I will call this committee of the whole meeting to order at 4:26 p.m. Monday, June 8th. All members of the council are present. We'll begin with old business first with Sher Stenlin with
human resources report. Good afternoon everyone. Um so all the public works summer staff has been on boarded for the season. They started last week, the remaining six. Uh equipment operator update. So we've um
been doing the interviewing and we should finalize that selection process or the selection this week. Uh director of public works, the interviews have been complete. an contingent offer has been extended and you should most likely see something at the next city
council agenda with regards to a recommendation and an offer letter. And that leaves us with current openings for the casual paramedic and the EMT. So, um coordinating with public works to get
two employees enrolled in the CDL training that's being offered at Minnesota North. So, you recall we got a grant for that. So that is most of those expenses are being covered through the grant. Uh working on processing the PCORE fees
which is part of the affordable care act. Uh but I'm waiting on the IRS to update their form 720 for the third quarter of um this year. So and then I'm updating two
policies. One is uh the DOT controlled substance and alcohol testing for commercial drivers policy and the other is I've been working on a workplace um camera use policy. So does anyone have any questions or anything
>> questions from the council? >> Any camera use policy? You mean the ones installed here? Um, actually there's a other cameras throughout >> those type of security cam or whatever. >> Yeah, it would be an overall policy. So, we have them at the impound lot. They
have some over in the fireh hall. Um, yeah, it excludes like the body cams worn by the PD. They have their own policy on that. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Thanks. >> Yep. Oh, as well as like video recording in here. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Anything additional? >> No. >> Thank you, Sharon. >> All right. Yeah. >> Next on our agenda, I would like to invite our fire marshal, Jared Baldwin, forward with his reports on
rental licensing and blight. Thank you, mayor and councel. uh in your packet from the month of May uh is the rental licensing report. Um as we're coming to the end of our uh year
end for 25 26 uh fiscal year um 12 inspections were completed. Um 10 remaining. Um one of those um landlords I'm meeting with
tomorrow morning. He has six left. So, uh, should be no issue getting the rest of these done within the next couple weeks. Um, rental rental licensing continues to be beneficial in our community. Um, since we implemented this, it's been
very successful in uh, the reduction of fires and rental properties and uh, everything continues to be going good. So, we're getting good compliance still with our landlords uh with keeping these properties safe and uh in good
condition for the residents in our community. Any questions on that? Uh on to the blight report. Um as you can see, the list is starting to grow again. Um the last couple weeks we've been getting a lot of complaints about
grass. Grass is growing quick. Um and we are seeing quite a few uh new properties to the list this year that we haven't seen in the past. I'm not really sure why that is, but uh we've been noticing
the properties um giving him the 10 days now that we change the timelines to hoping to get some correction um from the property owners before we have to get involved and get a contractor there to uh get those properties maintained.
Uh so as we continue through the year um I think as of this morning we were at 51. I did add about 10 more today uh grass related. So it's growing but hopefully we can get
control of it here. Um any questions on that? >> Questions for the fire marshall? It just rained so more grass. >> So what you're telling me is it has nothing to do with saving the
bumblebees. >> Nope. >> The grass growing. >> Somebody told me that today. It's not no more June. >> So, and we didn't have no more me. So, >> yeah, >> it's not the bumblebee's full. >> I just wanted to give you a little
update on the riverfront. Um last week I spent some significant time there with uh different agencies from the state, myself and the owner of the property. Um he showed up last week hoping to reopen that property. Um after a thorough inspection with the
owner and the different agencies involved, the owner made the determination that he's not going to open that property back up. Um he was running into some issues um with Expedia taking bookings. So we did have some
frustrations from um travelers, tourism people coming into town thinking they were going to be staying at that property and when they got there it was locked up. So, um, city administrator, um, different people worked and I think
Betty got that taken care of last week with, uh, getting that shut down through Expedia. Um, but, uh, very frustrating for people coming here thinking they got a place to stay and then not being able to find a place because everything is is booked
up. So, um, we got that taken care of. Um, and the owner has some things he'd like to see happen, but uh that'll be a conversation for a different time, but uh as of now that property will not be
reopening. So, is there any way to keep uh any advertising that they are open? Is there any way of sending out pictures that it's shut down or
>> um >> there were a lot of people that came and then it just there was nothing there. >> Yeah, it it's pretty frustrating. You know, with the internet now, if you Google the Riverfront Hotel, it still brings up, you know, brings up pictures and that kind of stuff. It does say
closed now. >> It does say closed. >> It does online. Okay. But there's different, you know, different websites or different engines online that use different data. So, you got to somehow it has to be all-encompassing. Yeah.
>> And it's very tough. >> Um, Mr. Patel did say that he was going to start notifying people on his end. I don't know if that's happened. >> Um, but hopefully we can this we just put this to bed. um and
hopefully don't run into it in the future. We were having similar issues with the Voyager uh motel. Same thing. We've got that taken care of. Um again, it it's a process. You know, it's unfortunate because people again think
they have something squared away and it doesn't happen. So, um but we'll uh we'll see where it goes, but just wanted to give you an update on that. So, >> I I really appreciate it. I uh you know, I appreciate your work on it, Jared.
>> I really do. I mean, to if we would have ignored, you know, it just get worse. You know, >> we we anticipated this was going to happen when he shut the heat off and the utilities last fall. Um you know, the writing was on the wall. It's northern Minnesota, no heat,
>> you know, no electricity. Um, and it was very evident that >> that had taken a place. >> Yes. So, uh, that's where we're at with that. So, >> thank you. >> Any questions? Blight,
>> I ran into three or four folks that had reservations at the riverfront. So, unfortunate. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, >> what what did they, if I might ask, did what did they end up doing or how did they >> uh solve it? Some of them traveled up to
a 100 miles to find accommodations. So, >> yeah, that's not good. >> It uh it's unfortunate for the community. >> Mayor, if I may, >> please. In speaking with um Expedia, they did give me an 800 customer service number um that I shared with the CDB as
well because they were fielding a lot of calls and um don't know if they will help with anything, but um they they did offer a 1-800 customer service number that folks could call. So, we do have that information available if you guys
get any calls on it as well. >> Thank you. questions for Jared. >> Oh, thank you, Jared. >> Thanks. Thank you. >> Next in our packet um is the law enforcement center lease proposal from
Cooching County. Oh, excuse me. >> Um we'll go back to item four. Thank you to the building official uh report which Crystal has provided. Are there any questions on
the permit activity? >> Looks good. >> Seeing none, let's move forward to review the law enforcement center police lease proposal uh from Cuchqing County. Chief WHley, is this
something that you'd like to discuss with us? >> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Thank you for having me. Um, I looked through the lease here that they had they had
drafted the and the inspection report. I didn't see anything that was really glaring. Um, some of the some of the doors and things like that are at their their end of their life
expectancy. Um, I know there were concerns about the west west side of the building in hot hot weather. Sometimes the doors don't shut all the way um because of the expansion of the the
doors during the the hot weather. Uh that's to be expected. Um I know Chelsea and Councelor Buller and I did an inspection a while back. We toured the building,
looked at it pretty comprehensively. the the ceiling tiles in the squad room and the it's the surrounding offices are are pretty bad in certain areas and that's from the dripping water from up above when the jail was in operation.
The water has been shut off up there now. So that that should not be a problem any longer. Um, and I know that they're in reading through this, they want to do some some lighting renovations.
So, I would say, you know, that would go hand in hand, the lighting and the the ceiling tiles and and getting that done. Um, those are definitely needed over there. the roof the roof uh was warrantied up
until 2024. So, I wouldn't anticipate that. Um that should be a real a real problem. Um the major plumbing issues have been taken care of and that hasn't been an
issue since the the uh Sallyport was uh jackhammered and then the pipes and things renovated there. Um the asbestous piping removal down in
the basement that was also done. So no elevated spore samples or anything like that. So those are good good good health inspection reports that we have now. So um it would be I would be in favor of
moving over there after there, you know, something is agreed upon for the renovations to take place. And as long as that goes forward, I would entertain getting over there sooner rather than later.
>> Thank you, Chief. >> When when are they proposing to start renovations or what what's the hold up now? >> I haven't heard. just uh for our discussion I believe that they want you know to to hear back from us that we are willing to move over there.
>> Yeah. >> I I don't know what I don't have a timet >> it's the lease they're waiting because we we discussed paying half of that renovations. >> Okay. >> Right. So when that does take place, you need to be
telling them what you want >> painted and tile and whatever. >> Okay. >> Ceiling tile, floor stuff, whatever it is, lights, where you want the lights or all you want the cubicles. You're also going to need uh which I don't know if
it's still there, but uh where all your servers and everything are going to have to go that you're going to bring over. >> Yeah, that'll be a >> So you need a server room. >> Yeah. somehow figured out in there, configured in there. >> That's the biggest
that's going to be the biggest thing is the IT work and the the switch over to get our computers up and running is is we need that that we can't have that's got to be uninterrupted because we use those so much
>> and rely on them. Um, so that in my mind is the biggest thing, getting the the IT stuff up and running first. >> Yeah. And that's won't uh Austin and
them help with that, right? >> They're prepared for that, I think. And I think when this is going on if we talk to the sheriff's department that they for the couple hours or whatever >> or we can work when we finalize the deal
to just cover which is probably set up between the two agencies anyhow in case something happens. >> Yeah. >> Turn or the other and >> in the transition. >> Yeah. Transition to Yeah. Okay. rep and answer and there is a not get too but
all the the server rooms downstairs right now and I don't know if you want to keep that's up to you guys to decide but the server room it's already downstairs there is one hooked up and but that's up to you guys decide but with only being one department if you
wanted to move it somewhere upstairs for you that would probably work >> yeah whatever is best for Austin and his staff for uh getting that done. I I trust in what he what he wants to to do with that.
>> And and some of that, not to get too deep, is going to have to be restricted. >> Mhm. >> Are aren't they still using that one? >> I don't know if they still use the county still using that or if they move that over to
>> Some of that is still >> space in that they're >> some of it's telephones for the whole >> Yeah. Some of that space is for what they're going to continue to use >> for um emergency management.
>> That was the other thing. >> I don't there. >> Yeah, that's in the but the but they have there is the own separate server room downstairs where all the servers and own stuff and that is down there and whether that's all still I have no idea
>> that works. Yeah. >> But either way that's up to them to decide. >> They'll figure it out. Yep. >> Yeah. >> Just one other question. Chelsea Nelson, have you gone over this uh lease? >> I did. It's all essentially um what was
already kind of contemplated other than paragraph 18, which I think they pull out in their letter, too, is just which option, which I mean, they provided everything we needed, so that would be the only update to it.
I didn't speak in sentences. Let me know if I made no sense. Oh, to change it to the execution date. >> Mhm. >> Is that correct, Chelsea? >> Yes. Okay. And >> it's not it's not 18. It was 11.
But yes, both of them >> both of them have refer to like January 1, 2026 and that needs to be updated. >> How about on that at 18? Did wasn't that if if the if the building review came back, it was five years
before that kicked in. >> Correct. >> If the building review didn't come back bad, then we went to this one. So, this is wrong. This number 18, >> I don't I think that's what they when he commented on that in his letter, I think
that's what he was saying is that needs to be changed. >> Okay, >> maybe not. Maybe I'm reading that wrong, but >> yeah. So, frozen for the first five years instead of two. >> Yeah, frozen for the first five years.
Six is when the the CPI kicks in. being that there was no big issue with the building review or >> Gotcha. Yep. Well, I would recommend that we go forward with it and pass it from council with the specific amendments that
councelor Wgner has pointed out. Um, which you certainly have and thank you. >> Um, they're they're I think minutia details that I mean if we pass it and
they say, "Well, no, you it's too okay well then we have a problem." I think they're I think they're anxious because I've heard some rumblings about what paint colors could be in the ceiling tiles and >> Yep. I've been >> asking around the color schemes and
things like that. So, >> yeah. >> Yep. >> Pink's very calming. >> Pink? >> I don't know. Uh I don't think so. >> I don't think you want that. No. Uh-huh. They might want some calming colors in the in the interview room there.
>> That's still not the color. No, >> I'm just saying. >> No, no. >> Move it to council. >> Thank you, councelor Wagner. I'll second. Is there discussion? Seeing none, I'll ask the question.
>> I I >> I'll vote yes. And the motion carries. Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you. Item six to councelor Wgner and Kaylor with the band shell an update. >> I I don't think uh administrator
Bergstrom, have you heard back from the insurance company? >> We have not. The last is the the new adjuster requested additional information from Phil who we were contracted with with Bolton Mink on our processes. He has responded and no we
since then we have not heard back from them but they are definitely reviewing and going through um what they may or may not be able to change in our um claim. And on that note,
explain to me if what I'm understanding is correct that we have the cash that's left in an account, but because the replacement cost of such structure is so much more than the money we have. Now we go to the insurance company and say we want you to pay for the replacement of
the structure. >> We have asked them to reconsider the claim. >> Okay. in in light of it being you know such difference you know 600,000 to 1.9 million um yes so that's what we've asked them to review >> okay
>> yes yes >> um and for the committee um a question that that I just have and maybe a bunch of us do is if we have an unfavorable result with the insurance company or the
adjuster Then um difficult discussion. What happens? What do we do? I mean, we've heard talk about private fundraising and raising $1.3 million seems >> those are deep pockets as they were
used. >> Just I I mean, >> well, there's a couple options if we get that far and find it. And I would be surprised if all of a sudden they're going to say that also. the insurance but I don't know right is uh try and
find something a little >> scaled down some type of area they can still use to gather and music wouldn't be a band show probably um something like that that we'll look into once we find out for sure and see
what we get and then there's always nothing but I I don't think that's a plan. We plan on something >> if this was a league sponsored policy
through our LMIT insurance. >> Um, and we had alleged replacement value on the structure. I guess my question is something sounds wrong. I'm not questioning what it costs
to build a new band shell, but if we had replacement coverage on the structure, there's something seriously arai that we were insured to a third of replacement value. >> Well, that is why we're we we are through the league insurance trust and
that is why we're at questioning what we are and what we've been questioning all along. It's what happened was the our adjuster went out and got a bid in a quote for replacement and that was his bid when we had already had an engineer's estimate that was different
than that. But he they refused to take that and so that's why we stepped out again once especially we since we got the quote coming back at nearly $2 million that something's not right here. we want we need this readressed and so
they are looking at it >> and that isn't like I'm sorry if I stepped I um that isn't just one bid there were two bids that came in about the same >> right >> and if I'm not mistaken our adjuster and whose supervisor are no longer working
>> for the insurance >> they are no longer with the company >> do we if they had their own bid and ultimately that's what they deemed our replacement value at Can we just tell them to build us a new band shell with their contractor? I mean, that's how
they're treating us in it. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> I I'm not This is a problem. >> Everybody's working towards trying to get what >> correct >> was there. >> Yes. in and with that mayor as well. The committee at this point is due to the
timing of the bids and you know the one bid was pulled back for they had the bidder had miscalculated their bid so they pulled theirs back. Then the the only bid left. We're on a time frame on how long that bid is good for. So, unfortunately, at the next regular
council meeting, we are going to be asking to um pull that bid as well and reject all any and all bids due to the timeline of what we're on. >> Thank you.
>> Any further update? >> Not on that. >> Thank you all. We'll move to new business at this time. uh first with Ronda Scobby from Taft Law to discuss a proposed
issuance of conduit multifamily housing bonds which I believe we have done recently. >> Are you with us Rhonda? >> I am here. Good afternoon mayor, council members. Um,
I was indeed invited to this meeting to talk about a proposal for conduit housing bonds, but during the time that this meeting has been going on, I've learned from the developers that they are not ready to move forward at this time.
Um, there are two two conduit cycles. there's this summer set of applications and there's a January set of applications and they have determined um that they will not be ready for this
summer time frame. So uh so my report to council is very short. We can we can pull this from the agenda and from the upcoming city agenda as well. Thank you. And we're having a little bit
of difficulty with the volume here. Um, if we could just pause for a moment and see if we can make an audio adjustment. Mayor, if she shuts that air off, you might be able to hear a little bit better.
It's very loud. >> Did you have difficulty? >> I just changed this better. >> Let's try uh please continue if you have additional to continue with. >> I don't, but I will recap for anyone who
maybe couldn't hear me. Um the short story is that we learned from the developer that they're not ready to move forward at this time. Uh so this can be pulled from the agenda and we may hear more in the fall for the uh the next
January application. >> Thank you. I did that everyone >> hear that that this is on hold. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you Rhonda. >> Thank you. Take care everyone.
>> I don't believe we need to take uh any action on that item. Is there any other business under new business? Seeing none, we'll move to reports from boards and commissions. Starting with the airport commission, Council Fuller
and Holden. Well, nothing really special there except for we did discuss again uh moving forward with the uh joint powers agreement that we just talked about. So, that's good to hear that that's moving forward getting
something done. But that's about it. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. I would now move to key to report. Councelor Kaylor. Oh, >> the main thing I'd report is uh we interviewed three candidates for the
executive director last week and we're going to meet again tomorrow and possibly pick who that person may be out of the three. We took some time to do some background and uh think over some things if people wanted to do that. So,
that's mainly what's going on right now. >> Thank you. >> Good job, councelor. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. You're welcome. Yeah. >> One thing we know, we can probably turn it down when I'm talking.
>> Item three, North Cooch. Again, councilors Holden and Buller. Our last meeting we had discussion with our the engineer and all the reports that we had on televising the last 10, eight years, seven years, whatever it was that we had three different
televising projects done. And now we are looking at uh we're looking at about little over two or a little over $2 million in repair work that has to be done. And so we're prioritizing that now for when it comes
to budget time that we can start start this year budget for next year and get these projects finished before uh we have any major collapses or anything. So they'll be they'll be done according to how they prioritize with the uh uh the
condition of the pipes and the condition of the manholes. So that's about it right now was waiting for that report. >> Thank you. We'll move on to subcommittee reports uh
with the ambulance taxing district. I believe we touched on that well earlier at the budget and finance meeting that we have been meeting over a proposed um contract for service with
the county. Uh we have an ambulance taxing district or the county does. So it's um essentially down to what are the numbers uh going to be to operate the service and
not have um a rears Kerry Park Arena. >> Any updates? Uh, no. I I would say uh a suggestion we've discussed is um if we put the uh arena up for sale and we start advertising
um for a buyer um if we can't collect any, you know, if we're not getting it, it's costing us a lot of money um to keep that going and it's going to cost us more money. I hate to see it fall in terrible disrepair. If
we can find somebody that'll take it over and take care of it, that would be the best way to go, I think, for the community. >> Thank you for that update. Has there been any discussion about Wreck Hockeyy's intent with it? We while we
made the offer earlier, like I said, to uh sell them to them or basically give it to them and then help them along for a few about for five years. Um they decided they couldn't do that. And uh we
still got to go through the uh agreement and decide on some fees and stuff of what we're going to do, which we're going to have to raise to keep up the uh the rink to keep it going or we'll end up with I know they like to keep the
fees down and everything for the kids and keep hockey going, but pretty soon if you keep the fees low enough and but you can't keep up with this and we're just talking the basic things. We're not um I think both
entities know the um ice plant is semibar time and like that but we haven't really got together because we need to uh we got some other things going on in the
city that you know like I think once the law enforcement centers take care of that and the ambulance district then staff will have a little more free time to get numbers and stuff so we can start working with >> what we want to do. >> Yeah. And then we can go over the
agreement >> and do that and start a new one. >> Start a new one. >> Thank you. >> Any other business? It is 5:02 p.m. and I will adjourn the meeting.