WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=ckzPTN2tw5w

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: ckzPTN2tw5w):
- 00:00:08: Meeting Called to Order and Agenda Approval
- 00:01:05: Knowledge Bowl Team Recognition and Accomplishments
- 00:07:40: City's Appreciation and Certificate Presentation
- 00:09:38: Knowledge Bowl Format Discussion and Photo Op
- 00:11:11: Speech Team Recognition and State Title Accomplishments
- 00:15:34: Gratitude Expressed to Community and Success Hopes
- 00:16:34: Speech Team Certificates and Photo Opportunity
- 00:20:16: Eagle Scout Project Recognition: Disc Golf Teapads
- 00:22:36: Official City Business Begins and Meeting Adjourns
- 00:23:34: Open Forum, Consent Agenda and Approvals
- 00:24:59: Police Department Report: Traffic, Calls, and Staffing
- 00:27:42: Community Development: Rehab Loans, Grants, and Mural
- 00:29:36: City Engineer: Street Conditions and Sidewalk Concerns
- 00:31:17: Electric Department, Parks, Farmers Market, Hiring Update
- 00:36:03: Quarterly Financials, Pay Equity, Bridge Plan Discussed
- 00:40:18: Action Items: Property Insurance, Variance, EMT Hires
- 00:45:18: Informational Items and Motion to Adjourn


Part: 1

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Call this meeting to order. All rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance 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

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justice for all. No additions to the agenda? >> Nothing I'm aware of. >> All right. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? >> Some move. >> Second. All >> in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Motion carry. Like I said, we're going to make it fairly quick for all of

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you. Politics is uh not always something, you know, students want to be at. So, presentation. We're gonna we're gonna first do the knowledgeable. Um, coach, would you like to come up and tell us about the great success you had this year?

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>> Half hour. >> Sure. >> Okay. Uh, first I'll introduce the team that's here tonight. Um, we have Ramon Alen Turvvic. You can stand up just for a second. Nina Prout, Andrew Stalberger,

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and Logan Kelzer. And Eric Sundererman is out announcing at the varsity boys playoff baseball game. So, he's not here tonight, but he's out doing that. And then Zach Nelson also went to state with us um and helped work in the rooms. and he's also,

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I'm sure, announcing baseball tonight cuz he works for the radio station. Uh it was a stellar year, right gang? Uh we've we've uh had a pretty good run the last few years. Um it was our sixth

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year in a row of going to state and 23 and 25 and 26. We were state champions. So, uh nobody wants to play against us at state, I guess. I don't know. Um they're also the kids on this team, four of them, all of them except for Nenah

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are seniors. And so they've also contributed to the last five years of conference champions, five years of subsection champions, five years of section champions, and then of course the last two years at state champions. So uh it's been a good run.

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Mr. Hoy, Dave Hoy is sitting back there also. He's assistant coach. He runs all of our elementary program which is uh fifth and sixth grade, middle school, 7th and eighth and then he helps uh with the varsity as JV and the nth and tth graders too. So um you can't do it

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without a good group of people. Um the state meet um it was back in April 9th and 10th so it's been a while ago. Um we take a test the first night we scored a 47 which was the highest score of any of the schools there. Um the

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state tournament is divided into three divisions. There's class A, double A, and AAA. And so small, medium, large schools. We participate in the medium size. Uh but our score was still higher than all the large schools, which of course is always kind of fun to take a

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few of them down a notch. Uh and so we started in room one cuz your test placement places you where you're at. Top three scores go to one, next three to two, etc. We stayed in room one the whole day and we held our lead the whole day but going

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into the last round our lead was one point and that's not very much you know uh so we regrouped a little bit. You guys have done this. How many thousands of questions have we done? Breathe, concentrate, buzz and answer.

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And the questions are divided into groups of 15. We buzzed in on the first question of the last group. correct for Melrose. Went through the list. I think it was something like 7 to 2 to 1 or something after the first 15. Question 16, Melrose buzz. Correct.

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After the next 15, it was like 1275 or something. And then of course next question 31, Melrose buzz correct. And you know, there is momentum and there's a tone and all that that gets set. And when you get that first question after each score

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check, each little break, um we had the momentum and there was there no they didn't catch us. We won five, six points, something like that. Um by the time it was all over, uh fortunately uh we got to compete one more time. On

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April 16th, we competed in the national uh knowledge bowl competition, which is an online competition. And there's schools from Minnesota usually, uh, Washington, uh, and Colorado. That's primarily where the schools are from. And we competed in the middle school division. There were 15 schools in our

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division. And, uh, we placed second. Um, I can't remember the academy from Colorado right off the top of my head that that uh, scored higher than we did, but we scored second and um, that was the highest

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score of any of the Minnesota schools competing in any of the divisions. So, says a lot for Melrose and and the kids and how hard they've worked. Um, what else I was going to say about that? Let me think. Oh, um, that competition while it's

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online was scored a little bit differently. We had done some practice with that, but they you were on we're in a room with a big TV screen or whiteboard screen and the question comes up and you have or excuse me, the answers came up. It was multiple choice.

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You had like five stems and you had a couple seconds to look at those and then they start flashing the question up about three four words at a time till they get the whole question up. You can buzz in at any time. If you got the question correct, you got a certain amount of points and the faster you

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answered the question, you got more points. So, um, totally different cuz in a normal situation, the question is always red. So, you're going from being an auditory listener responder to, you know, visual prompt. And um I was

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relooking over the scores today and the team that placed third actually, I don't know if you guys looked at that, got more correct than we did, but we were faster. So, we gained points on that, which kept us in the second place. um which has been a strength of ours all season because knowledge bowl also if

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you hit that buzzer before the other teams get a chance to answer you know you've got the advantage. So we'll graduate seven seniors this year and uh we have about seven juniors coming up a few sophomores and about

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seven freshman that'll be sophomores I guess. And how many eighth graders coming up Mr. Hoy? So, our numbers look good and uh want to thank the the city for um having us here tonight and for your support and for the

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emergency departments um for their u escort back into town and uh we'll try to keep Melrose on the map. Thanks. we will call call you up in a minute. But, you know, for me, it's it's it's really a great joy that it doesn't have

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to be a sport for us to have champions. It's nice to have smart, bright people um that get it. uh you know years ago when we decided the billboard um we wanted it for for the students. There's

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no better way to represent our our our city than you know the children who are champions. They're the future of our community and and this is where you came from. You know to to us that's more of a sales pitch for our community than it would be to put you know an ugly mug

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like my face on a billboard because >> Amen. you know, we all agree, but no, it's great to see, you know, so many of you how you compete. Um, you challenge life at a young age and you're and you're champions. So, um, so I'm saying

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it to both you and the speech team there. So, it's it's great. It's wonderful. So, we just have a little certificate. Uh, Craig will read the card and and just a little token of our appreciation for you. Um then as soon as we're done with that, we'll take a quick picture with uh knowledge bowl and then

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we'll do it with the speech. So >> helps. >> Don't sit chair. Logan >> Ramona last night too. >> A lot of his kids. >> I wish I for a photo.

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>> Yeah, let's land for a photo here real quick. And uh >> we don't have >> Is there a video of knowledge bowl or how do you >> Other sports are, you know, broadcast >> not streamed anyway because it's a different like at the state.

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>> We'll let all of you come in the middle. You're more important than us. >> 45 different teams competing or >> so it's all the same question. So somebody might be on a different question. >> So if you were going to that you could be sharing in person

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>> coach bunch of coaches come in too. You're just a special. >> Yeah. I guess I've never seen the knowledgeable format so I don't know what it looks like. >> On the um school site now we did our pepfest. >> Okay. >> And we did that like a live meet. So at least you'd have a little

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>> example to see what it's like. >> Big smile student here. Even closer now. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. Smile. Eyes wide open. Thanks. Just wait. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations.

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>> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> That's That's cool. >> Yep. >> It's fine. >> Oh, yeah. You can I don't know if you really wanted to hear yet anymore. We should really push this out a little bit further, but you know, tip over. >> It's a good problem to have. So,

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all right. Speech. Well, Jake, >> taking over for me. >> Oh, you're taking over. That's wonderful. >> Bingo. >> All right. All right. Hi, my name is Chloe Troubach. Um, it's my first time meeting a lot of you. I'm uh this is my first

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year being an assistant coach on the team. >> I'm Aiden Clunky. This is my fifth year with the speech team. I'm a captain for our team. >> Great. So, uh we just won our third state title, putting us in a second place tie with Canon Falls for the most

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state titles per school. We have had 13 individual state champions since 2019, including two this year. Melrose has previously had one state champion duo in 1998. Uh we have been the subsection champions

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consecutively since 2015 and we have been the section champion team consecutively since 2018. Before this Melrose was the section champion one other time which was also in 1998. This year we advanced 18 speakers to

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state out of the 39 available spots in our section. We took first at sections with 153 points and the second place team in the section had 51. For state, there were 159 schools in our

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division. 94 teams competed at the state tournament and 54 schools had speakers advanced to finals. Our state team consisted of Brick Ruof in the category of original oratory, Annabelle Lester in the category of pros, Zoe Hessen in

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storytelling, Haley Hammond in extempiraneous speaking, Arya Hammond in great speeches, Brinley Ritter in informative, placing eighth in the state. Advancing to the final round was Rebecca Welli, seventh place in extemporaneous reading. This is her

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ninth grade year, so very impressive to see that happen. Uh Ramona Lurkin Turdic placed seventh in extemporaneous speaking. Ava Wman fifth place in creative, her second year in speech. Isaiah Gilk in humorous interpretation placed fifth.

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Ella Erdman third place in creative. This is her third consecutive state medal and she is only a junior. If she if she secures a medal next year, she will tie for second place for the most state medals in speech history. Very impressive. and we wish her good luck

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with that. Aiden Climpmpy placed third in discussion, his second state medal. Jada Roush in humorous interpretation placed third, her second state medal. Lilucha second place in dramatic interpretation, second state medal.

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Emily Sand placed second in extemporaneous reading, her third state medal. Stacy Tim placed in original oratory, second place. and our two individual state champions. Firstly, Esther Capsner is the individual state champion in extemporaneous reading. This

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is her second state title in her two years of speech. She has only been with our team for two years and placed first in both seasons. She joins Drew Punac and Ellie Heler as a state champion in two separate seasons with our team. And

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then finally, Teague Ducha is the state champion in Great Speeches and his second state medal. We earned our team's highest score ever at state, taking home first place with the second highest score ever in state speech. This is quite a large

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accomplishment. And we were not able to have our head coach Michaela Curry join us, though she did want to provide one message. This is from her. One of the best speech teams in the nation drove through Minnesota this year. And the coach saw me out at nationals to express

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how impressed she was by Melrose. She was just one of many coaches who have expressed their amazement at seeing the kids in arts represented on a billboard. I can't tell you how many times I have had coaches ask why we get so much

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support from our community. I feel bad telling them we don't even need to be asked to be recognized. So, we are so grateful to you all. We express our immense gratitude on behalf of our speech team and we hope to bring continued success to the city of

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Melrose. Thank you. >> Well, congratulations. First off, make sure you tell Mr. Ruff to get going on that billboard quick. I'll just so you hear all the special ones on there. So, all right. Well, we will hand that out and and like I said before, you know, if we're done, we have one more

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presentation after then you're you know, if you have to go, I understand if you have to leave. So, >> need more hands again. >> Yeah. >> Hands. I'll start with this. Hello

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here. >> Emily Double down on you, >> Rebecca. Congratulations, >> Ramona. Steve Ara Jet.

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Brilliant. Annabelle and Zoe. >> Yeah, that should be it. We'll do that together. >> All right, >> down squish in tight. You want us to do two? Rose.

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>> Okay. >> We got to make it easy for identification. Sorry. That's okay. It'll work. >> Okay. >> You ready? >> Smile. >> Thank you. >> There.

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>> Well, again, congratulations. >> Thank you. for being here. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> One more time. >> How do you guys practice? Do you practice in front of each other or do you mirror?

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>> We require 30 minutes a week, but I think most of the people here put in a lot more than 30 minutes a week um with coaches. Each coach does about 10 hours a week, but also in addition to that, we stay Thursday nights until 8, 9:00. >> And you just practice to each other or

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you look at a mirror. How do you >> Yeah. So, they'll run through it in front of a coach and we'll write feedback or we'll like stop them and be like, "Oh, that was terrible. Worst thing I've ever seen." >> You know, make it look perfect for them. Um, but then they'll practice in front of a mirror at home just to fine tune

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things. >> Okay. Thank you. That's great. Congratulations again. So, and now we're on to a recognition. Uh, Brandon Zimmer, Eagle Scout project recognition. Um, would you like to come up and and talk

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about your project or Steve or who who would like to >> Yeah. would you come up to the podium? >> Come up to the podium and tell us everything >> um and how you decided >> uh so tell us a little bit about your career and stuff. Um, so I'm Braden

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Zimmer and uh I'm working on my Eagle Scout project. And one of the requirements for our project is we have to complete uh like uh something for the community. We got to do something. And I really like playing disc golf. It's something me and my friends do a lot. So

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I thought the teapads in the park were kind of it was just dirt and they got muddy and full wet when it rained. So I thought uh maybe add concrete teapads. So, I completed that uh last uh fall and

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then working on completing my Eagle Scout project and should hopefully have my uh border review in uh July and see if I become an Eagle Scout. >> Yeah, everything looks really good. Really appreciate everything that you

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you've done for us. It it helps us out and so our our city employees don't have to work so hard down there. and made it a little easier for them. So, yeah, it looks really good. So, we really appreciate it. >> And I think he's underelling himself a little bit because there's budgeting, there's organizing, volunteers, there's,

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you know, just the concept of it all as well as the paperwork that goes behind it. I think there's a lot more to it than I think what Braden really realizes, but it's it's a good amount of work. It's a good job. >> Yeah. And and anything you do with government, it takes 10fold more to do. So when people, you know, give up their

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time to do this, it's something that's really appreciated. So yeah, could we get a picture with you? And we appreciate it. And and just want to give you a round of applause for it because boy, these smiles that I'm I'm going to have my face is going to hurt by the end

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of the night. So here, we'll let you on that billboard. >> Yeah. Well, you just let it go, huh? >> No, just dude. >> Helping you >> with your smile. My >> belly away from your

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>> mind. Congratulations. >> Thanks. used to live out here. All right, that is it. Now we will go on to official city business. So, thank you everybody for being here. Thank you for

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making our community a better place. >> Thank you. >> So, thank you. Take care. Have a great summer. See you, Andy. >> See you. Take care, Steve. See you, Steve. >> All right, we're on open forum. If

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anybody would like to speak at open form, now is your time. >> It's crickets in here. >> I'm I Yeah, it's Wow, it's pretty boring in here. All right. So, we're on to the consent agenda.

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Um, so approval of the minutes, approve of the bills and purchase order, approve of investments, uh, donation resolution, uh, from, uh, it's resolution number 2026-25 from the American Legion Post 101 for

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$1,000 for the Mau Chamber of Commerce, uh, Riverfest. There's another donation resolution 2026-26 from Client Dairy Ingredients for $500 for the Meros Chamber of Commerce for Riverfest. And then donation resolution

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2026-27 um from Braden Zimmer for $450 for his Eagle Scout project in the Sock River Park for the Frisbee golf course and the signage in the park. Could I get a motion to approve? >> So move. >> I second but abstain from D and E.

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>> Okay. Second. >> Yeah, I can second it, too. So, it's either way it it's it's fair for you. It's not you're not uh this is for the other stuff. So, all in favor say I. >> I opposed. >> Motion is carried. >> We're on the reports. Uh police

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department report on April 20 26 in the traffic area, we had 17 citations, 62 verbal warnings, no written warnings for the month. April 2026, we had 245 calls requests for service. Last year was 350, so down by about five there. excuse me,

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more than 555. Um, at the end of 2025, we were on ICR 1122. This year, we're on 1114, so down uh a calls overall for the year. Um 15 agency assists, those climbed just a little bit, but only by a

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few numbers. Uh school's getting out, so everybody needs to pay closer attention there. Kids on the road and um especially those last couple days of school, they're going to be enjoying life a little bit there. So, just pay attention, please. Uh related to school, May 29th, there's going to be a parade after the graduation. Generally, it

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starts around 8:00 8:15. Uh we'll get the route posted uh through social media and work with the school on that as well. Uh if you have a golf cart or an ATV, uh permits are required. ATVs, there is no cost to the permit. We just need to have one issued to you by state

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law. Um and then golf carts, there's restrictions, those sorts of things. Permits and uh excuse me, applications are online. Dog and cat licenses are due again. So, get all your stuff in order for that. Um, worked on ordinance violations in the last few days. Uh,

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still got to get the letters out, but for the most part, we're sitting around 45, which is about 20 to 25 lower than normal. I'm going to do a recheck to make sure I didn't miss anything. So, potentially four or five more, I would believe to uh take care of, but lower numbers than normal. It's good to see either our consistency is paying off or

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the world's a better place. Who knows? Uh, also in the police department, the two individuals that we put offers out to, backgrounds are all back, everything's good. They've accepted the positions. So, uh, beginning of June, they should be coming into the office, start training. I'm hoping by Septemberish that they'll be in the

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schedule and on their own, and then we will be fully staffed and life will be great. >> What ordinances were you particularly looking for? >> Uh, generally junk vehicles, so vehicles with expired tabs andor that are not operational. um that's the biggest

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portion of things or if there's um appliances, washer, dryers, fridges, whatever else that get tossed out throughout the the spring or the year, whatever else and general debris. >> That's what our ordinances cover. Uh last year, I think we had two of them that went to citation. Uh we did make the move to go to a $750 fine on those

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citations. Uh we issued those two citations and they brought them into compliance very quickly thereafter, so we didn't have to exercise a citation. And I hope we don't have to get to that point either. But um yeah, it's looking a lot better out there than it has in the past. So, >> okay, sounds good. Community development

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director report, Sheila. >> So, we've been working with businesses on the commercial rehab loan program to improve their exteriors. We've also been working with local residents to get them funding from the Sterns County Housing Trust Fund. So, it really makes a big difference in these neighborhoods when

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you have a house that really needs some siding and some windows when we can get help for them to get that done. And we're waiting on the small cities grant right now to see if we can enable even more of those. The planning and zoning commission actually met this past Monday, which is a week early. They took

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action on a variance and a final plat for the cure of centric care, but we are not putting that as an action item on tonight. We tonight will be dealing with last month's planning and zoning meeting. It's just rare that we have two planning and zoning meetings in between your council meetings. Next month you

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will be seeing a public hearing posted for the conditional use permit and reszoning at Sterns Electric to allow for the Mary Moose daycare. So that'll be coming up for next month. Next week, Thursday, we have scheduled a pre-construction meeting with Roach Development on the townhouse project out

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on railroad. So, city staff will be meeting with Roach on the planning for that. I want to give a shout out to the arts council who this week found out after several tries that they were awarded the grant to pay for their mural project. So, the mural project will happen. They did get funding from the

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central Minnesota Arts Board. Um, campground I think is almost completely full for this weekend. So, we welcome visitors coming this weekend. And I do want to give a plug for the American Legion for their Memorial Day services on Monday. They are taking extra effort

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this year with their honor guard to come out to all the area cemeteries which is something that has not been done since co. So they'll be in Greenwald, Meer Grove, St. Rose, also here in Melrose. And that's all I have tonight. >> All right. Thank you.

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City engineer report. Mr. Dave. >> All right. Good evening. A couple things for you guys tonight. Um Andrew and I took a drive around town last week looking at the condition of the streets. We hadn't done that since 24. So a couple years uh not great news to report on that. We kind of lost some ground in the last couple years on these streets.

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So as budget season comes forward here, you're going to start seeing those reflected. So we're going to get an accurate picture for the council and see where we're at as far as what it's going to take to catch up if that's even possible. I don't know any community that has done it so far. So but um that that's going to be a challenge. So that wasn't the best news ever. I think it's

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um we're seeing more freeze thaw than we have in the past with a little bit warmer winters and that's not helping us out. So, so not great news to to deliver there, but it's something that we need to know about and more we know the better we can plan for it. So, uh street project 2026 street project. Uh they will be in town

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next week doing the catch basins out on Daylight Court on 11th up there to by the high school. Uh those will be done and then look for the paving crews or actually the cur concrete curb and gutter crews to be in town. Uh June 8th and 9th is the plan as of right now. Uh

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those dates tend to be a little bit wishy-washy with weather and that kind of thing, but that's where it is sits right now. So be looking for progress to be made soon. Uh you guys may have saw survey crews out on the Main Street sidewalk today. I've got a couple questions on that. We did all the preliminary work and uh and it's it's

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again not not fantastic news. It's a little steeper out there than we want it to be. So, we got some ADA concerns that we got to take care of, but that's why we're doing it. So, look for progress on that as we get moving. But, um, that's it for me. >> All right. Thanks. Thanks. >> Thank you.

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>> City point of contact GMOs. >> Uh, yes. And, uh, the electric department, there is an offer out for electric line supervisor. We're hoping to get an acceptance on that um by next week or sooner. uh County Road 169 project. Our electric department's out there. They've been um doing

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underground. As of today, it sounds like everybody's been connected out there so they can start tearing overhead down and pulling poles and they believe to be done ahead of schedule on that. Um thanks to any of the area farmers or people out there that were willing to take the polls. Saves us a lot of time because we can only haul one at a time

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and they have good use for them. They sign off on things and life is good. So, uh also a thank you to our electric department for hanging uh the flags for the weekend. Not sure if streets helped with that, but I know that used bucket truck, so I just assume it's electric. Um, streets and parks have gotten

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basically everything open. Second pickle ball court went in this week and was poured. Uh, let that set up a little bit, but I think that'll be a good addition there. Uh, the waist station that's down there for the campers, that's going or being worked on as well. Uh, if or when you are in the park, stay

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off the grass. There are plenty of roadways down there. Um, we have had several in the last couple nights and our officers will be watching very tentatively for any more of that in the future. So, uh, farmers market is coming on June 3rd. Um, from 3 to 7 will be the

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times, but that's the first day it's going to be open. And the streets crew is working on mowing and street sweeping and a lot of patching in the last several days and weeks. So, it's good to see. Uh, water wastewater, they're working towards a new blower and pump building. So, there's design work being done, all that sort of stuff. They got done hauling sledge early this year, so

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they got a head start on some of the other things that they usually do. And flushing hydrants is pretty well done for the year anyway. My fault. Uh, city administrator hiring process. 31 applications were received. Um, the company we're using, DDA, they're going to narrow things down to eight or 10 by

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the beginning of June. And then on June 30th, interviews will be with uh four to six candidates. Uh, we've been working with Connor or Connor has been working as much as he can. our city clerk and staff been helping out all over with that. Um ad hoc meeting was

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this week to discuss um some staff items. Going to bring some of that back to the council and commissions in June. Uh we do need to work on a date for budget meeting. We generally hold that in June or workshop day. So we should look at some dates for that. And then as

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well as DDA would like to keep a date as close to June 8th to evaluate the 8 to 10 candidates to set up for interviews at the end of the month. That is kind of the timeline that they have out there right now as well as then it can help with um any scheduling on the 30th of

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June. So um PUC does have a regular meeting on the 8th. DDA is expecting about a half day to evaluate that many candidates. So, I don't know if we want to meet before the 4:45 meeting to evaluate the candidates or if we want to

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do it in the morning and take a half day there or whatever it needs to be, but everything should be presented to you in advance. It's just a matter of discussion of of the candidates and those sorts of things. I know Mr. Mayor, you're going to be out of the area for that. But my understanding from talking

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with Pat had at DDA is that you can evaluate them based off of um what you receive. you just won't be in on the disc discussion. You can rank the candidates from there. So, >> sure, >> your input will still be used. >> What day did you say that was? >> June 8th is a Monday. >> June 8th. >> So,

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>> yeah, whatever. It'll work for me. I'll make it happen. >> Just give me notice when you want to do it and I'll take the day off or whatever. Just take the day off. June 8th. >> Julian, >> what time do you think the meeting would be at? >> I would say if it's going to be an

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afternoon meeting, we'd start by 1ish. If it's going to be a morning meeting, we start at seven, get out before lunch. >> Okay, I will adjust my schedule, >> my work calendar. I got a couple, but I can blow them off. So, it'll work.

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>> Okay. Should we try for the afternoon? >> Yes. >> And just flow right into the PUC meeting after that then. Okay. I'll send it out to PUC as well and as well as the council members that are not here and we should hopefully be able to continue on. Was it 30 candidates that were qualified or 30 candidates that were

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>> 31 that were submitted and then um I believe you guys were on that, but they would pull out five or six candidates of each round that were submitted each week that were submitted as these are the ones that kind of were highlighted. So, >> I don't know that all of them met the criteria, but >> pretty good. We're going to try and get

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down to 8 to 10 that have met the criteria. So, >> wow. >> All right. >> Okay. So, you're going to shoot for one o'clock. put this in my calendar. >> Yep. >> Okay, >> I think that's the gist of it.

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>> All right, thank you. On the new business, City of Me's quarterly financial reports. Miss Jackie. >> Good evening, mayor and council members. Tonight, I'll be presenting the city's first quarter 2026 financial update.

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Overall, the city remains in a stable financial position early in the year. Current activity reflects normal seasonal timing and spending patterns across departments. General fund revenues and expenditures are generally tracking within budgeted expectations with overall expenses

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remaining below, excuse me, budget. Quarter-to- date net position is slightly below the prior year due to wage increases, vehicle and equipment repairs, and higher snow removal costs from a heavy winter season. First quarter revenues total

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approximately 5.7% of the annual annual budget with licenses and permits, fines and forfeitures, and miscellaneous revenues performing ahead of prior year levels. While major intergovernmental revenues and property tax settlements are expected later in the year,

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general fund expenditures are tracking below budget across all departments through the first quarter. Public works has the highest year-to- date spending at 23.5% of the budget, while parks and recreation remains the lowest at 10.2%. Reflecting overall spending levels

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consistent with budget expectations early in the year. First quarter net income is slightly below the prior year due to the timing of major revenue receipts. However, the city's overall financial position remains strong and is expected to

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improve as property tax settlements and LGA payments are received later in the year. Other funds continue to perform within expectations with strong investment incomes in the mata fund, ongoing activity in capital projects, stable

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ambulance revenues, and fire department charges tracking near budgeted levels through the first quarter. As we look ahead, staff will continue focusing on strategic spending priorities, maxim maximizing investment returns, preparing for future public

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safety capital needs, and maintaining the city's long-term financial health. In summary, the city's financial position remains stable through the first quarter with expenditures generally tracking below budget and revenues performing as expected for this point of year. Staff will continue

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monitoring operations closely, focusing on strategic spending priorities, long-term financial planning, and maintaining strong service levels for the community. If you have any questions, >> thank you. Okay. Um, let's see here. Pay equity

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discussion for supervisors. Uh yes, this ad hoc met yesterday uh to discuss some of these things in a special meeting. Uh biggest area was on call and call back compensation related to exempt employees. They are going to be holding a special meeting uh next

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week to approve or discuss those matters further as a whole group. So >> all right, we'll discuss it then. City administrator bridge plan. Uh so Jackie created um a

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proposed wage increase for some of the employees that are doing additional duties during um this transition here at the city administrator. It was also discussed at the ad hoc committee. It was decided that more details were needed and that uh that'll be coming forward again um most likely at the June

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meetings for PUC and for council. >> All right. And also with the MOU, >> uh, same situation was discussed at the meeting, but they felt as though more information was needed before a decision to be made on how that's going to work. So June meeting as well.

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>> Yep. So good that they discussing it and um we're moving forward. So we will make sure we make it right. >> If it uh gets approved, they get back paid. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. We are on the action items

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2026 property insurance renewal. >> All right. The city received their annual quote for general liability errors and omissions auto equipment and property insurance through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust for the period of May 15, 2026 through May 1527.

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The total quote is $170,445 up from $158,624 for the 2526 coverage. The cost for the premium is shared between the general and utility funds. General fund portion is at 34% and utility funds at 66%.

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Significant changes include an increase in the electric utility property and the increase in vehicles on the auto schedule. The overall premium is up 7.45% from the prior year. According to the league underwriters, this is due to

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property coverage increased 8.17% mainly due to an increase for electric utility property. The mobile property premium is up 6.10% as this is tied to the manual premium for the property. First party cyber and municipal liability premiums are up due

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to 3.14% rate increase and the audio auto experience mod had a 9.09% decrease from last year. Um, so the council to give consideration approving the insurance quote of $170,445

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to wave the monetary limits on municipal tort liability to keep the deductible at 5,000 no more than 15,000 and not purchase excess liability or equipment breakdown coverage. >> All right, you have any questions? >> Uh, was there is the JS or geno donation

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going to add cost to that when that the city acquires it? If that becomes our property, then I would assume that will change things, but I would have to get a quote. >> Sure. >> Thanks. >> Yep. >> I approve as is now. >> I approve it as is.

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>> Okay. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Say I. >> I. >> Opposed. That motion is carried. All right. Variance 04-2026-101. Variance request for 2193rd Avenue Southwest. >> Yeah. The planning and zoning commission

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at its April meeting held a public hearing on a variance request from Rome and Carol Bertram on their shed um over on Third Avenue Southwest. The request from them is to be able to use metal

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siding um and have exposed fasteners. We took a look at the property. Generally, you can use metal on roofs, not on the sides. But there were some circumstances with this property where

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it's very unique. It used to be an industrial lot. The shed preceded the house, so the shed was there first. The house came later. Um the planning and zoning commission reviewed it. In our zoning ordinance, you are allowed when

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it's a nonconformity to maintain it. You're not allowed to replace it. So something happened to the shed and it was gone. They couldn't replace it as it is, but you're allowed to maintain a nonconformity. You don't have to bring it up. You but you can and

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right now the paint is peeling. They wish to, you know, make it a look a little better. Um the three standards are reasonleness. planning and zoning commission felt it was a maintenance also allows allowing this variance also keeps it the

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same footprint in order to go with a different siding that's not metal they would have to expand the footprint and that is not allowed in the zoning ordinance um also unique circumstances there's no property like this in Melrose it's kind of a one of a kind and neighborhood character the neighbors

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that we heard from all the neighbors were notified they're going to keep it white it's going to look very similar to what it is it's really not changing the character of the neighborhood at all. So, the planning and zoning commission is recommending to the council to approve this variance, allowing them to use metal sighting with exposed

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fasteners on this building. >> Any questions? >> I don't understand how other sighting expands the footprint, but steel doesn't. >> I think because it has to get built out because part of it is brick and part of it is vinyl and part it's got very

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different sides on all four sides. Part of it already has vinyl. >> Yeah. >> So I'll move >> second. All >> in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion is carried. All right. To uh EMT

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hires. But our first one would be for Adam Schmidt who has completed all of his uh I'm contingent of him passing his all of his testing. Can I get a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. Motion carried. Then we have

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another one um for um AJ Ammonson. Uh as long as it's contingent on his uh complete with the physical drug screening, background check, and all the the tests and stuff. Can you get a motion to approve?

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>> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. Motion is carried. We're on toformational items. Next council meeting will be Thursday, June 18th at uh at 6 pm. Is there any questions or concerns? >> I will be on vacation that week. Um, so

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some of you will have to step in for this position. >> Okay, that's >> I know I will be back for that. So, all right. If there's anything else, can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> So, move. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I.

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>> Oppos. Motion carried. Meeting is adjourned.