It's 5:30. This City of International Falls regular city council meeting is called to order. Please rise as we say the pledge. >> I pledge algiance 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. All members of the council are present this evening for the record.
We do have a small addition to the agenda this evening which the council should have received which is simply restating the payments and claims
uh over avoided check to Cherry Road Media which is the Rainy Lake Gazette and for June and July invoices to Frontier Communications. There any other additions or deletions
at this time? >> Seeing none, I would ask for a motion to approve the agenda with the addition. >> I'll move. >> Thank you, Councelor Kaylor. >> Second. >> Councelor Buller. Is there discussion? Seeing none, I would ask the question.
>> I I >> I. >> I'll vote yes. The agenda is approved unanimously. Thank you. To move to approval of minutes. First, minutes of the Monday, June 15th,
2026 special city council meeting. Second, the minutes of the Monday, June 15, 2026 regular city council meeting. And third, minutes of the Monday, June
29th, 2026 special city council meeting. >> Motion to approve the minutes. >> Thank you, Councelor W. And councelor Holden. Is there any discussion or proposed changes to those minutes?
>> Seeing none, I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I. >> I'll vote yes. And those minutes are approved. 50. Thank you. At this time, we will move to
payments and claims. Accounts payable and claims. City of International Falls claims now 1,216,044 that was compared to1,210,00083.33. So that was the addition just to be clear.
Airport Commission claims $31,482.92. Airport major capital project claims $47,710 no. And airport cash flow 3,462,63786. Um, I would like to note that at the
June 29th audit presentation that the airport cash flow was brought up and the balance owing to city and county that is about 50% of it coming back this evening um as those have been completed.
Total accounts payable in claims 4,757,87482. Are there questions, comments, or a motion to approve the payments and claims as proposed? >> I'll move. >> Thank you, Councelor Kaylor. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Wgner. Is there
discussion? just that the uh added invoices for Frontier uh were added tonight because they didn't come in till today so we could avoid late charges. >> Thank you for the clarification that
that's important. Any further discussion? Seeing none, I would ask the question at this time to approve. I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes and payments and claims
are approved 50. Thank you. >> At this time we will have our open form. Anyone from the audience who would like to come forward, please feel free to do so to address the council. Uh if you do so please your name and record name and
address for the record and uh comment is limited to five minutes. Seeing none at this time there will be an opportunity at the end of the meeting as well. We have a public hearing on our agenda
to consider a resolution vacating certain streets and right ofway within Francon's third division which um deals with where present day South Falls apartment
apartments are located. We did hold a public hearing at 5:00 pm um to discuss this proposed resolution. Um, and just
to shed some some light on u what is going on this there's a proposed sale with the South Falls apartments and in the title work it was discovered that there were
errors from some time ago that some of the buildings sit on what are supposed to be alleyways or certain rightaways that aren't being used because there's a building on top of them and obviously this was some time ago. So is what the
resolution uh does is to approve the vacation to get the title work eventually squared away. And in that our city engineer uh Jason Fiser has reserved our own rights for where we already have existing utilities and such
so that we can continue continue accessing them. Um, so just a formality uh in essence. Um, did I miss anything with that description? >> I don't believe so. Just that there was
no public comment at the meeting or in writing during the public hearing. >> Thank you. Is there any discussion from council or a motion to consider the resolution? >> I'll make that motion.
>> Thank you, Councelor Buller. Second and councelor Wgner with a second. Any more discussion? I would ask the question. >> I I >> I >> I
>> I'll vote yes. And the resolution is approved. 5-0. Thank you. Next, we will move to the consent agenda. to approve and allow necessary expenses for human resources safety director to
virtually attend the Minnesota Public Employers Labor Relations Summer Conference, which is August 5 through 7 of 2026. >> I'll move. >> Thank you, Councelor Kaylor. >> Second. >> And Councelor Holden, there's no
discussion. I would ask the question. I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And the consent agenda is approved unanimously. At this time, we will move to new business, an update on the Coalition of Greater
Minnesota Cities. And with a presentation, I would like to introduce Mr. Bradley Peterson. >> Uh, good evening. Thank you, M. Mayor Dill and members of the council. Again, my name is Bradley Peterson. Uh, I work
with the firm of Flity and Hood and we do the organizational management and legislative advocacy for the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. Um, so it's a pleasure to be here. We try to get out and visit as many of our cities as we can in the earnum. I think the last time
I was here was two years ago. Um, so I'm happy to be back up today to give you a little bit of an update on what the coalition's been up to. Uh, and see if you have any questions. I did send along or we my office sent along a whole bunch of material. Um, and for purposes of of
the discussion this evening, I'll be walking through the PowerPoint looking thing that starts with a page that looks like that. So, I'll just be giving kind of a a highle uh overview of some things. Um, but as we're going along, please do uh not hesitate to ask
questions, interrupt, make comments, um, however you want to proceed. So, just a little bit of a um, reminder on the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. Uh we are an organization of more than a 100 cities outside of the 7count metro
area working uh primarily on issues related to local government aid and property taxes, environment and energy issues, housing, EMS, economic development, transportation, annexation and land use and then some labor and employment issues. So really we try to
focus on the things that are going to help greater comm greater Minnesota communities such as international falls thrive. So this last legislative session 2026 um you know really because of the divided government um in which the house of
representatives was evenly divided 6767 and the DFL maintained their one seat majority really fairly low expectations for what they would do this year. Uh they took care of the two-year budget cycle for uh state government in 2025.
So, that was not something that they had to spend a lot of time on. Um, and because of the the division in government, pretty much everything was a is four-way negotiation between the governor, uh, the House, uh, DFL, the,
uh, uh, House GOP, and the Senate DFL. And really um you know the issues that kind of dominated session just generally had to do with fraud, guns, um helping HCMC, Henipin County Medical Center uh with some financial challenges of
theirs, school safety, and then a bonding bill. So from the CGMC perspective, the things that we were really focused in on were protecting local government aid, passing a bonding bill that made significant investments in water and wastewater infrastructure and other uh tools that benefit greater
Minnesota communities, leadline uh funding for removal and replacement of lead lines, and then to resist zoning and development preeemption in the housing area, which we spent quite a bit of time on. So just a level set in terms of the
state budget. Um, if you recall in 2025, um, we had a very small surplus for the first two-year uh, cycle that they were actually doing the budget for, but then the 2-year cycle after that, uh, the 2829 cycle had a $6 billion deficit. and
because of changes in the economy and assumptions about that and then some of the budget uh uh items that they took up in 25 the February forecast the most recent forecast that they were working off of um actually showed a balance for that out bianium of 377 million so the
state's fiscal situation is still not great but it is better uh than it was certainly a year ago and because of that tight fiscal situation the fact that it was a non-budget year there really wasn't much talk of spending money on too many things. Um, you know, very
little spending was contemplated, focus on a bonding bill and policy. Um, just a a quick note about local government aid. If you recall, in 2025, there had been a proposal uh that surfaced in the Senate uh tax committee under Senator Rest to
cut local government aid by $20 million. Um, we pushed back pretty significantly against that. uh Senator Housechild was very helpful in pushing against that um and that was defeated and then there was no discussion really of LGA in any sense but certainly not of reducing it in the
most recent year. So we were safe on that count but that's the thing that most of our cities have in common and so that's one of the things that we typically work uh very closely on. So I'll go to bonding just to start because that really was you know one of the biggest uh points of emphasis for our
advocacy this year. There was, of course, a bonding bill in 2025. It bonding requires uh bipartisanship because the constitution says that if the state's going to take out debt for these types of projects, uh you've got to have a three-fifths majority of each body of the legislature. So, it's a a
place where both Republicans and Democrats have a lot to say about what a bill would look like. The governor, as he does, come came out with his bonding proposal in uh January, heavy on stateowned assets, which is typical. uh capital complex security and then um
some money for the public facilities authority that does wastewater and water uh projects, 99 million there, none for local roads or bridges um which is a popular program amongst our members and then a set aside of 35 million for local
projects. And basically there he just said, "Well, the legislature can figure it out, but I'm setting aside $35 million." So all in all, his his bonding proposal was about $900 million. Um, like I said, it was a primary focus of our lobbying this session. The
bonding bill ended up passing at the very end of session, which is pretty typical for when it does pass, if it does pass. Um, and the total package was $1.24 billion. So, there was a lot of interest and appetite uh to pass a bonding bill on a bipartisan basis. Over
$400 million went to uh water and wastewater uh programs and grants with 122 million of that going to the PFA for their grant loan programs. The balance going to individual communities who had needs. So quite a bit of money going into water. Uh local bridges got 25
million. Local roads 47 million. uh the BDPI program, which uh is just a greater Minnesota only program to help with the public infrastructure related to um business development and expansion and retention, uh got $2 million. And then
unlike 2025 where there were essentially no local projects, there were millions and millions and millions of dollars in local projects. So really a good bonding bill. And one of the things that I think was really interesting about it was the level of support that it had in the
legislature in both House and Senate. I had never seen on a bipartisan basis bonding bills pass by as big a margins as they did. So that was a very encouraging sign. Uh next I want to talk a little bit about lead service lines which was related to the uh bonding
bill. It was carried in that uh bonding bill. We kind of treat it though as a separate discussion. So, as you know, there's a 2037 uh EPA deadline to remove lead service lines uh across the nation. In 2023, uh the state allocated $240
million uh to kickstart that effort in Minnesota. There was also some federal money that was available. The initial inventory of lead service lines identified 87,000 lead lines across the state with 200,000 that were still to be
identified. So total cost um the Department of Health estimated that to do all of the work to replace all of these lines it would be about $1.5 billion total. Uh we're seeing amongst our communities the cost for lead line replacement coming in at between 12 and
$15,000 per uh household that gets addressed. Um sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more depending on local circumstances. Um, so we worked uh very closely with an organization of the building trades um and a couple of environmental groups.
Our initial ask was $250 million. Um, and really our our issue was we needed to get enough so that there was a 2027 construction season that we wouldn't lose momentum on all the work that was being done. A lot of work is going to be done in 26, but we wanted to make sure
that we had the 27 uh construction season uh online. Um, and so it was in there was money included in the uh bonding bill. Uh, but I'd say if I had one big disappointment from the uh
session, uh, it was that it was only $1515 million that got allocated. Um, so I am concerned that we are going to lose momentum as we kind of go into 27 and 28 in terms of that work. And I think what it highlighted for us and other advocates was we might need a special
designated source of revenue that doesn't get tied up in discussions about the general fund and doesn't get tied up in discussions about bonding uh to fund that pro those projects. It's a limited thing. It's got a beginning, a middle, and an end. We know when we'll be done.
Um but I think in order to have the um the get the attention that it needs, we may need to find a a designated specific funding source. and we're in discussions with um our our partners on what that might be. So that's something that we'll be spending considerable time on I think
in the next legislative session. Um the other major thing that I want to spend some time talking about was the efforts around um zoning and development preeemption. This has been an issue that's been at the legislature for the last several years. Um it has been
defeated at the legislature the last several years. Uh but it keeps coming back. And this, of course, as you know, is um uh efforts to preempt your local zoning ability uh that would allow you to or that would require you to allow higher density in single family areas.
Uh require you to allow um uh multif family and commercial and and several other things. Um a lot of communities are already doing these things on their own. Um and we don't think that we need a directive from St. Paul uh to do these things. And so these proposals have come
back over a number of years in differing um differing uh shapes and sizes, but they've all had the same kind of elements in terms of requiring you to upzone uh limiting parking, limiting preeemption or preeemption on aesthetic and material standards, uh requiring you
to allow ADUs, accessory dwelling units. Um, and so for cities over 5,000, the most uh the um piece that really uh I think kind of pinched was the legislation called for uh you to allow
uh at least four units on at least 33% of your single family zoned area. Um and then no minimum lot size greater than 1/8 of an acre in Greenfield uh undeveloped areas. and you must allow uh multif family and 33% of areas owned
commercial. And then there were some other uh things that you had to choose from that would also be um or actually those were for cities under over 10,000. So really just the 33% uh of zoning on both the commercial and the um residential. Um so the League of Cities
um after going through some negotiations with the legislature and the bill authors um kind of at the beginning of session said we think this is as good as it's going to get. Um we think it is implementable and we think that it still works. Um CGMC, the Metro Cities
organization, the uh municipal legislative commission which is the rich suburbs um we all disagreed and so the league sort of stepped aside and we continued the fight. um against these preeemption and at least this year we won. Um it did not get a hearing in the
Senate at all and it was actually defeated in committee uh in the House on a U 76 vote with uh one Democrat and all six Republicans on the committee voting against it. Um so we anticipate that this will be a discussion that does not
go away. You are going to continue to hear about this. Um, but rest assured, we are continuing to follow the lead of our members and push back against these uh preemptive uh issues because we just don't think they work for greater Minnesota. It's not what the housing challenges in greater Minnesota are.
It's a lack of um workforce. It's a lack of contractors to do the work. It is the financing that is essentially upside down where even if you build the thing, you know, it you you can't um sell it or rent it to cover the cost of it. um you have material costs, you have all of
these other factors that are driving costs. We don't think it's zoning um or the things that cities are doing. Um so that's uh the housing zoning thing. Just looking ahead, uh we've got an election, as you all know, coming up here this November. Um so we have an open
governor's race uh with a primary to set the final field in August. All 201 legislative seats are up for election. There were lots of retirements at the end of this last session. Um, and so there are going to be lots and lots and lots of new faces uh in the legislature. And so we're using the time in the
interim uh to connect with candidates. And one of the things that we do is we put together uh kind of a candidate issues booklet that talks about local government aid and how does the formula work and why is it important and what are the housing challenges in greater Minnesota and what are communities already doing around housing and what is
the PFA and why is that important. all of these things uh to try to educate uh candidates and and prospective legislators on our issues. And then the session is scheduled to convene on February or I'm sorry, January 14th of 2027. Uh so it's all just right around
the corner. It's coming. Uh upcoming events, we've got our summer conference here in a couple of weeks down in New Alm. I realize it's a long way, but you are invited. You can still sign up if you uh want. I think it's going to be a good program. We've got our fall conference in Wake Park and that's uh will be after the election. So, we'll
unpack the uh election results. We'll talk about what we think it means for greater Minnesota cities uh and then finalize our legislative agenda. And then we've got our legislative action day in February 10th uh 2027 down in St. Paul where we have folks come and um lobby their legislators, get briefed on
the issues, and then we have a nice dinner at Mancini's uh in the evening. So, uh, lots coming up, lots of ways to engage with CGMC. Um, but very glad to be here and and happy to take any comments or questions that you might have. Well, we're glad to have you here
and thank you for making the track and uh for the council of questions, but just like that, we do have proof of the lead service line program just down the street here at the corner of 11th
Avenue and Fifth Street. They dug them up here the other day and fixed the house and they're working. where we're doing a big street project and just down here there's another place and they're looking up. So, we do got some of the money but trying to get some more.
>> Yeah, I'm glad to hear that you've been able to use the money. Uh it has been interesting. The demand I think has been um maybe outstripped a little bit what people anticipated. We always knew that $240 million was going to be a down payment. Uh but there were so many people who had plans ready, who were ready to go, who had identified all
their service lines uh that the department of health and the PFA actually had to cap in some cases the amount that they could give to cities. Um and it really kind of depended on um the scale of your projects, how much you had to do. Um you know, if it could be easily done with just a little bit of money, then they did the whole thing.
Otherwise, they kind of put you on a 10% 10% 10% kind of schedule. So definitely need to get more resources into that into that program. your advocacy has uh been very helpful.
Um I think it's sad that it's called greater Minnesota because I think we live in the better part of Minnesota. Um but some of the things that we rely on um like local government aid and how much international falls
does receive compared to other cities and some of the range cities >> and how vital that really is to our existence and um I'd also like to thank you for touching on the bonding and the public facilities
authority because um we really got a double whammy from the legislature. We got a loan for our water treatment plant from PFA. We can't get a loan from PFA unless the legislature can give them the money,
>> right? But then on if we wanted more money from PFA that wasn't a loan, we would have to raise our water right rates high enough to show the need that they will give us the money. And then on top of that, we received $4.8 million.
Um, so the money always comes from somewhere and the legislature, we've had a few things, uh, fall in our favor and, um, having you folks, you know, doing your representation of of all rural Minnesota
is really helpful. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah. Anything else? >> I'll see you in a couple weeks. >> Oh, good. >> Good. Good. Yeah. No, it's uh Yeah, pack a lunch. It's a long drive.
>> Yeah, >> I'm I'm trying and I'm not going to go to lunch at the brewery for obvious reasons. >> Fair. Fair. Good. Well, thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. Um have a great rest of your meeting.
>> Thank you. You as well. Thank you. At this time for item two of our agenda, I would like to invite Betsy Xarin forward to and we will consider a road closure for Elks Lodge 1599 and their annual corn and brought feed.
>> Thank you. >> I assume you wanted to come forward. >> Well, you know, it's not my favorite thing to do. very happy to be here. Have a little poster to pass out that talks about. >> Thank you.
>> Thanks, Bessie. >> Thank you. >> You've seen this. >> I've seen Yes. >> July 2. Thank you for having me, Mayor Dell and Councilman. Um, I don't know how many
years we've done this. Do you, Pete? But I know it's our biggest fundraiser for the scholarships. 20 years >> roughly. Just got some. >> Okay. Well, I got asked to help with it a couple years ago. Then, of course, >> You're welcome.
then it just kind of gets pushed up put onto you and then it's yours forever till you can come up with a good reason why you're moving on. Anyway, um appreciate your time and um it's nothing's changed except the date. We are doing it in July this year versus
August. And this was um there's so many things going on in August for the club this um this year that they decided to switch it over to July. It's actually the same day as Crazy Days and it'll be that evening and Crazy Days was pretty excited at the chamber that we were
partnering, you know, kind of partnering with them and and so forth. So, we're excited about that, too. And the closure that we're requesting, as you said, was on Third Street between Second and Third Avenue. We start setting up about Well, what we
shut corn about 9 in the morning. >> I think we usually get it shut down from >> 11 or so or 10. 10 to >> till we clean up. >> Yeah. 10 till 10 >> something like that. >> Yeah. >> I think you have in the letter it's um
10 to 8 which is fine too >> cuz we we get out we get we tear it down as quickly as we can. >> So just looking for your okay and so we can move ahead. >> I will move. >> I'll second it.
>> But I I I'll amend what's on the agenda. Fred says the 14th of August, but it's January 29th. >> July July. >> July 29th. >> They both start with J. And I Hey, I got the day right. >> Ice box days, right?
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> We We do have >> We might have one in January, too. You never know, >> right? Right. >> We do have two motions by Councelor Kaylor and councelor Holden to approve the road closure
on July 29th. 2026 for the Elks Club corn and brought feed. Right. Awesome. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there any discussion? I'd asked a question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes and it's approved. 5-0.
>> Perfect. Thank you so much. >> Item four on our agenda is to discuss a letter of support for the Falls High School Homecoming Parade Chief. >> No. Did I miss three? >> Bastard. >> I'm so sorry.
>> Wait. >> Next is item three to consider a street closure request for the International Falls Bass Championship. Nancy, would you like to come forward? And I did buy my VIP tickets, so I didn't
intentionally skip you. >> Hi, thank you for having me. I'm Nancy Peterson, uh, 11:06 8th Avenue. I'm here on behalf of the International Falls Bass Championship. And the reason that I'm here today is to request a temporary
road closure for the anglers to be able to park their rigs on the street on Second Street. Um the closure I would be asking for would be from the corner of 8th Avenue down around to 6th Avenue, but not to impede with the um alleyway
that goes behind Orton's. That would remain open. But that would give me both sides of the road to be able after they come through and they weigh their fish, they would be able we'd be able to park their rigs there. Um, unfortunately, um, you know, in the past we've been able to
use Bakus, but that now has apartments, so that's out of use. And last year, unfortunately, I had a little bit of a mess trying to find places for people to put their vehicles. So, um, what I'm asking for is to close down those roads between the hours of 8:00 a.m. Friday
and Saturday until right directly after the weigh-ins are completed. Then we would open those back up. So, that would be the 28th and the 29th of August. So, approximately 8 a.m. to 700 p.m.
>> Thank you. >> I'll make the motion. Thank you, Councelor Holden. >> I'll second it. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. Is there discussion, >> please? Councelor Wagner, >> will that impede the parking for PCA?
>> Well, no, because we would not block off that parking lot there. Um, that is Are you just talking about in front of like the old Insulite building there? >> Yeah. >> If they would like to park there, there's so few. There's probably five or six vehicles. I wouldn't have a problem with it. No, but will there be access to
the parking lot if you're blocking the road off? >> No, we wouldn't block that area. We'd allow access for them to get into their own parking lot, of course. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. We'll make sure they have access to their parking lots. And if there is anybody that has a need to be able to park there during the
daytime, that's perfectly fine with us as well. >> Probably not on the weekend, but >> any other discussion? >> I would ask the question. I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. The road closure, street
closure passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you all. Thanks for having me. >> Looking forward to another great event. >> Anybody who wants to vol and I didn't bring a poster. I'm sorry. Now, we will move at this time to item
four with Chief Worley to discuss a letter of support for the Falls High School homecoming parade. Good evening, mayor and council. Um, I have received an email request from the
Falls High School. Their annual homecoming parade is set for September 18th, 2026 at 100 p.m. should last approximately 2 hours. Uh parade route will be the same as in previous years.
Uh staging is 2nd Avenue and then the floats will proceed on 3rd Street to 1171 and west to 8th Avenue where the parade will disperse. I don't have any issues with that.
>> Is that something um are are you looking for us to approve a letter? >> Yes, I I presented a letter. Um and then I uh the school is going to get
my support letter from that and then they will contact the the DOT themselves is what they told me. >> Okay. >> Did do we have the letter? >> Yeah. >> Maybe I scrambled my packet. Excuse my
ignorance. >> We don't have the packets. >> We don't have it. Okay. I had it late today downstairs. >> Oh, it was probably in your >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> But no, it was not in time for the packet.
>> Okay. >> I'm not questioning whether >> I understand letter of support. I was I thought it was June earlier. So, >> this is >> I'll make the motion that we get a letter of support. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. >> Second.
>> And councelor Wgner with a second. Is there further discussion? Police council like >> So what what do they they want you to have some officers out there? Is that what this is for? >> Yeah, we or what? >> So we're shutting Third Street down for
the parade. >> Okay. >> So the permit >> for that to do the parade that day >> and they'll be getting their permit from then. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Just to add, mayor and council, yes, they will they need the support letter
from the chief just helps their cause when they have to apply for their um application to close that street down for that function. Yeah. And same with um the Elks. That's why she approaches does the same thing. Then she has support from the city. So similar type
of situation. And then they also have to include a map of the detour which we have worked with MINDOT and each of them get their separate detour map depending on which function it is that we have you know proper detouring and signage for
the closures. >> Thank you. There's no more discussion. I would ask the question. >> I I >> I'll vote yes and the letter is approved. 5. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
We will move to item five on this evening's agenda. Um Jason, if you'd like to come forward because I believe you're covering number six as well, but this is to consider the low quote for the Sixth Avenue West paving project.
>> Correct. That 6th Avenue West paving project is from 17th Street to 19th Street. And this is a petitioned project that will be assessed. Um so we did get quotes on June 17th and um the low quote
was Msabi Buminous of $120,000 which was $22,000 under engineers estimate. So So we'd recommend that we accept this little quote. >> I'll make the motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller.
I'll second. >> And councelor Kaylor, is there discussion? I know we've Oh, please. Councelor Wagner, >> is that unusual to be that low? >> No. No. That's
>> You mean it's that much lower than the next KGM? And then also lower than your estimate. >> Yeah. And that's that's we would prefer to be the second low bidder with our estimate. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, so this is right in there. >> And you've had have they done work
before for us? >> Yes. And actually, Miss Abunes is going to be doing other work in town for other contracts that we have with them. So, we're comfortable working with them. >> Y >> Wonderful. And um I know we've held public hearings,
but I always like to get as much info out, even if it's again um over what period of time is it assessed to the land owners. >> So this project has to be done before November 1st. Um so we would probably do
a public hearing shortly thereafter. So wouldn't actually get on the tax roles until the following October. So, we have to have that assessment hearing first and then they have 10 years. >> Okay. >> That we'll be able to spread it out if they want to. >> That was my understanding and I just
want to as this process goes along. >> Thank you uh for the update on that. At this time, if there's no discussion, I would ask the question. >> I I >> I >> I'll vote yes. >> Motion is approved. 5-0. Thank you.
And next to item six with an update on the water treatment plant. >> Yes, the water treatment plant is moving along well. Um we have one filter out and um we should be getting new two new
filters here and then uh we were hoping today, but should be today or tomorrow. So should have been receiving them. Um we got the HVAC units in and it's running. Um there is some electrical work that needs to finish before we can
complete that some control work. So um other than that I was told Luke is going to be in town on Thursday for the precon or for their weekly meeting or monthly meeting that they have. And if
anybody would like a tour any of the counselors would like a tour that would be a time that morning they'd be available. So, >> thank you, Jason. >> Roof is nearly done. Just some flashing. Um, yeah, moving right along.
>> If anyone would like a tour, please reach out to Jason and Betty >> or Luke. Is there any other business to come before the council? Seeing none, there are reports from boards, committees, and department heads
available in your packets. And at this time, I would like to move back to the audience open forum. >> Good evening. >> Good evening, Mr. Mayor and counselors.
Uh, for those of you who I haven't met, my name is Rory Walker. I live at 131210th Avenue, and I'm here to address concerns raised at the last meeting about confirming the hiring committee's unanimous recommendation to hire me as
the director of public works. I listened to the council's objections and I reached out to councelor Kaylor uh for clarification and I thank you again for the prompt reply. After considering the limited feedback available to the public, I weighed two
options. respond publicly to the community's concerns or move on and pursue the alternative plan I discussed in the interview, which was starting a contracting service in town, which would eventually become an engineering firm uh once I obtained my professional
engineering license. Many residents contacted me with questions about the hiring process. Because transparency matters to me more than personal convenience, I chose to speak tonight. So the record is clear. The real issue here is not that I wasn't
confirmed. The council has every right to confirm or reject any candidate that the hiring committee recommends. What matters to the public and myself is the discussion and transparency that led to that decision. When the council votes on a public
hiring matter, residents deserve to hear, I believe, in detail why the committee's recommended candidate is either the best option. And before the last council meeting, what I had prepared to talk about was my own
qualifications for this in case I was confirmed just so the public would be aware of my my uh education background, work background, anything that they wanted to
know. So um also if if there is another candidate that's stronger a discussion either way. So not just good but bad. But when those reasons are not shared people naturally fill the gap with assumptions
about motives. The erosion of trust is the larger problem that I want to address tonight. But um to give the public a full context, I wish I had been presented. Here's the background and why I believe I was a strong fit for
this for this role. I earned a mechanical engineering degree about 18 years ago. Spent 14 years in the oil and gas industry. That includes roles on the corporate side and field side. So,
um, gaining hands-on technical and operational experience. The last seven years of my time in the oil field, I spent in Willist, North Dakota, with the same parent company, Hallebertton, the same job the entire
time. Um, after 18 months of being 18 consecutive months of being their top salesman, I was promoted. So after a year and a half I was promoted to field sales manager. After four years when the owner of the company left I applied for
that position, started my own company and and ran the contract with Halbertton their uh their downhole drilling division. So downhole motors, tools, drill bits. So um a lot of that being out in the field
on rigs. So working with my hands as well as meeting with customers. In those roles, I managed to multiple monthly multi-million dollar accounts, oversaw millions of dollars in inventory required to keep those accounts
operating, maintain long-term customer relationships, and a lot of that in the oil field, if you haven't experienced it, it's very complex. There's millions of dollars at stake when there's a tool failure. So, keeping those relationships isn't very
easy. And as far as work ethic, we most times work 7 days a week, 10, 12 hours a day, every single day. You don't take vacations when you own a company. So, I also made clear during the interview
that my motivation was public service and not salary. The position starting pay is well below what I did earn in every position in the oil field. Yet, I requested and accepted the lower salary because I believed the long-term savings
to the taxpayers from having a licensed engineer on staff would far outweigh any personal financial benefit that I would have. I'm just one exam away from earning my my professional engineering license and
the offer letter included a small salary incentive for when I did earn that. Um, so the plan was initially or already before I even started that that's what was going to happen. I'm not asking the
council to surrender its authority. I respect your prerogative to confirm or reject candidates. My request is simple but public-minded. just allow the public nonconfidential
materials or council's rationale that informed the vote. The hiring committee recommendation, scoring sheets, evaluation criteria or any kind of written count uh written reasons the council relied on uh or place the motion to
reconsider on the next agenda. I'm asking only for the public non-confidential documentation and the council's public explanation. I recognize that speaking up may cost me
personally, but I'm doing this because transparency and the public's right to know are more important, far more important than my convenience. Without a clear public explanation, I fear the person
ultimately chosen will never earn the public's trust. Instead of being judged on qualifications that maybe that person did earn the position, it'll be it'll be seen as a result of favoritism
or cronyism. For the sake of public trust, I respectfully ask the council to either reconsider the hiring motion or publish the non-confidential documentation and the council's rationale rationale behind
their decision. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Good evening. >> Hi, Rhonda Benedict, 9096 Street. I have one little question before I start. Um, what is the law of the city for having
lifeguards at the city beach? The last two years it's been swim at your own risk. Isn't it up to the city to provide that? >> Uh, no. We changed that on the council or the rec commission.
Well, not on. So like 10 years ago, one of the problems was finding people to be lifeguards and we had the city attorney look into it. As long as we put up the signs that you swim at your own risk and that and there's warning there's no
lifeguard, you don't have to have them. And that is the main reason was trying to find somebody. >> Okay. So as far as the street sweeper goes, did we or did we not purchase a new street sweeper? And so how come they're not out
sweeping? >> We have a new street sweeper. About a month or month and a half ago, it went I believe to the Twin Cities uh to have some bearings replaced in it that were defective.
>> When was it new? Because last year there was hardly any street sweepers either because the trees put off a lot of debris and it plugs up all the way down. So when it rains, it doesn't really drain very well cuz there's so much debris and it gets so packed down that it's like black and you can take it up
in chunks cuz it's been sitting there for so long. I I've seen it. I've seen it when it first since it's been back. Um I don't know if because they got other things going on now and they can't with
manpower. I'm not sure. But I know they had been out. They're always out in the spring. But other than that, I can say I seen it a while. >> Share with you. Um, when it got back, it was used on Main Street a lot and all the way down by Smoky Bear Park and stuff getting ready for the Fourth of
July. I washed them out of the when I was having coffee at Coffee Land. It was running all the time getting it all cleaned up. >> It's not running down all the streets. I can tell you that. >> Well, 100%. >> The Fourth of July was coming and it was busy, >> right? So, >> last summer, all summer.
>> I don't know anything about last summer. So far this summer, no street sweeper. That's just my second question. My third agenda is I wasn't here. I watched it online. I have something to say about the Rory
situation. So, no one vote voted for Rory. There's no no reason. The public wasn't given a reason. I think that you have a personal vendetta against him because he pointed
out that the city council changed the charter in a illegal way and he fought really hard for that. He fought against a few people. Kaylor, you were one of them. County or city attorney Nelson was
another one because she knows the law and she fought hard against that. And in the end, ultimately, it was proven that the charter was changed illegally and you went back to the old charter. So if Rory fits all the checks and boxes
for an application that you yourself put all the qualifications for and he was the best chosen candidate for that, why why hasn't he been hired? So now you're going to dumb down the
application to hire somebody else. So you had him come before the city council for him to just sit here in silence and make him feel like a fool after he was offered the position.
That's a pretty crappy thing to do to somebody, I think. Pretty crappy. Are you running a mafia? Are you running a city council? Mr. Holden said a while back when he was griping about how we come in here and throw darts and he could care less about
the few people that sit in the seats that he has to care about the rest of the city and running the rest of the city. So wouldn't hiring somebody with that qualifications that he has which are sound pretty amazing. Wouldn't that better our city? Isn't it
cheaper to have one person doing both jobs than two separate? So, I'm confused if is it for the better best of the city? I mean, you forget that we're the ones paying the bills back here. We are.
The city is paying the bills. So, to me, it's like a vendetta against him because he proved you wrong for changing the charter. What else? What else could it be? He had enough qualifications to get on the charter committee, right?
But as soon as he got on there, he wanted to bring up how the charter was changed illegally and he had to fight pretty hard to prove that. So what's the reasoning? Doesn't the public have a right to know why you didn't hire him? Why would you make him go through that process? Why would you
accept him as the best candidate and then turn and then make him just sit here in crickets? And Kaylor says, "I wouldn't vote for him one way or the other." I would like to add some clarity about Mr. Walker. >> Sure.
>> And the hiring committee. A few details. >> Um there was never an official vote >> uh right to approve the record >> and is what I would like to add that I did make a motion.
>> Yeah. >> Um to start that process for discussion. >> Yep. um is what I am very disappointed in um with everyone involved is that when I walked into the room that
evening to the city council meeting, it was very clear and very obvious that there were different people in different positions in the room that were operating on different information than what I was privy to. >> Sure. >> And that isn't right. No, that has been
my gripe is not with you for a couple years. I do believe that you are for the best of the people, but as I was told before, I have to present to everybody on the board. So, >> kudos to you. But I'm telling you, that's a pretty crappy thing to do to somebody. Bet you
put him in his place. Did that make you feel good? did it. Go ahead. Sit there in silence like you do always. Voting days are coming. That's all I got to say. >> Thank you.
Hello. >> Good evening, >> Nancy. I'm Hoff 3393rd Street. I just have a question about the water project. um back when you decided to move forward with it, um I recall the vote being four
to one to not wait for the next legislature to see if we'd get funding for that. Now, lo and behold, that happened and we did get some funding, 48 million, something like that, to go towards that project
>> and a 3 to2 vote. Not that it matters. Okay. I believe council did vote. Okay, great. >> As a nay with >> great. Um, so my question is, um, would you consider, uh, rescending the debt fee for all our
water bills or not raising or re revisiting the raise in water rates and whatnot, now that we've gotten that funding, I know it's not total funding, but it's pretty good portion. So, because I know that decision with
the debt fee and the rates going up was made just prior, I think, to when you received this most recent funding. So, that's my question to the council.
Would would you consider adjusting that at some point? So with that when we've always set the rates by ordinance um which is I guess neither here nor there but when we set those rates they were set on the assumption that we were not
receiving assistance on the project which came in the form of state bonding. So where we're at in that process is the state probably has not but is preparing to issue the actual bonds
>> in a sale at which then we can ultimately be given the money or reimbursed. Um as to when that's going to happen, I'm going to throw a dart at the wall and say this fall.
um when the project is completed and I mean first of all the council we can discuss and till the cows come home and decide what to do. Um so a water rate consideration
certainly could be and probably should be discussed. Um, we certainly need those that use our water uh to whether if they're comfortable or not with what they're paying that they know what it's going towards. >> Correct.
>> And so with that, there may be um some adjustment to and one of the other thoughts has been that's discussed is well why don't we re leave the rates where they're at and then we'll have more money for other projects.
And uh whether we do that or not is to be determined, but I think it would be fair to the citizens that we can do that if we raise the rates and tell people what they're paying for. And I think that that's really all that's being asked of us. Um but there's five
of us and we've discussed this at length what the perfect um secret sauce is. One of the things that will need to happen almost irregardless is going back to our financial council that forecasted what
our water fund revenues and expenses would look like and what our target was to have in our water reserves. >> And I didn't see any on that audit page in the packet as to the water
department. There was so I have no information on that. It listed the different things that were talked about with the audit and water department was one, but there were no details in the packet. If you request um a copy of the
full audit that's several hundred pages, it will be in there um that describes the city's business activity within that fund and how things are accounted for.
It's disappointing that it's not in this easier part to read just because it directly affects >> the citizens, you know, and I just feel like I feel like it would be very meaningful for you to reconsider
those rates at some point being that this is a tough year. Everybody's taxes have gone up. You've heard it from us for months and months now. Nobody's happy with the increase in taxes and then water rates, utility rates, everything's going up and with you
getting that money that you didn't allow for when that was set. if there could be some adjustment at some point. I know every time it's just what happens when things go up because of this, this, or this. They
never go back down after things are rectified or change a little bit. And I I just feel like the citizens deserve at least some consideration with that. And we'd also like to know, so you've set aside
what was the total project for the water? What was that amount for the water project? I can't remember >> the total project cost. >> Yeah, >> Emma has raised her hand. She will know that probably to the penny. >> It's over 13 million um in principal.
So, it's in total over $17 million in interest. >> Okay. >> Um and after President is done, I'd be happy to come forward and explain how the bond monies will be applied and what the plan forward is so that citizens are aware. So it's almost 5 million less
than that after that the funding that you received then. So you know at some point if you could weigh the difference and at least consider that um and then we want to know that that 4.8 8 million.
Well, I'm sure it has to go towards the water project, but that might be a concern for some as well that that's being applied to that being as you've already accepted that cost the that total cost. And this is
something because we still have the payouts coming that my guess is where we caught this in the sequence that Emma will be able to explain it in detail that with the requirements that come with those dollars it it will probably
have to be directly applied that way depending on what's left in in >> Yeah. Well, again, I'm just requesting either at some point if you know that to me that's a fairly significant amount of funding to get
that um to consider either doing away with that debt fee or bringing the rates back down at when you know when you can see the outcome or whatever. Um I you know I just asked that you guys
consider it cuz everybody's tapped out. >> It's it's a common question. >> Okay. >> And I think when the dust settles um we're going to have to revisit what our rever what our reserve targets are.
>> Okay. >> What our future projects are and how that's going to reflect in those rates. >> Okay. Um I we're going to have a beautiful water plant. Um I feel your pain. >> I have two little kids that found the
garden hose in the backyard and it's difficult to >> threatening all the time. >> Yeah. At least when it gets colder out, they won't be doing that. But okay. Well, that's that's my request. >> Thank you. Renie Calder, 1901 6th Avenue East.
>> Good evening. >> Hello. I haven't been here for a while, so I'm out of the loop in many of the things you've been doing lately. But the situation with hiring
someone when the council doesn't take the advice of the HR personality administration, and you have someone that's qualified, and yet someone who is willing to work for
peanuts compared to what they're used to making. I worked in Fort McMurray. I know what guys in oil patch make. I know what their worth work ethic is. And I look around at you four counselors
and I'm wondering, has anyone had the experience that the work ethic requires to do the work that he's done? He's working for he's offering to work
for peanuts compared to what you make in oil patch. He's got a work ethic that is provable. I don't understand why you'd want to dumb down the system. Explain why.
If you want to dumb down the system, explain why. Let the community know what the you're doing. I don't get it. I wish you'd reconsider and think about
this thing. I'm not going to repeat some of the things that Rhonda said, but the image the city council has in the community kind of sucks. I think in the last few months before
the election, it would be really wise to start being transparent. You haven't been transparent. Puta, the chief, the paint job on the on on the cop cars.
You've been resisting community input your whole tenure. Save the mayor. You ran up against the mayor every time he tries to do something. Now, I'm let me tell you something. I'm not a
conservative, but I like the guy. I think he's trying to move our city in a good direction. And I hope that you guys consider giving him a hand and uh consider what what
this man is offering you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, counselors. Glenn Davis, 1702 15th Avenue. Um, I
would like to also speak to the hiring of the candidate that was brought forth. I do not know him personally. I am not aware of any of the other background information that um was brought up previously by another
resident, but I would like you to ask you to reconsider uh from what I've heard from the gentleman presenting it from the hiring committee who reviewed and went through all his information. Uh
seems he's brought forth as the most qualified candidate. I would like to hear an explanation at some point as to why it was rejected. If there was something disqualifying, I believe that the citizens need to know
that. But I'm asking you to please reconsider his um position and his application for it. Um if you would just look at his qualifications and whether or not he could fill this
position, we have um the committee also. I was very surprised that a unanimous uh decision come from the committee if I understood that correctly. Yes. Why why would that be rejected?
Um, I'd like to know you can privately or if you want to put something in writing, but my request to you is please reconsider this. I feel from what I know of listening that this would be the best
option for us right now. Thank you. Rory Walker again, 1312 10th Avenue. So, I just want to kind of correct something that I even though I really appreciate the
um wanting clarification, but that sort of the dumbing down of the qualifications. I know you don't need an engineering degree to be considered smart, but that's just kind of the outcome, something that's going to
happen or come out of it because there was no clarification. I mean, I've met plenty of people smarter than me that never went to college. So, that's all I wanted to say. So whoever is some someone is chosen I don't want them to
be looked at as you know dumber or less than the person that was chosen before them. So that's all. >> We have a reminder at this time
at the next regular city council meeting. >> Please do care if I come forward as far as the bonding and the water or you want me to do that at a different meeting. Let's uh at please uh reach out to Betty and I and let's officially add it to the
next city council agenda meeting. So uh not that I don't want you to come forward, but just so that we have a presentation of where the project's at and all the details. Thank you. Um, the next meeting is Monday,
July 20th at 5:30 p.m. This meeting is adjourned.