over. >> I have to run up to the caucus press. >> You have to where? >> The caucus. >> Thanks, Patrick. >> Caucus. >> Oh, yeah. >> Well, 6:30. I have to run up to six.
>> So, if we get to >> If we get to six and I rudely walk out, it's nothing. >> Okay, we're live. >> I won't feel bad. No, you shouldn't feel that.
Just hate to walk out without telling you I'm walking out. Thanks for taking that magazine. >> Sure. >> You're welcome. >> See, we're live. >> I'm bringing you the last six. >> We're live.
>> Okay. Comes by accident. >> No crack tonight. Okay. Oh, come on. Ah, there we go. It says camera is off. So, I can turn that on somehow. Right.
We're on. It's on the room. Like the room's being televised. >> There are up there. Who's that? Paul. >> Paul. >> That doesn't look like Paul. >> It responds to Paul anyway.
Just as soon as I can get my my microphone to work. >> No, you won't. I've clicked on it. >> You don't want to use that though. It'll it'll echo. >> I don't want to use it. >> No, this is your
>> Oh, I see. Okay. So, just cancel that. >> We just got this up for closed captioning. >> Okay. Now, where was that? >> Where was the close caption? >> I'll take this. >> Well, you know, I was just reading the
minutes because I read before and last time it was a journ at 553. >> I saw it. So, >> I saw that. But we've run until 6:30. >> We have. >> Yeah. >> Are you going to caucus tonight? >> No. >> Oh, thanks.
>> I put her on the spot. >> Are you? >> We're live. >> Yeah, I know. is several around the county. >> There are three >> and then the GOP is down there.
>> You guys have announced that multiple times. >> We have >> which I appreciate. Thank you. >> It's great. Hopefully we can turn up. There are some issues and then there's a rack of environmental
issues. Just a rag. Did Patrick abandoned us? Is that what happened? >> Yeah. >> Oh. Hey, >> started. >> Okay, good. >> I'm on
talking chitchat. >> That's good. >> Still out there. >> Are your printer problems solved? >> No, not at all. >> That's a lot. So, I had to drive 300 round trip about 330 miles last week in
the paper. >> Wow. >> What's the closest place that has a printer like that? >> Cook. Cook has got several. They do papers for all over, but I didn't think I have to drive there, but I did have to drive there.
>> It's not that far from International Falls, so >> No, it's not. Hey, >> there's no easy run >> and it's usually colder. >> Well, no, it's a lot colder when you get away from the lake. It's just it's just scary out.
>> I've got So, I've got a daughter that actually lives >> in or not too far from just >> Yeah. She's always telling me when it's like >> five above here or something, you know. >> Oh, can you hear me? >> Yeah.
I'm waiting for the host to let me. >> You should be in now. >> Oh, there I am. Yes, indeed. We are assembled now. The captions are Don't >> Here, I found them. >> Okay, we're all set. >> I got to get Paul back in, though. >> Oh,
>> I will call the meeting order official, but >> he's got to get Paul back on the hook. >> So, >> Oh, we don't need him yet. >> Can we start without that? I don't know. I'm not in charge of this.
>> Don't Don't go near that. >> Right after I wrote my column about how dog friendly the town was. >> Yeah. >> The clinic remembered they had a policy that only wanted service dogs. >> Yeah. >> And so everybody in the clinic is sad because Park isn't coming to visit anymore.
>> Yeah. But that's fair, >> right? >> That's fair. Well, they get the right to do that if they choose. Apparently, there was some concern with the allergies. >> That's fair. >> But he was very sad. >> Yeah.
>> Hey Dave, how much money did we get from that? >> Hey, >> Paul, something's happened where we've dropped you. Can you rejoin? Can you like >> back out and track it? >> Stop your link and start again. >> Okay. >> Thanks. Crazy.
We heard him. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> So, Patrick resides in the IT break just like that. >> Well, we're way down. >> While we're waiting for this, does anybody want to change the agenda?
>> No problem. >> Does anybody want to change the minutes? >> No. So let me let me resume I'll announce that. >> Any luck? >> Well, I see you. I hear you. I'm just not seeing you on the big screen.
>> Well, we can we can run with that. >> Yeah, we can run with this audio. >> I'll try this. There he is. There he is. We got him. >> Kind of. >> I guess we're good. >> Good. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah, that's good. >> Okay, we'll call the meeting to order now that our technical problems have been resolved. Uh first item is as I understand it there no request for changes in the
agenda. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> And there's no request for changes in the minutes. So both the minutes will reflect that both are approved unanimously. The next item on the agenda is the election of the chair and vice chair. Um if you want me I'll continue
if somebody else has ambitions. I certainly don't need to do this but I I I enjoy running meetings. satisfied. >> Nominate Steve for chair. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Are there any other nominations?
Are there any other nominations? Are the regular nominations? All right. I I heard it appears to have been unanimous with my extension, of course, because this is February, right? >> Yeah. All right. Then we need a vice chair and Bob has served in that
position. Do you want to continue? It is hard, but I'm willing to show I'm showing the task. >> I nominate Bob. >> I'll second that. >> Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? There being no other nominations, Bob is elected vice
chair. >> Did we vote? >> Okay. Golf report. Paul, you're there on the small big screen. >> Talk to us about your report, which is quite thorough. >> Yeah. Well, um, in a nutshell, you know,
I mean, it's kind of nice talking about golf in the middle of the winter sometimes, but, uh, yeah, I mean, we had a good year last year. Um, revenues were up. Um, that's good. We didn't, uh, I mean, we've got things have been going
pretty steadily, actually, and just kind of on a on a, you know, trajectory of of growth. Not huge growth, but growth uh, nevertheless. So, we're, you know, towards uh, you know, who knows, someday get the goal of getting to the black
numbers. That'd be nice. But anyway, our uh, our total revenues last year were, you know, higher than the previous years. And actually, higher than any year I've been here. I think this is uh, coming up on like year number eight or nine that I've been here. I think my
first year was 2019. And then um anyway uh yeah so really that I think our the main focus uh for next year I mean if you guys have read through this stuff I probably don't need to go through it too much. We've just I
guess in a nutshell uh you know we're going to be looking to try to get uh more staffing up there. We've always it's just it's always been tough to to get someone to come up and basically just uh be there available to uh get people on the course, you know, run the
cash register, serve the beers, that sort of thing. It's not it's not a real hard job. I don't know. Just uh just seems like a long way from town from people, I guess. But anyway, that's one thing we're going to try to focus
on. Uh getting a few more people. We had oh gosh we had a couple of uh reserve people and we actually uh some of the people that had been working outside I converted to them to being able to work inside as well. So I I'm sure we'll make out that it was something that uh I had
put a note on here. Um and then uh yeah as far as the the course goes obviously we're just trying to keep the quality as good as we can. And that seems to be kind of the key key link to um you know having you know success with the course having people have a good experience and
all that. Um as far as new things and you know we don't have anything that's going to be earthshattering as far as development for retail. Uh I think my kind of view on on retail stuff is uh you know we just want to have uh products there that
are you know just just for golf just for the outings. uh we don't want to get real elaborate with clothing and and clubs and hardware like that. People usually get those sort of things independently and um purchase those uh a lot of times they
end up just having birthdays uh hanging on the rack. So um the other other thing that we're going to be trying to do is just uh kind of update some of the equipment. I think we had talked about this in several of the meetings past. We've got
uh you know I've got a grinder that I I need to uh get get sold to the club. Um you I'll be you know I'll be uh putting together the paperwork uh and coming in with that probably pretty maybe next week or something. Uh meeting with the
office there as far as what the numbers are. But um that'll be a good good investment for the club. It's a uh it's a really great grinder setup and um it's it's a necessity. I my feeling is that uh you know we keep the keep the
equipment the equipment that we have uh isn't you know it's not always brand new equipment. A lot of it's pretty pretty old equipment. But in the case of our ourh greens you know those are kind of our calling card. Uh we need those to perform good and you can do it with the older mowers but you know you want good
grinding equipment. And what that does is it keeps the uh the mowing heads uh you know in spec. Um and that's the most crucial thing. So that's what we're looking at there. The other thing is uh we're continuously trying to update
these uh golf carts. Um I've got some pricing and we've talked about this too. Uh we were able to get new carts. Um just get get a few at a time. That's kind of what the budget is. Um, I've got a line on some used used ones and that's
kind of um I'm kind of still talking to those people. I'm not sure what the deal is going to be there, but if those are available, um it's possible we can pick up some of those. We just we're going to be uh we're going to be need needing to replace probably about six of our old
carts for sure cuz they're uh they're just they're just that old. Um uh other than that, you know, we've got um uh yeah, I mean our membership uh the you know, I'm always surprised with our
membership. I'm always wondering if some of it's going to drop off. you know, we've got kind of older older groups of uh members and but you know, they they seem to keep coming back and uh you know, we we've lost a few
members here and there are moving or passing on those sort of things. Um but uh we you know other we've got we actually had uh new members last year like I think it was seven new members and then along with um the other thing
that's kind of exciting it's not huge revenue numbers but it's uh it's exciting as far as growth goes and that's the youth youth group we had like 45 youth members so that's that's really great um you know as far as the future of the course and just getting you know
people involved with golf. Um so, uh yeah, those those are kind of the specifics. I think that um you know, we're looking at uh you know, we've got some rough mowers that are um they're operating. They're
you know, they're they're out running several times during each week of the summer. Um and you know, they're getting older. We'll probably have to look at they're getting a lot of hours usually. That's kind of where you start looking at uh you get into that four or five
uh,000 hour range with this equipment and you start um that's when it starts to well whether it runs or not it loses value and then usually that's because they don't run too great after that. >> So we're kind of on the we're kind of on
the I was kind of looking for a for something to come up with that. I guess I haven't paid real stern attention to the rough mowers just cuz they're they're a lot of money, you know. So, um something, you know, down the road, we'll probably be trying to take care of
that. We've got we've got about 19 reels we have to grind each year. And uh so that's we uh that's a lot of uh if you have to if we were to pay for that on a contract or whatever to have those grounded be you know it would be a lot
of money. Um the value isn't there in doing that you know we had the opportunity to take care of it ourselves. Um yeah so that's kind of about it. Um, you know, I think we, as far as some of some other improvements, we had talked
about uh, you know, we had added a top dresser uh, in our lineup of equipment. We kind of had access to a a top dresser and we we rebuilt it last year, got it going that allows us to throw on sand onto the
green in a late frequent application. That's a really good way to do it. it to basically it keeps the greens uh more firm um agonomically better for the root zone. Um the the other uh curveball that
we've got in there is we've got a we'll be checking out our septic system seems like our one of our holding tanks might have a breach. So we got we'll be trying to correct that in the spring. Um, we had our older tank, our older truck
that we've uh had access to a different truck from from the city and we put our fuel tank in that. That's what we transport to get our fuel up to the to the golf course and so that that's been working out better for us. Um, you know, we we installed some new signage on the
range. uh that that old uh cart path that we built out of the recycled asphalt. Uh it's, you know, it's it's not certainly not as pretty as a rolled out steamed rolled out brand new golf cart, but it sure saved us last year
being there on hole number two. So, we've got uh some other things we're looking at doing with those sort of products. We've still got surplus that needs to be screened out cuz the the materials are pretty rough. But I like using that in areas that that I tend to
wash out. The the asphalt just doesn't seem to to wash out the same way. So that's kind of a that's kind of it in a nutshell. I mean, um I don't know if you guys have any questions or anything.
>> You all have Yeah, I had a question. just um you might have to remind me I missed a couple of meetings last fall and whatnot, but when do we or yeah when do we set the rates and if there's any increases or >> Yeah, those are typically uh you know
from from this time into seems like coming into uh into March we kind of start looking everybody starts have have got their their prices posted we kind of look at those and make evaluations so uh that's typically what we did. I think
last last year our prices were were up. As I look around the neighborhood, we're at we're up at the the top or the top threshold of uh prices for a nine-pole public course. U but you know, we we've got a good product. Um we've, you know,
people we they aren't comp people aren't complaining. They're they're actually happy uh playing the course. They're complimentary and all that those things. Um the other thing is we just um that's different about our situation is that we just don't have a lot of neighboring
courses. We don't have the competition. We don't need to be um we don't have problems like city uh metro courses do where they've got so many competitions uh competitors that uh people start making coupons and discounting
you know the value of their their course. Uh, of course they've got a lot more people down there and that, you know, that makes the world go around, but up up uh our way, you know, we've got a limited amount of people, limited uh season. So I think the way we've been
doing it which is uh primarily we you know for for activities as far as uh tournament best baseball those sort of things we're doing them at the beginning part of the season at the end of the season the prime season which is uh you know like from June 15th to August 15th
where we don't really book much of that in there because uh you know we we want to have that all available for visiting play and and that that's worked out as far as that formula. We haven't had uh a lot of problems with things conflicting. We we've got league play of our, you
know, with our members during the course of the year that uh that intercedes with all that and it's it seems to be working pretty good. We could always use more play of course from the general public, but uh that's kind of the game. We're just people are it seems like they play
here, they like the course, they like the conditions, and then they come back. and we've been suing that warrant and uh we've been seeing you know uh new visitors every year too. So it's you know I'm liking the what we see you know
in all those aspect. Um as far as setting setting the price goes I mean I haven't set the prices yet. I I don't know that we're going to be going up very significantly. that kind of, you know, my uh my view on that
is we're we're kind of high on that. I'm get to where we're a little sensitive about race too much, you know. >> So, >> we should plan on looking at that in March then, Paul. >> Yeah, March would be good. Yeah. It's it's just so strange that, you know,
we're actually playing golf about the end of May. You know, like the our traditional days is probably about the 18th through through the 22nd is probably the average when people start playing. >> Sure.
>> I really like the the summary that you've written. We'll give Brian a copy, I suppose, and it's multiple pages, but the big headline was that the the operating loss this last year went was $20,000 and the year before it was
57,000 plus. That's a great result. So, >> yeah, there's there's um you know, I I think in in those numbers there's the way that they run the numbers um over there. I mean they they've got we've got some
uh when we make capital investments which uh this year I I kind of went in for a knee operation in November so I didn't really focus on on that part of it. Um but they had uh you know usually we do some purchasing and uh you know
that was that did not take place. And so, oddly enough, we it's kind of weird because we've got a capital account that's kind of it's kind of set up to show an a big lump for depre depreciation each year on on the equipment that we
have or whatever. But at the same time, when we purchase equipment, that whole purchase amount comes off the budget that year. So, it's a it's a it's kind of a weird deal because in my view the uh you know, you've got a piece of equipment, it's an asset and and it
remains an asset. Um it's different than money that flows through for profit and loss. You know, that's my view, but I I don't run the books there, but I'm just saying why there's u a lot of surplus or why why the numbers are different. Although we did we did do better, you
know, better this year, but uh you know, I'm saying there's probably $15,000 there that wasn't spent on equipment, and I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that that's not showing on that. Anybody else have comments or questions?
I have a couple things to raise. One is the in general, as I indicated, I really like the report. It's quite complete. With regard to priorities for next year, I'd like you to add to the list of things that we're going to do to do some specific marketing to city residents,
letting them know that there's the 15% savings on the season passes or on all the rates. I guess uh I think that's a place where we could get some growth. >> I would Yeah, I'd really uh I'd really be interested in finding a way to do
that. uh cuz I think that that would be a really good thing to do. Um since there is a savings there, you know, significant savings for, you know, the taxpaying citizens in town. Uh yeah, they should have early notice that they
can, you know, purchase a season pass or whatever for, you know, it's 15% less and it's a it's a good deal. >> So, if you could add that to the to the written final version of your report, that would be helpful. Uh just want to check one thing. I'm assuming you're
negotiating the price of the grinders with Mike Roth. >> Yeah. Well, yeah, Mike will be meeting I talked to uh Dave about coming in with the the paperwork on that and then we'll be in contact with Mike to see about uh
meeting up with him. Yeah, that's how it would work. >> Okay. U we've had more tournaments some years than we had last year. I'm hoping we can get inspire more people to have tournaments either for people
who are live here or for special groups. Uh we haven't done a lot of marketing of that up to this point and if there are ways to increase that it would be useful to look at that. Now, last, by the way, I'm delighted that you're thinking about uh
>> uh having a pra changing the practice area to make uh a uh a chipping area and another place was mentioned in there. And that's what we're lacking in terms of being a complete facility at this
point is the driving range that has a place for people to do smaller game smaller things. The last thing that you might want to think about is seeing when the ownership interest at Luden gets
settled. Um I wonder if uh we could get their protocol up here every so often and you know charge people who want to take lessons because that's the other one thing we're missing is that we don't have a way for people to do lessons in a formal way. But that's just something to
think about for next year. uh or the year after depending on when they finally settle a question of of lo. Uh if those things are okay, Paul, is there anything else that anybody wants to to do with regard to the to the golf
course? It remains a wonderful asset. >> Absolutely. And we're still looking at a sign up at the top of the hill that will tell everybody about the wonders of our city, including the wreck park and the golf course and the library and the liquor store.
Prepare to spend your money. If you want a copy of the golf report, get at the end. Next item on the agenda then is Yep. Thank you. Y Thank you, Paul. You're welcome.
>> Anything uh we don't have Craig here. Is there any report from the city council that you could make for us, Dave? >> Uh just a a bit of a good news when the last council meeting uh there was like a something the mayor's done every year now. It's like an annual recognition and
thank you to the staff of the entire city. And so I did not attend the meeting, but I saw the broadcast and I thought Mayor Benson did a wonderful job with recognizing all the city staff and their accomplishments. Of course, the new city hall was a real highlight for
the uh facilities department at the liquor store department as well got some praise, but the parks department came through. We had a list of achievements that obviously I supplied, but our top my top uh accomplishment was our excellent retention of our seasonal staff. you know, like really keeping our
great team together. And when I was able to see all the names on one slide, you know, we do like almost 20 staffers, seasonal staffers, and so being able to have those folks back every season is a real blessing and a real uh privilege.
And so I really appreciated that. Uh we also our highlights were advanced care of the Highway 61 trees, right? We really took those under our wing this last spring and did some mulching and watering and trimming. Uh the upgrades to the power in Harbor Park, as we
recall, we spent $35,000 on power for the vendors. That was a real highlight, the new fuel pump at the marina. And then of course the million dollar grant award for the bath house. uh save the
best for last perhaps, but yeah, really looking back on 2025, a very successful season for the park and the city as a whole. >> Marvelous. All right. Uh
we talked briefly last time about the possibility of having some kind of opportunity for us to recognize the park staff. Would it be appropriate to do that in connection with Mayor Benson's thing or is that something we want to do maybe in the fall when the season is about over >> it's just us?
>> Whatever you prefer really it's it's >> I think it's more in terms of the workload it imposes on you guys to choose. >> As I say we we do appreciate that or we do like have a picnic a barbecue in September for the staff or citywide staff get that special meal you know
free lunch and then there's a Christmas party as well. So internally we do that for all staff but as a board >> I just thought it'd be cool for us to show up at some at something like that. >> Yeah. So and I did get the word that that wouldn't be cool because of like
and no offense but >> open >> open meeting laws and just the idea of like this is for staff and it's we don't want the pressure of the board and it's not just for us it's the library. I think it qualifies as a meeting just they're shaking hands if there's no
action taken. >> Well, it does and it and it's more of a like internal staff party versus a like board and oversight party. We could still do our own celebration, >> but I did bounce that idea off the administration that the board members be
invited to the picnic to the grill out and it was kind of a no. >> Whatever works. >> It would add so many people. It would because it's not just this board, it's the library and the planning and zoning and the >> PUC,
right? And city council. And so we don't well we'll we can plan something separate if you like even just in a in a meeting of recognition similar to what Mayor Benson did where we recognize the names of our staffers and
highlight some achievements. I I was just thinking of something at the end of the season. You said nice things about the staff and I don't think I met any of them. >> Yeah. >> In a formal way. >> We should have a little get together. >> Okay. Uh
parks report. We have a page. >> Right. Reservation season right about now. We're uh February 3rd equals August 3rd. >> The day after the picnic. >> Oh wow. Fisherman's picnic this year is
the 30th through the 2nd, >> Thursday through Sunday. >> And so right now we've had this host of checkouts on the 2nd and 3rd. And there actually are some spots you can now reserve starting August 3rd. There was a few spots, but yeah, the last few weeks
have been really intense because of the booking window, because of the six months ahead. It's the picnic. And just as we talked about in the fall and the late fall on this idea of gaming the systems very popular again with lots of folks booking like the 21st through the
2nd uh only to email us back change of plans we're coming the 30th you know >> lots I guess is relative number it's a dozen right it's not hundreds it's not it's not a big deal we're not taking it too
personal >> is that something that you and the staff have to watch or is it does that booking system kind of flush all that out for you and you can just see? >> Yeah, exactly. We don't we can't really monitor the when they do it on the 21st
like we see it come in as a new reservation and it's 14 days whatever 21st through the 3rd >> and we say oh but this person's going to shorten up because we see the name and they did it last year and so it's it's just a fun little game really. But then
to change the dates we do they have to notify us through email or phone call >> to you to this to our park here. >> Yeah. Yeah. They can't really do that automat or system, >> right? So, it takes
>> Does it get in the way? I mean, then do you have to turn people away? >> A little bit of that. Right now, >> not so much like >> July 30th. >> Yeah. So, what'll happen is >> someone now is honestly looking for the
25th through the 30th and it's looking all booked >> and they so they're like, "Oh gosh, I guess we can't get it." and we'll say no actually try check back in a month or three like these >> people are going to shorten up it's
going to create openings check back >> in the past if I understand it correctly we filled up anyway during those times >> that's right that's the sort of the bottom line economics is we're not losing out we're not sitting with empty sites on the 25th because people
shortened up their stays >> we're making use of that or rebooking them or collecting additional booking fees. It seems to be all working out. But there is a few, you know, hurt feelings around this like, oh, but these
people are cheating and it's like, yeah, >> let's get next year maybe we'll do that cheap fee. >> But it's all good so far. What isn't good is the idea of like how many reservations have we done and you know net like created reservations. There's
about two or three tabs in my report to get to that number. And there there's some conflict between the two or three. Like one says we're 10% up, one says we're 8% down. One says we're just about even. So it's I think there's a there's a
completed reservation which is done. Pulled the trigger. Put the deposit in. That to me feels real. There's like reservations on hold which they're in their basket. They're waiting. I think it's a timeout situation and they should all clear out
by the night or by the day. But and then there's canceled reservations or pending. I think that's the same as the whole. But it's, you know, it's just not it's not worth getting too stressed about. The bottom line is we're pretty much on pace with where we were last year. There's no big dip. There's no big
gain. It's steady as it goes. Uh approximately 1,700 reservations have come in year to date from November to February, >> and that's very close to last year.
So, we're looking good. And now, again, those same tabs, I can pull down the amount of revenue that those reservations equal, right? Because they're some of them are for one night for 60 bucks, some of them are for two weeks for $600. And it looks good. That
number looks really good. The the the gross income based on those 1700 reservations looks like considerably more than last year's number. Again, giving me a little bit of confidence saying like people have maybe we haven't booked as many reservations, but they
booked longer. >> So, something to get into over time, but we'll know once, you know, the season's upon us. or comments about the parks report. >> Well, just now I got the really big business of our grant, our million
dollar66,000. >> So, we've got a grant for a million dollar66,000. And I went to a meeting last week in St. Cloud to basically find out all the red tape and all the hoops that we need to
complete to sign a contract with the DNR after July 1st. Right? So this was a mandatory meeting for the 11 parks that were awarded grant money in the 2026 27 budget cycle. It was a room full of park
managers like myself and city clerks and county uh administers and you know it was good park people. And the panel at the front was the DNR grants awards specialists
like the St. call DNR staff that process these grants and issue contracts and do all the paperwork to make the money flow. And so this is state funding and it has strings attached, right? It's had you need to meet accessibility
standards. You need to do this pre-contract checklist and the bigger items on those are historic and archaeological reviews. Right? We This is kind of referred to as the shipo box.
It stands for the state historic preservation office. They manage historic sites and archaeological artifacts. And so there's considerable paperwork to file
with that office to investigate our grounds and make sure that our digging in the dirt is not going to be disturbing historic sites and significant artifacts. And so this takes the help of an archaeologist. Fortunately for us, we
have connections with one already who through uh city council initiative started to study the village as a historic district. Last fall, we actually were hosting archaeologists in the campground. They were camping with us and they began the literature review
for the city as a whole. And so I made some good contacts there and I'm I'm very confident that we've got this one covered or we're in a good position to complete the ship overview. Um the next one is like a natural heritage
information system request. This is more of like the biological species that are would be significant on site. So there's a database the DNR keeps. We basically submit a request saying like here's our project, here's where we're going to be impacting and they'll kind of layer that
into their maps, their biological diversity maps and their rare species maps and we'll see if anything is going to become an issue. This has an ability to snowball is what I understood for a lot of trail development, you know, where you're going and paving or
impacting 25 miles of, you know, natural land, you end up with sensitive species and endangered, you know, threatened species that need to be mitigated or avoided. I don't feel like we'll have a big issue with this because we're already building in a developed campground. the water and wetlands
permits. I don't feel like it'll be a hindrance either because we're not impacting wetlands or waters. We already have our wetlands in the park delineated. Uh the EAS checklist, again, it's it's kind of a summary of the first
three, right? If you've got the first three in order, the EAS kind of comes out clean. And then the last one with the Department of Health is, you know, as we build the new bath house, we'll make sure those plans are approved by the Department of Health. And so that could be sort of a contingency.
They'll issue the contract because design work isn't funded or isn't no it is eligible for funding. So we don't want to take our design too much right now. We don't want to spend too much on design work because we can't get
reimbured for it. So here we want a design that's approved by the department of health, but we won't have that really till the 90% completion or whatever they need for the set plans until after the contract. But they have little amendments or little you know caveats in
the contract that we can start we can do the contract then do the design and then have it submitted to the department of health for approval. So, a big day, a full day. Uh, panel of other park uh staff that have gone
through all this and kind of eased our fears. Don't worry, you can get through it. Take it one bullet point at a time, you know, etc., etc. These people are here to help. It was great to put faces to names to sort of know who I'm emailing now when I am gathering this
information and submitting it. But it's really kind of my to-do list now for the next several months uh is, you know, working down this list and seeing how we go. Now, there's I think you asked last meeting, K, how long, you know, what's the window for spending? It's three
years >> and it starts July 1st whether we have a contract or not. So, it ends June 30th, 2029. >> Extensions are available. They're easy to get. If we feel like we're going to run long, we filed for an extension.
It's I think two years, so I don't have an issue there. Um, but it, like I said, it was just really great to be in a room full of like-minded folks with the idea that even though this money is not easy to get, it's not impossible either. >> So, it sounds like it was a great time.
And you said 15 parks got money inside of this. >> 11. >> 11. And so, what was the closest one to here? Are you in the Arrowhead or what? >> Uh, Duth. >> Duth. >> Yep. I think uh trail bike trail duth war road was there. Roso
>> I think Warro traveled the farthest there. So it was in St. Cloud. It's about a four and a half drive for me. >> Yeah. >> But was five. >> Um I was sitting next to a guy from Lac Lar or Lac Lar. It's like southwest Minnesota but
need kind of all smaller park or it's this is you know the greater regional Minnesota park. So it wasn't metro parks, it wasn't DNR parks, >> right? >> Right. When we look at the legacy funding sort of pyramid, a third goes to the DNR parks, a third goes to the five
county metrop parks, and then a third goes to the greater regional Minnesota parks. And so we I you know we were in this small park, regionally designated small parks, trails, campgrounds.
Um yeah, it was just a nice time to meet our peers and the I I must say the the the staff of the Greater Regional Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission are just wonderful. Joe Chapesky is the grant coordinator. He's always been there for me. And then Renee,
I'm sorry I can't remember her last name, but she too was great. She's sort of the MC and she's the executive director of this commission and they do a great job. Several of the commissioners were there, the same people who were here last September. And so it was a great chance to reconnect
with them and they just love Grand Marray and I think I put it in my weekly update, but I was I couldn't eat lunch because I was so busy talking about the park and how to book and come up and see us. >> That's great. >> Really I mean this is kind of similar to
when we did the show did the RV show years ago. We go down to the metro and be like we're from Grand Marray. People just love Grand Marine. >> Moving from the big picture to a very small one. Have we had any of our long-term loss that we're converting
this year? Do we did we lose any people or >> Good question. You're on it. So January was deposit month for seasonals and we have no surprises. No, I have I can't say we have any like oh this lot's opening up unex or unexpectedly or you
know has been announced as such. No, we don't have any significant movement in the long-term season. >> Last year we had like three or something like that. >> We do have a few left over that they're marginal. They're small. We'll start on the waiting list now. We'll see how far
we get and we'll see. Oftentimes these are they're tough to sell because you need to be in a little trailer and most of the people on the list are in big trailers because they're living in them. So we generally if they don't go to the list right they go to the contractors
very popular option for some of the local projects when they're you know looking for employee housing we often times sell these to either KTM KGM Northland you know road crew contractors or traveling nurses
>> sort of the other big crowd so we'll for sure sell them all but no we don't have any significant openings. Um the some of the prime ones that are now suns setting, we don't have any news there either as far as gain. >> That was my main point. >> Yeah, we don't I don't foresee gaining
any additional ones, but we just from last year's turnover, I believe have four now to offer out of 31. So, what's happening? >> Um I have a question. Does the list of tasks here affect your
um idea of the timeline of the project >> a little bit? Yeah, good question. K. It does. It puts me in a realistic um slow down like there's review uh you
know windows where we can't affect if the you know shipos a 30 to 90day review and so based on when we get our materials in you know we might have to wait two months for the review to come in. So, I'm I'm jumping on all this now
to start it all now to sort of allow for those, you know, windows with the state agencies to to perform their review. So, but most of them are 30 to 60 days, maybe 90 is the if they're short staffed
or they get flooded. But what I used to feel is like a, oh, we'll get that contract signed July 1st and, you know, break ground in September has gotten me a little more cautious and realistic and we'll do the contract once our checklist
is complete. It might not be in July. a name for it, but it with the idea that we have three years and this I sort of heard in the fall when they were when they looked at our timeline and they said, "Oh, this is really ambitious." You know,
>> it generally takes time because it's the DNR and you might not get a contract in July. >> So there, you know, if we don't do the contract till September, then we start designing, right? We don't >> over the winter.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Great. >> So, it could Yeah. certain >> that we will not construct this bath house any sooner than 2027 and it could very well be 2728 >> and because you would I think you said
before you'd want to construct at the end of the season, right? When it's not in use. >> Yeah, we have the ability to sort of build it anytime because it's not like we got Beth House 2 still open, >> right? So, it's not a deal breaker to
build during the constru um the camping season, but it's disruptive. >> And I think in the very near future, like the next couple meetings, we as a group can go back to that concept plans that we submitted for the grant and
affirm or change our our, you know, concepts. You know, we have the big question of do we want to go prefab or custom and the prices as we know, you know, big difference. We'll look at that. That, you know, costs nothing for
us to review and change or reaffirm or affirm. Uh, but the location too, I feel like is maybe a little more flexible where we position this on the north side of that road going out to the ball field, right? We put this bath house in
where four campsites are. >> Well, what's right across from that? What's just south of that road is group one, a big open space, >> right? Is like next to where the PUC shop was. >> And it's right now flat open. There's
some there's some red pine there, but they have blister rust, so they're not in the most healthy condition. So, we wouldn't, you know, there's some definitely some location consideration here that I want to take some time with. look at the maps. Even if we want to go out and walk the site and say like,
"Hey, wait a minute. Why should we don't we can keep these sites? >> Let's build a bath house here >> on the south side of the road." >> So, good things to come and we'll take our time. >> Cool.
>> Dave, this replaces two. Yep. >> And three will stay where it is >> for now. If the DNR was to do a new trail trail trail head, it would go adjacent to three. >> It would still be in that old pool lot area.
>> Mhm. >> Cuz we were talking about trail development this morning at Active Living >> and DNR had an interest in doing a better trail head in that area, but that would be part of three or adjacent to three >> somewhat. Yeah.
>> Big parking lot used to be. >> Yep. Yep. And you know, and whether or not the comfort station for that is three or the wreck hall something we could decide down the road cuz you know, the recall would be more like we could see it
>> from the parking lot if we're and as we sort of learned last summer when we thought what should we do first and it was oh let's replace bath house two instead of three. >> We say well we'll keep three. We'll keep the wreck haul. We'll do some light
remodeling, fixtures, fit and finish, and keep those going because they're they're serving their purpose. They're fine. Campers like them, community likes it. But if if and when we go to that DNR trail head deal, >> something's got to be available for
restrooms. >> Yeah. Because we're we're applying for the city will be applying for a reap of that silver bike friendly certification. >> Yes. And if the DNR plans to do a trail head, that's a nice forwardl looking
piece of that. >> Yes. >> That would be adjacent to three here the railroad. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Other comments or questions about the parks report? If not, the last item on the agenda is the application of the Grand Marray Art
Colony Art Festival. It presumably much like last year, right? Anybody have any questions about it? Somebody want to move approval? >> Also move. Second. He beat you. He was raising his
hand. >> Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Hearing none. It's approved unanimously. >> Thank you. I believe we made your 6:00 deadline. >> Thank you very much. We'll see you all
on the first Tuesday