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. Thank you everybody. Okay,
this time we're going to have a truth and taxation meeting. Floor is open to residents for questions, comments, and concerns. If there's anybody, please state your name, your address for the record. Um,
I thought maybe there'd be a few people here to uh talk about their taxes, but obviously not. council got anything to say about it? >> No. Like I say,
um, when the state of Minnesota mandates to apartment complexes that are property classific classification of LI, rental, lowincome
rentals, they really, really did a good job in knocking down their taxes. their taxes this year went down 63%. Went down $4,294. Uh Good Thunder's portion of that
$2,400 that we will not get from that area of the town, you know. >> Is it just the one or is there two? >> Well, there's two location. So, you know, and this is mandated by the state of Minnesota for anybody that has
properties that are low income. And uh I was told to make sure everybody just calls their legislators. I mean, uh the good thunder's got to do with without $2,400 here, which we all
have been very frugal over the years. You know, we've went up, this is our third year in the road. We went up zero. So, where is all this? My house went up quite a little. And I mean, [clears throat]
are they trying to suffocate out small towns because mine went up $740? It's almost 60 $6,000 now. I mean, Good Thunder's portion went from
$3,89 to $3,456 that, you know, we're going to I'm going to pay the city on my piece of property. But yet, we didn't ask for that. >> Nobody went up zero. >> Nobody fights it. So they just keep
>> So I can't understand how come three years in a row we've went up zero. You know where where does this money come from? Well, it comes from the county. The county is charging me $5,900. They're only getting 1300 of it and the city gets 3,400 of it. But yet we asked
for zero, you know. >> But that just shows the example. They lowered theirs. So it's got to come from somewhere. That's exactly what the person from the Bluth County said that I said, "Well, what happens is a shortfall." He said, "It'll be distri," he called it a burden. The burden will
be distributed over the whole town. I said, "Well, that's a very good word for it, burden." >> Burden. >> Is that what it is? If you're going to give a a business like that, that kind of break, that's a burden on the rest of us. If that that that business is valued at
569,000 it was for sale I think this spring or last fall one time kind of for a million too around a million whatever that's quite a difference there >> right >> how can you value that so low to start with
but yet then take the taxes down that much >> that too yeah >> it's a government business >> yep so I mean it's anything but fair anymore more and then people ought to be aware of I don't believe that good blue county
has their new building on this cost yet so look out next year cost more to live here in blue county I think blue county themselves better start tightening their belts because small towns won't be able
to have people afford to live here >> so >> individually people need to go and start fighting their taxes a little bit more I I do know two or three people that have went to the county and have on um getting their market valuation or their taxes to go down. There's been several that go in that don't win, but there
have been I know of like two or three that have went in, you know, to actually have someone come look at their house and say, "Where are you getting these numbers?" And they've looked and actually lowered their taxes. >> So, it would take, you know, they don't have anybody that comes and fights them. So, they can just keep doing what they want.
>> And I'm guilty of it, too. So, >> so I mean, wow. I I I think we we as a council do good to keep our expenses down, but it it doesn't matter. It keeps going up. That same that same complex in 21 was
paying $8,812. and 22 they're paying $9,300 and 20 or 22, excuse me, 23 they're paying73.94 and 24 they were paying 6,800 and 25 they paid 2526.
>> That's crazy. >> Yep. Just because it's gotten different property uh classification >> classification of section 8. Yeah. So, I guess >> I just wanted to make taxpayers aware of what what happens and
>> where the burden >> where these costs come from. >> Again, I think it's been said before, too. We should reach out to our county commissioners and our local public uh politician officials. They should invite them in and they can
explain themselves. >> Path is our our area. Yeah. I mean, they they have a very complex system there that if we went down there, we could probably couldn't follow it.
>> Why does it have to be so complex? >> Just make it simple for simple people. >> Mhm. >> Simple numbers that >> So, I mean, I don't know. I I just wish some people would have come here and said tonight, you know, that things are
getting out of hand. Well, it isn't really us, you know, >> right? [clears throat] >> It won't come when it's proposed. They'll come afterwards. >> So, has anybody else got anything to say about taxes, cost of living except for high?
>> It's ridiculous. >> If not, I guess we can somebody make a motion to close the truth and taxation meeting. >> Do we need to um pass these first? >> Yes. Yeah. First, we better uh
two resolutions 15 and 16. So, may want to make a motion to approve those. >> Make a motion to 28,25 and 16 budget and then the tax levy >> and someone to second. >> Seconded.
>> All in favor say I. >> I oppose. Motion carried. >> All righty. Now, somebody make a motion to close the truth and taxation meeting. >> Motion to close the truth and taxation. >> Someone second. >> I can second that. >> All right. Okay. We uh up our regular
council meeting. First thing is the uh consent agenda, which speeds things up drastically. Any questions on that at this time? Anybody? I >> I didn't make any notes. I think everything was
Do we make a motion to approve that then? I can't. >> Yep. >> Somebody want to make a motion then to approve the uh consent agenda? It's just regular run-of-the-mill agenda. um past minutes, bills, checks, reimbursement,
sheriff's department protocol, and someone make a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Someone to second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I oppose. Motion carried. Okay. Fire department. Like we have two
of people here from the fire department tonight. Dylan, >> that's not >> Bill or Bill first with those. >> Okay, >> you guys have
>> we want to raise our benefit level from 2500 to 3,000 years and the last time we raised it was years. But regardless, on the second sheet,
it shows that it's kind of hard to follow, but it shows that we would still be funded at 134.6%. So, it wouldn't be a non city of
>> Yeah. So, I guess we're just requesting you guys to approve it. Anybody have a discussion? >> Just what is the relief due again? That is the that's >> basically your retirement. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. >> How long does it take for a new member
to get invested in that? >> Years. >> 10 years. >> Wow. So if they come and they make eight years, they >> Nothing. >> Nothing. Wow. 10 years. >> 10 years and you get 50% of that. So fully vested is 20.
>> Okay. And I mean if >> the goal is to hold people to their commitment once we uh apply the training dollars and >> yeah if you had that lower they just you know >> years years ago it was five years Scott when Scott joined when I joined it was
five I think even >> n >> it was 10 years when they joined >> changed in 2013. >> Yeah. >> And that's up to the relief boards as far as I'm understanding. I don't um when that gets changed and it's just in our bylaws.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So then also on what Dylan's requesting there, just so everybody's aware that once once an increase is approved by the city, then Dylan and the relief board go back and then we change our bylaws
association and that gets turned into the state. And then if uh at some point our markets decrease and the funding is not there uh to support that increase, we can just have a meeting uh with the relief association and lower that down
to whatever number we need to so that we have uh zero liability for the city. >> Okay? >> It just creates flexibility that way for us. We don't have to come back to the city to uh have approval to lower it. We just have to have that maximum number that we can always keep it at. So
something catastrophic would happen, god forbid, with everybody on the fire department at least, the money would go to the families. [clears throat] >> All right. With that being said, then somebody want to make a motion to be able to have the benefit
eligible members go from 2500 to $3,000. >> I'll make the motion. >> Someone second. >> I'll second it. All >> favor say I. I. >> I. affects me. >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> All right.
Um, so I guess our calls for last month were down for a change. Um, I know you've been tracking most of them through the year. Sue, uh, reaches out about every time they're meeting and I get them through her on a timely manner. Sometimes I um, but this last uh, last
month, November, we had four calls. We had one assist law enforcement, we had one medical, we had one vehicle accident, and then we had a rope rescue. And we had to go rescue a dog over the urban Maple River. >> Oh, wow.
So, we do more than just uh just help people. Any questions on that? And then um uh I don't know if you all got copies of uh fire department payroll. >> Did they get that? No,
>> I didn't. >> Okay. Um just to touch base real quick then with payroll or whatever. >> They do have it in there. I'm sorry. Yeah, they do have payroll. I'm sorry. >> I read it. Yeah. >> So um uh and and just as a reminder um in case it wasn't noted in there. I don't know if Sue noted it or not, but
um our year goes from December like of 24 till the end of November of 25. So we're always that month different. And so when we look at the ICRs for calls and things for the years uh for the year. So like this year
our year ended up we had 91 calls for service. Uh we had 50 possible training uh events and we had 12 regular meetings. So that's how these these numbers kind of come about. Um out of that um our calls our daytime calls are up
significantly again this year as the last couple years. Um we had 61 daytime calls and we had 30 nighttime calls. So when you're looking at the call attendances or the the payroll amounts and you see some of the some of the guys are a little bit higher gals are a
little bit higher than others is maybe that they were around during the day times and not you know others were not. So any [clears throat] questions on that at all for me? >> Nope.
>> Okay. Um, next topic that I have then for you all tonight is nobody ever likes it when I come in with a topic like this. Um, it's uh time that we replace rescue trucks. Um, uh, we're having more
and more issues with it. Um uh and the prices of the uh the used ones that are out there that are in good shape um that would be fit for um our community are going anywhere from around the $200,000
mark up to about 245 250. Um it's a lot of money if we're talking about a a vehicle that's a few years old but new or over 500,000. Um uh I know some of the communities
around us have built bigger uh rescue vehicles. We don't see that that's the right fit for us right now. We we want to go with a uh like a F550 um with a uh with a lock on the back that we can get somebody into out of the
elements um while we're waiting for our ambulance services to show up. Um this truck, just so you all understand what it is, it goes on every call that we go to. Um, if anybody is not familiar with what our rescue truck is, uh, we have air packs in it. We have all of our
rescue supplies in it, all our medical stuff. Um, we have extra gear for a couple of firefighters if they show up on scene. Um, but yeah, it goes to every one of our calls. Uh, so it it runs hard all the time. Um, we've had our 96 for
25 or 26 years. Um, we put some hard miles on it and it's uh it's I I wouldn't be sitting here tonight if I didn't feel like it was time for us to do a make a change. Um, uh, along with that, I know it's a bunch of money. Um, these vehicles when they come up,
they're available for just a day or two and they're already sold. And so, what I'm looking for is approval to actively start um, uh, like getting our feet in the door with some of these vendors and things like that. And if one comes up that we think would be a fit for us,
we'd like to be able to be like, "Yes, we're approved." Um, let's move forward. >> How far away are some of them, Phil? You know, >> um, well, um, the last ones we got, um, I mean, that would be in Alabama, I think. Bley Mountain, I believe, or or North St. North Stone, I think, is where
the rescue truck came from. But, um, so they come from all over, and they they'll haul them in on low boy and stuff like that. But if you don't have a jockey looking for you, um by the time they list them, they're already sold. Anything decent. Um there are some refurbishable uh box styles that they
can put on a new chassis. Uh there's a place in Iowa, um price is about the same. Um if we would go with a new chassis, we could find a decent box to go onto it. Um sometimes putting a refurb box onto a new chassis costs as
much as a new build. uh just depending on you know who you're going through and and different things like that. Um this this this event or or idea, however we want to look at it, it could take weeks, it could take months, it could take a
year. Um we uh we we also there I believe Sue I think there should be a resolution in there. Scott was going to bring some um we were going to make a a donation to the city out of our charitable account again.
um to help offset and show the need for uh you know the approval and moving forward of this vehicle. Um also with this I need to go to the the town boards because the town boards are going to be on the hook for the >> Okay, that's right. Yeah, wrap it in.
>> But the city has to approve it would have to approve first and wrap it in and Lyra I'll go to them so they understand uh what direction we're going. Um, I've mentioned it in the past at the township meetings, um, I know we've talked about it just in in passing at times, um, uh,
other years that when the time comes for a rescue truck that we're just can move and and get it done, um, you know, it's it's it's just one of those things that we have to have for our community. So, anyways, that's my that's my shiel on
it. Um they say I wouldn't be here if I didn't think the need was now. >> So when you say you have to have somebody jocking for it, jockeying for it. Um there's somebody you can reach out to them that will >> y keep their eye. >> We've already talked with uh like the
outfits that that that'll do a new build for us, but like I mean over $500,000 for a rescue truck is just it's too much in my mind. I think it's just too much money. Okay. Yeah. Um, and I think I think we need to upgrade. I don't know
that we have to have brand brand new, but I think that we have to upgrade and we have to have something that's going to suit our community >> cuz the current one's diesel, too, right? >> It is. Yeah. If it's a Freightlininer, in all honesty, I don't know if we'll get $10,000 for that truck by uh selling it out or getting rid of it. They're
just not worth anything. They're wore out. >> Right. Right. >> You know, unless some farmer would want it for a tool truck or something like that when we get to that point. But um we wouldn't want to keep that vehicle around in town for anything as far as for extra personnel or anything um at the fire station cuz it's just it's just
to the point where it needs to go. >> End of life. >> Mhm. >> Rand of life. Yeah. Yeah. So >> how much for approval? 250 or 275. >> So we're looking for we we're looking for up to 250 for right now. We'd like to have it approved that if we find something that we could just we can pull
the trigger on it and get the ball in motion. um if if anything uh will change, you know, we we'd of course come back and uh you know, we have final numbers or something like that. Um and once we do start moving forward, I don't know if you'd be interested in a special meeting or anything like that, but we
could, you know, we could um uh um you know, get, you know, get some more involvement uh as we go down the road. But um so yeah, so that if we're looking for the we would be looking for an approval for
up to 250 um and then that you say 75 >> 75 >> the 75 would come off of that >> and so we'd be down tound whatever. >> And I I mean I don't want us to tell you we're going to go 250. I'd love to stay
around 200. I mean there's a lot of real decent ones out there for around 200. How old is it? Would it be >> the the unit? >> The ones that we've looked at are are anywhere from a year to uh four years old. >> Um you know, and these these bigger
communities, they they run through them, you know, every every so often. You know, they're just on a schedule to keep re to to keep re uh you know, renewing or whatever, >> right? >> But you if we have so like the last time we did it, we had I think Brinley Mountain was who we went through for the aerial and stuff like that. We got you
got to have somebody that's out there looking because they're selling these vehicles right out of fire stations. They're not bringing them into their facilities, but when it would show up here, it would be good thunder colors. It had be all labeled. Everything would be ready to go. It isn't like we'd have to come back and get approval to go get
it repainted or anything like that. But these guys, when they're jockeying them like that through these outfits, they they come ready to go. >> Yeah. >> And then our equipment that's on our truck right now, we move the equipment over to it. So there should not be any additional cost as far as uh you know equipment upgrades or anything um
because we've been fortunate enough to you know pretty much keep up on all of our equipment um as far as uh when we needed that stuff. So >> yeah. So when you go to rapid anal then if we were to approve and then they needed approval and then they will pay a third you said
>> right. So the city the city will build them the city would bill them uh their portion of it. Okay. And like I say, I have visited with uh um township members uh in the past at their meetings and let them know that, you know, when the city does decide to to go with this, you
know, I'll come back and let them know, but it's going to happen. When it happens, it's going to happen now, >> right? >> Um tankers, the the townships are on their own for tankers. The city does not have title to the tankers. The townships hold title to tankers. So when when we do a new tanker
or a used refurbished tanker or whatever the townships want to do, the city ends up the city writes the check for it, but the townships pay the city. The city does not pay any money for that truck. >> Okay. Okay. So basically, you know, with that 75,000 off at 175, the city's cost
would be about 60 grand at the end. >> Could I I was hoping maybe like more like 40, you know. >> Yeah. You know, you've had this one how long? >> Uh 25 or 26 years. >> So, you know, if you do touch up to that 250,000,
you got a good investment for quite a few number of years again. >> Yeah. >> You know, you know, if you're going to if it would save the city 15,000 and 15 on the two townships, I mean, you know, that's only $45,000. This day and age, I
don't go very far. So, you know, to me, trying to get something on the upper end so we got something very good to serve for the next 20 years, probably. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I want a good vehicle coming to save me if I need it. So, [laughter] >> of course,
>> you live with the chief. >> I should [laughter] >> not living with you or not the chief. So you >> right now myself and Mitch Frillic are on the truck committee um and uh and Eli
he helps voice opinions on vehicles that we're looking at too. So >> is there uh you know over the quite a few years there's always been somebody that's wrote a grant. Can you apply for them anymore? >> Have slowed down on those quite a bit
right now. Um and as far as for like a rescue truck or whatever. I mean, I just don't know that we would qualify because of uh you know, um our uh our dollar amount status, you know, here for the city and stuff like that because that would all come into play. >> Yeah. >> Um as far as the grant things, uh we're
going to really try for that again when it opens up again for a tanker. >> Um because I the last time we tried, Larry Ron uh tried for that and that was five, six years ago already >> and uh at that time uh we were not accepted. Um, but we would like to retry
that again and and then we move forward with that. And like I said, the city would host that, but the co the the the funding for that would come from the from the townships. >> Is a tanker, is that federal or is that just state to apply for a grant? >> It would be a federal grant if they open
those back up again. Yeah. Yeah. So, the state grants or whatever are those 5050 grants from the DNR, which we got last well, we got it two years ago, but we finally got the money for it. Um, and that one, uh, we did radios and pagers, I believe. And so that's a $10,000
single pay 5,000 and then we got 5,000 from the state. Um, that money went towards radios and pagers. And I think Mitch wrote that grant again this year. Um, usually you get them every other year if you already have an opportunity to unless not enough people apply, but
we did apply again. So, >> all right. Any other questions? If not, somebody want to make a motion to allow the fire department to go up to $250,000. Is that everybody understand?
>> Yep. That I'll make that motion to uh use that uh 250,000 figure for the replacement. I'm drawing a blank here. Rescue truck.
All right, Jim made a motion. Someone to second. I'll >> second. John second. All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion carried. All righty, guys. >> I think the last thing I have is Santa Claus is coming to town on uh Saturday. >> All righty.
>> Yeah, I saw it on I think Amy shared it and then I just went and shared it. >> Our annual meeting will be February, just as a heads up, February the second for for you folks.
>> The third is the first Tuesday. >> That's the day. >> All righty. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Keep that in mind. Thanks, guys. >> Never mind. Somebody want to make a motion then to accept resolution
2025-18 accepting a $75,000 donation from the Good Thunder Fireman's Relief Association. >> Make a motion to approve 2025-8. >> John made a motion. Someone to second. I'll second that. All favors. I I
opposed. have them. >> All right, street update. Eli, you're >> Yeah, >> you're up. >> Uh, winter showed up. >> Hurry. >> Did it ever. >> Yeah. So, been working on that plow and
snow. Uh, one issue that came up pretty quick was with the new red rock on the roads from the steel coating on all of our black top roads. That's really hard on the cutting edges, especially the Vplow. So, I don't know what we had for
a plow or cutting edges last time we seal coated, but these cutting edges cost the OEM ones from Boss cost $835.20 per set. And uh I can run through that
in um a week easy. >> I was on your thing. Yeah. It was >> Yeah. >> 8 to 12 hours of plowing and they were >> Yep. I started plowing that uh Saturday morning. I had uh about an inch and a half left on the cutting edge and plowed
for uh two and a half hours and it was gone. >> Oh. No. Um there's an option and it's a [clears throat] carbide and AR steel. So really really hard uh steel
from Chris Steel. I did get two floats. I quoted directly from the manufacturer as well. Chris Steel is the only dealer in the area with these. Uh they're you know the 950 bucks, but uh with the rate we're going through those Vos ones,
we're going to spend that one way or the other. Um they gave them some names of people who were running them and Wnebago had them on. Uh they put their set on in 2017 and they're still running them. >> Oh wow. >> So I don't know if we'll get that with
our Red Rock or not, but it's worth a worth a try. >> Yeah, I think so. Um yeah, I agree. Makes I don't suppose if you if you had longer bolts and you doubled up on the original equipment, I mean, it would last a little longer, but
>> Right. I don't know if you could because those are a shape. They're not a flat one. Yeah. Yeah, I get what you're saying. I know at MDOT they did that with the straight ones, but I don't even think that'd be an option. Yeah. >> Here. Yeah. >> Only thing you could do is cut off the the ends and then just put the the big
>> Yep. >> four foot or whatever, five feet of >> Yep. >> bar on there. But I guess, you know, we've went through this before. That red rock is very hard on the cotton edges. So, we should maybe try a set of them almost $3,000 that go from there and
hopefully give us 10 times as long. That would be nice. >> Yeah. >> So, what is it points? >> 875. >> Yeah. You know, >> even if I doubled them up, we're 1,700 bucks. Yeah. Yeah.
You a quarter of one or three quarters of >> Oh, I've in the You'll be changing them. >> Yeah. >> If we get a lot of snow, you'll be changing them every other week. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. In the 10 days that since last
Saturday, I've already I'm already back down to what I started with on that plow for the year. I basically ran through set and I plowed a lot with that international truck just because >> uh Sander you got listed too Eli. >> Yeah. So that's just uh basically I just
wanted to get on so we're all on the same page and you're not like what is he doing in there spending money on this stuff. But I want to build a bracket where I can slide it onto the forks and then it's kind of a spreader bar and with chains hooked onto it because when I go to pull that sander in and out of
the F450, it's just really cumbersome to try to get up there and get it chained up, get the chains hooked to the right length, and then I run into issues with not being able to get the forks up high enough so that I'm worried about the tipping and the fork sliding down and
stuff. So, I I would think under 300 bucks and it welded up in the shop and just go from there. >> Makes sense. >> I think you got that other sander dialed in. Very nice. >> Yeah. Yeah. I was working putting it on
a little heavier today to try to get burned through what's compacted on there. But yeah, that's um >> nice even pattern. Wow. >> Yeah. >> Looks very good. >> Yep. So, that was the the Dicky John. um we were having issues with that and I was able to kind of get her all
straightened out and dialed in and um works very nice now. Um yeah, I also did batteries in the international because I was getting to the point where uh if I shut it off uh I'd have to jump start them because they
were that weak. So those were 20 >> I see some >> 18 or 2017 >> eight year old. They done pretty good. Oh, >> yeah. Actually >> served their purpose. Yeah. >> Yeah. Overall, pretty pleased with that truck. Yeah. >> It worked all right. And >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Uh the Pelican, I did winterize a Pelican and that's over in cold storage now. I do want to bring it back in if uh if it ever stops snowing and and do some work on that that we've discussed
previously. it. Um, I did get the tires on the loader tractor, too. The ones that were approved through Bower Built. Um, those seem like a really nice tread pattern. Probably last pretty long and they ride a lot smoother and I think we'll get better traction and stuff out
of them, too. Um, other than that, uh, the concrete curve and sidewalk, that all went in. Uh we did have a little bit of an issue and I'm not a concrete uh I'm not a concrete contractor but he didn't cover it that
one morning I did go out and temp it and it was 38 degrees was what the surface temp of the concrete was. Um I actually I was talking to Mitch about something else. Mitch Freelick who don't need to really name drop him but he said that
there were other concrete contractors um that he was aware of that poured that day that didn't cover theirs as well. So, I don't know if that'll be a problem going forward or not. >> As long as there didn't get frost on it, you know, that cement kind of heats there that first day or two, I think we'll be all right. But it's good to
mention, you know, Yeah. >> that it did get down that cold the day it was poured, you >> know, because if it would pop off on the top >> two years from now or a year from now, probably a year from now. >> Yeah. >> We'd want to >> So, yeah, I was >> have that documented. >> Yeah. Yep.
Um the safe step stuff that all went nice and I don't know plowing along there now by the fire station. We don't catch anything and cleans up pretty nice. Um other than that uh Brian's not here,
but he did do a discharge. Uh got that done I think right at the last meeting in November. Um he got his numbers back. His phosphorus numbers were good. We are under what our permit is for our
discharge in a year on that. Um then we transferred over from the primary to the secondary. So we were able to get the pumps back into that new shed. Um shed is uh pretty much complete. There was a few things for sure that we said,
"Hey, you got to fix this or that." But um if anybody wanted to come down before we make that second payment and kind of go over and I I think it probably worth trying to make a punch list or whatever to give to him
because there's things that I kind of question I guess on there that don't seem right to me but >> exactly that we should. So, >> I took a look with it with Eli and Yeah, there's a >> number of things that uh could be just
slightly better done. >> Scrimped on it a little bit. >> More of a fit and finish. Yeah. >> Y >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Does that mean we spent what 20? >> Well, that was a lot of money for that little shed. >> 22 or $3,000 was it? That shed? Something like that. So,
>> yeah. It was enough where I expect a better product than I guess. >> Yep. No, I >> and I think um next summer I told Eli to make that shed since we spent so much, we should cement it out inside the rest
of it, you know, cuz otherwise [sighs] right now a raccoon or whatever could burrow underneath there and let make its house in there. So, if we put a cement floor in around it, it just make it a lot nicer facility. >> If we spent the money on that, it'd be
there forever and it'd be >> Yeah, nice forever. Yeah, >> I think. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um and then the last thing, we did have one more fault with our high service pump. I got a call from the alarm company at like 5 in the morning on November 15th, but there was one more loose wire found on the contactctor and
then everything was checked over and we've been good since the 15th. So hopefully we got uh we're out of the woods with that issue. >> Perfect. I know you and I had talked earlier. Your overall opinion of the international is it's
>> Yeah. serviceable for right now or >> serviceable. It's a 32 year old truck. >> That's Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But it might be something that I mean not necessarily tomorrow, next week, next month, but is it something that we
should be keeping in the backs of our mind that >> Yeah. Yeah. and and we talked about because we had both had stopped at Chris Steel for different things and saw there's some nice shiny trucks out there and I don't think either of them are >> exactly what we want but I think um it's
good to kind of have a discussion and talk about what we want >> to replace that truck with. We were talking about it and I just said that I think we should bring it up here and make a recommendation that you know when it quits snowing and maybe he has some
time that he can do a little computer surfing, see what's out there. If we could possibly come across something that wouldn't be a astronomical amount of money that we should be keeping our eyes open.
>> Yeah. I mean it I'm thanks Eli for putting the interior back together on the truck. It's been apart for many years. It just makes it a lot nicer >> quieter >> to drive. >> You know, it's there's not parts laying
on the right seat or on the floorboard. So, thank you for that. >> I mean, I'd like to say I did it for you, but I spent like 12 hours in that truck on last Sunday, so I kind of did it for me. Yeah, it's [clears throat] kind of nice to >> I mean, you know, >> hear yourself think and not have stuff
bouncing around at you. >> You fixed the Dicky John >> that hasn't worked for multiple years, you know, and uh so I mean, you you've upgraded it. >> It's a good little quick truck for plowing snow, but yes, it's ages against it, right?
>> You know, uh Jake Marter and I, we put a new frame under it here whenever Jake was here. you know, we pulled that apart and uh put new frame rails under it, put it back together. So, I mean,
it's done its duty, you know. I guess we should be have our eyes open if something good would come along, maybe. >> Yeah. >> Oh, it wouldn't hurt to ask. I guess put it that way. >> Yeah. >> What's your guys' thoughts on having a
wing? And I know that one that Sterling had the front mount wing, which I wouldn't want for maneuvering around town, but when you get on to like Hulk Street or uh Sherman Street, some of these wider streets, I think it'd be nice to have a something just to get a
little more width and then make it a little easier to clean up some of the corners, too. >> Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, you can get that with a single axle. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. You know, as long as you keep it full of sand, you could do a pretty good job with a wing, you know. And again,
like you say, going down this street, you could be done in a couple passes versus quite a few passes. This pretty wide street out here. >> They definitely would be open to that option of a >> and mid-mounted wing >> where if you go back what, three winters
ago or four winters ago when we had all that snow, you know, it was deep at the curb >> where you could wing it back, of course, then you'd be filling sidewalks and you get another phone call. But we we aren't too strict on keeping the sidewalks open. I mean, people got to realize when
it snows 70 in in good thunder, Minnesota, the sidewalks probably are not going to be open. So, yeah. Yes. Keep your eyes out, you know. And do we have to do anything with this? >> Yeah, I think we'd probably need that
>> for a motion. We have it done. I will make that a motion to go ahead and fire edge allow on the 450. >> You made a motion. Someone second. >> I'll second. All
>> in favor? I post. Motion carried. They have them on hand over there. >> Yep. >> Okay. That all for you then? >> That's all. >> All righty. Um, you kind of touched on Brian's stuff too, right? Yeah. Yeah. I
most of it I I think he has more he'd probably share at the next meeting, but yeah, numbers wise and stuff. I can't keep all that straight with what he's got going on, but >> All right, treasure. >> So, the first thing is we talked about
moving making our budget line items that were in deficits corrected. So John and I met with Greg from Burkheart and we went through it and John and I worked on getting the dollar amounts moved to where they needed to be and I attached that in your packet.
So if we get a motion for that then I can get that done before the end of the year and then we won't have moving funds within the general fund. So we're not moving from like water and sewer. We're moving just from like streets, um, admin,
parks, fire department >> because we're not over budget on any of the categories. We're just over budget on some line items. So, we're just taking we're correcting the the deficit for those line items. Overall budget for
each category is it's stays the same. like the the the water one, you want you just want to move the money so you have available to pay for these, >> right? We're just going to correct it so the so the budget is clear for the audit at the end of the year. >> Okay.
>> So, but it's nothing we're not we're not moving any money from general fund to water fund or sewer or anything like that. So, >> you're just moving already bud budgeted amount. >> Yeah. Just their better use, >> right? Yeah,
>> hopefully going forward we will >> hopefully have this problem corrected. Um, we're getting there. It's better than it was last year. >> We did talk about earlier two months ago about taking more out of the general fund and then putting it in the uh was that
>> pardon? >> The 4M fund. >> Yeah, the 4M. >> Did that get done yet or >> John can discuss that? So, we also talked with Greg about um earmarking money basically for the fire department for streets and he said um we
could do a capital reserve account. Um we can do it within the uh existing 4M account or we could create a whole new um investment with 4M. Um, and we could even uh have it have
ited in a separate uh bank if we wanted to. I don't know if we need that, but >> we could move it like we have our funds now. So, they really don't show up on our budget. They're earmarked and they're stuck over here. >> What did you call that one? >> Well, >> capital reserved.
>> Capital reserve. >> Capital reserve. And and so what that would be it would take it out of current we like uh to move money we're taking out of the current year dollars >> but we're setting over in those investments. So it comes out of our budget but it goes into our investments
into our overall cash. So >> which we can take out anytime we want >> with 4M. Yeah. Yeah. >> But it's that's something how uh Greg described it. It makes pretty good sense and it's a cleaner line item than that future improvement line that's been on
our budget >> forever, >> right? So, [laughter] and that probably won't we could just get to the point where we're not using it. But what it will do is make it cleaner and more trackable for you know like in 8 years when there's a
new council up here and um they'll be able to figure out that okay this money has been set aside for streets or this has been set aside for the fire department because I think from when Cheryl then Heatherlo then Ashney came and there's too much loss in translation over the years. So,
>> yeah. Yeah, I think it would be a lot cleaner that way. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, you know, [clears throat] have you gotten paid from Blorth County and then the uh uh the one from the other cities? Uh have you gotten all your money? >> Local government aid and blue. Yes. Got
both of those. Yes. >> Okay. So, what are you sitting at right now then? >> What do you said about 700,000? >> I think right now it's under seven because I just paid a bunch of bills. >> Yeah. >> Um that's right around six. I would suggest right now that we just move a
100,000 to the investments. >> Oh, yeah. You don't think we can do no more? >> Well, I mean, [clears throat] >> we can see what the year brings, too. But like if they um this truck, they find a new rescue truck in January,
we'll be dropping a lot of money again. So, >> but we could just take it down a >> Yeah. But would wouldn't it look better if we moved say 200,000 into that what you described and then if they buy that fire truck we pull that out so it come
directly out of that? >> Yeah. >> Would it would it look better that way? Well, I'm just thinking about the upcoming year because yeah, >> you know, we go through >> because we'll get our 2026 tax payment
in what the beginning of July, you know, and >> I just hate getting caught short. Well, if you put if you wanted to move a hundred, I think when we talked to Greg is >> make that capital reserve, but then earmark so much for that truck for the
fire department and then so much for you guys talked about um streets, the steel pony for the streets and just put that. So, instead of taking a,000 and putting it in 4M itself, bring that up into those two categories because then you're kind of doing both of it at the same time. And if we can do more later, we
certainly can. But you know the thing of it is it doesn't harm us if we put 250,000 in right now and we fall short. We can take it out anytime with penalt without penalty. Right. >> Yeah. That's why I thought last time we talked about 400,000 >> because you know it's earning we we'll
be take I guarantee you we'll be taking out money before before the end of May if we put in took out 400,000 from our checking >> because that would give us that would only give us maybe 100 200,000 at best. >> Yeah. But we can take it out, right? >> Yeah. But I don't know how much we want to keep going back and forth either
because that kind of makes messy books too. >> I know. But I having 600,000 in your in your general and it's not generating any money where you can put 200,000 in there and you can generate a little cash. You know, it
just looks like we're doing a better job. >> Yeah, you know, we can >> as long as there's no penalty for pulling it out early. cuz it's not it's not in any type of a CD or a 6 month 12 month whatever. It's cuz we haven't done that. We haven't
moved it into that money market part of it yet because the interest isn't that much difference. >> I think that's a great thing for small towns that >> a lot of cities are doing that. Yeah, >> that's a great thing. >> So, I mean I can get a resolution together for January's meeting because it has to be by resolution.
>> I mean >> um >> and that was just a suggestion too. I mean what anybody else feels whatever you know um do we have a total of what we spent this month you know of course we have fire payroll in there this month do we have an average usually
>> I'll be in there >> I know that but I got some papers >> yeah but left in your pocket >> isn't our general run-of-the-mill every week or every month's expenses like 25 30 $35,000 I don't know
>> sometime it's a lot more because you got more projects going on. The winter time payment's not near as much. >> So what's I want to say was probably well probably 30 >> 30,000. >> Am I right? Close. >> What are you talking about? Payroll or >> expenses this month?
>> Everything that it costs to operate the city in a month. >> Taking payroll out of there. It's got to be >> I give you the bank statement back guardian. >> Want it? >> Yeah. Thank you. I think it around 30 35,000 would be a
pretty good estimate of what it cost to run the city per month. >> Well, just out of checking just paper checks, well, paper and electronic checks this month, the bills that you're going to sign is $53,988.31. >> But we had the fireman's. >> Then there's also
>> is that in the payroll portion? >> Then there's payroll. There's all the um online payments which is IRS Minnesota revenue per um >> so total money out for November was
$69,118. Okay. So, 70 grand then >> it's uh yeah 70 month >> sometimes more. We know when we did the seal coding that was probably a $200,000 month. >> So then it would take seven months to get to July before we get our next
payment. So that's $490,000 if you took 70 each month. So yeah, it get down pretty close to the Yeah. >> Yep. >> So maybe that$100,000 ain't too bad. [laughter] But it you don't get you don't get
penalized. That's one thing you got to remember. It's >> Right. Right. >> We can try we can try 200,000. See how it works. See how we make it through the year. If you want to try that, >> we can do that. Yep. >> Give it a shot. >> Do you want to earmark any of it to that
capital reserve? >> We'll have to work with Greg. He'll have to create that in >> that resolution. We're going to do a resolution. I just soon put that in there. >> Oh yeah, you could. You know, >> I would think that's how you'd want to list it, right? >> So, the whole 200,000 I I would say
100,000 for the because we talked about 50,000 each before for the ear marking >> because once you earmark it, you don't you can't just pull that back. It would only be for >> truck. I mean, if it was we put 50,000 in a pile for the fire department,
that's only gets pulled out for that truck, >> right? or for fire department needs just like if we did like 50,000 for seal coating or whatever it only gets pulled out for that. That's why you have the capital reserve then there is that checks and balance on it and the trail
>> also if we can we can move 200,000 but I would say suggest we do 50,000 for the streets 50,000 for the fire department then 100,000 if we need to dump jump in we still have that 100,000 available for expenditures normal run of the uh normal
everyday business business >> well Phil got a $250,000 truck our portion going to be about 60,000. So, we would just take it out of the rest of the general account to make the difference. >> The 10,000 would just come out of our regular fire department. Um, Yep.
>> All right. Well, somebody want to make a motion then on those figures. We can always add extra money throughout the year into that account then, >> right? Just by Yeah, by resolution. Yes, correct. >> Resolution. >> So, yeah, I'll get a resolution together for our January meeting. Yeah, I'll make
the motion for 200,000 as detailed. >> So if we don't spend as much money can different thing >> correct >> for like >> but then be for streets or fire department or whatever water sewer whatever
>> we're already talking a truck >> which is not in the budget just letting you know. >> All right John made a motion someone second. Amy seconded. All in favor? >> We should say I >> I motion carried. >> You're marking money.
That's why I brought it out. Pretty soon. >> Yeah, you don't see that. >> The next thing we have is a resolution 2025 for the hazard mitigation plan with Blue Earth County. Eli and I met with Eric Weller. um that had to be updated every five
years. It needs to be updated. It helps us if there's a disaster again for the FEMA grants and FEMA money. So, we worked with a bunch of area towns in Blue Earth County. >> All right. So, you want to make a motion
then to adopt resolution 2025-17? I will make that motion to adapt resolution 2025-17. Someone to second. I'll >> second. All >> in favor? I >> I oppose. Motion carried. >> Okay. The next one is the MCFO
conference is in March and I would like to go again this year. >> Absolutely. >> And I usually they um it opens up in like January where you can start making reservations. So, I just wanted to get approval ahead of time so that I can go ahead and do
that. >> Yeah. >> And my schooling, this will be the last one in May >> for the classes and then I'll be done. >> Yep. Get out of here. >> If we uh just make a motion to approve this, the cost is just falls under that same motion. Yeah. >> Yes.
>> I may make a motion then to approve going up to the MCFOA meeting in March. Make that a motion. approve this un made it. >> Okay, Scott seconded it. All in favor?
Motion carried. >> Um and here in the notes there was resident or a business came up asking about the retail registration for low potency hemp license.
We don't have anything. Um, when I talked to our attorney, I put the blurb in from our attorney um that we don't there isn't anything that the city needs to do. When talking with the business owner, the letter they received in the
information they showed me was once they get once they have their registration or their license, they have to come to the city. The city provides them with saying that yes, and then we have to do their checks and stuff, but for our attorney, there's nothing for us to do. >> Okay. So, I told the resident at this
point the city's not the city doesn't have anything we need to do. If he finds out anything else, he can let me know and we'll work with our attorney on what we have to do, but as of right now, there isn't anything. So, that was kind of caught me off guard. Um,
and then the personnel policy updates and changes. I will meet with Victoria tomorrow to try to get some of that stuff started with Todd. Um I haven't had a chance to go through the personal policy that John and Jim updated, but hopefully that will
be done for February January February meeting. All right. New business TV in city hall is not working. >> That is not working. the um exercise ladies were going to use it. They do some video with I don't know
and they tried to put it up here the one day it worked. The next time they tried it, it didn't work. I looked at it, Eli looked at it. It's just like there's nothing. It won't turn on. It won't do anything. >> What kind of Sony?
>> I What did I say in 18 or 19? >> 18 I think. Yeah, >> that was during that co money, wasn't it? didn't start till 20. 19 or 20. >> Late 19. Yeah. >> Yeah. So >> 18 or 19. Yeah. And it was like
>> it was March of 20. >> So in other words, co >> Oh, yeah. Well, co Yeah, it kind of started the end of that fall, but yeah. >> Well, anyway, they shut everything down. >> Be kind of nice just to replace it again. >> Well, that's what I'm asking if council wants to. I mean, Eli and I did find
some TVs relatively the same size um that were in the $300 to $500 range. Hopefully, we can find something. >> Christmas season that we can get one. >> Is that a Sam's Club? >> Yeah, it's >> Miss P had one. >> Oh, really? >> Um >> between three and $500.
>> That was a Black Friday thing though when I was talking to John. >> Wasn't it like 300 bucks? >> I don't remember. >> I don't remember. Um Sam's Club has them too, but then we have to pay sales tax. I have a Sam's Club membership, but we have to pay sales tax on. But Best Buy, we have the tax exempt.
>> Oh, really? >> Amazon, we have tax exempt now because >> But you can take your tax exempt status, too. Sam's Club, too, though, right? >> Oh, I don't >> should be able to. >> Should be able to. >> But if Yeah, I know. I'll have to ask them. >> Yeah. >> Or does the city have to be a member then? I don't know.
>> The city have to be the card holder. That's what I'm wondering because I've got the card, >> but I'm wonder I can ask them, but otherwise, yeah, you can get them at Best Buy, Amazon. >> Yeah. >> I mean, >> well, I guess do your best diligence to get a new one. And do we need a motion for a dollar amount or is it just
maintenance to replace what we got? >> Fall under equipment, would it? >> I would think so. Replacement >> office equipment. >> Yep. >> Is there a dollar amount you want me to stay under? >> 1,500. I don't I mean I don't think you
should do a TV for three to 500. >> Yeah, I can. >> Okay. >> Trust me. >> Yep. >> Under 500 then. >> I get one for Christmas, too. So, >> where did you get that? [laughter] >> I know what you could do with >> Yeah, I got a big one in my house. I
think we only paid like 600 bucks for it's a 75 inch. >> Yeah, I saw an 80 inch at Sam's Club that was 700. >> Yeah. >> And Christmas time. They're always cheap. >> Crazy large. >> So, anyway. >> All right. Anything else under new business? Anybody else? >> Um,
>> so I would like to replace the office chair in my office. The back I had Eli look at it today. The bolts are >> It's all stripped out and falling apart. >> The back wobbles about at least six inches back and forth and it's not >> one of these flying stairs.
>> I actually tried this chair today, but it's too low. I couldn't get it up higher because I can zipper these. Oh, >> I guess that'd be equipment replacement just like the TV. So yours is higher. See what you can find. And >> mine raises up. Sue if you want. >> Does it go any higher though?
>> I don't know. >> So you're supposed to >> Yeah, I keep mine low, but I know it raises mine up as high as it goes. >> I'm always afraid to play with the buttons because I don't want to touch them either. >> Right. >> There. >> Anything else in Sue under new business?
>> That's all I have. >> Anybody in council with something new? >> I have just a quickie. Um I was here early and um Kelvin from Vernon Center Luth >> Yeah. >> Danny was asking he thought we were have we were in the process of meeting I told because he was here I was here early but
anyway he said he'll talk to suit about getting on the agenda for January but he was asking he's going to build I guess another storage shed over there and if the city would be interested in um extending the road back there. I don't know what that would
take. I don't know anything, but just throwing it out there as an FYI right now. >> It would have to be because we extended it there to get to where he was and there's a little bit they're going now, Eli. Right. >> Yeah. There's back a little ways, but yeah, >> I think that was in the agreement
originally that if he'd progressed that we need to extend it. >> Yeah. But he said he he'll be in um sometime the beginning of the year to get um >> he wants the agenda in February. No, he said he'll he'll probably come try to come to the January meeting just to
bring it up because then then he'll once he knows about that then he'll make a final decision then building permit all that other >> you where you turn into there before you make that into there that is slated for a road right
>> it's not named >> right >> you know but I saw somewhere along the line would you have to name it a street or >> I suppose boulevard >> [laughter] >> Boulevard. >> That's his last name >> cuz his land goes way back to the edge
of the county. >> You know where that white pole is? >> Yeah. Even with the county line, there's a square right there between mine and his that is still owned by Peters's. >> So you can't make a a loop on. >> Yeah.
>> With >> Really? >> Yeah. with that. What do we You know, we've have money. We were always going to get this. >> Yeah, we put it on the back burner when we when stuff was coming out. >> What was that? >> Get this wall moved back and get >> We haven't ever seen anything
>> from him or they were supposed to do the specs >> and I he's ever seen anything. >> Well, we'll have to get a hold of him where he's at. >> Robert had him come in to do specs, though. And so that one if they did want to do at least we'd have
something to go off so everything would do the same all the beds but never >> we never had anybody else come either just >> well he was just going to do the specs and then we were gonna bid but >> because we'd have to have >> we have to set have a what was that word called them specs have to be
>> everybody's got to bid the same way the same the same specs >> quality >> and you can tell two guys the same exact thing >> you know that by concrete [laughter] Anything else then under uh miscellaneous?
>> I don't have anything. >> I have just one thing. Just want to make a note that good thunder is probably the oldest resident which is my mom turned 103 today. >> Well, I think she's 103 on her gravestone. It says 21. So that'd make
her 104. So we don't know where we're at there. [laughter] >> Oh my goodness. That's awesome. She did 103 today. So >> tell her happy birthday. >> Hopefully dad called her. >> So that's all I had. Anybody else with
miscellaneous? If not, somebody make a motion to adjurnn. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. Someone in the second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carries. Thanks everybody.