Welcome to the Mountain City Council. It's Tuesday, October 14th. Uh can we do the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We have our agenda. Do we have any amendments? No amendments. Sorry. Uh, can I get a motion to approve the agenda as is? Motion to approve.
And can I get a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. I. Those opposed. All right. The agenda is passed. We also have the consent agenda number four. Does anybody want to go through those?
I can I can read those off. Okay. Um, consent agenda items A through D. A, approve payment of claims. B, approve minutes from the September 23rd regular city council meeting. C, pay request number two in the amount of $277,242.75
to GH asphalt for um 2020 2025 street and utility improvements projects 25,01, 02, and 05. and D miscellaneous pay request for
irrigation repairs in the amount of $157 uh project 25-02. Does council want to talk about any of those or pull any? All right, hearing none. Can I get a
motion to approve the consent agenda? Motion to approve the consent agenda. All right, got a motion. Can I get a second? Second. All right, roll call, please. Council member Heric. Hi. Council member Mcinany. Hi. Council member Pew. Hi. Council member Castellano.
Hi. Mayor Holt. Hi. All right. All that passes. So if you're here for A, B, C, or D, they are all approved. Uh number five, we got comments and suggestions from residents that their item is on the agenda.
Come forward. You guys. No, I I received a letter the notice of a hearing for proposed assessment for water for Yeah. for my water bill. Okay. Yeah, that'll be a compass. Okay,
cool. Thanks. All right. Anybody else? All right. Hearing none. Uh number six, we got orno, please. Can you hear the mics back there? Try again. Can you hear the mics back there? Pretty good. Yep.
We finally fixed it, we think. It was just the volume needed to be turned up. That was it. Yeah. So, yeah. Good evening. Um I don't have a lot to report for the uh the Arnold Police Department. Uh we have been steadily
busy um just with seasonal um training and just day-to-day operations. Uh nothing to report has spiked on our activity reports or our crime reports. Um everything is kind of status quo is what we're dealing with and what we're
usually dealing with. Uh nonetheless, we're still dealing with juvenile problems. Um ebikes tearing around. Um we're continuing continuing to be consistent with those and that is when we get them when we apprehend them. We
usually have a parent coming to the scene. Um we do have our our um repeat offenders um and we continue to deal with them educating and hopefully getting these kids to understand that
there's their their safety is important and that they continue down this road things are going to happen with the bikes and and their safety. So, we're trying to keep it under wraps, but we are constantly getting these calls for juvenile problems and it usually I can
nine times out of 10 I know it's going to be an ebike issue. So, we continue to stay consistent with it though and that's what we've forwarded on to the rest of the officers to stay consistent with it. Keep doing your job. I have a question. Um, is there any
possibility of maybe partnering with driver's ed or with the schools as an intervention education piece around these ebikes? Has anyone done anything like that? There is I mean there there's always possibilities, but it it's going to be
on I'd like to see the community come up with something and the schools come up with something for these kids where they actually have to go through a driver's training with these things and actually understand the the power and the uh the um issues that come with them. So that you know just like we do
when we go through driver's ed you know we we have to understand the vehicle and we have to understand the rules of the road and something would be nice to see something like that and where we begin with that I don't have that answer. I mean I can find the answer and figure something out but it would have to be a
community oriented project where we all come together and with the schools and with the the city and just maybe come and you know sit down with these kids and teach them Yeah, it would be great if we could do something like that. Yeah, but I think we need definitive
rules before we can teach them, right? Well, yeah, they're working on that, too, though, aren't they? We'll talk to Representative Myers in a in a minute. He's nodding his head. So, yeah, he might have some ideas, but yes, more to come.
We're looking more at a statewide Yeah. issue. Um, I think it's it's not just us. And, you know, South Lake has someone has to initiate it. I I wasn't able to make the meeting but um we met with that department and Oro with our
chief and uh they were work I haven't got the notes on it but um they're trying to work out a coalition together and then to go towards the the state side and work with our senator and prep to get a bigger you know bigger deal. Absolutely.
Uh the Lake Minnetonka SWAT team uh returned from our annual uh it's MOA. It would be our Minnesota Tactical Office Association conference. And conference is a bad word for it because mostly we spend 3 days um night operations,
physical fitness tests, firearms trainings, scenario-based trainings, just coming up with everything we can do to get a solid training in on our for us operators to bring back and have stuff in our toolbox so if a situation does
ever occur, we have those available to us. So that was a everyone in a good time. Everyone come back uninjured. So that was a good good training. So and then police department uh has closed the process for hiring. So on October 23rd
we will be interviewing three full-time officers, seven part-time officers. Um and from there going forward we'll they'll go into the next process after those that date's over. Um and then we have also been approved as of last night we have hired three cadetses for our
cadet program. So, we'll have three brand new, completely green officers starting the process of becoming a police officer. So, for the three officers that you're interviewing, is that to fill three spots or
uh one for sure right now? Uh we lost uh an investigator. He moved on to he got pro got a actually it would be a promotion in another department. So, he moved up to a sergeant. So, he got hired in as a sergeant for another department. So, we'll be looking to fill his slot. Okay.
And then uh we have um Officer Beck that's still in our field training uh program, still going through that. So hopefully when he is done and we get another one hired, we'll be up to date up to speed. Most important is we need part-time officers to um alleviate the
overtime budget. So, like if we have people that go out on vacations or anything, sick leave or anything, we have part-time officers to pull from. I'm guessing we're I I'm don't I'm not sure. I know we want need two at least. So, thanks. So, we're working on that program right
now. Um and then other than that, Halloween's coming up. We will be out in the uh neighborhoods throughout the night patrolling, make sure everyone's safe and everyone's doing the right thing. So, that that's all I have. You got anything questions?
Council have any other questions, comments? All right. Thank you. Appreciate. All right. Number seven, we got state representative Andy Myers. Welcome. How's everybody doing? Good.
Good. Yeah. Ebikes is uh something I hear at every one of my cities and uh a lot of cities around the area and the suburbs. So, we'll we'll get to that, but I just first want to say, you know, thanks for having me out. Um, you know, your public service is really important to these communities. Um, you know, it's a
thankless job. I used to sit in those seats as a council member and um, you know, you're trying to make the best decision you can for your community. So, I just applaud you guys for stepping forward and running. Um, you know, at the capital, I'm going to try to focus on some of the stuff that's impacting
local government here that we passed this past session. We were in a tied house. Um, so anything that was passing was bipartisan. So, I think it was a a good opportunity to find common ground on some priorities that help our communities. Um, one of those was an amendment to open meeting laws that
allow members of a body to participate remotely in a location not open to the public. So, making it a little bit e easier to, you know, get a quorum. Um, additionally, we did authorize public water and sewer districts to install water and sewer line infrastructure in
public road uh rightways, which is important for cities um that are having to do infrastructure improvements. And then um you know, we've seen a lot of local newspapers go out of business. So, um we're now allowing public notices to be included on the websites when we
don't have a qualified paper, making sure that we can get that notice out to the general public. Um, one thing I've continued to see, so I've I've been down there now for three years, this is, you know, my second term. There seems to be a constant um, struggle or a battle
between what we do down in St. Paul and then some of that local control we see in our cities. And not only in our cities, but also sometimes with, you know, we we're looking at state-run benefit packages. We're seeing state-run school boards. Um we have, you know, great school boards here, great school
board members that are supporting their um school districts. Same with our council. Um we saw again a local housing um legislation come forward that was looking to take away some of that local control. I think what we need to do is be focusing more on the partnerships
with our communities versus trying to tell them of a a top- down approach. I don't think um we're starting to see a little too much of the top down approach. you know, we have city government, we've got Met Council, we've got Henipin County, and we've got the state. So, what I'm really trying to do,
um, you know, especially when it comes to housing, I'm going to have a builder roundt to try to bring some people in to give them a sense of what our communities because I've heard consistently and if it's, you know, if you feel differently, please let me know. But when I've reached out to my locally elected officials, they want to
have the control because my 11 cities all have a different kind of taste, touch, and feel, and they want to maintain those to a point. Um, but for example, a city like Minatrista, more farmland out there, there's going to be more development. Trying to work directly with them for those options um
that aren't always a 3500T house. It could be a 2,000 foot house. So trying to work mo you know more together um as a partnership. Um you know we did pass a bonding bill this year and so I sit on
capital investment um you know mount is uh been a top priority down there. We did secure some funding a couple years ago but uh leadership came down and said you know we're going to do a bonding bill $700 million and that's going to be um in you know a PFA. going to be
addressing, you know, water infrastructure. And I and I still remember sitting in that room um you know, in the in the Republican caucus room and they came out and they said, "I think we have a plan what we're going to be doing for uh bonding to take care of some of these water issues." And the next thing that came out of their mouth
was, "I don't think Rep. Myers is going to like this plan, though." And and I I I didn't because uh it wasn't giving me an opportunity to support my local communities that have a lot of infrastructure needs. But I did see ultimately that, you know, we're taking
this money and we're really focusing on the needs of the water issues, the bridges. We're not trying to focus on pickle ball courts or we're not trying to, you know, community centers. We've got things that we really need to take care of. So, you know, we are in discussions. We're not going to know
the size of the bonding bill for next year. I'm trying to shoot and and give a round number of a billion dollars, but I've been told it's going to have a heavier focus on local infrastructure. Does that mean it's going to be, you know, 40% going to local out of a
billion being $400 or $400 million? Again, then that has to be divided up between, you know, the Senate, the House, and then distributed. You know, my hope is um for the city of Mound and a few other my cities, we have a a bonding tour coming in from the house
side. It's uh November 12th through the 14th. I put a request in to make sure that Mound is on that. Um I don't know what, you know, the the chairs of that committee are going to do. I know they're very aware of this project. We've been down there. Um you know, my
promise to you though is that when we get on that bus, we're kind of stuck on that bus for two or three days. We're we're down with everybody. I try to do things a little bit different than other members there. Um, I'd like to work with staff, um, council member and mayors, update that one pager, and because
people are on stuck on those buses for maybe 30 minutes between stops, makes it very easy just to go to row a row and give them my own little presentation to remind them how, you know, impactful it is and how clean water should be something that, you know, every community has. Um, few other things I
hear a lot about is just those partnerships. You know, it's supporting our schools. really big one has been property tax relief. Um, you know, we we've been spending a lot of money down there on some of the state government, hiring more state employees. I would
really like to see a shift or a um prioritizing more on motans. Um, I had a bill that would have capp property taxes for every senior in the state. You know, I I tried to make it very reasonable, but at the end of the day, we're ended up funding more jobs down at the state,
uh, more state employees when some of these departments already have dozens of job openings that they can't fill. I think it's it's the point now because of affordability and property taxes, and I'm sure you you hear it a lot here, um, the things that we can do that can be really impactful to everyday life for
people. Uh, another one is uh, consolidation of fire services. I know you guys are in discussions with that. A few of the other communities are as well. I'm trying to explore those options from a state level to help with pension relief running into where
somebody a department may have this much, another department has this much. Very hard for some of these cities to balance it out. So, if we can look at some potential funding, it's something that, you know, we've talked about, mayor and I have talked about, um, you know, Mayor Wayland as well, trying to
really try to find that opportunity. Um because I think what we want to do is we do want to consolidate. I mean I think that's what I'm hearing from the boots on the ground. Um Highway 7 uh safety. I know it's not impactful as much here maybe on the um you know the other side
of mound into Minitrista, but that is something that there's going to be some big changes going on and we're really trying to make sure that we do it right. Uh we make it safer than it is but ensure that we still have uh that traffic flow. And then ebikes. Mhm. You know, I had a bipartisan bill that I
was going to bring to the floor for something very simple. I my the stuff I do down there is not try to be transformational. I mean, if if I want to do something like this, I try to bite it off in chunks and pass it, you know, this much one year, this much one year. We had something small like just
requiring helmets for ebikes for uh people that are 15 to 18. Uh a little disappointed. I had support when I was getting ready to bring it forward. I got a lot of phone calls that said they had to pull that support and to me it seemed like a very um common sense approach. It
gives law enforcement an opportunity to, you know, address that. And we don't want any, you know, kid or driver to, you know, be in an accident. Helmets really help minimize that. But we're also looking at some of these o other opportunities. I think you've seen the
videos from South Lake police of, you know, they're chasing kids on bikes and they've had to, you know, stop the pursuit because they're afraid they're going to, you know, something's going to happen to these kids. So, I know other mayors, um, some of the, uh, Mandot is working on some additional language. At
the end of the day, we've got to be able to pass something. We don't want to be stuck with just, you know, we we want to pass something like this and nothing passes. We've got to try to do something. Um, other than that, um, I could go on and on, but, um, are there any specific
questions that you guys have? Does council have any questions for Representative Myers? I have one. Since I've been on council, we've seen a number of times that bills are introduced that really restrict city involvement in how to best
run their city vision. Yeah. And their residents. I I mean, I've appreciated you putting those out and I know the League of Minnesota Cities even kind of alerts us to that, but are we doing the right thing by trying to combat that because
we don't want to lose control on what works for Mound may not work for, you know, Minneapolis. Yeah. Or or even Tonka Bay where I live. There's not a you know, a lot of open lots. There's not a lot of opportunities. You know, I think that my approach to public service has always
it's not been I'm going to sit back and wait to hear from people. I try to send those emails to you guys, to, you know, police, to our, you know, educators, uh, to our mental health counselors and say, "What do you guys need? What is working for you?" In that particular situation,
it was 99% of the people said, you know, we have a comp plan that we have to spend a lot of money on um as as cities to maintain and and what we have in Excelsier here is very different than in Mound than in Minnetonka Beach. I mean, some of these cities don't even have businesses. Um, I'm trying to do my best
to address housing um, you know, concerns without taking away those opportunities uh, for cities, which to me is more of a a carrot versus a stick approach. But that also means maybe going above and beyond and having specific conversations with certain
cities. As I said, there's other cities within my district that probably have a a a better potential for growth of a certain type of housing versus Minnetonka Beach is pretty much built out. Um some of these other committee, you know, communities are built out. So,
if we can look work with our local um council members and mayors to see what works for them, you know, maybe there's a way we can come up with a better carrot approach than a stick. Well, with the Met Council constantly pushing density um you know, requirements,
you know, it's really frustrating when suddenly we're elected to try to help our residents maintain our acquaintance or our vision that St. Paul is literally trying to restrict us from doing our jobs. Yeah. And Mound does a good job of having affordable housing versus some of
my other communities. you know, at the at the end of the day, we just have to, you know, provide those opportunities for you guys versus, you know, I had another um elected official tell me, I feel like we're way ahead of the curve, but now they don't seem to care. We
don't get credit for being ahead of the curve. They want us to keep doing what we're doing, and that's not sustainable for us. So, why why were we trying to do what we were doing before if we weren't getting credit for it? So, I I I don't think anybody wants the goalpost moved. um because it makes it very difficult
for you guys to serve your communities. Thank you. Council have getting back to water. Yep. Um the bonding bill, what can we be doing besides pressuring you uh to get
money into that bill and get um priorities that would favor mound obviously. Yeah. Yeah, I mean again partnerships at all level are really important if that's both at the state and the federal level. Um you know, Representative Morrison as
well as uh Ann Johnson Stewart, our senator. Um we've been working really closely. I mean I draft the bills in the House specifically to Mounts Water and then I give them directly to her. I mean we've got bipartisan support on that. You know it ends up being our job to be able to see what we can do to find those
dollars to come here. Um you know $30 million. I mean, I've had the the conversation with the mayor, you know, the the year that we got 10 10 million. I mean, I think the overall bonding bill was close to $2 billion. Um, you know, we're we're doing what we
can. I think for us it's those being those innovative ways to advocate when everybody's, you know, stuck on a bus if the, you know, the hope is that the Senate can come out here as well. The big piece for me is just getting people to come out here because I mean I'll say it most of my colleagues I work with
they think everybody lives on the lake and that's not the case. Um you know as somebody that you know push Moses his own yard and um you know doesn't live on the lake. Um there's there's a lot of people that need help and when it comes to clean drinking water it really
shouldn't be a partisan issue. Well maybe when the bus comes out you can have them stop at Gillespie for lunch. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Well, while we're on that, uh I was told we're not going to be on the bus tour.
So, you said you requested Yeah. So, I have not We have They have um I could not make the bonding tour this week. They're actually out this week. We have another one next week. And then the Metro bonding tour for the
House is, double check, November 12th through the 14th. I have not been told if any of my cities are on that. Um my guess is is more than likely they will try to do a stop. It may be at um Normandale and
Bloomington, which then means maybe two or three two or three of my cities will have to come and make a presentation. Yeah. Uh best case scenario is they come out here and look at it, right? other one is we'll just take a a a stop if it's somewhere else and then bring out you know Jesse whoever else
engineer yourself to come and you know give the fiveminute pitch because a lot of times we'll we'll do lunch or dinner at a at a college of some sort and we'll hear an hour and a half of presentations from 15 different cities. So at this point I have not heard who's doing it and who's not.
I know it's been a few years since we've had a bus tour that Yep. They say, "Well, you already did it." So, yeah. And I know people know because I come and testify and we talk to them. Bring the water. Who's who's coordinating the the tour? So, in the house, um, uh, Chair Fui and
Well, co-chair Fui and co-chair Mary Fransen. And then the staff is heading that up because we're in a tied house. We have co-chairs. So, they're both deciding on it. Well, if you find anything, obviously we talk all the time, but just let me know. Yeah. The minute the minute I find out it means that I come to you guys and say
you know we need to put a presentation together. Is that a presentation on site? Is that a presentation somewhere else? You know what is that information that we want to provide? Okay. Let me know on that. Um the you said the quorum stuff. Um that's what these three screens are for I
think. Okay. The So technically one of us could be in Florida or something, right? Yeah. As long as we're zoomed in or whatever. Yep. I don't know if we've done a lot of work beyond putting these three things up, but um that's the the thought,
right? Is that you could be on vacation or whatever and still log in. Yeah. Or somebody is sick or something like that to the point um that you know they can't be in person, but they can be available. Okay. We we should talk more about that because I know there are times where you know you might not want to come here
physically, but if you could be, you know, I mean, if that's state law, I mean Yeah. and it can keep us having quum, right? You know, move things along, especially if there and the more participation the better. I just hope that that doesn't get abused because as ser, you know, as servants to our
public, it's our responsibility to make every effort. And I get when you're on vacation for spring break, you know, and it happened. But I don't think it should be a a regular um hope that, oh, I can't go this week, I can get on to a Zoom meeting.
Yeah. So the uh open meeting law changes are the baseline and the council can set up its own policies and rules and regulations. There was like it could happen twice or something like that, you know? Okay. So we we come up with our own Yeah. And for example, you could say we're going to require to say where
you're at. Are you at home? Are you where I mean that those decisions can be made locally public space, right? Correct. So you have to be at a coffee shop. You can't be at home. You'd have to be at a coffee shop. No, you can be public. No, it it the way the way it's changed is that it used to be that you had to be at a place that was accessible to the public and provide
notice and now that's changed. Now you can be like you' be at a library you can be in a non-public place. Okay. Yeah. So none of us have to show anymore. Yeah. We have at least one here. Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll talk about that as a council, but you gave us the framework and we have to decide as a council.
Okay. Um uh just back to the water. We need 30 million. Yep. So write a check. Yep. Just get it done. Um, we're we're trying. Oh, trust me. He he advocates a lot by
he I get a lot of phone calls a text. So, and I got one today. So, yeah. He said, "What do you want to talk about?" I said, "$30 million. That's all I want to talk about." I know. I mean, it's, you know, when I'm um out in this community door knockocking. I mean, you know, education is really important to people. Affordability is really important to
people. And, you know, access to water and clean water. I mean, it it's something that's vital to this community almost. Yeah. Um we just I mean, I've sent I mean, and I've sent multiple letters to um you know, the governor. I mean, I I'm trying to pull out every stop. I mean, before you know,
uh the governor would be able to pick 10 projects and he's kind of moved away from that. But I I mean, I try to do every thing I can. I mean, I just sent a letter to, you know, Tom Emmer and Kelly Morrison. I don't care if it can help my community. I mean, I'll I'll send it to anybody
and thank you. We get the copies of the letter, so we appreciate those. Um, you weren't able to make it, but we did a ribbon cutting at Lake Maka Flats. This is a new, as you know, uh, uh, town home or they call it condo flats, I
guess, but, uh, phenomenal, uh, beautiful, very, very high level, uh, condo situation. And uh you were the one that um introduced me to Carl and Jim and we the four of us actually had coffee at
Caribou and Mound. Um and you know you connected us and said you know is there any opportunities of mound and uh just because of that your connection with them and uh starting that little spark um is why we have that property. So we just want to say thank you on behalf of
me and I know you were there and yes I know council member you were there too. So, member whoever and they did whoever whatever had you they did thank you even though you weren't there for all of your how I look at those things is I run into people that are looking for
opportunities and I I have pretty good relationships with most of my council members and mayors that are saying you know we're looking for things at the end of the day if I can put people together and then those local cities make those decisions like that's great um you know cuz I mean I think we've seen it in a lot of communities not every investment
is perfect we're never going get a perfect investment, but that is up to you guys where to me it's that it's that partnership, that local control. You guys decide, you were elected to decide, you know, what do you want and put it in the community. So, just the last thing is thank you. I mean, you're I know you put out your
cell phone publicly. Um people can call you, text you, email you. Uh you actually answer, you call back. You don't try to ignore us. Uh even when it's badgering you for 30 million. So, we appreciate it. Thank you. and let us know what we need to do. Yeah. And again, if there's anything you
guys need, um, cell phone 612-6158-444, email me. Um, I'm doing office hours tomorrow over in Long Lake. But again, if you guys want to grab coffee, you have any uh questions, concerns, please reach out. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
All right. Number eight, we got public hearing. We had a action on resolution adopting assessment for miscellaneous expenses and certifying to the county auditor at 5% interest levy number 26076.
So you're going to see two different resolutions as you just mentioned. One is for a couple different fees that were that the city was assessed that were not paid and then the second resolution is for uh unpaid utility bills. So, in
order to make this process happen, um staff prepared notices for everybody that's on either of these two lists that were they were given a couple weeks notice by mail and you need to now hold two separate public hearings. So, the first one will be for the miscellaneous expenses. You'll need to open that
hearing. If there's anybody here that wants to speak on that, they can and then close that and there's action to be done on the resolution there. And then the same for the uh utility bills. We'll open a second public hearing. Anybody that has a utility bill that they want to speak on, they can uh close public
hearing and then discussion action on the second resolution. But there's staff here if you have questions. Otherwise, I think you probably all are fairly familiar with this process by now. All right. So, we're going to open a public hearing and that's on the again a
um action on resolution adopting assessment for miscellaneous expenses. Um, does council have any comments or Oh, sorry. Uh, does anybody uh from the public want to come up and talk about this item? And this is a miscellaneous
expense, not the utility bills. All right. Hearing none, I'm going to close the public hearing and then uh we have a resolution here. If someone wants to make a motion or if you want to chat about it, uh, we can talk about it as well.
I can read that. Um, motion to approve resolution number 25-80. Yep. Got a motion. And can I get a second? Second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I.
I. Those opposed? All right, that passes. All right. Now we're going to go on to uh B, which is action on resolution adopting assessment for delinquent municipal utility bills and certifying to the county otter at 5% interest lobby
number 26 077. I'm going to open a public hearing for that. So if anybody wants to come up, you can come up. You give us your name and address. My name is David Gilbertson. I live at 3053 Bryant Lane. Okay. And
that's mound, of course. And uh I've received this is my second notice overtime and I'm clearly behind on my water bill. And so I'm at $2,113.65
is what I owe. And my issue is um going forth, ever since we've had the issue with the water, which I know is not just a me issue, it's a community issue. And I know you guys sounds like you're working on it. You're getting the grants trying to get the grants put together
and um but I'm having to go and buy, you know, a five gallon jug of water, which is around $6.99. We got a family of seven. We got four kids and then my senior citizen dad lives with us and along with my girlfriend Ashley. Um,
so we go and we mainly drink water and so we're going through about $85 worth of water a month and that adds up to be about as much as my water utility bill was for every quarter. So, and along with that, um, I've had to
do an addition on my home in order to because the kids are growing up, they don't want to share rooms anymore. So, I've tried to do my best to do this addition. And after doing that, I, you know, I factored in the amount of money my mortgage was and then what the line of credit was going to cost me each
month. And then a county assess a county assessor came over and my taxes went up a lot for property taxes. So my mortgage was like $1,50. Now it's up to almost 1,600. And I didn't I didn't even think that was
going to be a thing. I didn't know that a county assessor is going to come by and raise my taxes because we added to our house. So, that really has put a dent on me being able to afford my expenses. And then, of course, we got a
couple 16year-old, 17 and 16year-old girls that both are driving now. And so, that's an added expense. And I'm just kind of in a bind right now and not sure what to do with this $2,113 bill. So, Okay. And have you talked to the the city at all?
No, I haven't. Okay. So, um Jesse, what options does he have? No, I might kick over to you. This is the option. Um it'll be put onto the taxes for next year. If they if you have an escrow, it'll be escorted out
and caught up that way through the bank. We don't have another option to reduce the utility charges or put them on hold for one individual versus another. So if let's just say I mean it just doesn't pay it would just be added to his property tax
my then my mortgage goes up more and then the mortgage company would eventually see that the tax bills gone higher and start collecting more right so he would be paying more every month is how it'll occur. Okay. So no we don't have any payment plan type situation for these kinds of
incidents. Actually this is the payment plan because we don't turn off water in mound. This is the avenue we've taken is to assess it. It's not perfect, but So then at that point then I'll be paying interest on each mortgage payment. Pretty much it'll be it'll turn
out to be a lot more money than $2,113. So it's what? Five%. Yeah. So I don't know. I just thought I'd come in here make an appearance because I've gotten this notice twice and I didn't really understand this. I didn't realize it's a whole entire city
council meeting. I just wanted to come and, you know, state my my side of the story and see if there's anything we could do about it. So, if the pro the way it works though is the property it goes on property taxes. So, that dollar amount would be over six month period, right?
It would be 12 if you're if you have a loan on your house, it' be however your whoever holds it yet would average that. If you don't, it' be the two payments. Yeah. So, it doesn't need to get paid all at once. It has to get paid over time. That's how it'll be
changed to your escrow. Do you know like the the water that you've been using? It's just normal day. I mean, you don't have like a running toilet or it's not like an excessive like your hose was turned on. No outside on accident.
Yeah. Of course, everybody showers and we do laundry and dishes. And the 16-year-old girls, they like their long hot showers. And they are pretty quick about it too cuz they all got to get ready for school in the morning. So they got to be quick about it. So um I don't think that I don't
think we overly use the water at all. So yeah. Um and like I said mainly all we drink is water. It's not most of the every now and then somebody will have soda but mostly water. So right it's that's where it's added up for me because the water being undrinkable has
caused me to have an extra almost $300 every three months. So, it's just almost as much as my my quarterly water bill was like I stated before. So, right. Do you do you have a water softener at your home? I do have a water softener. And then, yeah, I was going to bring that up too
is because I know that the water is pretty hard here in Mound. It's like up to 28 GPG. And um so that's my my water softener is going going through salt like crazy cuz so I just went was asking because if you've
had your water tested, you know, you may not have a problem with your water with the water softener. So there are places you can have your water checked. I think Mayor Holt has brought those numbers up a few times. Mhm. Um I know I've had my water checked
because of the water softener and I don't have a problem with the water, but I know there's certain areas in mound that are worse than others, but it might be worth I don't think the test costs very much. 25 bucks. Is that uh the water softener can get
rid of the manganese out of the Okay, it it can it might through the Minnesota Department of Health. If you go out to our our website, there's like a water tab. Click on that and you'll see all the different testing facilities. So, I know we've both sent in our sample. So, you
take it from the kitchen sink or wherever you drink, you know, from you mail it in. You mail it in. I think what she's getting at is, you know, if you're spending a couple hundred bucks on bottle water and you you are keeping your softener up and you are on top of that, I still would test it, especially if you're going to drink it, right? And then you
got to feel comfortable with that. But um you might not even be on the map with manganesees and you might be fine. So then you could save some money. Okay. Um you know going forward. So again check your own situation. I think every house has to do their own thing and of course you know do what's right for your
family. But um the other thing too do you know is there any uh water kind of like grants or drinking water programs or something? I know they kept talking about it last year. It would be through the food shelf system probably
food shelf if anything but I don't think they do. What about weekend? Have you consulted with them? No, I haven't consulted with weekend. Do they do water there? Because you volunteer. They can help. No, I don't volunteer at Weekend, but they can help with certain
financial I haven't heard anything. They don't. We a lot of times we've tried to get certain assistance which usually we don't want to do but there's been times where we've tried and I end up getting denied because they say that I make too much but it doesn't factor in
all your expenses. Yeah. All the things along with the kids and everything. I mean it they do factor quite a bit of stuff in but I've gotten denied pretty much every time for any assistance. So if you can they don't ask do they? What at the food shelf? Weekend. Yeah. At weekend I don't know. But at the food
shelf no we do not. or sorry the that they do not ask they do not that's part of the federal Yeah they supposedly you just walk in and you you know walk out but we don't have any water no but I'm saying if you can lighten up his budget on food then you could have you know right
food's expensive these days for sure everything is expensive um I would definitely check with weekend though they may have some sort of assistance is that something right over there right by the Catholic church no weekend it's over oh sorry that's it's right over across the street from
Bel Shop. Yep. Don't know where that is. But we just they just had an open house and I did a tour and they do have three or four people that literally um focus on trying to help people in your situation find some
alternative maybe methods and sources that you can find. Yeah. To temporarily relieve your situation. Okay. And the West Tonka food shell can definitely help with food. Okay. All right. Well, that answers my question. I was just seeing if there's any sort of
payment plan or anything like that. And yeah, that's I gets put into your mortgage. That becomes your payment plan. Yeah. So, all right. Well, thanks for coming. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Anybody else? All right. I'm going to close the public hearing.
All right. Again, B, we got the resolution 2581. Can someone make a motion for that? I can do that. Okay. I would like to make a motion uh adopting resolution 25-81.
All right. I got a motion. Can I get a second? Second. Oh, second. Okay. Any discussion? Yeah. I um can we go back to reading the actual verbiage here because I think it's more transparent to people that are watching the video. Sure. Um because they don't always have the
packet and they can't always get to the packets on I can't remember if Is the do they show the video when we're doing it or would they show us? It sort of depends on what's going on. Yeah. I mean, I just would have problem. We've always read it.
We've always read it. Go ahead. I know we don't have to, but I just think it's more transparent. Yeah. Okay. So, any other discussion? So what we are doing with this resolution 2581 is it's a resolution adopting the assessment for delinquent municipal utility bills and certifying to the
county utter at 5% interest which is levy number 26077. We already have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Hearing none. Uh all those in favor please say I. I. I. Those opposed. All right passes.
Okay. Number nine, we got ordinance amending chapter 74, appendix A, articles one and two regarding electric utility franchises. And I'm going to take this one. Okay. So, and I do apologize for the cold. It sounds like I've been uh I'm smoking
like three packs a day. So, sorry about that. Yeah. But, uh so, uh Mr. Mayor, members of the council, Scott Lansman, city attorney. Uh the city currently has a franchise agreement, also known as a franchise ordinance with Excel Energy, that allows
Excel to install and maintain its electrical facilities in city- owned controlled land, um including rightaways. The current ordinance was effective in 2003 and has a end of this year expiration date.
Um before you is a negot a new franchise ordinance that's been negotiated between XL Energy and city staff that will become effective once the city council has accepted or city council has passed it and the and XL Energy has accepted it
and with has expiration date of uh 2045. Um, the franchise ordinance that's before you does not modify or increase franchise fees paid to the city and generally has the same terms as that current franchise ordinance. The I the
purpose for doing this is that it was expiring at the end of this year. We need to put a new franchise ordinance in place. um recommendations if you look at the stack report is for the city to enact um ordinance number 042025
which is that uh new franchise ordinance and for the city to pass resolution um I don't have a number for it but authorizing the publication um publication summary instead of put
that whole ordinance in the newspaper and I'm open Any questions? All right. Does council have any questions for Scott? So, it's like a continuation basically generally. Yes. Yeah. And if you and I will say if you take a look at page
2633 and 26 2634, that shows you what the uh franchise fee schedule is. So, it shows the fee schedule, but for anyone looking at it, it's not changing. It's just we're just showing it. Correct. Yeah. This won't affect any future changes of
fees. This just puts out our calendar date longer. Right. If if we intended to change fees, we'd go through the through the same process we did last year, I think it was, where we'll have to have a hearing and amend this ordinance once it's in
place. Okay. All right. Um, is that the ordinance? So, we got the ordinance number 04-2025. Does someone want to make that motion? I can make that motion to approve um
ordinance number 04205 amending chapter 74 appendix A articles one and two regarding electric utility franchises. All right, got a motion. Can I get a second? Second. Any other discussion?
All those in favor, please say I. I. Those opposed? Right, that passes. And then the resolution is on page 2635, which you can't see. You still can't see. There it is. Okay. So, we got resolution
2582. Does someone want to make a motion for that resolution? I make a motion to approve resolution number 2582 authorizing publication by title and summary
pursuant to Minnesota statute 412191 subdivision or four of an ordinance amending chapter 74 appendix A articles one and two regarding electric utility franchises. All right, got a motion. Can I get a second?
Second. Any other discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. I. Those opposed. All right, that passes. Thanks. All right. Number 10, we got award bid for phase two of the 2025 water infrastructure improvement project
to Minger Construction for 4,387,556.50. Thanks, Noah. Welcome. Thank you, mayor, members of the council. This this bid has been out there for a while. So, lot little while coming here. Um September 9th, we had we
finally held the bid opening for this project. Um we got five bids. Um pretty good bids. Binger construction is the low there. And so I'll talk through a little bit of the the alternates and the process. So it's actually in February we we posted the the project for bidding, but then um with some of the
developments at the plant site, we wanted to make sure everything was clear there before we moved ahead. um cuz this is a pretty significant piece of the the $10.3 million. Um so while we had the the project out for bid, alternate one was included in the original. Then alternates two and three we added uh
because we we got a little bit further along with kind of realizing where the well work was and then the rest of the funding. So and then somewhat of layout of the plant site. So we so alternate two is actually to um was to include a raw water line. So, it's a the untreated
water line coming out of the existing well. It is it's semi-treated right now. It gets chlorinated, but it's not what we're going to do with the plant. So, that's going to that's a a cost to get the main up closer to the plant site. And then alternate three was to get some of the treated water get down from the
plant site down to Evergreen Road. So, this is just you installing a couple hundred additional feet of water. I mean, is what those pieces were. So, we wanted to be able to have some flexibility in maximizing uh using up the grant funds there. Um, so with all those items together, the
Minger's bid was just 1% above the engineers estimate for all three or all with all the alternates in there and then 21% the 21% below the high bid. So, we we do recommend awarding all three al the base bid plus all three alternates
to Minger Construction. Um, and so then on the next page, I think Jesse was shown to just we can go through quickly the the staging if you wanted to talk through that. Again, it's been a little while since you've seen it, but just let me know if you have any questions there. Why don't you just run through that quick?
And then before you start, Matt, has has mound worked with Minger Construction before? Yeah, quite a few times. They did the the most recently the 2023 lift station um over by the Lake Winds Condos Association and then they were are they still in town this spring? They did the
Met Council project on 15 there. Okay, great. So, yeah, we know them very well. Okay, great. Thank you. Y So, uh the color is a little bit hard to see here, but we broke the project project up into several stages and so two and three are north of 125. Um the
contractor gets c, you know, kind of a certain amount of days to do the work in here, but they need to break it up a little bit. Um, and in the project, we're going to as much as we can, it's going to be one way traffic through here, so everybody's going to have to go south, but it'll at least still give all
the businesses access and and get everybody in and out of there. Uh, if you can scroll down a little, Jesse, I know it's not going to be fun, but it's really the only way to do the work there. Um, and stage three is kind of the pinch point. We are at
fully shut down. I believe it's fully shut down. I have to remember. I think it is though. Yeah. Couple weeks. Couple weeks or a week or what? Uh, three three weeks to a month, I think, is we gave them. Can we get some of that electronic signage that says what we're doing and why, please?
Yeah, there will be a lot of communication on this once we're ready to go. Nothing's starting until next year at this point. We were expecting this. We remember we had a discussion earlier. Spirit of lakes. It was either going to be right before or right after. Oh yeah, that's right. Remember that. And this whole federal
government pushed this whole back. Yep. This whole thing. Yeah. And and so this has got uh two mains in there that we're going to rehab. Um one we're going to upsize existing 10 in to 14 in. And then there's a 6 in in there. That's basically a backup line because if we
this line goes down, the only other one that's feeding the rest of the city goes up along the other side of Dutch Lake. there. So, we wanted to have a little more redundancy so that we're not so restricted. Matt, Jesse, is this going to fix that area that they keep complaining about
over by OL? That piece of sidewalk that's just sort of dilapitated that didn't get fixed on the last goound. I because it looks like it looks like that would be right within and Jesse, I think last time I asked you about it, they were going to try to get it in this
next round of Looks like it does. Stage one. It's just there's some work. I know. I see it. I just want it to be on record because Yeah, that sidewalk. Yeah, we we realize there's sidewalk there that's kind of that's right next to where they're doing the the trail crossing work that also got held up this
year. Well, we're going to find a way to get that done. It might not be specifically with this project, but we got enough other city work that I'll talk about later that we'll we'll make sure we get it taken care of. Um, yeah, when that was brought up, it had we were kind of at a done point with some other projects
and other contractors didn't want to mess with it because they knew some other things were coming. So, yeah. So, before you go far, it's on our list. But, yeah. Yeah. So, stage one, well, and two, you're going to do they're going to do as much boring or whatever they call it under the road
possible. Yep. To be even though it's one lane, not we're not trying to take out the whole road. Correct. that for the for the majority of this it'll be called pipe bursting. So, we're going to break the existing pipe up, but use that for our alignment for the new one.
There's going to be some spots where we can't do that. Um there's going to be some spots where we have to drill a new line in. Um there's a lot of older stuff in here. So, there's going to be some surprises, too. And then I know the county was going to do that road eventually. That was like the next phase.
Yeah. When when are they getting that done? So, part of our staging here was actually meant to coincide with where they were going to stop their mill and overlay. Yeah. We had to to talk to them to basically um tell them we weren't ready for milling overlay and I I don't know when they're going to come back here. They were
really just doing this piece here because it was going to work with some of their restriping and so we're going to account we've got accounted for the new striping but we're not going to take over the millon overlay piece. I don't know when they've rescheduled that. They don't actually have um any of
this on their their near-term plan for Millan overlay, but I thought south of the stoplight to about OL was the county was going to do that stretch. I'm wrong on that. That was the that was the plan. Again,
it was mainly just to accommodate some of that restriping. Okay. That they don't they didn't have to do it. Um okay. It's just part of the milling overlay because of the other trail things and because they are working on the crossing over over commerce and that'll be happening next year.
Correct. So that won't affect what you're doing. We we need to coordinate. Yeah. Coordinates. So you do they they Yeah. I believe they want to close the roadway when they're doing that. So we need to make sure we're not in places where we're going to have people trapped.
Right. Okay. Um, so a lot of this, assuming we approve this, would be, you know, in the spring next year. Yeah, they should be ready to go very, very early in the season. We we may do a little bit of work um in stage four. There's some trees and stuff to be cleared. We might do that this
winter, but that would Yeah, everything in general next year. Okay. Um, okay. So, yeah, keep going with stage four. Okay. You can talk about stage four now. Okay. Yeah. So stage four is just working its way through the
neighborhoods. Um again this is right now it's a 10inch line in there. We needed to upsize that to four or to 14 in. And then I'll if you can see the the pointer here I'll just kind of show where those alternates two and three are. So two is right now the existing tower here is here at Sorbell Park and
that's where we're going to uh shoot a line. So we're going to directionally drill a line up uh somewhere into a safe spot here where we're far enough away from the new the proposed plant work. And then similarly over here, this is about where the new driveway is going to go, but we're not necessarily ready to do the grading yet. We're going to drill
a new line, a new treated water line to come out of the plant on this side. Yeah. So that's alternates two and three. The whole grain will be mostly on our own. Yep. That'll all be that'll be pipe burst work. Yeah. So it'll be kind of like you saw on highway on counter road 15 there where
you just see patches once we're done. So doesn't just we don't tear everything up. So stage three is going to be the biggest pain point for all of us by far. And then stage one and two, how long does that take you? Uh we need to talk to Minger about that. I I gave him some rough dates in there,
but I mean I'm going to guess each one is maybe two months at the most. Two months of one lane. Yeah. But well, can you tell we try to go faster? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Jesse, can you make sure it maybe is, but I don't think it is on
that traffic portion on our news and highlights. Well, this will need to be prominently displayed. Yeah. Uh everywhere. Yeah. And we'll we'll put it once we actually have dates, we'll put it in the newsletter. Yeah. Yep. And then we'll it's going to be
we did that last time with um And when is this starting? The the majority of the work will be next spring. Okay. Is when we'll start. So, like I said, just maybe a few trees might come out over the winter here once we get the contracts all completed, but the
we won't be doing any road work until it's warm enough to So, we do need to start with that. Y lakes, right? Well, we don't know what what her question was was Spirit of Lakes. Um that that is written into the contract.
They need to look around. Yep. Yeah. Okay. And not write the day before or the day after, please. At least a week. They need to be done in stage three at least a week before or they or they can't start until after. Yeah, that's how we've got it set up. Or they can't start till after. Yeah,
that's fine. Okay. And you know the dates, right? Same. Uh I think when we posted this, we didn't yet, but yeah. Well, we got all of July. You can't do anything in July. So, let me guess the reroute for traffic when this section in purple is closed down will be West Edge. It's going to go Well, we already talked
about that, remember earlier this year. It's going to go right by your house. That's why we put the There's no other option. Partly why we put the speed thing up there. Bartlett is going to be at the same Well, the official is going to be I think all the way up to Yeah, the county roads are the official. So, that doesn't mean people are going to get
most people know how to get around. Yeah, I would use it. We'll have to worry inconvenience, you know, something over by your because you're right by that turn where we're going to be. So, we'll we'll put up some kind of thing. I would respectfully
request that we look at lowering the speed limit on West Edge. Again, I couldn't hear you. What did you say? Said I would like to look at lowering the speed limit on West Edge Boulevard officially down from 30. We have a
policy for that policy. So, if you want to do it, you talk to him. Okay. That that's fine because I just feel like I mean, we've touched on it and we've evaluated it, but nothing was done about it. And I'm still getting complaints from the residents and um
I've got one complaint in six years, five years. Well, they all come to me because I'm on the road. Everybody's there. I mean, yeah, I don't live there, but I use it regularly and I doesn't seem like a very busy road at all to me. That used to be we'd go out to Highway 7.
I mean, from Dutch Lake neighbor that actually maybe helped because Minatrista's planning to do work on West Edge next year. So they might not have that option to to cut through there. What what part of Westside are they doing? Uh they they own from where it kind of
turns the corner. Yeah. For the med med council plant there. They own that part of it that's in their city limit. They're doing what are they doing? Milling overlay. Uh it it was I was originally told it was a milling overlay. They may be doing a reclaim and pave. Okay.
Um I'd have to check more. We'll try to make sure they don't do it the same exact day that we're trying to do all this. There there going to be some overlap. We're gonna be around for a while. It's a whole summer. They they could they're just I think they're just getting started on that plan. Well, we can't close both. I mean, then
there's no way out of here. So, you need to work that. We'll start talking with them. And I will say West Edge is used quite a bit by emergency vehicles. I've noticed that lately. We really They're coming down there. the ambulances especially. I've been in a cop car going about 55
around that curve and I almost threw up. So yeah, we were going to it was a ride along and and I was like I'm never riding along with you ever. This is terrible. Well, I mean I the reason I bring this up is I know in some cities and not necessarily here in Minnesota, but um
when I was down south, you know, the neighborhood speed limits in general are 20 miles per hour. And I think a lot of our neighborhoods would benefit from lowering that speed limit. Um, it was 15 right around that curve. No, it's 30 mph. Years ago, it was down
in Westation, but I don't think Don't we have a big thing that says 15 there? There's a there's an advisory number there, I believe. It's like a recommendation, right? It's not a Yeah. enforceable. Yeah. Well, nothing's enforceable. So, what do you want us to do? I mean, if if we put
15 on there, unless we have cops sitting out there all day. I mean, well, done that. I mean, and the speed limit by the cars was lowered by the fact that somebody was sitting there and we had those signs up because the minute they saw them, they cut their speed down to 30.
So, you just want to put it out there forever? I mean, no. I'd like to change the speed limit down from We already did. We did 15. We did 15 around that curve. Yeah. I'm not talking about the curve. I'm talking about the hill. I don't know. It's a racetrack. I mean, I I just in
general, I think we could should do a better job of just the data wasn't that bad, though. You saw the numbers. They weren't as bad as like the where you're where you live. Remember, we did the same thing out there. Three points. It was You're always going to have
Brian, too, but lowering the speed limit didn't slow anybody down. Yeah. There there's more studies out there and I can come back with better detail on that, but it's been it's what I've gathered out of it. It's it's minimal improvement for lowering the 20 mph speed limit. People still I tend to
go with a similar speed. I think you get like a one might get a 1 m an hour change an average speed. They're going to I mean if we set it at 25, they're going to still go 30. If we set it at 20, maybe they'll go 25. Well, you just said it's one off. I agree with you because everyone amounts speeds on all the streets. I
mean, we've got tight, small streets in neighborhoods that are very confined by either the way the shape of the road is and or the side. I mean, I don't think it's just West Edge. I think it's the entire community. No, it's the whole city. You're right. The whole city's
I mean, I when I was down in this little town on the Gulf, I mean, literally downtown, they had the signs up. You couldn't go more than 15 miles an hour in their downtown area, which is very similar to Mounds. And to be honest with you, my rental car wouldn't go at 15 miles an hour in idle. I had to literally stay on the brakes the entire
time. So that made me very aware of the situation. But then I did notice as well that their neighborhoods were all 20 m hour. Then we got little motorbikes running around all over the place too. So I mean engines. Yeah.
I don't know. I mean I just think it's something we should consider down the road or I'll talk to Jesse about what that entails. Well, I know when residents request that there's a process. Okay. When you request it, I don't know what happens. Is that different than when we request it, but we could have
I wouldn't think it'd be any different. You could have a hearing or something. At at the end of the day, basically, we're we're going to have the engineers come back and say, "This is what we'd recommend." And I mean, that's how we got to the 15 in the first place is they recommended
15 there. And not putting in CP bumps, not putting in, you know, not going in too far. it, you know, it's already two lane, you know, this way, that way, right? Overrun by him. It was, you know, 30. Push it tighter, right? Because then they go slower or plant trees because
then it feels like you're going faster. Um, at the end of the day, we said, "Well, we already have a stop sign. We're going to put cops out there, you know, tell them, hey, it's an issue." And remind them. Yeah. I mean, I'd like to hear the negatives of lowering the speed limit in the neighborhoods down to 20. What's What's the negative side of it? I'm not
saying right now. Yeah. I'm just saying for safety in this day and age in the type of roads we have in mound I think the all of the neighborhoods would benefit from that including the areas we have schools that are in neighborhoods you know basically when you look at it so I mean
you know people there are speed limits here schools the only complaints I've ever gotten from traffic or speeding or anything in general in my time on council was three points and it's like two people that complain and your neighbor. That's it
on your on your area. I've never had So again, I don't know if we're chasing things that aren't an issue and it's an issue to you because you live there. I get it. But I get Yeah. I mean, I'll be happy to talk to Jesse about it, but I think it's more of a citywide problem than it is just West Edge. I I think it would be You'd think we'd
hear about it, but Well, no. You You hear about it, but sparsely. No, I hear about it and I And listen, walking You know, now that I'm a walker all the time, let me tell you, I feel like my life is in danger because the only place there is
sidewalks is commerce and on shoreline. The rest of the time I'm in the street and I have to worry about cars coming behind me, cars coming from in front of me and they're all speeding. They're but and they might not be that you just think they are because No, no, they're speeding. I
Yeah, the data suggests that most people are not speeding. It just they feel like you're going when you have a 30 mph car going right next to you. It feels like they're going 100 mile. When I was going 30 on Commerce to turn on to Taco Wood, cars would at
the at the turn into the shopping center, cars would get in that lane and pass me. Yeah. Why? I'm not saying people going to turn the next block. People definitely speed and break the rules. But the the vast majority, we've seen the data. I mean, they sent it to us.
Yeah. Yeah, we saw the data over there. We saw it on three points. Yes, there are idiots that break the rules. The human nature is to slow down when you see a flashing thing that says you're speeding. Yeah. And I mean the one in Wisetta that me and MC every single day on the way home, been there for 20 years
that flashes every single time from the group that's in front of me in the no one ever slows down. And I talked to the cops about that because I was in the commission. They say it doesn't do anything. They don't they don't slow down until they get to that corner when they have to slow down because you're going to tip your car. Well, what I'm saying is the police can't enforce it if
it's not there. In the end of the day, I mean, I know I've gone down west at 30 miles an hour. Okay. That is too fast. Yeah. In my car. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Let's get back on track. Yeah. So, why don't you I'll be happy to talk to Jess about that. Okay. So, what are we doing here? Are we
done talking about the improvements? Yeah, we kind of talked through the the construction process. So the the next step is you have a resolution to approve the bid to Minger Construction for the uh full amount of the base bid plus the alternates 1, two, and three for PW2.
Okay. So we got a resolution 2583. Does someone want to make this uh motion for the resolution? Well, I can make it. Okay. Uh motion to approve resolution 2583 accepting bid for water treatment
infrastructure phase 2 city project number PW2512. All right, got a resol uh motion. Can I get a second? Second. Okay, any other discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. Those opposed. All right, that passes.
Thanks. Um was that 10 or 11? That was 10. Okay, so 11. uh award bid for 2025 water infrastructure improvements well 9 to American Liberty Construction for 586,1644.
Thank you, mayor, members of the council. Matt Bowman, city engineer. So, um October 7th, we had the bid for the well 9 um water treatment plant improvements project. Like I said, American Liberty is the low bid. Um they were 19% below the engineers estimate of $720,000.
Um, and that's lower than what uh we had talked about about a month ago. As I mentioned, we were we're not going to abandon one of the wells because of uh some risk management um planning for the future. So, with that, uh American Liberty is the low bidder.
Um our water treatment team, they've been working with them recently and they come um they're responsible and responsive bidder. So, we'd recommend award to them. And this is the third and final um contract piece of the PFA money of the $10.3 million. And so everything
looks like it's coming within that that budget there. So we'd recommend moving forward. Yeah. If you have any other questions, my only question is how do they know what the total cost is when they haven't when they don't they haven't drilled yet?
I mean, how do they know how far they're going to go down? How do you know all that yet? Yeah. So, we we've generally um our plant designers, they know how to to figure all that out. They there's a specific set of people that kind of they can work through where the aquifers are and what our soils are like and give
them a pretty good profile of what they they need to work through. Um and so there's there's really only three companies that do the well drilling and they they generally know what they're doing there. Um yeah, I can't give you much more of a technical answer. I know when like a residential group wants to
drill, you know, they're like, "Well, we go we might go 50, we might go 150. We don't know." And it could be, you know, 10 or 15 grand. So, they obviously are pretty confident on they're going to thiser and it's going to be so many feet. Yeah. There's there's kind of a range and there's some um
we know we're we're going several hundred feet deep, right, to get to the aquifer that we're going into. And so, they've got that generally mapped out. they they'd know within a certain um percentage like this is they're going to be within these footages and then hypothetically if they came in
less than this would we get money back or this this is the deal oh is it like a not to exceed right you know um like if if go better there there are sections to the bid I can't remember if it's I think it's a lump sum just to do the the well I don't think it's going to be by the foot
there's there's some so within the 10.3 3 million and everything that we projected. There's le we we're spending less at the moment. There may be some contingencies of money we need to to add to for changes. Say something doesn't go right with the well and then we have to make a tweak or a
change, then there's some um backup money there. So So they're confident with 586 we're going to give them that they're going to hit water and we're good and they're going to make it happen for that. They're not doing it by the foot. So that'd be the difference than a normal residential.
Correct. Okay. Got it. All right. Any any other questions? So I'm assuming it works both ways. If they have to go 100 feet deeper, then they're going to they're still doing it. Yeah. I mean, I'm I guess I don't understand all this stuff down to the G, you know,
the details. I'm not a subject matter expert, but it does bother me that the third bid is 97. Would you say 97% more than? Yeah, it's 97. That's That's a big difference. That one is more of a they just let us know they're still looking at it, but they didn't
want the work type of bid. That's fine. And that's kind of the three that do it. Yeah. For there's three. So the the ones that are listed on here are general contractors. There's three well drillers that are subcontractors. They won't generally
lead a project. And and part of that is because we're we have to do the well abandonment that that needs a general contractor to do it. Got it. Okay. So, this is just digging well nine and then or drilling for well nine, sorry. Yep. And then abandoning well seven and removing that,
not the building or any of that other stuff. Okay. Thank you. All right. Is someone will make the motion? Can do that. um would like to make a resol a motion
approving resolution 2584 accepting bid for water treatment plant improvements um well 9 project 25-11. All right, got a motion. Can I get a second? Second. Any other discussion? All those in favor, please say I.
I. Those opposed? All right, that passes. All right, number 12, we got authorized feasibility study for 2026 street and utility improvement projects. Thank you, mayor, members of the council. Matt Bowman, city engineer. Um,
so the capital improvement plan for 2026 includes various improvements um consisting milling overlays, street reconstructions, and utility improvements. And so we're here to to kind of go through the reconstruction and utility improvements um and milling overlay all together.
2601 is the the utility or the reconstruction improvements and then 2602 is mill and overlay. Uh the later pieces of your packet of for this piece there's maps. Um there's actually typically when we're coming forward with these projects, they're isolated to
certain neighborhoods. This is generally based on the previous uh iteration of street improvements. So the 2003 to 2019 is what it ended up being. the the streets in this one are 2004 and a little bit of 2005 vintage of when they
were last improved and that project just was all over town. I think at that point they just kind of did what they could to get started and and catch some things up and so that's where why we're in all these different neighborhoods where three points in Dutch Lake and the Highlands. Um, and then there are a few
streets within the within this plan that weren't touched in that last iteration, the 2003 to 2019. Um, I'll get the pointer up here. So, one of them is the this little Lynwood alley as far as I don't think
anybody at the city knows when this was last done there. um old Shoreline Drive and then Marion Lane leading uh around the auditor's road or Harbor Place area. Now, we're going to upgrade those. And
then uh this piece of Kildair Road, I think we were in this neighborhood 2011, but it had been constructed maybe 15 years before. That's the residence at that time. Weren't weren't ready to have anything done then, but it is b it's falling apart now.
So that's this is generally the plan. We will we'll get soil borings and we'll kind of confirm within the feasibility study if we recommend any tweaks to this plan. So the the purple is the millon overlay recommendation and the orange color the orange color is the
reconstruction portions and most of the orange are being driven by also needing some utility work. So there's been several breaks in those streets. They're not necessarily worse than the the nearby ones, but the water manes are showing more more wear, more issues there. Um, and then
over here with old shoreline and Marion, all that water man is going to be brand new leading up to there and and there's been several issues anytime we're working in that area um with other shutdowns. So, we want to get that all cleaned up while we can, too. I think we're just super excited that Marian's getting an eye out. Well, or the old shoreline.
What's the little Lynwood alley thing you were pointing at earlier? What is that? So, uh that There there's several homes here that they front um County Road 15, but their access is off of this back road. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Oh, those little houses just north of
of Tonka toys. No, other side here. Other side. By the S-curve. So, it's coming off the S-curve. Okay. Oh, those behind Jubilee kind of that little road. Yeah. Back there. So this is all in the
capital improvement plan for next year. Um so we'll we'll start working on the feasibility study now with your approval. Um first pieces are we want to get we really want to get approval now so we can get the survey crews out for those reconstruction roads so they can get some of that those pieces done. We
want to get soil borings and then um I'm having a brain fart. Sorry. Sometime spring. We should be coming back with the feasibility study early next year. So probably in January and then we can move right into final design for uh approval
or for approval to go with to put final plans together and then bid it in March or April for summer construction again. So similar time frame same time as everything else. Great. What's that? Oh the same time as everything else. Yeah. Would you remember I think you're here
council uh remember he he wanted to move up the the time frame. Is this moving up the time frame? So, we're doing it over winter. Remember that? Move it upside. Well, the bids, he wanted the bids moved up. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Is that what this is? That we're doing
it a little earlier than normal. We do the bids ahead of time to get better pricing because he was thinking like get in there first so that Yeah. We want to get we want to get going on it as soon as we can and then we get uh kind of get in that sweet spot of bidding in between March and April.
Okay. I think it was just a verbal thing when you said that. I don't think you did official policy if I remember right. No. Uhuh. Okay. Anyway, I I like that we're working on it now. Y for the So, when will this mantle last of all the
I feel like last year we discussed we were almost done with all this road construction or maybe that was just selective hearing maybe there. So, I mentioned the 2003 to the 2019 iteration. Yeah. Yeah. So, Jesse, can you go up a
couple? So, right. Yeah, that last one. So, we're we're kind of in we're flirting in this area right now. So, everything was everything was done, you know, this is where it looks like when it's done. And then the red roads, they kind of go down here. We're we're
kind of in here with the ones that are shown in orange on that map. And then we're in this zone with the ones that are shown in purple. So, we're we need to mill and overlay them. so we can get them back up to the the 100% and then they can get another 20 years out of them. Um, and then the ones that need the utility work, we we want to get them
back to the start of that curve. And so they to answer your question, we're actually restarting. And so we're not necessarily done. They're so hearing the next I'd say the next three or four years were the early years of that original plan and they those roads are
in worse shape. the ones that were done kind of on the later end, most of those are going to be in the mill and overlay category. Okay. So, the Yeah. And just so the public knows in our discussions on uh finance committee, you
know, we're talking to Jesse and the staff about, you know, if the anything can be pushed a little bit longer, you know, one more year, one more, you know, to save more money, push it out a little farther. But part of it is they're telling us, you know, these are ones you got to get done. And they are in the,
you know, the budget for the next, what is it, 5 to 10 years. Uh, we have a 10-year version and a fiveyear version. Yeah. Okay. They're all in there. So, we're going to be doing this for a long time, but it's all in the CIP. But it is in the CIP. Yep. All right. Okay. We got a resolution
here 2585. Does someone want to make a motion? I'll make a motion. Oh, yeah. Go ahead. There's a tiny little road between Domino's and the Legion. I can't get my bearings straight with these maps. No, that's that's a driveway I think
that's on. That is a city-owned road. We own the road there. Yes. And it's not clear that that's a road. So, um it's in total disrepair. When I talked to somebody at the Legion, they were going to bring it up to the city. I don't believe they've
communicated that with Jesse. Um, it's literally like the part where you come out of Domino's in the back there with the pickup window, that area was cleaned up a little bit, but anything west of that, I guess it's like the Legion wall like
all along that wall there. It doesn't even It's like an extension of the of the um the trail if you're thinking about if you're coming out the trail and you look across get into it. But I was trying to figure out if that's on here and I don't believe it is.
It is not. Um, actually, we'll do we can do a little bit of research. That's not on any of our maintenance list at all. It's between Dominoes and they've been forgotten. Yeah. It's funny because it's almost like a parking lot, but it's a road. It is a road and it it looks like it's
part of the parking lot. The other problem, too, is the Balboa Center, who owns Yes. that other parking lot. Correct. A terrible parking lot. Mhm. Then that's their deal, right? But we maybe we could push on them or see I don't know what we can do.
Well, especially if we're going to fix the road, but evidently we're not we've overlooked the road. So maybe we can take a look at that. We tried to catch everything, but yeah, maybe some of these alleys. I just don't think it's been brought to anyone's attention. The funny thing it it it's looks like a just a big part of the parking lot. It's not striped. It's right by the dumpster.
I mean, at minimum, we should stripe it. Yeah, we can we'll take a look at that and see if it should add that to this if if it's possible. Yep. Okay. I mean, they support the city quite a bit. I'd be happy to see you taken care of if we can. Okay. So, he's going to add it to your deal. So, you want to make the motion?
Oh, yeah. I'll read it. No problem. All right. So, you want me to read this now? Okay. Make sure I'm reading the right one. City of M resolution number 258. I'm sorry. What? Go. Oh, sorry. I didn't know she She was just asking me. She was just
saying, "Do we vote on it yet?" And I said, "Well, we're about to." Okay. Sorry. Go ahead. City of Mountain Resolution number 2586. Resolution ordering preparation of report for the 2026 street and utility improvement project. City project PW20
601 and PW2602. All right, got a motion. Can I get a second? Second. Any other discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. Those opposed. All right, that passes. Thanks for all your work. Thanks. Thanks, ma'am. All right. Number 13, we
got council member reports from council member Pew. Um well, the mayor came to um to Gletsby um on the what was that the second or first first and there was a crowd of about 15
to 20 people. They had a lot of good questions. Um there's a big discussion about all of the ashore trees that are dying in the community and I think we all see it. You know, I know when I walk through my neighborhood, every yard has
one. And they were talking about what how are we going to get rid of them? How are we going to replace them? So, there were questions around that. Um, and actually, there were a lot of Well, I'll let you talk more about the questions. I can't remember them all even, but there were there was really
good good conversation um from the folks that were there. They're really interested in talking to the mayor. not as many questions about the water, which is funny because that was the whole point of it. The whole point was to talk about the water, but they talked more about the
trees and uh construction and and u other issues in the community uh and everything. Also, um the parks commission, I did get someone to take me up to see um Chester Park, and I don't
know if if any of the rest of you have gone up to see it. It's beautiful. The sight view of sight is good, but the trail which is nice is very narrow. So with my walker, if I'm on there with my walker, you'd have to jump off into the
grass because we couldn't pass each other. And also the grade there is kind of steep. So I think there would be a good use of putting some sort of rail along their handrail. And at the very end of the play area, there's kind of a drop. Um, now kids probably would love
jumping over that. Some parents would be terrified and I would trip and fall over it. So again, there might need to be a a bar, some sort of divider to kind of prevent people from going over the edge. But all in all, it looks really great.
Um, and it's it's really nice. We probably need to get a historical marker, though, that gives the history. That would be the finishing touch on that park. And I also went up and saw um the Edgewater Park and um when it's grown out it's going to be really quite
nice. I mean people actually be able to go to that park and eat because there's blueberries and all kinds of berries and plums. There are fruits that have been planted in it and it's really tiered nicely. Um so that there's actually it
appears to be a walk a step walk from the street below edge. Well, that is edge water below it that goes up to the park, but it's it's really looking nice. Um, a lot of people from the neighborhood walked by and and everything. And in Chester, during the time I was here, three kids came out to
play. One came out with his father from the restaurant. I don't know where the other two came because they're behind me, but um people are using the park, so that was a good um good sign to see. And I think that's um everything I have to
report. All right, councelor Mc. Um, well, I have a couple questions. One is Jesse. Can we start getting those monthly reports again if if you can? Those were just so helpful. Again, I just hate to have to pick up the phone or email you on
some of these things could be covered in that. Um, also concepts for the business banner program. Those will be presented at the next meeting and then we'll approve it and then she'll be off and running on that. And then my question
was are we I know we all got a email from the Gillespie Center inviting us to get a table together at the 25th. Are we doing that or uh together? I bought one ticket. Well, I know but they were
they wanted they offered a table for us the city council if we want one. So, how many people are at the table? Do you know? I think it's 10 at a table. 10. Yeah. So, I'm just asking the question. Um, or you know, when I go, can I sit anywhere?
I I'm just being respectful to they'll put that out. But I'm just being respectful because I want to reply to the Gillespie Center if I didn't hear about a table. They asked me to speak. I think it was an email to us. Okay. Um,
you're going for sure. Maybe one. Yeah. On Saturday. Yeah. I can't commit, but maybe. Okay. And then you're going for sure. Yeah, for sure. You're not? I don't think I can. Well, so far it might be two or three of us. Okay. Well, you know, it'd be it'd be nice.
Sort of mandatory that we all went. So, or do we want to sponsor a table and fill it up with either staff or anybody? Jesse, do you know any staff that's going on or I'm not sure. It's on the Well, that that's a good idea. Maybe
find out then. How much is Do you know what the cost is for a full table? 25. Oh, I don't know. It's 25 a person. 25 a person. So, 250. So, there wouldn't be a discount for a table probably. It's a fundraiser. Well, I'm just asking.
I I mean, I don't know. I mean, I I've never Have you sold all your tickets? Katie and I were I I told her TVD. I said, "We got a thing that we're trying to figure out up north, but if it works out, I'm definitely going to be there." Um, I don't I told her I said, "It'll be
a last kind of last minute." And I She wanted to speak and I said, "Yeah, I'll definitely do it if it works out." So, I'm hoping to, but I Okay. Well, that that answers my question. So, there's like maybe three of us. Yeah, that that's great. Yeah. I always think it's it's nice for us to sit together for us, but we
probably should sit amongst the crowd so we we get more we're we're name tapes. In other words, where our name takes. Um and I that's it. All right. Uh Council Kelano. Um I don't
have anything this time. All right. Council member Heric. Um let's see. I did go to the Met Council event um there on West Edge at the at the treatment plant. Um I know Kathy Mcini was able to put out a notification on our Facebook
pages. Um I was very pleased to hear that they're taking ownership of the uh the mess, the weeds, the weeds. I don't know how to be nice about it, but anyway, they are being they were very conif. Yes, they were taking responsibility.
They made a mistake. they did the wrong approach and um they are going to kill off every all the weeds. So some citizens may notice that it's all brown. Yeah. Um and then in the they think it's probably not going to be till spring before they can actually till it and
then plant it. Uh depending upon the weather, which I think it's gone a little longer than they in initially anticipated. So I don't know if that's changed because they were hoping to maybe get started on it now. Well, you can go to their website and it still is still saying
happening spring of 2017. So, um that was very encouraging to hear that they were going to do that. I know they're also making some other sustainable plants back in their property, which I'm you know, none of my business basically. That's their property. So, one question I I was I wanted to go
there, but I I couldn't make it that night. Um and then the next week as I'm walking by West Edge, because that's the loop that we all do, right? Yep. Um, I'm like, "Wow, it's brown." They like they cut it and killed it all off. And then the first thing I thought
of is how much does this cost for taxpayers? You know, Met Council, right? That seed was very expensive in the first go around. So, why can't we just start over and maybe I'll call starting over? No, I want to start over like put sod in there and be done with it. Oh, that won't happen. They want to put that clover growth
which is that you know that second section. Yeah. No, for bees and you know for habit. Well, it didn't work the first time. So, what did what did they do? Because they Well, because basically the University of Minnesota recommended if there was an established grass that it
had to be killed, turned, and then planted. But they did that. They did not do that. They just planted. I mean, it was an EP I'll use the word epic. It was an epic move. They screwed it up. They messed it up. They're taking accountability for it. They are going to
correct their mistake and do it properly. But you're right, it is. It was a big expenditure because that grass seed was something likeund and I don't know, you may know 100,000 and um Ryan did go through the tour and I know he took really good notes. Yeah.
So he could maybe give an overview um in a email on what but they you know they were very they were very humble and I mean I walked in and the first thing I said is thank you for burning and mowing. I mean, we don't have to look at these weed mess anymore.
Yeah, but again, I'm I'm all about sustainable flowers and whatever, but but that stretch, it looks like weeds. Oh, it's horrible. And then how many emails did I send to him? Right. And then I find out when when I when I said it looks so beautiful the minute you turn and see where Minatrista
property starts. And then Ryan goes, we mow that. And I'm like, well, fabulous job. So all of mound looks like overgrowth. Yeah. And then the minute you get past, you know, Saunders, it it's just beautiful, beautifully wellmaintained.
The lot across the street was planted with the clover. They also admitted that they had somebody come and they mowed it and they weren't supposed to mow it, so it looks worse. So, I mean, it's a lot of this, like I told them, it sounds like you've got a training issue. The gentleman that's responsible for taking care of it was
there. He's the same guy that was there three or four years ago. Um, the person to give us the people. Yeah. the two mics and I think I think I his name was Steve. They are different than the lady that was in charge the last time we had this presentation. Um and they are definitely
on top of it. They are definitely changing their approach. Um hopefully they'll have better success when they replant. You know, my question to them was I agree with you. I'd much rather say lovely lawn, but that's not going to happen. But my question was, well, since
you were very confident their first approach was going to be successful, how do you know this approach is going to, you know, it's just at some point, when do you say enough's enough? And it looks great on the other side of the fence. It's just from the fence to the street. So, that was a question I did ask them
because I said, "All right, you've mowed this down. Now, all the seeds from that other stuff is down on the ground. What's going to make sure when you turn this that that stuff's not going to come up?" And I got one of those looks. And so who's going to go out there and pick all these weeds?
I just I don't understand the whole process, I guess. But all I know is look terrible. And they were taller than me. Yeah. The weeds were taller than when I was walking by. Yesterday that everything is not dead. There is still some green growing up in there. I didn't get out and look at it.
So they evidently didn't kill everything as planned. So that might be something there. Well, I suggested they're adding to our moniker. You know, the armpit of Lake Mitanka go especially when 5t away is right there. The only time I ever hear people talk
say those things about mound is in this chamber. So, I would hope that we just I'm just saying I don't hear it. Well, I mean I'm glad but I'm just saying it it's on it's everywhere. It's I I don't like the term at all, but it
is a reality that people every time I hear that I just shudder. Oh, it's going through my heart because I don't want to keep it alive. So, if you want to say it, go ahead. But I I would say don't say it. Don't say it either. Well, and I mean, we are making improvements with Blight. Um,
if you keep saying it, we won't be I God. Well, I mean, Ryan and his team are doing a fabulous job trying to clean up things. I know. I went out to Surfside with a neighbor and cleaned all the weeds out from around the sign. They picked up the mess and I think they remulched it a little bit. There is
still some work to do. Um, we've got a weed problem along Surf Side. That planting that was supposed to be native plants is full of crab grass and weeds. Um, I took a look at it. I'm not going to do it because it's too steep and I'm not sure that we should have volunteers do it. Um, I will talk to Ryan about
that. but I haven't had a chance to send him an email about it, but uh that needs to be gutted. It's it's a mess. It's full of nothing but weeds. There's a few plants that have survived. Um and of course now they're in seed format. So unless it gets removed, it's just going to keep you know perpetuating
the problem. Um but yeah, so I mean as far as the water treatment plant goes, I think we have to give them time. who they are reup or changing the signage and everything that they had because I said, "Come on, gang." You know, and I did ask them to take down those blue signs and they did. I said, "Cuz that
looks horrible." I mean, I was not I was not easy on them, Jason. I I hit them hard. I said, "This is ridiculous." And I think from what you're saying, you did the same thing. And so, I think Why couldn't they do natural gas like like 10 feet in
like So, just saw, right? Long and We'll mow it, right? We'll mow it. We're on that strip anyway. They don't want us to mow it. Whatever. We'll mow it anyway if if we get their approval, right? We'd mow that part because we're mowing right up the street anyway. I know. I mean, maybe we could send a letter or
something that the city of Mound would prefer it to be somewhat maintained because on the other side of the fence, it all works. It looks great. Yeah. Their property looks it's it looks just ridiculous. And when they spend all that money on all those stones and everything that are
on the building, the building looks great. And then you look at this mess. But I had I had did ask attorney a while back to look into and actually saying, "Hey, you got a weed problem here because it's taller than my daughter." And I know we kind of let it alone for a
minute, but um that's the other approach I was looking to take is, you know, here we're assessing people for, you know, for their I agree, you know, foot lawn and they're six foot. So yeah, do as I say, not as do, right? And I I think if I don't know if
you all agree, but you know, if if I'd say if we get all five of us, you know, I would send a letter to Dr. Carter for sure, but um if nothing else, I think we all need to keep emailing and calling him and saying cuz back channel, you know, we've been
complaining about it and I sent him stuff and then they're like, "Oh, yeah." And then, you know, you were complaining about it for a couple years and then so they'd email you back and then copy me and it's like it's just the same old like we're just going to fix it and and then now they just destroyed the whole thing and starting over. I'm like, what are you guys doing?
Well, why don't we send a letter as a whole council? I mean, it's it's not acceptable. No, no. I mean, if you don't want clover, we need to do that. I don't want I want them to do grass like every other resident has to do grass or Yes. If Well, and and remember, it's just that little
strip, the entire backside of the fence. All of that property is all sustainable. Do whatever they want with that. But for the first 10 feet or something, like mow it like everybody else is mowing it. Make it look nice. Once you get to the fence, I do whatever you want. Yeah. But it on the other side.
I don't know if this same thing works, maybe. Whatever. But with the last three years, it's not looking good. Well, it's still going to grow because it's meant to not be mowed. It's It's not just clover that's going to be this. Are there other facilities? Do we have problems with the other
facilities they have? I drove around and looked at some of them and you know, to be honest with you, they're very different. Um, the one that I looked at, there was maybe 25 ft of frontage and it was only about four feet deep. And then there was a fence and then there's trees and then it's this lovely prairie grass. It looks
great back in there, but you can't see it from the road, you know. And so they were cutting it and it looked fine on the street. It's a very different scenario than what we have here, which is in a directly in a neighborhood with a lot of frontage and it's very visible. So I mean, if that's the approach you
want to take, I'm I would fully support that. And I know the residents of West Edgewood as well. I mean, they'd much rather have a lot of people that walk around that whole I know there is. Yeah. I mean, I do it just because I'm a neighbor, but it just every time I walk by, I'm like, this is just I can't believe we're we're letting them do this.
That's right. Well, somebody on on an on one of the Facebook posts after we posted that event, they said so many people walk around that area and you know, could we add like a little uh not cement or anything, but
wood chips or something to define a trail. I guess there's you can walk almost the whole way around Langden and it's from from that area that that' be like an approval from them because it is their property even though it's Uhhuh. Okay. Government agency, but it's they're that whole. Remember
there's people tenting in that a couple years ago and then we had to call them. We had to get their approval to get them out. Um I've walked in in the winter. Can we just send a letter to them saying look at this has been a continual problem. We'd have people camping there.
They've had to come and move them out and now they've clearly delineated a different standard of care for their own property and that property which affronts our our city. Yeah. And say it's unacceptable and if they're not going to take care of it, we will
and we'll find charge them for it. I had forgotten that you had the tent problem there because Yeah. then they proceeded to take the fence down so it's open game now, right? Yeah. Well, I don't know if if you're agreement with us or not, but um would you sign a letter too
about just this whole thing? Yeah. Okay. Jesse, do you want to draft a letter? I mean, make it nice, but make it um our understanding is we're planning on doing this, but we don't really, you know, that we would prefer sod or Well, and I think there's a pretty
strong percentage of people that regularly complain about that. I mean, I don't live on West Edge and I drive by it four times a day. It's a mess. I mean, it's it's crazy, too, the money they're spending on this. There were three people there from Met Council and then there was a sustainability
officer and then the guy that's supposed to be implementing, which is turning the weeds and cutting the grass. I mean, there were five people standing there subcontractors. Correct. I mean, that's a lot of hour, man. And and the funny thing is you just mow it and it looks great. Mhm.
It's like the two second problem. I don't know why you were even talking about this for three. I know. It's It is crazy. I mean, the amount of thistle and all the other There were weeds. I mean, it's crazy. Well, then all that stuff blows onto all the neighborhood yards. All the weed. That poor lady across the street that does a beautiful job of taking care
of the grass and I mean, she's in she's put in pine trees. She's put in, you know, sprinkler systems and everything else. And she's got to deal with all this stuff blowing over. Yeah, I know. Can you work with Jesse and just make sure we you know, is the right state is appropriate.
I'm not drafting that. And then would you just bring that back to council next? And then or we decide it. Uh probably better to bring it back here. Yeah. Okay. Um just put it as agenda item. Just or however I can put it at the end as it correspondence or something. Okay.
I mean, I don't think you guys need to actually vote on it or do anything other than bless it, but just make sure we all agree on what's on it if you bring it. Okay. Bless it. Uh, council member, are you done? I'm done. Okay. Uh, oh, it's me. Uh, the only
thing I had a just a question or debate on, I guess. Um, so we have police coming every time now. Okay. And I'm totally fine with that. That's great to get an update and stuff, but originally I think it was once a
month. What happened was we kind of they kind of skip one, right? And then so now they're coming every time, right? And that's fine if we want to keep it that way. What I would say is should we get a you know once a month thing go back to like the first the first meeting of the month and just make sure that they're
actually putting on the calendar and then they send a sub. Now again if there's a big thing in town that you know whatever but I find value in what he's doing but I think it's a lot of on them. It's a lot of the same stuff sometimes. But but it's a lot of on them too to
commit to a week or every other week. So So I pretty sure it was monthly before and the only reason we did that is because of all the issues that were going on and we just wanted to see them more and and they skip one and then so I don't know if you guys are okay I I would say go back to monthly but then
the other thought or request depend on what you guys think on this is what we don't ever get I get you get because you're on the fire commission but what about if we have the fire come once a month or once a quarter or you know I
don't think we we never see the fire once a month probably isn't isn't necessary, but I'd be up for doing like you said if the police are here like on either the first or second meeting each month. So like see them monthly and then do fire like quarterly. Quarterly. Yeah. Yeah, that would be great. Getting update.
I mean the I guess I would like for him to give us some some sense of correction or improvements or something better for the future. He just basically tells us, well, you know, it's about the same and this is up a little bit. But you know
what's up all the time is domestic violence and DWIs and we never hear any talk about what can we do to try and remediate this you know um what what you know like even today when I asked about
the bikes he tells us about the bikers you know the ebikes and it's a problem but then he doesn't say well you know we're trying to do you know I'd like something affirmative um that they were doing in our community and part of that is, you know, with the
police commission and then of course me being on there, you know, we we we are doing a little but yes, I get your point. Um are would you guys be okay with just once a month like on the first once a month for police for police? Yeah. And I'd love for that social worker to come and tell us what she's doing.
Well, she does it once a year. We can do twice a year or I mean I know she's busy. Very busy. Or maybe if she even provided an update, you know, like a quarterly update by email like like some of the other I guess that's maybe where I'm dropping the ball cuz they do give us an update
quarterly in our meeting. Oh, really? So maybe we got to do a better job of relaying it back. Yeah, it would be nice to hear though. I mean, it's not in detail. Maybe when we get the slides in our Please, because you're there, too. Um maybe we'll just add them
um to the agenda the next agenda and then we can just me and you can just take it and go through try to highlight on what we what we're learning. Yeah. No, that I think because she's interesting when she comes in. Yeah. To hear and you're right. A lot must change.
I don't think those statistics though aren't specific to her. They're the whole entire they were. I mean just to meet expectations. I mean it's not saying well on the 10th we went here. Right. I mean, it's more We had 325 calls pertaining to this, right?
But we can definitely that would be easy to get, I would think. Yeah. Okay. So, we'll do that. Uh, are you with the fire thing? Do you we go with quarterly or Yeah, that'd be nice. And then do we want to start? I mean, might as well start now because we're
talking about a lot of stuff right now. Mhm. And you know, besides me and you know, Sherry relaying everything to you guys, you it wouldn't hurt to have the chief or even Andy or Yeah. even any of them. I mean, they could just come and tell us, hey, what did you know what's going on in the last couple,
you know, send whoever you want. And what happened with the schools? They're not coming. Oh, and then I know Kevin, one of you guys were talking about inviting the schools in November, I think, was Yeah, we we can get them here. I'm sure they'll be excited to come back.
You're just going to do that quarterly, too? That we were only going to do once uh a semester. A semester. Yeah. Spring and fall. Okay. So, school district in November, unless they want to do October here, the next October meeting.
Right. Yeah. And then invite uh fire to come out either the next meeting or or November. And then just change. So, uninvite please. The next one we'll just have them come when they have a report because that's usually you get a report once a month.
You talking about police? Yeah. Oh, okay. Which is whatever that lines up with. So if it's lines up with November, then that's good cuz then it won't be the next one and then be the problem. It should be. It's occasionally the report comes in a little late, but they're pretty good about having it the same time every month.
Okay. So whenever there's a report, we'll have them come out. Hopefully it's the same meeting. Okay. Um, all right. Number 14. Do you have anything? No. Good. Okay. Uh, I'll take a motion to adjurnn.
So moved. All right. And second. Second. All right. Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. I. Those opposed? All right. We're journed.