scroll through that. >> So when I when I started as president just some background I think our policy was five or six pages. Um, so now of course we add more and more things to it. Um, which is good in my mind that we
can make sure we're covered, but um, you know, pretty in depth with a lot of this stuff. I think the one comment I would make um as we sat in these meetings I think over the course of a year um with John, myself and those guys is and and what
I've been learning that specifically the fire department more so than our internal department is that they are an extension of the city of Eagle Lake. So they still have to although they're a volunteer group, they still have to follow the rules that um any city employee has to follow. And I think
that's where there was a lot of things um missing from the initial book that had to get added um as a reminder to them and their volunteers too and the staff that yes, they're a volunteer group, but they still have certain dues that they have
to follow through. >> Yeah, I would say to go along with that by having some of this stuff in place probably makes it a lot easier for myself, for the officers in charge because we have it So that was one obser observation that I made was just I think it was easy for
them to and and maybe not the uppers but um those down the chain for their just to run as a volunteer group not as um a city of Eagle Lake person. So, >> one option we could do too, um, so the
in the version in your packet, there's um, a marked up version that shows the changes, if you guys want to go through that, we can go through and kind of talk about that. Or if you guys have had a chance to review it already and feel like you're comfortable with just um, going ahead and proving, we can do that as well.
>> Look to the council. I've read through it a couple times. >> Yeah. Um, >> I've read through several times, but >> so no, but I think uh, Councilman Roert was kind of saying, so, you know, we're we're just one big happy
family, but we still know that there's enough differences that we need to policy. Um, because we it is a volunteer fire group, but, you know, they have to adhere to a lot of same Minnesota statutes and Minnesota rules and regulations that that that we do as a
city. So, it was good to good to kind of go through that and I was kind of the same way, you know, when we first started, you know, why do we need all this stuff just for a volunteer group? Well, >> exactly. >> It it makes sense. >> And I believe uh Jennifer and somebody
else may be attending our meeting next week to go through the policy. Correct. >> I we did not confirm that date and time yet, but we can talk about that after the meeting. So, um, but as you can see in the policy, um, the table of contents, it just kind of goes through and that's just a real
good kind of summary, too, that covers a lot of, um, important aspects of being a member of the fire department and different, um, like I said, aspects that we should be aware of. So, um, >> if there's any questions anytime, you
can reach out to the personnel committee, myself, Spencer, um, Hunter, >> we'll just send you this document. Well, they they laid it out really good though. Just like our hand massive overhaul to better organize and better like
>> you have one issue, you can find it right away versus where do I look? >> And it's so much more um uh helpful for new firefighters and onboarding to have a good solid policy to refer to and then everybody has the same information on
the same page. So, but we really appreciate the fire department's work on this and the personnel committee. I mean, hours have been spent on this and and the cogs, too. So, they put a lot of hard work into this and I think it's a good policy and as with any policy, there's going to be changes and we'll just have to kind of do an annual update
each year and if there's changes that need to be made, we'll bring it back to the council and and get those updated. But overall, I think you guys all did a really good job. >> Would everybody like to go through this line by line or >> be a while? Maybe one other thing we should know and maybe if you said it I
apologize when I was trying to find the policy but the job descriptions are listed as an appendix in the policy and so those will be coming at the next meeting but they don't necessarily have to be part of the policy. We just talked with the cog and they said the best thing to do is just house it in one
place so we know where to find stuff. So those will be coming in April. So if there's no need to review it in detail or any other questions, I'd look to a motion to approve the >> the handbook motion.
>> We have a first. We have a first and a second. Any other discussions? Do we need just a general Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? >> All right. So the next one is looks like it's still you.
>> It is. Yes. So, uh, second thing tonight for us, um, is, uh, in the budget for this year, um, we did set aside some money, um, for some facilities improvements, um, things along those lines. So, our door locks at the station, um, I believe for 2016,
something like that. So, they've been in uh, use for quite a while. Um, they're just battery powered keypads that are on the doors. Um I think they're at the point in their life where you put batteries in and the next day they don't work again. Um so that's number one. Uh number two is um
the codes that people have been given for those doors um are still out there. There's people that have retired, there's people that have left. Um so when it comes to a security standpoint, there's a lot of codes out there. Um so uh what we did is um looked at some
options to update uh those door locks at station. um what the proposal that that we would like to bring forward um that's in front of you guys um would be more of an automated system that has like a key fob um that you would use to access that building. Um so number one that tracks
who's coming and going. Um number two you can if somebody leaves we can just deactivate their access to the station so they can no longer get in there. Um then number three like if miniature history would set them up with a public would have city have here. So that way
if somebody's, you know, dropping off a package for us, they can stop at city hall, drop it off, bring that top back. Um, so just try to make it a little more secure with everything that we have in there for equipment and other sensor material. So um there would be one uh
door that would still have a keypad. Um, of course those um codes would be specific um which are set up in that system that can be activated or deactivated. That way um when somebody 2:00 in the morning doesn't have any problems getting into
those be for the access >> and it is the same system that we do use at where I work so I'm familiar with it >> well I'd like to take a look at I don't know if we want to where we want to go with it tonight but I would like to to
see if it's expandable to do both the other like city hall and also um public works. So we can kind of you know do we know if this setup would be expandable to do that and >> Okay.
>> So we actually um have this on all of our buildings building. >> Okay. >> Very similar. >> Okay. I'm also wondering if it's worth talking to Mike Bales just to get two quotes and
so we can compare. Um it's kind of been our consistency as of late. Um not to say you can't use them, but we like to see at least a couple numbers. >> Sure. Um I did reach out to Mike. >> Okay.
questions. >> So, do we want to I I'd hate to do this to you, but do we want to push it to next month to see about getting a second bid? I would like to see a second bid just because we've been hammering Andrew every time you bring something forward. >> No, that's fair enough. I totally understand.
>> Look, he's already smirking already. Um, and then just kind of the, you know, I know, you know, I know it's probably expandable, but just making sure that question got asked, um, of the of the group. No, I think, you know, totally understand that, you know, it's
probably the same code that's been there for, you know, since you put it in in 2016 and everybody has it. So, and it makes sense to manage it by fob. So, >> all right. >> Thanks. >> Thanks. Um, Mayor Whittington, City Council,
would it be possible to add um Ryan BC uh to advance his item? He is here to talk about the multiple scerosis um declaration proclamation, excuse me. Um he has to leave to attend another meeting here by seven. >> I was I was just wanting you to stay the
entire time. Sorry. Come on up. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh members of the council and staff, I wouldn't wish this on anybody is a phrase that I've heard from many people living with multiple sclerosis,
commonly referred to as MS. MS is a neurological disease where an individual's own immune system attacks their nervous system leading to symptoms like pain, fatigue, vision loss, cognitive challenges, and loss of muscle
function. There is no cure yet, but treatment can slow the progression. 1 million Americans are currently living with MS, which means statistically 50% of the people in this room are connected
to at least one person with MS. I I've presented to you before in my role uh with GMG, but today I'm here as one of those 50%. My dad was diagnosed with MS when I was
11 years old, and other loved ones have been diagnosed since. MS changed the entire trajectory of my dad's life and our family, ripping many key parts of his identity from him. As a child, with
limited public awareness of MS, it was hard to explain to friends what our family was experiencing. Following college, I became involved with fundraising for the National MS Society. And in 2024, I joined the board
of trustees for the upper Midwest chapter. Since then, I've been able to meet so many people locally who are living with MS or impacted by it. And it has made the importance of MS awareness even more apparent to me. MS awareness
is important for two reasons. First, MS is an invisible disease. Many of the most debilitating symptoms, especially pain and fatigue, can't be seen. People with MS are sometimes questioned or even criticized for using disability
accommodations. The reason I'm dressed like a traffic cone right now is intentional. Orange was chosen for MS awareness because it's bright, the exact opposite of the invisibility of the disease. Second,
awareness fuels progress towards a cure. Based on current research, I am 100% confident that there will be a cure someday and the society has a clear road map. First, we're going to stop MS from worsening.
Second, they're going to restore loss function. And finally, they'll prevent anyone from developing MS ever again. So, thank you for considering a proclamation joining the nation in acknowledging multiple sclerosis awareness month and thereby improving
the lives of people living with MS. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ryan. >> I'd like to motion to approve the >> the request I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. >> First and second. All in favor? >> I >> I
>> thanks, Ryan. We're back from the agenda item, audits engagement letter. >> All right. >> Have fun at your next meeting. >> Thanks, Ryan. uh mayor and city council. Uh at the February city council meeting, proposals for auditing services were reviewed.
Following the discussion, ABDO was se selected to provide auditing services for the fiscal years ending December 31st, 2025, 2026, and 2027. The audit engagement letter for the year ended December 31st, 2025 formalizes an
understanding between the city and the auditor regarding the scope of services, responsibilities, and related terms of the engagement. Uh, I just wanted to point out that as noted on page four of the letter, um, ABDO anticipates beginning our audit field work in May
and then issuing the final audit reports no later than June of 2026. And this may change and become earlier in future years, but because we engage them at a later um, point in the process here, um, that's where we're at this year. Our financial reports are due to the OSA
state auditor by June 30th, so we should be uh, fine for compliance. Abdo has offered the city a $500 fee reduction if the council elects to re to receive a pre-recorded audit presentation in lie of a live uh virtual or in-person presentation at a city council meeting.
And so I'm just asking tonight that the council discuss its preference for a pre-recorded audit presentation which would result in a $500 cost savings or just have them come to um the meeting and have an in person so they can answer questions. uh to keep the audit process
on schedule um I was asked by APO to sign the engagement letter at the auditor's request. So this evening I'm just asking for formal retroactive approval by the city council to ratify that action. So the requested action for you tonight is just to approve retroactively approve the 2025 audit
engagement letter and to provide direction regarding the preferred format of the audit presentation in person or pre-recorded or virtual. And this is required by state statute, right? That we have to have this audit performed every year, correct?
>> Yes. Yes. >> Um, does the council have any issues with having a pre-recorded? >> Jennifer, they send it all to you ahead of time where if there's any questions, you would be able to have that
opportunity to ask >> Yes. >> anything coming up. Anyway, right. um myself and the deputy city clerk um are sent that and then we're asked to review it and then we have to sign off on different documents before they submit it to the state and then yes we always have questions to ask them
just looking back the last specifically two years I'm not sure I've ever had a question I mean they go through it but I don't think it's been anything that you wouldn't be able to answer >> no I don't think it would be anything the council would need to answer it be staff and clerk
we could route it back to Abdo and then bring it back because at that point the the audit has already been certified um you know filed with the office of state auditor so and everybody will get a copy of the audit report as well but we're okay with a pre-recorded
perfect so I'd look for a motion to approve retroactively approve the the signature on the audit >> a motion I'll second. >> We have first and second. Any other discussions? All in favor? >> I I >> All opposed.
All right. And if my numbering is right, we're on to Blaze Avenue escrow. Is that right? >> Yes. And I should also note just one item uh to note. So each year because we do have new council members that come on. Um the audit so the audit was already re the city council approved
going with ABNO at the last meeting for the next three years. Um but each year we have to formally adopt a audit engagement letter and so that's what was on here this evening which just outlines everybody's responsibility. So moving on just want to clarify that the next item
draw request number two um was sham construction for the Blaze Avenue extension and the city received another draw request which is um number two from Shum Construction for work completed to date on the Blaze extension project. Um
the city's contract engineer, Brian Sarf with Bolden Mink, was asked to review the request for release of escrow funds. Based on the work completed and verified, Mr. Sarf recommends a release of $23,54. If approved, the dispersement would
result in a remaining BLACE extension escrow balance of $47,877. And the remaining escrow funds account for unfinished construction items, including seating and erosion control. If there's no questions, a motion is need to approve draw request number two
and authorize release of $23,54 from the BLACE extension escrow account. >> I'll make that motion first. >> Second. >> Second. Any other discussions? All in favor? >> I.
>> All opposed. Next one. Schedule a public hearing. >> Mayor and city council. Uh this evening you're going to be asked to schedule a public hearing regarding the proposed assessment role for the 2026 street and utility improvement project. As you'll
recall, the project was bid in 2025 and awarded to DMI. The contractor had the option at that point to complete a portion of the work in 2025 or the entire project in 2026. and they elected to complete the project in its entirety in 2026, which I think is actually going
to work out for the best with a construction project coming up at the school and minimizing disruption um that is that aspect because there will be no programming at the school. Um so a postcard was recently mailed to affected property owners notifying them of a neighborhood meeting which will be
coming up on Tuesday, March 10th from 6 to 7 at city hall. Um the meeting will include a short presentation and then a brief question and answer session. The proposed assessment role has been completed and now is available. Um and
just as a reminder, the assessment covers improvements um to Lassour Avenue, Maywood Avenue, Diane Drive, Plain View Street, Third Street, and Second Street within the project area. Uh during the public hearing once it's scheduled, property owners will have the
opportunity to provide input on the proposed assessment. Um we'll have to send notice of the hearing to our official newspaper, Mano Free Press, and then we'll also mail every affected property owner um notice at least two weeks before the hearing. Um as with any
special assessment, the property can pay their assessment in full before we certify to the county auditor. um or um they can assess it over a term of most likely 15 years. So what we need for action at this point is just to schedule a public hearing for
the upcoming city council meeting which would be April 6, 2026 at 6:00 at city hall. And then also in your packet on page 132 is a resolution um 2026-14 which is for the hearing on the proposed
assessment. >> I'll make a motion to schedule the hearing on April 6, 2026 at 6 p.m. >> I'll second. >> First and second. Any other discussions? >> All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. >> All right. Public hearing next uh
council meeting. Thank you. Um, mayor and city council, may I ask uh if our engineer has anything else he wants to add that I might have missed on that topic? Um, I'm sorry, Brian, I didn't give you an opportunity if you want to just fill in anything I might have missed.
>> I can't really think of much. which I guess the only thing I'd maybe remind us of is the assessment values were based on the special benefit analysis that the city had done which has traditionally made these hearings go a little smoother. Um the city's assessment
policy would usually yield something that's twice as much as a typical assessment. So that's currently how the draft final assessment role has been prepared is using that range that they provided in that
report. >> So somewhere two weeks or so before the hearing, they'll they'll have their assessment in the mail. Is that what >> I did put up the screen, but it's very >> Excuse me. I did put up the assessment role that Brian uh prepared on the big
screen. It's very hard to read, but basically the average I don't know if we want to review any of the numbers. Um but like >> again based on the special benefit analysis uh what we're coming up for the most common property which is a single family property
uh would be 500 and a couple of the other odd properties commercial properties or school for example we're looked at individually individual assessment amount and those
amounts again are based on uh an appraisal professional looking at similar properties to the best that they can of uh sales before construction and after construction. So it's very literal
to the intent of the statute which is benefit resulting from the proposed construction. >> Perfect. >> Thanks Brian. >> Thanks Brian. Uh number seven, uh resolution for
application to the Minnesota PAP. >> Uh mayor and city council, this is uh becoming an annual exercise we're having to go through and it will continue to be an annual exercise until we get the funding needed for our water treatment project. Excuse me, Carrie. Deputy City Clerk
Roush just asked me if we voted on that. I believe we did vote on it. That's okay. Um, so, um, as I was saying, the resolution of application for the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority is for the water treatment project for which we are seeking funding. So, we'll
continue doing this, um, until we can get this project over the finish line. But, um, each year we're required to um, kind of re-up our application or reertify it. So, what we have in the packet is a resolution of application and it's basically just um you know
stating that the city of Eagle Lake is applying to Minnesota public facilities authority for a loan from the drinking revolving loan fund for the water treatment project. Um what we anticipate the project to cost and that we have the authority to repay that loan if we are
to get it. And so, um, by doing this, it just kind of keeps us in the ready position in the event that we do get the, um, amount of grant funding that we are hoping to be able to secure. So, um, with that, I would just ask for a motion
to approve the resolution of application to, uh, Minnesota Facilities Authority. >> Look for a motion to approve the application. I'll make that motion. >> First, second and second. Any other discussions? All in favor?
>> I. >> All opposed. >> All right. The addition uh number eight's here, the council pack of financial information. >> All right. Uh mayor and city council, uh following the discussion at the last council meeting, um talking about
whether certain financial information should be included in the council packet due to cyber security and fraud concerns. Um city staff did reach out to the League of Minnesota cities um and the city attorney to ask for some guidance. the league advised um and I should back
up just to um clarify. So what we had asked them the question that was raised was whether or not we should be including as much financial information in the packet as we do which would include um the bills that are paid. Um that includes check numbers, vendor
name, amount. Um, and then in our payroll, we've got employee name, uh, the amount that they're paid and um, whether or not we're providing more information that's than that's necessary while also trying to balance
transparency because it is public information, but also because of the uptick in all the the fraud and cyber security concerns, what can we do to best protect the interests of the city as a whole? So, the league advised that and I have a a copy of their response um
in your packet, but the league advised that check numbers on claims should re be removed from packets um as they cited that their inclusion can pose a security risk. So, we will still include information about claims due so that you
know that's you can see that uh but we'll just remove um the check numbers. uh we don't need to have detailed payroll entries because that could potentially be problematic. Um so we would remove employee names and payment patterns patterns and just have totals.
Um and then the league kind of provided a sample um that we could do like a summarized payroll format for example payroll and time cards for March 3rd and March 17th um and then the total amount of the payroll be sufficient versus
breaking it down. um and that you know ultimately if the public submits a request for more information, it is public information, we would comply with that. But um we would just always have something available for public inspection at the council meeting. I did also, as I mentioned, reach out to the
city attorney. He reviewed the guidance from the league and he agreed that um the information should be summarized and certain information removed from the packet. Um while also again noting that all financial information remains public and available if requested. Uh but the
ultimate goal is to balance transparency, compliance with Minnesota statutes and mitigation of cyber security risks and fraud. So I guess I'm just asking you this evening to kind of discuss how we want to handle it. I know at the last meeting um you had mentioned
uh the council that we could just have a placeholder saying that if you want to view and inspect the bills that we'll just have them available here for you know um inspection at city hall we can certainly do that or we could you know use some of the guidance that was provided by the league.
So I thought we would have some discussion this evening of what the council prefers and is most comfortable with. Well, I think from from my standpoint, you know, it's that balancing act, right? Right now, we put even copies of
the bill out on our packet. So, they see our account numbers, they see who we're purchasing from, those kind of things, which I don't mind putting out there, but it it's fodder for for fraudsters, right? So, they know that we we just
paid ton of money to get the truck fixed, right? You know, we could send a fraudulent invoice with that looks the same exact, but you know, oh, we forgot $5,000. Um, it would be the same account number would be on there, the same information. They'd probably even get
the logo from from where we got it fixed, those kind of things. um having it available definitely you know having it available here you know I don't know what kind of burden that would put on you guys you know would it be you know I don't see a
hundred people in Eagle Lake to come up and take a look at the >> it would not be a burden we could easily get that information yeah no problem >> I would say making sure that the public knows where we're spending it and where we're spending it uh but uh cut down on the the number of details that we're
putting out in public um from somebody outside of Eagle Lake just doing a search of our Eagle Lake website and then all of a sudden they've got you know they know that every month we pay this bill and it's you know it's this number all they have to do is slip
an email in somewhere in between. So I'd look to the rest of the council to kind of what their feelings are, concerns. She used to be able to rely on misspellings, but now with AI, you know,
they spell very well now. So, >> so I'd like, you know, if there's no questions, you know, I'd like to kind of have a motion to kind of direct staff to kind of put together a new packet style, if you will, to see what it might look like. Maybe the next one we kind of have
both maybe, I don't know, to kind of see if >> because right now council gets the bills list with the actual invoices, but the public does not, right? Oh, correct. Right. >> So, they'll get the compiled list, >> right?
>> So, I Yeah, I think having us still have what we have, but what's out there publicly is more of what the league is guiding us on and a paired down version of that um I think would be helpful.
>> Again, we're not trying to hide anything. >> No, no, it's just making it harder to get abused. >> Right. >> So, right. Anyone want to kind of put that as a motion? >> I make a motion to direct staff to
adjust the packet u moving forward to more of the League of Minnesota City's guidance and pair the information down that the public would see while still allowing it um accessible in in city hall. >> Perfect.
>> I'll second. We have a first and second. Any other discussions? All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? >> I think that was all of new business. I think we're to the city administrator report. >> Thank you. Uh mayor and city council. Uh
included in my report. You'll find a revenue and expenditure uh report for um as of the end of February. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know about that. And then we also have employee lead balances report.
Again, if any questions, let me know. Next item is a 345 KV transmission line project. Um, you guys might remember it was it was probably I was last winter we had there had been a public hearing. we had an opportunity to submit a comment
on the record and the concern at that point was there had been um some proposed alternate routes that were being considered and one of those routes was went right along Highway 14. We were concerned for future development limitations and so the city did attend
those um the public hearing and uh submitted a comment on the record in opposition to that. Um, I reached out to Excel Energy and because I hadn't heard anything, just kind of curious where that status was and the the I did include a map um in your packet, but I
was told that the purple route and the attached map, which was the original proposed route, is what was approved. So, I think we um you know, nothing is 100% finished at this point, but I I feel confident from the response I got that I don't think we need to worry
about the alternate route. Um, so we just want to give you an update on that. Uh, next, forgivable child care loan program update. The KYC recently contacted uh the city about doing a clip on the forgivable childare loan program uh thanks to their help uh despite
sending out information providers and the public. We now have six providers that have reached out with interest out of seven. So, um, Council Member, uh, White and Mayor Whittington and I are meeting with the, um, uh, providers that
have expressed interest and helping them through the process. So, very excited about that. We've got $20,000 to issue. Um, we got 10,000 from the Taylor Family Farms Foundation grant and then also 10,000 match from the EDA. So, basically how that works is we'll be able to issue
out forgivable loans. So, if they stay in business for five years, that's forgiven and it essentially is like a grant. So, um the consistent theme after meeting with the providers is they all are in dire need of help and it's a tough industry to be in and so they
really appreciate the effort of the city to um have these funds available. So, we'll continue working through that process and uh give you an update once we um get those uh ready to bring them back to the council because the council will ultimately have to approve the um
recommendations by the EDA on the loan amounts. Next update on.gov domain request. Um Council Member Rurich uh was reading through her League of Minnesota Cities uh magazines. So, one person reads those. No, they are excellent. It's an excellent resource. But um in
all seriousness um Council Member Rorich had read through the magazine and talked about the importance of having like a.gov on your website for a domain. And so she asked me where we were at with that and we looked at that previously but hadn't followed up on it. So, I reached out to our um website host and
um he and I talked and so then I ended up filling through going through the paperwork and it's quite a process because you have to basically verify your identity and and it's a good process to go through because we don't we want to be um you know verified
as.gov not just.com where anybody could do that. So, uh we should be seeing that change here shortly. Um, I think we'll eventually update, you know, business cards and, um, different communications with the.gov behind our website, but there'll be a transition period where
people still go to, you know, eaglem Minnesota.com. It's still going to, um, it'll still route you to the correct place. So, um, and we are still researching on what it would take, uh, to get the.gov on our emails as well, but for now, the important thing is that
we are doing uh, we got the.gov. So, thank you, Council Rorich, for kind of uh getting that um moving through the process here. Appreciate that. Um next, open book meeting notice. We get this every year from Blueorth County and we were required to post notice in the
newspaper and then also on the bulletin board. Um but that will be coming up here shortly. And this is an important meeting because um this is a meeting where people want to challenge their valuation. They need to go talk to the county. So that's uh we haven't heard
that maybe too often, but sometimes at the truce of taxation hearing, we'll hear from people that are upset about their valuation. But this is your chance and don't miss it. So uh hopefully residents will know it's um the time period for that will be from Monday,
April 13th um through the uh the 29th of May. So, um hopefully people will see that and just um take advantage of that if they have any questions with their valuation. Um another item I want to talk about,
Mayor Whittington, Council Ro and I attended a recent transportation Minnesota transportation alliance meeting in St. Paul and it was um I think a really informative meeting. We had never been to a transportation alliance meeting and we got to learn a
lot about what goes into funding the, you know, transportation systems in Minnesota. And with Highway 14 needs and um separated grade interchanges that the city is hoping to see outside of um Eagle Lake here on 14, it's just
absolutely critical that we, you know, learn the process and are in the know and start advocating uh for Eagle Lakes needs and lobbying for money. So, a lot of work to come ahead on that, but it was a good first
start. and we were invited to attend um by Blorth County Engineer and public works director Ryan Tiljis and then we talked to a couple county commissioners there. Um so it was just a really good uh good meeting and we'll continue to participate in those events as they come
available. Then one other thing I want to bring up that's not on my report, but um today VSSI was here and I know that you guys have been frustrated because we need to get a new um microphone for the council podium and they have been I think they're just really busy and it's
there isn't a lot of other competitors to reach out to to get pricing from for our setup here. Anyways, the gentleman came on site and so he's going to get us pricing. He looked at the microphone, um took a look at our live stream equipment, and then we had some issues
with somebody had unplugged a cord with these microphones over here, and that's obviously um working. We're going to have to get a new microphone, replace something with um with the microphone here. Um but other than that, we're in pretty good shape. But while I was
talking to the person from VSSI, I had mentioned that we were looking at doing um some sort of enclosure. So, I did reach out to a local contractor. I did get pricing for the enclosure, but in talking to him, he had mentioned, well, maybe we should uh put it like in the
storage room or over here. Um because nobody's sitting there manning it, which most cities you have somebody dedicated that's operating that, but we're a small city, we don't have a lot of resources. And just kind of trying to be able to live stream the meeting so
people can hear and see. we don't have, you know, detailed where you could do a lot more with the program than what we do. So, he said what we could do is, you know, have it um on a a rack in another area. And then talking to Mayor Whittington after I spoke to the guy
from VSSI and his background in IT, he suggested that potentially we look at what would it take to get this into the office in the server room so we don't have that noise and then I would be able to remote connect remote into that on my
computer get another screen here at meetings so we wouldn't have to have the piece of equipment in here. Um, so I think for now I'll hold off on bringing forward the pricing for the enclosure and then also get some pricing on what would it take to wire everything to get it into
the server room because as you can see there's lots of stuff that the live stream equipment gets plugged into for the cameras and um the other setup here. So just want to give you an update on that. None of this stuff is seems to go very fast or very easy, but I think we
need to before we move forward with an enclosure, if there's a way to get this out of here, have more room um and have it secured in our locked server room, that would make a lot more sense. So, I think I'll work with Mayor Winningington and the um
VSSI and CTS and see what we can come up with and then hopefully bring something back at the next meeting. So, kind of a long-winded explanation, but I you know, and and something else with that too, it it does get as you can see with these meetings, it is very hard for me to do to to go through with the stuff I have
to do and then also run this. So, sometimes I just appreciate everybody's grace because we don't have somebody dedicated to do it. We did try it, but it wasn't always the most effective. So, I think we're doing the best we can. We're trying to get the information out to residents to be able to hear our meetings and and that all kind of came
about during COVID and um and that's why we got the equipment, but um you know, it's not a requirement. It's just something the city tries to do to try to in increase transparency and community engagement. So, but um appreciate Ray's patience as we work through some of
these uh glitches as they come up sometimes. But, um I think that's all kind of part of the process and we don't have somebody dedicated to running the equipment while we're in our meetings. So, um with that, I think that's all I have. Hopefully, I didn't miss anything.
Um and yeah, that's all I have, I think. Thank you. >> Anything any questions for administrator Brummo? We'll take a look at uh council member reports.
>> Uh T- Bowl committee meeting met recently. We have a rough draft outlined, but we're shooting for a late May start time. I'll uh have more info at the next meeting, but yep, it's getting worked on. >> I don't have anything either. So, next
upcoming city council meeting is April 6th. uh EDA the regular schedule meetings of March 26 at 605 park board at March 12th and then the planning commission meeting at March 16th. So
nothing else I'd look for a motion to adjourn. Motion. All right. >> Perfect. Thanks everybody.