--------- Jennifer, I'm ready when you are. >> Good evening everybody. Um, I would like to call the city of Nisa public information truth and taxation meeting to order. It is exactly 6:00 p.m. Um, we have one council
member, Joe Hall, who is out of town. Um, so if he is able to join, he will be joining remotely from Colorado. Um, before we get started, I just wanted to give everybody a lay of the land of how tonight will work for the truth and taxation. Uh Maggie, our finance
specialist and interim administrator, will start by giving a brief presentation just to kind of go over um where we are to date. Um then I've got some notes that I'd like to share and then this meeting is for all of you. So then we are going to open it up for
public comment um to hear from everybody in the room and then we will go to councel and if council decides at that point in time to make any changes to the levy um either way we would have that discussion um in talking with Maggie
before the meeting. If we are going to make changes to the levy, it would be good for Maggie to have that direction before we adjourn this meeting so that she has time in between meetings to get everything ready because we will have to take our formal mo uh motion and vote on
it in the regular council meeting. So, do you have any questions for the process? Otherwise, we'll turn it to Maggie to start the presentation. Council member Freley, >> do we know how the negotiations are going for the contracts where we're at? Um we have another closed session this
evening um at the end around that. So we'll have additional discussion on that. >> I'm going to go forward with it. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh Maggie will turn it over to you for the presentation. >> Okay. Good evening everyone and thank you for coming out on this kind of nice
day here today. I'm gonna give a brief presentation um just to kind of talk about where we've been, how we got here, all of that good stuff. So, this is what our 2026 budget is for. Um, at outside
on the desk tables, there's this budget summary. So, please feel free to grab that as we kind of work through some of this. And then we, like Mayor Carneahan said, we will allow you to come up and speak um at the very end here. So, the
purpose of this meeting is to fill a state requirement to hold a public um hearing on the proposed 2026 property tax levy. Um there are some requirements that they must be held at 6 p.m. or later. Um we are not going to adopt the levy at this meeting. It will be at our
following meeting starting at 7:00. And just a reminder, this is not an intended to discuss property valuations or classifications. If you are looking to discuss that, reach out to Crowing County Land Services. Um, and
let's see, kind of just a summary of where we've how we started in April. We started some bud budget scenarios. The council wanted us to do kind of a flat budget scenario, a 10% cut, 7 to 10% cut, and then kind of just where we
think we would need to be. So, we kind of did that exercise in April. We kind of worked through some of that. Um, we did internal budget preparation through July. We did have our first bud council budget workshop in August.
The preliminary was set in September which was 6.04. And then all of you should have received your proposed tax statements in November, mid November. And then we did have a council workshop at um November
18th, I believe. and they made some adjustments and right now we are working on our final levy for 2026. So our preliminary was set in September at 6.04% above the 2025 levy.
Today after some adjustments we are looking at or sitting at 4.23% um above the 2025 levy. So we've made some adjustments decreases from September to today. So we are making progress in that. Here is kind of a pie
chart on the screen just to kind of show a little bit of where our revenue categories from. The majority of the revenue that the city takes in is from our property taxes. We are looking at 82%. We do also have um the pickle and
spirits actually contributes funds from their profit to offset the levy. And for 2026, it's being proposed that $290,000 comes from those businesses to offset the revenues. Other permitting fees, um charges for
services, um state aid, some interest are very low in um the revenue income. We also do have kind of a um most of our exp and this is an expense chart. So most of our expenses come from public
works, police, um our debt service is at 14% which is all of our bonds and then we have administration at like 9%, fire, um our fire department is at 6%. So kind of a pie chart, but the majority of our
expenses are police and public works. Here is the same summary sheet that you guys are looking at that was at the table when you came in. And right now our proposed budget is 3.89 million which is an increase from 2025
of about $115,000 which is a little over 3% increase from last year as we sit today. Um just kind of in inflation the CPI for the Midwest region on average through September because that's all the numbers
they had today was 2.83%. So that is the inflation um average over 2025. We set our preliminary budget in September. I know this might be a little bit hard to read, but I just kind of summarized um the increases and
decreases from how we got to the 4.23%. So we did cut some expenses from our u council budget. Um we just approved hiring a deputy clerk last week and so based on my estimated numbers for what
we would pay that person um that is increasing our budget a little bit. We are reducing some attorney fees and some planning and zoning reserves and training government buildings. Uh we decided as a council to do a digital
newsletter for 2026. So that was a savings of 9,000. Um the police department was looking at getting some flock cameras. So we decreased that just waiting to see what the county was going to do and where they were going to be placing their
cameras and just some additional um capital reserves and some other expenditures that we did not foresee happening. So in September again our preliminary was a 6 four or 04 increase over the
levy which was 3.93 3,957 and $3,957,972. Again, just to reiterate, we have decreased to 4.23% which is at $3,890,289.
So, we were able to reduce it by $67,000. So, we are here today to um kind of see what your feedback is. And this is just a look back. Again, it's probably a little bit harder to read on that
screen, but here is our last uh 10-year cycle of our certified levy. So, we're looking at an increase of $157,000 last year to this year, sitting at the 4.23%
increase. And Whoops. So, again, I really went through that really fast. A lot of it is pretty basic, but um just making sure we allow people time to have discussion as well. So, if you have any questions, let me
know. Thank you, Maggie. Um before we open it up for public comment, I have a few remarks I'd like to share and then when we do open up it up for public comment, um if you come to the microphone, just state your first and last name, your address, and then you will have um two minutes to share whatever you'd like to share uh
regarding the levy. Uh what I wanted to share with everybody here is if you weren't aware, I recently signed on to a letter with mayors from across the Brainer Lakes area that was sent to our state legislature expressing our deep concern and growing frustration with the
fiscal direction of Minnesota and the increasing impact it is having on cities like ours, which trickles down to our families and residents that live here. In that letter, we highlighted that motans watched a historic $18 billion
surplus disappear in a single bianium only to now face a projected $6 billion deficit for our state. A recent Minnesota Chamber of Commerce report shows our state's economy slipping
nationally between 2019 and 2024. Minnesota ranked 33rd in GDP growth. We ranked 33rd in job growth, 40th in labor force growth, and 33rd in per capita
income growth. Last year, the council approved a preliminary tax levy of 16.15%, which was double and even triple what some of our neighboring cities did with their preliminary tax levy. And ultimately, the council landed on a
final levy of 9.75%. When I ran for mayor and knocked on everyone's doors last fall, I stated and shared that raising taxes beyond the rate of inflation should not be our default answer at the city governance level. And I've tried to work hard with
all of you to avoid putting any additional financial burden on our families. Together, I believe over this past year, we have advocated for responsible, strategic, and resident focused solutions. So, here we sit today where we, this council is going to vote
on the tax levy for 2026. If you weren't aware, our neighbors over in Cross Lake set their final tax levy at 0.22%. Our neighbors to the north in Pquat Lakes set their final tax levy at 0.96%.
Let's let that sink in for a moment. Our neighbors set their final tax levies below 1%. And I think that is delivering with what their residents and their families asked for. So I believe as a council that we can do better than the
4.23% we're currently at for the levy, but that will be up for this council to decide. Um so everybody is aware here, approximately $25,000 equals 1% to the levy. So we're at
4.23%. To get below or at 1% we need to cut roughly 3.23%. So call it 7585 90,000 or potentially use our NISA rainy day fund which is money we've already collected from youine folks that is sitting aside in
reserves to potentially get us to a lower levy for this year and that would be the uh goal for next year as well. Um, I just wanted to share that I think we have some great opportunity to be fiscally responsible here and put the families first. And with that, it is
your time. So, we'd like to open it up to public comment. And again, anyone, please feel free to come forward. Just come to the microphone, state your name, uh, where you live, and you will have two minutes to share any perspectives you have on the levy, and then we'll turn it over to councel.
Nobody wants to go first. >> Good evening. Uh Kent Wilning, uh 25201 Burch and Pine Lane. Just a couple questions on the budget. Um I see there's a significant increase in the government buildings of 67,265
um police department um 23,764 and fire admin 18,000. Um just wondering if like the fire admin and the police are wages or is that just
equipment and then the the government buildings um you know that's a pretty significant increase. Um but yeah just those and then public works I guess was up 13,000. Um I guess fire admin is kind of
wondering why 18,000 for for that. Um, do you want me to >> if you want to? Sure. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um, I will government buildings went up quite a bit. Um, most of that is I have
$54,000 in technology. Our service for the police and city hall are at its life and so those need to be replaced in 2026 and that totals about 40,000 of that. We do have some security and updates that
need to happen with um firewall protection and um dual authentication as far as like police. They need to those are requirements from the BCA and things like that. So we are increasing some of our security and technology to
ensure that all of our documents are protected. police. I will say a lot of that is um again an increase kind of like in some of our records management and things like that that are required. The county
is looking at switching over their um records management system because the system they have is no longer supported and improvements aren't happening. So that is a big thing. Um I'm trying to see what else. Motor vehicles. We get a new vehicle every year and that price
has gone up a handful of thousands of dollars and um an additional firewall for additional um security within the BCA and um building
security systems that need to be put in place. The fire admin budget. So, the fire department sets a budget and their budget went up about $30,000.
However, NISA only pays a portion of that. It's divided based on we have contracted areas with five local communities that everybody pays a portion based on their value of buildings and land. And so,
that percentage fluctuates yeartoyear. and we don't have the exact valuations for all the other county or cities and townships that we contract with. And so part of that is going up. I'm just trying to look at what the final dollar
amount was. Um so NISA's portion is about $18,000 increase. And so they are setting some money aside for um equipment improvements and replacements values for the future. So they are increasing that
dollar amount that goes into a savings account to fix and replace equipment as it's needed. What was your other department? Kent >> public
>> public works I will say went up about $13,000 from last year and I will say most of that is wages at this point between our
five five Tom five employees Ken does that answer your questions Okay, thank you. Um, is there any anyone else that would like to come address the council? I'm Sandy Poff. I live at 6053 Shady
Acres Court and I just wanted help understanding if I understood correctly, you said there would be 290,000 that the um pickle and the liquor store
provide as funding. >> Yes. But on the back of the sheet, I'm having trouble understanding because as I look at the future year budget, it looks like the operating margin, the net surplus is 175,000 for the pickle,
right? And then about 5,800 for spirits. So where does that 290 come from? Because those two don't add up to 290. So there's something I don't understand. the it's already included in the
expense. So when you look at pickle the 1.5 >> their contribution is already >> included in the expense and that's true also on these detailed ones that the council members got. >> Yes. If you look at Oh,
>> but if you've got it here. So the inner fund transfer. >> Okay. That's perfect. Thank you. >> The inner fund transfer when you're looking at those detailed budgets. Thank you. Yes. Okay, thank you. And just to clarify in case um people didn't hear that the
transfers that come from the pickle into the general fund and the spirits, it's already uh accounted for under expenses. Any other folks like to come forward? This is your meeting to ask questions, to share comments, to share feedback
before council goes to approve the final levy at our regular meeting. Bob, if you want to come forward, please come to the microphone. Uh yeah, I have a question that is specifically financial but it's more of a philosophy one for the record. U Robert legal name last
name fear question on I wasn't involved in a budgeting earlier. didn't come to the meetings during the summer, but um it brings back memories many decades ago in early 90s. Um I had a budget much bigger than this was
and uh for Boeing and our our our purpose got cut. Things were a steer and my management came to me and said, "Bob, give me three scenarios. Budget what you'd love to have. Give me a budget of no increase and a budget
with 5% cut. And I'm just wondering um this is maybe to my naivity because I wasn't involved in the previous meetings. When you guys build a budget, do you ever ask your department heads or something to make do with the same or or cut and get specific scenarios or what
the consequences would be? So that's more of the question I have rather than an advice. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Do do any council members want to address uh Mr. interference question.
>> No, >> that question is asked. That question is at least debated um in closed door meetings. Uh our mayor brought up a budget scenario. I believe it was in April or May in regards to three scenarios. Bob, specifically what you're
alluding to, a 10% deduct in individual department budgets, a flat scenario, and then lastly, what is their wish list for 2026? whatever they want. >> Correct. And uh you'd be surprised their wish list was not new front end loaders
or public works trucks or squad cars. They were very conscious of uh what they knew they needed cuz I think that's what they're used to uh approaching this as. So we appreciate that. Uh 10% cut across the departments. you'd be um pretty
stretched and we've I would say tried to do what we could um in conversations with them as a leazison on the Tom Blommer in the public works department. He has a rather sizable budget in regards to the rest of the overall uh citywide budget. His is 1,ion51,000.
Uh but that's uh quite focused on the the services that he's providing you the residents ourselves as well. Um it was again the Dale question of what what would we be sacrificing for the services to the residents in Niswah and doing the
best that we can to try to not compromise that. Um I feel like we have some potential here to get this levy that's been shown down to uh a very comfortable number when we can get to that point. >> Thank you. >> Thanks Bob.
Is there anybody else that would like to come forward? Yes, my name is Jim Starky. I live at 25997 Highland Avenue. And uh I don't really have a question a question I guess as
far as the government is city government is concerned. But what seems to be the problem is you're talk, you know, you're only talking about 4% increases and all that. My taxes and everybody else's are going up 16 to 20%.
And it's because of the valuation. And I know you guys don't set the valuation, but you do reap the money. So I mean, for instance, my taxes are over $4,000 a year just for the city of Niswah. And I
don't live in a mansion. I do have Lakeshore and they keep raising the price of that. It doesn't doesn't do me any good as long as I want to live there. Maybe someday when I die and they sell the property uh somebody will get money for it, but right now I
have to pay those taxes and it and and and it isn't amount to a 4%, it's 20%. And uh that that hurts. And so when the value goes up, the taxes go up.
So you should be getting a lot more income coming in. And therefore uh are you are you still spending all of that and still raising the taxes or what? Uh that's I don't that's what I
don't understand. Uh if I have to pay more, you're getting more. What are you doing with it? That's my that that's my question. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Starky. Um we'll we'll let uh folks chime in here, but
the one thing I want to say to your point, yes, we don't set the valuation. The county does that. However, and and we've heard this consistently from people that live on lakefront property maybe versus not on lakefront that it's dramatically different, right?
There are folks that are not on lakefront property that they might see a slight decrease in the amount they pay versus people on the lakes might pay significantly more. And I think that's why the goal why we've been talking is if we can do our our small part even though again we don't control that
valuation to not even make it four to make it under 1% to to do our part to bring that burden down. We'd like to do that. Um, I'll let the other council members chime in and Maggie, if if you have any input uh related to as our our finance leader, you know, with the
dollars. Um, if you want to add anything before I call on the council members for Mr. Starky. >> Yes. Jim, just to and everybody here and listening, just because your portion went up, we are not getting any more than what we
set our levy at. So the $3.9 million, we are not collecting any more of that. So what happens is is based on a weird calculation in the county, everybody has a different valuation. So that 3.9 gets
divvied out to each property owner to account for that 3.9 within NYSA. Now obviously you have other school taxes and county taxes and things like that, but we are not collecting any more than what we set our levy at. Does that maybe make sense a little bit,
Jim? Um, Council Member Freley, I thought I heard you maybe did Did you want to add anything? >> Nope. Council member London. Council member Zan. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Starky. Is there anyone else that would like to
come forward? Super quick question. All right. I don't live in Nitsaw, but I own a business directly across the street from here. Uh, how much do we have in our discretionary fund at this time? Brandon Headlin, for the record, >> Maggie, do you have that?
>> Brandon, when you say discretionary fund, are you referencing perhaps unreserved capital? >> Yeah, I just heard rainy day fund at the beginning. So whether it's a stifle account or however we're classifying that. >> Maggie and I were talking about this before the meeting because I was asking
what is the exact dollar amount that we have. Um I don't know Maggie if you have that at your fingertips. >> I do within this thousand sheets of paper. >> I'll let Jesse look for that. But just to kind of let you know, yes, there might be some funds that are in a savings account. Some of them are
allocated for certain projects or certain departments. um kind of as I mentioned, we some of our capital reserve we put money aside to um replace firet trucks because we don't want to increase and buy a half a million dollar fire truck and increase it that much. So, we put $10,000 aside for 20 years or
whatever it is. So, we do some of it is allocated for certain things like road projects and replacing of equipment um and maintenance. >> Brandon, I apologize. I don't have it on the top of the stack, but what I can say
cuz it's relatively fresh, the numbers fluctuate at times, not by huge swings. Maggie, correct me if I'm wrong on any of these. However, uh, in the liquor fund, there is roughly a 1.1 Brian, I
believe, in there. That's excess profits from the two operating municipal liquor store and uh, the municipal bar here. um excess profits from those two businesses. And then additionally, we have 1.3 or 1.4 million that is through
the public works, which is again for road projects, repairs on city roads, these streets as they arise. Uh granted, that can be swallowed up pretty quick and one of the streets you look here. Um now, those are unallocated. Those are un
those are reserved but un unallocated. um we have the ability to be able to move those funds. Uh you'll see at the regular meeting coming up that we will discuss moving funds from the uh from the liquor fund to the park fund to be
able to help kickstart the park project. Um I feel like there's a third account maybe >> uh I'm trying to look something. >> Additionally though, it's also worth noting the city statuto law must have cash on hand for one year's budget. So
for us to have that amount of cash on hand, which city does above and beyond what I just disclosed, we have uh 2025 budget cash on hand. Um why it's law. Um additionally, the additional cash surplus that any city has in the state
of Minnesota on hand gives that city that much more financial credibility just as a bank would want you to have when you go buy your next property or myself or any of us. Um the city of Niswah for example was able to obtain a AAA bond rating when it acquired the
land roughly a year ago uh today. Um that secured us very low interest rate of I believe it was in threshold of mid3 to low threes >> um for both of those bond both of those bonds for that property. So hope that answers your question. >> I I actually did find the email that
Maggie sent to us um as of August 31st. So this is when Maggie sent us the email. August 31st, 2025. Um, total cash
we had was 7.6 million. Um, but some of that as was mentioned are assigned funds um and or committed funds whereas some are unassigned. The capital fund reserves total at that
time was about $710,000. Um and council members on kind of highleled were how much was in each. >> Thank you. >> So hopefully that's helpful. >> I will just say one thing is because we don't have the contracts settled yet
that could be upwards of say four levy points. One thing about the RA rainy day fund is if we were to take that $100,000 out of the rainy day fund to put in to pay for those contract negotiations, you'll also
have to remember that next year that's an 8% levy because you've got to replace what you took out plus the ongoing. So those the funds that we're talking about right now can be used for things that aren't an ongoing cost.
Does that make sense? I >> think to council member Freley's point to he you're alluding to Mark the the oneoff perhaps purchases or specific uh asset buys that maybe will have a three,
five, 10 year lifespan on it where uh we maybe don't have to budget for it where that that uh that cash that free cash flow might be able to be deployed strategically for some of these items. and and we we try to dial that in, I would say, um as much as possible. It's
not like we see routine things come up here, you know, because we have specific needs. We don't try to go above and beyond that. Um if there are one-offs that do arise, then we have the ability to deploy that cash versus putting it back onto the levy, thus higher tax.
>> Go ahead, Kent. Did we not just have a huge salary increase last year? And that was part of the reason that the levy was up so high last year. I thought they went through a wage study. Um, if I'm not mistaken,
didn't didn't that happen last year that we did have a an increase in wages, but now you're negotiating. Is this a a contract for everybody in the city? Is it just >> the police? But, you know, like I said, last year I think it we took a pretty
good hit because of um evaluations went up and wages went up and now I'm hearing that we're in contract negotiations again or or maybe they didn't even negotiate last year. Maybe it was just that they they did a a job study and and
moved them up to where they should be. Um the other thing not so much any question but a comment. I most of you know I was an elected sheriff for 22 years and I went to these meetings every year uh to answer questions from the
citizens and from the looks of this room you have more people in this room tonight for your TNT than I did in 22 years. I think the most I had in 22 years was five people. Um so you've got their interest. um they're wondering why
their taxes are going up. The other thing is um I keep hearing about the the valuations of the property. Um county controls that you five up there, you control how much
my city taxes go up and how much the levy goes up. I'll say it again. You five up there control my city portion. And I think these people know that. They know that the county controls theirs, the school board controls theirs, but
you guys control what I pay. Even though the county controls evaluation, you guys control it, nobody else. And it's on you guys to make sure that people aren't forced out of their homes. And we heard it probably the last two
years. There's some people it's really starting to hurt and that that's not good. And I know some people don't want to speak up, but uh like I said, I I was in public service for a long time and sometimes can't keep
my mouth shut. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kent. >> Kent, I if I can take a response to that. >> Um >> in [clears throat] regards to what happened last year, you are correct. Uh there was a wage study. The city has kind of two pools of employees. There's non-un non-unized employees and we have
employees that are unionized. These union negotiations tend to open up every single year. So, the personnel committee chaired by Mayor Carneahan and council member Hall are I believe are in the final stages correct of those negotiations. >> You have a meeting about close session
tonight >> and that she will with Joe's absence inform the broader council of what the outcome of those negotiations are. Right now, I'm sitting in the dark. Freely and London are in the dark on that. So, we don't know what that's going to shake out at. um you typically will see those
union negotiations be at least cola and when you see uh CPI information it's you're familiar with it tends to be right around that. So if we're at a sub three could be at a three could be at a four in regards to those unionized employees wages and that's just that one
specific category. So um the wage study done last year was for the uh correct me if I'm wrong the non-un employees in the city. some had not received uh any wage adjustment for years. So try to stay on top of these things and uh we'll know
more on the unionized negotiations uh come this evening. >> I think Kent, last year the levy was it went up 9.75%. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I was told because I wasn't on council last year that 3% might have been
attributed to the wage increases and the balance of it was for the land purchase. That might not be exact, but I thought those are the numbers that was shared with me when I first came on council. >> Yes. If you look at this slide again, it's kind of hard to read. So, in 2024,
our general fund levy, which is our operating expenses, um was 2.8 million. And in 2025 it went up to 2.9 million. I'm not going to do the math, but you're looking at $100,000. But our debt service went up from 55,000
to 86,000. So that was the I'll say the biggest leading cause for the increase last year 2025. I think the the challenging or frustrating thing can be
my my dad told me this once when I was younger and it's never left me because he always repeats it in his lifetime and he's you know in his mid to late 70s now. He's always said in his lifetime he's never seen government shrink. He's only seen it grow and take more money.
And I'm very fiscally conservative. I think everybody knows that. I heard from all of you when I when I've door knocked. We've talked about this. But I just I'll say it again. I said it at the beginning of the meeting. If there is a way that we can do our part here as as five
people in the city of Nisa to have a responsible budget, not one that then three to five years from now brings everyone's levy back up double digits. But if if we can look ahead, be strategic and find ways to be planful and do that for the next year and then look to the future to keep these levies
low, I believe that is our responsibility to the people and that's based on the feedback that I've heard from the people. Um, if Cross Lake and Peekquat were both able to deliver a final tax levy in 2026 of below 1%, why
can't we do that in Nisa? are similar communities, right, with the lakes involved and and the full-time residents and the seasonal and business communities. So, I feel like that's what we should aim for. Um, but
if there's no other public comments here from anybody in the audience, I would like to hear from our council members if there is an appetite to try to bring our levy down lower than where we currently sit for 2026. and if there are ideas on how
we can get there. Um, the ideas that I had brought forth and shared at past meetings, we're looking for ways to cut, but I'm not sure that there was full alignment on all of those cuts or potentially using some reserves to help buy it down. Um, so I guess we'll just
go around for council if there are any ideas. Um, council member Freley is pointing to council members on >> would you like to start Mayor Carneahan with your proposed um budget reductions so we can have a starting point here? >> Yeah, it so if we're looking at what I
think is somewhere between 80 and 85,000. Um, one idea that I had is could we look to right because 25,000 is one point roughly. So if we're at 4.23 and let's say we were trying to get to one. So
that's roughly 3.23. So 75,000 and then call it like another 67,000 or whatnot, right? Somewhere between 80 and 85 is is there an idea and this was talked about before I think in one of our budget workshops or somewhere along the line.
Can we can we consider transferring some some of the money from reserves perhaps to offset the levy? You know, that's just one idea and we we talked about that last time. I think I had brought up the parks. We did we did
diminish uh or minimize the park's contribution into their capital reserve. Um but there was also another place. So instead of like completely not putting money in reserves, could we look at just shifting money around? That's one idea I had, but I really wanted to come here
and see what um you fine gentlemen had to say as well in going through the budget and any ideas because um you know when there's more thoughts and more ideas different things can come to fruition. >> Sure. Um you also did state in the past
I believe of reducing salaries and wages for >> I think it was on only on the um administrative line because we were changing the structure and we didn't know you know what the titles were and what those pay ranges could be. So that was one when we had talked about this
was before we had set like the administrator clerk right when we were talking about potentially outsourcing HR but that's all changed since then and so I'm not sure if there is any more room in there or not uh given where we currently sit with now we've got the
deputy clerk position you know offered and accepted and we're in the search process for the administrator clerk. So I don't know if there's actually room there. >> I'm I'm happy to hear that. I I don't know if I'd feel comfortable or if the c
it would be behooved the council to reduce a prospective employees wages or salaries before we even have the position filled or hired. We will be hearing from SCSC rep tonight in regards to where we're at with the search. So that'll be encouraging to see that. I have taken some time uh and alongside
with working with Councilman Freley to take another stab at trying to skinny this thing as much as possible. Um uh where we sit right now I believe is a 4.23% increase as it sits. Correct.
>> Correct. >> Um so I have put together some ideas that I'd like to bring forth to you all. Uh that total a deduct in the overall budget of $168,53. And that is uh removal of the benefits
for our soon to be onboarded deputy clerk Jane. uh she will not be taking health benefits. Like to remove that from the budget for a total of $18,270. We also have a similar situation in regards to
in regards to uh our planning and zoning director Steven. Uh he's currently not taking uh the benefits. I'd like to remove that from the budget in the event that something happens happens life event or etc. Stephen we'll react to it accordingly when that time comes if it
comes. Um, additionally, a larger dollar item that [clears throat] after talking with uh our public works director Tom in regards to uh one specific fund that we have to keep some dollars in for investments uh titled investment purchase for roads and public
works uh to remove $96,963 from that line as well. Three more so bear with me. Um, additionally to reduce the county and state road project savings from 50,000 to 25,000, um, as discussed with Tom, we
might be able to try to skinny that down for 26 and beyond, perhaps. Uh, additionally, due to state legislature that we found out, and I think it was Mr. Ron Dwey that brought that to our attention, uh, for the employee recognition program, we did budget last year $6,000. We were not able to spend
that $6,000 based on legislation rules for the employees. So remove that to its entirety and then additionally remove $4,000 from a cemetery fund. Uh that is investment for the future renovations of that. When the time comes perhaps we can
then discuss this council or the next to discuss what to do with that. So where does that put us in this specific scenario? It would be again a total of $168,53 in cuts. bringing the that down to
uh let's see it would be a levy decrease uh as a matter of fact and again this is before we have the finalized results from the union negotiation so needing to know where that stands but that would be a levy decrease of 28%. What say the council
>> council member Freley? Yes, we discussed this. I think that's a doable option to to lower it because, you know, I'm always worried what the negotiations will be, but I I would like to see lower, but if if we can
be at a reduction of minus.26, I'm happy. >> Council member London. >> Yeah, I agree with Jesse. I'd like to see it come down a little bit. Looks like he's done his homework here, so I kind of like his ideas. >> Okay. And uh council member Hall is not
with us, is he, Maggie? No, >> I do not see Joe on here yet. >> Okay, sounds good. Um, we will vote on this in our regular council meeting which starts at 7 in about 15
minutes. Um, Maggie, does that give you enough direction to work on things in this break? Short break. >> Yes. If everybody's in favor of those items, I can go make a quick adjustment and see where we land to make sure the math works out.
>> Okay, that sounds good. >> You don't think my math is good to math? >> I I trust you. [laughter] >> She always questions her math because we've been off before. Miss Maggie, I ran it four times over, so if I'm wrong. >> Okay, >> we
>> Okay. >> Okay. Um, does council have anything else regarding our truth and taxation meeting? >> Does any last call for the public? Does anyone else have anything they'd like to address with council before we adjourn our truth and taxation meeting? Because
this is for you um and for your public comments. Bruce. Bruce Simholt 25628 Wooddale. Uh Mr. Zan, I just the question I have when you're talking about the roads public works. I I don't know what I I missed it there,
but my concern would be is you know when you defer maintenance and I don't know if that's what you're talking about on roads. That's my concern is when you defer maintenance then all of a sudden two years from now we got to have a big increase because you deferred maintenance. So, are you referring to deferring maintenance on roads?
>> No, absolutely not. I would know better than to come up here and and do that. We have quite a bit of roads up on this uh on the walls in this chamber to get done in 2026 and we'll have another slate in 27. Um this is strictly in regards to what I already mentioned in regards to
the public works uh road repair fund that they already have a 1.3 $1.4 $4 million uh of allocated funds specifically for that. >> I just I didn't quite understand it. So I clarif withhold from trying to have uh that
amount be added to that again and try to then evaluate for future consideration if anything would need to be added to it. Uh when we have these road bonds cycle through like we do in 26 coming up here and we will again in 27. Um those will be significant uh projects. Uh if
anybody's uh able to tune in to the public works meetings and I encourage you all to uh we are looking at what could be with those two projects combined and they are city roads and streets roughly $10 million. Simple math you amateurize that over 10 years that's
a $1 million levy increase. That's why we try to work with our engineer and amongst ourselves to say what's the lifespan of these roads. Are we able to construct them in a better function so they have curb and gutters so water is draining away so they're not deteriorating to the extent in which
they perhaps have been? Right. Um we believe that perhaps these these roads can have a lifespan of 30 plus years perhaps even 40 years. >> Yeah. So, uh, breaking away from the traditional structure of a sevenyear, five, sevenyear amateurization of these
road bonds, I believe they've been, um, why can't we go 15 years? Uh, what does that do for you, for me, for the rest of us? Means our specific year-over-year burden for that road bond is decreased by that much versus having it be a
seven-year. So, trying to come up with as much creative ways as possible uh, with what we know is ahead. And uh I believe that this is one step there. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um last call. Does anyone else have anything related to our truth
and taxation meeting that you'd like to come to the microphone? Going once, going twice. Okay. Uh then a motion to adjourn would be in order. >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> We'll second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor
signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Our truth and taxation. Part: 2
Okay, I'm I'm ready. Okay. I would like to officially call the city of Nisa regular council meeting on this Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. to order. Um, if everyone can please join me in the pledge of
allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> You all right, the next item is to approve the agenda. Um, I just want to bring up one note for council to consider. Um, in talking with our city attorney prior to the meeting, we do have an item number three under new
business, which is the Verizon cell tower appeal. Um would council consider moving that from item number three under new business to basically item number 20 right before the recommendation to move
to close session to ensure that we allow all parties uh related to that appeal as much time as they need um to get through that. That is uh an ask for consideration. Okay. Do you would you like to make a
motion? I'll make a motion to move under new business G3 Verizon cell tower appeal. move that to uh G20 right after the 2025 budget talks fund
transfers and before the recommendation to move to close session pursuant to Minnesota statute. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I >> I >> opposed. All right. Motion carries and
the Verizon cell Tower appeal under new business will be moved uh to the last item before we go into close session. Um all right. Now, do we have a motion to approve the agenda? >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Second.
>> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. The agenda is approved. Next up is a consent calendar. Notice to the public. All matters listed are considered routine by the council and will all 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. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion from council? All those
in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. The consent calendar is approved. Um, next on our agenda is open forum. This is when anyone in the audience, if you'd like to come up and make public comment, you can do so. Um, you will have two minutes. Uh, I will
start a timer so that we give equal and fair time to everybody here that would like to come to the mic for open form. We just ask that you state your first and your last name and your address for our record. Diane Townsen, 26424 Highland Avenue.
I don't agree with everything Mayor Carneahan says. However, during Mayor Carneahan's door knocking, I spoke of probable challenges she may be faced with if elected, such as the present situation. I am pretty much spot on. I
don't believe this is the correct way to handle your disapproval of Mayor Carneahan's supposed conversation. I'd like to ask where is the audio evidence of this conversation Sophie Foster claims took place. There is none.
It's all hearsay. She said they said as for city employees leaving, you can't blame that on Mayor Carneahan. Jenny Max is leaving no matter who won the election. Other employees have stated they were doing all they could to get Jenny Max to quit and other employees.
As for sexists and bigots being thrown out there, I do have audio evidence of city employee calling other city employees sexist and biased and on the verge of discrimination if not already there as well as evidence of more
corruption. The turmoil in this city and the control of some city employees feel they should have has gotten way out of control with intimidation. This is the kind of turmoil and negative public publicity the city does not need and it
needs to be stopped. And yes, you were spot on when you said I would not let this all go. Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to address uh come forward for public comment?
If you can state your first and last name and your address and then you will have two minutes. >> Good e this one. Good evening council men and mayor. My name is Dr. Bonnie Johnson and my address is 25942
trailside run. Um, I I don't know any of you, but I want you to know that I'm quite active in the NISSA community. I work turtle races. I work uh fall barbecue. I work I was the elf loading
the train. I am a uh color guard. I say that for one reason. I love Nisa and I put my energy towards loving Niswah. Before I came and lived full-time in Isa, I was a principal in the largest school district in the state of
Minnesota. And quite often I would use this mantra with my students. Are you being helpful or are you being hurtful? And let me give you a quick quick example of that. Cali J, I always worry about worry her when I'm
talking. Cali and the women of the uh chamber worked tirelessly to bring about a wonderful Nispa city of lights. We had thousands of residents and non-residents leave our city and say what an what a
wonderful magical Hallmark village that was. Is that being helpful or was that hurtful? I think you know the the answer to that. And then less than two weeks later, our beautiful city of Nisa is splattered across multimedia outlets,
even the strip about what some would consider political infighting. Never needed to come to that level. And so I ask you, what do the regular citizens of Nisma
want? Are you being helpful or are you being hurtful in your actions? when you are discussing our town and as you are thinking about your actions and your comments tonight, I would like you to self-reflect upon
that. What are you doing to promote the image of Nisa? I hope you are working as hard as Cali Jay and Kathy Reichenbach are doing to promote that image. So, thank you, Bonnie. Um, and I have 30
more seconds, please. Totally totally unrelated topic. I'm leaving that. Later on, you're going to be discussing the benefits of Lonnie Thompson. Lonnie Thompson. >> Oh, Lonnie. Sorry. I don't mean to cut you off, but when we get to that item on
the agenda, you can you can come and speak on that item. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Is there anyone else that would like to come to the microphone for public comment? And again, if you can state your name and your address and then I will start
the timer and you will have two minutes. Melissa Strait, Alder Street, Niswah. The employers are the employers, we the people of the employees. when you have employees
trying to create a uh or have a vote of no confidence against us because you are they are doing a no a vote of no confidence against us because if you voted with your voice to put these people in place and now some of them are
trying to get her out that's against you the employer. Okay? So stand up and say that you support what you voted for, which is the leadership in this organization of a business and that you
want her to stay because when they vote no confidence, they're voting no confidence against the employers. Okay? And they're also trying to sanction the no uh uh the employers. Isn't she's just in the way? Much like this employer here that I voted for, he's doing exactly
what I told him to do. Okay? He's just not getting enough shalies out by Christmas for me. Okay, but let's stand for what we voted for and not tolerate this bullying because it's bullying. It's not doing the business of what we hired this staff of employees to do for
we the people. Okay? So, at least stand up and say, "Hey, I support what I voted for. I have a vote of confidence for the mayor." Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Is there anyone else that would
like to come forward for public comment? And just a reminder again, if you can state your name and your address and then I will start the timer. >> Um, Deb Best 5319 Popular Avenue. >> You might want to talk into that this this microphone right here. >> Sorry, I don't speak in front of people,
so I'm sorry. >> Go ahead. >> So, our community voted for all of you into our office. This community expects all of you to make decisions and take action in the best interests of this community. This na may not be aligned with individual agendas to move forward
and it is not intended to. There's obviously will be challenges as a result of misalignment, but the expectation in the challenge will be overcome by the people that were voted into office by this community. It's sad, but I've heard
from Nisa residents that may have to move out of their homes of many years as a result of sizable tax increase. There has been some work on how to keep our taxes at bay, but city council seems to be challenged with resolving it. Instead
of exhausting city resources to clear a path for personal agendas, I expect the city to resolve challenging differences through compromise. This community lost confidence in the city with the results of the purchase of the land by the holiday. The residents
didn't get the opportunity to discuss it. It's time to put your differences away and work as a team to build our trust back. You are all stronghearted and I know you love our town and instead of battling personal agendas, it's time
to work together and make NISMA residents proud to be part of this community again. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to address the council or come forward during the public comment period?
>> Again, if you can just state your first and last name and your address and then your time will start and you will have two minutes. >> It won't take that long. Douglas Host 25678 Highland Avenue. I just want to first off, not to censure, not to resignation. This is
such a minor minor issue. We live in a time where boundaries seem to get narrower and narrower and narrower. So if you're not happy with the process that's in place with a concern you might have, that doesn't give you the license
to just jump in front of somebody and start spouting off whatever you're upset about. You know, as a mayor, yeah, you have to expect that because you know that you're the mayor and we love seeing you in town. My wife and I call it our little village. But people coming in and
not happy with the process, kick and scream, trying to make some I don't even know the words. I'm just frustrated on this whole thing. Whatever disagreements are on the council should be behind the council doors. It shouldn't be out here. And
this this whole thing is a nothing sandwich. it it shouldn't have happened regardless of what either side said or didn't say. And to comment on an earlier speaker, yeah, if if this was something, it was at the pickle. There would have
been a thousand photos and, you know, a 100 hours of video taken, everybody would have wanted to get on get in on that. So, I I personally I wasn't there, but I don't believe it was as big of an issue as it's been made out to be. And that's all I have to say on the matter,
but thank you so much. We appreciate it. And mayor, keep working hard. We like it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else that would like to come forward going once? Again, if you can state your first and last name, your address, and then I will
start the timer, and you'll have two minutes. Good evening. and Kate Stumble, 4436 Lower Royal Lake Road, Niswah. And I will uh start this out by addressing the uh woman who is up here referring to herself as the employer. I too am an
employer and we conduct regular performance reviews. I have two daughters at NESA Elementary and it was very exciting to see a female coming into office especially among males. Um perhaps a performance review is in
order before taking the action of resignation or firing and specifically setting an example of an online presence and uh maybe filtering out the press releases coming from the mayor going into uh media.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else? Last call. Okay, we will close public comment. Um, next up we have our reports and we will start with our city attorney. Do we have
a report this month? >> Good evening everybody. No, I've got nothing to report. >> Okay, we will go next to our city engineer. Do we have a report this month? >> Just to report, we're continuing to work on the road projects for both 2026 and
2027. progress is going well. So, we look forward to the hearing in January. >> Thank you. Do we have any questions for the city engineer from council? >> Nothing. Okay. We will move next into
old business. The first agenda item is the city administrator/clerk search update from Mike Humple with SCSC. Mike, thank you for making the making the drive. We appreciate you being here. >> First, would you hand us down here? Let
me first say, mayor and council, thank you for giving the South Central Service Co-op and myself the opportunity to work with you to find your next city administrator. >> Thank you for having the lowest rate. >> Pardon me. >> Thank you for having the lowest rate.
>> Well, and and you know, I can address that a little bit just quickly. We're a not for not notfor-profit local government entity established by the legislature. So our cost structure can be a little different than than than some of the other folks that do this. But tonight what I'd like to do is one
introduce myself. Um I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and I started in local government in 1987. So dates me a little bit. In 1995, I was um recruited to be the first public um community development director for the
city of Fairmont, Minnesota down in the southern part of the state. I worked there 24 years and four months and completed my last eight years as the city administrator and in 2020 I started with the service co-op as their manager of local government solutions. So been
around a little bit in local government. My educational background is a bachelor's of science in public administration and a master's degree in public administration. So what I'd like to do in in your folder on the right hand side is a little bit about our
team's philosophy on executive searches. When I look at city councils, you know, they generally are volunteers. They have real jobs during the day. And not that your council um job isn't real, but a a
daily job and you have family. So what we like to do is take Did I say the right side? Might have been the left >> left side. >> Left side. Sorry. So what I what we like to do is try to take the burden off of you in the search process. You have other things to do. Uh what we'd like
you to do is trust us. Our goal is to bring you five candidates that all have the technical skills to do the job. Be your job and the city staff's job to try to determine if this person fits your
organization or not, your organization's culture. So, what I'd like you to do is kind of trust us to do the job. Um, I think we're on a path already of success. We've we've advertised the job
for just a little over 10 days. We have f five um full applications in that that I'm starting to vet and we have four other individuals that I've talked to and they say they're going to apply and we have 22 days left in the in the
posting process. So if if you go down to the the the next thing is our how we rank and go through the process as applications come in. We look at 10 bullet points from your job description and we assign points to that to that as
as their resumes reflect. Once that's complete myself, I interview at least five or six, maybe seven individuals over the phone that scored the highest. Then I have another person, she's a has
a her own HR firm. She'll administrate administer a PXT assessment and then she will interview them to see what their management and leadership skills are like. The PXT assessment is a an assessment we purchase and it tells us
what the person's thinking style is, what are their decision-making style, what is their financial abilities and and how they use that. And and we administer those. We send them back to the company and they give us a a report
on each individual. We compile that report with our interviews, the two of us and we select five candidates. We select five all would have will have the um skill sets to do the job. We'll
interview four and the fifth is always a person that we have as an alternate in case someone drops out because that often happens. is a lot of times this is this won't be the only position they're applying for. So that's kind of our process. And to better explain it,
there's a timeline in there that you should have all received a week or so ago. And so usually I do this a a little bit ahead of this, but we needed to keep this thing rolling and get going, especially to the holidays. So if we
start Well, let's just start. We we advertised it on um December 5th. We have um what I'd call nine um applicants right now. It the process will the posting will go for
another 22 days ending on the 5th of January. We'll pick finalist applicants on the or final review of applications on the 6th and 7th. And then seven, January 7th through the 26th is when we
actually do interviews, Zoom interviews, um, background checks, criminal, and that sort of thing. And then on the 27th of November, we'll set up interviews and provide you all three ring binders with all the pertinent information you need
to um review that and and get prepared for your interviews that we have scheduled for the 9th and 10th of February. What I like to do is on the 9th bring the candidates in, all four of them, about 2:00 in the afternoon to
have them meet with different members of your city staff. What I like to do is try to get as many members as we can of your staff and we'll set them in a large room with four tables. put a candidate or have staff at the four tables and
we'll put a candidate at each table and they'll spend 20 to 30 minutes with each candidate and then it's kind of like speed dating for for city administrator. What we want to do is we want to get staff's input. We want to have staff
talk to and ask questions of the candidates. Once that's done, it usually ends about 4:00. We have the candidates go for a for a tour of the community. The city staff get together and visit about what they thought of the
candidates. I interview the the staff and they give me what their recommendations and suggestions are. And I hold that information until the council finishes their interviews the next day. And then when appropriate, I
say, "Well, here's what your staff thought." and and on the the night the on the first night we'd have a community meet and greet in here where the candidates would be here. You can the public's invited um planning commission, EDA,
school superintendent, county commissioners just because this person will be um working pretty close with all of those folks. So we'll do that. Um the next day we have two I'd like to have two interviews in the morning, break for
lunch, two interviews in the afternoon, and then after the last um interview, go into close session to discuss labor negotiations essentially or who you want to hire or what how you want to proceed after after hearing from all
four candidates. Usually we we get that done and you direct me to make an offer and I work with your city attorney to walk through an employment agreement. But that's kind of our process. Um I take questions. But the other thing we
did is all of you um filled out a a a questionnaire that we put together and on your right side is the position profile and it outlines outlines um a lot of things about NISWA. talks about
what you what your expectations are of the candidate and that helps them understand what your expectations are and then again um that gives them the opportunity to say is this a fit for me and I can I can talk them through what
the council's um wishes are. Um I did there is in your packet my analysis on on salary. I think you're you're well within within the salary range and and competitive. Um so with that, um I'd
take any questions you have on the process or any direction. >> Thank you, Mike, for coming up to go over all this with us. I think it seems like a very detailed and thorough approach and appreciate the thought and
the transparency in it. Um, I'll turn it to council to see if there are any questions for Mike. I'll start with you. Council member Freley, >> I don't have any. >> Council member London. >> Council member Zan. >> Thank you for coming. >> Everybody's okay with the time frame. We got Christmas in there, but I think
we're ahead of the game. The other thing I can say is being ahead of the game at at this time right now because there's um five other searches that will start in the next week or so that we'll be competing with. So, um, it's good to get the thing going and I appreciate the
opportunity to come and visit with you tonight. And Maggie, it's good to see you in person. Thank you. But again, what I'd like to do is just thank the the council for giving us the opportunity to work for you. And I'm quite certain we will come up with a
candidate that all of you can feel can work within your organization. And um, so we'll do the best job we can. >> Thank you. And we look forward to seeing you again in February. Yeah, before. >> Thank you so much.
Thank you. >> Okay. Next up under old business is a continuation from the special meeting that took place uh last Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. which is a continued discussion uh related to me. Um
gentlemen, I wasn't at the meeting. I'll let you start. I do have some remarks, but I will turn it to you to start. Council members on. I'm guessing you're going to take this one, >> please. Um, last Wednesday I chose not to attend
the special council meeting because it was clear to me from the outset that it would be performative rather than productive. What followed confirmed that assessment, an effort to use official city business to settle personal and/or political grievances against me as
mayor, despite my consistent focus on protecting taxpayers, increasing transparency and accountability at city hall. Continuing to revisit this item under the guise of further discussion only reinforces to me that this remains
a political exercise, not legitimate governance. At a time when we actually have real work to do on this council with our parks, the road bonds, setting the 2020 2026 tax levy, to name a few. In preparation for tonight, I did reach
out to my attorneys and my legal counsel to have them review the city council code of conduct. Based on that review, they concluded there have been no violations of any mandatory provision of the code. Any attempt to assign so-called named wrongdoing is
unsupported and appears designed for optics rather than substance. For clarity for everybody here in the room tonight, it is important to understand what a censure or vote of no confidence actually means in city government. These
actions are not ordinances nor are they laws. They are non-binding resolutions. Attempts to regulate the speech of an elected official conflicts with our first amendment which protects speech on matters of public concern. That
protection includes the ability to speak about public policy, government actions, other public officials, including through public statements, social media, and interactions with the p with members of the public. When a resolution
conflicts with the constitution, the constitution always prevails. And last time I checked, we were living in America, not communist China. And I am very proud to be living in America. Accordingly, any censure or similar
symbolic action, again, whether it's done tonight or in January, does not establish policy or accountability. Prolonging this process only consumes taxpayer time, staff time, and resources, which is not what I believe our community expects from us on this council. So, I believe it is time for us
to move forward, get back to business at hand, and put these disputes to the side. And so, that is why I was not here Wednesday. Council member Freilley, do you have anything you'd like to say?
I was just wondering why you didn't reach out to the young lady uh when she sent the email to you and have a discussion with her and possibly uh council member Zhan, who according to this young lady, the conversation was on how to humiliate him and have him resign
from office. Why didn't you reach out to her and sit down and talk? >> Um, I'm not going to get into a tit for a tad or a he said or she said. Um, there were certain people at the meeting that I was at, which was to talk about the 2026 budget. And another topic of
conversation was the local option sales tax um, and explaining that and how some residents and business owners met. So, I'd like to keep focused on business at hand and not get into down in the weeds on this. >> But you didn't answer my question. I respectfully decline. >> All right.
>> Council member London. >> My question would be the same as Councilman Freley's uh about what occurred and why did it occur. >> I don't think people can hear me. >> That that' be my question. The same thing as uh Councilman Freillley is what
happened at the uh business in Brainer when you had these conversations with your companions about Councilman Zong. >> Yeah. And again, I I've I've put out a press statement on that and I've shared my perspective here. So, I don't have anything to add at this point. I think
it's better to keep focused. We have a full agenda to focus on the actually doing uh the city's business tonight. Council members on >> uh I think this is a part of the city's business. It's not the most uh desirable thing to have to talk about, but
accountability has to be discussed. Otherwise, what separates elected officials from their uh dual hats as citizens and council members or mayors? Uh I'm going to clarify one thing and in regards to a
comment you made, Mayor Cardahan, that I don't think that this is even remotely close to personal for anybody up here. And I want to be very clear with that. It's the conduct of a sitting mayor in the general public. Regardless of who was talked about, it was heard per that
email and per the statement, not just by one, but multiple employees of that business and multiple customers of that business. It was brought through the proper channel to email directly to you. Council member Hall was included on that
email. Not sure why, but he was. that was an opportunity to be able to respond to that uh to to Miss Foster in regards to why you felt it was appropriate to discuss uh those specific items in regards to trying to quote
embarrassing me and perhaps I will then resign. I don't take any personal stab at that. It it is what it is. As a as a elected official, you obviously you sit on this side. You represent the nearly 2,000 people in this community, my
hometown, know many of you. And I would defend any of you if you are in the same situation that Miss Foster is in. Miss Foster has been brought through hell and back in regards to this situation. Scoff at it as you want, ma'am, but it is true. Uh, Mayor Carneahan's actions were
just that, and that's fine. But what she has gone through, Miss Foster has gone through uh the week after that email was sent was very difficult to be accused of assaulting a public official. Now, as our good Niswah Police Department has
done the investigation, turn it over to the city prosecutor, that prosecutor denied not once but twice the charges for assault. What it appears to me and I believe the rest of this council and a broad swath in the public that's not
here or here is that this is something to try to scare Miss Foster into you not having to respond to that email and that's just fine. But it's the conduct of an elected official that represents my hometown, our town. Is that proper?
Is that befitting of a mayor? I don't believe it is. And I believe that the other council members that called the meeting on Wednesday last week also felt the same way. Hence why they called it. And accountability for the behavior that was had in the last two weeks needs to
be addressed. Appreciate you attending this meeting. It would have been good to have you there last week to be able to answer this and be able to run this to ground properly. But yet we are here again because you weren't here last week. But your mother came and it was good understanding to be able to see her
perspective and disappointing to hear that there has been acts perhaps of racism or bigotry that you've experienced in this community. It is not acceptable and I would encourage any resident in this community to not behave in such a manner. We are respectful to one another. We care for one another. We
want to unify this town. This is not any political stunt as you have alluded to, Mayor Carneahan. This is simply again accountability. So is there any opportunity for you to again now answer Councilman Freighley's question? >> I don't have anything further to add. Uh
it's clear to me which is why I said this is performative politics that individuals on this council have created their perspectives and it really doesn't matter what I would say at this point because I don't think those perspectives are going to change. Um, you can feel
the way you want to feel, but what I will say is I was duly elected by the people of this city. >> I am going to remain mayor. Democracy will always prevail. Um, I appreciate you asking for my resignation last week.
Council members on I politely declined. I am going to keep doing good work on behalf of the people. People can believe what they want to. I was in high school once. There was always a lot of gossip either way and I usually just try to stay out of the fray and that's what I'm going to do here today. I believe
there's a lot more on the agenda to focus on. Um and so with that I would recommend we actually get back to the business at hand because we have a stacked agenda and a lot more to go. >> Well um in regards to that uh my last
remark would be simply we are not politicking at all on this council. This community does not want politicking. We've never had politicking here until the middle of this year. And we are trying to have decorum and maintain in order to be able to do the people's
work. So with that being said, as a public official, elected public officials, we are here to officiate and to facilitate this town's needs. And with that, uh, city, Mr. City Attorney, I would like to ask uh in order to
prepare a resolution of a vote of no confidence, would there be enough time to be able to have something prepared for the month of January if it was to be voted on by this council tonight? If if you want a resolution of any kind, excuse me, um prepared for your next
regular council meeting, then yes, it's possible to do that, but you'd have to tell me what would go into such a resolution. >> Okay? Such as >> if if there's an expression, a proclamation of any kind by the council
that's going to be in a resolution, then there should be some support for that, some reasons for that. If for instance um it was a it was a resolution suggesting no confidence in the mayor then it would be best to have some
some reasoning for that vote. Do any of the other council members have anything to add? >> I would like to uh also go forward with your request >> uh in regards to what our city attorney just outlined. Um, Bruce, is there
anything that any of you would have to provide additional specifics to include in that resolution? >> Um, not at this time. >> Council member Freley, I agree with uh, Council Member London.
Um, >> um, so is there a motion? >> Do you want to make a motion to direct the city attorney? I'd like to make a motion for this council to direct the city attorney to prepare a resolution for a vote of no confidence to be conducted in the next
regular city council meeting. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Any additional discussion from council? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Okay. Motion carries. >> Additionally, uh Mr. Mr. City Attorney,
I'd like to make a motion for this council to consider a vote of censure to be considered at the same time frame for the next council meeting. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Lastly, I'd like to make a motion for this council to consider in regards to this topic the removal from all committees for acting mayor Carneahan uh which is specifically the personnel committee and the liquor committee.
>> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I >> opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Any other motions? No.
>> All right. Anything else? Otherwise, we will move on to the EDA discussion and determination. >> Local option. I believe >> yes. Uh Ron, go ahead. >> All right. My mic fell asleep. >> If you can just state your first and
last name and your address. Uh for the record. >> My name is Ronald. Dewey Jr. and I'm at 26735 Middle Cullen Road. I believe council's actions has severe ramifications on what just happened here. Um, and I'll
leave it at that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else that would like to come to the microphone? Please state your na first full name. Melissa Strait, Alder Strait, I appreciate the three that have stood up
here and stated your statements because at least you are the three we know who who to remove in November at the next election. So, thank you for letting us know clearly as the employers who we do not want that are not supporting who we voted for and put in place. Thank you
for making that abundantly clear that your position is up for grabs. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Please state your first and last name and your address for the record. >> What's that? Someone else want to know?
Anyhow, Troy Shaffler, 26359, Chandandy Trail, Marfield. Um, I don't know what's going on here. I mean, this has been going on well before the Sophie thing. I mean, and no one's mentioned this. I mean, it's kind of been a big problem well before that. I remember like half a
year ago the mayor just walked out of a meeting uh that was being held. No reason apparently. Well actually there was a reason that was given apparently because I was here for some reason. But in any event um the organizational assessment does that ring a bell
anybody? I mean has anyone read that? I mean it was horrendous. There was a consistent complaint by staff itself about the mayor and her conduct and how she was running the city.
Why aren't we talking about that? Why Why are we talking about just the Sophie stuff? This is insane. You need to take care of your own employees. They have a tough time themselves. They need to be their morale needs to be up. Um, and the
mayor is at the head of that, kind of directs the whole city itself and how it functions. And no one has even mentioned this. And I find it rather rich that your mayor would mention the First Amendment considering she's being sued for it right now.
So, when everyone wants to sit and think they have everything, um, you know, I guess I would have to blame the council to a degree by not really fully fleshing everything out. Maybe that will come out with this vote and what you guys are going to be drafting with the attorney
himself. But that's really all I have to say is that there's more to this than just the Sophie Foster issue. Thanks. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to come forward? Again, if you can state your first and
last name and your address. Diane Townsend, 26424 Highland Avenue. I just want to say that after what I read to you guys, apparently you're not bothered if I let out the information I have on city employees.
Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to come forward? Again, if you can state your first and last name and your address, that would be greatly appreciated. >> Absolutely. Fred Hydeman, 4794 Central Avenue, Briner. Lived just outside of
the city of Nisa. I was the mayor for term or two. I was on this council for a couple terms. Um, I've been watching this whole thing play out. Um, I wasn't even going to say anything, but after Mr. shuffler was up here. It it uh
brought me to where I need to say something and that is I don't think many of the citizens know but well four months ago um I had gotten a call that uh from from a citizen saying that at the
next council meeting Jesse Zan and Troy Shuffler were going to be making a move to push the mayor out. And um I'm a person when I hear something I usually like to try to
call and talk to that person and see what truth or not there is to it. So I did give Mr. was on a call and um mentioned it to him and at that time uh when I explained it when I told him it was dead silent on the end of the phone
line for a few seconds and then it was well uh I I I haven't talked to uh uh Sheffller for like uh two months and um you know I don't know that there's anything I don't know what it what there
is to this. I just ask the question, you know, what is going on in this community? >> Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to come forward? If you can state your first and last name and then your street address for the record.
>> Katie Ellsworth, 26210 Edna Lane. Um, I'm new here. I came here a month ago and I came to observe uh a city meeting. I came to observe a city meeting as a new member of this community.
Uh, as you can tell, I'm very nervous to be up here because I didn't plan it. I just wanted to comment that from an outside perspective, not having any information about this before this meeting. This council and this community
are very dysfunctional. It feels like a high school. I grew up in a town that was smaller than this and I am very very familiar with how close-knit it is and how that can also lead to drama.
But it can also lead to being very close with each other and I just implore you like this is a mess and no one would want to come into this and I want to love this community that I just joined.
So maybe try to set aside your differences, figure it out, both the council and the community because there was a lot of hatred up here too. So that's all I wanted to say. Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to
come forward if you can state your first and last name and your address and then I will start the timer. Megan Friedrich, 26694 East Cullen Road. I um like this young lady that was just up here was not planning on speaking. So I am also a little nervous, but I am sad. I'm
heartbroken. I'm embarrassed for the city. Um I hate seeing what's all over the news. Um it makes me sad to see our town divided over politics. City council should not be politics. It shouldn't be politicking. And what frustrates me the
most is this is happening on social media. and Mayor Carneahan, you're starting it. That's what's frustrating. And I do think we expect more from everyone that everyone we need to be mindful of what we say online. We need to be mindful of our perceptions. But when we are I'm I'm an executive
marketing professional. We have to be mindful of our roles and what we say. And I do think you have accountability and are not owning up to it. And that's really frustrating. So that's all I have to say. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else?
My name is Greg Peterson and I live at 4571 Upper Roy Lake Road and I've been a citizen of Niswah for 73 years. And I would just like to say that there there was some talk of we know who to vote for
next time the votes come around. Well, I would just like to remind everybody to be sure you Google the people you vote for and know the history of of who you're voting for before you vote them. and uh it would alleviate a lot of the problems that we're having.
>> Thank you. Is there anyone else? Okay, going once. Going twice. Okay, we're going to move on to the last item under old business, which is an EDA discussion and determination. We have number three. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I skipped number three.
>> Okay, >> I put an X through it. I'm sorry, Tyler. Number three, uh, old business is a local option sales tax. Uh, for those of you that may have watched or were here in attendance in November, there was discussion in a vote around advancing a
half a percent sales tax increase, which is called the local option sales tax. It has to go through a process. Um, two of us on the council voted no to advancing it, and that was largely based on very strong feedback we received from the business community. and three council
members voted yes to advance the local option sales tax forward. It is my understanding that perhaps based on community feedback that there might be some uh changing of votes from the three that voted for this last month. So I
will turn it over to the council member Zan Freling and council member London. You are the three that voted for it last time. If if there's interest in changing your vote or any additional um things why this is under old business, please go ahead. >> Council member Freley.
>> No. Okay. We uh council member Freilley and myself along with Maggie and Amber were able to meet with both our state rep and our state senate rep. Uh both Josh and Carrie Heindman here. Um when was it? Was it last week?
>> Last Tuesday. uh was that a week or two weeks ago? >> Week week week and a half ago. Um there's a lot of truth behind having public support behind having a local option sales tax. It's not an increase. It's it's a it's a it's the first of its kind for Niswah. Um we want to make sure
that there's unified support behind it. Uh as do the Heinesman's when they would attempt to bring it through state legislature. Uh what's keen to know is this local option sales tax uh being advanced by us as it was uh last month would have then gone to the Heinesman's
to this they would have brought through the state legislature and then it would have gone back to the voters of Niswah. So next next November you all would have had an opportunity to put your vote and opinion on the matter and that was the intent I would say behind my vote. Uh let these two speak for themselves is to
give you all an opportunity to to have your own voice heard on that matter. Um it's an opportunity that this council, at least in my four years here, has not had the opportunity to do quite yet. But after discussions with the Heinesman's, they're under the impression that if there's not unanimous support behind it,
as was anticipated, and Mayor Carneahan did uh acknowledge that at the last meeting, that uh they would have a tough time being able to get behind such a bill. Uh so with that, uh I would like to make a motion to resend my original uh local option sales tax advancement.
and I resend the second. >> That is a council motion. >> Is there any additional discussion? All those in favor of rescending signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. And
>> one more thing to add to that. Okay. >> Uh I I think all of us full-time residents here are very cognizant of the type of community we live in. we see an extreme um surplus of folks coming through the community
through 371, coming to cabin here, coming to resort here, uh a local option sales tax, if there is something that we are able to do to capture dollars from those tourists that are coming through town or those guests
that are coming through town, is it of the public opinion to perhaps capturing perhaps perhaps a fraction of what is coming through on that piece to be able to finance anything through the from the city regardless if it's a park or if perhaps it's to pay for the roads and
the city streets. Uh this city has very limited ability whether it's this council or it's a council 20 years from now. There is very limited ability for this uh body to be able to generate revenue. Uh and obviously that form is tax. uh we look really at two options in
regards to some avenues say for a road bond uh that will go back onto the property levy and that's a strict management of uh those cycled projects coming through. Uh a suggestion that the Heinesman's had was perhaps look at something on a different lens versus it
being the park. Perhaps city roads and city streets could be something that could be considered. Um it was an idea. It was a something for discussion. Otherwise, I know that when we look at the 2026 road bond and the 2027 road bond, as I discussed in the last
meeting, we are looking at substantial cost for those roads. Uh would that be something that the public would be interested in pursuing? If there's not public sentiment or support for it, then it's not worth it. Uh as was obviously shown here and we have rescended our our
motion on that. But something for the public to consider as this council continues to move forward to find the most creative ways possible to keep your dollars in your pocket as these these costs are going to be significant. >> That's all. >> Thank you. All right, Tyler.
Oh, Ron, sorry. Did you have one comment on the >> Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it's my understanding that a local option sales tax cannot be used for city roads. Is that >> Yes, it can. And it's a great example, Ron, is that it's being used in Baxter
just for that purpose. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. Now, we'll move to Tyler. Our last agenda item under old business, the EDA discussion and determination. Sorry for the delay. No, you're all right. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Yeah. Tyler Glenn, I'm the executive director of Bladec, which is the Brainer
Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation. Um, my daughter's here tonight, so I'm sure I'm going to be judged for whatever I say. So, just FYI, I'm sure people will, you know, as we get into EDA, we'll start leaving. One comment, uh, Councilman Zan, that I
should be making, uh, to open this up is regarding local option sales tax. There is a county local option sales tax already. >> Countywide. Yep. It's been in place for about six years. The reenacted, they pushed it forward again for another five years last year. Um that those dollars
particularly go to road improvements. That's all the money is allocated for. Generate about county roads. They generate about between four and a half and $6 million a year. So it's just information that I think is relevant to the conversation that was just had. >> I'll throw a hypothetical out there for folks to consider and digest. If we have
$10 million worth of road bonds coming up in the 26 and 27 road bond, you amateurize that over 10 years. Okay, 10 years. That's a $1 million ad to the levy that we have right now, which is that 3.7. That's Maggie, math, the math.
23% levy increase. >> A hypothetical unless unless this council got more creative. What is not wanted, I think, by everybody in this room, including those that sit up here that pay property
taxes, is not that. Nobody wants that. So, is it is this local option sales tax a vehicle for the for the residents of this town to be able to capture outside of business revenues from the shops that we have in this town and the resorts? Is
it an opportunity to be able to capture as one study uh afforded 65 70% perhaps of that uh sales tax revenue coming from folks that do not even reside in this town? >> Yeah, it's right. >> Yeah. And it it it's been a very beneficial tool for the county. I'll
just say it that way. It's to this point. But um my discussion tonight is related to an EDA. The um city of Nisah did have an EDA and the EDA was res dissolved back in uh 2016. Um an
establishment of an EDA and economic development authority. Um gives the city you know really a wide range of of ability to do some you know some different things. Um, as you look at this, you know, the city the city is able to promote economic
growth, consolidate powers, EDAs can combine economic and housing development powers into a into one body. I know that the city doesn't have an HRA, so that wouldn't be, but they fall under the same statute. Um, they fall under the same statute as far as what can be done
with an EDA. Now, an EDA has the ability to levy, and I know we're constantly on the conversation around taxing. It's not that an EDA has to do that. An EDA has the ability to do that. They fall under, as I mentioned, they fall under state statute 469.1.
Um, which does give it the ability to levy. Not saying that you have to, but you have the ability to do that. The amount of the levy would consist of a 01813% of the taxable market value. The taxable market value of the city of NISA is pretty high. So, you don't have to.
That's the maximum amount that you can levy each year. And the suggestion isn't to do that. It's just that the bit the the giving granting the authority to have an EDA again in the city gives you that ability. But it also gives the ability to own property. So in the
situation in the situation that you have with the city-owned land, the city could actually transfer that land to an EDA and then let the EDA body determine what is the best use of that land. Um we have
applied Bladec on our behalf has applied for a grant to study that land is create a master plan uh with the help of the city to create a master plan out there. you look at that property. Um, I know that it's for some folks it's kind of a sticking point, but the bottom line is
is there's an opportunity there. And when you look at it from my lens as an economic developer, you have the ability to create mixed use out there, mixed commercial use, you have the ability to put essential services out there, but that property could be used for residential commercial. You could have a
building that has both. You could have both mixed uh use in that building. I think there's an opportunity to create a plan out there and you know our job as your contracted economic development folks is to help you create a plan and to work through that. But the first first thing you would need to do is
reestablish your EDA. To reestablish your EDA, it's a binding resolution. You would have to hold a public meeting. Um and I think that's the the right move to make. Um, you would need to, and I'm sorry I misspoke about this earlier, but you would need to establish you would
need to place three individuals on an EDA board. The EDA board can also just be the council. It's really dependent on what you guys would like to do with it. Um, but I think again there's an opportunity here. there's an opportunity to move this conversation forward to
create additional tax base and to I think really use that property out there as a as a shining light as an example as you enter this community could be some really good things out there. Um, you can issue revenue bonds, you can, you know, you can guarantee credit enhancements, you can issue general
obligation bonds as an EDA. So, just taking some of the responsibility, maybe back off of the city, transferring that information, transferring that power to the EDA. Um, so with that being said, I'm open to questions, but the bottom line is is that as I mentioned in the document that I sent over for you guys
that in your packet today, um, moving this forward, at a minimum, you had have to have three individuals, whether they're council members or, um, citizens, but once you create and hold an EDA meeting, it again opens up public
meeting laws. >> Does council have any question for Tyler? Council member Freley, >> did you say there's only three members on the >> You can only three is required. You can go up to nine, but three is the three is
the minimum to hold an EDA meeting. >> Council member London, >> no questions. Thank you. >> Council members on >> a resolution. >> Resolution. >> We need to be prepared for the next month's meeting. >> Yep. Through enabling resolutions, EDAs are granted all the power described in
Minnesota statutes. about it. Okay. Um from your experience, how have you seen that member make up for the for the three? >> Typically council members, if it's going to be three, um city of Baxter, it is their entire council. City of Brainard
is made up of three sitting city council members plus city um plus public members as well. Um they have a board made up of nine people. So yeah, and your meeting schedule can can vary. Can be you you're required to meet once a year.
>> Okay. Perhaps that'd be something that could be determined once the resolution is drafted and voted on. >> Yes. Next. That's the direction of the council. >> Yep. And then guiding staff or your economic development uh contractors to move forward with a plan. Like I said,
we've we've applied for a grant to to access some of these dollars that would help us, you know, bring in engineers, bring in, you know, developers to to at, you know, our request to make sure that it we start to develop a plan that the city wants and that the city can get
behind your EDA can get behind >> and the local business involvement with within that EDA from your experience >> has been valuable. Um there's good experience that comes from those who are currently doing business here. Um but it's not necessary, >> right? I think at least from my
perspective and lens, I'd love to have as a committee >> a part of this as possible to be able to have as much community input obviously as a key key component. >> Um okay. >> All right. Do we have a motion? >> Tom.
>> Tom. Oh, go ahead, Tom. >> I'm sorry to interrupt, Tyler. um in your in the what you've prepared for the council in the packet, you speak to an option >> um economic development commission. Can you just talk to the merits of that versus a full EDA?
>> Absolutely. And glad you brought that up. So, an economic development commission can be made up, it would be made up of just individuals in your community. It is not made up of any city sitting city council members. Um they're an advisory board. So, they're basically
just a group that's going to advise the council with different steps forward. Peekquat Lakes has an EDC and they're tasked with the council tasks them with different um activities throughout the year. They act as more of a marketing arm than anything else, but they're also
guiding them on city- owned property on what they would feel is the best use of that property, but they don't have any actual authority. Okay. >> Anything else, Tom? Okay. >> I'd like to make a motion if this
council would entertain us instructing the city attorney to move forward with drafting of a resolution for an economic development authority. And you know, I'll stop there. >> Do we have a second? >> Yeah. >> Second. >> Is there any additional discussion?
>> Mr. attorney. I am assuming you're going to need a lot of specifics. Uh believe the intent of this is to be able to start putting together a body uh with whoever from this council, but to be
able to work with businesses uh with Bladec with the chamber perhaps to to try to understand what uh what next steps are with the property. There's a ton of concept out there, but we want to be able to have a vehicle. I would like to see the city have a vehicle that is
pushing uh responsible and proper development of that property so the opportunities that are out there uh can start to be seized on. So, if there's any clarity that you would like now, if you have any >> I don't know uh right off right now, I
think my first step would be to have a conversation with Tyler about that. Um is your if if If a resolution is is going to be passed to form an EDA, is the main objective that land?
>> Is it other things? >> Yes. As Tyler described, an EDA is can be very comprehensive, >> lots of different like like you said, taxing authorities, a lot of things. There may there may be some things that are part of an EDA that
you wouldn't want to have. And if this is directed just toward processes for that land development, then that would probably help aid the resolution process. >> Would would you be under the >> Go ahead. >> Would you be under the impression that
it would warrant a special meeting to discuss this so we can put all cards on the table as to what council believes? >> And I think that that's probably useful because that would help you sort of game plan what you want this to look like. Um Tyler could be part of that conversation again if he's willing to because he's
got the experience in this. But it certainly would help in drafting a document for you and helping shape kind of what your goals are in forming an EDA. >> Because I would see that once this if the purpose was to be for that the the >> the land
>> the the property, correct? Uh why let all of that momentum and talent go once >> it gets to the point where it's at? uh I would see that there likely would be benefit for the community long term to not only just establish but to be able
to maintain that ETA. So >> if if I may the other comment to make excuse me is that okay um is that does currently and I'm asking this of Tom does the the city at this point um handle the requests of either
tax increment financing tax abatement they don't is those have those come to before the council at this point have any requests for >> we've seen >> tiff financing okay >> we've seen one tiff project that I can think of in recent memory and that was Portland in in the last five years, right?
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, those requests, again, as we build out a resolution, those requests could be made directly to an EDA and the EDA then makes the recommendation to the full council in regards to requests for tax increment or tax abatement. We're
not seeing much tax abatement these days. Tax increment financing is pretty pretty prevalent, especially in this county. So the idea of a of a special meeting to give some sort of put some flesh on the skeleton of the idea of an EDA does make sense
>> and it'd be great to have the full council here. >> Yep. So it was my understanding that I thought we had talked about Stephen correct me if I'm wrong doing that in January um either a special meeting or a workshop to get clarity and have discussion on this so then we would have
all the inputs to be able to drive the resolution forward. >> A special meeting. Yeah, we had talked about either doing a special meeting or a workshop in January so that we could have the dialogue around it and get the inputs so that then Tom, our city attorney, would have what he needed to
draft the resolution so we'd have more discussion and I know there was discussion about having Tyler being a part of that. >> Yeah, happy to. Yeah. Yeah. Staff's been great to this point as well. So there, you know, good guidance from them regarding this. >> Um, you're gone the entire month, >> right? Since you know that I'll be gone
for the month of January, I'm okay with the count. No, I'm okay with the council to move forward with this. >> Okay. >> If me not there, I'm I'm I'm happy with that. >> Um so Tom, then do we would it make sense then to pull back the motion and second and then we'll work on a date for
this meeting? Um we can confer offline and figure out what when Tyler is available. >> Mayor, if the motion I I don't remember if it passed. >> No, we didn't. It was a motion in a second and we were still in discussion. So we h I haven't actually called the vote. I I think your motion is okay to
go ahead and and and take a vote on. Now, if you vote on this, you're really talking about a concept. >> Okay. >> And then at following that, then you'll start to give that concept some more details. So, we can go ahead and >> Okay. So, if there's no further
discussion, then I would like to call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I >> I >> opposed. Okay. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Tyler. >> Okay. Uh now we are under new business. Um the first item is the Brainer JC's
use of the city property. Uh, do we have anyone from the JC's that wanted to come up to the microphone and your approval. So, Old Stewart Mills lot south of um Holiday Gas Station for parking and shuttling to our event per
usual like we've done many years in the past where we plow it and we clean it the day after the event. >> Does council have any questions? All right, a motion would be in order. >> I'll make a motion to approve Brainer JC's use of city property as presented.
>> Second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Next as well is the Brainer JC's temporary liquor license. >> Yes. I believe this is for the kickoff
party that we're hosting at Grand View Lodge. Um it's the kickoff party the night before the event and we're just looking for approval to get a liquor license at that event. >> Okay. Do we have any questions regarding the temporary liquor license? I'll make
a motion to approve the temporary liquor license for the Briner JC's. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you for being here. >> Okay. Uh next up, cuz we switched the
order a bit here, is the Big Axe Brewing small packaging liquor license. Do we have anyone from Big Axe that would like to come and address council regarding the small packaging liquor license? Okay, council. There was information in
the packet if if there's no one here from Big Axe, but do we have a motion or >> I'll make a motion to approve the Big Axe brewing small packaging liquor license as presented. >> I'll second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. >> Opposed? Okay, the motion carries. Um, next up is planning and zoning. Um, we have a new commission appointment and Stephen, if you want to come up, that would be great.
>> Thank you, mayor and councel. Uh, so yes, we have held interviews for some potential candidates to fill the vacancy and start a first term for the planning commission and board of adjustment. Um, post interviewing uh the applicants, we do have a recommendation to bring
forward to you guys in your packet. Um the recommendation from the interview committee is for uh appointing Aaron Baseman as a planning and zoning or planning commission board of adjustment commission member. >> Does council have any questions for Stephen regarding the recommendation for
the new appointee to the planning commission and board of adjustment? >> No. I'll make a motion to approve the planning commission's uh recommendation to appoint uh its new member um Aaron Baseman. Second. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify
by saying I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Congratulations, Aaron. >> Okay. Next up, we have uh Lonnie benefits request. Um Lonnie is here with us. So, we'll let you come to the
microphone. Lonnie. >> Wow. I think I've waited on a lot of you or your parents. >> My parents. So, you know, >> my first beer, my last beer, my next beer. >> You know, a lot of you have heard me
say, "Ah, 40 years. It's been 40 years." Um, I'd written a letter to the city council asking, you know, I am tired. I have loved working for the city of Nisa. It's been a blast. Met a ton of great people. I
work with great people. I am asking I've been there 40 years. I'm tired. I'm a little tired. I'd like to drop one day down to 32 hours, which actually
every day I'm there before 8 and every day I'm there after 4 is overtime now. So, it wouldn't really be 32 hours. It'd be more like 34 to 35 a week. and I'm asking if I could keep my benefits because man, I've priced them and I
can't afford them and I'm not getting any younger at all. So, that's what I'm asking. That's what my letter was for. And if you have any questions, please ask. >> Yes, council. Um, are there any questions for Lonnie? Council member
Freilley, do you have any questions? >> Greatly appreciate all the time you've put in. >> Thank you. And I loved it. >> And when I was drinking, you had to put up with my crap. >> Not that anymore.
>> Okay. Um, Council Member London, any questions? >> Thank you so much for your many years of service. >> Thank you, >> Council Member Zan. >> Just for some clarity, and Maggie, I might need to look to you, but 32, at least in the private world, 32 hours a
week is full-time. Our policies state that full-time is 40 hours. >> It's different with Yeah. >> the employees, >> public employees are they it's based differently. >> Don't
>> benefit earning employees. Employees are eligible for at least a pro-rated portion of city provided benefits. Such employees must be year- round employees who work at least 20 hours per week on a regular basis. Am I correct in that?
>> I'm I'm not sure what you're reading. Are you reading the email that >> this is that? No, this is from Maggie or if this is from >> Yes, Maggie. It's the from the labor attorney. >> Okay. So, I did reach out to our labor attorney and ask the question that
Lonnie is looking to reduce her hours. Um their conclusion is that the um I'm going to just read their whole conclusion. It says the city should continue to provide all legal required
benefits to eligible employees. The city is not required to provide city provided benefits for eligible full-time employees to part-time employees. Moreover, providing eligible full-time employees employee benefits to a
part-time employee is generally not advised because eligibility is governed by laws and internal policies. Deviating from those may create future issues by establishing unintended president and increased cost. For these reasons, the
city provided benefits should be administrated consistently in accordance with the city's defined eligibility criteria. What did that mean? That was a lot of words. >> Well, I guess how I interpreted that is
is there a statement that it's setting a precedent? >> Yes, because currently we do not provide the city's contributed benefits to any part-time employees. The only benefiting employees that get
paid the city's I'll say health benefit are full-time employees working 40 hours a week. >> I will say >> 40 years. >> 40 years. >> When I first started working for the city, we didn't have insurance. No, >> we had our own insurance. And it wasn't
until and I started there in ' 85. It probably wasn't until 90ish when we finally got benefits. I never got a handbook saying 40 hours only. and that's who gets benefits. That handbook was not out there, not available. The I
feel like the city failed to plan for people like me, Terry, and Tim Crims. Were the only three at the pickle getting benefits and we're all got one foot out the door and the other on a banana peel. I just feel like the city
did not plan well thinking when we got were given insurance and whenever that 40-hour rule was made up, the gals over here were all in their 50s and they were one foot out the door, too. And over there, we were all in our 20s. I thought
I'd do it for a summer or two and get the heck out of there, but boy, where'd those 40 years go? So, I just failed. I feel like the city failed to plan a little bit for us who ended up staying. >> I I look at she's dedicated four years
of her life to this city. Why can't we do something? >> Oh, yeah. I I mean, I completely agree. I mean, Lonnie, quick question. >> Sure. How quick are you wanting this to go into place? Or do you think that we could try to perhaps as a liquor
committee and council at at the next meeting be able to try to address exactly what you just stated to be able to find a a solution because you are right there. >> Yeah, I got a new >> I don't want to call Terry old, but you know, he's >> I'm two weeks old than him. He will remind everybody two weeks older. I'm
okay waiting >> table for a month and try to get some common ground solution >> absolutely >> from now till uh I think it's Tuesday January 20th. >> Sure. >> Is that okay? >> Yes. I go back working full-time. I just >> drag my new knee back to work.
It's a new knee and I thank you all for your consideration. I truly do. It's just Yeah, I'm a little tired. >> I hear you. Just don't pick up the kegs anymore. That >> I don't have to. >> Terry Terry can have to I don't have to anymore. >> Hey, thank you for the 40 years, too. >> And thank you all for your
consideration. >> Gold watch, though. That's the thing that I'm wondering. You know, >> you >> did you get the 25-y year gold watch? >> There were a few. >> Where is that? >> Yeah. What handbook are you referring to, Mark? >> There were there were some individuals
that had wanted to speak uh when this agenda item came up. I don't know if they still want to, but I don't want to exclude anyone. Uh, Bonnie, if you want wanted to say something. I know you had wanted to during public comment, so we'll let you come back up to the mic. >> And I've only known her for about 40.
>> Yeah. >> I was going to ask, and a lot of this has been answered, but exactly how many employees we have that have been in NISWA for 40 years. And Lonnie has been, and I know I'm speaking to the choir of
many of you, Lonnie has been the face and the heart and the soul of the pickle factory for the past 40 years. And I can I winter in in Mazatlan, Mexico. I walk down the street with my pickle
factory shirt on and people say, "I know the pickle factory. I love the pickle factory." And it's because of Lonnie and Terry, he's not here. And that they are saying that. So I would say we need to take care of our own. I mean, 40 years
should mean something. And so I would just encourage you to consider um taking care of of Lonnie. >> Thank you, Bonnie. Now, Miss Bonnie, on that point, actually, I'll I'll say if you wear a pickle shirt when you go down
the beach or the street in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, you uh you will get tackled. You're like, you're you've been there. Like, I live right where the pickle's at. Even better. >> Fred, did you have something related to this topic? >> I do. Real quick, Fred Hidman. Um,
I certainly see both sides of this, so Lonnie, just be patient. Um, first of all, setting precedences are a nasty, nasty idea. Okay, but that being said, is it possible for the council to have
some discussion with our attorney or some other attorney, whoever the mindset is, and set a age or or not age, but a number of years. If you've worked for the city x
number of years and you move from 40 to 32 hours, can there be is is it possible to have some sort of a employee exception or not even exception but an employee rule there? I I I have no idea. Just bringing
up the idea. Um because >> precedents are uh they come back to haunt you in five or 10 years, you know, or one year, whatever it is. Um, so that's all I had to say. Thank you. >> Thank you, Fred. >> I have >> any Sorry.
>> Anything else on this topic? >> Okay. Otherwise, it sounds like we're going to table and we'll we'll bring this back to the January agenda. >> I think liquor committee perhaps could take an attempt at this. Yeah. and then uh working with Lonnie and and the
pickle actually Maggie as well as staff and uh we'll go back from there and have something hopefully in place for the January meeting. So Lonnie, give me a call. Actually, I'll call you.
>> Okay. Next on the agenda is uh also related to the liquor committee. It's credit card fees. Is Brian still here? Yes, he is. Thank you councel for letting me represent this after um we had discussion on it last month.
Nice to see all the Niswah citizens here. Thank you for the business for the people that stop in. We really appreciate it. We were discussing pass through and for the citizens that are not familiar with this situation. Some businesses if you
use a credit card they pass that charge along to you and if you use cash you have a different you get the price that's on the shelf. Now talking of that and doing more research on it just to
let you know I am not in favor of that. I consider that another tax on the citizens of Niswah and people coming here and we want them to spend their money here. But um if we were to do that, we would have to label our shelves and say this is a credit card charge
that you would pay and right next to it would say this is the cash price. And then when they we would also have to post it on the front door and we would have to remind them when they are going through the checkout when they're paying for that product. Now we did a study on
that where the MMBA which is a Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association did a study with the members out there and overwhelmingly municipal managers were not in favor of this. We and I'm right along with them.
I'm saying if we need to, we would have to raise our increases on our product. Now, excuse me. And I'll I'll get back to that, but one thing I want to look at and say,
if we go into a large store, if you go into a Total Wine, or if you go into a big chain, MGM, are they doing this? Absolutely not. I know of no chains in the state of Minnesota that are passing the credit card charges on to the
customer. If you go into Walmart, you go into Menard's, none of those businesses are. Now, if I was a small boutique or a small liquor store out in the middle of boondocks and we did not have very much revenue and we're going to be paying 4% for a credit card pass through, I would
definitely recommend and think about doing that for a small business, but we're not a small business in Nisah and our credit charges aren't 4%. So, I'm totally against that. Um, one thing some
residents and members of the council just brought up and said, "Hey, is there is there opportunity just to increase our percentage? If we're paying 2% for a credit card fee, which does add up at the end of the year, it's it's a little over $100,000. So, I mean, we're talking
real money, but um, if we were to increase it 2% on our business and or 1%. And my thought on that is I monitor competition all the time and I'm seeing what they're selling for pricing and
I want to stay competitive. I want people to feel good about shopping at Spirits in this. We try to be as friendly as possible, be knowledgeable, and to have a fair price out there. I say we're not the cheapest, we're not
the most expensive, and we can we beat the big chains in some areas and they beat us in some areas on pricing. But if I look at it overall, we are very fair on what we charge our customers. And to me, that is really what we want to do in Niswah. We want to be fair to our
citizens and fair to our customers. And just an example on that, each year the liquor, I'm just going to speak on on spirits. we give $245,000 to the city and that lowers the levy. Now, in addition to that, we have
anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 in extra money that that we um have in profit. So, that can range between $350,000 to $450,000. And I really don't think that we need to increase and make
more money above that. If we have more business and we sell more product, we definitely want have more money, but we don't need to make more money on a 12-pack of beer that our Niswah citizens are coming in. So, that is the background on it. And I'm asking the city council to vote no on a pass
through credit card charge to the customers. >> Well, Brian, >> apologize. >> Does council have any questions for Brian? Council members on >> I do, Brian. You know, this was uh discussed in the committee. um we agreed and determined that it wasn't the best
path forward. So what is the council motion that you're requesting tonight? >> I am asking the council to dismiss dis f future discussion or I should say with you know within the next year um of passing on mandating that spirits and
niswah pass on the credit card charges to the customer. >> Nobody's mandating it. >> Do you have any questions for Brian? >> Uh no questions. Right. >> Council member Freilley, >> I just have a comments or comments. Brian and I discussed this and and and
it is kind of that the fee for the credit cards, which I find out it's basically built into the budget, the expenditures, >> right, in by budget. It's just we pay it as though we were paying a late bill, >> right? So, so we're not losing anything. The other
thing, too, is is we discussed an an up north municipality. I also talked to another one up north where I know the manager and they both did that where they passed the credit card on and they actually lost business
which was more than what they were previously paying on the credit card fees. So I know I was all in on this before for you to look at that. Um right now I I don't think I think we should state it how it is. That's just
my opinion. I Brian, if if if none of the council are interested in advancing like or passing through a credit card fee to customers, I don't actually know that we need to make a motion on this. Okay. >> If we're all in alignment, we can hear and we appreciate you bringing this forward and >> I'm sure the public will be happy to
know that there's no uh credit card fee passing through. I >> I think it was after the quick conversation we had the discovery that you don't you don't specifically have that as an offset from the levy that that was quickly determined. So, >> right. Um, I agree with Mayor Carneahan.
There's there's no action to take on this. >> I just wanted to make sure that we're all on the same page and that um we had all the facts. >> Thank you for being here. >> On the same page. >> Okay. Next up is the police joint
prosecution agreement. Uh Maggie, would this be you or or Chief Schmanky? >> Okay. Oh, >> good evening. So, this is a a contract we've had for a long time for prosecuting traffic offenses, uh, misdemeanor
criminal offenses. Um, split three ways between Brainer, Baxter, and us. Brainer kind of heads the whole thing up and we just tag along basically. Um, so we're just asking for approval to continue doing this.
>> Does council have any questions for the chief? None. Okay. The only thing I want to state um just before I call the vote because we did receive an email um I think it was sent to the full council. Uh it was sent on Tuesday, December 2nd
at 8:58 a.m. by a gentleman named Shane. And I did tell him that I would acknowledge that we received his email. Maybe it only came to me and not the full council. Um but he attended the Brainer City Council meeting in early Right. You guys got it? Okay. So, we did
receive an email from um someone in the community that had attended the Brainer City Council meeting and just sent the council an email to express a different perspective about moving forward uh on this agreement. I did state, Tim, that I would share it publicly in the meeting.
So, I just want to note that. Um but with that, do we have a motion from councel? I'll make a motion to proceed with the recommendation for the police joint prosecution agreement. >> Do we have a second? Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um next up we have uh related to our sewer a resolution adopting an increase in the sewer rates for 2026. Tom, our director of public works.
Good evening everyone. Um this is a routine. Usually we do in December. Um the rate changes usually at this time and this allows um when Maggie does the billing send out notice of the increase. So uh you should have a copy of this
resolution in your packet. Basically the rate will go up two and a half percent for 2026 um for usage um which will take it from 21478 to 22015 per quarter per ERC.
Um connection fees um we have two different um areas for connection fees. We're holding uh the higher of the two flat again. Um I think this is either the fourth or fifth year that >> who >> held that flat at 16,000
for a connection and then the smaller of the two was at I believe it was 11850 is going to go up to 12,250. >> Does council have any questions for Tom? >> All right. Do we have a motion?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the resolution adopting increase in sewer rates for 2026 as presented. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um, next,
Tom. Lift station number seven. >> Okay. Um, so what this is is uh we have some problems with pumps that are in lift station number seven. Um Mike Deck, our uh sewer plant operator, has uh done some work to get some pricing for both
new pumps and to have the um some pumps that we salvaged out of our lift station 3 rebuild um to have those uh refurbished and installed instead. So um what he has given me is that if we
were to install new pumps, um just one of those would be a little over $21,000 each. Um, we can upgrade the pumps that we've salvaged out of lift station 3, both of them for 16,755.
And uh, we're recommending that uh, step to go forward. >> Council have any questions for Tom regarding the lift station? Okay. Do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the sewer uh, lift station number seven repairs as proposed. >> Second.
>> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um Tom, the build grant 371. >> Yeah. So really all this is is just a notice to the council that um if you're
familiar uh I think it was earlier in the year we were looking at something called a raise grant. And uh there's several intersections along 371 that uh MDOT has targeted for improvement. Um, and now there's funding coming back
available uh through what they call now the build grant. Uh, there's really nothing that the council has to do, I think, at this time. Um, this is really just letting you know that it's not dead. There there is a project that's probably going to happen here. Um, uh,
the funding would be applied for through the county. Um what they would be looking from for from us is uh probably another letter of support when the time comes. Um so just trying to get that um
sentiment from the council how you feel about that. Any questions or concerns that I can relay back to Tom Crushank with Mindot? >> Any questions or concerns for Tom to relay back at this point from council? >> No. >> Okay. Any anything else? Do you need a
motion from us right now or not yet? >> I I the only thing I could think of is if the there's um in the original raise grant, there was a letter from the city written by Jenny Max in support to that for the county. I think when the time comes, you'll just have to appoint somebody from staff to write that
letter, whether it's myself, city engineer, or maybe Maggie or some combination thereof. >> Okay, sounds good. Thank you. I think so. >> Um >> Amber is not available. Are you talking
about the safe streets and roads for all? >> I do not know a lot about this Dave. I don't know if Perfect. >> Yeah, okay. Go ahead. >> Take that one. So, safe streets for all is a program that
is a multic community effort. Um, it's being led by the city of Cross Lake. Uh what you've got before you tonight is just a request to reaffirm city of Nitswis's support of that program and being a part of the program. It's not a
a cost item or issue for the city. Um it's just reaffirming your support as part of that program and long-term it could result in potentially some funding. Do you need a motion from
council or at this point in time? >> I believe it's a motion. Yeah. >> Okay. Are there any questions about this program from council? Okay. Do we have a motion? It's a motion for um the resolution. Approve the resolution. Just FYI.
>> Okay. Mark, >> I'll make a motion to approve the resolution for co-licant on the SS 4A grant funded Brainer Lakes Area volunteer users plan as presented. >> I'll second.
>> Uh I think council members on second was first. Okay. Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um next on the agenda is park. also the park it's engineering for the Nisa city park
an update um and to revise the scope um >> yes Bruce I know you did send an email to councel about this as well >> well with Amber not being here I'd be happy to speak on this for the partition
>> yes thank you uh by the way I got up to speak about the EDA and and you were kind of moving forward so I I just let you know I I spent 15 years on an EDA and I'd be happy to to pass some thoughts on to you guys for that. >> Thank you. >> Uh anyway, yeah, Bruce Tim Holt, Nisel
Parks Commission. So, at our last meeting, uh the parks commission is requesting that the uh city council approve moving forward with engineering for uh laying out the design for the uh playground and the pickle ball court.
And the uh the re rationale behind that is we in order for the city to have a better understanding of what the costs are >> because you have a fundraising committee out there, you also have to have a grant to the DNR uh by March 31st, I believe.
>> And and both of those processes are going to require better than just a ballpark number, which is what we have now. You know, this number goes back three and a half years. It was kind of, you know, here's what happens. Here's what the cost of the equipment is. But I don't know that there's a harder number. And I believe that if if I was going
into a business or an individual and asking for money to support this project, I'd want to have a little better idea specifically what does it cost for a pickle ball court? What is it going to cost to lay out the the whole design? Certainly the DNR grant is going to well, it doesn't have to have a lot
of detail. It it does need to have someh specific ideas and some specific costs into it. So, we're encouraging the council to approve this and it can be a very uh you know a very basic engineer design. It doesn't have to be all uh all
the specs and and I know you know you got Witsth here but I would say having been through this process before if the city's going to act as the general contractor which they should be able to be to do that you can get a very basic outline and you should be able to have that done within 30 days so that by
February 1st we've got the opportunity to to to get this information to the fundraising committee and uh and then start preparing that DNR grant. would really be in my mind and I think the the commission felt the same way a disservice to the city of Niswah if we
were to miss this grant deadline this year because now you're a whole year later and number one on these grants you're not I mean just because it's 350 or 500,000 whatever the number might be that doesn't mean that we automatically are going to get the dollars we're going to be out there with a pool of other
applicants so we need to get our application in we need to have that as fine-tuned as we can and then even if we asked for 350,000 or whatever, that doesn't mean they'll give us the the state, the DNR will give us the that full amount. So, whatever we can do to
be prepared to have this ready to go, we should as a city, I believe we should do that. That's what the park commission is recommending. Uh there was a suggestion here from another from several council people in the past. I heard that to fund this park pro improvement project,
you're going to transfer some funds from from reserves, which you can then do this for the engineering part of it and that way it doesn't affect either your 2025 budget or the 2026. So, whatever that dollar amount might be, I I'd encourage you to approve that and then
let's move forward with this. >> Now, you know, Bruce, I just one question. The you want the engineering for the playground and the pickleball courts, correct? >> Correct. That's I believe what the the park commission has recommended is as is what we call phase one. >> It was just word worded differently in
what I have in front of me. So I just wanted to clarify. >> Sure. >> Are there any additional questions at this time? >> Maggie, do you have something to add? >> No, but Dave might just because we already kind of have a scope that we
started last year. >> Yeah. So, I think we just need to brush up the scope from the already approved um engineering agreement for assisting with this uh park project and the
outdoor recreation grant. Um that scope needs to be brushed up a little bit. I don't at this time foresee that we need to have a change in what the amount is. >> Okay. We've spent some of that budget on
surveying already and some other uh work toward that before the work was stopped. This goes back to 2024 when it was started. Um so we just need to restart that effort and then work towards the
deadline for the grant submitt. >> So do you do you anticipate that we could have some numbers by February 1st then? some hard numbers. >> Yeah, I think uh with uh some discussion with the park members, we can and uh
Amber when she's back, we can get that put together. >> Yeah. Our next meeting is January 8th if you're available. >> Okay, that would be fine. >> So, you think that'll stay within the budget that we already set back then in 2024? >> Yeah. The only thing that would possibly
affect that with these grant applications, there's always some um environmental review and clearances that need to happen um with state money. And so, you know, that may involve um either environmental or cultural
resource investigation, just uh basic um step one on those to to get through that process. and we had that already in this scope. So, we would just continue that work and that would be included with the
application. >> Yeah, I'm sure from an environmental stand everything's good. >> Well, >> move on. >> Yeah, let's until you do the work you Yeah, we hope >> I understand. I'm joking. Yeah, but you know if we have to do wetland
delineation or something like that, if state comes back with a further request, then we'd be back before the council to adjust the budget for that. >> Okay. Do we have any other questions at this point in time? Otherwise, I would entertain a motion. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I'll make a motion to move forward with engineering for the playground and pickle ball courts following the footprint of the park master plan as presented. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? where the funds coming from. >> I would have I would have to go back and
look to see. My guess is the capital reserve because this was approved already and I didn't go I didn't have time to go back and look to see where those funds were coming from. But my guess is >> it could be budgeted but it could also have to come from reserve. Okay. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Um all those in favor signify by saying I >> I >> opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Um, next under park is transfer funds to the parks from reserves. Um,
Maggie, do you want to speak to this since Amber is not here? >> Yes. And Bruce, he can come in if he feels like I'm missing something, but the park commission is talking about applying for this um DNR outdoor recreation grant >> matching.
>> Yeah, for matching funds. I think it's up to $350,000 for this year. Um, and they are looking to um kind of get a jump start whether they get the grant or not. This would be a jump start to start improving some of the things at the park
and the playground. Um, I know that the playground is phase 1A, I will call it, that the park commission wanted to do first due to the condition of the playground and the need to replace that in the near future. And
then plan AB or 1B um would be pickle ball. So depending on kind of what kind of funds we get, whether it's matching grant from the DNR, we could use those funds as well to replace the playground and the pickle ball as that is part of phase
one. Obvious we all are very well aware that there's a fundraising group out there that is working to um raise funds as well that could help assist with some of these repairs and new additions with pickle ball and tennis.
>> Okay. Does council have any questions on this request coming from the parks commission to approve a transfer? No. In fact, I'd like to make a motion to approve the transfer of $500,000
from the liquor fund to the parks reserve. >> No second. >> Okay. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed? Okay. Motion carries. Next up is the resolution approving the final
2025 tax levy which is collected collectible in 2026. Looks like Maggie was able to pull off some work here in between meetings and get the resolution for us which looks like we actually are coming in with the levy decrease.
Maggie, >> yes. Um based on our truth and taxation meeting, um you guys had recommend some cuts. My math max matched Jesse. So, um we are looking at um a general property
tax levy of 2,914,867 plus some of our bond debt, giving us a total levy for $226 of $3,721 and $786. Did I say that wrong?
>> It's all right. >> You know what I mean? >> Sorry. >> Okay. I could re I could repeat this here again. 3,721 everybody that it's >> the total levy is 3,721,786 which equates to a final levy percentage
of.28%. There you go. >> So, do we have a motion? >> I so move and I second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I
>> I opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Can I just ask >> one more round of applause? One more round of applause. >> Yeah. >> Maggie, >> who made that motion? Who second it? >> Jesse. >> Jesse motion. Okay, I second it.
>> Thank you. Sorry behind. Then next we have the resolution adopting the city of Nisa budget for the calendar year 2026 which is the budget document Maggie that
I believe you also distributed. >> That's correct. >> Make a motion to uh approve the resolution adopting the city of Niswah budget for the calendar year 2026 as presented. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> Opposed. Okay, motion carries. Next up is the Widsth 2026 fee schedule. Um Dave, I don't know if you have any comments on this other than what's in the packet.
>> Sure. So, this is um annual um cost of doing business adjustment in our fee schedule that we typically issue to the city at this time each year. Um, it's it's got a memo from us in there with
some comparison to what we see as the inflationary rate to do business in Minnesota. So, our rates are increasing about 2 and a.5% for the folks that typically are working on city business.
>> Okay. Are there any questions for Dave? All right. Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion to approve with 2026 fee schedule as presented. >> Second. Okay. Any additional discussion? >> I will add to Dave's
points. Um I'm in a relatively similar industry, just a little bit less heavy on the engineering. Dave, um these type of fee increases like we impose to our customers that hire us to build solar farm substations, transmission lines, uh
our fees are actually higher or the industry standards are higher. This is a relatively reasonable fee increase. I'd like to make that known because I think that what Seth is uh trying to do a good job for us uh as a whole uh because uh
we've we allowed another engineering firm to come in and provide services for a lift station and uh appreciate that. >> All right. Thank you. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed mo.
You're an I. Okay. Motion carries. Um then next up is the 2026 city of Nisa fee schedule. So this is the administrative fee schedule. So different charges related to copies, special council meetings, postage, etc. Um
Maggie, do you have anything to add on that? Otherwise, >> I will just say mostly um you approved the sewer rates, so that is an adjustment. And we made a couple increases in the community center on page 8 um along with some ice
resurfacing um increase in cost due to the time it takes us to actually complete that. So, there's only just a handful of changes that would be starting January 1st of 26. >> Okay. Do we have any questions for Maggie? Do we have a motion?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the 2026 fee schedule as presented. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed? Okay. Motion carries. Um, next up is the Minnesota Paid Family Leave. Uh, Maggie,
>> I will turn this back to you. As many of you are aware, this is a requirement um for us to provide u Minnesota paid leave. We are going to be using the state plan. This is a policy that I have created.
Tom Pearson has reviewed given his blessing. The biggest thing that uh you as a council need to decide that has not been decided yet is if um the city will be paying all of it, a percentage of it or 50%.
They're required to pay 50%. So the other piece of the other percentage that the city's not covering would come out of the employees paycheck. >> So this part in yellow, >> yes, >> is the required by state law. >> Yes. And so I just know that we've
talked about different percentages within our budget discussion. And so this percentage just needs to be agreed upon along with the policy. But the big piece is that we just haven't decided. Well, the only question I have about this is this is part of our labor
union uh negotiations. So, if this if this is a requirement part by state law, then it's okay for the council to motion on. Otherwise, it's a part of the all the union negotiations. >> So, you can approve it as it's written today and if the you decide to go
something different with the union contracts, that would be specified within those union contracts. >> Okay. Does council understand it? Are there any questions around this? Okay. Do we have a motion?
>> I'll make a motion to approve the Minnesota paid leave policy as presented. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Okay. Motion carries. And then we're almost to we're almost down here.
The next item is 2025 budget fund transfers. Maggie, I will turn this back to you. Yes. So each year during our budget um approval there are some things that need to be transferred whether it's to
investments or um to capital reserves and some of the departments I try to leave to the very end of the year just due to sometimes the spending habits or things that may come up. And so all of these have been established. I'll say
the first five items to um purchase investments for I'll say public works, cemetery, sewer, and fire along with an additional transfer for some extra um dollars that are left in planning and zoning that we would be looking to transfer to the capital reserves.
Okay. Do we have any questions for Maggie on these budgeted transfers? Okay. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the 2025 budget fund transfers as presented. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. All right. Now we are to the Verizon uh cell tower appeal, which was originally item number three under new business, but we moved here to the end of new business because we didn't want to shorten any you on time. I realize it's late, so we
still will not short you on time. Thank you. um everybody for hanging around. Um so just to introduce this um the city did receive a petition from um I believe it's 33 residents that were appealing
the action from the planning commission board of adjustment as it relates to the uh Verizon cell phone tower um back with the fire department. And this hearing is uh related to that appeal.
So I wanted to Is Paula still here? Where's Oh, before we go to public hearing, I wanted to give um the appellants an opportunity to come up to the microphone first. And Tom, am I I just want to make sure
I'm not doing this out of order. So the appropriate way is to let Paul and her group come up first, then to have the folks from Verizon, and then to go to any public comment. >> Yeah, I think I think that's correct. The appellant should proceed first. But I don't know if you want any background from Stephen or what happened in Board
of Justice first. >> Sorry. Why don't you come up first and give some background so everybody here and watching has that context and then Paula, we'll we'll have you come back up. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um so we did hold a public hearing at the November regular
meeting um after receiving an application for a variance and for a conditional use permit for the cell tower as proposed. Uh a little bit of backstory, this project goes back to 2016 2017 where we heard an a similar
application for a tower within this vicinity right next to the pickle factory in the ball field there. Fast forwarding from that to the time frame of 2022, 2023, um it was discovered that that specific location was problematic for various
reasons. Um so the city and Verizon pivoted to think, okay, where else are we potentially able to entertain an application for a communication tower um to remedy some deficiencies that the city's been experiencing in our area?
um my purview. I did a little bit of research as to when this was before both city council and PCBOa. That information isn't um tabulated in your packet here. Um so 9:17 of 2024 there was a regular meeting of city council where um the
fire tow the fire hall location in specific was um discussed. Council voiced support of pursuing that as an alternative location. Um then in November and December there were coverage deficiencies and propagation
data provided by um the applicant uh that propagation data was proprietary as disclosed to the city. >> Um >> can I pause you right there? Do you do we happen to have that again to be able to use that for reference? >> If you require it I can certainly print
it for your guys's viewing. I believe Verizon is here. >> Thank you. Would that be a problem in your opinion? >> Yeah, that would be appreciated. >> Yeah, I can certainly gather that. Um, >> I will certainly it for you. Um, in
finishing of that summary, um, moving forward from that propagation information being in front of city council, Verizon approached the city again to get more specific on that location where a site plan was proposed
um, depicting a 190T monopole tower in that vicinity. prior to the applicant moving forward with certificate of survey and engineering requirements that would um be the embodiment of a variance application or conditional use permit
for the planning commission to hear. They wanted affirmation from the city um that that was kind of generally speaking the location that we're looking for so they can start the next actions. Um, city council after planning commission reviewed it on
June 3rd, tabled it on 69 617 to 25 um and revisited it and the lease agreement on 75 7:15 2025 um where the council affirmed that location and started that
process of Verizon to um action and application for a variance in a conditional use permit. where November 4th um last month at the regular meeting those two applications were heard and approved by the planning commission and board of adjustment. So
that's my summary for from staff level and I can certainly move to print that propagation data copies of five I suppose. >> Okay, thank you. Does anyone have questions for Stephen before I call up the residents?
>> No >> no no. Okay. Thank you, Stephen. All right. Um Paula, if you want to come up to the microphone. >> Yes. Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Paula West. I live at 25839
Trailside Run here in Nysa. And thank you, Stephen, for that summary. That was uh that was very good. Um and I guess I don't have to then tell you what we why we were here. Um, I'm representing the 33 residents who all live nearby this
proposed location on Trailside Run, on Church Street, on Birch Street. And um, we filed this appeal because largely we knew nothing about this project until we received um a notice of the hearing one day prior to the hearing and we had no
time to prepare for that hearing. Um so um in order to bring this forward we needed to appeal uh the process. Um the cell tower project has obviously been actively discussed for several years now and the application just came before the
uh planning commission then um just a few months ago. Um and as you heard they uh approved uh this the site and what we're appealing is that the planning commission and the board of adjustment
they approved six very egregious v variances to our nysa land use ordinance in order to place the tower where they're um proposing to place it. And again we were not we were not really aware of this. I asked many residents
around town if they knew about this cell tower project. Nobody I talked to knew about it. I guess we have to assume a little bit of responsibility for not paying close enough attention to what was going on with the council and the commission, but nonetheless, it seems
that this project has been a little bit under the radar for the residents of this town. We had two excellent town hall meetings um this year and the the purpose of those meetings was to provide um and be transparent with the community
about what's going on in the city of Niswah. But the cell tower project was never mentioned. I was at both of those meetings and nothing was ever said about that. Um, upfront I want to assure you and the community that we do not oppose better
Verizon coverage. Any of us who have Verizon know the coverage is is not good in this area. Um, but what we do oppose in this appeal is the chosen uh location of this tower at 25639
Main Street, which is right between Hills Crossing and the fire station. we um believe that there are better locations to be uh explored even though Verizon has explored those. maybe there's some
creative solutions that we can look at. Um and um and that's what I'm asking this council to do tonight is to listen to our our concerns and primarily the questions that I intend to raise um and make a decision then about where do we proceed with this project
um in order to just for the community and as a matter of record ju the process is in order to place this 190 foot tower um by the fireh hall Verizon needed six variances to the city's land use ordinance which were presented and
approved by the commission on 114205. Um, and since this appeal is related to those um, uh, variances, I'm going to really focus most of my um, comments on those findings of facts and the variances themselves um, and and try to
explain why we are opposed to um, the actions of the um, planning commission. And I hope that you will concur after uh my presentation and and uh the comments of some of the residents here. We we have some of the petitioners here. If you guys could just raise your hand if
you're um uh one of the petitioners. Many of the petitioners are already to climates warmer than here. So, um, not all 33 are here this evening, but I'm going to, uh, list the variances that were approved so that you and the
community and as a matter of record know what those variances were that were, um, approved. Number one, there was a deviation from maximum tower height of 150 ft to 190 ft. I don't know if you
realize how tall 190 ft is, but if you've been to Bentleyville lately, there's a big green Christmas tree in the middle of Bentleyville and it stands out for miles around and that tree is 125 ft tall. This tower was going to be
190 ft tall. Secondly, 42% imperous surface coverage was allowed in a zone where 15% is code maximum. That's almost three times the code. Number three, a setback to the nearest zoned property of
70 feet. 70 feet from where that tower was going to be was allowed when 190 ft is required in our county or excuse me, our city ordinance. Number four, a setback of 33 feet from the nearest property line was allowed where 190 ft
is required. somebody there is a residence that uh well there's a residence that's 70 feet 70 feet from the proposed tower and 33 feet from the tower is hills crossing assisted living uh facility
uh the number five variance was a setback of 9 ft from the nearest structure when 190 feet is required that setback was from the fireh hall and lastly the sixth variance was a height of eight f feet for a security fence
where six feet is required. Now I guess I asked the question if a project has to have six egregious variances from the city's land use ordinance then why do we have a land use ordinance? This is a very bad precedence for the city to set
and it will open up a zoning Pandora's box at some point to approve the uh variances. There is a state law section 426.357 subdivision 6 that says a variant shall
only be permitted A when they are in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the land use ordinance and B when the variances are consistent with the comprehensive plan. A variance may be granted if a project will result in a
practical difficulty or hardship in following the current city ordinance. Now I want to point out when these variances came before the uh planning commission there's six variances but they were collectively uh discussed as if they were just one
ordinance. So they were not individually discuss the findings of fact that are required and answered by the commission were not discussed as an individual uh variance but as a collective group. So the findings a fact as I said these
are five questions that the planning commission has to answer in order to approve a variance and they have to find that the there is no problem with these findings of facts and they did not find any problems with the findings of facts and there was very few questions that
were asked. Number one, finding a fact. Is the variance in harmony with the purpose and intent of the ordinance and the comprehensive plan? Our answer would be no because, well, it required six variances to our uh our land use
ordinance. Section 20-418A2 of the cell tower ordinance requires minimizing adverse visual impact of towers through careful design, sighting, and vegetative screening. Now, wouldn't a 190 ft tower be fairly visible and
have an impact around the city? It I live 450 ft from where this proposed tower is. and we the residents on this petition are going to have to look at a 190 foot tower every day of the year. Um,
our answer would also be no. It doesn't meet this finding of fact because it's not in harmony with the city's comprehensive plan which says that Nisa wants to maintain a small town charm that historical perspective and a tower
that would be the highest visible structure two and a half times the height of the treeine and directly across from our historical pioneer village certainly does not convey small town charm and historic toal character.
Findings of fact two and three is the need for a variance due to circumstances unique to the property and not created by the property owner and is the need for a variance due to circumstances unique to the property and not created by the property owner. Well, our answer
would be no. Although ordinance requires that a cell tower be located on public parkland, there are other possible locations that were reviewed by Verizon. The cemetery was once listed by Verizon as a second
location preference, but later said it was too far from downtown. The fire hall is 0.3 miles from the main intersection up here, and the cemetery is 0.5 miles. Now, what difference does 0.2 make? Um,
maybe there's more information that we need to have on that. The new 371 location was determined by Verizon as unsuitable and too far from downtown. Though, at various times, several of you council members have asked about the
suitability of that property. Why isn't that site desirable? and it wouldn't require require any vi variances to put a tower on that property. What other options could have been explored? Was the Verizon antenna at the current cell
tower at the city sewer pond property enhanced for 5G? And if not, could the antenna be replaced for strong coverage? or could a tower be placed somewhere else with external antennas placed in the downtown area to enhance the
coverage that is needed? That is a technology that exists and our ordinance allows for it. Do we need a 190 ft tower downtown when a few years from now spacebased cellular may make that tower
obsolete? So where is the practical difficulty I ask? um when other locations could be explored or could be reassessed for the city's need. Instead, we hope we can find some other creative solutions than
where it is presently being um situated. Finding a fact for will the issuance of a variance maintain the essential character of the locality. Again, what is the essential character of Niswah? We
all love Niswah for its small town historical character. I brought I came first came to Nisah when I was 10 years old and I love Niswah. I brought my children here and they love Niswah. I've brought my grill grandchildren here and they love Niswah. This is what you hear
over and over and over again in our community why people are still coming here. So I don't believe that it really fits in the essential character of the downtown locality. Finding a fact number five. Does the
need for a variance involve more than economic considerations? Our answer is yes. There are current conflicting opinions in the medical community about the long-term health impacts of exposure to radio frequency
radiation. Unfortunately, no long-term studies have actually been completed at this time, but there are concerns about exposure for children and the elderly. This tower would be 33 feet from an assisted living facility. The FCC
radiation safety compliance documented documentation presented by Verizon was from the 1997 FCC bulletin 65. That FCC document has been updated 20 times since
then, the latest in 2020. So, do we know if this new technology? Do we know if this tower is going to meet the current standards in the current bulletin? There are also personal safety considerations for residents in Hills Crossing and the resident whose property
is only 70 ft away from this tower. What if we had a catastrophic event and that tower didn't withstand the event? And there's also the safety to be considered for um medevac helicopters. Would the
FCC actually provide a permit if they knew that there was helicopters landing in the area? And economics are a concern. The visual impact will could possibly reduce our property taxes, our property tax values. and it would
definitely impact the ability to develop the rest of the remaining properties in the popular place development which is just to the north of here and where many of us are live. So the in sort of conclusion there are
so many unanswered questions that should have been considered to the findings of fact before the planning commission made this decision. We the community we feel we need answers to these questions before proceeding.
Again, we we we don't want to stop progress. We understand that the tourists and the visitors here that they're the economic engine that drives this community, but we also want to maintain the character that brings people here. And there are other
locations. There's always options. So, what we're asking you to do is to number one, not approve of the variances and the resulting conditional use permit as it stands, and two, to step back and
look at some of these other options, work creatively with Verizon so that we can find a winwin situation for everyone, the residents, the merchants, the visitors, and Verizon, too. So, I leave you with those comments on behalf
of um our petitioners and I think there's maybe a couple that want to say something. Pete and then um Roger Landers who is another appealant uh to this um decision um and
who is also um a previous Niswah Planning Commission member and a member of the Crowing County Planning Commission has a few comments as well. Good evening, council. Roger Landrews, 26587 and Edna Lake Road. Well, u Paula
kind of said a lot, so I'm going to make my comments fairly short. uh because my my concern was not only that that our planning commission board of adjustment uh oayed six variances uh which is outrageous. Uh you know I served on the
uh the NISSA planning commission in the late uh late 80s mid to to mid 90s and then again I served on the the the Crowing County Planning Commission for eight years. So, I had a a total of around 15 years of planning commission
board of adjustments experience. And not one time during my experience with planning commission uh um issues did I ever see a uh an applicant come in wanting six variances. I I think that's
just outrageous. Uh so so enough of of that. I just hope that that uh our Atlantic Commission treats our our our zoning laws with respect. What I want to uh focus on are some some questions that
I I don't think that's been answered. So, so hear me out. So, number one, uh why is NISWA dealing only with Verizon uh as our our carrier? There's there's others around. Do we have a a long-term
contract with Verizon? Is that why we meet with them? Um and and I understand that Verizon um doesn't really own the tower out on our uh Royal Lake Road uh city property. They they lease it. Another tower
company owns that uh that that tower. And as I understand, Verizon just leases an antenna. So I I would like to know if if that antenna um has been upgraded to 5G network technology which uh is
definitely needed. Um and does Verizon will Verizon own this tower that they're proposing to put up or is it going to be a tower that they just lease? Um, in the Nisa Tower ordinance states that
our property out on Lur Loy Roy Lake Road is the first priority or first preference for cell towers and that's where we have one now. But why is it that Verizon says, "Well, that property
is uh too far away." And and I assume then the new property on 371 is too far away. Well, why did we put a cell tower out there to begin with if if they knew that it was not going to cover cover the
downtown area properly? Um Paula talked about uh cellular antenna boosters. uh that's technology that's now available. Has that ever been discussed at our our uh planning
commission and at the city council to to enhance maybe uh without having to uh to put up another towers by putting boosters on say like the pickle building or other businesses downtown that would amplify the signal coming from the tower
uh out on lower Royal Lake Road. Um Paula me mentioned the uh for for those that are aren't aware of uh we do have a designated helicop medevac helicopter um area and
that's in the ball field. Uh and I also think sometimes they use the black top behind the fireh hall. So my question is um was FF FAA form 4760-1
that's the notice for proposed construction has that been submitted to uh FAA by the city or by Verizon and also during the uh planning commission board of adjustment and maybe city council meetings. Was it ever discussed
or questioned FAA involvement uh with that medevac helicopter pad? You know, it's just a few hundred feet away from from the fireh hall where this um uh where this tower is proposed to be built. Uh that's from the ball field to
the proposed tower is only a few hundred feet. So, so, so those are questions I think that that should be asked and and I I've talked to to uh council member uh Jesse Zan and and he feels and I agree
with it that that if we're talking about uh the the the the new property out on 371 as a proposed site and now we're talking about here, I think we we need to to come up with a plan, not just, you know,
put one here today and and and somewhere else tomorrow. I I think that we need a comprehensive plan if we're going to continue to put up cell towers. Uh so with that, I thank you very much for your time. >> Roger. >> Thank you, Roger.
>> Were there any others uh with the petitioners that would like to speak um before I move to Verizon? Go ahead, sir. Can I get that shortly or? >> Well, I'm going to go to the people that are on the petition first, then Verizon,
and then we'll go open for public comment. >> Thank you. >> My name is Pete Stiger. I live at 25873 Trailside Run, just on the side of Hills Crossing. The um thank you for the opportunity I uh for allowing us to
appeal. Um, I was given the opportunity to go around and meet neighbors in our neighborhood and the three closest people next on Park Avenue here um, all sign that petition. Okay. Uh, and Mike
is the closest and he is very much against it. Um, also the helicopter I've seen land in front of the fire station when they have the open house. Uh, and I know they need FAA clearances for those. on the towers and stuff and that's
rather close as well. But um my feeling is you have 371 get some use out of that land down there. Um they have boosters that has been talked about a number of times and I would appreciate you looking at other alternatives other than um
right there at that place and stuff. And nobody has talked about the medical in interference that could cause with some of the medical equipment that's used in that building. That has not been addressed either. I have not heard that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um if if there's no one else
from the petition, I would like to turn it over next to Verizon. Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Tammy Hartman and I'm with what's called network outreach for Verizon. So when things get escalated at Verizon, I come and speak to city
council, mayor, and staff about questions and concerns. Um, and so I I didn't hear anything specific that I should be addressing regarding an appeal. It's my understanding that um I'm supposed to be talking only about
the the things that were in um the variance application and the conditional use permit. I didn't hear anything that I need to address about that. Um I think that the the variance was um appropriate and that I think that um the council
should uphold the PCBOA decision and deny the appeal. I will say that just and I'm open for any questions, but I will say that um the RF safety is a common concern that we hear
from the public and Verizon takes that very very seriously. All the telecommunications carriers take that very very seriously. We operate our equipment hundreds of times less than what the FCC limits are. those that equipment and those
frequencies are already in your community as people have said here before it's I think at the water treatment facility there's already antenna there um nevertheless that safety the question about safety is
that authority is given to the FCC only local jurisdictions don't have any authority to um weigh in on that when it comes to permitting that is only held with the FCC So, I'm open for questions or anything else you may need. >> I'm going to go to public comment first
and then we'll do questions from council just to kind of keep it flowing. Yes. >> Um, so for those doing public comment now, you are going to be limited to two minutes. Um, so Fred, I know you were waiting. I will start the clock when you start
talking. >> Let me know how much time I take. So the comment I wanted to make is I was involved with discussions back in the 201617 18 time frame. At that time there was some discussion about uh I don't
recall his last name. I apologize I'm getting old. Uh Don was on the council sat right where Mark is sitting. >> Jacobson. Yes. Thank you very much. And Don was uh he was he was kind of leading that up for the city. And um uh
something he brought up and another person brought up as well is that at that time at least there was supposedly some low height options that could be placed in areas around uh the deficient
neighborhoods. Um and just wondering if if there's anything that's been talked about with that, if that's even possible anymore. um if the council has is aware of it and given it any thought. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else for
public comment? >> Yeah. Again, if you can state your first and last name, address, and then I'll start the timer. Tina Foster, 6154 County Road 13. Um just an observation, we're going to put money into that park.
I'm a grandma. If there's a 190 foot tower right next to that park, I'm not going. I'm going to Peekquat. Thank you. I wasn't intending on on speaking to this, but one thing that I just heard and I want to you
>> Oh, Johnson. One thing that I just heard that I want to bring to the council's attention is that Verizon was requesting the var and I heard her say and it could be semantics. I heard her say the variance that the variance is she's asking for it
to be approved when Paula just painfully pointed out there were six variances that so I just wonder um to the extent that Verizon is understanding the whole total and no disrespect um but the extent that they're understanding the
total variances that are involved here. >> Thank you. Okay, I will turn it to council next. Any questions for Paula, Roger, Verizon? Um, council
member Freilley, I'll start with you. This is to anybody either Verizon or to Stephen, but were all the forms submitted to the FCC and the FAA over the tower that were needed to be put in.
Also, did they okay the site because of the medevac that lands nearby? I know the height requirement that's no problem with that, but there are some possible interference
from the G uh 5G into some of the uh digital ultimeters altimeters. So, I just was wondering if any of that paperwork was done. Okay. >> There are certain height requirements where we have to seek only FAA. The FCC
um regulates our licenses in which to operate um frequency. So those FCC licenses are sold to the carriers in auctions in big chunks. And so, um, the FAA license, I think at this
height, didn't require one. And I, we had sent some information, I think, to Stephen and your city attorney about that. But at this height, it it uh FAA license wasn't required or lighting the tower wasn't required either, but we did look at both of those. As far as
interference with 5G and altimter, there has been a lot of study on that. And so we do have towers all over the United States that are next to hospitals with medevac airports
>> and and and the f the FAA has to sign off on those. >> Um I'd have to get back to you on that. I would have to get back to you on that. I'm not sure. Is that a statement you're making that the FAA has to sign off on? >> That's a statement I'm making. This is
from what I understand and know. >> Okay. Okay. >> CFA if there is a medevac landing site >> then Verizon would obtain that license or >> and yeah and so do we have a copy of that >> for this site here? >> Well, we would obtain that license when we start to when we actually have a
lease when we have a final construction plan. But until we have that, we wouldn't start that licensing part. >> Okay. Because I know sometimes they what they actually do is come out and look at the site first. >> Absolutely. >> So, have they done that? Come out and looked at this site? >> We haven't asked them to. So, no, they haven't. >> Okay.
>> We don't have a lease with the city yet. We don't have a final construction plan yet. So, it's >> But, and I know one area where it was done before the before the company had a lease, they actually had the FAA come out and look at the site to okay it because they didn't want to put the money into building the tower. >> Sure. >> And then the FAA come out and say, "No,
you can't be here." >> Right. >> So, that's what I I guess I'm kind of looking for and I don't that's that you're so that hasn't been done. >> Yeah. But I don't there's I touched base with our regulatory group yesterday prompted from Stephen and your city attorney because that question came
up over the weekend >> and our regulatory folks said there wasn't any concerns from the FA and I thought there was something that was included in the conditional use permit packet as well. The only thing I would say is what Tammy is saying makes sense about the
sequencing that um until there's an approval, until there's a lease, until it's a real plan, it wouldn't make sense to go more FAA approval. Um that wouldn't require Verizon to build based
on the permitting and then somehow get reversed by FAA. they would as part of that whole process though and then if FAA for some reason told them no they would abandon the project I assume >> correct >> but but like many regulatory agencies
or even us here don't approve things based on concepts they need to see plans they need to see approvals and so what without knowing chapter and verse of that process what she's saying makes sense is that that would be a next step if this is
if this actions upheld. If a lease agreement is once a lease agreement is signed, they would proceed then in that fashion. >> Council member Freley, anything else from you, Council Member London? >> I don't know that much about the cell phone towers, but are there any other
options available such as better satellite equipment? Something that wouldn't adversely affect these residents such as this tower. >> Verizon is still building cell towers. We're not in the satellite equipment business. >> No satellites. Okay.
>> Not yet. I mean, there's there's a few satellites that are out there, I think, in really remote locations so that you can make calls to 911, >> but otherwise not currently out there deploying. We're still out using monopoles and antennas antennas on
monopol. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. Um, council member Zan, >> I have a couple questions. So, I don't expect you to know these on your feet, but I hope you know this, council. And I just was curious, are we are we sticking
to what just what was in the zone in the conditional use permit or and the variances or what is the kind of parameters of >> Yeah, I think we're yes, we are we are proceeding based on what's in the record which is the information that the
planning commission board of adjustment had to consider when it made its approvals. But I do think some of these questions are supplemental to that. I think they're >> Are you comfortable >> going outside the record necessarily? >> Yeah. And if you're not wanting to or feeling comfortable to answer any of
these questions, that's totally acceptable. But I hope you know that this that this council tries to be as collaborative with this community as possible. Look at their passion and we try to represent them and do what we can. Um, when this first was brought up uh after the planning and zoning uh
commission's uh decision in November, there was a lot of recapping that I had to try to do for myself because this has been going back and forth for at least a few years while I've been on this council, which has been four in total, but uh we did discuss this as a council uh a few times this year.
What caught me off guard is my lack of recollection for the height of the uh council approved tower and my own self-d disappointment in in that uh uh approved height. Now, what was reiven to us in
regards to the coverage from the varying tower heights um is great to see cuz it's been a year since we saw this last. Um some questions that I have just to at least
throw here away is there's four different scenarios of tower height. Um the the tower height that is been pushed forward was 186 foot tower. That's correct. Now is there an ability for Verizon to even consider a smaller tower
to the extent of what they have here for a 76T tower? >> No. >> Why? >> It's too short. It would require multiple towers. >> But why? >> Well, I mean because the at the higher height gives you more coverage.
>> I understand that. But I we're talking about a town that's 18.36 square miles, >> right? >> I think 40% of its water. We don't have a lot of land. It's why we bought some. >> Um we're looking to try to preserve what we have downtown here. And I think that
the the consensus amongst this community is that they would like to see that be preserved, too. And if there's any ability for consideration for an alternative option versus the 190 ft tower, is there some time that we could afford Verizon and perhaps as um the
folks that put through the appeal for us to table this to discuss it either in January or February to put all options on the table for any other suggestions versus going this 190 tower route. And this is no knock to the planning and
zoning commission in regards to the the direction that the council gave them. They they pushed through six variances for the piece of property that this council push uh pushed them forward with politely. I'm asking perhaps even on the on behalf of the rest of the council,
would there be some consideration to be able to >> not for a 76 ft tower? No. >> So it's 190 or nothing. 190 is the most appropriate for the coverage gaps that you have in your community that we're trying to fill. >> Okay.
All right. Well, that's clear. Um there's no other considerations. >> I'm not sure I understand the question. >> Yeah. No. Um Jesse, the the appeal is over what was granted.
Um so it it probably isn't a time to ask for negotiations about different correct about different tower heights or >> any of that. Um obviously lots of information came to the planning commission and the board of adjustment as they considered this.
>> Um so uh you're really >> well actually on that same note Tom I mean it it's it's roughly a thousand pages of documentation. Yeah, >> it is. It's it's beyond overwhelming. Um, >> and you have planning commission minutes from that meeting which um are in your
packet which reflect the findings of fact and the considerations all all the information that happened at that meeting um that we just have been able to get now just because of of backlogs. So, uh, you know, a lot of
especially that piece is relatively new to your packet. >> Yeah. >> In fact, I think the planning commission um hasn't had a chance to even approve those yet because they were um because they were prepared as they were. And so, um, they're they're they're legitimate
minutes, but the point is all of that information in those minutes in addition to all this other information is a lot to consider. But I just want to make sure to stress that this is an appeal of permits that were granted um by the planning commission and the board of adjustment. And so your focus has to
stay on um processing >> and whether to uphold those um permits or reverse them. >> So at this juncture that there those are the two options either uphold the permits or reverse the permits.
Well, >> based on this current appeal, instead of like kicking the can down the road to another meeting, >> if you grant the appeal, then that means that you are um reversing what the planning commission and the board of adjustment did, whether
in whole or in part. If you deny the appeal, then you are upholding what the planning commission and board of adjustment did. Is there the possibility to um continue this discussion if you feel like you haven't had a good enough chance to review all documentation? Yes, I suppose
there's the chance to do that. >> Before Before they discuss that, can I make a comment relative to that? >> Go ahead. >> Um I listened to every council meeting that discussed the cell tower. I listened to every council, every
planning commission meeting. I read all the minutes at the November 4th planning commission meeting when Steven went through the findings of fact. And again, each variance was not dealt with individually and the answers to those
findings of fact would be different for each of the separate variances. Instead, they ganged them all together and they collectively talked about them. And as they discussed them, there were very few comments from the planning commission uh
members uh didn't one planning committee commission member and I believe it might be the one who voted no asked about health questions but nobody had any information to provide him on that. Um one planning commission member said, "Oh, this fits with the locality because
we strive to be an a new urban development." And it's like, "No, we don't." Um, so I I just believe that the planning commission, and I I'm not trying to knock the planning commission because they had a 750page
packet before them when they made this decision. And I read through all of that, and it was a massive amount of information. I just don't think that they vetted the questions carefully enough to be able to have asked all the
right questions, the questions that I've just presented to you when they made that decision. So, uh that that I guess that's my comment on that if I may. >> Go ahead, Tom. Um Paul is taking issue
with the fact that the planning commission and the board of adjustment um didn't make separate findings of fact for each variance. Um but they did indicate that their evaluation was taking all of those was applying those findings of fact to
each variance. So it's not as though they it's not as though they missed something. They they purposely considered I think I wasn't there but they purposely considered um that this was one structure. It had various variance needs because of our
ordinances. Um but I and I guess Steve could verify this but I think they intended by looking at the minutes um to apply the same findings of fact to each variance. I just want to make sure that there's no thought that the planning commission
somehow thought it was just looking at one variance. They were meaning the findings of fact and their consideration to apply to all six. From what I read in the minutes, >> I I would like the council to consider tableabling this until we have a full
council, which I believe at this point is going to be in the month of February. Mark, you'll be here in February. Jennifer and Bruce >> because I' I'd like to review the information. >> I will not be here in February, but that's okay.
I'll join by video. >> Uh I make a motion to table this um table this and propose a continuation to the February regular city council meeting. >> Any additional discussion? It's I can
join by Zoom. >> Okay. >> So, I'll still be here. I just won't physically be here. >> Um Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Motion carries. I'm sorry. Did you I know we're all ready to go home. I do want to mention and maybe
for the council to discuss our um at minimum by annual or twice a year fireworks show and how that uh cityscape and landscape. And I'm not sure with Verizon if there's any sort of uh clearance requirement for nearby
fireworks with the towers. Um we're on lower Roy Lake Road next to the other tower and um that's definitely part of the sky view. Thank you. Okay. Um last under new business is a
recommendation to move to close session pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.03 03 for union negotiations. Um, statute 13D3 subdivision 1B authorizes a meeting to be closed for that purpose.
And so I need a motion under those statute provisions to close the meeting. >> I'll make a motion to move to closing session pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.03 for union negotiations. >> Any discussion? Before we break into
that, I'd like to say thank you all for coming. >> Yes, thank you. >> Wish you all a very merry Christmas. Enjoy this season and be safe this holiday. >> Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Opposed? Okay, motion carries. Sarah.