--------- Yes, I'm ready when you are. All right. I will officially call to order the city of Nisa council workshop meeting on this Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 4:01 p.m. Okay.
and we will wait for Heather to join. >> Yes, Heather. She said she was ready in about three or four minutes late. >> She was coming up from the cities today. >> Oh, she's coming in person. Yes. >> I thought she was joining online. Sorry. >> No.
>> All right, we will wait a moment. Um, They want >> here. Is this your first meeting? >> February. See this little one? >> Sorry.
>> Okay. opened up. >> I know. I agree. I just At least you always Yes. Beautiful. What was he command? There you go.
Absolutely. We are just waiting for her. I don't know if you guys are here. Start on small boats. Yes, not a problem. You have the um
>> Do you have the the presentation? >> Yes, I do. >> Need me to do anything for that? might just throw it here so I can see it myself. >> Do you want this? >> I'm good. Um, well, hello. Thanks so
much for Hi. taking time for another workshop. I know we we did one in the fall, but I thought it would be really good just to shepherd in the upcoming bond issue to kind of just have an opportunity to kind of dig into
the process, the projects, and answer any questions that you might have just to make sure that you're you're sort of fully prepared. >> Well, we'll >> Oh, sorry. >> Yeah, you sometimes just have to talk a little bit closer. >> Okay. And actually that's good feedback
for all of us because again we continue to get um perspective from people watching. They can't tell who's talking. >> They can't hear. Um so for all those that are watching online, this is Heather Caspersonson, the senior
managing consultant >> um to present for our debt workshop. So we've already gave in. So when you're ready, we'll just turn it over to you. >> Oh, wonderful. Okay. Great. So, >> no, you're okay.
>> Okay. So, I did not add a, you know, an agenda. I mean, really, the the purpose is, like I say, to just kind of walk through the upcoming borrowing that the city is contemplating and going to offer for sale and
have an opportunity for any questions. So if we um we've got the the first slide up. So this is really this this page outlines what we're calling the proposed bond issue. This is what we're thinking that we are going to bring to the market. So
you'll see that the top heading is 3,910,000 general obligation bonds series 2026A. So there's an asterisk around the par amount. So the par amount that 3.9 million I'll just round for
convenience sake. That is not going to be the final par amount. So that's going to be what we are going to offer for sale. And our our targeted sale date is for the council meeting on May 19th. And so we will take bids that morning.
And I'll I'll go into the process a little bit later. And and then after bids are received then the bond issue will be resized. And so I just want you to understand that this 3.9 million is an estimate and and it and it's expected to fluctuate. So a couple of things on
this slide just kind of outlined that the the statute that it's authorized by. We are anticipating to have a dated and delivery date. So what that is for you is that's the date that the city will receive the bond proceeds and that's
estimated for June 2nd. And and when I say estimated until we go for sale, we can change that, but right now that's that's the timeline that we have. And and so these bonds are going to finance street reconstruction projects. So you may remember in February, you had a public
hearing on the 5-year street reconstruction plan. And so the projects were included in that plan. And so that authorized the purpose of that was to authorize a maximum amount for the bond borrowing. And again that did not mean
that you have to borrow that maximum amount. It just authorized a ceiling that you cannot go over. So we are anticipating to borrow less than what that was. That was about 5.7 million that that authorized. And at this point we we do not believe that we'll need to
borrow quite that much. So again the source of repayment. So, so this type of borrowing is something that is repaid through the advalorum property taxes. It is not something that there are special assessments because it um of the type of
improvements that there will be. And we are structuring the borrowing to be repaid with principal payments starting February 1st of 2028 through 2041. And then you first interest payment will be February 1 of 2027.
And these bonds will be callable. So on the call date, you can either if they're if by collecting the the let me back up a second. So general obligation bonds, you levy those at 105%. So when you have really strong
collection, sometimes you do have some excess. So you can either pay down and redeem early or if rates are better and the call date you can refinance similar to you know home mortgage when rates are lower and it's advantageous and you can
save money then we do that refinancing. We have I think a question or a comment from council members on right >> thanks for coming. Uh, in regards to the maturities, that's a 13-year window, I'm assuming. So, are we able to consider a 15 or a
20-year amateurization window for the maturity of that bond? >> Yes, you absolutely can. we have um shortened it and um I don't know if if Tom if this was something that maybe Tom had mentioned earlier but um and Maggie I'll give you an opportunity to jump in
if if you have some comments but it was decided to do a shorter amortization than you are allowed you are allowed to do um I believe as long as 30 years but folks generally don't do that for these types of projects because the useful life of kind of the mill and overlay what what you're doing we want to make
sure that we we best size that >> right? We've had discussions in this chamber a few times in regards to trying to spread out the cost within reason >> over the over the term of that bond. Um
I think even with you Dave as well as Mr. Blommer we've discussed like a potentially a 30 35 40 year lifespan for these new roads. Best case scenario of course um we have two sizable road bonds
coming up and being able subsequently then we have two large levies uh impacting the next two years. So is when when would that decision need to be made for that maturity window as you have it
presented here >> soon >> like now >> like now would be would be helpful or in the next week or so >> because that needs to come before council for our May 19th meeting correct to >> no we need to set that in advance so
>> when we >> the what we have flexibility on on the day of sale. We have flexibility on the par amount and on the annual principal maturities. We can
alter those at that time, but we do know the actual repayment term so that they'll know that they're so functionally speaking, you've got the underwriters that will have investors and the investors are going to let them
know what maturities they want to invest in. Mhm. >> So we need to have that set term so that if if 2041 is the last maturity then they're not looking for buyers in 2042 or beyond that they're specifically
looking for those principal amaturization. Do you have a question or comment council member Freley? >> Okay. Any other council members questions or comments right now? Council member Paul. So then
in relationship to the land down there that we have bonded currently, you know, um, and let's say that, you know, over the next year or two that gets paid back.
Does that have any bearing on the cycle? How do how would that fit in with the current road cycle? in that um I guess a lump sum of money um coming back into the city.
>> I'm not sure that I understand your question. So, are you talking about that the >> borrowing from 2024 where the land was purchased or >> kind of with the bonding cycle and our payments more to Jesse's point, you know, how how would that play in if we didn't pay that all out, you know, if
we're at a 12 or 15 or 20 year or whatever tracking? >> I I I think if I may answer part of that perhaps and that'll might help rephrase his question. Um, simply if the city of
Nisah was to parcel or sell some or all of that property on Highway 371 for at least the principal amount or higher, we would then be able to pay off that bond that was acquired to purchase that property.
>> Ah >> um but to your point in regards to the but to your point in regards to the >> these road bonds, >> right, >> how does that affect these road bonds if that was to happen? Is that a question? >> Yeah. Does that does that play in, you know, just with our bond cycle and our
payments and stuff, you know, if that comes off quicker, you know, um, and we set these bonds out further, but we're able to then pay these off quicker, you know, if we were to sell some of that real estate, you know, the goal would be to sell that real estate for a profit,
too, you know, and I don't, you know, I'm just thinking, you know, if we pay off road bonds or something sooner or quicker, you know, how does that play into the timeline on the amount of years we set for the bonds. Does that have any bearing at this point or something to
think about or consider? >> Well, we we have two separate issues there. So, and and uh as Maggie pointed out, there is a slide later on that captures and and shows the debt of the city of which that 2024A series is part
of for for the land um A and B. When you have something financed with bonds, tax exempt bonds, if the land is sold and the city still has outstanding debt for that that it needs to the first
priority is it needs to pay off that debt. >> Yep. >> Right. So in that case then that does not impact this particular issue because it right now we we don't have a window of when that might happen. So what we're looking at and how these bonds were
structured is to look at having a fairly level tax levy rate of your debt levy. >> Yep. >> And so what would influence that is selling land and then redeeming an
outstanding bond issue. It'll provide room for future borrowings of say subsequent street reconstruction bonds because the plan right now is we're planning to sell series 2026 street reconstruction bonds and then
another series in 2027. >> Correct. >> And then I I believe there's a a several year gap before we would borrow again. So if if the sale of land were to occur before the 2027 street reconstruction bonds, it could influence the structure
then of that borrowing. So again, so we could look at the debt levy in total. >> Correct. And that was my question on how that would impact like 2027. >> Well, why don't we why don't we do this? We'll let you continue on and get
through the presentation because it sounds like there might be information that we have questions on, but it might be in the presentation and then we can come back and ask questions at the end unless there's something >> N glaring. >> Nope, that sounds good. Thank you. >> Um, so the next slide is really just
kind of a reminder of what Maggie built this. That's okay. Um, of of the project. So, so extracted from the 5-year street reconstruction plan that was approved by the uh mayor and council
at the February meeting, these segments A through L were what were described in that 5-year plan, which is then what the borrowing is based off. So, these are the the estimates that were given at that time. And again, bids had not yet been taken.
So the the dollar amount that you need to finance will be less. And I believe there are other folks that can talk about the projects. If you have any specific pro projects, I would defer. So maybe I'll pause. Does
council have any specific project questions related to the 2026 improvements? Council members on >> just in regards to the total dollar value as it sits right now because I it's not that 5.75. No, it isn't.
>> What is that dollar amount? >> So, Bill's brought some detailed numbers to give to you to answer that, >> but it's uh um much lower. >> You can come here too if it's easier.
>> Oh, you're good. >> I'll share. >> Hello, everyone. I have to use my glasses. I printed this out way too small. Um, so what I did was I went through and I put in um, Anderson Brothers unit prices into the spreadsheet and
calculated what the um, cost of the total project cost would be and that's at 3,652,27.90. Um, but so just to summarize what happened before to get to the 575,
is that all right if I um so back when we first started doing this um we came up with a number that was the cost estimate was much higher than what
um what we have now. And there was some discussion as to what we should bond and the number 57 5.75 million was used and it was kind of a we were trying to pick a number that was high but not too high and that's how we
came up with that. Um, and then with the new numbers that came in, um, decreased that amount because we had a construction cost at that time without the financing and bonding of roughly
4.527 million. So there was increased by 1 223 million. Um so what the number you know
like what the number that I repeated to you with um Anderson Brothers numbers does not include that increase to include the the financing and bonding in it. So that's and I I provided these numbers to or I emailed them but I don't know if you ever got these because
you're probably driving here. Um, yeah. So, that's kind of what the idea was is how we came up with these. Um, there's a little, like I said, there's a little bit of Yeah, I don't know, there was some
discussion as to what that number should be back before to come up with the 5.75. I remember I think we talked about having a number less than 5 million for sure. um still having a large um like a
discrepancy or contingency fund in the bonding amount. It's kind of up to you guys figure out what that contingency amount should be. >> Is that dollar amount pardon? >> Is that dollar is it is there a contingency dollar amount in that 3.65
mil? Yeah, it's only uh it's 15%. >> 150. >> So there's already 15% built into that or >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You said 15% contingency in that 3.65
million, right? >> Okay. So that's about half a million roughly. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But in the previous one there was pro in the to get to the one point or 5.75 there was probably like I said 1.223 million. So it's a little bit it's a lot
less than what >> okay at that you know we still don't know well we have a rough idea as the cost for the easement acquisition but that was part of the reason why it went
up to 5.75 million. >> I have another question. Go ahead, council member on >> Heather. In regards to those figures, based on this slide and the last one, would we be then going out to market at
that 3.65 million figure that Bill gave us or is it higher for the bond >> and unless we have subsequent conversations? But so right now, maybe I'll start here. what
what the bond issue the 3.9 million was sized to provide 3.8 million for project costs and part of that was because there is that uncertainty of the right of way acquisition cost. So we wanted to make
sure that we had a contingency in that. But again, until we publish documents for the market, we have the flexibility to change not only the dollar per amount or we could change the length and term
if it is something that is decided that we should look at. And additionally, we part of the reason um that we were recommending that there be an additional cushion in the numbers for the 5-year street reconstruction plan is
for market considerations. Right now, we are in a municipal market where bidding premiums are very common and fairly standard and we can essentially count on a bidding premium. So, what that means is somebody's going
to pay this the city 101% or more for their bond. So, if they hold a $5,000 bond, they're going to pay 101% of that to get because they want a higher coupon. So, mechanically, what that does is then the city gets more proceeds and
you're able to do more projects with less bond par. And so, it's very in the weeds bond map, but understood. Okay. >> Oh, just a update. I guess I was couldn't read very well, but it's only
10% is a contingency. We reduced it from the previous 15% because at that time we were at >> 90% plans. >> So in theory, the number is getting dialed in within that
his figure of 3.65 to your figure of 3.8 for the cost. >> Right. and and I believe Tom was working with the attorney on the right ofway numbers and we were hopeful that we could have those before. >> Okay. >> The official statement is published and
finalized. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Any other questions right now? Okay. If you want to continue. Projects are good. Okay. I think you are >> I think the project part you're good.
>> I'm good. >> Thank you for that. Yes. Yes. I mean, you can stay there. >> So, I thought this next slide we might just review, you know, what what is the the borrowing authority? How are you able to to borrow these bonds? So, this slide just it also provides a a link to
the statutes if you've not yet ever uh looked at Minnesota statutes. Um, this just provides some highle overview of the street reconstruction bond authority. Um, oh, let's see. I I think I I I should
have taken that first bullet out. Apologies for that. But, um, this is um, uh, uh, this just this uh, runs through, you know, that that they forward street reconstruction and the, uh, overlays. Um, the repayment, as we talked about,
is the advant property taxes, not special assessments. Um, and you must have the five-year street reconstruction plan and do the public hearing which again was already done earlier this year. Uh, which included a published noticed intent to issue which was done
and and Maggie has that um, um, affidavit of publication for us. Um, and it was subject to reverse referendum. So, we did build in the time frame, a 30-day period just in case anybody did want to have a petition that they they
objected to this financing for these projects which did not occur. And there was uh the the required vote um did occur on the at the February meeting which approved the street reconstruction plan and authorized the the borrowing of
not to exceed 5.7 million or 5.75 and and these bonds um are subject to the debt limit which is um a 3% of your of the valuation estimated market value. Um, if there are no questions on that,
then these next couple slides, we just are reviewing the the debt that the city currently has outstanding. So, we've put these in in different buckets. So, the the first one you have um already two other series of bonds which are repaid
by Advalor taxes. That's a street reconstruction note that was issued back in 2012. And then part of the 2024A bonds financed um what's called this CIP the capital improvement um plan which had to do with improvements to city
hall. You might recall there was a portion um for that. And then we've got this third series is the um anticipated borrowing for this 2026 street reconstruction. Um, so again, so you'll have just over $5 million of bonds that
are repaid by tax levies. Then the next two are supported by tax abatements. So again, um, the 2024A series there, we did a taxable and a tax exempt because if the land was not going to be used by
the city and it was going to then be sold, um, that would that would be, uh, not permitted to be a taxexempt series. So we portioned out uh approximately half of that to be taxable. So that would be the um uh reason that we have
those two different series and and we used a general obligation abatement bonds. And so right now there's about 1.8 million outstanding of those. Are there any questions before we flip to the next page? Great. I just got a real quick one and this might be stupid
but what determines our interest rate because on bonds what all goes into figuring out the rate? >> Sure. What what uh goes into the rate is the the city's credit rating. So you are currently I believe at a2 by Moody's
>> and what determines our credit rating. >> Ah well we will get to that if I can have you kind of pause on that. Can we get to that a little bit later? >> Because I've been trying to explain that to some constituents but sometimes I don't get it out right. So >> Sure. because I know there's a lot that goes in there with with with with so if Yeah.
>> Yes. With all the rating agencies have various criteria and they have to do with the economy of the city. They have to do with the management of uh the mayor and council and and the folks uh city staff. They have to also do with debt. What kind of leverage do you have
with debt and what kind of you know pension obligations do you also have? So there are um there is a prescribed criteria that I'm happy to share with you that sort of outlines the percentages of which things are focused in on >> and the money is in reserve also that
goes to that too. Correct. >> That that is part of the financial part. Um it is it is a a sizable part but there there are other things in addition to that. Right. And then um also the uh how quickly so back back to back to the
point we were talking about earlier how quickly you amortize your debt also plays into it. So um the faster the repayment of the debt is uh looked at as uh better credit rating than
longer amortized debt. >> Right. And that that that Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. I just want to note for people watching online, that was council member Freilley that just asked those questions. That's okay. Continue on. >> Great. Okay. So, then we've um if we go
to the next slide, then we've got uh two more bond issues. Now, these are are supported by the um sewer revenues. So while they are general obligation bonds of the city that essentially just provides a as we were just talking about a uh it's sort of a credit enhancement
because the intention is for these bonds to be repaid with revenues of that uh utility enterprise system rather than with the advalorum taxes. However, should the revenues not be sufficient to pay these bonds, you do have the ability
to pledge and put on a tax levy for for the repayment. But currently, um they have been self-supporting and and you've not needed to do that tax levy. But again, so this is just over $4 million that that um is there. And then also, I
know we've talked at other points in time about the um rates and charges that should be set for that system. And included in that, I will just mention that some of the upcoming capital
project needs are financed with cash. So rather than having to do borrowing for that system, um you know, a lift station and um some of the other needs for that utility, the city has been a very good steward of
funds and planning and is able to set aside cash, accumulate cash so that you do not need to borrow for all of the needs. There are there are some that that you will, but but some um are are supported that way. Council member Zan has a
question. Great. >> In regards to the estimated market value for the debt limit calculations, when do those figures typically come out? >> About the end of March. >> So this figure is current. >> This is the most current figure.
>> 1.4 billion dollars. I think when I first got on here in 21 20 22 February of 22 I think we were floating between 650 and 700 >> million
unvoable it's more than double or doubled. >> Yeah actually if we >> you have that historical data >> I was going to say do you want to flip to slide eight if we can move ahead. >> Look at that. I'd be getting
>> How close was I? >> No, I was not close. I was way too short. >> Well, it it depends on what you're thinking of. You know that >> no. >> Yeah, it's 800 million, but still that's
a significant increase. Do do you all have forecasting ability to be able to forecast what >> no >> continue trends could be >> that is that is not that is not in the purview of of your municipal advisor. We what we what we do is you know as this
chart indicates here on slide eight the if you if you focus in on the third column in the the percentage of the growth of the economic market value you know you've experienced some extraordinary growth in these last five years and it
is something that for financial planning purposes it is um trying to think of the right way I want to say this We we encourage more conservative forecasts and the reason we
do that is we don't want to overburden the city. If if you were to like take the the year where it went up 31%. It is it is not feasible to really anticipate that that 30% year-over-year growth is going to be sustainable. So
for for planning purposes when we're looking at at things such as debt and actually I get to that when we go back to slide six. We have projected in a 5% increase for your valuation because we feel like that is
a better baseline than if we if we if we if we were projecting double-digit increases for you over the next 10 15 year time horizon as it relates to debt and then that did not materialize, we would really be setting the city up for
um higher increases year-over-year than what you would like to relevant or nonrelevant, but would you say from your experience that for a town such as ours located as where it is uh outside of the Twin Cities Metroplex,
is this an outstanding total market value figure for a town like ours compared to other out state or non-metro municipals? >> I I would have to look. I don't I don't know off the top of my head what sort of the the neighboring valuations are. So I
would I'd be happy to do some research and get back to you, but off the top of my head I I don't have that answer. >> That figure at the bottom, seasonal, recreational, residential is higher than what residentials is.
>> Probably for the first time, >> I I would have to look back. I I would not want to wager a guess on that. If if that's higher than at what point did did it tip to be higher? >> I mean, what would you suggest that we
take from this data right here in our decision- making? Because that that I mean, this is significant information, but with I think this entire council's objective is keeping tax low, providing services to the citizens as we must do,
but What's our what would you encourage our takeaway from this day to be? >> I think this is you have benefited greatly in the past five years from some substantial growth in your valuation. However, in um due to the fact that part
of that was coming off of the the COVID timeline. I know that some folks, you know, did improvements during that time, which because of the nature of of of what that time was, folks were focusing on improving the value of their home and residents or second home. Uh, and I
don't I I I think if we would extend it back, we could we would see lower percentages. So, I think it's appropriate to consider moving forward that you'll be more uh even high single digits would make sense rather than thinking that a
double digit increase year-over-year in the in the coming future is sustainable. I mean, again, unless there are substantial um developments with with land such as what the city purchased, um I do think that also some of this valuation had to do with improvements um
on some of the resorts that were also here. So, again, that's not something that you're going to see every year. Um, I can't remember exactly what the Grand View improvements were, but I I think, you know, you have to strip out some of those kind of one-time things that that
won't be ongoing, and that may have skewed your valuation to be a little bit higher than it normally would be otherwise. >> Thank you. And because we've increased it also doesn't mean and our debt limit debt has gone up or sorry debt where is
it debt limit and debt margin percentage is have increased accordingly. It doesn't mean we also need to >> right >> be borrowing to the max. >> Right. We want to be thoughtful about it and Yeah. >> Right. Right. And and right now, if I remember right, that last slide that had
the the debt supported by the revenues, I I believe you're only using about 10% of your capacity. So, I mean, you right now have a very very low debt burden. You certainly do have the ability legally to issue more debt, but again, it's a it's a decision based on what are
the needs of the city, how can they be financed, and how do you want to repay them? And is it is there room to add to the debt levy to have your constituents um pay back a borrowing? Does it does it make sense? I think council member Hall
might have a question or comment. >> Well, with that it goes back to my kind of first question on selling that property and stuff. You know, um what is the percentage? Um how do I want to phrase this?
We are currently covering our bonds right now and we're not raising the levy, right? And so if money falls off and we add this, you know, if we sell that property and add more bond, when one falls off, we add another one. In essence, if there's somewhat equal, it
would have really minimal impact to a levy rate, right? You follow me? >> I think so. Maybe maybe for this let's let's track back to slide six. I think this this this this one might be helpful. It's it's a little small for uh hopefully hopefully the copy that you
have you can see right. So I think if I'm hearing you right so I I've had I've shaded in yellow sort of the debt service rate. So this is just the the rate for the debt and again the bonds have been structured. So you can see
that there's really uh about 6.2 2 for a good amount of years and then at the outy years the expectation would be that there would be more debt that would come on so that maybe it would stay at that 6.2 2 level and and I kept in some of the historical. So you can see in
calendar 2022 your rate was more up at 6.9. Then um there was a drop in a few years because there were bond issues that were amvertising. So it was a little bit lower in those years and then we're the thought is to structure it to
hold it as steady as it can. But but to your point right if >> correct >> um so the third column in from the right is the 2024 A and B for purposes of this >> spreadsheet we have combined the we
talked about that there was taxable bonds and taxexempt bonds we combined them both together because they are essentially the same project. So if if that column were to be reduced because of selling of the land then then that
would reduce the debt service rate and unless or until additional borrowing occurs. >> Sure. And with that do we have a budget number for the 27 road bond yet
or an estimate or anything? Okay. >> I'm not sure your mic is on. >> Yes. I guess that's what ultimately I'm trying to look at. You know, it's this one right now, but then we have another one back to back with it. And where does
one come on? Where does one fall off? What does it do to, you know, like your point, keeping it steady? >> Well, we have uh included in that 6.2 rate is the 2027 issuance. So, if we
were to extract that, it would be less, but we thought because we know that that bond issue is something that is going to occur, we wanted to show the show you the entirety of the picture so that um we wouldn't show you a level that was lower than that. And then when the 27
projects come around, you would be surprised by the increase. So we wanted to show kind of a holistic p picture of what's coming. >> So basically with that then what you're telling us is, you know, you've kind of calculated all the way through the 27
road projects. >> Yes. >> And that it really is not going to fluctuate much as far as like needing to do any sort of levies or anything like that. >> Correct. It would be sized so that it would be it would be set at a at a
fairly level rate unless unless you would desire something different. >> No. And that still has the the least amount of years. The was it 13 years? >> I feel like it was I feel like it was 15. >> 15. Okay.
It is. >> Any other questions right now? >> Okay. Okay. We kind of go ahead. Council member London, >> we go and sell some of that land there and um that's going to kind of put us in a better position in as far as these
bonds. >> Selling of the land would be indifferent for the pricing of this particular upcoming street reconstruction series. What it would do is it would relieve some of the future debt burden that is corresponding with the debt that's
outstanding with that that finance that project currently. So it it they while while they both impact your debt service rate and the levy, they are separate in terms of one does not influence the other. >> Great. Thank you.
>> Anything else? Okay. I know we jumped around so >> No, that's fine. I think >> if you want to continue because we've covered a lot of slides there. >> No, great question. >> So, so the next one really so, so back to um back to the the question about what what do rating agencies look at?
So, this slide is a is a is a picture of and I, you know, I apologize. I should have asked if I could show this. I I I felt like this was going to be a more informal workshop, so I included the the preliminary 25. So, okay. Um, so this is
a slide that we show the rating agencies and this helps them really kind of look at some key points for the financial health of the city. So you'll see the the top is just your total revenues and expenditures. Then are you having an
excess or or deficiency annually? And then what other sources of funds um and other uses of funds are are you having and then what's the bottom line change in your fund balance? they they look at also not just what you have for fund balance they look at the various
categories. So the one thing that uh the city is very well positioned in is that you do have a very large unassigned or kind of uncommitted fund balance. So when you have uh a significant part if that were to be say in a restricted or
committed then then it is not able to be used for for other purposes but because you have such a large percentage as unassigned that is a very healthy sign for and a good positive credit impact for the city.
So, I've got a question. A couple of residents said, you know, that they know that we have about 100 105% in the in unreserved uh and they said, "Well, what if you dwindled that down in half?" I said, "Well, I'm pretty sure that would affect our bond and who would want to borrow it would be a big big
burden on the city in in my aspect because I'm going to go into the you know, like they say you have a A rating, a double A, triple A. I mean, we have a pretty good an excellent rating. So, um, so if we were to spend those down, that would
affect that rating, too. And would that affect what else would that affect? Would that affect rates, who wants to, how long we can get the bond for, and so forth, or that will have no effect on everything other than that. >> So, the having healthy reserves is more
than just for your bond rating. Um, reserves the the existence of reserves are also what if something catastrophic were to happen? What if what if the city were to have a cyber attack? Um, sorry, knock on wood there. Um, and you know,
you would not have have access to um your some of your revenues if if you if you have those set aside and and you have the access for those. if if there's a problem with maybe um the property tax system and getting your tax payments,
you are able to have funds on hand to continue to conduct city operations. >> Okay. So, so instead of a cyber attack, like say one of our uh $300,000 fire trucks burned up, that would be a good thing to have the reserves because then we wouldn't have to go into the levy and
and so forth. >> Also an excellent um an excellent idea. I think I think people would it's more lame in terms when we do it that way. >> Sure. Sure. I I just was trying to think of off the top of my head, you know, what could happen. But it's it's definitely just, you know, part of it is
so that the city can continue to operate. You can continue to provide your, you know, police, fire, those essential services without interruption if for some reason there is a disruption in receiving your revenues. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> I thank you.
>> That was council member Freley again. Um, Miss Wetler would like to chime in. >> I just want to make note too that we do have a policy ordinance that states we are required to keep one year of expenditures in our savings on reserved
funds for that. So when you look at that 3.7, you have to consider that we don't have that just to spend on whatever because we have to keep 100% of our expenditures in there. Councilman Freley here. Maggie, was that was that like was
that a a motion passed or something some years ago? >> Yeah, it's a policy. It's probably been in place for I don't know six or seven years. I think it was at first it was 50% and we bumped it up to 100. >> So you So they Oh, it was at 50, moved to 100.
>> Don't quote me on the percentages, but I do know it's at 100 now. And I we did bump it up due to some of those storms we had because we had to >> So that was right around 2018. Say 171 18. You don't know. >> I could be. >> Okay.
>> I could look it up. I mean if it's >> Yeah. Can you look that up and just send that to me? >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Council member Hall, do you have something or No. No. Okay. Okay. Um the the other thing I want to note that um so something that the rating agencies
will look at so if you look at the trend from uh starting at 21 if we focus in on that end balance right it's it's sort of that uh floating column after that first chunk. So in 2021 you were around 5 million 2022 again 5 million 23 5.1
million and then for the the next couple of years that's gone down 4.9 million 3.9 million. So that is something that they they look at and they will ask at and say were these were these planned to spend down? You know, are you are you not able to balance your budget or
expenditures higher than normal? Are your revenues lower than normal? And and I know Maggie and I had a a conversation, you know, in preparation for not only this workshop today, but also for the rating agencies that some of that has to do with the the spendown has to do with some projects that the
city has put money upfront for and are looking to be reimbursed by grants at later on in time. So, but it's it's always just it's so it's a picture of where are your fund balances? Are they going up and down? Are they stable? And why are you are you are you extracting
money from reserves for to fix you know one-time things or are you extracting money for projects that will then be reimbursed or are you extracting money because um you needed more money for salaries and benefits which is ongoing
that is not something that they want you to do but so just to paint another picture of the things that they look at financially. Any questions? Okay. >> Okay. So, then the last one really is just sort of I just kind of wanted to to cap off with sort of a schedule of
events. So, some of these are are things that already have occurred and are occurring. Again, we've I've talked several times about the public hearing and the street reconstruction plan was adopted in February. Um we're having a the council workshop today and we are going to have on on next Monday we are
going to have the credit discussion with Moody's investor service and um after that it's a little bit in flux when we would get that credit rating and the report back. We're looking right now at sometime the week of May 11th and then uh we are currently targeting to do a
bond sale on May 19th. So what happens on that day would be we would designate a time in the morning. At this point, we're looking at 11:15 that we would have competitive bids come in. So, bids will come in at 11:15. We will verify
that they all conform with the request for proposals and then we would look at what it what uh firm provides the best and lowest bid and then we would do that resizing. We talked about that 3.9 million would change. So, what will happen is in your council packets that
you get in advance, it will say 3.9 um million and then there will be a lot of blanks because at that point we won't know who the underwriter is. We won't know what the rates are, but so that you can see all of the the terms that the the city is going to be borrowing. Um it
outlines the principal payments, the dates anyway, and estimated amounts and uh when does interest start, when is the call date, those types of things. what is your data date and um the various legal items. And then in the afternoon,
because we won't get the bids until that morning, in the afternoon, the bond attorney will update that resolution document so that what you'll have for you right before the council meeting is an updated one that has the actual dollar amounts and rates. So, it will functionally be the same as what you get
in advance, but it will just be refined to reflect what the actual debt will be. So that's going to happen on May 19th. So then uh so then it would be a uh there'll be that resolution will need to take board action. You will need to have
a roll call vote on that and then um the closing of the bonds as I mentioned before would be on June 2nd. So that's when the project dollars would come to the city and uh you would be able to um start um
utilizing those funds as soon as they're available. >> Okay. Council member Zan has another question. >> So, going back to the original one of the first questions I had for you, Heather, in regards to the information that you're going to need in regards to the amateurization or the maturity of
that bond, like what would you say the drop deadad date is? Because May 19th is the same day as our May regular council meeting. And if you're going to be going out that morning, we'll be meeting that
evening. So when would we need to have that decision made as a council and over to you? >> Generally um the decision has not been made by the the council. It is more maybe a recommendation. So it's it's unfortunate
that Tom is not able to be here. it would be a recommendation that comes with public works and um I don't know if in the past Maggie I don't know if you know if you're aware if that's if those terms are are generally discussed at a at a council meeting
level or if it's um how that how that has functionally happened. Um but uh you know uh often the finance and public works staff are are their the financial stewards for you to to help make that
decision with you. >> Understood. >> So so if it is something that you you feel strongly that you would like to dig in further um happy to be available at another point in time. Um, I know Tom thought the 15-year was the the right
amortization for this upcoming issue in addition to the the next year's issue. And and I'm not sure if that was in part because, you know, he wanted to keep it short or also in part for other uh projects that are coming down the line.
The the only other question I guess I would throw out to the council would be uh can we consider a 20-year amateurization window for this uh as we're going to be having another project stacked on this um it's going to be significant levy impacts to the budget.
So knowing that's coming down the pipeline. >> Council member Hall. Well, that's been my kind of question all along with 27 or whatever, but you answered that there won't be significant levy impacts, right? Because we've already got 27 kind of budget in
here. >> We've already got it baked in. So, so long as >> So, there would be no reason to do the 20 year. >> So, so right. >> Is that in reference to the drop off of the 2018 bond at the end of this calendar year? >> Yes.
um you know functionally the the the payments how's the best way to say this? So the the last payment of the 2018 bond was made February 1st of this year and so it
was collected last year. was collected with your >> understood. Okay. >> Um 25 payments too. Then so is because there's a lag in in how the the property tax system works. You know, we've got the May and the October 15th payment dates and you don't actually get your
proceeds from the property taxes on the May 15th and October 15th. So it is sort of there's sort of a year lag. So that last payment that would have been collected last year for the 2018
bond that is now off, >> right, >> for $256,250 from what I'm seeing on your spreadsheet, >> right? Is not being collected in 2026, >> right? So as long as that amateurized dollar amount is within that threshold, there'll be no no levy impact for the
2027. Oh, cuz this >> Well, it was they were it was already factored in, >> correct? It's already factored in. >> So, >> so if you're if you're if you're if you're comfortable with the 6.2 >> here, here's here here's an an
alternative. If if you would like to continue to evaluate if a different amateization is more appropriate for the 2026 bond, then I would recommend that we postpone the sale until the June meeting so that we have the opportunity
to have those discussions and then put a different amortization together so that we can put that for bond sale. Alternatively, we do have the 2027 bonds
that are yet to be issued and that one could be extended to a 20-year amateurization and we could do some refinement so that again we smooth out the tax levy. >> That that would be >> 27. >> That would be my thought too. Okay. So,
so, so to sum it up with this and tying into the land, I think that there's been some concern coming forward maybe from citizens from different people that if the land won't be sold within the next year or so that it would really impact
the levy with the 27 road bond. And what you're saying is it's already calculated in there will be no levy impact. There's not there's not a um hey, hey, get this land sold by this day so it drops off here. Otherwise, it's going to impact
the road bond. >> Correct. >> Okay, that's what I want. >> And I'm just >> Any other questions? >> Can I go ahead, Miss Wentler? I was going to say I sat in that meeting Tom and I did with PFM and they did have a
15 and a 20 year. >> I think we did 18 and 20 >> 20 and it just felt like there maybe wasn't a huge amount of difference for the value that it brought. >> So that's a great point. So, so maybe what the one thing I would say is so
understanding that the longer amortization you have, the more it's going to cost to pay it back because you would be borrowing the same principle over five additional years. So, you had five additional years of interest. So, it's more expensive. >> I'm sure.
>> Yep. >> Okay. Any other questions from council for Miss Caspersonson? Anything else you would like to add? No, I just uh I I thank you for your time. Uh maybe maybe maybe just um part
of one of the reasons for making sure that we want to discuss the these details today is we want you to be comfortable so that when you have a resolution that's going to be awarding a bond issue that it is not going to be questioned and potentially
um not passed. So maybe maybe I would just mention that for issuers that go out for a competitive bond sale and then go to the governing body and the governing body does not pass and award that bond issue, it will have
implications on your future ability to access the market to so that underwriters might say, well, you know, we thought we had this deal and then for really no reason you did not pass that resolution. So, I'm not sure that next time that you sell that I want to take
the time to place a bid. So, um just wanting to make sure that um all the questions are have the opportunity to be discussed so that you feel comfortable with the plan of finance moving forward. >> Thank you. Any anything else from councel?
>> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> Um we still have >> nope. We still have another >> that was part of it was just I wanted to know if there was some discussion on roads if you guys have questions in regards to that. So all right together I don't have any other questions on the
project uh road project updates unless anybody else does. >> Nope. >> No, >> you can make your motion. >> Okay. I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All right. Motion by council member Z. Seconded by council member London. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. We are adjourned.
>> Great. Thank you so much. Part: 2
I was That was clearly or something. Happy issues. Come back. >> We're basketball. I don't know. I'll put that Yeah.
They said we wanted other things like to make sure straight. I see. Jennifer, I'm ready when you are. Okay. Good evening. >> What?
>> Oh, I don't know. >> Good evening, everybody. Um, I would officially like to call the city of Nisa regular council meeting on this Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 to order at 6:01 p.m.
Um, I just wanted to note uh the past few meetings we've had a lot of engaged citizens show up to those meetings and that's wonderful. Public interest involvement and engagement is a great thing for our city at any level of government, especially here in Nisa. Uh
my intent and goal for all meetings moving forward is to ensure that we have an efficient professional and policydriven discussion conducted with proper decorum and respect for council members uh for respecting the presiding officer for respecting our city partners
and staff and as well all of you in attendance at our meetings. So for last month's meeting uh we apologize for the behavior that we engaged in. We look forward to a positive and productive meeting tonight and for all meetings moving forward. And with that, let's
stand for the pledge. >> I pledge to the flag of America and to the flags one indivisible and justice for all. >> Okay. Our first item tonight is to
approve the agenda. I would entertain a motion from council. >> Madame Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve the agenda as presented. >> I'll second it. >> Motion by council member Zan, second by council member London. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries and our
agenda is approved. Next up is a consent calendar. Notice to the public, all matters listed on the consent calendar are considered routine by the council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless good cause is shown prior
to the time council votes on the motion. >> Council member Z. >> I I'll make the motion. I just have a question once we get a motion a second. I make a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented. >> Okay. Motion by council member Z, second by council member London. Is there any discussion? Council member Zan.
>> Yeah. Question for Miss Amber in regards to uh your department report. uh swept the G Lake Trail. Uh is that a routine item that we are doing for the entire G Lake Trail that the
city of Niswah is cuz I just it's been a while since we had the G Lake steering trail committee and uh yes, it's regular um throughout the season. Spring needs obviously more. It was swept, it snowed, will be swept again. Um, so it is
routine throughout the season, probably a handful of times depending on um, rain events and things like that. And then the final section of the trail is not complete. So that is not swept. >> Noted. No further questions. >> All right. Any other discussion? All
those in favor of approving the consent calendar, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um, next up on the agenda, we have open forum. And first up, I can't see everyone here. Uh, we have the Central Minnesota
Council Scouting America. Do we have Oh, there you are, Isaiah. And I don't know if Ken is here as well. Oh, okay. If you want to just approach um the microphone and I'll just share last week um I was invited to attend a
Lakes Area Leadership Breakfast um for the Friends of Scouting Central Minnesota Council, Scouting America. Um Isaiah Anderson is a district executive and we wanted to invite him here tonight to take a few moments to share uh with our city all the great work and a little
bit about the organization. >> Definitely. Thank you. Thank you so much Jennifer for the great introduction for me and uh nice to meet all all you guys on the uh board. Um uh like Jennifer said my name is Isaiah Anderson. I serve as the district executive for the
Pineree District. If you guys don't know what the pine tree district is, uh it runs four counties. So, Crowing is our largest county and then Akin, Morrison, and Cass counties. So, my main responsibility in order um is to grow
scouting. Um what that means is going going to schools, recruit recruiting youth for our top-notch programs, partnering with community members, partnering with uh businesses uh to grow scouting with events, all that fun stuff. Uh I uh brought some of these uh
just you uh some of these like program booklets uh that we have that I wanted to share with you council board members. Um Parker Scout Reservation is home right in Niswah, Minnesota. If you guys seen uh any news stories, we've um uh we
have a uh castle uh up in up up here. Uh it's called Miller Castle. It it it was built back in uh 2008. It's one of those really cool castles that draws every kid, adult uh to our um to our camp to
our area just to uh bring that attention. But scouting is a lot scouting is forever prevalent up in this area. We currently do not have a unit, but we do have Brainer units that comes
up here. Uh last month I want to say our Brainer uh troop actually hosted a fish fry up here for uh the community as well. That was a huge hit. And we do so uh so much different volunteerisms. Uh some different stats that that I want to
show um uh tell you guys about is this is uh nationally. This isn't uh locally. Um I forgot my local one here. Uh but 1 million youth uh served across all of our programmings uh nationwide. Uh we
have 175,000 girls and young women a part of our program. 475 adult leaders and volunteers that helps take place and help our youth. 200 councils across the
nation. Um 1.3 uh million merit badges has been awarded just last year for all of our scouts. 30,000 young men and women has earned the rank of eagle and I am uh one of them from 2019. And then
7.1 million uh hours of service are donated back to our community. Uh so that's just some of the top numbers. Here's a just a little booklet you guys can pass around as well that kind of goes over more stats. But, uh, I wanted to thank you guys so much for allowing
me to come here. And if you guys ever have any, uh, needs within the community that you want scouts to help at parades, stuff like that, we would love to have scouts come up here and be more relevant up in Nysa as well. So, thank you guys so much for having me.
>> Thank you. Oh, Isaiah, before you step away from the podium, if if anyone wants to learn more or donate, is there a specific website they could go to? >> Yes, if you guys want to learn more or donate, go to uh www.scoutingcmc.org.
Uh, and there is a give button and there's a all of our information right there. So, but yeah, thank you guys again. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Okay, next up under open form is our public comment window. If anyone has
anything they would like to address for the council, you can approach the microphone. Um, we would just ask that you state your first name, your last name, your address, and then you will have two minutes. We want to make sure everyone gets the equal amount of time.
Going once, going twice. Good evening, council. Chief Bailey here. My address is on County Road 18 and Main Street over here at the fire hall. So, this social media stuff is really getting out of control. At no point has the fire department ever
came to the city and asked the city to put up a water tower to fill our water tenders. That has never happened. So, we're not the drive behind the water the water tower. The other thing, a new fireh hall. In 10 years from now, we're going to be outgrowed in the in the
building that we have today. OSHA is going to squeeze us out. If and when that comes, we're going to have to explore expansion, moving something. So, that's the fireh hall rumor that's floating around out there
for $30 million. That's not the case. The other rumor that we're running around that's running this thing is a helellipad. For everybody in this room that doesn't know, we have a helellipad at our current fireh hall. Now, it's our
parking lot. That's it. I'm not asking the city if and when we move our fire hall, like I say, if and when to build a $100,000 helellipad to put in that field out there if it were to be happen. That's not a case. It's our parking lot. That's it.
So, the social media stuff is starting to rub me wrong. And I'm going to make a formal response on social media to all these these crazy alleocations that are coming down unless I'm told not to. But that's what something needs to happen because
it's just the same four people driving this time in and time out. And then when you get question at Holiday Gas Station or Schaers Foods or wherever you're at, why do you need a $30 million fireall that was never asked for, I don't feel is fair. And the last thing, anybody
wants to talk to me about any of these subjects, reach out. The number here, 218963444, and they can get a hold of me at any time. I'll have a face-to-face conversation about any of these rumors anytime, anywhere. Just let me know. Thank you.
>> Two minutes. Thank you. Anyone else that would like to come up and address council for public comment? Going once, going twice. Okay, we will move on to the next item on our agenda, which are our city reports, and we will
start with our city attorney, uh, Mr. Pearson. >> Uh, good evening, mayor and councel. Nothing specific here. I've got other agenda items that I'll speak to as they come up, but nothing uh at this point. >> Okay. Um, thank you. Next we have our city engineer, Mr. Reese. Any update on
your end? >> Uh, just a report that we're continuing with city street improvements slated for 2026 and uh wrapping up G Lake Trail project uh from last year along with the additional bathroom project that was
added on. So, >> thank you. Any questions from council for our city attorney or city engineer? Okay, we will move on. Next is our public hearing. So we have our economic development authority resolution
and that's the first item. Um Mr. Pearson, I'll turn it to you first. >> Uh thank you Miss Carneahan. Um at the last meeting, council meeting uh you receive the council received a draft uh enabling resolution. This is the
statutory resolution required to form the EDA. Um it was uh indicated then that a public hearing is necessary in order to enact this enabling resolution. So that's what's happening tonight. A
public hearing will have to be opened in case anybody wants to comment on this. Would note also that the enabling resolution that you had in front of you was a draft at the last meeting. Uh what you've got in front of you tonight now is uh some red lines and a clean copy of
that. been revised since you were here in March. Um not substantive changes necessarily. Um some statutory um revisions and a reference to the fact that that we believe that an EDA existed
in the city formerly, but we don't have information about how it was enabled and if and how it was disbanded. So this is meant to address that also. And to the extent that it was enabled and it was disbanded, um that the provisions in
this enabling resolution would replace any former enabling resolutions or disbandment that occurred in the past. I'm here for questions. >> Um I'll open up to council for any questions. Council member Hall,
>> I don't have any right now. Council members on >> from the red line to the from the draft to the proposed section three. Mr. City Attorney, in regards to the EDA shall be governed by
a board of five commissioners, two of whom must be members of the city council pursuant to state statute. Uh do we have the ability still to increase that number, modify that number at this point? >> We do. I should have said too that um in concert with this tonight and in
sequential order, the enabling resolution needs to be approved. If there were to be a change on that to entertain the idea of a seven member council, then you could still pass this resolution subject to that division. Um also in your packet is an organizing resolution. So, a secondary resolution
which would um I I think at this point makes reference to again a fiveperson EDA. If you wanted that changed when you get to that, that could be revised as follows. However, I don't know that that organizing resolution is right to be
passed tonight because of some conversations you need to have about five versus seven and then obviously filling in appointees and officers among the appointees once they're made. So, I think that's probably something to occur in May. Um,
but Jesse, to answer your question, if it's the council's pleasure to entertain the idea of a seven member EDA instead of five, then again, you could approve this resolution subject to those changes. >> Personal personal preference would be
that um we actually have I think a total of 10 seats up here. I'm not off on my math. Or nine. I would like I I would like to propose seven. Uh and on that basis I think still maintain two members from the council uh open for discussion
with the rest of >> council member London. Do you have any >> uh council member Freillley thoughts on that? Questions, comments. >> I'm fine with that change. >> Council member Hall, >> I'm fine with that change. >> Yeah, and I would agree. I'm fine with
the change too because I think if we expand it to seven then we're including more members of the public which is a good thing because we want to involve more of our residents citizens business owners in this process and um
more individuals brings more ideas and more thinking. So >> another item if I may uh on that same line Mr. attorney. Do we need to outline what the term limit or excuse term limit? Do we need to outline what the term period would be
at this point? >> So >> for the two additional >> actually for the entire board of comm uh >> yeah so your commissioners your organizing resolution will do that once we expand that to seven if that's the
pleasure of the council. We'll change the enabling resolution. We'll modify the organizing resolution to include seven positions. Then uh based on whatever those appointees are, then you'd start filling in blanks and they'll stagger from the start. And then
once they initially all expire, then they'll be six-year terms from there. >> Okay. Before we take a formal motion on this, because we are doing a public hearing on this resolution tonight, I need to formally open the public hearing.
Correct, Mr. Pearson? Yes. >> Okay. Um Oh, did you have something before I >> No, you got the state statute because I don't You got it. >> Oh, I don't have the specific statute in front of me. >> Look it up. >> What are you questioning?
>> Do we just to open the public hearing >> process? I just make a motion open the public hearing. >> I make a motion to open the public hearing regarding the EDA resolution. >> No second. >> Okay. Motion by council member Zan, second by council member Freilley. Any additional discussion? All those in
favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries and our public hearing is open for item number one, the enabling resolution to establish an EDA. If anyone from the public has anything they would like to um come forward with, please do so now.
State your first, last name, your address, and then um we will give you time to share your thoughts. Bruce Mhalt, uh 25628 Wooddale Road, Niswah. Um I previously served on an
economic development committee or authority for 12 years. So just a couple of thoughts on that. I'm glad you recommended seven members because I think that's a great number as you said more public involved. Uh you don't have the um I I don't have it on my phone
anymore, but if you could put up the uh resolution item N on the resolution. >> I can >> which if I may item N references the EDA shall not provide business assistance.
>> Correct. I that that seems to me the exact opposite of what I don't know what your intent was for the EDA here, but um the EDA in my opinion is is supposed to provide business assistance to uh help existing
businesses in city of Nisa expand hopefully to uh provide incentives to businesses that may want to come to Niswah. Uh you can do that through a lot of ways. uh you can get low interest loans through the state of Minnesota through the federal government and in
turn you use those loan dollars to loan out to businesses that again may want to expand or come to the city. Uh usually the EDA is the recommend recommending body for tiff. Uh they also provide they can provide grants. Uh, so there's a lot
of ways that the EDA can uh provide assistance to businesses and I and I I guess not understanding what you thought the mission of the of the EDA was, but that caught my attention when I saw that line. And so I'd strongly recommend you
to to line out the word not and say the EDA shall provide assistance to businesses. That's my comment. >> Council members on >> you make a great >> Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Bruce. You make a great point. Um, I think it's one of those
areas of greatness uh because it's such a general sentence, right? Shall not provide business assistance. Well, what is business assistance? It can vary as you know greatly. So if there was to be a strike on the word
shall not and instead just place the word shall, it does keep it open for some sort of assistance from the economic development authority without any strict outlining as to what that assistance is going to be. Is there any suggestion from the city
attorney if we were to strike the word not? And is there any caveats that we need to consider at this point to include in doing so? >> Only only this
as and Loose identified things like TIFF and those other other sorts of things that are the forms of business assistance. If you if you say initially as you're forming this EDA that the city will provide business assistance, then you're
going to have to go into a cookbook of what kinds of business assistance you will and will not want the EDA to assist with. This EDA's original intent of the formation of this to get this going is to help the city begin to um come up
with some ideas about how to develop certain parcels of land in the city. As the EDA gets going, I can see expansion of EDA depending on how that goes and how people get going and how it
cycles through its processes. And if that were the case, then it's always easy to expand through an amended enabling resolution to give the EDA other responsibilities, other duties. At this point, the idea was to get it off the ground, get it going, get the EDA
functioning, and then you may find that you want the ED EDA to do other things. If you are to say now that you want the EDA to be involved in business assistance, then my opinion is that you've got to populate them that with more information. What business
assistance, what kind do you want it to be in charge of tip? These are the sorts of things that at the start as you were game planning the EDA formation, those are things that you really wanted to keep under council control for now. >> Well, if I can just address ahead,
>> if you are looking to develop the land down there on 371, that's great. But my opinion is you're probably going to need to provide some type of assistance if nothing else, low interest loans. So, for example, a business, maybe it's a manufacturing business, retail, whatever comes in. Uh maybe they can, you know,
they're going to build a $4 million facility. Maybe they can get $3 million from a bank, maybe they're going to put 500,000 of equity in, but they need some gap funding. That's what an EDA can do. They can provide 500,000 maybe at 1 or 2%. Uh where the city might be borrowing
at 1%, the city then turns around and loans it out at 2%, for example, which is a way then to build up the EDA coffers. And as you build up the EDA coffers, you then have dollars to provide further down the line to other businesses. So just a thought there that if you limit yourself right away, sure
the miss your attorney is right. You can come back and change it, but why not do it correct the first time and and give you you the flexibility to be able to provide assistance to a business that may go in there or anywhere in this one. >> Do any Mr. Pearson, do you have a
comment or response? Yeah, maybe a middle ground on that is to change the wording and end so that it just says the EDA shall assist the council in considerations of business assistance. I think those sorts of things that Bruce are is talking about if for instance in the development of that property, you do
have those sorts of things and I think the city council still wants to keep a tight reign on things like uh tax increment financing, low interest loans, the sorts of things that Bruce is talking about. um until such point as
you might get comfortable giving more rope to an EDA to be more involved in those things. If you want to keep those things really tight to the council now maybe the thing to do is to change this just to say that the EDA shall assist the city council in considerations of business assistance.
>> Anyway, my compliments on putting an EDA together. I think it's well needed. >> Thank you. Thank you for being here and addressing the council. Um is there anyone else from the audience that would like to come forward? with any comment regarding the enabling resolution for the EDA for the city of
Nisa. >> Okay, I think we need a motion to close. >> I'd like to make a motion to close the public hearing regarding the EDA resolution. >> Second. >> Okay, motion by council member Zan, second by council member Hall. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I opposed. Okay, the public hearing is closed regarding the EDA resolution. Uh, Mr. Pearson, C, sorry, can you just read that language one more time that you had said for that last bullet point? Uh, letter N. >> Yeah. Yes, mayor. So, I marked this up
to say that N would read the the EDA shall assist the city council in considerations of business assistance. >> Council, are there any questions regarding that discussion? A uh suggestion from Mr. Impulse. Council member Freley. >> I have nothing.
>> Council member London. >> Council member Zan. Council member Hall. >> Okay. If there is no other discussion or input, I would entertain a motion. Madame Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to
amend the proposed enabling resolution establishing an economic development authority for the city of Niswah to increase the govern board from five commissioners to seven as well as modifying
section N to state. The EDA shall assist city council in consideration or providing business assistance. >> Second. >> Okay. We have a motion by council members on a second by council member
Hall. Any additional discussion? >> Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um next we have the EDA organizational resolution. Mr. Pearson, I'll turn it
back to you. I know we discussed this a little bit. >> Thank you, Miss Carneahan. Um, as I indicated, um, I think this one is for consideration for later. Um, I don't know how the council intends to seek candidates or take other steps to
populate the EDA. And so once once whatever process that's going to be that you will um arrive at tonight, Um you'll get to a point hopefully in May, maybe in June of being able to fill in the blanks on this draft
organiz organizing resolution. >> Thank you. Um I just want to share with council before I open it up. I had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Tyler Glenn today. He is the executive director with Bladec. He's been here to address this council multiple times about um the EDA
um his experience with it and assisting with city of Brainard, city of Cross Lake and then Peekquat Lakes has an EDC. Um he suggested a couple things to me on the phone today. One, he shared that the EDA appointment, so the positions of like president, vice president,
treasurer, etc. that once the EDA is established, they would nominate and select that within their board within that board and that's how all of our neighboring cities do it, he said. And then they typically at the first meeting every year in January, that's when they
reappoint, right, or take their votes for those different positions. Um, so that was one thing he wanted me to share tonight. He was he's not able to be here. Um the second item is is he does have like an application a sample application form that we could put on
the city's website and then he would be able to assist me as applications come in following state statute uh 469.095 that um the mayor appoints and the council confirms is that he would be
able to assist me with when applications come in in sitting down with folks. he can has the experience to explain you know how it can work his experience in working with other cities and then what would what I see as a good uh path
forward is then once we have the seven people we bring that forward to council and council could either vote that up or down um I know council members on had his hand up so I'll I'll go to him first and then I'll I'll go around that way >> I think that there's a lot of added
benefit to turning this open to the public to allow how if it's f if it's two uh governing commissioners that are city council appointees then perhaps the other five should be offered to the five seats should be offered to the public in my
opinion we have a lot of savvy individuals in this community and I think it'd be a fantastic opportunity to be able to give them a what perhaps is uh a comfortable twoe window to apply within the next 30 days uh granted we have an application to be able to put
out there and then broadcast that properly through all channels. Uh, an idea that I had in mind was if we were to open it from Wednesday, April 29th through Wednesday, May 13th, that will then give us uh, six calendar days before the May regular council meeting
to be able to have the applications to then be able to go through them and vet them in council or at our next council meeting together to be able to then populate this organizational set or organization organizing resolution, excuse
uh in the month of May to be able to get this moving. Thoughts? >> Council member London >> opportunity to open it up, get the people community involved in this and go forward. >> Council member Freley, >> I'm okay with that. >> Couns Council member Hall.
>> Yeah, I agree. Only other question I would have is for staff if that was the route that we would like to go is that administrative burden going to be too heavy to be able to
accommodate before the May meeting if we're able to get we can call a special meeting if we need to. We could >> we could if if it's too much of a burden um because staff has a lot on their plates >> or meeting >> we could always call a special meeting
to discuss the appointments and then motion there. >> Yeah, I guess I'd recommend to call a special meeting to discuss all this. >> I'm fine with that. Um so May 13th is a Wednesday. >> Yep. >> Okay. Packets are due the 15th.
>> Okay. Not saying I couldn't add it on, but if you want it for the meeting of the 19th, I it's probably a little quick, but if we wanted to do a special meeting just to address those things, we can do that. >> Maybe the following week or something to give a little more breathing room. At least if you wanted to talk with these
people, interview them after the 13th and whatever that committee, whether it's the mayor and Tyler and somebody else, I it doesn't matter to me, but just giving a little bit of breathing room that the 19th might be close too close for comfort.
>> Okay. But how does that how does that application window sound? >> It works for me. >> Good. >> Yep. >> And you stated, Madame Mayor, that Mr. Glenn has an application >> template. >> He does, but I think he's out of town this week. So,
>> okay. >> If Miss Wentler has time, maybe she can reach out to him and see, but I'm not sure when he gets back. And that's why he wasn't able to be here tonight. >> Yep. >> If he's gone this week, I can reach out to him on Monday, Tuesday. I can still get it posted on Wednesday is the 29th, right? Yes.
>> Uh, yes, it is. And then proper channels, too. Um, how can we get this out there properly so all residents and business owners have an opportunity to be able to see it and apply properly? Any ideas that we
can perhaps share with this room right now outside of the >> Well, it will be posted on our website. I'm sure I can sweet talk Miss Calie from our chamber to put it in their newsletter that goes out for a couple weeks as well
>> to note that. Uh let's see. We might be able to get maybe Nancy in the Echo to put something in an article noting that we might be looking for applicants during that time frame. >> Front page news.
>> And then just I mean word of mouth. We have a packed house tonight. So, um 30 40 people here, tell your friends. >> Facebook. >> Facebook. Yes. Yep. >> How about uh email? >> We can I don't really
>> those that are subscribed to the >> the e notify. Correct. >> Yes. On our website. So, they will automatically get an email the minute it's posted if they >> signed up for that page. >> So, that would be the only downfall. But I can probably well I can't put it on
every page but we can send it out to like our commission members and things like that for them to spread the word as well because we do have those emails. >> Perfect. >> Okay. >> Yep. Um since we are put Council Member Freley,
do you have something or Oh, I just saw you raising your Okay. Um Mr. Pearson, since we are not able to necessarily fill all this in tonight, do we still want to open the public hearing
>> with respect to >> with respect to >> the organiz correct? >> You do not need a public for that. >> Okay. Perfect. >> Enabling resolution. So, you're good. >> Okay. Very good. >> No council action then, I believe. >> Correct. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Perfect. Um, next up on our agenda under old business. Oh, do we have >> Oh, Andy is here. Wonderful. >> Yeah, Mr. Schaefer is here. >> Um, by the way, the NISWA citizen of the year 2026. Congratulations.
>> Okay. Do we have our consultants on from Delaney Consulting? >> Yes, Flora and Michael are both on via Zoom. >> Okay. Uh Laura, Michael, I don't know which one of you uh wants to start, but we are on item number one under old
business spirits expansion recommendation. >> Yeah, thanks Madame Mayor, uh council members, city staff, citizens. Uh as part of our existing so, we were tasked by the city to provide decision support
and ultimately recommendations for the opportunity for spirits to consider expanding Michael, >> Michael, are you able to talk? >> We can't hear you. Or it's hard to hear you. So, is there a volume or is it on our end?
>> Mine's all Mine is all the way up. >> Flora, can you say something once just so we can >> Sure, I can say something. I can hear Michael fine. >> Okay. >> This happened at the last meeting as well. There was something and a guy came
and fixed a speaker. >> Yeah, it might be on our end then. >> Okay, now say something. >> Hello. Hello. Hello. >> Perfect. >> Am I any better? >> Yes. >> Maybe start over again, Michael. >> Sure.
>> Okay. Uh, Madame Mayor, council members, uh, citizens, and city staff, uh, we are, uh, seven weeks into our S. So, and as part of that, we were tasked by the city to provide due diligence, decision support, and ultimately recommendations
to support the spirits business opportunity to expand their physical location. We concluded that work the week of April 6th. We provided those findings to the liquor committee in a
one-hour session that uh provided them detail and an overview of the five-page document that uh you were all provided as part of your packet. Ultimately, that document was turned over to the city on April 9th, and we were asked by city staff to uh support a discussion and
answer any questions you might have regarding those recommendations and the document we created. Flora, do you have anything to add as well or No, >> no, I mean that has been turned over and as I understand it already been digested
by the city and uh the liquor committee and so we're here to answer any questions you might have about that. >> Okay, let me start with council to see what questions they might have. I'll start with council member Hall. Obviously,
this is just the start and the first little glimpse at stuff. Um, yeah, thank you for this information. That's um I think enough information at this point to make a decision. Um, looking forward to the rest of the report.
Council members on >> one line in here that catches my attention from you all in this report states that and I quote based on 5 years of sales performance declining profit trends inventory productivity and space
utilization. Your conclusion is clear expansion of lease space is not financially justified under current operating conditions. Um that was what the request was in regards to understanding the financial viability of
any fiscal investment for the spirits business enterprise uh as well as what will be coming with the pickle as well. So uh thank you for providing that to us at our liquor committee meeting week and
a half or so ago. So I appreciate that. >> April 6th. April 6th. That's right. >> Council member Freley. >> April 9th. >> No, nothing. Council member London. >> Okay. So, there were two items that had
kind of been going in front of this council for the past several months. One was um if the city would take additional space in the new building um that is adjacent to the spirit's current building um owned by the Schaers. And
then the second discussion was also around the current lease agreement that the city currently has with Schaers and exploring an amended lease agreement. And so those findings were shared in here. I'd like to see if Mr. Schaefer
wants to approach the microphone if he has anything to share and then after that if anyone from the audience here today has anything to share. >> Uh I guess my question is like who called the liquor committee meeting
that was had on the 9th? >> Since you're looking at me, I guess I don't have recollection as to who called it. Um Peggy, do you have recollection as to who called it? I don't >> who made the decision not to invite me. >> I I don't think that there was anything
in particular to inviting one individual or not to the liquor committee meeting. >> From what I've heard the last two council meetings is that you guys were supposed to invite me to a liquor committee meeting. That has yet to happen.
I >> I guess my follow-up question is where was that meeting posted? Are those not supposed to be open to the public? >> Posted prior? >> No, they have not. It's not our practice to post those. And it was a liquor
negotiating meeting to discuss all of these things that have been in question. So, I have shared with uh fellow council members and I've also shared this with folks. I do believe that the liquor committee meeting to me it's no
different than a planning and zoning, a public works or a parks and wreck. It should be open to the public and folks should be able to attend and information that's discussed because anything we do here at the city level, it's all a matter of public record anyway. Um, so
whether or not you, you know, folks agree or disagree with the discussion or an outcome, that's not really the point. The point is that we are trying to strive for transparency being open in these meetings from my lens. They should be noticed. They should be held in the
council chambers, no longer that conference room because we are discussing city business. Um, I was removed from the liquor committee uh by this council. So I'm not on the liquor committee anymore. I was however invited to this negotiation meeting. Um
I think it does say that the liquor committee unanimously recommends no change to our current lease. And I'm not certain that I fully gave my perspective one way or another because from my lens I don't always like to necessarily say or commit to how I might vote or what I
think because as more information surfaces or different inputs and contexts come up, you know, things can shift. So, I will just say from that lens, I think, and I did share this with folks, I think that we could have done better by Mr.
Schaefer and he I wasn't in charge of the inviting, but whoever was, that should have been a consideration, and information from my lens should have been shared with him as soon as we had it. I don't know how other folks on the council feel, but I just think if we're
always striving for transparency, more openness, it's never a bad thing. Miss Megie, when when was the day that the report was received? Because we did not have the report at the liquor committee meeting. It was Mr. Mike from
Delaney that came on virtually to give us the preliminary findings of what they came up with. Correct. >> Correct. >> And that was on a Wednesday, I believe. was a Wednesday. I received the report late Thursday and I sent it to council Friday. >> So, you guys had it first.
>> And when was it relay to Mr. Schaefer? >> I called Andy on Monday. >> Okay. >> But I didn't see it until the packet was released. >> Okay. Well, apologize for that. >> I
council member Freley. I I I'll agree with Mr. Schaefer, right? My recollection is is in that council meeting you were to be invited to the to the liquor committee and ball got dropped. I and I apologize. I don't know how it got dropped or why or
where, but yeah, I thought you were going to be there. >> Council member Hall, do you have anything you want to add? I actually made a motion that um Andy would be invited to that meeting, but um
online too is our city labor attorney Chris, you know, the what happened at this meeting, the way it was conducted, everything. Was it even legal is my question.
>> I I don't know enough to find on that. Okay, >> that might be a question for the city attorney versus the labor attorney, Mr. Pearson. >> Yeah. Yeah. Whether Andy was supposed to be there or not, it's not a question of whether the committee meeting was legal. >> Okay.
>> There was discussions happening, I think, revolving around some of these preliminary findings that Delaney was coming up with that were going to inform this discussion. So, I don't know that it was I wasn't there, but I don't know that it was even necessarily ripe to include Andy because the the committee
was just considering some preliminary findings about whether additional space should be sought or not. So, I don't know that the time has passed to have a conversation including Andy. I to what I'm hearing here sounds like it was preliminary conversation and then you
know where do we go from here sort of situation which no question that it wasn't it wasn't an illegal meeting. So then I guess um just reading through the report and maybe even the backup I think there's a lot of people in the crowd too
that you know doesn't know what's in the report or the numbers and stuff that we're looking at but um in the report it referenced some square footage prices and stuff. Um how did we obtain that
information? Does anybody know? >> I have to ask the >> Michael do you have an answer to that? Yeah. Um the document lays out as such that the first page walks you through our intake and all of the square
footage. Um if you're referencing specifically the price per square foot, the square footage of the building um that came directly from the leases. >> That's correct. So, I think to Council Member Hall's
point, folks in the audience might not know what we're referencing because everybody might not actually have the packet or have had a chance to look through it or go through it in detail, but as we shared, the items that have been coming before this council for the past seven months, I might be
off a month or two, um, have been again if Spirits, which is the city of Nisa because that's a municipal liquor store. If that business should consider taking additional space in the new development that the Schaers are building. Um, so
that was one piece of it. And then the second piece was our current lease agreement with the cities with Schaers goes through I think May of 2029, March of 2029 or May of 2029. And right now
the city is paying a per square foot rate of $17.90. And Mr. Schaefer had approached the city about amending that lease agreement to bring that 17.90 $17.90 per square foot up to $21 per
square foot based on the new um development that's going up adjacent to Schaers. Um adding a new loading dock um a heated sidewalk out in front of Spirits and some other things based on past discussions between the city employees of the city andor
council members and Mr. Schaefer and the council voted to hire a liquor consultant, Delaney Consulting, who is here with us tonight, to assess all the city's liquor businesses. And basically what came back in the scenario of looking at the revenues, uh, the
profitability is that there has been a, correct me if I'm wrong, Michael, a 40% profitability decline in the Spirits business over the past 5 years from 2021 through 2025. That analysis showed a decline in the
net gross profit percent of sales as well as net profits. To give folks in the room an example, in 2021, the net profits of Spirit were 489,000, so roughly 490. And in 2025, the net profit dollars were 282.
So that is a decline. So Delaney Consulting came back based on that and and making some projections out into this year and potentially the future. And again, Michael and Flora, correct me if I'm saying anything incorrectly from what you shared is that an expansion
just doesn't make sense for the business at this point in time based on numbers, margins, percentages. Um, did I say that roughly high level correctly? >> Yeah, you said it. Um, fantastic. Um, you know, you're rounding, but you're in
the ballpark, right, of of um of where they are. um the numbers you use um are accurate for net operating profit and um net income dollars. I think the other two um formulas that work to inform this
are actually maybe more important as far as pointing towards whether or not you need more space. So when you look at the opportunity to add more space, we were given two um exact uh square footage
scenarios to consider. So, at the top of page uh two of your document, scenario one and two basically says if you were to increase uh your square footage in either of those scenarios, your fixed
uh expense increase would be either $31,810 per year or $48,526 per year. What that means is the business would have to do between 500
and $764,000 more in sales per year. Um there's no strategy to accomplish that. And liquor as you may know is a declining industry and has been uh in a in a two to year
two to threeyear slide. Um so to take more space without the opportunity to um confidently offset it in revenue would would not be advisable. And then the second um second uh
part of the scenario that we put together is on page four which is your inventory turns. your inventory is slowing in terms of turns and that speaks to you have um you have
enough space to support your existing revenue as well as continue to grow at a normalized year-over-year rate as well. So space isn't a barrier to growth and and adding additional space would do
nothing but um take returns away from the city of Nisa and the constituents which is the purpose of the of the Mun Liquor Enterprise. >> Thank you. Yeah, it's our point of view that, you know, this expansion would add
fixed costs to a a business that is currently operationally constrained and declining. So adding fixed costs would not be uh in the best interest of the citizens who have a lot to do with the um outcome and benefits
of the spirits liquor store. Council member Hall, >> can I maybe this is partially a number and um um building question though, but the business has been operating. I'm not currently on the liquor committee, but I
was a couple years ago. The business was currently operating um with an outside storage unit that has gone away due to the expansion. Has that all been considered talked about part of this like I you know
>> yes >> because in in one of in your line item you know said you know the higher volume buying discounts you know in there and so I'm just wondering if we're already declining
you know and that goes away that actually that actually helps us or hurts us or I was confused by page number two on the bottom there if you could speak to that. >> You know, um there's an old saying in
retail that you make money one of two ways. You either make money buying product or you make money selling product. And the money that Niswah spirits could gain by buying
incrementally more volume to get reduced prices is not offsetting or would not offset the volume and increases that could happen from increasing sales. So it's important to think about that when you think about
slowing down your inventory. Inventory caught up in volume purchases is capital funds that the city has sitting in inventory. So the better way to make money as a retailer is to make those
turns go faster and throw cash off your investment. >> So that is an important thing to measure. When you're talking about the bottom of page two, are you talking about the footnote? No, you explained
everything what I was asking. So, yep. I just wanted you to maybe explain that for the public and because report. >> Okay. Council member London has something. >> I'm not on a liquor committee either, but I definitely feel that Mr. Schaeer should with his experience in retail and
business should be part of these meetings and have some input with his experience and knowledge. She's got a big stake in this expansion and I think it's it's very important for him to share in this and have some input.
>> Council members on you. Did you still have something or >> No, not exactly. Uh Flora answered the question. Uh I'm going to reiterate one more time to as to the ultimate outcome of that initial liquor committee meeting of having a discovery internally for us
to be able to understand What were we to expect? We didn't have the report quite yet. It would have been premature in my opinion and it wasn't of my opinion or decision to include or exclude anybody from that meeting. So, I I hope it's understood that's not I
don't want it to feel like it's a personal decision here. Uh this is business. We're elected to represent all of you and our tax dollars as well. And when it comes down to the boiling sense of this business as well as what will come with the pickle factories uh
findings from Delaney, it's it's clear that we have opportunities to improve the operating business models. Uh I appreciate Flora you talking about the aspect of fixed costs because fixed cost for us in terms of a lease is long-term
uh typically outliving any of us on a council term basis. And for myself as a business owner, uh, I try to look at the dollars and cents of it and look at the long-term viability of does this or thus make sense for us to be able to move forward
with because we will not be able to get ourselves out of this. And it would be hard for me to justify based on that preliminary uh, explanation that Mike gave us on a uh, Zoom call uh, with that report that came out a day later and was
distributed to council the following day and then to Mr. Schaefer the next Monday. Uh that this was a viable path forward. Um we do understand that the relationship with Andy and your family and specifically your business across this
your parking lot uh from where Spirits is at now is is a strong one. We hope that they mutually benefit each other for many years in the future. Uh but as it sits right now, I believe that it was this full consensus and madame mayor
tell me or correct me if I'm wrong, but uh I do believe it was a unanimous recommendation to not proceed based on these preliminary findings. Um we have at least that's going to be coming up here in a few years and at that point uh some decisions can be made as uh as to
what will be the next steps for this business enterprise, its location and beyond. Council member Hall. >> So outside of the numbers and the business sense on the square footage going up and
down, is there still discussion the liquor committee needs to have with Andy as far as maybe more logistics? You know, the building changed, parking lot change, flow of stuff has changed. Is there still some discussion points on
that that needs to happen or has that happened or not happened or where we at with that? >> To my knowledge, it has not happened and it does still need to happen uh with a future liquor committee meeting or a special meeting to be able to get in front of the Schaefer family to be able to figure out what next steps are based
on prior conversations. There's some limitations that have been put on the table that are going to hinder perhaps or alter uh the operations of spirits that we need to streamline so we don't have any hiccups in operations. Uh, so
perhaps Maggie, we can get a liquor committee meeting perhaps even posted to the to the Madame Mayor's point to be able to streamline some of these lingering talking points.
>> Certain, >> excuse me. Certainly we can do that. I did talk with Andy about some of I'll say the lingering items and one of them is the dumpster and where that would be located and um I don't know that as
city staff we have an issue with the location. It would just be out by our sign in the grass. Um, I did talk with Andy in regards to the parking spaces out front and if there was any ability to um potentially adjust that and
whether that was there for drainage or a specific reason for the flow of traffic. I think Andy, correct me if I'm wrong, was open to removing that if that was beneficial. Um, I did talk with Stephen
um, in our planning and zoning to see if the council had interest and was interested in moving forward with that that we might be able to get that on the May 5th meeting to get that approved on for there will be some moving pieces, but I know that Andy wants to pave here
in May. So, there is some engineering and things that might need to be done. I know the drainage is going there anyways, but you would have to remove that island. Um, as far as the loading dock goes, um, that is an amenity that we currently have that is going to be
removed and we're going to have no longer use of it unless we amend our agreement per Andy. >> You currently just have a garage door, not a loading dock. >> Well, yes. So, there, like I said, I feel like there are two items. So, I'm just going
to come back to it, council, because we owe it to Mr. Schaefer to consider a motion on the two items. The one item would be if Spirits is going to take any additional space. Um, we've been talking to him for months and
I just think the right thing to do is we need to have some direction there. And then the second item is, is the council open to entertaining an amended lease agreement with our second
amended lease? I think we're on a second amended lease. I don't know if you want to say anything else. Um, >> well, I did tell Maggie that we already had a meeting in planning and zoning and redid the parking lot and all that stuff. And I don't know why the city
didn't approach me or us then. You know, you expect all of us citizens to just know what you guys are doing all the time and then this comes around. So I am not willing to pay anymore to do that. So if you guys want to pay the engineering fees and all that jazz
to remove that, then we can talk about that. But I am not in favor of paying any more money. >> Is everybody up to speed on the situation there? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Is there Oh, go ahead, Council Member
Hall. >> I would have to agree with Andy because you, you know, as Brian that brought up that wanted that, you know, as an employee of the city wanted that removed. So, actually at that meeting we had asked, I think Dave was at the meeting, you know, what would need to be
done engineering wise to do that. I'm not sure Stephen if that's gone anywhere or not or you know after that meeting I'm not sure what happened or who took the ball on that if that was you Stephen or somebody else. >> Um Stephen is our planning and zoning
department head. >> Good afternoon everyone. Yeah. So, at the most recent planning commission meeting where the parking lot was discussed, it was to entertain a variance to the landscaping requirements and removal of a second island that was proposed. Uh, part of the proceedings were that modifications to that would
have to be come back before the planning commission and board of adjustment. Um and so we could certainly entertain that and add that as uh Miss Wenter had mentioned to the May 5th meeting under I would assume new business and just get that site plan whatever that depiction
would look like to them. Uh but the city has taken no further engineering work as it relates to this proposal to remove that that final island. >> Council member Hall, do you have any followup for Mr. Timberland? Oh, Mr.
Pearson, did you have your hand up? >> Stephen, that even that island is there because of our ordinance, right? >> Correct. >> It's part of the CUP requirement, right? >> It's part of the ordinance requirements for 5% landscaping within a parking lot. >> If it were to re be removed by just
amending the cup to remove that requirement, we could do that. There isn't additional engineering that would need to be done, right? isn't the drain. That's not a drainage. Um, >> it's not a basin itself. It's a recipient in in my interpretation that
is a conduit towards the storm basin >> reducing impervious. That's fine. But isn't this just mechanically as simple as just amending the CUP to remove that requirement? >> I think it would be as simple as just uh showing a new site plan to the planning commission board of adjustment for review of it and approval.
Yeah, don't quote me, but I think unless you know something different, I think Andy's contractor had said it might need to have stuff adjusted that's already currently in the ground from last fall. So, they might have to rework something
in the parking lot, but I'm just going off memory what was talked about at that meeting. So that's where I think the extra expense would come up. But >> it's a good question for him. >> But that'd be a question for the contractor, but I believe that's what he
had stated at the plane zoning meeting. If that's the case, Joe, does the city want to commit if Andy asks his engineer for whatever specs change or whatever in order to do that? Is the city willing to pay the
expense that Andy will incur with his engineer to get that done? Because that would seem to be the necessary thing that needs to go to the planning commission to entertain um a an amendment to the cup to remove that structure.
>> Yeah, I believe so. And that's what was kind of talked about at the planning zoning meeting. So, um, but like I say, I'm not sure if has anybody reached out to you, Dave, or or, uh, Stephen or
>> we looked at the, uh, plan that was presented at planning and zoning. I think we had a few comments. One was this might have to go to Dolly for plan review department for commercial site development for the
storm sewer. So, you know, but other than that, there's no city engineering costs added to it. >> Yeah. So, maybe I'd just say, Andy, have your contractor reach out to Stephen and
get him that information. And if and there might not be anything. >> Every time he does something, it costs me money. That's what I'm saying. I'm not paying anymore. So, if you guys want to reach out to him and talk to him and pay him for his time instead of me, that's fine. I'm sure
>> I'm done flipping the bill for city that can't even communicate with me. >> So, I would like to ask this council if if anyone sitting up here on the dis right now has a motion related to
taking additional space in the the new um development that Mr. Schaefer is building. Is there anyone up here that has a motion related to that specific item at this point in time? >> I make a motion to not make any changes
to spirits in this law third amended lease that's been proposed from the shapers regarding this. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Is there any additional discussion? >> All right. Um, all those in favor signify by saying I. I.
I didn't hear catch that. Sorry. Was it council member Zan I? >> Freley and council member London voted I. Did you vote I? Okay. All those opposed? Okay. Motion carries.
And then the other so that was related to the third amended lease agreement but then there's also the matter of the additional space. Could could this piece understanding your situation, Andy, on that front, I mean, I'm wondering if this piece could be considered in
regards to if there is a co there's there's going to be a cost. There's going to be engineered time to be able to do that, but Brian has stated that they would like to have that parking lot be asis, right? So perhaps could this cost be pulled from
the liquor fund once we understand what that is? But what is the process for us to be able to get to that point of being able to uh get those engineer drawings? >> Wouldn't we need we need Mr. Pearson? Wouldn't we need a council motion first that we would if the council if we're
looking at picking up that cost through the liquor fund? Um >> I guess yeah, I'd make a motion. >> Okay, go ahead. Council member H. I'd make a motion that WSN, maybe Dave would reach out to Andy's contractor to just
start the discussion to see what the situation is and uh come back to us with a feedback and that we would pay WSN's cost to get that done. >> Can >> um Council Member Halt made a motion. Do you need him to repeat it? Council
member London seconded. >> Yep. >> Okay. Any additional discussion? >> Yes. uh timeline though assuming >> yeah I don't think we have time to come back to for this >> so Mr. Schaefer when are you planning on paving
>> well >> yesterday >> one of the road restrictions coming up >> okay >> yeah so shortly after that >> okay >> we got to connect the sewer prior and then repave >> all of it Mr. Ree, is there ability on
your end to be able to accommodate this >> to contact his engineer and get the plan developed? Is that what you're asking? >> Correct. >> Or for us to prepare a plan.
>> Yeah. I'd say for you guys to look at it and see if there's a change that needs to be made and address it. >> Okay. Yes. there's time that we can make available to work with their engineer. >> And the other aspect is on the ordinance
piece, Mr. Timberlin, is this a variance that is going to have to come before the So, the variance hearing that we uh entertained before, um I'm not going to be able to pull the exact percentages out of my mind, but I feel like it was
an approval of 1.92% where 5%'s required. Uh the applicant demonstrated a perimeter uh buffer that would constitute a vegetative protection to the parking lot as a kind of a trade-off to that. Um,
Mr. Pearson, you also mentioned that you envisioned that this would be a CUP amendment. Um, such a hearing would be subject to public hearing requirements. Uh, I'd have to put notice in the paper for an action such as that versus new business where I could simply place it on there as a plan review modified
approval perhaps by the planning commission and board of adjustment. So, I just want to highlight that for city council as we talk about scheduling and timelines. Um, state of Minnesota has very strict timelines for publication requirements for these public hearings.
So, >> okay, we have a motion and second. We're in discussion. Is there additional discussion here or are you ready for me to call the question? Council member Hall, >> just so I was clear with what you said,
Stephen, you're saying there's no way to make this happen without drawing it out for a period of time and publicizing it and jumping through all these hoops. There's no other >> than placement under new business. with that
>> other than placement under new business. Um if it's a public hearing item amending a CUP, which I'd have to look at the specific findings of facts and conditions to see whether an amendment would be required for this case, um my original my initial opinion to that
would be that it wouldn't, but um I would defer to the city attorney for city advice on that as well. >> Yeah. then I would look at doing something after the fact so it doesn't hold this up because once again it's just going to cost more dollars and at this point it's more dollars to the city
so I don't know is that an option to do it after the fact >> it's still >> Mr. Pearson. >> It's the city's ordinance that needed to be complied with which required this island to be constructed.
It's the city that's asking for permission essentially to eliminate that. It strikes me that there's got to be a fasttrack way to do that. I don't prefer doing it after the fact, but there's got to be a way to expedite that
given the unique nature of this situation. Yes, if it's a cup amendment, then those typically need to go through the proper channels. This is a little bit different animal because of the fact that the city is requesting a departure from its own ordinance requirements,
>> right? Fancy precedent. So, can't we just make a motion since can't we just make a motion here tonight to just be done with this? Cuz like you said, the city's asking itself to undo
something that it did. I mean, it just doesn't get much more ridiculous than this. >> Yeah. I I think the I think the answer is in the unique circumstances we have here, yes. It's not a process we'd normally recommend, right? Given the nature of what I just said and what this
is, >> the answer is probably yes. The council could just go ahead >> and um make a motion to amend if it's the cup or whatever storm water management plan um to remove this requirement and to get
whatever engineering is necessary in order to address that so that that can happen and paving can without that structure in that parking lot. >> Okay, we have a motion second on the table. Currently a motion council member
Hall made by you. >> So we'll move move ahead with that motion for Dave and >> Okay. So any other discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries.
I'll make a second motion then that we uh that we move to get away or get rid of the conditions on the CUP um with the uh percentage of island coverage required
and that we just strike that from the cup and allow them to pave the parking lot. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> All right. Motion by council member Hall, second by council member London. Any additional discussion? All those in
favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Can I ask one clarif? Um I know Andy said that he was not going to pay for these additional fees. So is the council wanting to make a
motion to >> pay for those? >> You mean wave? Wait. Well, no. He has engineering fees. Whether it's Woodsth, like if Woods Seth is going to do it, I'm fine. But I don't know how Andy feels about Woods coming in with plans that he has with his engineer.
>> Did that first motion not cover that? >> No. I thought it did. >> I I thought it >> Yeah, I thought it did. >> That was my intent for them to go out there and do that. >> Okay. Do you want to make a third motion just so we cover everything?
>> In the event I make a motion that in the event that there are fees associated to this modification that the fees be paid from the directly from the liquor fund. >> Okay. Do we have a second? Okay. Motion by council member Zan, second by council member London. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify
by saying I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. >> Okay. >> Probably should have been a cap. >> Thank you. Do you have anything else, Mr. Schaefer? >> No. Like, where do we go from here? What's What's the plan? Do we have a
plan? Miss Maggie, can we schedule a liquor committee meeting perhaps for midweek next week if possible to be able to get the liquor committee together with Mayor
Carneahan as well as the city attorney and the engineer to be able to walk through all remaining outstanding items regarding this expansion that is no longer happening for Spirits of Niswah, but any other outsiding items.
Can you do that? >> We can do that. >> Let's target Wednesday if possible if that works. >> Sure. As far as I know, >> I'll work on something. >> Okay. Thank you everyone. Um the >> quick I got one >> council member Hall
>> for Andy leaves. Many of you might know or might not know you're looking at the citizen of the year. Okay. Um, we still have Delaney Consulting on with us. Item number two under old business is just if you guys have an update on the rest of the
plan and the progress. >> Yeah, thank you for that. Madame Mayor, city council members and citizens and staff from Niswah. We are currently moving from discovery to the analysis phase. We have been to Nisah twice to do
two market visits. We have two more scheduled. Um we have been pulling POSOS data, doing competitive store visits, doing comp shops and diving deep into the information that uh the city has been kind enough to provide us. Uh we
will next be up there in three weeks where we will be focusing on the final uh sweep through of all the remaining outstanding questions as well as doing some interviews with uh team members. At this point we just want to let you know
that we're on time and we're on target for our final deliverables which continues to be ready uh to be delivered to the city before the June city council meeting. So that is where things stand
right now. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um does council have any questions for Delaney Consulting before we let them go and move on? >> No. >> Okay. Thank you guys for joining us. We appreciate all the effort and we look forward to getting the next uh batch of
information for the report. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next up under old business is organization structure admin/clerk finance department. Um, council member Zan had asked for this to be put on the
agenda. >> For the time being, I'd like to make a motion to table this topic um perhaps until the next city council meeting. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by council members on
second by council member London. Any discussion from council? Council member Freley, >> can I get a typo changed out of here? Uh, under essential functions, uh, one, two, third item down says serve at
should be served as. >> Okay, we can change. But did you hear the motion? He wants to >> I just we'll make a note about it. Does that work? >> Yep. That's perfect. >> Okay. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Okay, motion carries and we will table this until the May meeting. Um, next up is the administrator clerk position. We have Mr. Humpalon with SCSC. >> We know you've been >> It's Wendle. >> Wendle. Oh, Wendell. Sorry.
>> Wendell. >> Wendell, you're on mute. Oh, there you go. >> Um, I'm having a little trouble there technologically. >> Yeah. So, I don't know if you could hear us, but and and we apologize because we know you've been sitting on Zoom for quite a while waiting for us to get to this agenda item. Um, the item before
this was to for council to discuss the organization structure of the admin clerk uh finance department, which would play a key role in obviously your consulting um services, but we made you
wait so long and you're here. So, do you have an update, any timing, any perspective that you want to share with council here regarding our search which we have gone through this year for the admin/clerk position for the city of
Nisa? Uh yeah, Madame Mayor, uh council members, staff, and and uh community members, uh we are obviously contemplating how best to move forward uh uh to restart the search, as you've
alluded to. It's our opinion at this point that it would be best uh to readvertise after the end of summer uh because of vacations and I'm sure uh with activity uh the anticipated
activity level in the city of Nisma in the summer it probably not the optimum time for uh restarting the process. So uh we have been talking internally about how do we uh shape our
uh advertising and then where we will be informally uh spreading the word about the position and the upcoming search uh informally through the various uh city uh gatherings that take place over the summer. the League of Cities, the
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and uh in the near term here at the end of the month, uh the Minnesota City Managers Association is meeting uh in Brainard. So, uh that'll be an opportunity for us also our staff uh to
talk about the upcoming search and spread the word uh with the idea of you know certainly obtaining uh the widest uh you know opportunity for uh applicants to consider u being part of
that upcoming effort. and we will uh if it meets with your approval u Mike will be in your area then for the MCMA conference at the end of the month April 29th through May 1st would be available should you wish for him to meet with
personnel committee to talk about more specifics for the process or in the alternative we can schedule another opportunity you know that fits your process but we will have some recommendations on the basis of what we would suggest to
consider in a potential employment agreement and the issue of housing and housing cost in the area and spousal uh employment all those various things. So I guess we serve at your pleasure. I'd be interested in uh your input in how
you feel we could best move forward uh with the process. Does council have any questions for Wendle around the process, around his recommendation to consider holding and reposting after the summer season and potentially getting us all
together uh when Mr. Humble is in the area. It sounds like next week. I'll start with you, Council Member Freley. >> Well, I won't be here next week. >> Oh, okay. >> I'll be gone. I won't be back until the end of the month. Um,
so Wendle, basically the reason why we're waiting until the fall is because it's too busy in this all over the summer. Correct. The other thing too is isn't it generally that uh people that are looking for a change uh typically
like to go and move at this time, especially if they have children. Uh well there are so many issues with when the children are out of school uh you know for vacations and and all those various things. Uh we don't find the
summer to be the best time uh uh for advertising. However uh we certainly are flexible you know on a schedule. So um we suggest this for your consideration and uh look forward to your response.
What do you have anything additional council member Freley? >> No, not at this time. >> Okay. Council member London >> best interest of the city and can't get any candidates but think for a while and bring it back in.
>> Council members on >> I that's a different perspective than what I would have taken myself window but I understand it. I would think that when children get out of school, they're going to have some more flexibility to be able to start to really go scout and
feel an area. And why not have them come here in the middle of summer when it's ripe, beautiful, packed with people? Um, so I'm in favor of launching this as late as June, uh, perhaps and even May. That's my suggestion on the matter.
>> Okay. Council member Hall. Yeah, I would completely agree. It seems a little backwards to me to wait. >> Have you ever moved anywhere in the middle of winter? >> I've never >> I moved to Grand Forks in the middle of winter. Never again.
>> No, but I just a couple things. um you know, even with the placement time frame of people and stuff, if we don't go get, you know, try and get this figured out, we're going to we're going to lose a whole another calendar year. Our staff
is already overwhelmed uh with what we have going. Um we need we need that city administrator in here for a hundred different reasons. And uh
yeah um you know or obviously they're hard to come by. You know we've you know I did a little calculation last week. We've had in the last year 10 different people that have either been in the role, asked to be in the role, joined
the role, not say they're not interested in the role, you know. So obviously these people are hard to come come by. Um, but I think the s the sooner the better.
>> Um, Wendell, I tend to agree. I think that we should get moving again on the search because there is a lot of activity going on with the city in this one and staff are kind of strapped at this point in time and we
do a disservice to all the people in this city when we don't have basically the administrator role filled for the city of Nisa. Uh certainly I I u I think I'm hearing
what a con consensus here that uh you'd wish us to move forward more expeditiously. So let us come back to you u with uh an updated schedule along the lines that that you're talking uh for the initial
um uh advertisement of the position and then come up with a timeline for the hiring process. So, uh, >> council member Freley first on council members on >> Well, I was just wondering why can't we set the timeline?
>> Well, they I think he they want to share a timeline that gives them the time they need to to do all the processes and whatnot. I'm not trying to speak for you, Wendle, but that's been our experience in working with you. But but with that that
means if so a different timeline then we're talking about the May meeting before we can >> well we can call a special meeting if we need to make a vote and motion and move. >> I'd like to see their how fast Wendle how fast do you think you can get that timeline done? >> Uh we can do that by next week.
>> Perfect. Okay. I like >> member Zan has something. >> Yeah. Uh, I would say a target based on the consensus I think from this council Wendell would be perhaps we can try to get this posted in May, early May. And
if we can give a preemptive motion right now from the council to be able to authorize, I believe it was additional $2,000 for the reposting. Memory serves right to be provided the number to Maggie.
Yep. So without if I mayain a motion. >> Yeah. I'd like to make a motion madame mayor to authorize SCSC to proceed with the city administrator/clerk job search as soon as possible. >> Do we do we have a second?
>> I second. >> Council member Zan made the motion. I heard council member London first. So that's a second. Any additional discussion? >> Yes. One more piece on that Wendell. Once that timeline comes out, you have the green light to proceed. So, as long
as it gets in the hands of this council, I think we should be unanimous in its execution. So, if it's similar as last time, I think you're going to be producing candidates within a 45day or 60-day window by memory, I believe. So,
knowing that, we might be in a situation where we have interviews midsummer and hopefully try to find somebody before uh school starts in the fall. So, >> we'll put our best schedule together and get it to you uh by early next week.
>> Perfect. Well, we have a motion and a second on the table. Um if there's no additional discussion, I I'd like to call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed? Okay. Motion carries. All right. Next up under old business is uh public works. This was brought up at our
March meeting. Uh Mr. Blommer, our public works director, is not here, but he had brought forward a recommendation to council asking to have council member Hall confirmed as a second council liaison to the public works committee.
Um, we decided to table that item and push it to this meeting because council member Zan uh wanted the ability to reach out to some individuals on the public works committee and I don't know if you had a chance to do that.
>> I did. I spoke to uh Mr. Tom, Mr. Dill uh and then had some text messages with Galen uh all today. As a matter of fact, um it was unanimous consensus that they did not believe that another member from the council, regardless of who it was, uh was necessary to be on the board. Uh
suggestion from I believe two of the three, if not all three, was to open it up to add another uh seat to the public to be able to get another private citizen on there. Uh that is all being said without
speaking to Mr. Blommer. Um, and our our collective condolences to Tom Bomber. Uh, he lost his father just within the past few days. So, he is not here for obvious reasons. So, um, if you don't mind, I'd like to make a motion perhaps on this. Uh, I'd like to make a motion
to advertise a public works committee seat as soon as possible to bring that board. I would Sorry, my motion's over. >> I'll second. >> Okay. We have a motion from council members on a second from council member
Freilley. Any additional discussion from council >> which would then bring that board to I believe four >> four from the >> correct >> correct. >> Now the only question I have on that is does it need to be an odd number? >> I thought >> does the liaison have a tiebreaking
ability? I've been on this for four years and I don't think we've ever seen a committee tie. So is is >> that committee is not set up for the liaison to vote. >> It's an advisory board more or less. Correct. >> Understood then. Okay. >> Okay. So we have a motion in a second.
Um if there's no other discussion, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um, the last item we had under old business, um, the executive director from Hills Crossing has, uh, reached out to the
city about adding a street light near Hills Crossing, which is just behind the fire hall. Uh, unfortunately, uh, Jacob Work, the executive director, he also had a personal family emergency. He couldn't be here tonight. Um, so he's requesting, and given that Mr. Blomber can't be here tonight either, if we can
table this and push this to the May meeting if there's no objection. Um, >> no. I make a motion that we table this agenda item to May. >> Okay. Motion by council member Hall to table. Second by council member London. Any discussion? All those in favor
signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um, now we're on to new business. So, the first item under new business is we have a member of the community, uh, Katie Ellsworth. uh she has been doing a lot of research and work and she is here to
share tonight with the council and everyone in the room and also everyone watching um on a pedestrian safety project request. So, Miss Ellsworth, we will turn it over to you. Thank you for being here. >> Thank you. Uh like I like she said, my
name is Katie Ellsworth. I am here to propose that the city >> Yes. >> either the microphone closer to you or or you closer to it. Thank you. >> Maggie warned me about that, too. Uh, I'm here to propose that the city seriously consider or investigate an
above or below grade crossing at the 371 and upper Roy Lake Road intersection to both address safety and improve happiness of a significant portion of Niswah's population. Um, I did provide a report. I tried to do as much research
as possible. um if we could cross safely, uh residents along that route within a 2-m radius, uh would only be a/4 mile to 2 and a/4 miles from the Paul Bunan State Trail, uh and only one
to three miles from Main Street. Uh I am personally familiar with traffic south of town from my summers here, but this is actually my first full year here. We moved in the winter and we were actually pretty surprised at how consistent the traffic is even in winter. Um, and I
personally can't imagine crossing that intersection in the summer with my family and guests. We consistently have four bikers and one of us pulls a little trailer with my toddler. Uh an alternative that we could consider is biking all the way around Edna and
Fawn Lakes to the Highway 29 crossing or county road 29 crossing which will eventually have an atgrade sidewalk through the the 371 redefine but that adds 3 to 5 miles round trip and that's just not feasible for any more casual
walkers or bikers. Um, we could also just drive and park, but I think that negates the purpose of trying to be more outdoorsy and enjoying the nature while we have good weather. Uh, on my proposal, you can see a map. I
tried to focus on a two-mile area in the black. Um, that includes 190 or more residents. I just looked at Google Maps and counted the houses. um six lakes, three tourists or hospitality businesses. Um and I'm sure some people
outside of that 2-m radius would also be happy to use a crossing if it exa existed. Um this would be a good opportunity for hospitality business guests, property values, and therefore eventually tax revenue. Um and it would
attract more home buyers. According to a rural design study that I found, there is also a 270% return on investment in residents health alone, not considering all of the other benefits. I understand a project like this is a
large undertaking. I did find a few studies of similar small communities based in tourist destinations that showed great economic impact um if that is our concern as well as a few Minnesota case studies. Um there was the Itasca Hartland Connection tunnel and
also the Crosby Crosby Highway 6 tunnel. Um Itasa pursued their tunnel entrance specifically because and I quote high traffic made walking and biking too risky and that was only a two-lane
highway. This is a four-lane highway. Crosby already had an atgrade crossing and were still concerned. So, they installed a tunnel beneath their atgrade crossing. Again, that was only a two-lane highway. Um, I did include cost estimates.
Examples were 1.1 to 1.3 million for a two-lane highway. So, I would assume it would be closer to that national benchmark of 4 million. But the two examples I provided got over 90% of their funding through state and local resources and grants. I am not an expert
or familiar with government funding. I included a list of programs that I could find that might relate to this project. But all I am asking is that the council do what is necessary to try to make the vision a reality. Whether it's investigating, have your engineers look
at it, etc. Um, I was only able to explore my neighborhood for one Friday afternoon. I took time off of work. Um, and less than I I was only able to v visit less than half of the focus area I included. Um, that does not include
snowbirds, weekenders, or those that were at their day jobs. But of the people that I were I was actually able to meet with, 20 of them were very interested in this. And that was all but one house. Um, so I think if I had made
it to more of my community, I would have had more signatures to show to you that this this is something that the neighborhood does want and would use. Many of them mentioned uh asking the council to consider a way for golf carts
and motorized vehicles to use it as well so that they could make it into town um for those who don't bike or walk. Um but yeah uh so I am asking the council to please uh look into or investigate this option
to address both safety and happiness. >> Um thank you so much. I just first want to say I know you've put a lot of time and effort into this. The research that you've done is very impressive. Um your advocacy is inspiring for this
community. So really thank you because I know you reached out to all of us several months ago and it's very impressive to see how much work you've done. Um and and you have made an impact already. So thank you. But I will open it up to council for questions or comments for Miss Ellsworth. Council
member Freillley, I'll start with you. So, I pulled Katie aside before the meeting just um because I'm very familiar with the Itasa uh tunnel there. Um which will be finished this fall with everything up there. Um and cost of the
whole thing was cuz it was two parts was $4.5 million. Um the city doesn't have the authority to say yes, we can put it over or under that. That's a state thing. Um what we had to do up there was is is is as I
discussed with Katie is um there were some accidents or fatalities and it wasn't until a young man was paralyzed that the state all of a sudden got interested. It needs to be grassroots. Um we started with uh citizens that were concerned as you are and this is great
that you came forward. Um, and then working with the smaller communities and then we brought in Park Rapids, NEAS, and we brought in the county and then finally the state. Overall, that took 26 years, but hopefully this this won't take that long. Um, I'm all for uh
citizens working with if if we have time. Um, if Katie I has Katie talked to you? >> Okay. But but I think what we need in my opinion and it's just my opinion I think we need uh citizens to come forward work
together with the city. Also we need to look you know to get our uh county commissioner involved and possibly this our two representatives for the state that live in the area to come on board and set something up to talk to get this
moving forward. Um but it's all up to the state whether they want to or not. Um, so yeah, I I just hope they will because I've been wanting this for a while. >> I will say the the Itasa situation, I I tried to look into how long both of
those took. Um, and it sounds like it was about 20 years for anything to be put together. But once It Ita had that citizen committee, it took three years, >> right? And the other good thing >> ongoing. >> The other good thing there is all of the
money was uh um state legislated bonding except for the 150,000 that the county had to come up with, but that was under a federal grant. So the the state helped them there. So that will be good. So my opinion is to move forward with this. >> Council member London,
>> want to compliment you in all your work and I'm sure you're willing to work even harder. uh this is in the best interest of public safety for our community and your neighbors and so forth and that I'm behind it and uh hopefully we can get the DNR, our city staffers, uh mindot
and so forth and some state uh government people behind you to support you in your wishes and hopefully it'll go through. Thank you. >> Thank you council members on >> if you haven't heard we have an opening on the public works committee that's coming up.
applications will be accepted shortly. I think you've proven yourself already, ma'am. Um, it's a disappointment that Mr. Blommer is not here with us today, but perhaps there's some relevant minds here that have idea as to what the cost was for
the tunnel right over here. Um, a part of that highway project. I a project like this, especially when we get MDOT involved, it's I I think you know, it's going to be a huge uphill push.
There's federal funding limitations that they're running against, too. And they've made that apparent to us, I think sometime last year, uh kicking the can down the road again and again. >> I think next year, Madam Mayor, you stated it's a bonding. >> It's a bonding year. >> Yeah. That bodess well. Um but I think
in order to have this momentum continue to be carried forward as like a grassroots campaign as you've already started um perhaps a committee with or uh like the parks committee perhaps could continue to help drive that and
and be able to have you attend and to be able to help uh kind of quarterback that piece for us to be able on the city side to be able to push as well. Um, I think we have some good relationships with the Heinesman's, our state reps, um, and
state senator, uh, as well as the county commissioner sometime coming in here. It's election cycle, so they're definitely going to be in here this year, um, saying hi. So, I don't think you should give give up this push and consider um, joining
our committee uh, on the public works side. I mean, the more you get involved on the city, even just on a committee basis, it it opens your horizons up to what we try to work through and with. And I started out on planning and zoning
like five or six months before uh council member resigned. And I applied and I got appointed, but after the fact, I was reminded, yeah, you were the only one that applied, so it wasn't that great. But I appreciate it. This is
great and thank you for sending it to me in advance so I could go through it. Um, good job. >> Thank you, Council Member Hall. >> Yeah. No, I a I agree. Thank you. It's a dangerous intersection. Don't Don't take your kiddos across there right now.
>> Yeah. >> Well, thank you so much. I don't think we need a formal motion because it sounds like everybody's in cons consensus to figure out ways to help move forward. So, it sounds like um you can connect with staff and then there's the parks committee and and there's
other ways so we can continue the work that you've done. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much again for all of your hard work. >> Thank you. >> That's what it's all about right there. >> Um I was going to shift um an agenda
item up next, but the two ladies aren't here. So, are you okay if I leave you where you are, Terry? Okay. All right. The next under new business, we have a 2026 Nysa Chamber event summary, and we have the president of the chamber with us, Cali. Good evening, everyone. Um,
this is just kind of a routine thing we do every year. Just a summary of all of our events. um instead of applying for a special event permit per event, I just kind of throw it all together for you to um kind of bulk approve.
Okay. Does council have any questions for Cali? It's all the wonderful events that make this town so special and we're excited summer's coming back because it's been a horrible winter. Yes. Um, so, uh, Miss Wentler, do we need a motion to just accept all of these as
noted in the packet? >> Yes. Okay. >> And just one motion as well. >> Okay. All right. I would entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to accept the 20 2026 uh calendar of events as presented. >> Second.
>> Okay. Motion by council member Hall. Um, I actually heard council members on second first. Um any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Next up, um we've got planning and zoning. Uh Mr. Timberlin, we have the chapter 20 ordinance amendments public hearing. >> Thank you. Uh so we have had extensive conversations at the planning commission and board of adjustment related to
proposed revisions for chapter 20 over the last two months. um they have forwarded a recommendation to set the public hearing for their next regular meeting of May 5th for um public comment to be engaged and um received by the city so we can answer questions of
the public and have that formal public hearing for these changes and I'm available for any questions as it relates to any of them. >> Okay. Um does council have any questions for Mr. Timberlin, Mr. Freley, council member Freilley, Council Member London, Council
Member Zan, >> would it Steve, Mr. Tumman, would it proper would it uh behoove us to have a workshop to go over any of these at any point pre-post hearing?
>> 146 pages is >> for the council. >> Yeah, for for the council. That's 146 page. 146 pages is fine. Um but it's it's just a lot of material, right? um and packets come out, you know, and we do our best to stay a breast with all
committees uh above and beyond our various assignments. But perhaps at some point, whether it's this or another one in the future, to have some workshop to give us some insight even uh >> yeah, pre-post public hearing.
>> That's all I add. >> Okay. Council member Hall. >> No, I just want to add a couple things. Um we've been through theund and some pages fully twice now with the whole >> um planning and zoning committee as well
as uh Chris Pence from the county you know um and just to give a little background to all the residents of NESA why this is going on who's driving it actually started with the previous uh
planning zoning uh lady Bethany um she who was the one that really started this momentum several years ago before I was even on counsel or anybody as Mark as many of you know um working through this whole process with Chris Pence from the county trying to get it aligned a lot of
the rules uh were actually um contradicting each other also a lot um had put been put in place um or had been left in place forever and so just still
working through the steps on trying to clean them up, change them, update them uh with current times and our current um um uh forgive me. What's the thing we have with the city? >> The what?
>> The our document that we work off. Oh, >> the ordinance. >> Oh, the comprehensive plan. >> Thank you. To match to match and align with the comprehensive plan. Well, that's background. A lot of people don't know why this is being done, but that's why they're being done. So, um, by all means, yeah. Um, if you guys want to go
through it, I'll probably sit it out since I've done it twice, but >> uh, >> yeah, >> otherwise words are too small. >> Um, okay. Well, I I agree with council members on I think a workshop at some point might be useful because we are
going to have to vote on it as a council. Sure. >> And it would be good to actually like have the color commentary, right? Because you guys work so closely with it. The rest of us haven't. just so we know what we're actually voting on. >> Um >> I I would just recommend to do that as soon as possible then just to keep this
momentum and it doesn't stall out at this point because it's all been reviewed. >> Um you know >> that's fair. >> Yeah, just to keep going. >> All right. Um I would entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to proceed with the chapter 20 ordinance amendments public
hearing as presented. >> Do we have a second? >> Okay. Motion by council member Zan. Second by council member London. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um Stephen, you're still up with the zoning
map amendment. Item number four under new business. >> Thank you. Uh so last month we did have a applicant approach the city for a zoning map amendment down West Lindon. Um, the planning commission is forwarding a recommendation to city
council to approve that zoning map amendment from open space residential to Shorland residential for two parcels 28220715 and 28220716. >> Okay. Do we have any questions uh for council for Mr. Timberlin? Okay. I would
entertain a motion. >> And we will need two motions. One to approve the amendment and then we will need one to publish the summary. I'll make a motion to approve the amendment. >> I'll second it.
>> Okay. Motion by Council Member Hall, second by Council Member London. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. And then we need a second motion, Miss Wentler. Yes. To publish the summary.
>> I'll make a motion that we publish the summary. Second. >> Okay. Motion by council member Freillley, second by council member Hall. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries. And
then uh Mr. Timlin number five, driveway access. >> Yeah. So this application uh the city attorney and city staff has had met with the applicant for um development of a driveway access on an unopen platted
rideway. So, we are looking at the plat of Gull Lake Shores. Um, a historic document that dedicated for public use forever. A few corridors that went through there. Um, these parcels that the applicant is approaching the city for are landlocked. Um, the only access
being that 40ft strip of wild rice landing um, as depicted on the plat. So, we've hosted a DRT meeting with city staff and city attorney and the applicant about what that might look like if we were to allow them to develop that driveway upon that corridor. Um,
resulting in seven recommendations of potential conditions that might outline protections for the city and allowance for that applicant. >> Okay. Do we have any questions for Mr. Timberlin, Council Member Freley? Nothing.
Anyone? Okay. I would entertain a motion. >> Well, no, there's a motion necessarily here. Um, >> no, there isn't for this one. >> No, there really isn't. I mean, this is unique, right? This is a platted rideway that's never been built out. >> The Curtis family wants to get access to
a lot that they're developing there. >> Um, we don't want to build a road >> necessarily for this. So the concept is to is for the city to give the Curtises um and the cross the street if it turns out to be um a license agreement
essentially to build this driveway uh protect the city from responsibility for maintaining it etc. So that document is not prepared yet. What we would like your approval is to go forward with the concept, prepare the agreement that we need um
for David to sign off on so he can get constructing that. I don't know that that agreement needs to get in front of the council for a motion. I hope you'd give Stephen and I and uh Tom Blatitude to go ahead and just get that agreement drafted and get it signed. This is more
just about bringing the concept to you so that you know that we're talking about giving a license agreement across across a planted roadway that has not been developed. >> So can we just motion to give you guys the latitude? >> Yes. >> So moved.
>> All right. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by council member Zan, second by council member Freilley. Any additional discussion or questions from council? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um but
then Mr. Pearson, we have it. Driveway access agreement is number six. >> Part and parcel. >> Okay. Sounds good. So we can move on. All right. Number seven. Um zoning violation complaint. Uh Mr. Pearson, I
will turn this over to you. >> Thank you. uh populated your packet with an explanation of what this is and um what I'm recommending in response to it. Um because of the nature of the situation,
it's difficult for your city planner, who's also zoning enforcement responsibilities, to investigate this complaint and come up with some uh conclusions related to the complaint. and if there's a violation their um
proposed um enforcement action if there is one. So I took the uh liberty of seeking a third party independent contractor quote to do this work. You've got that in your packet. Um, if you
make a motion to approve this, then there would be a short independent contractor agreement with that third party in order to investigate this complaint and then report to the council. >> Okay. Does council have any questions for Mr. Pearson? Council members on
>> It's $5,500. Um, in your opinion, Mr. Attorney, would it be would it be acceptable uh prior to us pulling the trigger on that? Now, I I I agree with your I agree with your
assessment being objective and non nonbias. I mean, it's it's right, I believe. But would it be appropriate to have our city planner, excuse me, our
planning and zoning u director to be able to make a preliminary look into it to provide an assessment that there may or may not be prior to us pulling the trigger and if there may be then perhaps pull the trigger so it's it's done
fairly. This is rather unprecedented I believe based on your comments as well. >> Difficult spot for him to be in because whatever the conclusion is from an investigation is going to be unpopular
with somebody. And um so listen, this is at your pleasure what you want to do with this. This is a problem that developed and it's it's a potential solution. If you instruct your city planner, notwithstanding that to make a quote unquote probable cause
determination on this, you can certainly direct me to do that and side s side s side s side s side s side s side s side s side s side s side sidestep this process that I've suggested. I I have a question. Um well, one, Mr. Tim Lynn, would you feel
uncomfortable uh with what council members Zan just brought up for a discussion point? >> I would not. No. Um you guys hired me to do an objective job and I would deliver on that. >> Second question I have um because I want
to make sure we're being fair to everyone here. the council member that this complaint is filed about. I is he allowed to opine on this vote on this motion tonight? Because I don't want to be unfair, right? >> I will sustain from everything moving
forward. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And listen, if the if based on what Stephen just said, you want him to go forward to dig into this and you want to discard this option, that's fine. >> Oh, I was just asking a question. any pride of ownership in suggesting that it's it's just a it's a potential
solution if you wanted to entertain it. >> Okay. How council member Let me go to council member London next. >> I would have no problem with Steve, you know, taking an initial look at it to see if there's really something there. you know,
>> council member Freilley, >> personally, I think, you know, if if let's say it were me and I was sitting up here, I think I would want an outside entity looking at this consulting. But if if if the council feels like we move forward
with the our own staff in this, then so be it. though. Council member London, you have something else? >> You know, Steve's got a lot of integrity and uh I feel that uh he would do a good
job. He would complete a report. I think uh we could take a look at it. Could save us $5,500 taxpayer money and uh we can do that. I say why not? My only thought on it was similar to
what council member Zan noted when he first spoke is that the 5500 does seem like a lot, but I also understand Mr. Pearson's recommendation. So I you know when you see both sides of it, right? Um I do we have someone from the
audience that would like to comment on this item? >> I don't know. >> Yeah, please come forward. >> My name is Sean Hansen. I'm not a resident, but I am ingrained in this community. So, what I'd like to know first and foremost is, is this a witch hunt after one of your council people?
Because if it is, then it needs to stop. It's as embarrassing as all of the crap that's out of next door about every single one of you at some point or another. But if this is strictly a witch hunt to make shame to one of your council
people, that needs to stop. So, how do you even go about knowing that this is just a bunch of crap that has been posted by someone? Because if he doesn't get his way this time, he's going to try something else and he's going to keep digging and he's going to
keep driving. And I certainly wish because that gentleman is also not a member of this community that he would direct his efforts somewhere else and stop posing all of you against each other every single day. It's a witch hunt.
Madame Mayor, >> thank you. Uh, wait, Council Member Freley. >> Um, I don't have social media, so I don't know what's going on, but you said you said this is being this is being Are you saying that this
is being dished out on social media? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So then then my point is is is >> I'm embarrassed to see it because it's embarrassing as a community. >> Well, I'd be more inclined then to going with someone outside.
>> Okay. Council member London, do you have something? >> I'd agree with what she's got to say. Um, it appears to be a witch hunt and uh these things are on social media. I don't agree with what I'm reading and seeing on there and uh I don't accept it
as being truthful and um it's very very unfortunate. Nobody wins in a situation like this. >> Okay. Um, do you have anything else, council members on? >> Nothing more to add. >> Okay. Um, I don't either.
Do we have a motion from council as it relates to either considering the path that our city attorney, Mr. Pearson, has recommended with an outside consultant at a flat fee
of 5,500 or having uh Mr. Timlin do some initial findings and then >> yeah, I'm happy to make a motion on that. Um, prior to I I I agree with the city attorney's assessment. If anybody's
read his his memo, it's it's clear. And Stephen, I hope you don't take it as any offense. It's just a situation that is potentially complicated because it's a city council member. So, let's um in my
opinion allow him the opportunity to have some ability to uh to find uh any probable cause and if so then to be able to bring that report back to the council uh at the May meeting for us to then make a determination from there for
third party review. So, um with that, my motion is just such. >> Uh do we have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Motion by council member Zan, second by council member London. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Thank you. >> I need I need Joe to actually vote. He abstains. >> Oh, >> abstain. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, Stephen. >> Okay. Next up, we have Parkin Lake Park restroom facility step station. Uh, Miss
Moon Peterson, we will turn it to you. >> Yes. Thank you. Good evening. Um, your next two items here are for the Nissle Lake Park bathroom edition, which is a part of the Gull Lake Trail project. Um, just while I have an open mic, I do want to let everyone know that the construction has started. So, you will
see um clearing and grubbing and activity at Niselle Lake Park. So, if you plan to use the park, please use caution. Um, as it pertains to item number eight, this is for a step station. I can let Tom or Dave speak a little more to it. Um but this is an
easement from ourselves to ourselves for utilities. >> Okay. Do you have anything to add? >> Sure. It's just being done to facilitate this through the plan approval through the state. >> Okay. Any questions uh for Miss Moon
Peterson or Mr. Reese from council? >> Okay. I would entertain a motion. I'll make a motion to accept the Nisah Lake Park restroom facility step station easement as presented. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by council member Freillley, second by council member
London. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um next up, Nysa Lake Park restroom facility construction. >> Yep. So you have a proposal from Woodth in there for construction observation.
Um this is a fairly complicated project and a definitely a tight timeline. Um so you have their proposal there. Woods can speak to help answer any questions. Um the one thing I do want to note is that there may be a portion of this that may
not be able to be covered by grant funds because only 20% of the total project can be covered by grant funds. So being that we have two ongoing projects, it's still a little bit of a moving target. So, I just want to let you know um we have talked to public works about what they might be able to oversee with some
of the sewer and things like that. Um but just being mindful of that um going into this. >> Okay. Anything to add? No >> questions. >> Questions? >> Okay. I would entertain a motion.
>> I'll make a motion to approve the Niss Lake Park restroom facility construction observation proposal as presented. >> Okay. Motion by council member Freley, second council member London. Any additional discussion? >> Just real quick, do you know the timeline on that? >> Um, the grant expires June 30th. Right
now, the toilet delivery is anticipated for right after Memorial. There is a lot of permits and that's going to be the one kind of question mark at this time. Dave might have some more to add or not. >> That's why the easement can be.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, next up, the pickle. Mr. Wallen. Uh, new chairs for the bar.
>> All right. So, we've been uh kind of kicking this can down the road for about a year. And, uh, so I there's some bids in your packet um that uh get you gaming. Um
the gentleman's local. Um he does a We had one the one chair that he brought it broke. He was there the next day with a different chair. Fixed it. Everything was fine. Um I did have a donation from the Niswah Lions for $10,000
to uh help with the costs of those chairs, but due to gaming, it couldn't come out of gaming. So now it's back on us. So um but I believe that uh we have quite a
bit of money in our CIP. So a lot of that >> correct >> it's going to come right out of there. Um so I need a motion on that. I'm also going to um Are we tax exempt too on that? So he'll
have to >> You're not the pickle is not >> right. So, so it'll be the 22,000 plus tax. So, >> okay. Do we have any questions for Mr. Wallen? Uh, I'll start at this end first. Council member Hall, >> are the chairs comfortable?
>> Very. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Council member Zan, >> we've talked we've talked about this um in the past, but would you be willing to kick this can down the road one more month for the sole reason of us waiting to get this
report back from Delaney on your part as well? >> So that and I was going to bring that up. I think that's a great idea. Um >> so yes, >> they can sit on the chairs one more month. If it will be two because their report is not going to be done until June.
>> That's fine. >> Is that okay? >> I think that's fine. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, I'd like to make a motion to table this um until the >> June regular meeting. >> Yeah. June. >> We have a second.
>> Okay. >> I didn't hear a second. >> Do we have a second? >> Oh, okay. Motion by council members on second by council member Hall. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. And then Terry, you also have uh you are in
need of a motion to approve payments for a walk-in walk-in cooler repairs. >> Correct. So the walk-in cooler is 1971. That's how old the compressors are or the evaporator is in there. Um, I've had
um these gentlemen, uh, Conrad Mc or Conrad mechanical there. I think we've He's been there what, three times? >> Ab Brahmo. >> Yep. To the tune of about $1,200 each time to fix it. Yep. So, um, and do with
the health department. It's time to uh redo the inside. And we're going to have a high-tech come in, put FRP. I call it milkboard, but it's FRP on the inside. And uh um I needed a a motion for that.
Question. >> Um let's see if there's any questions first. Council members on >> Would that $10,000 from the Lions be able to cover this? >> I'm not sure. >> I don't think the Lions can donate to the pickle. I think that is the bigger piece of that. >> Yeah.
>> Why not? >> Why not? >> Yes. >> Uh so the the follow-up question of that would then would be is this necessary to do prior to this report coming out from Delaney?
>> Well, it's been fixed for today. Yeah, I think it's a good idea to wait. >> Okay, perfect. I'd like to make a motion to table this until the June meeting. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by council member Z, second by council member Hall. Any additional
discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um >> I can. >> Do you want to cover or who wants to cover public works? >> I can fill in for time. >> Okay. We'll have council members on fill
in for items number 12 and 13. >> All right. I am the public works director for the next couple ones. Um Tom and uh the city has received a proposal from Lakes Paving about Lakes Pavement Maintenance to provide road crack sealing services for 2026. He did
receive two proposals. This proposal is the lowest price by about 10,000. Um copies for proposals are attached in your packet and it's typical annual preventive maintenance for the roads. Looking for a motion.
>> Okay. Um, do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve as presented. >> Okay. Motion by councelor Hall, second by councelor London. Um, any questions or discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Okay.
Motion carries. And then the next item, the joint city Nisa school design agreement. We're gonna let Dave speak on behalf of that. >> Thought I was a public works director. >> Okay, we'll go to Mr. Ree.
>> All right. Uh, >> Mr. Ree, public works director. Please fill us in. >> Okay. So, the keywords there are info to follow. It's going to follow not tonight but
farther down the line. So, we intended to have a final design proposal for Lakers Lane joint project with Nisma Elementary School tonight, but we are recommending that we follow up with a
comprehensive project that combines with the plan 2027 Church Street improvements. >> Yes. And when it was discussed, I believe that it makes sense. Um,
I think it's better on a constructability standpoint to have them happen simultaneously. >> Yes. >> Um, I took the pleasure of calling Emma. should have stopped in for some cheese skirts, but called and uh walked through
that and simply for the businesses on that portion of Lakers Lane backto back years, summers, their busy season, their business season, uh it'd be tough. So, I think that this makes sense uh long term
and especially with your comments, Dave, in regards to the blessing from the school district and wanting to make the right move and not rush. So, >> correct. There's there should be no council motion for this. Not tonight. Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Any questions from the rest of council before we move
on? Nope. Okay. All right. Um item number 14 is labor attorney. So council had motioned, I think earlier this year or maybe the end of last year to go out
for an RFP um for labor attorneys for the city. Uh we are currently using a firm out of the Twin Cities called Flity and Hood. Prior to that, before I was sworn in as mayor, the city used a firm out of the Twin Cities called Kennedy
and Graven. And so in our packet, there were three >> firms that brought back um that submitted to the RFP. Miss Wentler, do you have some anything additional to add there? >> Sure, I can speak a little bit here. So, we received three quotes that are in
your packet. Um, Mark Freillley and Joe Hall and I spoke on behalf of all of these and our recommendation is to continue working with Flattery and Hood for the next year due to some con continuity and
just a good working relationship with them. I'll say from staff perspective. Any questions from council? Okay. Okay, I would entertain a motion. >> I will make a motion to approve the RFP
from Flen Hood to assume 2026 duties as labor attorney. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Um motion by council members on I heard council member Hall and London at the same time, but I'll throw this one to council member Hall. Any additional
discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um, next up we have temporary compensation adjustment for interim city admin. This is my request. Um,
I feel like we're in no end in sight to filling a position to get some help for me. And I spend a lot of time here. A lot of time. And it pay is not everything, but I'm really trying. So,
okay. So, I guess the the question I was have is because I didn't see that like step um grade chart in the packet. So, I don't know. >> It's noted on the bottom of my memo. No.
>> When the council motioned to give you an increase um in September, do you know because I don't have this information, where were you currently at in your finance specialist in terms of your hourly rate versus where things stand today and
then where this um increases? Do you have that information? >> I don't know. 30 something. I I don't know off the top of my head. >> Okay. I think it'd be helpful to have that information just to know
what what the differential total request is. >> I will say that the pay scale that I am putting recommending is within the pay grade of the city administrator. So I'm not asking for anything above and what is already in the scale. And I am still
doing the work of three people. I do have a deputy clerk who is doing fantastic, but that takes time to train people. >> I'm not disputing that you're working hard and we've we've talked about that, right? That >> quite honestly, this council needs to come up with a solution because if it's
going to take us until September or October to get an administrator in here, it's not right to leave you carrying this huge burden than for what will be a full calendar year. I just think >> it's been a year. >> Yeah. >> For additional duties.
>> So, I don't think that's right to you. I don't think it's right to the citizens of Nisa. Um, I certainly think that it would behoove us to consider getting together sooner rather than later to talk about while we're waiting to drive
forward on this administrator position. Is there some kind of a interim solution to offer her some assistance? whether it's a temp um Megie and I had talked about in the office the other week maybe bringing on a city clerk, right? Because then you don't have to go through a
search firm, something to help alleviate her. I I I do understand and believe when you're putting in the work that compensation does follow. My only hesitation here is if we already did a $30 per hour raise roughly, we don't
know the exact amount. Um that's equivalent to about $62,000 a year on an annual salary in an increase. And now this other increase is adding another 12,000 to it. Unless I'm doing the math wrong. If you take $30 an hour times 200
hours, that's how many people based on a 40hour work week. But council may have other perspectives. So, I will let other people chime in. Council member Freilley, >> in order of us to get a clerk to help out, does that just have to be
advertised? >> Yep. >> How long do you think that process would take? >> A couple months, most likely. Um, I also I I
remember last year when we went through this, I thought the agreement was for to accept a position that accept what we were paying. And I know this has taken a long time, but um I think one, we need to find some help, and two, I think
personally, just where I'm at, yes, compensation needs to be for more work. Um, but I think the conversation was there in the beginning. >> Council members on Oh, council member London. Sorry. >> Aggie wears a lot of hats. She does a
heck of a good job. And uh she gives it her best. She's been here a long time. She's got the experience. She's got the training. I think she should financially be compensated and get her some more help. >> Okay. council members on
>> I don't believe that bringing in temp help for a temp basis is going to be to our advantage because it's going to require not just Maggie but Jane's time uh perhaps the rest of the staff to be able to get say it's an intern city
administrator say it's an intern clerk say it's an intern it's going to take uh quite a bit of additional burden and lift my only question to you respectfully to the opinions that have been shared already and I I don't think
I disagree with any of them. You know, I deal with compensation discussions with employees all the time in my business. I hired somebody actually 3 months ago and they came to me and said they wanted to pay raise and I said, "Well, your employment agreement was your job offer/employment agreements for a
calendar year. There's no guaranteed raises. What more job duties are you taking on to warrant and justify that?" And they gave me a couple and I reviewed it and I said, "You know what? You're right. So, it's justified." But my question for you is,
do you believe regardless of this compensation? Okay. Do you believe that if we do if we are successful on the search, Maggie, do you believe that we have you have bandwidth and stanma to sustain where you're at right now if
this search does not land a bonafide candidate that accepts, relocates, and starts say August, September, which is realistically what we're looking at right now possibly. So, what's your specific question? Like,
do I have the bandwidth to make it through August or September? >> Do you have are are you I can see the fatigue on you, right? I think we all can and a lot of us in this on this on this council, a lot in the community. We
can see that this is a big lift. We're damn proud of you. We're grateful for you. You've stuck through with us through a lot of crap and the dollars are one thing, right? But I,
as a human being, want to ask you, are you able to sustain at the current rate until we land this city administrator? And is there anything else that we need to consider that you would give a give
us a recommendation for versus just this compensation? about 90 more vacation days after we fill the position. >> Terry, lock her in that new cooler and see what happens at the inventory. >> Is is there is there a temp to forgot
who brought it up. Is there is there a need for a temp role from from somebody? I mean, we hire interns at my organization often. It's literally they're processing paper. >> The hard thing is is you have to train that person. >> I acknowledge that. I'm just saying though. But is there anything that we
can think outside of the box? While we're all together here and this topic's broached. What What can we do? I've even thought about reaching out to we've had some fellow clerks in the area that have retired to just say, "Hey, can you come do this for a day or two days?"
Whether it's a council packet or something that it's minimal hours, but it helps, but there are just so many things that pop up that >> you just don't know that need to be done because I haven't done payroll in 10
years. You know, like those things, all the requirements and the filings and those things, they just come up and I am in triage mode every single day. I canceled my twoe vacation. Cost me $800.
I Let's not put her on the spot. I miss out on a bunch of family functions that nobody else has to say no to. I do >> because I care about the city and I care about the community.
>> Okay. Council member Hall. Yeah. Let's let's >> Can I can I just make a motion? Yes. Um, so the uh the motion would be we're asking for step 20 at $66.80
an hour. I would make a motion that we round it up to an even 70. >> Okay, second. >> All right. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? Nay. >> Nay. Motion carries. Okay. Thank you.
All right. Next up, we have the cannabis low potency license for Schaefer's food. I don't know if anyone's presenting that. >> It's just this is a standard requirement for renewals for all cannabis for those who sell this. So, the next four are
pretty just >> I would say contingent on background checks and that all their paperwork is complete and turned in. >> Okay. All right. I would entertain a motion then. We'll just go through the four of these. City, Mr. If I may. >> Yep. >> City attorney, we've packaged some of
these up in the past to do one broad sweep motion. >> No, not this one. >> Okay. >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the cannabis low potency license for Schaefer's Foods as presented pending background checks. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Uh motion by council members on, second
by council member Freilley. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Next up is for the pickle factory. >> Like to make a motion to approve the cannabis low potency license for the pickle factory. And there should be no background check.
Right. Who are we background checking? Okay. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> Terry. >> A second. >> Okay. Motion by councelor Z, second by council member Freilley. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Next is for the spirits in Niswah. You know, Terry, I bet you you've been here so long they never did a background check on you when you first came here. I'd like to make a motion to to uh approve cannabis low potency license for
the spirits of Niswah as presented. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by councelor Zan, second by councelor Freillley. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. The last one is for big acts. like to make a motion to approve the cannabis louny
license for Big Axe Brewery pending background check on Chris French. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by Zan, second by Freillley. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um, do we
need to go into close session? We do. Okay. I don't have the exact language if someone wants to. I'd like to make a motion move to close session pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.03 for union negotiations. >> Okay. Do we have a second? Okay. Motion by councelor Zan, second by council
member Hall. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Okay. Motion carries. And we apologize everyone. We're going into a closed session. So the room has to empty. You said 9:30.