All right. Good evening, everyone. It is November 24th, 2025. It's 5:30 p.m. and I'm calling the Morid City Council meeting to order. Um, so good evening everyone. I am Mayor Shelley Carlson. The Morhead City Council welcomes public input on
issues listed on the agenda of general community interest, time and council permitting. Speakers are limited to three minutes each. If you would like to address the council during the meeting, you'll need to fill out a form provided by the city clerk and I will call call you up during the citizens to address the council meeting item on the agenda.
You'll need to state your name and if you are a Morhead resident. If comments were submitted to the clerk prior to the meeting via email or phone, those comments will be entered into the record. For more information on participation, please visit the council meetings page on the city of Morhead website at morheadm.gov.
We the Morhead City Council collectively and with gratitude knowledge of sacred land the city of Mort is built upon. We acknowledge the people have resided here for generations and recognize that the spirit of the Dakota Ojiway Mati and all indigenous communities permeate this land. That could I get a roll call, please? >> Ryan Nelson
>> here. >> Nicole Matson >> here. >> Heather Nissmeer here. >> Emily Moore >> here. Deb White, >> Lisa Borggan, >> Sebastian McDougall >> here, >> Chuck Hendrickson >> present, >> Mayor Shelley Carlson >> here, and Council Member Madson, you
will need to have your camera turned on for the duration of the meeting. Just a reminder. Thank you. And for those who are able, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. All right. And do we have any agenda amendment? City Manager Molly. >> Yes, Mayor. We have a request to remove
item 8A from the consent agenda and an inclusion of the addition of uh recording title and summary um as item 10F. >> Okay. Is 10F on the consent agenda? >> Nope, we would be adding that.
>> I'm sorry, that would be on the consent agenda. Yes, please. >> Okay. All right. Okay. With those um agenda amendments, do I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> Second, Nissa Mayer. >> A motion and a second. Any discussion?
>> Seeing none, uh roll call vote, please. >> I already forgot. Nelson, >> I. >> Matson, >> yes. >> Nissa Meyer, >> yes. >> Moore, >> yes. >> White, >> yes. >> McDougall, >> I. >> Hendrickson. >> Right, that motion carries. Uh, moving
on to consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Move to approve the consent as amended. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, uh, roll call vote, please. >> Matson,
>> yes. Nisser, >> yes. Moore, >> yes. >> White, >> yes. >> McDougall, >> I. >> Hendrickson, >> yes. >> Nelson, >> I. >> Right, that motion carries as well. Um, moving on to recognitions and presentations. We have a presentation tonight from the University of Minnesota
Extension. So, please go up to the podium and thank you for being here tonight. And you you can you can begin at any time. >> Can I Oh, no. We went backwards one. There we go. Hi. Um hello. Welcome. We're glad to be here today tonight to
talk about Klay County Extension. Um Klay County Extension partners with the University of Minnesota as well as Klay County government. Um, and we bring research-based education and hands-on learning right here in Klay County to the residents of our community. So whether they're looking to grow healthy
gardens, strengthen their family and community, or explore 4 programs, um, extension is here to help. Jill's going to share next about extension in the county. All right. Good evening. Um, extension's mission is to be accessible to everybody in the
county, connect people with practical solutions and resources, build individual skills, and strengthen communities. Connecting you with the knowledge, tools, and support that create a meaningful change at home, at work, and across our communities.
I am Jill Patri and I am the extension horiculture educator and I also support our master gardeners in the county. >> Um I'm Ameilia Lansburg one of our 4 educators in Klay County
and I am Monique Stelzer also a for youth development extension educator in Klay County. Um so national 4 week was actually held back in October. It's the first full week of um the first full week in October. Uh national 4 week is the
national celebration in recognition of 4 youth development programs across the country. Um we did declare that or have a proclamation made by the Klay County government um back in that first week during National 4 week. Um so anyways, we just wanted to say and recognize that that has been going on for close to two
decades now. National 4 week has been a long effort within our community. So we recognize locally as well as nationally. Okay. So, kind of going along with the initiative that we have with National 4 week, um 4 is, as you can see, building a ready generation. Um so, we do this by
developing capable, caring, and contributing young people who strengthen communities and support local priorities. Um through things like hands-on learning in leadership, health, STEM, and agriculture. Um, 4 prepares youth to become responsible citizens whose positive impact extends beyond themselves and creates long-term value
for families, communities, and society as a whole, including the Morehead community. Um, young people leave for ready for work and ready for life. Um, in Klay County specifically, forage clubs contribute to their communities through various service projects like growing food to reduce food insecurity, labeling storm water drains to protect
our water supply. Um, painting fire hydrants to help uh maintain our emergency services system and picking up garbage to beautify our public roadways. Um, Klay County 4ers understand that being a responsible citizen means caring for yourself and your community. Through 4's workshop, events and
volunteer engagement, extension staff builds a community of empowered young people as well as volunteers. Last year, Klay County provided direct programming to 702 young people across the county and staff led more than 100 workshops, events, and meetings. As a youth
development professional, we don't do it alone. Um, this is why we identify, train, and support volunteers who help lead the young people and the programs in our community. Um, our work with volunteers enables local extension staff to reach a larger number of young people. On top of building a strong
volunteer base, extension staff works directly with local youth through program- based learning opportunities that we provide through afterchool programs, day camps, training workshops, and project learning communities. Um, Klay County 4 has seen high numbers of retention and growth in the past
year. Um, the youth that we serve in our programs and clubs are able to build life skills. Um once again through pro project based learning and leadership opportunities that prepare them for similar experiences once they've left our organization. Um while forage does directly develop life skills in young
people, the ripple effect extends beyond into families, schools, communities, local economies, and the broader public. Um because youth are presented with the opportunity to participate in forage programs and clubs, they can then bring the knowledge and experience that they gained in extension into other areas of
their lives and the community. Oh my gosh, I have one more. Um, so this is Bridget Hendrickson. She's one of our outstanding youth members who exhibited at the state fair this year. Um, she also serves as a club officer for one of our um, community clubs and helps with
our after school program in Barnesville. Um, she's not here with us today, but she is just a really good example of our youth members stepping up into leadership roles and making the most of these 4 experiences. Um, if you'd like to hear about Bridget's statement that she made at the board meeting in October, you can do so um by watching
that recording. Oh, okay. All right. Hello again. Um, a little bit more about uh horiculture. Um, within extension, horiculture education falls under the department of agriculture and natural resources or ANR
for short. This area of extension aims to provide effective research-based education and integrate and also integrates diverse perspectives to address critical issues impacting Minnesota's agriculture and natural resources. In Klay County, I engage with
colleagues, partners, stakeholders, and volunteers to define resident and community issues and develop lasting solutions. So, a bit about um egg and natural resources here in Klay County. Um I've
reached 141 plus more since this was done in October. Um technical assistant questions, so people call into the office or stop by or I visit their home to answer questions related to all things plants. Um we also have done 31
county level workshops, events, and meetings. uh 35 community partnerships this year, 11 um gardening radio spots. So I go on a few gardening um radio stations and answer questions and then
also write for the the FM extra too. Um Yep. All right. Master Gardeners by the numbers. It's not showing up there, but it's okay. There's Oh, there you go. It was
an extra click. All right. So, um, as of right now, we have 21 active Klay County Master Gardeners. Um, we have seven interns this year will be completing the program at the end of the month. Um, we've done total 12 total educational events with the master gardeners here.
Um, 11 projects, gardens, those include gardens, community beautifification efforts. Um, last year we reported 728 volunteer hours. That's here in Klay County. Um, and we have five interns for
our 2026 um, core course. So, we're really looking forward to the next year and all of the great stuff that we're going to be doing. Um, one of those things is the second annual FM Flutterfest. So, last year, this last year, we did our first annual
Flutterfest just to bring um, pollinator habitat awareness to the community and have people engage in that effort. Sydney Stock um also is an intern this year and she's really been critical in
FM Flutterfest and a lot of other um projects here throughout Klay County in the area. Um and she's just really been a great asset to our group this year. Okay. In addition to all of our individual program priorities, we also work together as a team to support
programming in the county. Um so as a team, we utilize each other's expertise to elevate our programming um through collaborative collaborative efforts. Um these have included things like the Klay County Fair, 4H after school programs, summer camps, 4 project activity day, and community events like Flutterfest as
Jill just mentioned. All right. The extension service brings university knowledge directly to our communities through direct programming, community partnerships, and volunteer service by offering free and trusted education in areas like horiculture, youth development, and family wellness.
Extension makes everyday life better with while strengthening the places we live, work, and play. Extension Extension equipss individuals with skills that ripple outward. Um, we help reduce public costs by fostering resilience and ensuring a healthier,
more prosperous future for everyone throughout our community. Extension starts by providing private value to our program participants. Those participants gain knowledge, they gain skills, and they gain exper experience through our extension programs. But the benefit doesn't stop there. those same
participants take those skills and those experiences forward to the other people and the other places that they connect with whether it's on their community board at a community event or um sharing that knowledge and skill that they've learned in extension at their churches, their schools or their community groups.
Um people who participate in extension programs gain knowledge skills and then apply those assets throughout the other areas of their lives. So that creates the public value that extension brings to an organization as well as a community. All right, to wrap things up, the
Extension Service transforms university research into practical, locally focused education that improves everyday life, strengthens families and communities, supports economic growth, protects natural resources, and reduces public costs, creating lasting value for every
citizen. And with that, we are done with our presentation and we'll take any questions or comments at this time. >> Thank you. Thank you so much for all you do. Um Jill, Emily, and Mon'nique. Um just two questions. How many Morehead
residents participate in your programs? And even more specifically, how many students um from Morehead participate? >> Kids first. >> Go ahead. For you first. Well, it really varies on my education um events. So, it
it does depend on the subject when people are interested. But we um for example, FM Flutterfest was over 150 people who showed up to that. Um or if it's a really in-person workshop, maybe we'll have 30 people or 10 people. So,
it really varies, but um I think it's a wide rave people and we have kids come and adults come. So my reach is sometimes I don't know how many people especially with like radio and newspaper but >> and I'm assuming a lot of them are just
not just Morehead they're from around the region >> people across the river too. Yep. >> Okay. Yeah. I was just curious how many >> Yep. >> from Morehead participated versus Dworth Glendon Felton the county Sabin. >> I would definitely say it's percentage more of Morehead residents. Um, but if
it's in Morhead, Morehead, Morehead, people come and then I also go out to Barnesville and Holly, too. So, >> makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Um, any council members have any comments or questions? Council member Hendrickson. >> Uh, thank you, Mayor Carlson. No question, just a comment. Um, I have
actually have a brother and a sister-in-law who work for the extension office up in Roso County. So, you know, I'm familiar with what you do. But just with the 4, it's nice to see numbers coming back for that. I think they were down for a while, but now it's coming back. My wife was in 4. I won't mention
the year because she'll kill me. But she she went to state state fair with 4 and she got a blue ribbon for polishing candle holders and she still tells me about that. So, it it's a great program and I'm just glad it's coming back. So, thank you for all you do.
>> Right. Now that council member Hendrickerson has gotten bonus points for Christmas. Uh council uh council member um Nisser. Thank you, Madame Mayor. I want to appreciate the three of you being here tonight. Mon'nique, did you have um 4 like children participation numbers or even school
locations of some of the programs that Amelia listed? >> Yeah. Push that up just a little bit for me. Um so yeah we have two clubs that are based in the Morehead community. We would call those community clubs. Um when you start talking for each participation we talk about pathways. Um
community clubs are one pathway. After school programs are another pathway. Um events, camps, summer programs, those are a third pathway. Um and as what we would expect with young people, they participate in more than one place, right? They don't just show up to one thing, they show up to multiple places. Um, so when we're looking at like
community community clubs in Morehead specifically, they're pushing 75 kids in those two clubs for enrollments and you know, enrollments kind of go up and down. Um, family members age in, family members age out. 4 is a program that serves an entire family and and those
clubs welcome all young people within that family unit to a club. Um so that would be like those community clubs but we also have program partnerships um that specifically target community groups like New Roots Midwest um Barza Africa NATA and the AADA Afroamerican
Development Association and New American Development Association. Um so when you start bringing those numbers in which those are all Morhead residents as well we're reaching overund about 100 125 kids through those program partnerships also. Um, and then when you're looking at our after-school programs, we we
actually partner with every school district throughout the county. Um, and then Morehead Public Schools, we had had last spring programming in all five elementary schools through the community ed program. And we were 75 to 100 kids enrollment across those programs. And we
did multiple programs with Morehead Community Ed. We also did a six weeks um, science program with Morehead um, middle school. So in that one, I think we had like 15 kids in that one. So if you add it all together and then you have to remember some of those kids are
in clubs as well as after school programs, we start talking about duplicates. But I ballpark off my head, we're probably pushing 250ish for just more Head City residents, for youth and families. >> Thank you. >> All right. Well, thank you so much for
coming um and presenting to the city council tonight and and for sharing this great information and all the things that you do in our community. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> Right. Moving on to the approval of the November 10th, 2025 meeting minutes. I
have a motion to approve the meeting minutes. >> So move Nelson. >> Second more. >> Motion and second. Any discussion? Seeing none, um roll call vote, please. >> White. Yes. McDougall >> I >> Hendrickson >> yes >> Nelson >> I
>> Matson >> yes >> Niss Meer yes more yes that motion carries. Um moving on to citizens who wish to address the council. Um I do not believe we have any citizens present today who wish to address the council.
So moving on to 8A which was removed the from the consent agenda and I'll turn it over to city manager Molly. Thank you, mayor. We had a request to remove this item uh from Council Member White.
>> Thank you, >> Council Member White. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um I'd like to first request that we have uh two nominations on this and I'd like to request that we discuss them separately and vote on them with two separate motions. like a motion
to appoint uh Steve Lindos to the W 2 um spot that's open on the Morehead Public Service Committee. >> Um I guess >> I'll second. >> First first of all, do we need to address um
do we have to have a motion to address them separately or is that we just move on? >> Madame Mayor, you um the two items could be split. So, you could ask for motions, separate motions, or they can be moved together. It's it's up to the council member making the motion.
>> Okay. But we don't need to have uh council member White make a motion to have them separately. Just move on. Okay. All right. So, we have a motion and a second to appoint uh council member Lindas to uh motion by uh Nisser, second by White. Um any discussion?
Seeing none, roll call vote, please. >> Nelson, >> no. Matson, >> yes. >> Nissa Meyer, yes. Moore, >> yes. >> White, yes. McDougall, >> no. >> Hendrickson, >> no.
>> Okay. So, that was four to three. Is it's a simple majority. Okay. So, with four to three, that um um appointment passes. So, um on to the second appointment.
So, I don't The second appointment was pulled off consent agenda. So, >> Madame Mayor, you you'd ask uh three times if there's a motion and then if there's no motion, then it it dies for lack of a motion.
>> Okay. Um is there a motion? >> My computer locked up here. Hold on. >> Motion to approve uh the appointment Ron Carlson Jr. the airport committee. >> Is there a second >> second? >> There's a motion and a second.
Discussion. Uh, Council Member White. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, it's with regret that I raise this objection to Mayor Carlson's nomination of her husband, Ron Carlson, to serve on the airport commission. Let me begin by
saying that my objections are not meant to disparage or call into question the qualification of the mayor's husband, but stem instead from my deep commitment to maintaining the integrity of our governing practices and bolster citizen engagement.
Selecting individuals to serve on boards and commissions is an important responsibility that I do not take lightly. Our boards and commissions serve as important means to empower our citizens and broaden the voices involved
in decision-making in our city. I question how those nine or more citizens who applied but were not selected will feel after having the mayor select her own husband. I worry that it might discourage people from
applying in the future if they question the integrity of the selection process. I also question whether this appointment would cause other members of the airport commission to feel less comfortable in the future expressing opinions that are
counter to the opinions of the city leadership. It is because of these reasons that I cannot in good conscience support the mayor's recommendation. Thank you. >> Any other comments?
Okay. Um, well, there's a motion and a second. Um, I would like to address what Council Member White stated. uh there has and and perhaps um I'm more than happy to withdraw um my nomination, but for uh for the record to be set
straight, um the airport committee is a committee that obviously is very specific to um people who fly and who utilize airports and none of the other uh applicants had experience as a pilot or utilize an airport besides people
just flying. Um my husband does have um pilot experience and has been a pilot for almost 15 20 years. Um so I waited a period of time. No applicants came in and that was the reason why I selected him. This is a committee that meets four
times a year. Um we haven't really had much uh uh issues or controversy surrounding that. Um, it's actually one uh item that I talked to council member Nissmeer about since she serves on the airport committee and um she actually
stated to me that um she didn't see any concern with that. Um but I did look today when I heard that this item was going to be removed and um there is another individual that I would like to speak to that actually has more experience than my husband. Um but I had
already had this process in place so more than happy to withdraw my nomination. So, I don't know how that works with a motion and a second, but um >> well, uh Madame Mayor, there's a motion in a second on the floor. So, either the
person who made the motion and the person who second would have to agree to withdraw it or uh the motion could be voted down um so that you could withdraw your nomination. >> All right. Thank you. Um, so I would be respectfully requesting that the motion
be withdrawn. Council member Nelson. >> Thank you, Mayor. I will uh respectfully withdraw my nomination and allow you to go back and uh reanalyze future nominations. >> Thank you. And then uh with the individual who seconded it. >> Yeah, I'm fine with that.
>> All right. Thank you. So, the motion's been withdrawn. Thank you. Moving on. Um, we do not have any public hearings tonight. So, moving on to 18A, the first reason
ordinance 25-12, an ordinance adopting the 2026 V schedule. I'll turn it over to our finance director, Jennica Flanigan. >> Uh, good evening, mayor and council members. I am presenting for your consideration the first reading of the ordinance adopting the 2026 fee
schedule. The proposed schedule included in your agenda packet provides comprehensive overview of the fees associated with the city of Morehead services including utility fees, licenses, permits, golf fees, and various recreation programs. As part of
the annual budget process, a review of the fee schedule is conducted to ensure that the fees collected adequately support the city's operational and programmatic costs. These updates along with the projected revenues have been incorporated into the 2026 budget, which
is scheduled for final approval at the upcoming council meeting on December 8th. At that same meeting, we will also conduct the second reading of this ordinance. With that, I'll stand for any questions. Thank you. >> Right. Thank you. Any uh Council Member Npmire? >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um
Miss Flanigan, could you tell us if um residents who just seeing this fee schedule and the information in the packet have thoughts, questions, concerns where they would go with those at this point? >> If they have questions on the fee schedule. Yeah, >> sure. Yep. They could send um any
questions to to me or the city manager. >> So, to the city manager or the finance um department of the city of Morhead. >> Yep. Marvelous. And phone or email works? >> Yes, both. >> Marvelous. Thank you. >> You bet. >> Any other questions?
>> If not, I'd be looking for a motion to approve. >> Move to approve. >> Second, Nelson. >> I have a motion in a second. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, could I get a roll call vote, please? >> Moore, >> yes.
>> White, yes. >> McDougall, >> I. Hendrickson, >> yes. >> Nelson, >> I. >> Matson, >> yes. >> Nissa Meyer, yes. >> Right, that motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Director Flanigan. Uh, moving
on to 18B. This is a reg uh a resolution to approve the 2026 to 2030 transportation development plan. And I will turn this over to Adam Ultenberg with Metro Cog. >> All right. >> Thank you for coming tonight. >> Thank you. Good evening, mayor and
council members. Thank you for your time here tonight. Uh again, my name is Adam Altonberg and I'm with the Fargo Morehead Metropolitan Council of Governments. We're here with Matt Bus tonight to present the 2026 2030 transit development plan. This is a federally and state required document that outlines a 5-year strategy for improving
public's transit services in the Fargo Morehead metropolitan area. Plan assesses current transit operations, identifies community needs, and establishes goals, performance measures, and implementation strategies to maintain and enhance service in our area. Uh, with that, I'd like to um turn
it over to Blue Weber with Bolton In Bolton and Mink. He's part of our consultant team that helped to develop this plan. >> Perfect. Thank you for having me this evening. Uh, like Adam said, my name is Blue Weber. Just like the color, I promise that is my real name. Uh, here to really just go over the process that
we've been working on for about the past 16 months for the transit development plan. Um, so, uh, the team was made up of a lot of the MAP bus staff as well as Adam and some of the other members over at Metrocog. Uh, really trying to get as many perspectives from that project
management team to help us guide us through that process. Um, I was the engagement lead on this process, but our, uh, project manager who is based out of Minneapolis is always available for any questions if there are any follow-up questions uh, that any council members have. So the final plan review really is
broken down into these five different uh sections. Uh the existing conditions which was an analysis of everything uh that was in the existing conditions as well as what we heard from the general public. Uh from there we also did a future system needs identification looking at all of the different
alternatives everything that really kind of played into uh the way that we came up at the end of it. Uh and then the actual service recommendations. So, uh, we'll break down those service recommendations based on kind of the six criteria. Uh, and then everything that we heard from the entire community from
all the communities, uh, that exist in the Matt Bus area and then the coordinated transportation plan, which is, uh, a supplemental attachment on there, uh, that really looks at the human services providers within the community and how they're uh, fit into the transportation need uh, for bus
system. Uh so the purpose of these transit development plans is really to outline a five-year goal. And one thing that I like to say here is it would be really nice if we could just pause transit while we're working on these documents. Unfortunately, we can't. And so we know that uh transit is still
going through everything as far as budgetary requirements, uh federal requirements, local context. Uh and so some of the things that you'll see in here, you might be questioning, well, you have to remember that this has been going on for 16 months. And so, like I said, it would be really nice to pause,
but unfortunately, there are some things that we always would like to factor in. So, these really just kind of outline an entire plan for the next five years. Uh throughout the entire process, we really broke it down into these three different phases. Uh those existing conditions, future system needs, and
then uh the development of the final plan as we're uh presenting it right now and as uh Matt Bus and Metroco have been showing it. Uh where we're at right now is going through these presentations. We started them earlier in November and will be going through until early December uh when we're looking for those
final adoptions, which is what we're here for tonight. Uh the engagement itself, which is what I got to work on, uh we broke down into kind of three different uh buckets is the easiest way to look at it. Uh so our study review committee was made up of uh numerous
individuals both Matt Bus staff as well as staff here at Morehead uh staff in Fargo. Really made up of a variety of users and uh leaders within the community. Uh we also had a numerous public input opportunities. These were everything from open houses uh to some
popups utilizing different tools like surveys as well as an interactive web map. Uh and then the focus groups really were to guide us on some of those uh hidden features that maybe you don't hear from the general public uh as well as to really guide us on that human uh
the coordinated services plan. So one of the things that I think is most important to talk about here uh is how well the existing map bus system works for the community. We heard outright from almost everybody that the system currently works really really well. This is a testament to both the
Mattbus team but also uh the entire community of Fargo Morehead uh as how well this system works. Uh both timing of it works really well. Where it uh heads to for locations works really well. And so you'll see that throughout the entire uh service coordinated plan
that a lot of our features weren't changing up a lot of things. It was more uh maneuvering certain things here there stuff like that. Uh so this is our preferred service plan. So this is really uh not necessarily exactly what Mattbus needs to do, but this was how we viewed it as
maybe the most beneficial. So uh you'll see these six different categories off to the left. Uh I'll break those down a little bit more, but those really guided us when we came to this uh preferred service plan. So it's not just routes, it's everything from uh the financials of it, it's how these routes work. Uh
and so maybe even using some birectional operations, things like that. Um and so these were kind of the uh key route changes though. So, not looking at those six different elements, but really the route changes. And you'll see some of those are over here in Morehead. And we'll talk a little bit more about
those, but uh those six different elements I wanted to kind of just highlight really quick, and I'll try to move through as fast as possible, but uh regional impacts. This was a really important thing. Uh knowing that the map bus service is not just uh a single service in one area. It really does connect the entire metro area. So,
important for us to look at it that way. Um, as far as I we did hear from a lot of the public that they wanted to try to keep it to uh single service transfers, so not having to jump off a bus, jump onto a new one and then so on and so forth. Uh, so trying to minimize any of
those uh rides through interlinining. So this means uh trying to get buses where you can maybe stay on one bus and then it'll move on to a different route and still operate as the same route for you. Um, birectional really means uh back and forth. So getting out to a location and
then being able to ride back out uh that really helps with timing of those routes and making sure that the entire system uh stays in a timely fashion. Um so some of the changes that we have over here in Morehead in our preferred service routes is uh route three which is one of the most important ones uh really getting
down to that southern area getting down to the Morehead High School uh and improving some of that time performance for this entire area. And then uh routes four, six, and nine. Uh you'll see that this kind of interworks both east to west as well as north to south. Uh and
really making as many connections as possible. So even creating things like the route 6 A and B and making that uh entire operation work really smooth. Um so for that final plan, we did start uh receiving some feedback all the way back in August on this on the final plan. And
so, uh, we've been receiving feedback all the way from there up until about October, uh, when we really kind of closed that public comment period to make sure that we were able to bring you all, uh, this final draft. So, uh, some of these are just some of the important notes that we heard from some of that final feedback, uh, service frequency
and reliability, uh, equity and accessibility, fair structure and funding. Uh, just kind of a few of those things that we really brought back to the team. Um, like I said, one of the hardest things here was the future of transit, right? I I wish that we could have paused transit and really been able
to work on this document. That's not the way that it works. So, we know that there was some changes to things with Matt Bus. And so, through this process, really trying to be as nimble to give them as much information. So if they have any changes in the next couple years, this document isn't just
something that uh looks back at time, but really can kind of guide them through what the next couple years look like as they continue to change things. And then last point here was that coordinated plan. Like I said, this was something that we really worked with the human service providers in the area uh
to make sure that it's an inventory of the entire available system. So this isn't just the MAT buses that you see in town uh but as well as senior service uh rides. a a disadvantaged community rides, things like that. So, really trying to find all of those different uh
transportation services that are provided in the area. Um the coordinated plan had its own goals. This was something that really was kind of done in uh collaboration with the entire transit development plan and all of these elements really were one of the
pieces that kept it moving. So, like I said, we are in our approval timeline right now. So, we're out here giving these presentations and the goal is that final plan approval at the Metro Cog policy committee in December. With that, I will stand for any
questions and we also put Aaron Bartling, who is the project manager's uh information on there, but I would be more than willing to share out his personal cell phone if you want to call him for any other questions. >> All right. Thank you so much. A lot of great information and a lot of work goes
into these plans. It's it's not that they just get done in a few weeks. >> Um so any questions or comments um from council council member White. >> Thank you mayor. I just wanted to thank our our metrocog staff, our map bus
staff and our consultants for the in-depth work that you put. As the mayor said, these things don't happen overnight. And it was incredibly thorough. I appreciate in particular the um the effort to really gain um good uh detailed community input and um I just
think it it you know given the challenges that we've seen recently and that we know are down the road um it's things like this are that are are really valuable for allowing us to work together in a you know um in a partnership with other cities and also
um to make those informed decisions that we need in order to um really help continue to have a have a successful transit system. So, just really wanted to say thank you for the the great work that all of you have put into this. >> Thank you. And I one thing I will say, I
I I live in Grand Forks. It's always really fun to get to explore different communities. Uh the map bus coordination committee is one of those elements that I'm trying to encourage more communities to do because I really do think that it serves such a great purpose of making sure that the communities know how to
work collaboratively on all of the things especially around transit. >> Thank you, Council Member Nice Mayor. >> You madame mayor. Um I appreciate you being here the Metro Cog staff as well as the consultants. Now, for those who may not want to slide through slides um
and they see this final plan, you mentioned that you're going to several um municipal spots to get approval of the final plan. What does it mean to the people of our communities? What changes? What um things can they look for and when? >> Uh yeah, I I don't know if Adam if you
want to answer. I mean, I >> some people just may want to know why we're here and why we're doing this. So I think the end um would be really great to discuss. So anybody who wants to share I welcome and thank you. >> Thank you. Um so my name is Cole
Swingen. I work for MAP US city of Fargo. Um if there are any residents of Morehead, Dworth, West Fargo, or Fargo who take a look at the plan and either want to know more or want to convey their thoughts about the implementation timeline, what should be implemented,
what shouldn't be implemented, all that. Um the best place that they can do it at is our uh map bus coordination committee. Uh council member White and council member McDuel are both on that as well as many other local leaders. Um we will be starting the process of
looking into 2027. Um the budgets have already been set for all the local communities for 26, but uh the first step in implementing a 2027 budget is looking at our service levels. So uh that'll be coming up pretty quick here. even though, you know, it's over a year
away. >> So, if they have feedback, they can reach out to the um Mattbus uh committee. I forget the official term that you mentioned. Um and then we aren't looking for implementation for anything that is proposed in this plan
until 2027 or later. >> Yep, that's correct. Um they can either reach out directly to the committee itself or any of the uh local uh leaders that are on the on the committee. >> Marvelous. And that list of um committee members is posted on um city uh
websites. And so uh to encourage folks to reach out to those who represent them, I think is a great way to encourage not only that community engagement that Blue mentioned, but um to reaffirm the fact that we are here to serve residents and make it um uh an
accessible place for everyone. So thank you very much again. >> Absolutely. Any other questions or comments from council members? Seeing none, I would be looking for a motion to approve this resolution. >> So move Deb White second. Nissa Mayer.
>> Motion and second. Any further discussion? Seeing none. Roll call vote, please. >> Nelson, >> I. >> Matson, >> yes. >> Nisser, yes. Moore, >> yes. >> White, yes. >> McDougall, >> I. >> Hendrickson, >> yes.
>> Right, that motion passes. Thank you guys for coming tonight and I hope you have a great week. You >> right, moving on to mayor and council reports. Any council members have reports from committees or boards? Uh, Council Member Nayer. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I have a
nice long list, but I'd first like to um start by sharing information from the Klay County Extension Committee. Um you saw three staff um who regularly report at our Klay County Extension Committee. But what people may not know is that it is a statute of the state of Minnesota
to have an extension committee that is combined from not only policy makers like myself and I serve on that committee but also community members. And so we are currently looking for uh Klay County Extension committee members. If you are interested in applying, I
highly encourage you to reach out to the uh University of Minnesota Klay County Extension Office, which is um just up north um in the family family services building. Is that what it's called? Yes. >> Family Yeah. Family service center.
>> Family service center. Thank you. Um and if you don't have a chance to stop in between 8 and 4, uh feel free to reach out to me via email, uh cell phone, or uh phone call. I would love to email you that application. It's a wonderful committee and staff come and do presentations like this and we talk
about programming and ways to get more people involved because of the beneficial ripple effects of uh the ANR or agriculture and natural resources programming as well as 4. Um the second is um from that committee they are
currently looking for guidance from community members on what programming should look like for agriculture and natural resources programming in the future. Um and so there is a Google um form out on Facebook and the website if you would like to take just a few
minutes to um send out um some thoughts and feelings about past things you have attended or things that you would really like to see in Morehead or in our community. Um I think that there are some things that we take for granted um and we forget the the work that goes
behind like one vegetable one community is um a program that is facilitated by the master gardeners of Klay County. Um also as uh Jill mentioned tonight Flutterfest which the city um was an outstanding collaborator and a
co-sponsor of that event last June and they're making plans um to have host it a bigger and better event this summer. And so I want to appreciate the staff for being here, but also the collaboration that the city of Morehead um does with a lot of those program
leaders. Second, um SWAC. I know I was talking about the solid waste advisory uh committee and we talk about trash and recycling. I had promised two sets of stats, but I only have um one set of stat set of stats for what kind of trash
we have in Klay County. um of the um 3,340 lbs of trash, uh the group of volunteers was only able to go through 14% of it. And if you think about it, that's 3,340 pounds of trash from 100 homes. They
survey the same 100 homes every year to get um some stats on what people are throwing away and what um education and resources as well as programs we should have in our county. Uh 48% of the uh trash or 48% of the contents that were
counted were trash. Uh 37% were organics. Um things like uh potato peels and apples. There was a whole bag of apples. They hadn't even opened the apples. So that was quite the subject of talking um of the group and 40 14% of
the u trash that they counted were recyclables. So, those are um that we could drop at into our curbside bins if our homes have curbdside bins or take to a local drop site. So, drop sites um for like glass or take to the resource recovery center for batteries or uh
electronic waste. Another great um stat I have for you is the takeback jack. I have been talking about the programming. Council member Hendrickson helped me out by listing the locations at our last meeting. And so, uh, we were able to collect from November 1st to November
14th 38.24 tons of pumpkins and squash to be donated and composted at uh, a local farm. So, many of you may have heard of Doubting Thomas Farms. They work with Klay County on a variety of programs and
one of them is the Takeback Jack program. So, anybody who contributed their squash or pumpkins, I want to thank you for that. Um it has been a very successful program in our community for many years and I love to see it growing year after year with more tonnage. Um I was able to participate in
the Cas Clay Food Commission uh brainstorming session today. Uh this fall the uh steering committee had recommended that rather than having our regularly scheduled meetings, some brainstorming sessions to discuss our future and how to implement our uh
steering, no not steering committee, our uh strategic plan would be beneficial. Um some stats that we got today at our meeting was um 800 families were served at a popup um food distribution last Wednesday at MState. They had wonderful
attendance for um individuals and families who are looking for food and they stocked up for 800 families. They had a lot of wonderful volunteers. So I want to thank our community members, our organizations, and our individuals for showing up. They ran out of food in 1.5
hours. So, in one and a half hours, they served 800 families. That number is just astounding to me. Um, but I also think that normally these pop-ups serve about 400 families and they could not serve everybody who showed up with the 800
family um packets that they brought. So, um we know that things have changed uh both federally, locally, and at the state for food support, for SNAP benefits, for housing. Lots of changes in our community. But it is nice to see volunteers show up and uh the
organizations work together with the Great Plains Food Bank to get food to families in need. We have our last brainstorming session and I want to invite all community members as well as those who have perhaps previously served on the Clay Cast Clay Food Commission to
join us on Monday, December 15th from 1 to 2:30 at Metrocog. Uh Metrocog was the um pictured in some of the presentation materials tonight. It's a wonderful um old building, the Case Plaza I think it's called downtown. Difficult to find
your first time, but once you're there, come on up to the second floor and join us in some really great conversations about the future of the Caslay Food Commission. Um I also want to look forward to um the holiday kickoff on Tuesday, uh December 2nd, which is like
days away. December is just around the corner. It was wild. Um, we have a holiday kickoff with a tree lighting, some cocoa, an ugly sweater contest, which I'm kind of looking forward to. I'm going to dig out that ugly sweater that I haven't worn in years and see how
it goes. Um, but uh, what I really think is the collaboration between the Historical and Cultural Society of Klay County as well as the city of Morehead to put on wonderful events that include things like the global market. So, if you want to pick up some tasty bread or
some great gifts, uh your opportunity will be at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 2nd here in the Yum Compst. >> Right. Thank you, Council Member Moore. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um so, I had a Mohad public library board meeting as
well as a Lake Agaze regional library board meeting. And from those meetings, I just wanted to report to our community that uh we are going to do a fun food for fines program running from December 1st to the 31st. And so this program
allows our customers to bring in a non-p perishable food item in exchange for a waved $2 late fee. So this is a win-win for our customers and our local food banks. And you may also ask, I don't have a late fee. That's okay. Our library will be happy to take your non-p
perishable food item and distribute it to our community. Last time we ran this program was in March 2017 and they provided 2,278 items to our residents and so let's see if we can beat that. Thanks. >> Thank you. Um Council Member White and
then we'll go back or is it about >> it's about Emily's presentation. Can I just throw in Yep. um council member Moore's um recommendation to bring um shelf stable food. You may or may not know that our Morhead public library has a mitten tree and it allows more than
just mittens. Hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, all the things. And so they currently I was just at the library and they have lots of tiny hats. So if your head is super tiny, they have a hat for you. But what they don't have and is a very common need in our community are
gloves and mittens and scarves in adult sizes. So if you are a knitter, crocheter, or if you are cleaning out your closet and have some gently used or maybe even brand new gloves and hats, when you bring your um canned goods to wave your fees, bring some um hats,
mittens, and gloves and just place them on the tree or give them to the staff. if the tree is overwhelmingly just full, the staff will take them and put them out as refills are necessary. So, thank you, Council Member Moore. >> Thank you, uh, Council Member White. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first, I actually
wanted to touch on a couple of MAP bus things. So, we had our meeting on the 19th and um one of the things that you may have heard about that I'm very pleased about is as of the 11th of November, Veterans Day. Um we now Matt Bus provides free rides to all veterans
on any fixed routes. And so, um if you're a veteran, all you have to do is show your veterans ID when you board and you can ride for free on any of our fixed routes. Um at our meeting we also had a lengthy discussion about um
providing free and discount bus fairs to folks who are struggling with being unhoused or just are very also very low income. Um uh one of the things that we know is one very important barrier that prevents people from getting out of poverty is lack of transportation. And
so looking for ways that we can do it and um help address that need. And I was I'm thankful that in Morehead we already do have a program. It's called the out program. It's the opportunities under transit. Um this is part of how we use
some of our CDBG money that we dedicate um and I think in our next budget year it's $15,000. Um and that can be used by so uh service organizations where they can um social service organizations like Churches
United can purchase discounted passes in bulk to distribute to folks and it focuses on helping them um with transportation related to work and social services. And so just something for us to think about of the as the need continues to grow in our community and
um that's something that we're doing we you know perhaps we could add to it but also it was a great example where we could share that information with our other partners in MAP bus um because currently we are the only city in the metro that is doing that with CDBG money and so nobody else has set up a fund
like that um as Morehead has. So um so we um provided that information and and perhaps others will think about doing that as well. Uh on the 19th I also attended a Red River recovery initiative uh meeting and we had a presentation from Cass County Public Health on
syringe services and pipe distribution. Something that's been in the news and um Cass County has actually put their pipe distribution program on hold as part of their harm reduction work. Um, but if you would like uh some uh information about that, I think there's a lot of uh
false information or just uh you know people have questions and don't really know much about how this works in terms of harm reduction, then um they are the information from those presentations is available and so if you wanted to see recordings of it or look at the slides
um you can contact Robin at C County Public Health or I can help connect you with that. And we also learned that we'll be part of an uh Minnesota OD alert pilot program and um it's an exciting we've been doing a lot of things with OD mapping here in our area. This will connect us with some state
resources so that we can work on more coordinated responses when there are spikes in o and overdoses um in our community um and work to have a better coordinated response. On the 20th, I attended the Heartland Trail Task Force
meeting. Um, we just started back up as a task force after the study was completed that's been going on for the last couple of years. And I was really excited to see after our presentation from Dan Farnsworth um here that they actually have updated the study um
report and now have proposed that the start of the Heartland Trail be right in downtown Morehead. And so, um, if this comes to fruition, it would be a great opportunity to, um, start people off in our newly renovated downtown and have
them go on, um, heading north on one of our prettiest trails, um, that highlights some of the beauty here in Morehead. And one of the things that was mentioned is that, as we've talked about at our last council meeting, there are some meetings going on um, deciding what
to do with the MPCA settlement money. And um it was recommended that that might be a way that it could be used if we were to put some of that or some or all of that towards um the trail head at Civic Plaza in downtown Morehead. It
could be used to um put in some of the bike racks um other equipment that you would need for that trail. And not only again bringing people to our downtown, but getting them out there doing some healthy activities in our communities on our great trails. Um and then I just
wanted to remind people one of the great things coming up on the 2nd is our um city's tree lighting and holiday market. And this year we are combining the Morehead Global Market and the farmers market. So in addition to the tree
lighting and carolling and hot cocoa and fun things like that, we will have about 20 different vendors and kids activities. and that's a mix of folks who are vendors from the summer farmers market and from the um glo global market. So it looks like it's going to
be a really great time and so I'm looking forward to that and again that's December 2nd 5 to 7 p.m. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um Council Member McDougall and then Council Member Matum. >> Uh real quick. Thank you, Madam Mayor.
Uh on our next meeting uh December 8th, the human rights commission will be giving out their human rights awards and just before that they'll be having a social at 5:00. So uh if you want to come a little early for that, feel free. >> Thank you, uh Council Member Matson.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. I just want to thank everyone for your patience with all the roll call votes tonight. I have COVID. Um, and I just wanted to um number one, only ruin my Thanksgiving and not everyone else's by not by, you know, breathing on you tonight. But also
just reminder everyone if you have not gotten your um seasonal vaccinations, it's not too late to do that. I did get my COVID vaccine in September, so hopefully this will be brief, but um COVID and flu, if you haven't gotten those, please get that on your calendar.
>> Thank you, Council Member Hendrickson. Uh thank you, Mayor Carlson. I uh actually I got to give the welcome to the state capital investment committee visit and that was on the 13th of November and um Dr. Bob Zimmerman gave a presentation about flood mitigation and our wastewater issues and Jason Benson
gave an overall um presentation about the FM diversion. So it was good and they're really receptive to it. So that was a good good thing. Um on the 14th I attended the Salvation Army Red Cattle Kickoff and that was fun. um NDSU brass played and just it
was a good time. Great coffee. It's you know I love this time of year and I just want to uh give a shout out to the Mattbus and Metrocog and I both organizations do a lot for this for the community for Morehead community. So I really appreciate it and I don't always
say that. So thank you guys. And with the vaccinations I got the shingles vaccine, the flu vaccine and the COVID vaccine all in the same day. Don't do that. >> So, I am >> I'm glad you uh don't have the shingles
when you started saying that you have the shingles. I was wondering why you were here, but um I'm glad you don't have it. Uh any other council member Nelson, you're the only one. >> No, I can't top that. So, I >> Okay. All right. Um so, for mayor
updates, um since the last council meeting, I've attended 15 meetings and or events. um since the last council meeting. Uh three that I wanted to highlight. There was a press conference last week regarding uh the Tri City proclamation that uh Morehead Fargo and
West Fargo did on hunger and homelessness awareness week. At the press conference, all local shelters were represented. Many of the executive directors have been in their positions for uh several decades. And each of them stated that in their opinion uh our
communities are struggling a lot more this year than they ever have. Um s they are seeing a significant increase in the number of people that are seeking out food um so that those they can you the people seeking out food so that they can use the money that they have to um to
pay for their homes, apartments or whatever. um a lot of them are on the brink of homelessness and so every dollar that they can save um by going to get food they can save to keep their homes and not end up being homeless. Um
and with that I do appreciate the fact that the new life center has found space to expand and they're going to be able to offer an additional 24 beds this winter. And to give it give some perspective, this summer they averaged turning away seven individuals who are
looking for um a a place to sleep each night. And they're anticipating that this number is going to rise as the weather gets colder. Additionally, Silver Linings in Morehead, which is able to provide 36 transitional housing units for adults who are 55 years of age and older, that is open. So um that's an
addition additional beds for individuals who are looking um for a residence. And it's really unfortunate, but one of the things that was discussed was that older adults are becoming a much po uh larger population in our homeless population. Um, and the YWCA said that they recently
worked with three women who were ages 80, 81, and 87 and who were homeless. So, um I think that is just important for us to be cognizant of some of the needs that are in our community and that people are struggling and every dollar
um is is um trying you know helping to keep people from being homeless. So, um I was also at another press conference today with the other mayors um and a number of primarily North Dakota dignitaries for the groundbreaking of
the new Veterans Memorial Cemetery that's north of Riley's Acres and Fargo. This is a regional cemetery for veterans that serves North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Um and is designed to um be utilized up through 2050. And I
really think that this is just another example of the collaboration and the partnership partnership that exists between our shared communities. And then just um kind of a quick update on the diversion. Uh I attended three diversion meetings last week. Um the one that I
wanted to provide an update is from the Morehead Klay County Joint Powers Authority. Um the acquisition status for the properties on the Minnesota side. Um we have 175 property rights that were attained. 55 55 properties that are pending evaluation. Two flowage
easements were signed um in the last month. Six properties are still in eminent domain. Two railroad agreements are pending and nine properties are in negotiation. So on the Minnesota side of the project, um we are 72.7%
complete with property acquisitions. And in regards to flow easements, again to to give you a perspective of the work that's been going on the last couple of years with the diversion, there's 20,000 343 acres of flowage easements have been
acquired between the states of North Dakota and Minnesota with 6,747 acres remaining. So, still uh a lot of work to be done before um it is open in 2027, but we're making significant
progress. So, those are my reports for today um for tonight's meeting, I should say, and I'll turn it over to city manager Molly for uh city manager updates. You >> mayor, I will be brief. I'll just say wishing everyone a happy week of thanks and giving. And um as a reminder, city
hall is closed um this Thursday, but as we say, local government, local essential operations are the kind of the last to shut down. So thanks to everyone on team Morehead. Um this includes we may see some street truck drivers out there this week. Um police, fire, folks
out at Wastewater, any number of places. U all the folks that'll be working over the holiday. Uh the uh um you know, we have four really special seasons. um in this area. We do three of them really well, frankly. Um there's a fourth one
that some of us really every year um work hard to try to encourage people to get outside and enjoy. Um that's the one that we're facing right now. And so just letting everyone know that u Mary's Light Tunnel is um in Viking Ship Park will go online technically this um
Wednesday, November 26 in the evening, but it's already on. So um as you're leaving tonight, feel free to drive down and check it out. It's really special. 20 ft. Um, and just want to say a thank you to Visit Fargo Morehead for its partnership in this incredible regional
attraction and uh, expect more um, fun surprises this winter. >> Thank you. >> Um, we do not have an executive session tonight and we do not have any new business. So, it is 6:35 p.m. And with that, we are adjourned. Good night,
Morehead.