All --------- right. This is the Minatrista City Council work session for March 16th, 2026. It is now 501. We will call the meeting to order. The fir the items for discussion this afternoon are the 9550
West Hill Road abatement update. Uh B the Bayside Lane storm water project discussion and C the Highway 7 TMO update discussion. Um any changes to the agenda? >> No. Nope. >> All right. Then the first one. >> Yeah. Um let's see. What should I call
you? Um president of the council. Kathleen. Um what we have today is uh kind of a continuation of our discussion about the abatement process um related to this this parcel and potentially another parcel just off of uh County
Road 110 West. Um this is kind of our first time going through this as a city and um what I did is I asked uh our city attorney Sarah Sala to kind of outline the process. So everybody's really familiar with it and um not only staff-wise, you know, there's a big part
with our police department um city council touch points uh just so that you guys kind of know what we're doing um as we move this along. So um there's a memo in here that Sarah prepared that kind of goes through the process. Um Craig is working through that process right now.
Uh we're kind of starting it not necessarily over, but we're we're doing some things we've already done just to make sure that we're doing it correctly. Um, and it sounds like if if things go the way I think we think they will go, we will likely um be looking at doing
this administrative search warrant part, which is kind of the first part, um, sometime in early April now that we have snow again. Um, we'll probably have to let that melt off this week. Um, but then that would allow us to uh do an inventory of the property. Uh, and then we can bring that back to city council
and prepare a report and and go through that process. And then um from there you all will be able to determine if you want to issue an abatement order and and then we'll go through that that process. So um we have Sarah here if if you have any questions for her. Um I'm not sure
if you have any questions for me or or Craig. Uh but we're just kind of want to make sure everybody understands the process. So um we're doing it correctly since it is our kind of first time as a city doing this. >> Okay. Um, Jasper, um, I think Sarah mentioned in her memo that the county might have
or may do something. Um, have you investigated that at all or? >> Uh, we have not. I don't know, Sarah, if you can elaborate on that a little bit. She's, uh, remote. >> Um, >> yeah. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, yeah, I mean, you can
definitely reach out to the county. I know lots of times they don't want to get involved, but I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. Sounds like the city hasn't done that yet. So maybe before you go full steam into this process, you might want to reach out to the county first to see if they have if they want
to have any involvement because that would make things a little bit easier and we could use some of their resources. >> Yeah. And I Well, so I I dug into this a little bit probably about three years ago. Um, and and there was a whole proceeding with the county environmental
services. Um, and I think this individual, the property owner, ended up going to jail, I believe, for 7 days for just not not abiding by what the county wanted to do. And essentially what I understood, and I talked to the environmental person who is still there at the county, um, this was 3 years ago,
so we we should reboot it as Sarah said, but um, they kind of they indicated that it was kind of a city problem at that time. um because there were a lot of environmental concerns with what is on the property and that's kind of how the county got involved and I think there was a citation that just didn't get paid
and then that individual just I think ended up spending some time in county jail. So, uh but this was I'm estimating 25 years ago. Oh, quite a while. I want to say maybe even 30 years ago. So, but we will definitely reach out to the county and see if they want to get
involved. But I would I wouldn't, you know, unless things have changed in the last three years. Yeah. Okay. Okay. >> Any other questions? >> All right. >> All right.
>> Let's see. >> And next we have the Bayside Lane storm water project discussion. >> Yes. Um, President Ruffkin, um, we have basically there's been some, uh, developments with this as far as gaining
access to the property. I don't think we have an issue with gaining access. We just have a a resident that doesn't want us to basically um, install a pipe. So, um, Allison is kind of the lead on the project and Gary. Um I I ended up meeting with this property owner along
with Mayor Whan last week um and got got the gist of it. And basically it's um there's a there's a well um this property owner's well that was installed. We're not quite sure but either in our drainage and utility easement or right next to it. We think
it's in it. Um so I think next week or the week after or so there's going to be a survey done of the drainage and utility easement just to see where that well is. Um, but so the underlying issue with the property owner is that there's this state statute from 1993 that gives
guidance that a pipe that's 8 in or larger in size, a storm water pipe, shouldn't be placed within 20 ft of a well. Um, the pipe that we're talking about installing is 4 in. So, it would be below that threshold. Um, but the property owner is really leaning on that
it's a still a storm water pipe even though there is a 12-in pipe within 6 ft of it that was installed short probably like 3 months before this statute was adopted in 1993. So if you imagine a well right here 12in pipe here and then there'll be a a 4-in pipe kind of
running directly um along with the 12-in line. So um from our perspective we have a drainage and utility easement that we can put utilities in. Um there's some, you know, underlying state statutes that we have to be aware of that I don't think we're we're going to be violating anything with, but there has been the
threat of legal action. So, we want to make sure that, you know, the the project has been approved. Um we've signed contracts with it, but we just want to make sure we're we're touching base with with this group to see once if we want to continue to proceed with it. Um I'm not sure if Allison, Gary, if you
want to add anything that I missed or misinterpreted. Um yeah, just to reiterate, so when um the question came up about the separation between the well and the proposed pipe, um A2S actually reached directly out to the Department of Health
to get clarification on that. So we have we have that. Um and then we also included in the packet to just summarizing the options that um Gary and I looked at for resolving the issues at 9, you know, addressing the issues at 9:25.
um there's there's no easy option here. So, I just wanted to point that out to to the council that that's included in your packet for summary that we've looked at multiple options here and came forward with this with the the 4-in pipe um based for the reasons uh stated in
the in the packet there. >> And I'll just add to that with the response we got from the Department of Health, they do mention that there is a 20 20 foot isolation distance, but anything over or greater than 8 in. So the 4 in does not fall under that. Um but one thing that they did put in there
and the neighbor is aware of this. We sent him this um complete email that they do say that you know they have to maintain or um maintain an adequate maintenance distance for them to do that. Um, and my question to my staff
who Randy Storms and Mark Flying who both were in the welding industry for 25 years before coming here, drilling and installing and doing maintenance on wells, ask him what that meant. And basically, if they were to seal the well, they would seal it, they would dig
down, you know, he said, and Randy said, you know, 5 to 6 to 7 ft. They would snap off that pipe and they would just bury everything. So that's quote unquote what you know the maintenance distance is. They would not dig down to the point where they you would have to. I mean you
know they would pull this there. No maintenance involved that would um be interfered by this pipe going in and stuff. And we're going to try to keep this as tight as we can to the other one. Give it as much room as possible. So I mean if that's you know one of the
things that it's going to rely on, we're going to meet all that. So, it's just we've got a great plan in place. We have a great contractor. I mean, I I mean, I don't see any issue with this. Um, we just have a, you know, one neighbor that
just plain and simple just does not want it, does not want to be helpful. And, oh, sorry. >> What was there first? The well or the utility easement? >> So, the utility easement. Yeah, that was recorded with the with the plaid. So,
and then the then the well was installed and then shortly after that, I believe the 12-in pipe was installed. Um, but >> are all those homes on wells? I I thought that was City Water. Uh, >> they are all on wells. Yep.
Yep. So, um, one thing I will I'll just convey this from that property owner is that they're concerned about contamination of their well. Um, and really, you know, thinking about how that contamination could happen. Uh, that pipe, you know, the 4 in or the
12-in would have to break. Um, fully understanding that that's storm water. It's not like it's not sanitary sewer or anything like that. It's just storm water. Um, the 12-in line is some surface water. Uh, but the 4-inch line would likely be pretty much ground water
be coming from a sump underground and then pumped up and you know or not a sump, but it would it would be a basin. >> Mostly ground water. >> Yeah. So, it'd be mostly ground water. Um, and in order for it to contaminate his well, it would likely have to contaminate the entire aquifer um and
get down. That well is 131 ft below the surface. So that water would have to have some sort of contaminant in it and and then infiltrate 131 ft down to the aquafer in order for there to be contamination. You know, you can't say never, but
highly unlikely uh for that to occur. But it's that that is the concern. I just wanted to make sure that that was conveyed to you all um that his concern is about contaminating as well. And with wells in a utility drainage ement there the well code doesn't say that you can't
do it but it would be city you know it'd be up to the city to say you cannot do it and it's not any you know there'd be absolutely no way if somebody came to us and said we want to put a well in your drainage in the utility drain easement that we would allow that whatsoever. I mean, it would have to be a pretty big
hardship to allow that because of the fact that if anything would ever have to get done in there where we would have to dig in there. Even this wall becomes even, you know, a lot of work to to be around. >> Do you do you not need do you need a per you don't need a permit to put a well
in? >> You you do need a permit. Um, and this well was installed in 1993. Um, and there's a there's a well log and all of that stuff. Um, I kind of alluded to us doing a survey of the drainage and utility easement just to see if there is
something in there. If there is, if the well is in there, um, we'll likely bring that back to the city council. And, you know, as you maybe are aware, when there are things in our rightway or or easements, we we can issue a license agreement that, you know, acknowledges
that there's something in there, we give permission. Um, we talk about, you know, what it means to be in there. It's it's very close. it's either in there or it's within a foot of it. If it's within a foot of it, we don't have to do a license agreement, but we should probably look at it if there is just, you know, in case there's future issues.
Um, so likely I think in the next couple weeks um we can get a survey crew out there just to see once what if it's in there or not. Um, and kind of go from there. But, um, I think you're hearing from from staff. We don't think there's much issue uh with putting the pipe in.
I just we just wanted to make sure you you are aware of the the property owner's concerns. >> Has the person that's experiencing the flooding, has he talked to this homeowner that's objecting? Does he understand the magnitude of the
flooding? >> 925. >> Can I speak? >> So with Can you state your name and address? Yes. Um, Gina, 925 Bayside Lane. I'm kind of representing that whole >> strip >> strip per se. We've been dealing with
this for 26 years. Sherry Fiser knows who I am. And I mean, sad. >> Um, but this gentleman, it could be 100 ft from his property. Could be one inch and he would still have a problem with it. Does not play
nice with anybody. I've heard that he's had multiple runins with the city multiple times. Um, this is an easy access. This is all spring water. We're basically the lowest lot. 925 is the
lowest lot on Bayside Lane on that side. So what happened is we are collecting it all put in our drain tile across um to the north southwest corner and we have been pumping it and pumping it and
and going through pumps and we've got three pumps running on our property and we're it's still flooding all the neighbors because it's so saturated that when we get a lot of heavy rainfall it has no place to go. It's so saturated. This was an easy access. It couldn't
have lined up better. Um, this would be a godsend. I mean, we've all spent many, many thousands of dollars doing everything what we could. Um, putting in basins front, back, everywhere, pumps, you name it. This is an easy access. And
don't understand why someone wouldn't help their neighbors and getting rid of all this water and getting it directed to the lake. So, versus causing havoc. Um, and here comes spring. So here we go with storms. No electricity. People are afraid to leave their houses on storms
vacations because of this. So, um, all I have to say is let's, you know, I mean, if if the state approved it, if the city, everybody's approving it and it's within an easement, and I'd be also
questioning when he put his well in that close to the easement, there was that 12-in drain pipe that's from his existing neighbor to the north. When was that put in that he doesn't have a problem with that? Right. And that's
right. >> Yeah. No, he seemed to have no problem with that and that was put in after his as well. But, you know, so >> that's the confusion. That's the first thing I'm going to think of is you put your well in that close to the easement. Why? >> And then you have a 12-in pipe that was
put in. You had no problem with that. Why is that? Now you have a problem with a 4 in clear water, spring water just being diverted away to help dry out that area. So, let's see where we end up with this. Thank you.
>> I think it he was the original owner, the the person that's objecting. Correct. Yeah. >> Um Sarah, is there any legal issues with us proceeding? >> Uh madame acting mayor, members of the council, I'm not aware of any. I The property owner has not I mean, he says
he's going to bring legal action, but we have not seen any basis for the legal action. I guess it'd be nice to see that, but I mean I can't think of what the, you know, what concerns, what legal concerns he would be able to raise here. >> Okay. And I mean, we can do what we want
in the easements. Correct. I mean, within reason. >> Correct. I mean, I think it's a matter of, you know, does this benefit the public? And I think it sounds like it's benefiting not just one property owner, but several. Um, so I would say that's
the public. and um you know it's being used for drainage and utility purposes by putting in a storm water pipe. So it's not outside the scope of the easement. So I think you're within the scope of the easement and it's being used to benefit the public.
>> Any other when So Gary, when this goes in, does it look is it like a big like drain like a circular cover thing with like a grate over it and then the water goes into it or what does this look like when it goes in? >> It'll just be basically it'll be underground. It's just going to be a clear or just a small 4-in pipe that's
going to be basically inside basically a rock bed that's just where the water's collecting underground that uh will just transfer away. >> How hard is it to construct this? How long would it take? How long would a neighbor be inconvenience? >> It won't hardly be inconvenience at all for most of it. I mean, there'll be some
excavation in the right of way where we need to make the connection to the storm pipe. Um, but through his yard, the biggest thing I'll see are some, you know, probably some marking where the route's going to go and then just have the guys going through there with their indicators to to, you know, as they're
boring this pipe in the ground, they'll have location sensor, you know, they'll put down to make sure their depth is going and where they're at and keeping online. But as far as, you know, there's not going to be a lot of disturbance. Um, you know, these residents will have a lot more disturbance cuz they're going to have a a machine in there coming
through their yard. are going to have a bore pit in their yard, you know. So, I mean, you know, at the grand scheme of things, it's not much at all. >> So, we're accessing this from their side of the street side. >> Yeah. We have the drain, we install drain tile in and outside of our home,
and it goes whole across to a catchway in the corner. >> We're disturbing all of that that we put in any thousands of dollars >> to make this happen because we're using that as let it collect there and then take it away. So,
we're helping neighbors north or south of us. As long as it can happen, we don't care. >> It makes zero sense why anybody would even disagree with us. >> And the tolerances are pretty tight. That's why we're going to start there to
make sure we have that depth that we need there to, you know, make sure at the very, you know, so we hit the pipe there and we hit here that we have, you know, the required fall. So, Any other questions?
>> So, what do we do next? Just send him a letter. >> Continue to move forward as planned with the project. >> Yeah. So, this is this is essentially a check-in and to see if there's any objections to us continuing with the project based on some of this new information. Um, and if you want us to
proceed, we will proceed. >> I say proceed. >> Proceed. >> Yep. Yep. >> Proceed. >> All right. >> Yay. cocktail. >> When When is the work scheduled to start? >> Uh once Frost goes out. Um the contractor we have, I just talked to
him. Um he's he has pipe ready to order. He's ready to go. So, we just have to wait for the frost to get out and get road restrictions off and then they can move in and start doing it. >> All right. Well, >> great. Sounds good. >> Thanks for coming in. >> Thanks for coming. >> Thank you.
>> I'll let all the neighbors know. That's great. Bye. Thank you, >> Barry. I'm sure we'll be in contact. >> Yep. >> All right. Next, the trunk highway 7 update. >> Yes. Uh, President Refkin, uh, what
we're going to talk about today is a little bit kind of an update about trunk highway 7 and TMO stands for traffic management organization. So, in 2024, uh I believe it was 2024, Kelly Morrison kind of authored a bill that allowed uh
the establishment of a traffic management organization for Highway 7. The city of Shorewood was the city named in this bill. So, they've been kind of facilitating a lot of the the meetings that we had. Um there was essentially $200,000 of seed money that allowed us
to study Trunk Highway 7. You >> spent $200,000 studying Highway 7? Oh yes. Um well consultants. Um so >> I'm in the wrong business. >> But um so that that's that's where that is at. So this is about a year and a
half kind of in in the mix. And the cities that are involved with this right now are the cities of Chanhassen, Deep Haven, Excelsier, Greenwood, Minnetonka, Minatrista, Shorewood, St. Bonafacious, and Victoria. So you can kind of see where it starts. It's kind of this western side. Um, and it's it's in
conjunction with this um 2029 Milan overlay project that I think everybody's maybe heard of. Um, that's somewhat controversial because there's uh these um mind recommended improvements that uh we will actually have MIDOT here on um
April 20th to discuss with the group and talk to you about what that means. um from my understanding and Allison I know is is involved with this is just those improvements are recommended but they are unfunded so they don't have money to actually do them but if they did they
would you know do a couple of these things um and one of them that I think everybody's heard of is is probably the median that is proposed um basically from um like rolling acres all the way into St. bonafacious. So that would limit access significantly on and off.
It's on and off through there. Um but um so that's just part of it. So this traffic management organization is trying to get organized and um there's a uh we don't have a JPA or a draft JPA that I think is in any position to um to
be shared. I think there's been one that's that's been floated around, but um really the path that I think the group is going down and there's a there's a lot of fiscally conservative cities in this group that are, you know, not necessarily wanting to sign into a JPA
that has a financial um contribution set annually. So, it's just one another one of those things where it's, you know, a formula of some sort that determines how much each city pays. Um, and we've looked at different formulas and they're all over the board. Um, so one of the
ideas and and we don't really have to take action at all today, like we can't anyway, but is to provide an update um just about like kind of where it's at. Um, but essentially the idea would be a JPA that forms and gets the group to
collaborate, but there's no financial contribution. that doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be an ask in the future for, you know, but there's an there's no there's no contractual obligation to pay. So, for example, one of the things that that
could be asked for is a grant writer to write a grant for a grant that would, you know, do some safety improvement to to trunk highway 7. Um, and depending on how much that costs, they would maybe split that between the groups equally.
We don't know how this would work but um so there wouldn't be any financial you know dedicated financial contribution to do any of this work but there would be a group formed. So >> so if we joined a group and the group
decided that they wanted to charge more even if we were outvoted we'd still have to contribute. >> I don't think so. Um, it seems like there's there's pretty good push back from not only our community, but you know, I'll just throw Chan Hass out there cuz they've been kind of vocal
about it, but not to have any sort of, you know, set financial contribution because there's a bunch there's there's another trunk highway 7 safety coalition that's more police related that has a very similar name that other cities
contribute to. So there's been talk of joining with them to kind of look at um you know can we do things their their missions are two different two separate missions you know safety but more enforcement related safety measures versus you know putting up like actual
infrastructure to help make things safe. So um just that branding is something that we've talked about um quite a bit as well. So essentially what I'd like to discuss and have have discussed amongst you guys is do we want to you know
continue this um I don't know journey kind of forming this group. Um I think that I don't know unless there's some uh somebody on council that wants to have us dedicated uh or dedicate financially to this group. Um, I think personally I
think having a group that's formed that doesn't have any financial contributions might make it challenging for that group to be successful, but it would also, you know, still leave an avenue open for if if there is an ask, a financial ask for the group to
still kind of maybe get some meaningful work done. Not that we would ever have to financially contribute. So, it's very unclear how the JPA could look, but um as these discussions are are coming, um Mayor Whan and myself are the ones that
kind of attend these meetings monthly and we just like some feedback as far as what the what our community or what our city council would like to see um if anything. So, the basically the $200,000 is going to run out at some point in
time. Um, and SRF was the engineering group that got the contract with with this TMO to get things established, study the the Millan overlay project, and see what other um, MIDOT
improvements they wanted to try to help get funded. So I think there's a there's a funding request to the state legislature similar to like what ours is for a water treatment plant to fund those um recommended improvements minus
the median. So the the one that would in that would affect us um or that's kind of in our area is the Wildwood intersection which is somewhat timely with the development discussion that we've we've had recently. Um, and that would turn into, I believe, and Allison, you can
correct me if I'm wrong, it's like a threequarter intersection. Kind of a right in, right out situation. >> Is that what they call that? >> Uh, right in, right? Threearter intersection is um at 44. It's It's a weird
>> Okay. It was like a Isn't that It's a green at Wildwood, too. It's kind of the It's to prevent anybody from >> from turning making lefts from eastbound 5 to Wildwood >> from seven eastbound 7 onto Wildwood.
>> Yep. >> So, but again, this is not funded by Mindot. And um when they're here on the 20th, they will be very clear that none of this stuff is funded and um >> you know, there's there's no money to do any of the improvements other than the Millan overlay. Have the accidents
dramatically increased in the last 5 years, 10 years? I mean, I live there. I turn on from 44 to Highway 7 several times a day. I've never felt like it was dangerous because I'm not on my phone and I'm paying attention.
So, I I don't understand what is this $55 million they're looking for. >> Um, well, for the the Millan overlay project is I believe that much. the an overlay project funded. >> Yes, >> that's in the budget. >> Yes, >> that is.
>> So, it's going to happen no matter what. >> It will in 2029. So, the potholes and whatnot that are currently >> atrocious now. >> I mean, I don't want a big pylon going down the middle of my road. I think that's more dangerous. And >> you know, I would say increased maybe
this isn't the place to talk about it, but throw people in jail if they're on their phones and driving. I don't I don't know what's causing the accidents. >> Yeah. Well, is it the the increased traffic and the 2500 more people out on Woodland Cove and it's more crowded or what? >> Well, most of the accidents aren't
happening in Matrista. If you look at the the map thing, they're all farther east. So, I mean, I I think this is a waste of time cuz one, I don't like any of these changes. Why would I want to join a group that's doing things that we >> I don't want. >> I don't want them either.
Madam President, >> I don't feel the road. I mean, I'm I I am on it multiple times. I don't feel that it's dangerous. I don't feel people are driving crazy. I don't I think accidents happen like the terrible accident at 44 and 7. Um, but wasn't
that just an accident? She wasn't. I mean, was an accident. Terrible, terrible accident. But >> would that I don't know. I think >> well I I lived by 12 and um they put the median in there and and we haven't had
any fatalities since. Um but so I mean I there were just some horrible things that happened and um so I you know I do think it's an issue we need to deal with but I but it totally closed that road off then. I mean there aren't going to be any more intersections there and so
you know that doesn't really work here. So, I I agree with you on the the median, but it seems like u you know, it's a it's kind of a a country road that city people are driving on. They don't understand that you can get in head on, you know, if you do the wrong
thing. And >> so, I I think we need to be involved to do something about this because it's just really dangerous. >> Yeah. And the whole the whole, if I may, the whole point of a traffic management organization is there's limited funding for all of these roads. And most of the
major trunk roads in Minnesota have some sort of group that lobbies for additional funding for that road. >> Isn't that why we have representatives and Henipin County who takes our tax dollars? >> Um, you would you would hope so, but that's not I mean that's not really how
it works. Um, you know, unfortunately, it seems to be that the groups that are around the longest and are have the ear of the representatives not only our representatives, but all the representatives who fund different projects, um, lobbyists and whatnot. It seems to be that's the way that these
projects get done. Now, some of them take decades. You know, you might not see anything happen for decades. You might have some major improvements. I mean, seven needs a lot of work and a lot of money, you know, to really do it the correct way, I think. Um, and that's
not even being talked about. That that project doesn't even exist at this point. But a traffic management organization group could advocate for such a project and could start talking about that project that might happen 30
years from now. Um, so but it is I I don't know Allison if you if you have any insight on it, but it's it's kind of the norm for these. You know, Trunk Highway 5 has one, 494, um 12 has one. U there's all these different groups that that have kind of
an organized effort to advocate for lo local funding for those roads. >> Yeah. I think when we look at what this what the study includes, it's it's a lot it's a lot of improvements in the corridor. And when we look at um I heard
council commenting on well, you know, Highway 7 out here in Minitrista, we're not seeing those traffic volumes, which is true. As the as as an engineer, I look at that as a guiding document. as miniaturista continues to grow and the west metro continues to grow um we look
at access management for for the future and setting things up in a smart fashion and you have a guiding document. So I think that I think that there's been some great preliminary work and when when we look at what MDOT is looking to
do with a resurfacing project in 2029 um the discussion became well we can't do some of these intersection improvements that were identified but the um the median is a relatively lower cost and so should they explore that
option so so I think that um you know It's it's a good discussion to have with Mandot representatives as far as you know understanding the goal of the corridor study to improve safety throughout there. But I think the the council is bringing up some really good
questions. Is is now the time to do some of those median uh you know to put in a median without some of these intersection improvements? And also and and they've been very receptive to this is this isn't like um you know up in Minnetonka and you know for that matter
anything from rolling ac not even rolling acres but particularly 41 and east there's no interconnectivity of the local roads in Minatrista to other areas their only access for most cases is highway 7 and so and and the mindot
staff understands that and I think that it's just a good opportunity to have those conversations. s the the concerns with increased um uh not just drive times but certainly increased response times for emergency services if you're putting in that concrete median. So I I
encourage I encourage this the this conversation to continue. Um just but again just knowing that the the guiding document and I think just my gut feeling from the residents as a whole is they see all these improvements and they think it's happening in 5 years and it's
not. Um it's it's it's a long-term plan. Um but I think when we look at you know as developing in Minitrista we certainly will turn to that document to look at access management so that um we can keep the traveling traffic as safe as possible if that makes sense.
>> If you look at highway 5 is a prime example. I mean that was from the Eden Prairie corridor all the way to 41. That was on the books you know when I was at Eden when I was at Chan way back in the 80s. That was on for 20 years before that. it finally came through and
happened and now the other part of it that's been there has still been on the books for over 20 years from 41 to um Victoria and that is finally going to be happening here ne this year starting this year so you know you could be looking at 20 30 40 years yet honestly
for seven I mean highway 101 in Chanhassen was also on the books for over 50 years you know before it was upgraded and stuff so I mean it's they're process. These are just like you say, planning documents or CI documents to kind of look at this stuff and figure it out. And, you know, unfortunately by
the time it gets out to us, you know, it's going to be, you know, quite a while. It's unfortunate that the overlay can't happen before all the highway 5 traffic gets diverted to seven. >> Yeah. How long is the highway 5 project supposed to last?
>> Up to at least two years. Almost three. >> And all that's going to get routed over to seven, correct? For the most part. I mean >> seven and to the county roads. >> Yep. Further south. Mhm. >> Yeah. >> So seven is just going to get even more destroyed in the next years before they
>> unfortunately. Yeah. Yeah. So the traffic, if I may, the traffic management organization isn't something that you're going to see a quick fix on this. This is kind of a decadesl long group. Um, and it's not to say that if if there is a JPA, I think I think there
is some value in it. Like, right, if we want to play the game of of trying to get money for this road, which I think we hear a lot about, um, it'd be good to have an organized group of cities that can help advocate for that. um being that there isn't likely going to be a
financial ask right away for it there depending on how it goes and if we can get you know I know there's a bill right now to fund it again for another couple years um in the legislature but that's kind of unheard of for these private TMO their private TMO groups to actually get
state funding. So, um I'm not sure if if this is something we should continue to pursue or if we should, you know, there there really is to me not harm in it in us going to these meetings cuz that's we do a lot of meetings, right? Um but if there's, you know, it it takes that next
level step if there's like a financial ask. So, that's kind of where we're at. um just to kind of give an update on this to see what's if you're all right, you know, continuing down that path of continuing to meet and at some point in time in the next few months, you might see a a JPA
um come to city council for you to evaluate uh or if if the direction is maybe you should just kind of walk away. Um it it you know, I think there is some value in it in in having a group. um it's just the financial
contribution is where you guys have to come in and make that decision if that's um >> which is going to be the next step. If we do a JPA then next they'll ask for money which I think is wrong and so I I think continuing to meet and then doing a JPA would be a waste because I don't
think we should throw money at our state fixing a road. I'm already throwing money at the state fixing the road. That's my thought. Well, I wouldn't think though I'm not sure if disengaging though would be the right thing because if we if they are the louder voice in the region then
it'll be a loud voice and then Minatrista's little squeaky voice because >> we're already going to be not I mean they're look at the cities on this list. They're not going to care what we want. I mean Minnetonka's going to get what they want. They're probably the primary they're the reason this needs to be
fixed because of all the accidents in Minnetonka. Yeah, there's there's a lot of right now in my mind. They're going to fix the more hightra, high volume areas to the east eventually, you know, 5, 10, 15, 20
years down the road. That'll be us. >> And I would hope that our neighbors would support us. You know, this TMO would support, you know, support us when we need that support. >> Well, and that's a good point. Like, so we throw money at it there. We're not a priority on the fixed list. So even if
we throw money at this group and continue to do these meetings, they're going to fix again. All of our money will be going to other areas and other communities. >> I see this as someone who drives on Highway 7 twice a day, almost every day. Actually, every day. So,
>> and there I mean there is, you know, one project kind of in our area that that this additional this keep in mind this additional $1 million ask is for some of the MDOT recommended improvements um with that one being on Wildwood.
>> So, why doesn't MDOT budget for the improvements? Like if they recommend this, they get a budget, they have a list of roads. Why aren't they allocating their budget accurately to cover this? Well, my take is that they
are focused on maintenance first, right? Because this is a mill and overlay project. That's it. The safety improvements came after the fact, after that project was, you know, slated and and funded. And they're like, "Oh, by the way, if we want to do some other things to enhance it, we can do, you
know, this big big list of things." Um, and I think the other piece is that Mindot doesn't receive enough funding to do everything that they want to do or that they need to do. Um, I don't know if Allison, you're kind of perked up. You might have some more input on that.
>> The other thing I would uh I would also mention is I though I'm not intimately familiar with the rightway through the corridor. My I would venture to guess that that Mandot has a significant amount of right-of-way acquisition needs through the corridor and that takes years. So they have to have a a
preliminary plan done. Then they have to go through negot that's a multi-year process that adds to the the project schedule. >> Yeah. >> Well, it sounds like some of the other communities don't want to put money in
either. So, I think I kind of agree with Brian that maybe just keeping talking, you know, that keeps us in the game and and if it comes to it doesn't sound like other people are going to want to fund it either. So, so um I think it couldn't
hurt to to be involved to know what's going on. >> So, what's the the JPA just sort of would solidify it or something because it sounds like people are meeting now already. So, I haven't been involved in this. Yeah, I was asking for the >> outside observer, but what would what would preclude anyone from keeping
meeting right now or what the JPA just get more buy in? >> Yeah, why can't we just keep meeting without forming a JPA? >> I guess yeah, >> you could I think it would just maybe have more of a backbone, I think, you know, maybe optically. I there really wouldn't be. >> Isn't optics better if you literally list out every single city involved
instead of just this one organization? >> Yeah, I don't I don't Yeah, I don't know. Um, but that's generally how these traffic management organizations work is that it's a collaborative of a bunch of different communities and stakeholders and and things of that nature. Um, but
yeah, it is a long-term long-term effort. One one scenario I think that just popped into my head that you know I think we should maybe talk about is if there is a financial ask of let's say $500 for a grant application or somebody
to write a grant um how would you want to proceed with if we if we would you know even if we don't let's say we don't even do a JPA and we just kind of keep meeting if there's a grant for something um how would you want to approach that
you know $500 is a is a smaller amount, right? Um would that be something that you would expect to come to city council or is it something that could be approved administratively or or you know something like that? You know, if we go down the path of let's say the JPA wheels fall off and we don't do a JPA
but we still have a TMO and they still want to apply for things, you know, that scenario could come up. >> Think it should come to council. >> Yeah. Okay. I mean, I I don't see why if we need grant money to do this project, Mandot isn't requesting grant money to this project. They have hundreds of
employees. So, if this is a priority to add the safety to it, then Mandot has the staff and workforce to write grant proposals and ask our legislators to do things. I mean, they they've got so many employees. I'm looking at their hierarchy right now. It's ridiculous.
Like, they literally have someone in charge of government affairs. They could be writing proposals. Again, I don't think we should throw money at it when there's an entire department for, you know, Department of Transportation. >> Yeah. And what I don't want what I don't
want to happen and just, you know, is for us to miss out on any opportunities because I I I think you're right, but I don't think it that's the way it works. Um, unfortunately, um, >> well, it doesn't work that way because people keep doing this and throwing money at consultants and other people to
fix things when the people who are supposed to be doing this aren't doing it. the 200,000 close to being gone. Are they giving an update on that or >> Yeah, it's pretty close to being gone. Yeah, I mean it's been rolling for almost two years now and uh
you know monthly meetings with consult multiple consultants at each meeting that adds up over time. So um and that's part of the reason why the request is out there, you know, for the legislature to to fund it again. So, from from my
perspective, I don't want to miss out on any opportunity that could potentially better trunk Highway 7. I don't think there's there's much um harm in hanging around, you know, in this group, but obviously
we'll take your direction or I'll take your direction on how we want to proceed. Um but, you know, we are part of the the trunk highway 7 um safety coalition. I think that's what their their official name is. Um they don't really ask us for money. They just kind
of get get more public safety centered grants that they it's a it's a larger group, but they they kind of take that on um staff-wise. In this case, I think unfairly the city of Shorewood's been taking on most of the administrative,
you know, things that So um that's part of the other reason is, you know, they they're kind of getting burnt out as well. >> They can say no. >> They can I have no problem with us continuing to meet, but I don't think we should do anything beyond have meetings.
>> What does the joint agreement do more than just having a meeting? What's the need for that? >> If there's no financial ties or financial contributions, it's just a a document saying, "Hey, we're all we're all in this together." I mean, that's about it. >> Isn't that what we're supposed to be?
>> Yeah. Isn't that the point of the meetings? What I just see if we do this JPA then somewhere the next step is going to be well half of them vote to spend the money and then the ones who don't are just going to be forced to spend it because of how the JPA will be developed and worked or coerced into it
for lack of a better word. If if we just keep holding meetings that's fine. But again, like I said, like I don't think we should throw money at this. Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Brian, your thoughts? >> No, I I agree with that. I was just almost thinking that if there needs to
be two coalitions, a western coalition, because I think our needs are significantly different than those of Minnotonka. >> That makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Makes way more sense. >> It's less expensive. Yes.
Yeah, >> I think maybe um I mean there's obviously focus on the eastern corridor because of all the accidents, you know, so higher population centers. >> So what I'm hearing is uh continue to meet, >> right? Is that am I saying hearing?
>> Yep. >> Continue to meet um and then kind of go from there. I'll tell you the the meetings are kind of stalled out in the with the JPA talk because there's a lot of you know push back about financing. We're getting some of the smaller communities saying yes, let's do it. You know, and the larger communities that
would contribute more based on some of the formulas saying, well, let's take a step back. >> Are the formulas based on population or home values? >> Oh, it's all No, not home home values. Um, unfortunately, most of these are related to like linear footage or, you know,
footage of road through your community. >> Oh, that's even worse than for us. >> Yeah. So we have a significant amount of of highway 7 through our community. So I think we were like the number >> no >> we were the number two contributor um in some of the formulas. So >> yeah no
>> but I can take this back to the group. I think we have another meeting in April um the feedback and see if uh what other other communities are saying too but it seems to be somewhat similar to what we have going on. >> All right. Thank you.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> If I can just add one thing for the safety commission, we have a memor memorandum of understanding and it is kind of nice because it lays out what we're going to talk about and it gives us a voice at the table. So, it's not
the same group but very similar. So, >> but that mean that's just like a document like a over it's not a JPA for l >> correct. Yeah. So, you're sense >> you're not entering into like a legal thing. You're just basically saying this is what we're going to talk about and
let's not let's try to keep it to this. So >> so MOA JPA D. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> All right. Anything else? Any other discussion? >> No.
>> And I apologize. I forgot to say at the beginning of the meeting who's here. So I was acting mayor Peter Vic, council members Peter Vickery, Claudia Lacy, Brian Govern are here. Our WSB engineer Alison Powki is here. Our director of public works Gary Peter is here. Our assistant city administration
administrator Paul Balman is here. Our city administrator Jasper Krugal is here. Our director of finance Brian Grim is here. Our chief police is here. And remotely is Sarah Sansala, David Ael, and our city clerk Annerhoff. With that, is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved.
>> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor signify with I. I. >> All those opposed? Motion passes. Work session is adjourned. Part: 2
This is the city council meeting for the city of Minitrista on March 16th, 2026. And our first order of business is to call the meeting to order and ask everyone to join me in the pledge of 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 justice for all. >> I am Kathleen Ruffkin, acting mayor. To my left are council members Peter Vickery, Claudia Lacy, Brian Govern. We
have our WSB engineer, Allison Powski. We have our director of public works, Gary Peters, and our assistant city administrator, Pal Paula Bowman. To my right, we have city administrator Jasper Krue, our director of finance Brian Grim, and our chief of police Craig
Squires. Joining us remotely is our attorney Sarah Sansala, our uh community development director, David Ael, and our city clerk, Ann Meerhoff. Are there any changes or additions to the agenda? >> Is there a motion to approve the agenda?
>> So moved. >> Is there a second? Second. >> All those in favor signify with I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. 40. Tonight we have special presentations. Um, Henipin County Commissioner Kevin Anderson. Um, if he joins us later, we
will hear from him at the end of the meeting. So, we will move on to our fourth quarter financial update from Brian. >> Thank you. Um, acting mayor and council. As far as Yeah. So, this is uh always pretty timely. We have our our auditors
here this week for our annual audit. They actually were remote today with I guess they couldn't the weather or no, but they'll be out here. Uh >> the kids were home from school. >> So uh um but as far as this should be good preliminary data and nothing really should change too much from at least my
perspective. Um so as you can see in what was included in the packet, um basically the revenues and expenditures were budgeted to be just shy of 7 million in the general fund. basically 6.9 um for the year and we pretty much hit those targets for both the revenue
and expenditures. Revenues we were about 25,000 um less than what we budgeted for in the actual but still within basically you know less than a percent or you know half a percent um basically what we projected and expenditures were pretty
much um almost right at it within like a tenth of a percent or few hundredths of you know basically of of our budget. So, we basically spent about what we um had said we were going to in the general fund um which basically then um brings our general fund the fund balance to a
little under 3 million about 2,944. So, we're still about in that 3940% um that we look for when we compare it to our budgeted general fund expenditure. So, still doing pretty well. Obviously, we just want to keep an eye on that we're um keeping a good fund balance reserve, but I think we have and we will continue
to do that. Um then otherwise as far as just the the reports are in there, our current cash and investments for all funds is about 13.7 million um across all funds and um maybe I'll just stand for any questions from council if there
is any on the you know information that was in the packet. >> Any questions? Uh it seemed like uh in 2025 we had higher costs in um the the main areas, the administration, the police and and attorneys. Um and it
looked like it was mainly wages. Is that true? Or >> some of it had to do with I mean there was a few different things. I mean for in the police department that was more our our chief of police, you know, Paul Falls retired last year. We had a obviously a crude leaf payout there during um you know the first quarter of
of 2025. So that was um a driving factor there. As far as the attorney, there's a lot of the costs there for the um I guess our ongoing process we have out on the sunny field with that IUP or how you know I guess
>> CUP um yeah items. So that's there. And then um I think um yeah as far as the wages there was um a little bit of a an interesting factor as far as there's a additional or payroll there's a 27th payroll this year with it basically
happens every 11 years or something the way a bi-weekly payroll falls. So there was some um just timing differences there or whatever as far as that. So that was I guess answer your question some of the main >> I think like all kind of one oneoff kind of things that >> Yeah. Yeah. basically as far as you know
things that you know a one time item's usually correct. >> Well I want I just say I'm impressed that you're you're just within less than 1%. >> Yeah from looking at from a high level from yeah when I when I basically you balance up you know basically once everything all the receivables payables
and all that activity uh comes in and out and to be within basically you know less than a percent on on both was was pretty good. There's obviously always some things that are going to, you know, shift a little bit or whatever. And but to me, looking at the more globally, the high level, if you can come in that close, we're we're doing a good job as
far as making sure and that's why we do these, you know, quarterly reports even just to keep council informed on how we're we're sitting and stuff. So, >> and chief had the most accumulated vacation of everyone on staff >> or whatever. Or yeah, yeah, just
basically time general. So, so yeah, basically when you factor that one time item in, you could see how the police that pretty much was the driving force of why police was over on their budget. So, from original, we could have amended the budget during the year, but to me, if we're going to come in right around
it, it's like it's just at some point you can match it every item for item, but if we're coming in as we basically, you know, overall for the general fund, you know, I don't need, you know, via lending the budget too often or whatever. So,
there any concerns with us being at 39% or >> um no because I think um you know our policy says to be at 40 you know and and we're right about there and the state auditor's office says to stay within 35 to 50% so I think um you know it's just
a matter of as you know everyone's budgets seem to go up that that higher number goes up so we would actually need to be putting a little more money to the bottom line but I think a fund balance around 3 million for the general fund is is a pretty decent reserve or whatever. So, as far as it gets us through till we
get our tax payments, you know, basically in the summertime or, you know, twice a year, summer and then December. So, um and that's yeah, the the purpose of having that 40%. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> What is the land used agency? It's
basically a fund that like when someone comes in to do like we've had the you know the the bowl property and the karate ones basically um it's a fund that's used to account for that land use activity basically you know they they'll make deposits and then you know as was engineering and fees that the city
incurs that we bill back out to them and so it's sort of just a fund that's a more of it's supposed to be just an in and out sort of but >> that's something. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Basically that's gross. Yeah. for for them to so that the cities, you know, basically we've always had the philosophy that in your developments, you know, pay for themselves. So, it's a separate fund
that that activity goes in when these different um uh applicants, you know, pay there, whether it's a variance or subdivision or whatever, that's where the activity is located. >> Oh, okay. Y Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you for the update,
Brian, and keeping everything on track. Uh >> if Kevin's ready, we'll hear from him now. Thank you for uh for having me. Sorry for being a few minutes late. I uh coming from one event to the next. So, >> how'd you fair at your last event?
>> You know, it was a it was a um a ribbon cutting in Maple Grove. So, it was like a pretty like it was a pretty easy lift. I'm going to not lie. So, uh, but I I appreciate the the opportunity to, uh, give my yearly update to the council.
Thanks for having me. Um, this year I, you know, I I'm trying to remember last year if I brought all the sunshine and roses that I that I could. Uh, it's pretty bleak at the in at the county level right now. Uh not going to lie,
we're facing a lot of uh of headwinds uh in front of us with some federal changes and cost shifts moving towards us. Um you've probably seen in the news we're uh last year we took over the uh the
hospital system, HCMC um is in some pretty serious financial u challenges and at risk of closure if we don't get state support. Uh, so that's a um
that's like the the cheer that I'm bringing to most of my city council updates. So I apologize in advance. Um right now um the biggest challenges that we're dealing with right now are uh as I mentioned there are a number of federal
cost shifts that are impacting how the county is uh operating and planning to operate uh moving in not just this year but into next year. Uh we have about uh this year in our budget, we had about
$20 million of co federal cost shifts that um impacted our budget. We had to um eliminate about $250 positions in the in the county budget. Um we're looking
at doing more of that through uh either uh some reduction in force but mostly through management position or position management um i.e. if a position is vacated we're not filling it um like we
maybe would in the past. Uh most of these cost shifts are coming at us from the human services side of things. There's some SNAP benefit cuts. There's some uh housing and urban development cuts. um to the tune this year, $8
million in in SNAP benefit cuts and $12 million in in housing and urban development cuts. Uh those uh SNAP benefits is the supplemental nutrition uh I'm going to get the acronym wrong, but
program. Um, and the, uh, HUD is mostly our funding that we use to make sure that people who find themselves homeless are able to connect to services and, uh, get housed again. Um, next year those
uh, get bigger. Um, in addition, next year we also see a number of Medicaid cuts that were uh that we use to fund administrative positions uh to connect folks to services like mental health supports um and and the
like. Um those dollars are going to be much bigger than the $20 million. And for the hospital, uh the hospital side of things, uh we're looking at an additional hundred million dollars that we're looking at trying to um find
answers for within the hospital system. Um so that's some of the the headwinds uh that I mentioned. Um, to put some of those numbers into context, the entirety
of our of our library system is about $40 million. So, uh, that's probably our biggest single line item of non-mandated services that we provide. Um, and we're
looking at probably $150 million to $200 million of cost shifts from the from the federal government that we are trying to answer for. Um, we are not going to be closing down our libraries. I just want
to be very clear. Um, but the we are likely to see some service disruptions. uh we're going to be managing things very differently than uh than we have been able to in the past. Um now I think the
the next phase of all of this we are at the legislature we're seeking approval um to implement a 1% sales tax. Um and
that is a repurposing and increasing of um the ballpark sales tax uh so that we can save our our health care system. Um the financial challenges for Medicaid I mentioned was $und00 million uh in SNAP
cuts next year. That's on top of an existing structural hund00 million deficit that the hospital um encounters through uncompensated care. Um we also have a number of capital needs that we
need to uh implement. Um the buildings are uh 75 to 80 years old in some cases and uh we need to invest in them to make sure that they uh stay safe for for
patients who are seek uh seeking care there. Um, all of those things put together, um, we're looking at trying to cover us of in excess of $350 million
every year that we have to try to make sure that we're uh, putting into maintaining. Um, and then have additional costs on top of that that we're also trying to uh, figure out. So, we're really looking at the state at
this point because there is no way that our property taxpayers uh can cover that bill. There just isn't. Um and so we're asking the state to help us out um uh by passing this uh
1% sales tax, which is we know is a heavy lift. Uh but the consequences of that for the the state and the region would be HCMC would close uh and that critical safety net would not be available to uh residents of the of the
state of Minnesota and the region. Um so we're really doing everything we can and I think the the the conversations are going fairly well to being able to find a revenue source that's not property tax
for that. Um, now all of that is to say like we have some pretty pretty big challenges in front of us, but that doesn't mean that we've stopped trying to do some good work. We're still
uh finishing up the project um for the West Tonka Library. Uh we expect that to be done this year. Um and that's going to be a beautiful new facility for our residents in this area. Um we're doing a
lot of work still um on our road maintenance. These are non-propy taxf funded primarily. Um and so we are making sure that we are taking every dollar that is available to us and investing it in our communities through our uh investment in our roads and
bridges. Um, we also are advocating um not just for the uh the sales tax, but we're trying to advocate for other things uh both locally at at the federal level to make sure that policies Thank
you. um are uh this is my uh my new aid Kristen. He's wonderful. Um uh are put in place so that we have uh the partnership of uh our uh government partners at both the state and federal
level uh to provide services to our our citizens. Um I have um in my capacity uh as commissioner I'm also heavily involved in the association of Minnesota
counties. Um I sit on the transportation uh committee there at the national association of counties. I'm a vice chair of the uh the health uh policy steering committee. Um and we get to advocate for um policies that helped the
counties across the country uh meet the the needs that are ever increasing uh on all of the county systems often without uh the means to pay for it locally. So uh these are the unfunded mandates that
we talk about hear about so often. Um so I also wanted to highlight um we're doing a lot of uh tomorrow um I'm bringing forward a uh a
resolution recognizing a uh GRI awareness month. Uh GRI is a a family reached out to me recently um and their child was diagnosed with a very rare condition
and as a parent with a child who had a very rare condition, this really spoke to me. um the feeling of isolation and uh not knowing where to turn or who
to turn to in healthcare can be really devastating to families. And so tomorrow I'll be uh bringing forward a resolution to recognize GRI awareness month uh for the month of March um to bring awareness to not just this particular
uh child and the disease that he's living with but for all families who are going through uh very rare conditions. knowing that sometimes just raising a little bit of awareness can help those families feel seen and their health care
providers seek out additional support where they may not be familiar with an individual diagnosis. Um it is so important for parents to be able to advocate for their kids. Uh I had a conversation this morning with the
mother and she said, "I know my son. I am my son's expert." the healthcare professionals are the experts in the in health care but I'm my kids expert and I think that kind of uh partnership between provider and parent uh is
essential in in this kind of uh in the world that we live in. So I want to I'm bringing that forward tomorrow and uh I hope to be able to raise some awareness and thank you for allowing me to share that uh with you today. Um
so the other things that we are working on is uh last week you may have heard or may hear that uh we passed a resolution um seeking to uh do some cost containment on the sheriff's budget. Uh
I want to be really clear in case the sheriff ends up watching this. Um you never know. Uh the our goal here is to not control what the sheriff does. Um, we're facing these pretty severe budget
challenges in front of us. Um, and our partnership with the sheriff and law enforcement is equally important and we need to make sure that uh we're containing overtime costs and that we're living within the means that we're we're given. Uh we know that their overtime
was estimated to grow not just because of uh the operation metro surge that we saw uh at the beginning of this year, but structurally there was a lot of challenges that the sheriff was dealing with. Uh and we're committed to working
alongside the sheriff to make sure that all of the mandated services and the public safety uh is being met for every community in our in Henipin County. uh but we have to do it in a fiscally responsible way. So um that's my my
message to you that we will continue to partner with our law enforcement partners in every community to make sure that uh that the needs of our residents are being met. But it's going to be a tough year. Thank you for uh the time.
Happy to answer any questions. Um and yeah >> um I have a question. So you mentioned fiscally responsible way. what is being done at Henipin County to address the fraud and to stop it and make sure everyone is doing their jobs and evaluating the facilities that don't
have people in them or the providers that aren't providing services. >> Absolutely. So, so first off, um a lot of this we have our system, we have teams that regularly audit all of our providers. Um so that is a part of how
we do business in Henipin County. Uh we have a team of people who are auditing um every contract. Uh all of our providers go through a a check and we make sure that we're um checking each
provider uh especially the high dollar providers uh on regular regular basis. So, uh, we have a team that is dedicated to rooting out, identifying abnormalities in billing so that we
know, uh, if something is coming through that looks a little fishy, we have other people looking over that and making sure that it's, uh, addressed and reported to the appropriate, uh, authorities. Um, a lot of what you've been hearing has been
at the state level. Um, and while we may have some contracts with them, oftentimes we are the first to notice and identify and let other people know and then other investigations happen.
Until those investigations happen, often these providers um, we're required by courts to continue having them if we have a contract in place. So our goal be then becomes how do we make sure that we
prove that as fast as possible so that it can't continue. So um we have teams in place to to make sure that it's being addressed uh rooted out and stopped as fast as possible. >> Are contracts being changed so if there are suspected fraud services immediately
stop? Are they being rewarded to cover that? I mean >> where we are able to. Yes. So many of this is uh dictated by state. So we're not uh it's not within our legal capacity to alter uh service uh delivery
or uh a provider. So if if they have gone through state uh approval then they have the protection of the state and we individually can't uh can't change that. We can notify the state and
hope that they do something, but that's not necessarily our >> we we do what we can and where we can. Absolutely. >> So then I'm assuming you'll be advocating for some changes where you your commissioners and employees would have more authority to stop things in
this legislative session then. >> Yeah. I mean, we've been now within the context of us being able to have control of it. Absolutely. We have always been saying we're we know our providers. We
know uh the ones who are doing good work, those who are maybe not. Um and we are always advocating for the ability to control our our own purse strings. Um we are also trying to find a balance of
saying if this is the state's responsibility, the state really needs to own that. like we can't always be doing the state's job, which we do a lot of it. Um, uh, so we do try to find that balance
of, uh, yes, absolutely. Uh, but if we're going to be doing that, we want some extra resources to to do it. So, >> and then with the cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and then this the House of Representatives, you know, in a deadlock of basically complying with federal law
or not, is Henipin County advocating for them to comply so we'll get more federal dollars? >> The federal dollars are gone. We don't have federal dollars coming to us. not like um so complying or not complying
like we the the cuts that are being proposed um state law changes or not uh is devastating to every county in Minnesota um and is going to have double-digit
impacts to county budgets because even if they were um if there was a conformity bill or something to make everything. Uh not just the cuts, but the increase to the mandated services that goes along with that through work
requirements um and um uh what's the term the um reverification uh that's needed for for some of the people who are on benefits. uh moving that from every year an annual review to
every six month um is an administrative task that is beyond the capabilities of the current systems that we are forced to use. Um and the staffing requirements to essentially double the workload uh is
not a realistic thing for us to uh to turn on in the amount of time that we were given. So, we are not really in favor of uh what the federal government has pushed down on us because it is
going to uh set every county, especially in Minnesota where we are a county administered human services primarily. Um it's going to create a system that's designed to fail. Um we are currently
advocating every county in Minnesota has identified one priority and that's system modernization and that system modernization means the systems that we currently use to um do
the checks, the income verification, the um the address verifications, all of the things those systems were rolled out in the 80s um and they are uh they don't get to use
mice to click and select different places. It doesn't copy fields from if you enter in an income. It doesn't populate that to the other fields that say income. So every screen that pops up
that says what was the income again, you have to retype that in. um you can't go back and you can't copy and paste it. Um this is the the modernization that counties are asking for because without that uh the errors that people are
experiencing, the error rates that you'll hear about um as this gets implemented is largely due to staff trying to um put in a system that was designed in
the 80s uh and not designed for any of the changes. that are being rolled out to them. Many of the changes are um technically not possible with the system that we have. So that's a whole
another thing like our staff are finding workarounds in uh in a system. So we are trying to actually encourage the state to say can you delay implementation so that we can actually have a system that
works. Why why haven't we budgeted for the upgrades in the last decade? Like I don't I don't understand. >> Three decades, four decades. Like um like that's a a question for the state. >> You can't just update the systems in
Henipin County. >> No, we are forced to use the state system. >> I I'm Are you done? >> Yeah. Um >> Yeah. maybe if we didn't lose so much money to so much fraud, we'd have enough
money to pay for things like this. And you gave me comfort when you said we're going to do all we can now to raise property taxes because I've been here, my family's been here 60some years and people are leaving that I never would have thought would leave.
>> Yeah. >> And uh what happens when the tax base shrinks shrink shrinks? So something's got to get figured out. This is a really important part of Henipin County out here. >> But a lot of people out here are really
fed up with paying their share and then seeing it go up in smoke. All you have to do is go to Henipin County Hospital. Half the more than half the people in that hospital are not paying anything to be there. I mean and it's it's a big problem. >> It's not accurate.
>> Okay. So, um, we I would say, uh, >> the waiting room doesn't look like, you know, >> but the waiting room looks like downtown Minneapolis, right? Uh, there's diversity there. Uh, there's diversity
in the ability to pay certainly, but every person that uh that walks through there that is eligible for uh service, we're the safety net, right? We are mandated to provide service for people
who are not able to care for themselves. Now I would say there are 75% of the people who are in government programs. Uh that's Medicaid, Medicare, that's elderly folks, that's people who are below poverty, they still pay.
>> Of course. Of course, >> there's about 11 to 15% of the people who don't have any insurance. And that number because of some some law changes is going to go up. Um because when
somebody loses their health insurance, uh they stop going to their routine care. Now they show up to the emergency room and we're the emergency room where they show up. And so yeah, we are going to see an increase in our costs that we
are not able to recuperate any of that dollar amount um which is far below the 50% but u but a bigger number than any other healthcare system in the metro. >> Do you feel hopeful like do you like going to work?
>> Not hopeful. >> No, certainly not hopeful. No, but uh here's what I do feel. I feel like the work that we're doing in Henipin County is necessary. Um, and my faith has
definitely taught me that I'm we are all here to care for our neighbors. Uh, and these are my neighbors. And I'm going to do everything I can uh and work with every partner I can to try to make sure that we're being a welcoming place that
uh that people can call home. uh in a responsible way of course right like we don't want uh people feeling compelled to leave so >> well I think that's the issue is that several motans are tired of paying more than their fair share for people who aren't supposed to be here or are
abusing the system it's really hard to justify staying in Minnesota when you see billions of dollars going to fraud to people who aren't supposed to be here who aren't legally supposed to be here who are abusing our systems and I think the residents of Minnesota deserve to know that Henipin County is doing
everything in their power to provide services to the legal residents of Minnesota and that our tax dollars aren't going to people who are abusing our systems. That's that's what most residents, I assume, would feel. We all want to help
our neighbors, but you have to do things the legal rightful way. And that's and it's the county's job to >> provide the benefits and the resources to those who are following the law,
>> which is what we do. >> Uh on a on a lighter note, >> thank you. Thank you, Peter. You're so nice, Kevin. Because you're so nice, you're restraining us, you know. um what's happening with commercial real
estate and you know are the values coming up so that you're getting more property tax revenue from them or because I know in CO you know those prices nose dived and so did the tax revenue. >> They did and um my understanding is we
might get an update this week. Um I got a sneak preview the mayor got a sneak preview last week. Not you, Lisa. Lisa, >> uh, from our auditor, um, unofficial is
things are kind of stabling out, uh, and balancing out. growth was fairly uh consistent across all of Henipin County uh this last year uh from both uh residential and industrial and
commercial um across all which could indicate that there's there was kind of a bottoming out uh and a restabilization. Now, there's not a lot of growth in that there. You know, I'm not going to say there was like a 5% uh gain, uh but we
we saw kind of an evening out across the across the system. So, um hopefully that means that we're like the the dip in commercial real estate, particularly in downtown.
Um we're seeing the end of that dip. Um, and then hopefully a stabilization and and coming back up. There's not a lot of transactions to compare to down there, so uh some of that is anecdotal um at
this point. >> Thank you. >> We'll have I think numbers like official numbers that I can share officially I think at the end of this week. So, >> Oh, okay. We'll make sure to get that sent. Okay.
Thank you. >> You have any questions? >> I did have several of my uh neighbors ask about there's now the line item about the disparity elimination on our property taxes. And I see that's over
$41 million fee. Um could just kind of talk to guess how that benefits people out here in Minatrista and you know are we going to be taking a hard look at that given the budget difficulties? >> Yeah. So really the the disparity elimination uh incorporates so one of
the programs uh was broadband expansion. So the city of Minitrista benefited from our investment in the disparity elimination of not having broadband out in areas like Minatrista. Um and that partnership was
where that group was where that uh that program came from. Um we are moving some of like it also included educational disparities and uh some other things uh related to that because we know that um
where there are disparities we end up spending more money on things that we are that we need to pay for like we're mandated to pay for. We've been doing that through a property taxf
funded uh model first to prove that it worked. Uh it was actually originally through CO dollars. So it wasn't property tax funded. Then about a year and a half ago we shifted it into a property tax model because we needed to verify that we were seeing the results
that we wanted to. Now we are moving it back into or moving it into human services or at least that's the proposal to move it into human services so that it can be uh reimbursed through uh official channels like all of our other
human services. So, um, these are programs that we are seeing results that we're paying dividends on that we have been investing in preventative care, preventative, uh, services to make sure that we're, uh, taking care of all of our residents and identifying where
those needs are greater than you would see in a a random sampling. So, that's really what disparity elimination means to Henipin County. Thanks, Kevin. >> Yeah, >> sorry. I just have one more question.
Sure. The 1% sales tax increase, what is specifically what is that on specifically all purchases? Like what what are the parameters? >> Sales tax. >> Yeah, it would be anything that is subject to sales tax. So, it's it's not uh it's certainly not our first choice,
let me tell you. Um, but >> again going back to you're just making it more expensive to live here. >> But here's the we know that the the hospital uh in conversations that we've had and this is
across the state um there is a recognition that that hospital is a vital part in healthcare delivery in Minnesota not just in Henipin County. uh it serves about 30% of uh 30% of its people who go through
those doors are not from Henipin County, meaning other counties in Minnesota. Uh 40% of the uncompensated trauma care that we see are from nonhenipin county other Minnesota residents. uh
specifically in our burn units and our trauma units. Um you talk to any farming community in Minnesota and if there is a farming accident uh they hope they go to HCMC. >> Um and so there's wide recognition that
that facility needs to survive. if it doesn't survive, um the consequences to health care in Minnesota would be such that um
out of fear of uh well, out of a lack of fear of speaking out of turn, I'm going to say um if HCMC fails, North Memorial is unlikely to succeed. Uh if North Memorial is unlikely to succeed, Alina
and Children's are unlikely to be able to pick up the tabs. The ripple effects of the safety net crumbling would be catastrophic. Um there is not a hospital that can pick up what we provide. So
the question is, is 1% uh worth saving healthcare delivery in Minnesota? I I think we need to do something to make
sure that that's that we preserve that. Do I like a 1% sales tax? No, I don't. it hits people at the bottom rung the hardest. Uh, and it's generally not a
fair way of taxing. Uh, it's I think just barely better than property taxes. Uh, because property taxes people are who've lived in their homes for 20, 30 years,
they haven't realized those gains. they're uh stuck with a higher bill without seeing uh necessarily an increase in their ability to pay it. So I see it as just a step better than a property tax and we can't do the
property tax at that level. This spreads it out across people uh a broader base of people and people who are coming into Henipin County and buying things. We're certainly the economic engine of Minnesota. Um, and so, uh, that cost
gets borne by others as well. Um, I would love to see the state find some kind of better stable funding that didn't involve a property tax or a a sales tax. Uh, but in our current legislative environment, I don't think
that's possible. So, um, we're going for what we think we can achieve and we're going to work really hard to try to make sure that, uh, we can build that support and we're seeing bipartisan support at this point for it.
>> Any other questions? >> I just have one more thing. Um, Highway 7, the potholes are atrocious and I'm going to lose a tire. So, if you could, you know, fix that, that would be um, you know, a push from you would be great because I drive it >> every day, twice a day. >> We have, uh, there's actually a planning
session on phase one of the Mandot. Uh, >> they can't wait till 2029 for the Mill and Overlay, especially not with five getting rerouted with their >> bigger project. They're safety improvements on access uh on a number of the uh the access points along seven,
especially this part of it. So, >> no. I mean, we know all that. We had to work. I'm just talking about the potholes in general that are atrocious and getting bigger and bigger. >> I'm sure they like Well, I'll talk to that filling in. So, >> thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much for coming out. >> Appreciate you coming out. >> Thank you. >> All right. Our next agenda item is persons to be heard. And we have a resident, uh, Kurt Schneider. If you come up to the podium, state your name and your address, and then you have
three minutes. >> Sure. Thank you. Uh, my name is Kurt Schneider. I live at 6654 Wildf Farway, and that is in the Woodland Cove development. Uh, and I want to first off, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to talk to you today about an opportunity for pedestrian safety in our neighborhood. I also want
to thank Mr. Peters for recommending that I come in tonight and talk to you about this. Uh I have two items that I want to bring up for you today. Both of them are on the Woodland Cove Parkway in the Woodland Cove development. The first one is at the intersection of uh Bellflower and Blower Way/Lotus Drive
today. That is a two-way stop. Uh both both stop signs are on Bellflower. Uh there is no control traffic control on the Woodland Cove Lotus Drive place and there are also no pedestrian crosswalk signage there. Uh no striping on the road. Um given that there is more
construction going on south of of that intersection north of seven. Uh more single family homes are coming up are coming up for sale pretty much daily now. Um there is more pedestrian traffic there. There's also a bus stop where there's pedestrian traffic there, and there is no control over the traffic
other than that two-way stop. Um, what I'd like to recommend as a possible solution is adding a four-way stop to that intersection as well as striping it for pedestrians. Um, with the summer coming up, uh, and the pool traffic starting to, uh, increase, we're going to get a lot more kids there. Uh, they
also have food trucks during the summer there, which generates a lot more traffic. So, it would be very nice to have something where uh drivers are a little bit more cautious in that intersection and paying more attention to the pedestrians. You're >> talking about Woodland Cove Boulevard, not Parkway. >> Park uh Boulevard. Yes. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Uh the second one is also on Woodland Cove. Um this one is uh west of um Blue Stem. It is on the nature trail that crosses Woodland Cove. Today there are there is it's striped, but there is no signage to uh warn
drivers that there's pedestrians in that in that area. Uh similar to what is over at uh the crossway at Kings um Kings Point um and Woodland Cove, there is a uh a light button there that warns people of pedestrians when they're about ready to
cross. Um it would be nice to have something like that at that intersection. a couple of instances where um in the dusk and during the day, it's hard to see when you're driving west in that area. Uh you you tend to get blinded by the sun as you come over the crest and it's almost impossible to
see any pedestrians in that area. There's also some deer that come across there every now and then. Uh I've almost had the uh uh unfortunate opportunity to hit one because I didn't see it coming. And in the summer, the boulevard area is um overgrown with some larger trees that
once they bloom, you cannot see uh incoming pedestrian traffic either way. >> So, I'd like to suggest something that we can do there that might be a little bit more effective to warn drivers that there are pedestrians crossing in that area. >> Are you talking about the pedestrian crossing in the middle of the road on
the trail there, or you talking about the intersection of Woodland Cove Boulevard and Blueest? >> Uh, no. It's it's west of Blue St. >> So, it's the actual like the trail crossing. Mhm. >> With like the traffic island. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. We've already talked to the uh uh
master board uh at Woodland Cove about doing some trimming or even some removal of trees. Mr. Peters also suggested that as well. And I'm on the I'm on I'm the president of the uh um Woodland Cove East Town Home Board. So, I do sit on that board as well.
We want to add it to a work session. >> Yeah, I think it's a good idea. >> They say we'd want a engineer to uh weigh in. >> Yeah. Good. >> Yeah. Yeah. That third >> added to a work session. Okay.
Um, so, uh, Madame Mayor Ruffkin, interim mayor. Um, good. >> I I I think that, um, as as council's aware, we've we keep every year we keep
getting requests for uh, four-way stops and crosswalks through Woodland Cove Parkway. Um, and so there's if that's something the council wants to take a look at, um, we're more than happy to bring that back for a discussion um, at a work session with some recommendations.
>> Let me add it to an April one. >> Yeah. >> All right. We'll add it to a work session hopefully in April and >> have more discussion on it. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Was it Fox Glove or uh that we added the one last year?
>> Yeah, it was Fox Glove and Cove. Yep. All right. It was Sunset Lane, too. We added >> Oh, we had the one at at Lotus on the on the east side of the neighborhood. You're talking about the one up front off of Woodland Cove Boulevard, right, Brian? >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> All right. There is no one else signed up under persons to be heard. So, our next um item is the consent agenda. Are there any that anybody wants to pull? So consent agenda items are A, approve strategic planning meeting minutes from
February 26, 2026. Approve joint council meeting minutes from February 26, 2026. C approve work session meeting minutes from March 2nd, 2026. D approve city council regular meeting minutes from March 2nd, 2026. E. Resolution number
2826. Approve claims. F. Resolution number 2926. approve Woodland Cove water treatment plant change order number one for architectural pre-cast exterior modifications and G resolution number 3026 approve repairs to public works
aerial lift truck boom system. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor signify with I. >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion passes 40. Next is our public hearing for the 2026 street improvement project.
Yes. Um I will let Mowski pass it >> over to me. Thank you. Uh thank you acting mayor, council members. So this evening um we are here to uh hold an assessment hearing of a this might look very familiar because it's pretty much the same presentation from a month ago
updated the um for this to be an assessment hearing. So this map indicates the streets that are included in this year's project. And then on the next slide, uh was just a quick background of um what we're looking to do. Mill and overlay on the majority of streets. The cores did indicate that
there are some pavement sections that uh require full depth removal and replacement. Um Game Farm Road, there's a small segment of that. That that's the portion um that the council is going to hold the assessment hearing for this evening. And then there's also small portions of Basswood Drive, North
Saunders Lake Drive, West Edge Boulevard um for removal and replacement. Um but consistent with past practice because it was such a small portion of those roads, those um sections are not proposed to be assessed. We'll have some spot curb and
gutter repair. Um and then we're also uh recommending that we have a good alternate uh for the under seal of Game Farm Road. Um and then um we have some utility ease uh pardon me, some trail improvements, um that we discussed too that we
included as a bid alternate. Um and spoiler alert, we are recommending that we not award that because there was um an entry error on the the base bidder uh that was low. Um and in discussion with public works, we think we can get a better
price if we move forward with quoting that project. So we'll we'll more more to come on that in the future. >> Um and then the next slide goes over just some very minor utility improvements. Um installation of inflow and infiltration barriers on sanitary
sewer manholes, replacements of two culverts under Game Farm Road, and then also a bid alternate to relocate the hydrant um that you can see here in the the bottom photo. Peter's happy. Um, and then next we're just the project costs here. Um, this is
a summary that council saw um, a month ago at the meeting. Um, explaining what we saw from the base bid and the bid alternates. Uh, six bids were received in total. And then on the next slide, um I talk about base alternate one and the
the discussion that we had at the last meeting on why we're looking to um we're recommending that council award the contract without alternate one because the what we saw for price variance for that trail um still gives the city um
the best economic um standpoint if we uh remove that from this project and have that separate. So we are recommending that to council. Um and then the the genesis for this uh presentation this evening is the assessment hearing. Um so
assessment notices were mailed out to the properties that are proposed to be assessed. Uh the assessment is proposed at $10,000 per unit. Um and that is the basis from uh 2022 special benefit analysis that was done for a couple
different projects here in the city. and um staff and council have have looked back to that as um a guideline for uh a cap on proposed assessments. If that cap were not in place, I believe we were somewhere between I think it was $15,600
or $16,000 per unit um assessment for this project. So, um if if council heeds um the recommendation of $10,000 per unit, um the these residents um see a lower assessment cost than than what we
see in the assessment policy. Uh per the assessment notices included all the information required by state statutes which included the um assessment p the um interest rates as well as the um opportunities to get a hardship
deferral. Um, and that the assessment period is proposed over a 20-year period. And then we also provided them information to contact city staff should they have any questions. Um, and we also included um, and I think this is is really nice that the finance department
does this. Um, they're provided um, with a breakdown of what the assessment costs would be per year so that people can see what the financial impact is from year to year. So, I think that's a a nice um, op option that the city provides. Um this map shows the proposed
assessments. As we discussed um a month ago here, parcels three and five were combined after the feasibility report and the the first public hearing were held. And actually last week when I checked um Henipin County was in the process of being updated. Um therefore
with those two parcels being um combined um the property owner did provide the um all the paperwork associated with that. So there is verification for that. Um so we just included um we we kept parcel 5 on the assessment role but have that noted as zero just for bookkeeping
purposes. Um and then this is the breakdown of the proposed project funding. So we're just over um including uh contingency and indirect costs. So we had 5% contingency and 20% indirect costs. We're looking at
a total project cost of just over 2.57 million. um with a combination of city funds, state aid funding which is for game farm road um special assessment funds, uh city of mound for their portion of West Edge Road. Uh and uh all
of that's broken down here for council to see. And you'll note that bid alternate one we have no amount uh proposed for funding since that's not included in the the recommended um award of bid. So with that, here we are this evening
to hold the assessment hearing. um and award the contract. And with that, um I'd be happy to answer any questions, um prior to opening the assessment hearing this evening. >> Did we confirm with Mound they're going to pay their amount?
>> Um I'll defer to Mr. Peters on that. >> Been in communication with uh their both their street superintendent and their public works director and they have not gotten it to their council yet. So hopefully they will. So no matter what,
I mean it's, you know, I think we should probably just go ahead and do our portion. I'm sure they'll go for it. So I mean, in the grand scheme of things, it's kind of a small amount, but it doesn't pay to skip it for, >> but I'm sure that'll be something that will pass. >> Okay. Any other questions?
>> All right. I will open the public hearing for the assessment on the 2026 street improvement project. I will close the public hearing at 7:28 for the assessment and hearing of the
2026 street improvement projects. Any other questions or discussion by council? >> Good. >> All right. Is there a motion to approve um adopt the final resolution and award the contract of the 2026 street improvement project? >> Moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second.
>> All those in favor signify with I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes 40 O. Next we have the resolution number 3226. Award a contract for the 2026 street improvement project uh city project number one-26.
>> I think um >> I skipped something. >> I think you might have done that one already if I if I heard correctly. I think you might have awarded the contract. Now I think it would be awarding or um adopting the assessment role for the 2026. Does that sound >> right? I think >> maybe
>> I was hearing right. Well, because the possibly because the note in the thing says adopt final assessment role and award contract. So that's one item in there. So have to do them both. >> You do you need to adopt the assess sorry assessment and then they'll board
the contract as two separate >> Yeah. >> agenda item is the same title. >> All right. So, um, do I have a motion to resolution number 3126, adopt the assessment of the 2026 street improvement project and the city project number 01-26?
>> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor signify with I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes 40. And we already awarded the contract. All right. Got it. Um, next to our business item, uh, the
bond sales >> and I think we can probably turn that over to Todd Hagen with others to to speak to that and then we can >> Thank you. >> supplement with any or how to pay for that, right? >> Thank you, Madame Mayor, council
members, Todd Hagen from Ellers and Associates. Thanks again for having me. Um, so we are kind of kicking off the bond sale um, tonight. Um, not selling bonds till April 20th. Got in here. So, the council has what we call a pre-sale
report in your packets. Um, it has kind of the terms and conditions um, of what we're financing on an estimated um, basis. Um, also attached is uh an estimate of the bond schedules
and um and then there is um a bond buyer index graph that kind of shows where we are in the world of uh interest rates just kind of the trend. So you can take a look at that. Um we probably won't be seeing rates that were uh experienced in
2020 through 2022 if you look at that graph, but we're not we're not doing too bad. We're not doing too bad. I think we sold a bond today for a school district at 11 bids or so. So, there's lots of interest out there. Um, and not a lot of bond sales uh for cities yet. They're
still kind of gearing up right in the spring here. So, um this should this should be this should be a good one. Um so, uh we also have a schedule of events right attached to the back of the um pre-sale report. So, we've got um that
project that we just talked about uh being financed here. Um three sort of bonding authorities. Um the other project is a water revenue project for just half of the new water treatment plant at Woodland Cove. The other um
part of that would be financed probably in 2027. Uh because it's a long, you know, sort of drawn out process, right? And um this is kind of reimburse reimbursing the city for costs you've already uh incurred there. So we're going to get you some of your money back on that. And then a equipment um
financing as well, which is um kind of what we do every year or so. Right, Brian? Right. and three year every year, right? So, so the two um the street and the water are 20-year um bonds or portions and then the equipment uh is just a five-year, which is pretty much
how you guys roll with the equipment portions as well. I don't know if you wanted to look at um estimated interest rates, we do have them sort of cushioned up a little bit, like half a percent, but um we're just kind of looking at maybe 3.6 on the 20-year, uh 2.2 two or
so on the five-year, then we just kind of sell all this together. And the bond buyers don't really care what we've all got kind of mixed in here. They're just looking at one big uh $14.84 million uh 20-year bond. Um so, we've already gone
through that street reconstruction um plan process, right? And and the LA at the end of last year, I got plenty of authority to kind of move forward with the bonds now. So, we should be in good shape. Uh we will put um a call date on there. We talked about prepayment at any
time on any day after a certain date without penalty. Uh that looks like 9 years is kind of the sweet spot on a 20-year bond issue. Um we'll run it through our quality control at Ellers and um just make sure we're kind of spot on with the market because if we go too
short, we're going to pay for it with higher interest rates. We go too long. You know, why would we want to do that, right? Um just in case. So, the bond is not non-bankqualified, too. So, it's over the $10 million limit the feds give every uh city and county um and
township. Uh that that that sort of uh extra little uh sort of incentive, right, for banks to kind of get in on this as well. Um so, it's over that limit, which is fine. um uh you know if it was under that limit uh it it might
um result in lower interest rates but um you guys are at double A plus so you're almost a AAA and uh it's a good quality bond issue out there and uh uh and this is going to be sold out in the public market too so we're talking about broker dealers underwriters and all that kind of stuff and banks will still come in
and and probably come in and help a little bit on the shorter end of the bond issue the 10-year stuff so uh we should be in good good shape that way. Um, yeah, it's pretty straightforward bond issue. Um, selling out into the market. Um, we've uh we've we can invest
the money right before we spend it, right, for all of this, whether it's reimbursement that'll go quick right in and out. Otherwise, um, you can certainly invest it uh at uh at a little higher interest rate uh within certain spending exceptions here. sort of
thresholds that we need to watch out for uh on that too. So there's opportunities to invest and make a little bit money on that side as well. So um yeah, we're going to use Cout Rock um uh for the bond attorney and Bontra Services is the
paying agent and Standard and Pores uh as your rating agency. And uh we've already got the rating sort of conference call scheduled already on uh April 8th, right? So, we're here tonight to kind of kick off this bond sale and then we're going to um have the rating
call with staff um on April 8th. Got that scheduled. Uh we're going to come back I'm going to come back on April 20th and show you all the wonderful bids we're going to get, right? And we're going to have them in order as we usually do and you'll look at the top one and that will be the the the the
cheapest most responsible bid that will be there. So, uh we'll see what that looks like and then we'll close this up on May 7th. Um, and so, uh, you'll get all the money at once, and Brian knows what to do with it. Right. Right.
So, yeah, it's it's it's like three things going on here. Bundled it. You know, like I say, just like the Progressive Insurance Company does. Uh, we're doing our best to do that. Going to save you some money that way. It's a bigger, longer bond like that will just be more attractive out into the market with your high high credit rating. So,
yeah. So, that is all I've got. I 5 minutes of fame after all that wondering come out of me. Um so if you have any questions let me know. But you've done you've done the drill before and just wish us luck. Right. >> Yeah. Looks good. >> Any questions?
>> Just curious is all the uh turmoil currently going on in the world. Is that good for this kind of bond or is it bad? >> It seems I talked to some of our um you know our bond sale coordinators and like I say you know 11 bids on a bond today. um the more the bids the lower the
price, right? So, you know, we're good. We don't really rely on oil prices and all that kind of stuff. But, uh it's it's really uh you know, municipal bond, especially with a high rating like that is a is a quality, you know, instrument to invest in. So, it's uh it's all good
that way, right, too. So, I think it's the best we can do. It's tax exempt both on the federal and state level as well for those who like not to pay um income taxes on stuff like this. So, um, yeah, looks looks good. And like I say, the supply, um, is a little thin right now,
so that'll increase the demand. So, I think it's just kind of economics 101 for us. It's it's more like that, I think, because it's a brand new bond issue going into the market. So, how it gets traded after that, you know, whatever, right? You know, we got our money, our interest, and we're all good.
So, I wish I could come up with something a little bit more colorful, but uh, we we we should be good. And then you just really you really just put this out on the market when you can. You know, you can't really time the market on with any of this and sometimes you get kind of bit if you did a little bit.
So, um you know, with the good bids that we have for the project and everything and reimburse ourselves, get our fund bounces up a little bit. Um I think it's the perfect storm. We should be we should be fine. I'll let you know though if the sky falls a week in advance, we can sort of, you know, pull it back. I
want your blessing on that. So >> Brian will be monitoring this. How we doing? How we doing? >> How we doing? >> We still sell this thing. >> Yeah, we just we just don't close our eyes. So >> analysts are really smart people that say, "Todd, I think it's we're good to go." >> Yeah, right. >> Okay.
>> But rates are still his, you know, in the cycle still at a good low point or whatever. So we it is a good time to >> It is. Hey, I go back to 1980s when my house mortgage was 11%. So, I I don't even have feelings for those folks that
are complaining about that. So, I think we're I think we're all good. Maybe the prices are a little higher, right? But the interest rates seem to be just fine still. So, yeah. All good. Good question. >> Any other questions? >> No. >> All right. Thank you.
>> Yeah, we'll take care of you. So, there's a resolution for you guys to consider. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> All right. Can I get a motion to approve resolution number 33-26 for the pre-sale of bond pre-sale report resolution?
>> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. All those in favor signify with I. >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion passes 40. All right. >> Goes well. See you in a month. >> Good news. Very low. Good news. All
right. Next we have a task order. Um number 16. Gary, I think this is you or Allison. >> Both of you. >> You get to both do it if you want. Go ahead and start and >> hire me.
Um okay. So, acting mayor uh Refkin and council, included in your packet is information with regards to task order uh 16, which is construction administration services for the 2026 street improvement project. We've
included um with that uh a detailed breakdown of the fee so that council can see where the hours are allocated. Um and one thing to note is that um our fee does not include um a significant amount of uh con construction observation.
That's uh work that we anticipate that the city's engineering technician will take over, but we do have some hours allocated to help with that transition. There is some training that the engineering technician still requires and so our fee um has included some
hours in order to do that. And this is also a state aid project which has a lot of nuances and paperwork. Um so we wanted to make sure that we had those resources allocated in the fee um so that the city can can get everything in there. Dot all the eyes cross all the
te's associated with that. Um so we've got um included in there also the construction materials testing which is required uh for for a project of this kind and also some public engagement um because that continues to be a great way
to um for work that was typically done by the construction inspector and construction administration team. We now have a dedicated person who is specialized in and in in those communication skills with residents and is a great resource for um doing a great
job documenting um and answering probably 90% of the the emails and phone calls that come in. So, we've included that with the proposal. Um the fee is um for we have for construction surveying and construction
materials testing. and it's an it's a a flat fee or an hourly not to exceed fee and then um the remaining construction administ administration would be an hourly estimated um because there are things that do come up in construction um that while we do our best to
anticipate some of those things um if something goes um and takes a little bit longer to do um that's why we have it as an hourly estimated contract and I would be happy to answer any questions that the council may have with the fee proposed or the services proposed.
And I'll add on that with Brandon being out there and kind of new to this kind of inspection stuff, he's kind of excited to learn it. We are signing him up for um it be the mindot certification for asphalt work. Um and then we'll also
be signing him up to do the inspection of uh seal coat and that and um fog seal that and crack filling too. um which will help us again um kind of move away
from doing more the in-house or moving towards in-house and using contracted services. This will be a great learning opportunity for them. Um Miss Hosk have talked about this in depth and this is a great opportunity for a lot of different purposes of this um job. There's a lot
of things going on. So, he did great with working with AE2s on the installation of the piping uh for the school project u which saved a lot of money. Um this just and he's excited to learn this. This is something new to him and he really likes that and really
excited to to step up and do this. >> Any questions? >> All right, there are no questions. Um, is there a motion to approve resolution number 3426 approving task order 16? >> So moved. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> All those in favor signify with I. >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion passes. 40. Next we have administrative items. Uh, public works surplus property sale update. Gary. >> Yes. Acting Mayor Refiner. Thank you.
Um, just want to give you guys an update. If you recall last year, um you guys approved an or um policy for us to um sell, dispose, salvage um old equipment that we have in public works that have been used for quite a while.
Um kind of started because we had a bunch of old weed whips laying around, stuff like that to get rid of. Kind of went through stuff this winter. Um found up in the storage barn, some old side tool boxes to get rid of. um metal tracks for a wheeled skid loader with
having new track machines. Um they're very cumbersome to put on. Nobody really uses them anymore. Um surprised we got what we got for them. Um so I'm, you know, just it's nice to get rid of them. We had some old tires and rims for the Bobcat that don't fit the ones that we
have now that were in there. Um we have the unled gas tank from the old fuel system that the city owned. The diesel ones are rented for $1 a year. So, those went back to Mid County. Um, we also had the an old tailgate sander. Um, nice
stainless steel one. Uh, for truck number five, truck number five that was two trucks ago. Um, it's never it it sat up in the shed. So, I mean I mean it was in their infinite wiz. It was here when I got here. So, it never was you. It was from what I understood from the
beginning it wasn't it was never used because it didn't work. So, it just sat there and there's just no use for it for us. Um, we also the flail mower that was uh being replaced this year, we had gotten a $500 um offer trade in. So,
with putting this stuff on the uh govdees.com website, we can set a um um a reserve for it. Um, so Randy said reserve for it and instead of the $500, we actually got $1,625 for it. So the
city of Little Canada bought it for parks for theirs. So which is great. Um, got more than that. Same with the the two rollers that we have, the big roller. Um, if you recall earlier this year, we're replacing two our oversized huge roller that we have and our small
one with one kind of in between. Um we had gotten um estimates I think it was uh 4,000 for the little one for a trade in and 6,400 for the big one. We put reserves on them. Unfortunately, the big one only made $5,000, but we did get uh
6,600 for the small one. So, we made an extra $2,600 putting it out for bidow, which is is great for us. Um and then we had the other thing, we had an old tack trailer out back with a spray bar on it. you know, it's more used for paving
projects than anything else. Um, storing tech. We don't use it anymore. I mean, I shouldn't say anymore. We hardly ever used it. It sat here pretty much. I mean, I'm sorry, my 14th year. So, it's been here unused probably for 10 years. It had actually a a 3-in tree growing
between the frames. So, um, we had to cut it to get rid of it. Um, it's pretty much obsolete for us. We did get $3,300 for it. So in grand total we got $12,469 for everything. So hopefully that will go on into the equipment fund. Um I'm assuming since that's where most of it
probably came out of. So um so yeah, it's great. I also want to give you one other >> he's already spent >> add on if I could just another update. Um the Met Council has asked for um to be able to shut the road down for the
Highland Road um um list station there. Again, they're going to be doing the final CIP lining of the pipes with the the older pipes are getting basically a lining system put through to stop leaks and stuff. That'll be happening March
31st through April 3rd. Um, we see no issue with it. They have their detours will be posted and everything. So, their detour will be as you come up here, it'll continue on 110 there'll be a sign up here to direct them 92 and around um down to 7 and back around. So, um be
nice to get that project done. Um and as you're aware, they repaved the road for us there from seven to um the bridge. They added a lot of curbing in for us. They fixed uh the the um catch basins there at the bridge for us. So, we kind of got a lot of I won't call it free
stuff, but I'll say free, but we we pay for it. We pay for it through our fees, but it's nice to get something from that. So, um so that's going to be there. And then one just a quick question to see if you like to pursue it. Jasper and I uh received a text
message earlier tonight here. Um the school district is requesting a weight restriction uh waiver uh for their project at the school. They have some contractors that would like to start working and they would like to talk they
would like it to have their weight increased. It's currently five tons per axle. Um, I've already denied this once, but there are now that was through the contractor. Kevin Borg is asking for this directly. So, I'm just going to ask you guys if you want uh, Miss Fos and I
to kind of meet with the contractor, see what they're thinking for a weight restriction, what they would like it lifted to, and see if we feel we're comfortable with that. The road was improved in 2021, so it can handle a little bit more load increase, but we don't want to increase it too much and
have the road beat up. So, um I will say then my time here and the time and all the time I've before that from what I told there's only three in incidents that warrant a waiver and that would be uh well issues, septic issues or if
you're moving. So, I'll just ask you if you want us to kind of look into that and meet with them or um just tell us no and I will relay it on to them and then he can come and plead his case and to you and again and try. But it's totally
up to you if you want us to kind of look into that, see what it entail and bring something back to you, you know, at the next meeting or even, you know, >> what how soon would the restrictions come off? Anyway, >> the restrictions are on. They've been on. So I mean they will be going on until you know the the frost is out of
the ground and everything firms up. So it could be another now with the snow again and you know the little freezing weather we had it could be another 3 4 weeks yet you know could be less depending on warmup. So, um, personally,
I'm not in favor of it, but, um, you know, I don't know what Miss Fowski's opinion of it is, like anything, like everybody I've always told, you know, we pay a lot of money for the roads to get them to where they're at. Um, I understand that their what their need is. Um, you know, maybe one way of doing
it is we, you know, put some stipulations in place, you know, with, um, you know, take, you know, photos of it, have it, you know, document what it looks like. If something would happen, then they are liable for it. But that's, you know, I'm going to leave it ultimately to your decision what you
like us to do, and if you want us to pursue and talk to them and look at it and bring something back and get your final opinion, it's up to you guys. >> I'm a no. I don't want the new road destroyed and I don't want to hope they don't ruin it and then wait for them to fix it again. So, I mean it's a nice
road. I don't want it ruined. They can wait like everyone else. >> New council. >> What do you think about the next council means ventilation? >> I I think that there's um as as Gary mentioned, there's uh the road was
improved in 2021. So, I'd need to check and see um with that pavement section if there's any wiggle room, if you will, from what the current restriction is. Um but to Gary's point, we have road restrictions in place because this is
when the roads are very vulnerable to um deterioration during during this the frost coming out. Um, so if if council would like us to see, I think there there could be a technical um way for us to figure out if there's a technical increase that we could afford
them. Um, but to just go and do it blindly, I I I think that we would stick to what the the current regulation is. >> We should wait. >> Wait, wait. 40. That's a no toard.
>> That's a no for superintendent board. >> Okay, I will I'll we'll relay the message. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Um any other staff updates? >> If I may, I have a brief one. Uh we've
been busy and I say we um cuz Peter and and Brian have been helping uh talked to legislators about our bonding project. So, so far we've spoke to seven different legislators in um either the House or Senate that are on the um capital investment committee. So, I
think they've went pretty well. Everybody seems to be pretty um supportive of our project. It's just if there's going to be a bonding bill or not. Um we went to city day on the Hill and I think the consensus was like a 60% chance for a bonding bill, which I don't
know. I mean, maybe we'll see. Uh, but I think we have the right project and you know I think everybody's been pretty supportive. So if there is a bonding bill or possibility there will be a full court press to make sure that they know about our project and hopefully we can get that worked in. So um and then the
only other thing I have is that the uh there is a new fire chief in the city of mound. So um the city of mound selected Andy Drilling >> whoa resident >> is who is a minitrista resident. Fire chiefs are miniatures to residents.
>> Yeah. >> Um so he will be starting April 1st officially. So there will be some uh overlap between uh him and Chief Peterson. Uh there will be a a celebration of of Chief Peterson's career. 51 years with Mound on the Fire
Department. So quite quite a long time. It might actually hit 52 um in the meantime, but 51 years so far. Uh so we'll have to uh um if once we get information about that retirement party celebration um we'll share that with the group. But but there's a new fire chief
hired. >> That's all I have. >> Is there a planning commission meeting? >> There will be. Yes. >> Do we need someone for it? >> Uh yeah, that would be great. >> Um that's next Monday, right? >> The 23rd. >> Um I believe so.
>> Yeah. >> I cannot go. Can anyone go? >> I think I can go. audio. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> I'll let David know. >> 23rd. Yes. Um any council updates, council reports? >> Um well, we Yeah, we went to the Capitol
Day Hill Day and that was really interesting and yeah, I came away not really sure what was going to happen, but but they're all very nice to us. Um and then um this week I have the Pioneer
Sarah Creek wershed district meeting. It's about it for me. >> Not really. Just that the Gillespie Center is looking to hire a new administrator and they're in the midst of it right now. >> Right. >> Uh nothing. Actually, one thing I was
going to add for Cities on the Hill, didn't um Senator Papus's uh chief of staff, he said, what was it? He has $4.9 billion in requests for 1.2 2 billion in uh total state aid, which that's before the state priority get gets cut off the
top. >> Well, that's depressing. >> Well, and the thing we have going for us is they seem to be focused on infrastructure, water, infrastructure, bridges, stuff like that. So, we're in the right grouping of projects, but um there's a lot of ones that are in there
that are quite expensive that aren't in that group, too. So, >> will we be doing like a groundbreaking photo op on ours? >> We will um likely probably end of May, beginning of June, we'll do something. Yeah. >> Okay.
>> I don't have any updates other than once again the fire partnership meeting that was supposed to be tomorrow is cancelled. So, that's not really new. Um all right. Any other updates, reports? Chief, do you have anything? >> How many accidents were there um yesterday?
Believe it or not, very few >> people stayed home. >> People stayed home. Yeah, it was >> I was worried when I came in this morning, but no, it looked good. So, >> excellent, Gary. Thank you. Your staff for Thanks, Gary. >> Early yesterday morning. >> They did a good job. Yes,
>> they did. >> All right, with that, um, our next meeting will be April 6th at 6:30. And is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? Second.
>> All those in favor signify with I. All those opposed. Motion passes 40. Thank you. Thank you. I was stuck here all night. 9.875. All right.