No, I didn't go look at it. I just seen I just seen it online. I should go over and take a look at it. >> If you can figure out what's wrong with you, let me know. >> What do you mean what's wrong with it? >> Well, I thought there was a complaint about some washboarding on it and I I looked at it and I see it.
>> Oh, let's take a look at it. >> Yeah, I think it looks pretty good. >> I think Dor has been doing a pretty decent job. And the restoration is uh well it's in look in progress. I don't know. >> Yeah. Let it go for the reason.
>> Well, no. They the pavement I think looks pretty good. And uh that should look good. >> Can is still upstairs? >> I don't at this point. >> So, where's the complaint come from on the washboard? >> I don't know. I I don't know if it's an illusion or
>> if it's there was something on the roller that just makes it look uneven. You know, >> it could have been held up was that cast and they'll pick up >> the orthon. He likes whatever.
>> I probably would show pink. >> It's like bright. >> It's not just like a little pink. >> It's like pink. Pink. >> Yeah. All the way up to the armpit. >> How do you break it? Six weeks.
>> Three weeks. And then they're going to do another X-ray. And then if it's not in place, they'll do surgery. >> They have to pop two two in. >> Yeah. the kids. >> Is that one of the kids? >> What What happened?
>> He was on the new trail and went right off the edge and broke both. >> No more paving trails. >> Okay, let's go ahead and start. Um Yeah, your own risk.
You told you he better put a PSA out there. >> They were doing shouldering today. >> Okay. >> Well, they'll get it. He was just too excited. >> Yeah. Well, understandable. Oh, yeah.
Um, it is started, I believe. >> We're going. Okay. >> All right. So, it's our monthly city council meeting. It's July 21st, 2026. With that, we'll do a call the
order at 7 6:36. >> No, you do need to call. >> I'm so sorry. >> I'm working out typing and doing the things here tonight. Uh, Mayor Akorst >> here. >> Councelor Pendergrass >> here. >> Council Phillips >> here. >> Councelor Riceford
>> here. >> Councelor Spring >> here. >> All right. Um, that time is our approval of the agenda. And I do have I would like to we have our uh Mike and Morgan from H Clarity
Hood. And I'd like to move a couple things up to the front ahead of administration. The first item is um move under Roman numeral number eight unfinished business
regarding Mary Nash property after the sheriff's report and before administration. First item sort of Mary Nash ahead of administration before administration. Yes. Second item is approval number six. No. Uh yeah. VI6
under department and committee the uh motion regarding the er consideration of potential appeal of unemployment benefits which is back in ERC employee relations committee. There's one item under that. We're going
to bring that forward and that will be directly after the discussion about Mary Nash. >> We're going to make that >> and before administration >> and the third item is move the uh well the third item is a
introduction with a couple of potential signing operators and this is in regards to Romanos public works. Um, see department number B wastewater operated discussion
where >> move that up behind ERC ERC and before administration And I think this and the unemployment benefits. Just add the word motion referencing U. Consideration of potential in the agenda didn't have
motion. >> That's under the ERC ones. >> Yes, under ERC. >> That's a vote to deny your approval. Okay, that's what I have. Anything else? Seeing none, all those in favor of the agenda as amended, those three points
signify by saying I. >> I. >> Okay. documentation and made the motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. >> Paul, thank you. Great. We're next item is public forum, the
threem minute time limit. The city council welcomes participation from community members. Please keep in mind that your comments must be pertinent to city business and must adhere to data privacy rules. No employees names may be used. Do not expect action from this council this evening regarding your
concern. address the city council during public forum. Please step up to the podium, state your name, address, and fill out a form provided. Speakers will be recognized only once. You will be timed. If you've been speaking with the green cards raised, yellow card indicates 30 seconds left, and their red card
indicates you have reached your three minute time limit and must stop. With that, we'll open the public forum at uh 6:39. Who would you like to speak? >> Stephen Norland, 845 Bruce Street
Northwest Orin Oak, Minnesota 55960. On December 17th of 2025, I in writing requested to have the easement agreement, the e blanket easement across my properties
for the city sewer and water phase 1A project defined as the state statute says that I may do if you'd like the state statute number
301B.03. Uh there has been no action taken yet to have it defined. To have it defined, you need the exact location,
the leg, the width, the legal reference points, and it must only be what is necessary for safe conduct of business.
Okay? I am willing to negotiate that agreement, that definition. Okay. You have a member on your staff that has been out to my home
and has marked roughly with your little indicator deal where that utility comes in my property.
Okay. He mentioned to me that if there was any need to repair that they would come in with a small back hole since it was not compacted no
more. The utility is in. Okay. All our request is to have the minimal amount in every directional change. I ask you to please come over to my home and I'll show you exactly what I'm talking about.
I'm asking you also, Mr. Springer. Ryland, Jim, Mr. Phillips, Joel, we can all discuss this and we can get this all settled. Okay. you now are going to have 93 more
homes or excuse me 92 more homes which will make 173 homes that have these blanket easements. Okay, please
inform the public what that agreement actually says and gives the right of the city to do with it from now until eternity. I am willing to negotiate mine. I don't
know about others, but it is my place in my heart right now to inform the public of what is going on. Thank you. Second call for public forum.
Is there anybody on um Zoom that would like to speak? Go ahead. And >> third and final call. I'm sorry. Oh, Joy, go ahead. >> Yes. Uh Joy BSinger, Oronokco. I just
wanted to say that I watched with interest the Jul July planning and zoning meeting where people's energy co-op came in with two representatives and talked about possible affordable
housing both for young families and for seniors. And I just encourage that the council and planning and zoning take that um information seriously. And I know there has been some
opposition to apartments and lower income housing, affordable housing, but that mostly was when it was placed right next to um the five 6 $800,000 homes and multi-acreage.
So I'm just asking that uh council and planning and zoning keep an open opinion for that. So, thank you very much for your time and again always appreciate all the work planning and zoning and city staff does. Thank you.
>> Good. Thank you. Great. Um, third and final call for public forum hands. See none. We'll close the public forum at 6:44. First item is um
for sheriff county law enforcement report. Sergeant room, do you have anything to comment on the report? >> How you doing? Sergeant Ren County Sheriff's Office. I don't have anything new to pass on. Um just kind of the usual calls for service. Um nothing out
of the ordinary. Nothing that's um string of anything. So do you guys have any concerns, questions, comments from the cities? >> I had I had one comment on it for traffic stops. You've had 19 traffic stops that there are.
>> Okay. Um I think that's great for you to turn around and to watch that of what's going on. Is it any place in particular in the city that that's happening or is it all over the city? >> No, it's usually on the higher volume roads. You know, Minnesota Avenue, Lake Shady, um residential streets, it's
going to be difficult unless it's like a stop sign violation or something like that, but people don't typically speed over the posted speed limit in residential areas. Even though it might look like people are speeding, they're they're most likely not speeding um faster than the posted speed limit. Even though the the change in speed limit has taken effect now, everybody's pretty
much conformed with all that. We haven't seen any issues with, you know, speeding over the new posted speed limits or anything like that. >> But yeah, most of traffic stops within the city come on Minnesota Avenue cuz thorough fair through the city and then also Lake Shady. >> Okay, very good.
>> I know there was some concerns about um younger kids um ringing doorbells or kicking doors in the middle of the night. So, I don't know if you've seen any of that. >> We had a couple of calls. Um then we got up here we weren't able to locate anybody but there was a couple of calls
in the last couple of months since summer school got out there was a couple nothing more than you know what would be ding-dong ditching or something like that kids being kids um which is unfortunate for people going to work and you know kids babysing but we were never able to track down who was you know at fault for that. So
>> the other thing was was they on the alarms? Um I see that they're going down a little bit. I know for a couple months they were way high. >> Yep. it's kind of eb and flowed. So they for a couple months they're real high like almost daily um then they almost disappeared and now they've kind of reappeared a little bit infrequently. So
I'm not sure what's causing that. Um we've obviously went up there and talked to kind of the main culprit of this um and tried to work with them to get it sorted out, but again they're just kind of there's no rhyme or reason to why they're coming in and what the alarm is for. Sometimes they're, you know, for one thing, another time it's a different
alarm zone. So it's it's hard to say if it's an alarm issue or an employee issue. So >> well I know the leads are going down from what it was before. So >> yeah, for sure it's gone down quite a bit. >> Very good. Well, thanks for all your service. Appreciate it.
>> Appreciate it. Thanks guys. Thank you. >> Hey, next item is our regarding the Mary Nash property. We received a attorney client privilege letter given some background um on the what we've uh
but we've found but at the same time it's asking to uh to reverse our council action from the June 16th meeting to seek an injunction for removal injunction for the removal of the shed.
So, um, with that, I make a motion that we, uh, reverse the council action on the June 16th meeting to seek an injunction for the removal of the shed on the partial ending in 2852. Second that.
Okay. >> Any discussion or comments regarding that? >> Yeah, I can I'll make a couple of comments on that one. Um, you know, gosh, we've been been fighting over this for four years,
>> at least two, >> the shed is at least two. >> Yeah. But I mean, just on on the whole issue that was up there everything was going on. What I find it to be interesting is that through all this time that we've been working with that,
nobody had ever come up with two different parcels. >> Nobody. >> Yeah, >> you're right. Nobody has. >> You know, and I and how how can we have missed that, I guess, is is a question that that had this whole thing going on.
And you know, after reviewing it and and looking at it, especially going back to what was it, 19 what was it? 96 94. >> Okay. I mean, and especially for us looking
back as as a city to 2004 to find stuff that there is, but I mean, it's it's how could we have missed? >> There's we we all of us could raise our hands up because we all >> Yeah. you know, I you know, and so that's
that's that part behind it. I mean, I can see that if it's grandfathered in and what's going on and and and what's happening, I mean, it just changes everything. That's all. I just, you know, wish we could have known about that in the time. Well, I do have a
question over island and I don't know if you were on council at the time or not. I believe Kevin was mayor when we when we vacated a group of alleys that side of the river. I don't know if you were on council or not.
There were some >> 2016 >> there were there was one below the Presbyterian church. I believe there's one to the west of the Presbyterian church. I think that this one probably comes right down into the river, but it
it shows that there's a divide here on these two lots. Shows there's an alley in there on that map. Shows an >> alment for the road. >> Well, that's an ement. Yeah, >> exactly. But it's >> But it's just
>> not maintained by a city. It's just a vacation. >> But my my curiosity was was that one of was that one of the vacated alleys >> because apparently these two lots are back to back on parcels on the same lot
>> that we assume. This is >> this is Anderson. So you look at that 01 and 02. O2 came down here and in 1994 the owner of this property sold this to Mary. >> Right.
>> But this this shed was part of here. So that's like the memo said. So this was 94. >> Okay. >> This was this was sold to her in 94. This part. >> Yes. >> Um any other comments?
Seeing none. All those in favor of the um motion signified by saying I. >> I post. >> Is this a resolution we need to >> I don't think so. Um
Mike, you want to comment on the need for resolution? >> Hi guys. Morgan filling in for Mike tonight. But um no, there would be no resolution needed there to to change the decision.
>> Thanks, Morgan. >> No problem. >> All right. Next item is our regarding potential appeal of unemployment benefits is our ERC on our agenda for
you know unemployment insurance. So with that, I make a motion that we deny the appeal second >> regarding the unemployment benefits. >> I guess second comments or any comments I should say.
Seeing none, all those in favor of the denial signify by saying I. >> I opposed. It's approved. Uh, next item is a presentation with a couple of Hey, would you want to introduce the gentleman?
>> Good evening, council. Uh, as you know, we've been uh looking at potential new uh wastewater operators for our wastewater facility. uh three over three years ago, I met uh Justin Lenhard and Rick Whitney. We've been in conversation
ever since. Uh that relationship has grown and developed into something special. And they're here tonight to uh tell you what they can do for the city, what they can offer us. And uh I do have a memo in the packet. Please don't get hung up on my memo. That memo was more
of a placeholder. I'm going to let Justin Rick speak to what they can offer the city. uh ask them questions and uh feel free to uh Justin Rick, come on up, guys. >> Take it away.
>> Good evening. >> Hi, I'm Justin Linhardt. I operate uh Lenhard Environmental Services um contracting being a contact operator for water and wastewater. I've been in the field for approximately 17 years. Um, I
got a farming background. I am a certified operator. I work at a major class A wastewater facility that processes capable of processing about 2.9 million gallons a day currently. So, I'm very very familiar with what you
have. I guess that's kind of what I got in a quick little nutshell. Let Rick introduce himself. Keep going. >> My name is Rick Whitney. I have 30 years in the wastewater industry. I started out as a
um carpenter and then slid into a superintendent. I used to build wastewater and water facilities and then became an operator. Um so I worked for contract service provider in Colorado before moving out here in 2016. In 2016, I moved out and
was employed by uh contract service provider, legal service. So I was a lead operator for Fountain, W Valley, Lewon, Ironwood Springs, Upper Iowa Beef, and
so probably about 11 contracts total. What I found was I wasn't happy. is putting in too many hours, not giving the customer the kind of service and attention that those contracts needed. Maintenance wasn't getting done thoroughly. Um, and time wasn't well
spent exercising valves and taking care of other things. So, when we met Justin met with Justin three years ago, or not Justin, sorry, when we met with Kane three years ago, Kane's concerns were, can I get my can the city take ownership
of this plant? how long down how far down the road would that be? What would that look like? Um, and is it economically feasible? So, we talked to him back then about training guys and we kind of told him he'd be in this similar
situation in three years from now. And so, here's where we are. We came and visited him a year ago, kind of saw the condition of the plant, and then we we came out Saturday and we did an assessment for you. And that's what you have in front of you. Um so if we review
that quickly, um your the first picture that you see there is the activated sludge tank that you have. That's where your pneummonia and nitrogen removal occur. Um those basins, you'll see a big black ring
around the entire tank. Um those should be taken down and cleaned approximately once a year or annually. It doesn't look like it's been done. Um, also there are some diffuser heads in there. You can tell by the pattern when you see the the rough bubblings. You
have some diffuser heads that would need to be replaced while that was taken down and cleaned. This the next pictures are of the tanks that are not currently being used and they're full of either duckweed or algae. That should be probably getting cleaned up. Um, that's making it into your process tanks. You
can see the chunks of green foliage up in the process tanks. The next page you'll see is a splitter box. So, what you're looking at is moldy sludge sitting in a tank right there. That should be a liquid, not a hard surface. Um, yep. So, what happens when you get
when when you have that in a tank, you're not getting the and you're going to get a little grossed out. The bugs and food traveling through your plant the way that effectively like they're supposed to be, they're going to get hung up in that sludge. So, it's going
to interfere with your your biological activity in your tank and nitrogen and nutrient removal and it's going to cause a septic condition. So, those should be cleaned regularly and you shouldn't see that dried hard moldy sludge in there.
So, the next picture shows a catwalk um between the tanks and what you'll see are those are you are probes um for measuring either nitrogen, ammonia or phosphorus. Um, they're very expensive. Uh, they're you they usually average between a,000 and $6,000 a piece and
they are susceptible to UV breakdown. So, if we're not using those because the tanks aren't in service, we should probably pull those and put them someplace inside out of the UV and and protected. Um, while Justin and I were on site, uh, we were once we were down
in front of the office, you could hear some clanging and scraping and some banging. Well, it turns out you got an exhaust fan on your Edworks building that needs some attention probably pretty fast. Um, very fast. So, um,
>> you got a part of the south building. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> One thing I'd like to add to these probes that were set out, they were in the same spot three years ago when we were there. >> Yeah. They haven't moved. >> They haven't moved. So, they've been sitting in the elements for three years
approximately. Three winters. >> Yep. Three winters. >> Two winters. And >> Yep. Three summers. So, so we're being both of us as operators. I am also an operator. Sorry I didn't identify that. Um I also contract with five cities down in my area. Um
I have two full-time employees and I have a boss and she's back there in the corner. So, um, one thing that we are, we are Dustin and I both are, we preach housekeeping. This is, and you'll see on
this one picture that there's a garden hole just laying on the gravel. There's some pumps and some electrical wires that are just hanging out on the floor. You'll see boxes of brand new spare parts, and that those should all be shelved and put away, you know, nice and
safe. underneath that you'll see a bunch of soaker holes thrown along your headworks building. So, I mean, it's messy. It doesn't look right. People can trip over hoses, especially if it's dark. Um, the next picture is two areas
in your chemical feed pumps that have been allowed to leak and create a mess. And you can see it's kind of crystallized on your on your pumps. You guys have a beautiful plant. I mean, your engineering is phenomenal.
Justin and I would kill that uh to operate a plan of that or have had the opportunity or the ability as young operators to take that plant on as an operator. It's a rocket ship and that thing should be treated in the manner
that it costs the city as an asset. It should be clean. It should be tidy. It should be kept up. When I was young, we used to do, you know, tours from the high school to try to interest young high school kids to get into this field.
You want them to come through and see this plant or would you want them to come through and see a nice clean plant? Right. >> So, and one thing I'd like to add to that is when we visited a year ago, these were leaking nut. >> Yeah. >> It hasn't got the problem hasn't gotten any better.
>> It hasn't been correctly. And I another thing I'd like to elaborate on the cleaning is since we visited the time before I noticed that I mentioned something to Kane. It is considerably cleaner than it once was. Considerably. And that's due to your
public works staff. >> Yeah. The spring then was Brennon about probably about a year and a half ago when we visited your tertiary filter room. There was stuff laying everywhere and we pointed it out to Kane when we did that tour and Kane had his public works department, not the
contractor, go in there, organize, clean, and assemble everything on a nice shelving. So, it looks remarkably different than it did the last time that we >> So, >> we have um in the next picture, you'll
see some pipes coming through the wall there. There are a lot of areas where a link seal is is allowing moisture through or it's coming through the between the floor and the wall. Those should have been as as your contract service provider that should have been addressed as a warranty issue or
warranty item and taken care of. And I don't know if it's still under warranty or that's feasible or it should still be taken care of and rectified otherwise you end up with the staining on the walls and the liquid on the floor. Right. And then this in the next picture you can see in the corner that the
waterproofing material is peeling away from the concrete wall and you're getting moisture leaking in from the bottom. So next picture there's a construction ceiling or something that's been there probably since the plant was
turned over. And then the bottom picture, you can see there's a piece of conduit there that's got a wire through it and it's just free floating in that tank. Supposed to be strapped to the support right next to it. Um, ice damage from moving it up and down. I don't know
what that wire goes to, but I'll bet it's expensive. And I'll bet the wire is expensive. So, you got next page. You see two different pumps. I know they look like the same one, but they're both different. on the bottom of the base of the electric motor, you'll see those are slides and there's an all thread
adjustment rod there. You can see that they're all rusted. So, anyone that's ever turned a wrench to adjust adjusted them, >> right? So, those should be kept clean and maybe oiled or greased a little bit so they don't rust so that you can make that adjustment. Otherwise, they seize
up and when you need it most, you're not going to be able to make that adjustment. So overall we found four housekeeping on the part of the operators currently contracted. We did find that they touched on this already that came in as public work department had been in and
had organized the tertiary treatment building and other areas. And while it looked awesome, this would typically fall on the shoulders of the operator or the contract service provider. Um and in short that the the facility could be cleaned up and some improvements could
be made to your process. Um, so now let's talk about experience. So the city of Fountain when I took it over was a nitrogen removal plant. You have about five of them in the state of Minnesota. One's in Woff, one's in
Fountain, one's in Calonia, one is here, and there's one out west. Nitrogen removal isn't rocket science. If it was, I'd be screwed. But it does require attention and care and it requires something more than just a
mechanical plant operation where you're just relying on settling and and and pass through. So, so for in order to get good nitrogen removal, you need to understand the biologics and
the biology a little bit. You'll get a thousand different reasons why that system can't work. You'll get it from the guy that you got right now. And the reason why I know that is because when I walked into the city of Fountain in 2016, that plant had been out of
compliance for a period of 10 years. I begged them for 30 days. Just give me 30 days to let me prove to you that I can get it into compliance. They were involved in a stipulation agreement with the MPCA, which is where your city is headed because you're in non-compliance right now in the winter time. You're not
making your limits. Within 30 days, I was able to get that plant in compliance, but they gave me another six months. We kept it in compliance. They gave them a new permit a year later. They had a setback. They they brought in
another contract service provider. They didn't take care of the plant like they should have. They went back into violation. I've since then pulled them back out. We care about what we do. We take ownership for what we do. You guys have
a $25 million plant, right? Give or take a couple million. Was counting. Do you want a non-certified operator teaching your public works directors how to run that $25 million plant or do you want a operators that are on site to
train your staff how to run that plant? These non-certified operators, they can't train you guys. There's no way. And the guys that are a operators aren't going to stick out there long enough to train your guys. They have no interest in it. And they'll tell you it's counterproductive.
We're not here to hold your plant hostage. We're not here to to to to keep your plant under our control for the next 20 or 40 years. We're simply here to aid you, get you where you need to be, to get your operators where you need to be.
We don't have to hold your plant hostage. We want to be the first call that you make if you ever come out of compliance or you lose an operator. So, we want to keep maintain those relationships. We're about full transparency. If you guys have a question, my phone, his phone,
it's on 247. If you guys want references from the communities that we serve, we're more than happy to present those references to you. You can call any one of them. So basically we would hire you guys as a as a kind of an on call type of service
or >> operator in place of people service. >> Yeah operators >> and we have and I'm going to tell you right now the priorities would be just like this one compliance your plant in compliance two your plant back in a good
solid maintenance program and and and clean and kept up. Three the training of your staff. That's it. >> How long do you think it would take for you to get that cleaned up and and move ahead? >> Um I the cleaning up part's not too bad.
The tough part is, as I understand it, the if you guys offered us an opportunity at a contact, it would look probably around December 1st. And cold weather is a hard time to kickstart a plant and get the nitrogen removed. >> No. And I know exactly. And and that's
why I'm asking the question off of that because it's a rough time of the year to even >> but it would be our hopes that within it would be my hope and Justin's as well probably that within 60 days I would have you in full compliance >> that would depend on
>> the condition the plant was left to us in. >> Yeah. Because you don't know what they're going to do between now and December 1st when it comes to that. So >> the good part of that is that you guys Kane does have staff out there regularly. Even if they're not allowed
to participate or be trained, they're at least out there to keep an eye on things. So that is a huge plus that you guys >> as you guys sneak in in between then too just to kind of keep an eye on things. >> Yes. I know originally I know Joe when you
and I talked about it too originally at that time that's what we wanted to do was to go that direction and we were kind of in a time slot that we didn't have an opportunity to do some of that stuff you and I talked about that too. So, was there anything that you saw that
you're not familiar with whether it's Zylm probes or any other components or the testing or the laboratory testing or is there anything new there that you're not familiar with or just not everything is? >> Do you know why I'm coming at you for a contract? I will probably be the shorter
of the relationship between the two of us. He will be with you long more long term because this is a challenge and the That's what I look for. So, most of what you have here I've seen previously in prior um too in other facilities and other
plants. I mean was called in to troubleshoot plants. That's what my job title was and I enjoyed it. Um and I still enjoy it. Um I don't like the monotonous of the dayto-day doing rounds and stuff like that. I'd rather figure out what's wrong. I will tell you
something else. Um, if you're truly interested in maintaining a plant, you should at least have a toolbox on site >> and maybe toolbox. >> Maybe he's gun. >> Yes. >> It's amazing how you Yeah, that's an excellent point.
>> I I can't tell you enough how sorry I am that that you guys have had this level of care and treatment. >> Yeah. That's that's all I have. >> Appreciate calling this calling these things to our attention. I'm sure
there's more that you shared with Kane, but this is very >> Yeah, I don't want the lack of pictures. >> What's that? >> I didn't want to give you 800 pictures in a big long packet. >> So, I have a question. We're coming up on budget season. Is there anything that we need to consider for next year's
budget as you look through or have you talked to Kane just so we're thinking about that in case we're having to repair and maintain things? Um, I think that if I think that if the council wanted that, I I would definitely um
take a little bit deeper look. So, one of the things we didn't want to do on Saturday was create a problem between the city and people's service. So, if we came here tonight and you guys looked at us and went, "No, we're happy with what we got. We don't want to alienate you and people service." So,
>> we we can come up and take a look into that. We can also, you know, I I'd also like to dig into some of the process, how you're how the design flow of the plant and what the blueprints look like. I know that you guys are in an NOB right
now and if I can offer input to help with that on a corrective action plan or whatever, then um I'd love to have the opportunity to do that. I think that um some of the consultants and the staff that you guys have. Um so
uh I'm I have a I'd like to think and Joel might tell you differently, but I would like to think that I have a really good relationship with Stantech. Um John Fredel, your wastewater engineer um is with me and four other four other
contracts. Um he came over from SC. He's a phenomenal wastewater engineer. Um, Peter Daniels is also a great engineer came over from Wank. Um, and and our guy, our local guy is also
outstanding. So, um, I think that, uh, I would rely on Joe a little bit. I would rely on John a lot. And we would kind of, we'd like to try to get ahead of it if we can and get a good plan in place for when we do if we do take over in
December. we would be that much more ahead on jumpstarting that plant and getting that biological activity where we want it. >> We both kind of feel it's not 100% being operated the way it should if we're
being perfectly honest. >> I guess I'd like to see some kind of financial proposal what it take to do it. So, if we got some of the budget stuff coming up starting at the end of this month, it'd be great to have a lot of that stuff. See, like Kayen looks
like he wants to address something. >> Yeah, if I can, if I can, council, uh Justin, Rick and I, Joe have uh looked at some rough drafts of what a contract could look like. And uh I think before
we get any further into those talks and those details, I think these guys would appreciate a little bit of direction from the council. What what way do we want to go? Do we want to continue with people's services? Do we want to try something new? That would be my
recommendation. Uh but also that contract needs to get approved by our legal team, Mike. And uh so before this contract before we work on it anymore, I think first off direction from this council to continue
contract negotiations talks and then second we also need to terminate the contract with peoples. That needs to be a uh written notice delivered by August 31st. and then uh approving having the legal
team approve the the contract with these two. And also for public works, we we do need a commitment level of of someone dedicated hours at the facility, dedicated
staffing. That is one key component. how we get from today to licensed operators. We have to have staff dedicated to that facility. It can't be one person once a month, once every five weeks. It needs
to be consistent staffing. And we we want the council's approval or acknowledgement of what that could look like in 2027 starting well starting December 1st. Uh
>> so so that you know as well if you want like you guys want ownership and and rightfully so so your operators when they go to sign up for their testing they're going to say how many hours a week are you there and they're going to be looking for that it's 40 hours is an ironclad but that's more what they're
looking for right dayto-day operation and maintenance you have to be there >> doing the work >> essentially >> and rather than I know some in some of the communities that I've worked that I've helped get guys certified and trained, you know, the city's first um
inclination is, hey, let's just throw everybody at it, see who sticks, right? I would try to pick the best candidate, let us work with him and get him see if he's going to be comfortable with it. Some people get in the plants and they don't mind working in a plant. Some people get in a plant and they go,
"This, you know, it's really not for me. I don't mind doing the paper rounds, but I don't want to be the day-to-day wastewater operator. >> Yeah. Um I I I agree. And just so you know, I'm I'm on board with with you guys. Okay. And like I said before, it's
been a direction I think that Kane, you and I started from the very beginning on this. Okay. That that's the direction we want to go. Um, I would like to make a distinction between the people and operating it from our staff from what
there is for looking at hiring these guys and to make that distinction between the two. Okay. And have that discussion. But, you know, I'm on board and understanding what you're coming from. And we talked about that for many years. Actually, we talked about it for
three years. You know, of of what's going on. But, you know, for you guys to get this thing going and to move ahead for peoples, I'd make a motion to hire these guys, okay? And and have them on board
December 1st and and to to get rid of people's and let's do it internally. So, and but I want to keep those two separate. Okay? And we can discuss that later, not to not to conflict with what there is for the contract and get going
with these guys. So, I think what I would propose then to the council is uh we're going to continue to work on the contract. Uh but then I would suggest that we call a special council meeting between now and end of the month, possibly July 30th, we
have a workshop meeting. We could do a special council meeting to hopefully have a contract in place, reviewed by the legal team, kind of have some of these details ironed out, and then we would have a contract, could then terminate the existing contract, and
council could approve at that at that special council meeting. Tonight we're not asking for a vote, more so of introductions, what's possible, and uh so if if council's >> I think there's there's a lot of detail in the drafts that I've seen of the
contract. I think it's important that council as a whole understands this whole three-year time period and what the city's expectations are to have three years from now. You know, this is a phase people service. We're just about done with that one. And now with Rick
and Justin, we have this one and what's it like three years from now? And I think if it could be planned out or discussed um and the contract kind of leads us up to where we want to be, you know, we'll always need a class A operator, signing operator. >> Yep. >> Maybe not a person like yourselves
working with us, but um we have this opportunity to train some of our public works people that want to do that hopefully. And I think those kind of details would be good to share with the council with a special. I think it's very important to get some get our staff
themselves trained on it. >> Do we do we have specific staff that are interested in doing it >> or do we are we outside or >> we we do we do to an extent Paul uh you know it's going to be a phased approach.
These guys don't need four public work staff members every day. Initially, a lot of our talks were, you know, pick out two guys. Pick out your two your your people that are interested, right? We don't want to force a wastewater operator. We're not going to get a good operator. Let's pick
out the best. Let's pick out people who want to be there and then let's phase that in, right? Maybe it starts off with just one of them for six months. Maybe after that six-month period, it goes to possibly two or maybe a 20 hours per week or half the time dedicated, right?
So it's a it's a phased approach throughout these next three years. The investment the return on investment for us is at the end of three years we have potentially two people two staff members that are ready for a C license. But
that's three years of dedication staffing levels, right? Dedicated staffing levels and knowledge and and knowhow and hands-on experience. So, we can phase this out as much as we want. We can stretch it out or we can we can
throw more hours at it. We we sure can. It's just there's a there's going to be a balance and these guys are going to let us know what's what that balance is going to look >> to work with our guys, okay? because that's what we didn't get before when we asked for that. Right. Okay. So, I just
want to get that verbal commitment. So, >> so I'm going to tell you what the first So, I know that there was a little bit of miscommunication about um between me specifically and Kane. So we had initially talked about uh
a sliding a sliding scale contract right um initially when we approached well when we were talking to Kane we were like look this is going to be a seven to 10 year journey if you want to get to an 80 operator right that's literally what it takes for time and rank right
>> so so initially when we talked to Kane what he said was, "Okay, Kane, when you get a seat trained operator um or three years or you get say minimum's going to be probably three years before you see any sort of an adjustment minus if we can train some of
your staff and to come in on the weekends and just do basic paper rounds where they're writing down some numbers, taking a look at the plant and going, "Okay, nothing's black, nothing smells funky, we're good to go." And then we would still remain
available for emergency calls to respond to emergencies. You're not going to get into another situation where there's an emergency and nobody responds. Kane's had that happen before in the past. That will not happen again. So, if we get
your your there's a a slight reduction per month for having a guy that comes in and maybe spends 30 minutes an hour on Saturday and Sunday to do rounds through the plant and a lift station. We have normally have the guy checking the wells anyway, right? >> We do, Jim. And we've talked about uh
ERC and I have talked about uh the increase in workload that this wastewater treatment facility will bring. So that's it's in negotiations. It's in talk and uh we're thinking public works staff would be ready to take that on around the six-month mark.
We're going to give these guys an opportunity to get get on their feet, let them do what they need to do. But at the six-month mark, I think I'm confident that the public works staff, the five of us on call can take over that on call duty. So, this is what
Rick's talking about, a slight adjustment to the to the price at that point. After that, no real reductions until we see that class C operator, and that's around the three-year mark. >> Right. And that's provided that
individual is involved in day-to-day operations. I know Kane mentioned 20 hours a week. In my opinion, 20 hours a week is not going to cut it. The the other side of that is um for your first six months, if you come
out to the plant, you'll see me there at a minimum of six hours a day, every day, five days a week, Monday through Friday. That's an A operator in your plant at a time when you pay and your public works guys knows I'm going to be there. We're
not going to start playing games about you can't do this and you can't do this. Okay? >> I'm going to keep your guys safe. I'm going to train your guys. They're going to be hands-on. I'm going to find out really fast if they can be a wastewater operator or not. Or if they just don't have that desire. I'm not going to be
mean. We're going to be open and honest and transparent like I have been tonight. Your guys are going to do as much as they're willing to do. Again, we will not put them in I we have experience in troubleshooting and diagnosing stuff. We're not going to
turn you guys loose on that right away, but we do want them to be doing sampling to learn process control, you know, all and good housekeeping, >> testing and maintenance, right? And keeping your stuff running. >> Yeah. No, I you know I I look back at it and I look at at this profession that
you guys are in, man, it's a niche that that somebody grabs a hold of. They've got it for the rest of their career. >> Yes. >> That that demand is out there. There's just nobody to fill that demand, you know, and and that's where I kind of see
a lot of that stuff that you you train people that it's good. It's a great career. That's all I can say. It's a great career. might be a shitty job, but it's a great career. >> So, I'll leave you with this.
My wife, the boss, worked retail for 40 years. Retail. So, uh Michaels, Dress Barn, Christopher Banks, House of Fabrics, you're going to take poop out of one end of the other of that customer.
>> I'd rather it was the back end to be honest with you. So, >> no, I just want to have a great working relationship of what there is and and um >> I've been less than than happy with with
what we had to put up with, >> you know, as far as I'm concerning up to this point because that is the the newest plant in Minnesota, you know, and and and that to have that and I'm I'm makes me sad to see some of
this stuff that's that's there personally. >> She's a rocket ship. >> Yeah. >> State of the art. >> Yeah. >> What it is. >> It is. >> I'm sure we'll have more questions once we get the contract in front of us too. >> Yep. >> Uh just >> we can come back details, but just just
uh >> if you want our our input on capital expenditures or >> does that give us enough time? That's not much time to be able to put this together, >> you know, or do you want to kick it back another week to be realistic before go
>> on the 30th? We're going to discuss uh general fund 100 fund. We could always push back 600 and 602 specific funds. Uh >> well, I'm just being realistic about that stuff to be able to have the right right thing. >> Yeah.
uh you know, as soon as we get the contract, we're going to we're going to move forward with legal, right? I think that's step one. I don't want to give you guys a contract and then have Mike tear it apart. So, I think I think our next step is to we've seen a second
draft, possibly give it to Mike now. And >> Joe's had the opportunity to look at it, too. >> I do have one question, though. Is this going to, you know, I know we're we're getting into the training staff and stuff. Are we Is this going to require additional staff, too?
>> I would. I'm kind of hoping not. >> Yeah. >> So, >> you know, because because we we were kind of >> That's where >> kind under under the assumption that what we're spending on people's right now, we could be using for to pay people that would >> So, let's train our staff.
>> Let's start out like this, okay? Let's start out with let's let's have Kane maybe send us a guy or two over and let's see if you got somebody in house that this will work on right and that will take to this and if that doesn't happen maybe in six months or whatever
we come back and we look at hey we don't think we got the right fit for you in house do we do we need to look at going outside and hiring an additional staff member are you okay with that >> be down the vote Yeah. >> And what I'm looking at too, this is
coming up December 1st. Okay. And so in reality, you're a little bit light, okay, during that first few months that are going on that that you can look at the right person. Yes. >> To see how that fit is in there without
putting anybody in jeopardy that there is or the city in jeopardy. >> Yeah. I I think December and January offer opportunity for uh those staff members to to work closely with these two and and figure out if they got what it takes.
>> Yes. >> And like Rick said, he's going to find out. Justin knows too. They they know the people that are going to work and aren't going to work. And uh maybe that's a phased approach, Paul. Maybe maybe we have that in house. Maybe we maybe we don't. And uh
>> I think it's a great opportunity for >> I think it's a great opportunity. >> It is. And I and I just want the council to realize that if if we dedicate say one of our current staff members to be out there, say 20, 30, 40 hours a week,
we have the potential for for falling behind in our current workload. So, we've thought about some some ways to potentially offset that next year in 2027. Possibly another seasonal groundskeeper
>> that would alleviate some of the parks and the mowing, you know, and maybe free up a guy to help out. That would be another phased approach to this an option. >> I can get on board. >> Yeah. No, and that's what I want. That's why I wanted to separate the two because
I mean that that stuff makes sense. So eventually it would be nice someday, right, to have our own staff have like a lead person there, right? Eventually a go-to guy for the city. We still have these guys, but then eventually maybe
harness a backup operator, someone who can do the dayto-days, still work with these guys, >> cover vacations, >> cover vacations, cover time off. I think the city needs to work into that 2C
licenses right now. We don't need two C licenses. We don't need any licenses. >> Not as long as you have a bus. Yeah. >> Not as long as we have them. But that comes at a cost. So eventually we want to get licenses. >> Yeah. No. And and the key is to have it where where we can control it more in the city. Okay. And again, you're
looking at six years down the road to have an A >> no matter what. >> Okay. Okay. So, you know, no matter what. I mean, that's that's a demand that's going to be there, you know, for us to be able to be in compliance of of what there is. So,
>> Kane, is there anything from like uh contract with Peoples that we could say that they're not maintaining that they're letting like that we can have a little more clout to push that they would cover some of these things? Like I don't know what the contract signed, but I mean if they're not maintaining it and
that's part of their contract, you would think that there would be some >> legal ramifications of not maintaining the facility. >> Some kind of teeth in it. >> I >> Well, I mean, we got it in the contract because we put the three years in there instead of five years. Okay. So, when we
wrote the contract, >> they're not maintaining it. like can we go back to them and say now we're going to need new pumps and we're going to need, you know, new water coating because it's not been maintained. >> I'm I can't speak to that contract language. I don't know if Joe or these
guys could either, but uh >> you know, how much do you want to spend legally to spend a couple million to get it up back where it was? I mean I don't >> it won't be a million but we are going to spend more on maintenance next year
>> and the following year >> the the there's been a lot of deferred maintenance just like the facility assessment report a lot of deferred maintenance really adds up and so u >> no you're not looking at millions to get back to where you want to go we just
>> my the main goal and the purpose for presenting an assessment for you guys is to >> just get you back on the path where you need to be because we're kind of off in it a little bit. >> We're going to step in. We're going to get you cleaned up. Um and we're going to get you taken care of housekeeping
and maintenance-wise. And he's right. So, one of the things that we didn't want to do um and I think I speak for Justin as well. So people service put in chemical costs and buybacks and and laboratory costs and maintenance costs
and buybacks or they don't call it buybacks, they call it a shortfalls or something. We didn't do that. What people service does is they get a discount on lab costs. They charge you full price and they mark it up 30%. We're not I don't want to be a banker. I
don't want to charge you guys more money for those services. We want to see the city take on those directly with UC Labs or whatever lab they choose. And we want to see the city be able to negotiate those chemical costs as a city and and
not be in the middle of that and not you know you you guys know as well as I do if you have a middleman in there you're always paying more. So we would just like to see that go direct to you guys. So, you know, um I think that you will see some additional maintenance costs
like Kane said because it hasn't been being done. So, there's no ground rod as to well, what does that really look like in a budget, right? >> But I'm I think that after a year, you guys will have a very good picture of okay, so this was additional expenditures, but this would be a
mainline budget cost and a mainline budget item. >> I think that makes sense. I mean, we just kind of had to take it into shortage for three years. >> I'm sorry. >> This is going to be a long-term investment. It's not going to happen overnight. It's not going to happen in three years. It's going to take years to
get to where we need to be. And that's >> just been a quick comment about um public work staff is aware of what Kane is talking about. So there's been some interest from a couple of guys that maybe wanted to do part of it, but so he's it's we're all coming together with
Kane uh from staffing to hopefully something will happen, but we just >> And I think Brian, that's a sign that that our staff do enjoy their positions here. They do like their jobs and they enjoy what they're doing. You know, it's it's hard to get my guys to to to say, "I want to change up and just go to the
plant and work." They like the variety. They like the the different task and the different departments and they're happy. So I think that's a that's a good sign for our employees. So >> and some people some people like certainty too. >> Some people do. Absolutely.
>> And to give credit to Rick and Justin because they have from the very first draft, the one we received this afternoon. Um there's been changes in the commitment that you were expecting from public works 40 hours a week. Now it's 20 hours a week. So that's we appreciate your willingness to kind of
work through those figures and >> there's there's a lot of details that need to be hammered out. I I will say that and and we'll we'll get that contract in front of the council as as soon as possible and and move towards a new contract. >> Okay. I just want to make sure. Do you
want to move it around and push it off for another week after that for the budget meeting for that part of it? So, I'll just repeat just as an administrative fact. I'm just going to repeat what Kane said. The timeline and the tight timeline that we have is that
our termination letter to people's needs to be served to them by the 31st of August. >> So, what we're trying to do is line up >> okay >> that process. >> I'm willing to go on it. I was just, you know, asking making sure that we're not >> Yep. It it all kind of came together
quickly. We are working really hard on the budget. Kane's he's got that 6602 dialed in. So, we're ready for you. We're ready to present uh what comes out of that contract budget-wise. >> We will be ready. But I just the special
the um the asking about the special meeting and things that we do have to consider that because of the timeline. >> That's fine. I I also don't believe that we actually need to have this contract written before we send them their notice if we have the intent to go with these guys. >> And that's what Yep. They just want to
know the intent. We need to have kind of a semi. >> So we could act so we could so we could actually add the discussion of that contract into the into the August meeting. You know, we can still we can still have the letter ready for >> Yeah. and knowing with the intent to go
with these guys to >> have things in place that >> we we'll get the contract signed. >> Give us a start. >> Get a contract ironed out with legal and all of us ready. >> It could it could take it could take months to do that. >> Take a month. I think I think we're in agreement on that August city council
meeting. We could have something >> sure >> ready to go ready for approval. >> The month. So, in the past, you've actually presented us with kind of your vision of how you want to see
>> us move forward over the years to achieve this goal. >> Yes. >> Is that something that you've shared and is that something that we can make sure that everybody's on board with? >> You know, there's um >> there's slight adjustments to that. So, absolutely. So, in the beginning, I
always pictured rotating staff out there, right? Every week someone rotates. Every five weeks someone's a new person, right? Every week. And come to find out that's that's not the best way. We want consistency. We want we want that person there day in day out.
They need there's a lot that that they need to learn. It's a it's a learning curve, a sharp learning curve. And if someone's only there once a month or 40 hours a month, >> sure, >> it just ain't going to happen. So, you know, what I guess what I'm getting at is that ha have you guys gone over that
vision and kind of made those changes and so you're both parties expectations are on board with each other. >> Correct. And and and we're working through some of those finer details. We we have been that's that's evolving
every day, I feel like. So, >> we've presented King with a lot of different scenarios or he's asked a lot of different scenarios is more like it. >> They're getting sick of me. >> It comes down to the city's got to figure out exactly what your goal is so
we know how to assist you. >> Yeah. But I think I think some of that could come from that we possibly could use Kane to set up some kind of a three, five, and 10 year plan of how employees will be utilized in this in this aspect.
>> That would be something that we would want your input on before contracts are signed. So, we know what year three should look like if you guys have the staff that are out there and they stay and they get their hours. I think that's
kind of where I'm getting at is it's >> so there's so that so that's a little bit of a moving target and I'm not trying to be obtuse or anything but um if you get a guy that comes out there and spends his 40 hours >> um or 30 hours or whatever that looks
like and he we're getting him trained up and so he goes and he takes his D license, he's got to have a year in to take his D and then after his D license it's another two years to take his However, you can supplement some of that
by taking some online education courses or something like that. So, it's usually about a year and a half maybe or a year to take your C. Sometimes, um, if they pass that certification the first time around, um, that's a big difference in
the C's and the D's aren't so bad, but when you get to the B-grade of your testing, I've seen guys take that between eight and 12 times. That's a really brutal test. Um, and then your A is so when we say eight years, that eight
years is if this guy gets his training in, he he gets his certifications requirements met, and he gets those tests passed kind of the first time around, the the more that he misses. And and I can tell you from training certified operators, the worst thing
that you can do is bust the guys for not passing a test because it it deflates them and then don't want to go after it anymore. So all part of what we do is we'll sit your guy down twice a week for
an hour or two hours at a time and we'll just go over, hey, these are some things you will see on that test. These are some things that you need to focus on. and it's just basically classroom time and helping them go over those. And the other thing that the city can do is they have a three-day short schools that they
can send their uh and staff to and they they go through that short school. It's very informative and then you take your test at the end of it while it's still fresh in your brain. Yep. >> And that will aid you in in helping you get your guys through these classes. No, I think having that as the big picture
and knowing that those could be financial costs in addition to everything else we're talking about is is good to know and is good to know upfront. So, >> yeah, >> I appreciate that. >> We'll we'll try to structure it as much as possible.
We'll we'll try to like I said, it it's a moving target. You know, there's there's really good uh operators out there that are really bad test takers. >> Yes. That's that's that's kind of the industry that we're in there. There's a lot of good mechanical knowledge staff out there, but when it comes to testing
or maybe the biological side of things there, you know, this this is a niche. Jim, you you touched on it. It's not just a one avenue. It's multiple facets here. So, >> and I know that there are eight operators out there that I wouldn't trust to flush my toilet.
>> You're gonna have them, >> but they're good test takers, right? Great testing. >> Yes. >> Common sense. >> One thing to add to this whole classroom thing or testing is your D test for the facility you have is not important
because you have a class A facility. You can just forget that D, which I would recommend truthfully because the D test has very little to do with your treatment process. your operator could actually fail that test just because what it's based off of. It's based on a
pond system. >> You can skip the D if you're up work at an A facility and go right to your C at the three-year mark. >> I just wanted you guys to have that >> great for the guys too, okay? You know, because that fear factor sometimes fits
in there, okay? And taking that fear away. I think one more thing came to consider is um working with ERC on um performance and pay related to certain certifications as we move forward. That can be an incentive too. We would need to make sure that that's structured
appropriately. >> Yes. >> Um and what does that look like? But I mean that could also be a incentive for people to stay. >> I think that's a big thing. >> It's going to be a busy month. >> Yep. >> It is. So, a lot a lot to discuss and
and get uh get together here. So, any more questions for these guys? >> Thank you. >> Thanks for coming, Andrew. >> Great to meet you guys. >> Appreciate the photographs. >> I think you got something to work on here. >> Yeah,
>> great conversation. >> Okay, now we're administration. Um, well, let's go through there. It's a lot of mo a lot of motions, but I think they're pretty self-explanatory. But let's just uh start off with our first
one. The ordinance 2026-04, establishment of a public works chapter. Uh this is something that we've administration and Kane have worked together to identify
practices and responsibilities and just kind of put things more in place that are predicated by our Minnesota statutes too. So >> So with that I make a motion we approve
ordinance 2026-4. I'll second that. >> Any comments or questions? >> Seeing none. >> Uh, Mayor Ikest. >> Hi. >> Councelor Pendergrass. >> Hi. >> Councelor Phillips. >> Hi. >> Councelor Rtoford. >> Hi.
>> Councelor Spring. >> Hi. >> In in establishing that, is that something we got to write bylaws and stuff for? But so the public works director, believe it or not, was the only
department not already defined in the ordinances. We have the same setup for fire chief uh and for emergency management and for every and for all of those other areas. There was no section ever created for public works. So we're just kind of supplementing. And
>> so what does the charter do for them by by making it a charter thing? What does it actually do? >> I think it just puts things in black and white of of what it is and how functions right definition of the
>> I mean if if something happened and you had a new public works director come in okay that Kane wins the lottery or whatever else that way it says heck of this it'll be there for that next person to come in and have things that are in order. That's right.
>> Like a job description. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, next item is our national night out expenditures. $1,000. >> Make a motion that we spend up to $1,000. >> I'll second that.
>> And that's with the fire department. >> You guys all on board with that? I give you guys enough. >> Sorry. National Night Out. >> National Night Out. >> Absolutely. We are we we are staffed and ready to go with that. >> So that Well, you're going to buy
>> for the food order basically. >> Okay. So, >> Mel's taking care of all the food, getting it to us, and we're providing the space and the labor. >> Okay. Good. >> Thank you. >> Thanks all of you for all we do. >> Yeah. The next item is regarding our
security camera systems that we have in place. That was proposed also for phase two and phase three for different buildings. But what we have here in front of us is is the phase one. The memo talks about
from Mel um just talks about the overall cost associated with the system. If you looked at phase phase one, it's a 17. Well, there's, and correct me if I'm wrong, but if we look at phase one, it's
$14,976 for the cameras and the discounts. >> Are the cameras all in place yet? >> Let's make a motion to discuss. >> I'll make a motion. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> To dis to approve.
>> I'll make a motion for discussion. >> Thank you. >> Oh, you made it. Who seconded? I made it to Chris to get us going so >> we have this the cameras. We have one camera outside the office, one out on
the corner outside of the one on the east side and we have one over on the fire hall. One or two on the fire. >> Two, I think. Is there two? Yeah, I thought there was two. So that has an invoice of 17 $14,776
94,976 and those cameras are already in place and paid for. Correct. >> Uh I don't know if that's true or not. >> We have uh let's see, we have a trial period. Our trial period has expired. So that's what sort of instigated the memo and how
do we want to move forward? >> And that's the 1,00 $48642. It's on the first account. >> So, if we said no here, they'd come take their cameras back. >> Yeah.
>> What value have you found on the cameras on the fireh hall? >> I currently don't have any I don't have access to the cameras, camera feeds or video or anything. So I have zero value >> you've had for >> Yeah, I think council decided in the
policy that the city clerk would be the one that would have the access. >> I'll be honest since installation I mean we have not referred to the cameras ever unless someone's reported that there was some sort of incident. >> Okay,
>> we don't we are I don't I my fear is that they are we do need some security. that is a good idea. I don't know that we need security at this kind of capacity. I don't think that we use it in that way. We don't have enough people using the community center. I think if
we had basketball courts or a pool and we had the community coming in and out of the building all day, yes, we would want to look at something like this just for theft and safety and and things like that. I'm just I'm not sure that that's what our
level what our capacity is. Do you feel safer coming to work because the cameras are up? >> We had an Arlo camera that's similar to a Ring camera that was working just fine for my needs. >> And and and that's kind of where I look
at this, too. Um, I mean, even Arlo, if you go down to to Target and look, they have u um, you know, the cameras that you can get that that, you know, will work just fine and and
you can rent whatever you want to have for, you know, internet for, you know, having that stuff for storage. >> I think it'd be a very different problem um, conversation if we were having problems. >> Yeah. And I I think that that we could obviously save the money.
>> I think I think at this point we the money savings is a big thing. I think we need the >> and and look and look at another system >> more of what we're going to be looking at with the uh public works stuff. So, the the options we have in front of
us is to remove the equipment that's been put in place and pay the bill for 1,486 $8642 or keep what we have installed. Pay the 14,000 and that's a one-year renewal.
This one-year renewal if that's what we want to keep. But comments being made don't really support spending that kind of money. >> No. So I'll make an amendment to my motion that we >> we haven't made we just had a discussion.
>> What what what's the what's the contract value of the contract? >> Well total by the time you get done with it >> well the invoices are now >> I understand that but for public knowledge it's >> well it's just for next year was a 14 but then it goes up from that point
depending on what you want to put into it you know so it kept going up and up and up. I think when we were done with it was something like $60,000. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> We did everything phase two and page three. >> Yeah. 66 $67,000.
>> I mean, we don't need to be spending spend that kind of money on at the moment. >> Yeah. 66,485. Yeah. So, I think we can do a whole lot with an Arlo, but I I think that we should look at at something like hooking
the Arlo back up again just to have something that that's on there. Okay. The other ones that are remote, just the Arlo, they are solar powered. Okay. Of what there is and they were like 200 bucks a piece. I mean, you can >> stick to the motion here. So, we decide
what we want to do. >> So, I make a motion that we send it back. >> The motion's already there. We have a motion in place. >> So, I'll make a amendment to my motion that we >> pay for the file period and send the
equipment back to end the contract. >> I second. I take your amendment to the motion. And I think I would just part of that amendment to do that. We just need a confirmation of that uh going back to
the gentleman Alex or whoever that put together. So just to confirm that's what the council's direction and what's the actual cost. >> Yep. I can provide that. >> Okay. Any other comments?
I think it's a a good idea. There's other subsidies that we could get for her needs >> for that kind of money. Yes. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. >> Next item is
approve the fire relief temporary on sale liquor license for downtown Oracle Gold Rush. >> I'll make a motion to approve the temporary liquor license. I'll >> second that. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify
by saying I. I. >> Approved. Um, next is gathering permit for fox and fern grant opening gathering permit during gold rush days. >> I make a motion to approve it. >> I'll second that one. >> Any comment or discussion?
Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I post It's approved. Next item is approval updated data procies practices policy. Make a motion to approve all those.
>> Second that. >> The only Yeah. The only comment I wanted to make on that is you have the administrator in there. >> I did take note of that. >> Okay. That was the only thing that I picked out of that wasn't it? >> Was an update to our prior. >> Okay. I will make sure to go back and do
that. Okay. >> What do you change the language to from administrator? >> Well, you could have administration or >> city administrator and or someone appointed by council >> usually.
I just >> all in favor signify by saying I >> I post. Next item is the city of or local policy for public access to government data and direct staff to publish the policy on city website and add to the city's
employee policy manual. >> Make a motion to approve that. >> Second that too. >> What does that what does that >> that's just keeping us in statute what it is for the chapter 13 that we need to do for the city.
All in favor signify by saying I. >> We're moving. >> Next item is a motion to approve city of Orno data subjects rights policy in accordance with the Minnesota government data practices act and direct staff
to post the policy on the city's website and maintain it in his city policy manual. We just made the motion and approved that one, I think, didn't we? >> There's the subject, right? >> Sorry. >> I'll second.
>> Any comments? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Item is public works. Okay. put together a memo of some uh
equipment that he wants to use. >> Yeah. >> Use equipment to sell. >> Yeah. So, the first one there uh page 56, you guys, that's just kind of a summary of the items. Uh we did list out each one in a in a separate memo. So, um
if you'd like, I'll get started with the first one, the uh sale of the brush cutter and snowthrower attachments. Uh these two items were for our previous uh toolkit. Much smaller machine, lighter
duty, smaller wheel path. It really doesn't work well with our skid loader track machine right now. Uh kind of cumbersome, not really designed that way. Just we're not using them. So >> yeah, I think you did a good job on explaining that in an individual. That
was pretty straightforward. >> Trying to be efficient with not only space but equipment. and and these are two items that I just don't think we're ever going to use again. >> So, I'll make a motion to sell the tool cap brush cutter on the thrower attachments.
>> I'll second that one and I'll put even put in a pull behind off of that one, too. But >> yeah, that'd be fine. >> Yeah. Another item that's just it's uh it's done its purpose. It's it's done its job and we're just beyond that now.
>> Yeah. How How's that front one work for the one that you got right now for >> front one works awesome. You can take down like six inch trees with it. It's it's a beast. >> Yeah, >> it goes in front of you. Doesn't flatten everything. >> Well, no. I I've seen you pull the other one before in the ditches. So, I mean, that's
>> you know, there's there's uh there's opportunity to sell that thing. It's pretty well used. Uh I'm going to try to get the best price for all these attachments. Uh, >> so and I and I touched on that in my summary a little bit, but uh I'll let
you guys vote. >> So the motions with tool brush cutter and the snowthrower >> and the pull behind mower >> and down on the pole behind motor. Okay, >> I'll just take all three of those and get them in. Perfect.
>> Any other comments? Seeing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. It's approved. There's a mower. >> So, the mower is kind of a standalone item. Uh, council. Last year, we talked
about increasing the the term, how long we kept those mowers. We went from a three-year term to a four-year. The reason I bring it up tonight, two reasons. Uh, there is a new mower available at Hilltop Sales right now. the mower that we want, same model, the
same engine, uh the one that we would replace this one. I also bring it up tonight because there's some useful mowing season left right now. I I find that if we were to sell that Skagg zeroturn mower right now, I think there'd be more interest in it. I think
we'd bring some value more value now than December when it's, you know, snowing up. That's the reason I bring it up tonight. We're approaching that 800 hour mark and like I said last year the direction was to to go four seasons.
We're we're getting there and I'm I'm proposing this the sale of that. >> So this is a four season on this one or the third >> fourth. What's it cost just out of curiosity to replace a motor on one of those? >> A motor? >> Yeah. >> The motor is the best part about the
mowers >> on this deck. I mean that's the thing that would go wrong with it, right? That would >> No, the deck the deck come apart. >> Drives, spindles, some of the drivetrain components, >> you know, they're >> bushings. >> Bushings, you know, we've replaced a lot
of bushings and bearings and uh they've been good mowers, but they get they they take a beating. They do. And uh like I said, this is this is a a time where I think we could really get some value, but I I wanted to bring it to
your attention. >> I take it from somebody on the council that has some experience with that. Okay. And so I think that that might make sense for four years to turn around and replace it. >> So Ken, so you're about 6,000 short
within your budget for that. Understanding that you're going to sell some of these things. Are you going to sell the other items before you purchase the 2026 in case you don't get what we're hoping for? >> My my plan. >> My gut feeling right now is I can get
6,000 out of that mower right now. >> Currently, there is 10,000 in change. 10,800 in that fund for mower replacement. So, I'm right there. I'm right there for the uh 6,000 for the old
machine, 10,000 in the account. The new machine 17,000. So, what are the other two machines at right now? Is was this the machine that was at 400 hours last season? So, just this season, we've added that many olives.
>> Let me tell you what the other ones are at. I >> closer to 500. >> I mean, we were had so much discussion on that last year. Yeah. Uh the 2024 uh was is at 130
and the 2023 is at 700. So what led up to those higher hours on the 23 was this mower being down, right? The 2022 mower was down. So more hours were put on the 23 mower.
Hopefully, we can get around that 200 hours per season if everything goes right. If they stay running, if they stay right next year with a seasonal with an additional seasonal groundskeeper potentially, we may have all three machines running.
>> That would reduce that would reduce the accumulation of hours. It would balance it out able to do that. >> Yes, it would. So, >> so I make a motion we approve the purchase of a 2026 Met Skagg Moore with
um selling of the 2022 more through sealed bids. >> I second that. >> You guys want to do the sealed bid process? >> Do we need I'm still on the I'd like to see it do it through public surplus >> through through an auction through a
public surplus auction because it's they're nationwide auctions. >> Sure. you know, and they're responsible for transportation and pickup and >> Sure. >> See, >> I know they do take a little bit of the a cut. You know, there's a a buyer or sellers premium. >> There's a buyer there's a buyer's
premium in most things. >> Yeah. >> I don't know if there is. I don't know if there's a sell I believe there's a sellers want the best dollar where it's at. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> And that's where I think you're going to get it because you get a you get a national auction on it. When I worked
for Rochester High School, some of the moors that we sold end up in South Carolina, you know, so it's it's a big it's a it's a big deal. I think it really is. >> Sure. >> Uh we can look at that. It's just a website. I think you can give them a call. I
just look it up publics surplus.com. >> Sure. >> And that's where it's at. So probably get old. There's a gallon that I talked to a year ago, I believe it was. It was I was talking to him had to talk to him about setting up a fire truck.
>> That kind of went by the wayside. >> Any other comments? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I >> I post. >> Thank you. So that kind of segus into the the last two items that are uh
potential for surplus equipment. The the current ATV and the side by side u you know we've got two of them. They're kind of used 50% of the time and we're trying to maintain two of them. So, I think the
idea here is if we replaced one of them, I I think it would be uh more utilized uh and more appropriate for what we're doing. >> I think the 6x6 is a very good fit for your situation, isn't it? >> You know, it's it's not.
>> I make before we go, I make a motion we approve the sale of the HV and the side by side. >> Second for discussion. So, uh, like I said, there the the side by side is a is a very, uh, useful vehicle. We spread a lot of mulch with
it. We can get people into the woods, into trails. It's not as heavy as a pickup. It's not like the skid loader. We could we could put a plow on it. We could plow trails. We could sand trails. We've got some new trails in Riverwood Hills. Uh, it's a very useful piece of
equipment, the side by side. Um, I I think the staff would greatly appreciate sitting in a cab versus a a four-wheeler not in a cab, right? >> So, I think there's some benefits and I
kind of lay out some of those u some of my discussion points. Um, you know, I ideally I'd like to sell these attachments, these surplus attachments and the pullbehind mower and the ATV and the side by side and get
something that we're going to use, something that can be used daily, year round. I think that's the benefit to the public works department is we've got all these pieces of equipment that don't get used or only partially used. Let's let's be smarter about what we have, what
equipment we have. And uh so I think a new side by side, newer, we could look at a used option. I think uh if we took the funds from these sales, I think uh I think we could purchase one. I think when you're I personally think when
you're looking at used options, you're looking at buying the stuff that you're selling because a lot of people a lot of people don't sell that stuff when it's in when it's >> when it's teetering over the edge of not
being as valuable. Exactly. Or if it's somebody that that isn't using a side by side moving, they would sell it and you don't know what condition that could be in, you know, it could be in good condition, you know. >> Yeah. I I just know like current staff,
they they're reluctant to jump in it depending on what the task is at hand, right? So, like I say, if >> No, looking at if you're you're purchasing to look at a used one is what I was getting at, you know, just >> there there is a market for used machines. There is uh there is some
value there depending on uh attachments, plows, cabs, heaters, you know, accessories. Uh there's there's a market for new ones, too, right? So, it's it's all kind of what's out there. Uh I'm not going to tell you tonight that I'm going to buy a
new or a used one. I'm saying a newer updated side by side is the goal. >> Would you bring that back? So, you're going to Okay. >> Absolutely. My goal would be to come back in August, September, November, say, "Hey, we found a good deal. They're
they got a sale, whatever the thing, you know, we found a good used one. It's got these attachments. Here's the money we had from our sales. This is the direction I want to go. I I think that's going to be later in this fall before we get to that point."
>> Good. Thanks for explaining that. >> Yeah. >> Any other comments? Seeing none, all those in favor? So you're probably saying I >> I wish it is to >> sell those. >> Do we want to do the same thing public
surplus.com? >> I think I think it's smart to do that. Yes. >> So So maybe my Do I want to Should we do that with the attachments and the poll behind? >> I don't think it'd be a bad idea. >> Let's get a quote on a seller's feed. >> Okay.
>> Buyers be the buyer's seller. nothing in it on our end. >> Well, let's let's look into options >> because I I know there's some local auctions, Graves Auction and Mazeppa or online. I know even like the equipment dealers around here may be interested in
those attachments, right? If I can get a good value >> and not have to maybe go through some of that, I >> I understand you. I a little flexibility is is kind of what I'm asking for it. Maybe >> I think if you can find a better deal
and another way to do it, it's not a bad thing to do have. >> Yeah. >> Do you guys want me to come back at August with the proposals? Right. If Senko is going to offer me five grand for the snowthrower, you want me to come back at the August meeting? Do you want
me to >> dispose of it? I think dispose of it. Take care of it. I I have I have a pretty good knowledge of what things are going for and and I I I I would appreciate that. >> I think you do. I think you just dispose of it and I think it'll it'll work.
>> I would appreciate that. >> You didn't get approval been given approval to do that. So, >> well, we need to vote on it because I had a question before we got that. >> Yeah. Sorry, I jumped in there. >> That's okay. I did too.
>> Okay. Um, >> make a motion to approve selling the other two items. >> I think the motion was made. >> Yeah, we have a motion. All those in favor signify saying I. >> Thanks, council. You're welcome. >> Thank you.
>> The fire department I think is next on the fire department. Before we go through everything and tone it in, I'll let Johan come up on talk about some of the stuff I did uh go to that burn that there was on Sunday
that was unbelievable. Oh yeah. we were all invited to go out to a county burn that there was out there and and uh almost everybody from the department was out there and um you know I got a chance to to shoot a little
bit of water and figure out what that's all about with that stuff and not not just with a small hose but some good pressure that there is behind it but I tell you what it uh >> it gave me like a That was what we first
>> and the the way the setup is out there at homestead counting is is unbelievable. They probably have 20 containers that are double stacked on top of each other that are welded together. And there's stairs, there's everything else inside of it. And it's
dark. You you can't see anything inside there. And uh they put mannequins inside there. Okay. And there's couches, there's chairs, there's tables, there's everything, steps to go inside, but um it's they they set a fire in there. They
put bales of straw in there and set them on fire and fill it full of smoke and make those guys go in and and find them. They don't know if there's a mannequin or not, you know, but they have to go through and and try to find it. It was It was unbelievable. Sounds like it was an interesting day. It
>> It really was. And I was out there for a good four hours to to to watch everything was going on. But I'll tell you, there is one thing that that really made a difference to me. And after they're in breathing and doing that
stuff for 20 minutes, they're out and they have to go to a rehab tent that there is and their pulse are taken everything else that way. That's all the guys are in there running. And so you see a whole lot more
of why there's teams to go in to do a fire. It's not just two guys showing up for a fire. You've got to have the whole setup that there is behind it. But it really it showed me a lot. Next time that they do it, I I recommend
going out there and participating in it because it's it's really something. Oh, didn't mean to take your thunder off of it. You were doing a video on that, too. So, >> hoping to present a video in the next couple months to council on what on what we did. >> So,
give it a good soundtrack. >> We start fire. Okay. >> So, you have a applicant approval. >> We do. Um in Cassidy, um again, we're leaning on our fire explorer program. Um
this would be our second fire explorer that we'd like to bring on um as a firefighter. >> Make a motion to approve Fin Cassidy to the fire and first responders. >> Second. >> The other thing Oh, we have to >> What does that give you for numbers?
Johan after Finn on the fire department that's 20 24 active. >> Okay. >> I have two that are on leave. Yep. Okay. Got a motion in a second. We >> have a Yeah. Any other comments?
>> Seeing none, all those in favor of the applicant signify by saying I. >> I. I. Oppos. >> Next thing I'd like to talk about, Terry, you want to talk about that are the two grants that you got. >> Up to you guys. We Go ahead, Rabbit. Were you gonna say
something? Oh, the next motion is 200 drip drop electrolyte packets. >> No, those are the grants that we got. >> Those one of one of the grant >> one of the two grants packets, right? So, they're like liquid IV. Um, right. Drip Drop is a a company new to the market. They're trying to give away They
give away packets to a thousand departments nationwide and we were one of them. >> So, we're waiting for them to show up. >> Awesome. >> So, is it a grant or a donation? >> It's a grant. Um, >> do we have to provide like another 100 drip drop packets like a matching?
>> We'd have to provide people to drink them. >> I know. So, I think they come in three or four flavors, colors. Um, yeah. Um, they're gluten-free. Um, >> soyf free, gluten-free, dairy. >> They got red 40 in.
>> I've had them before. >> We have to have our Have you? >> Do they have Red 40? because we need our >> I have zero idea what they greetings >> when I needed them. I didn't care what it was. >> That's what I was going to say, >> right? >> Yep. So,
>> a motion for a grant. >> If it was a resolution that then we need it donation, then we need a resolution. So, I just want to clarify that. >> Yes, it it is a grant. We had to we had to apply. >> And and the other one that there is that you got >> and the other was through the state fire
marshall's office um and uh state fire marshals division. Sorry. Um it was for an another um extractor, gear extractor and another dryer. This time an enclosed dryer. So four sets of gear. So right
now we have an extractor, but how the how you're how you're supposed to wash your gear is your gear has three layers, but really it tears apart into two. Okay? You have to have your anything that's on the outside has to be washed by with itself. Anything on the inside has to be washed with itself. So when
you go in and and wash your gear, you're sitting there for quite a while to get through both load both, you know, loads and then get it on the dryer. So having another extractor is going to double our speed. You know, we have a we have like we had our our live burn. Everybody
needs to wash their gear. So it's excruciatingly slow. So we So we put So we put in an an application for this for this grant and we're awarded it. Um, so we put in for the extractor and the gear dryer because right now again our
current gear dryer is out in the open. So it sounds like you're in a wind tunnel. Um, and um, it again it can take two sets of gear. So now we have we again doubled what we can >> what we can um, >> and every time you go to a fire you've got to do that.
>> So OSHA require OSHA requires OSHA requires us to to wash your gear twice a year >> and we have to actually keep track of it. Um, so but we should be washing our gear much more. You know, what these also enable us to do is to give our give our
give all our firefighters, you know, a place to, you know, quickly get your gear through. You know, it's not so so ownorous on everybody to to do it. You know, it's instead of waiting an hour, now you're waiting a half hour and you're in and out, right?
>> You have space over there for >> We have been we have been going over and over different spots. going bad. But they took a bath through about >> little kitchen. >> Yeah, there's no kitchen, but they have an air dryer. >> Space is always >> space is premium.
>> So, this was it was it was great. Um, we we actually got kind of near the max of what they would give us. Um, like some other departments. I talked to the chief over in >> um by one of the departments by the river and they got $4,000. How'd you guys get 17 whatever? All
right. Anything else in fire department? >> That's it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We have some stuff coming up on the weekend relief. >> Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Maybe I should talk about that real quick.
>> Yeah, we do have we do have the Hannah Harper concert coming up this Saturday. So, um ticket sales less than we had had hoped. Um, but so we're down to one. We're we're down to one show, the two o'clock show. Um, and but we are we're
excited to have her here and um, so it it'll it'll be it'll be a really good time. Sounds like it's they're making it really a family event because she is, you know, she's very family oriented. She has kids. She's bringing her kids, her husband with with um, so
we'll get to meet all them, too. But um you know so it's the 2:00 showing seems to be a the right time of day. >> Very cool. >> So that's all covered by the relief association, the cost of it and whatever
implications come from the concert and everything. So okay, >> have you covered your costs with ticket sales? >> Tomorrow night we have we have the like our final meeting. So we'll I don't know right the second but yeah tomorrow night we have our final meeting. >> Okay.
>> All right. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Zoning >> uh on that one. I guess we had a presentation that there was for people's
co-op. No, this is about u make a motion to approve resolution 2026-16 with the >> extension of a cup for Drake Pine Southwest there. >> It's uh he's still planning on doing it.
He just need another year. his ar his original architect passed away and he's working with a new architect and uh so that's the reason for the extension c is another one-year extension so >> are they getting interest in people want
wanting those units or I mean has there been outreach >> I think that there's been people I mean >> pre he could probably pre-sell 10 units right now with the number of calls we get >> okay okay I just want to make sure >> that's awesome yeah great
>> hopefully We'll see some dirt move. You have to share it. We'll see. No guarantee hard, but this is all part of the process. All those Any other comments? All those in favor signify saying. Oh. Oh, it's a motion resolution to
>> Oh, so sorry. Uh, Mayor Ist. >> I, >> Councelor Pendergrass. Hi, >> Councelor Phillips. Hi, >> Councelor Ricefer. Hi, >> Councelor Spring. >> Hi. Okay, moving on to ERC. Um,
so Marie and I ERC were, um, recommending a city fielding a city clerk position. So I make a motion we approve posting and recruiting for a city clerk position. I'll second that.
A second, thank you. The one thing to note on this on the job description is we've outlined a few more um opportunities particularly as we're working with Larry and Hood on our job
classification study um from an HR perspective. Um this will be important because we it may change what that overall long-term plan looks like and we're still having conversations of what that looks like from an administrator and a finance and all these other
positions. But having some of that written into a city clerk positions us well to have someone to own some HR things um in kind of that interim period until we get whatever flattering hood
sends back um as well which it will be nice >> um it will be a relief for Ryland and I from the ERC perspective as well. >> Yeah. >> Um so >> that written though under get human resources administration. >> Well that was added. Okay, guys.
>> That was added intentionally. Um, and then just so you know, we'll make sure that again, I think we'll want to make sure that there's um at least five years, 3 to five years of relevant experience. Um, and check
references. Um, and then there are some preferred qualifications that were added that will just make sure that we're getting an applicant or a person that is highly qualified that can jump in and that we're not spending that time training and learning here. I don't
think we have the time for that. So, >> no, I mean, if we have to wait a little bit to get the the right person, I think it's worth waiting to get the right person. >> Okay. I mean, we've got a small team. That's got to be. >> Yeah, we it's got to be function, right?
>> Got to be right. I agree. That's why we put in the minimum three three years requirement. I'm stateful city clerk. So, it's a >> um one comment too. You know, we're looking at posting this um LMC,
Minnesota clerks, certificate clerk association. There's also an international city clerks maybe others too. We should really reach out. The reason I say that because when we did our um we use uh Mike Humble, the
SCSC to use the uh city administrator for for Jason. Um I approached him back in March, April when we heard that Jason was leaving. And when we hired Jason and worked with SCSE, there was a two-year clause, right, >> saying that he would they re uh it's
$12,300 and they would do it over again. Well, I I approached him with the understanding it's it's outside the two-year period, but is there anything that you could go to your management and see if I think it was over about four weeks or something like that. So, he said, "Let me talk about my management."
and they came back and they said they would give us um about a 63 $6,500 credit. So they will $8,459 our cost. They would put together a recruitment program. Um so we have that
still in front of us, but at the same time we talked about a city clerk position and we also talked about a finance position and they have done Mike the organization. They have done finance. They've done city clerk too, but they, you know, I think the finance could be a possibility. It all depends
on the um qualifications that we get with the city clerk. So, that's still an option out there that we want to keep open for now. >> Yeah. Do you're saying we want to avoid that at the moment to see what we get for >> Yeah. I I think that let's see what we can operate right now if we got two that
were in there that worked well and we were able to run it. Let's see. So, >> and then then add if needed >> if needed, we have it. It's gonna be 8600, but they would do well do the recruitment for us for a finance person. >> And I think that's really a better use
of that fund if that's what we want to spend. It's up to the council's decision, of course. >> I think we should wait and just see if we come to the clerk first and do one at a time. >> I think too with the way that this job description is, and again, we'll have to see what the job market is out there. If
we can find someone, right, this is the perfect storm. Like having all of these things, but HR background as well as a little bit more finance, right? That may change what we need from a financial support. >> Um, and not that everything needs to live in a city clerk, but that may
change how we manage that financial and or administrator or whatever that looks like um moving forward. So this would be really a pivotal position to determine really what some of those next >> additional hires if needed are. >> And I agree with that, you know, and and
in the meantime if if just as a thought that if Mel runs into being totally underwater, which I think she is right now, she's doing a great job. >> You'll bring your calculator. But but maybe maybe we could get a temp even if
it's just to answer the phones and to pull a little bit off of your desk to kind of help you out might be something too in the interim just as a thought. >> Okay. >> If we I I mean I I'm okay for right now,
but if we're if we're not getting applications in for clerks, right? If we're revisiting this in six or eight weeks and we haven't interviewed the right fit yet, >> then we Yeah. >> But again, timing. >> We're going into fall and winter. We're
going to be exiting um the audit season. We're going to be exiting budget season. So, a lot of that stuff is going to slow down. Um >> it's going to be about timing really. >> I just want to make sure you're not overworked. >> Thank you for asking. I appreciate. >> Thank you. >> I think the other thing to consider on
that on just Mel's sanity or maybe insanity, I'm not sure. But um again, the training and getting someone in is going to take capacity as well. So, we just need to be mindful of time. We I know we need someone in in to help support it, but it will take time to
train and get them set up, too. >> Yeah. >> Additional. We don't want to have burnout. It would be additional training to bring a temp in. >> Yeah. I mean, yeah, it would be both ways, but yeah, >> that's a
partial piece in that deal. >> But, um, I think we feel ERC feels like this is really the the real need we need right now versus looking at a city administrator or finance. This is this is kind of the first step of getting a support. >> Absolutely. Agreed.
>> And so, and maybe just for questions. So again, we do normal interviews. Is there a couple other I mean so Ryland and I would be there. We would obviously want Mel and Kane um to be on that interview panel, but one more council member >> jump in.
>> We would obviously bring that person forward um as a recommendation. We're going to check references to make sure that we're actually getting the right story to move forward. >> Sounds fair. >> Okay. All right. There's no other
comments. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I approve. Second to the last item. I think it's a River Park drainfield. There's a memo that uh Mel put together. We also had a
pretty client privilege letter that um Mike sent us back in May when this was discussed. And we have a couple different options. um one is to either um
develop it or keep it as city property and do whatever comes forward with that. So I would make a motion we um look at option A explore sale and development opportunities and we'll
second that. >> Okay. Now that was first and seconded. >> I was sitting there looking at that pretty close over the over the last week or the last few days. I mean, my thought is
the city is going to need space for a new city hall eventually. New city hall city. That's what the report said. >> And and one of the things that I was thinking is if there's a way we could
If the if the EDA is looking into this, maybe they can find a way to do a three-way trade where somebody or a developer would purchase another piece of property, trade it for that, and that give us a piece of
propert we were exchanging this property for a property that the city hall would fit on. >> Three-way three-way trades in real estate are pretty common, I think. That's and I think that would be a useful fit. It'd be a useful way for us
to acquire property for >> a future city. And and I think we could even put that as as another dot that there is under the A or number one that you're looking at as so you're looking at somebody would have
a property A somebody some somebody would have property B and trade it for our property A. This is we want to dispose of this property and we and we would like to acquire a piece of property that we can
put a future city hall >> for city services on it where something something equivalent in size that is that property large enough >> I'm just I'm just throwing this out here. Is that property down there large
enough for to put a city facility on it? If it is, I I don't think it is. I think it's probably pretty borderline. >> It's right in residential. >> But my idea is >> not to put it there, but
residential >> 10 acres is probably because it's just under 10 acres is probably >> big enough for a city hall, fire hall like combination. >> Yeah. Yeah. Public works. That's kind of that's kind of my thought is >> depend on >> where you could put it because you've
got to be able to have access to be able to get the fire and first responders out quick. >> You know, >> no matter what it is, city hall, you could do that differently, but >> I think the key would be to put everything all in one. >> You could explore that with one of the
>> EDA would be happy to >> I think I think that very viable for the city to acquire piece of property for that. That'd be one cost out of the way when it comes down the road. That's my thought. >> Well, the other option would be to just say it can be up for sale that the
proceeds are going to CIP fund for future development. >> And that's another way to do it. >> I mean, I don't want to get hung up on we have to trade for something, right? >> Yeah. Because there isn't that many properties around town that you could play around with that, you know? I mean, so >> no, that's that's a good way. But I
think that that within this motion, we are allowing the EDA to kind take the lead on this >> and and move forward. Um obviously they would bring back anything >> um >> viable
viable option. Yeah, I think I think that we're basically making this motion, taking it off of our plate, putting it on EDA to decide >> the correct path to go with that. So, I think that's reasonable, >> right?
The correct path that >> welling, trading, >> whatever. Yeah. Developing it ourselves, just selling it to that's the direction that I go. So >> yeah, that's just the motion. It's just
matter of directing the EDA to do the development work on it and >> yes, >> it'll bring me something back. >> I think so. >> Any other comments? >> I just confirmed who the second was. >> Paul,
>> thank you. >> All right, there's no other comments. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. It's approved. We'll just work on that with EA. Last item is a consent agenda. I think
>> I've got couple comments before I go through the complete consent if I can bring it up. >> Page numbers. >> I'm going to page 114. Let's make a motion to approve the consent without
the items that you want to discuss. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to approve that without these items. >> Second. So, you're this is without what items or pages? Uh, I'm looking at page 114 and it's going
to be uh item 42305. >> Sorry, what page again? 114 42305 >> 142 >> 305 legal >> fees
>> 49,197,000 we're over double what we had budgeted for legal fees and it's July The other thing that came up is one above it which is 42302
which is planning services. Okay. And uh I don't know where the $19,889 was put in there for this month. What services were involved with that? Those are all good questions because
that puts us over at 86,000. We budgeted 70, but that's that's a lot for one month. I think that's you. If you want an idea what those charges are, I guess that'd be a question for Mel. You want to talk to her sometimes? >> I will. I mean, but those are the two
things that you know, especially on legal. I mean, guys, >> we just the Mary ash and everything else is compa used. >> Whatever we can use for LMC, we should use LMC.
>> Mary Nash legal fees were about this garage that probably should have been discovered a few years ago. >> Three years ago. I will say that after I discovered that it was two parcels. The time that we spent with Mike, I spent maybe 20
minutes with him on the phone putting together that memo. He agreed with the findings. He told me to rack write the memo, fact the findings and called it a day. So I understand that historically we have spent
>> lots of legal fees on on this issue >> on this shed >> but as soon as I Yes. But and >> on the Nash issue bringing this to resolve now I it's it was probably under an hour to bring it to resolution. >> A lot of it a lot of its previous expenses on that brought to me it's not
nothing current. >> Yeah. And then and I'm just saying, you know, guys, you know, somebody else might have used a lot of time in the past, which was >> I'm thinking about the first four months of the year.
>> Yes. Way out and above and it's >> and I think for the the three HR related staffing issues from we've asked LMC, they would not >> touch it. It's just >> so we've asked about finding other
resources but I think to safeguard the city in those three instances it was the right thing to do. Um but yes it does come at a cost. >> Oh and then it was the computer and internet expenses above that same page
42798 $4,281. What's going on with our computer stuff which is different than our normal? >> Are you looking at 41500 427? >> 42798. >> But what is the department code? 41500
or 43. >> It's 42798. It's uh 42798. Computer internet. >> We have several departments with that code. >> 415. >> Yeah. 41500. She needs the second middle number.
Some of the issues too were oh dealt with Rachel's um lack of diligently paying bills too. Well, >> and again, I mean that that that could
be, you know, um and I can go back to page 108 if you want to go backwards. Um, you find anything for that? No. >> That 114 that you ended before page one.
What's the line number? >> That one that you're asking about with the internet expenses, Tim. >> Yeah. >> Uh, is on-site IT support. So, that's somebody sitting on the phone with on-site with issues. >> You know who that was?
>> Yes. Yes, we do. >> Yeah, it's it support. It's live support. >> So, that just goes back to making sure we have highly qualified candidates for jobs. >> Okay. So, you answered my question on
that one. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. and the 108 and and I was just looking at um uh this is uh item 33300 and 108 looking at small city
assistance. When do we have that that's coming in or do we know what >> Oh, it just came this week. >> Yeah. >> SCA uh and LGA first half arrived this week for $84,000. >> Usually comes in in July, right? >> Yeah. I just wanted to check on those things. >> I think it get half of it twice a year
or something like that. twice a year. Yeah. July and December. >> Thanks, guys. Mel, you're doing a great job. >> Any other comments? >> Maybe one other thing on the budget and expenditures. Do we feel like everything
is cleaned up? >> Yes, we have three adjustments, >> journal entries that Dylan's going to help, the auditors are going to help with. That should be done. Our deadline is the 14th of August. Okay. >> So,
So we can follow the adjustments then >> hopefully he's going to have some journal entries and some corrections that we'll need to bring back and put in for things that they identify. >> Okay. >> But as far as corrections on our end that we're aware of that are not
he's going to have some auditor things that he wants done. >> Uh but yes, by August 14th we can pretty much rely on what the numbers are. >> Okay. That will just help from a budget planning perspective, too. >> Yes. And that's why we have most of it cleaned up except for those three items
that he's going to help us. >> Okay. >> And that that would CIP issues, so they're not really affecting affecting the operating budget right now. They are CIP transfers. >> Okay. Thanks, Mel. >> Any other comments?
>> Seeing none, all those in favor of the consent agenda signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Make a motion to adjourn. Whoa, whoa, >> whoa, whoa. We got some. >> Sorry, apologies. Um, I think we I think for the uh responders, we had um Melanie
Decker as the applicant. >> We need the application. >> Okay. All right. So, we'll wait till >> Yeah. >> August. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I sent Kobe a note. Um there really wasn't a good application. So we'll need that in the packet for
personnel file. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Say I >> I >> I'm sorry. I need the move by and the second for the adjournment. >> I made the motion. >> I'm trying to type fast, guys. I was
looking up financials. >> Not bad. for a lot of stuff. I mean, >> yeah, we had some pretty heavy stuff in this. >> I thought it was looking through the agenda and looking at the meeting, I thought it's going to be a long night. Not too bad. >> We'll try to get better.
>> Slowly, but >> it helps when I send out all the information weeks in advance. >> There are permanently what Ryland and I were talking a little bit. Well, >> yeah.