Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome you to the OBSO city council meeting. Tonight is Monday, July 14th. Can you have the record show Audra that we have our city attorney, our city planner, our city engineer, along with all council members, our assistant city administrator, and our city
administrator. At this time, I'll ask you all to join us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Thank you. Our first item of business this evening is our open forum. This is the portion of the meeting where you can come to the podium, state your name and address, and limit comments to five minutes or less. Would anyone like to speak at this time?
Good evening everybody. Jeannie Holland, Ray County Commissioner uh have uh some updates for you tonight. I had to write them down because there's a slew of them. So anyways, Mindot has finally uh gave the okay to go ahead and work on
the I 30 or the a 37 project over by Costco. That was a a a very big trial for the highway department. Uh they were getting a lot of flack from uh Costco. they are going to be working very
quickly to make sure that October tw of next uh fall 2026 they're going to be ready to go. So um we were waiting for that. It was a slow slow process. Um tonight and tomorrow night the overpass
on 94 is going to be closed from 8 until 5. Uh this is part of the the 94 project as you know. They did do one weekend where it was closed. Uh they had reported that they were going to do four
weekend closures, but Chad reminded them when he looked at the contract that they had only bid to do one weekend. And so they burnt through that weekend. Of course, you know, it was on opening fishing and mother's mother's day and it
was it was quite a mess. So, we're happy that I think they figure there'll be maybe two other nights where they'll have to close like this, but they should be able to do the project uh on time. So, that's going well. Um, we're going
into budget season. uh the big beautiful bill isn't so big and beautiful for counties uh especially in the state of Minnesota because a lot of the shifts that they sent uh are going to states but there's a few states like our state
that these shifts are are managed by counties uh which is like um Medicaid Medicaid will have to be they'll have to look at Medicare Medicaid uh um every six months instead of renewing or
checking up on them yearly. There's a lot of things on here that we're still getting bits and pieces from, but we are looking for it to be a pretty big hit. Not as big as the states shift, which we
are very happy that that state shift didn't come our way. That would have been very detrimental. and then to add the two together, that would have been that that would have been ugly. Um, so we're going to wait and see. We of
course want a 0% levy. Uh, we're hoping we can keep it to four. I don't know. Uh, it's going to be ugly. So, anyways, and then the DMV is just
wildly packed since April. Uh we have two three-hour waits at the DMV. They're seeing it across the state. People are still trying to get their real ID. They've had 10 years and they decided uh they want to do it all. And passports
too are up. Like they said, we've already done um as many passports as we did for the whole year last year. That's an anomaly. I think people are doing both or I don't know. But um the DMV
staff is exhausted as you can imagine because people aren't happy when they find out they have to wait two hours and then the then they're not getting their license for 14 weeks. So you can still go to TSA with the paper slips they say. So hopefully that they keep doing that.
It's quite a mess. Um, and then we had a uh a a walk through the county did a scenario of if something would ever happen to the NSP power plant and how our our uh county would react to that.
Very interesting to watch that process. And then we will have the another one coming up here soon too. Kind of the same that was kind of a dry run and then we'll go through the run again. But very interesting. Every department was represented. We got to see how that how
they interacted and how they had to go through their checklist. Uh we can thank Seth Hat Hansen for for all his work ahead of time. Um yeah, very interesting to see. So other than that, anybody have
any questions? Hopefully I can answer. Yeah, Adam. Mayor, Council, uh, Commissioner Holland, when do you expect the board to approve going out to bids on the 137 project that's coming up in a couple weeks. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. So, I have a question. Uh, you talked about
your scenario doing your tabletop with a power plant. Will there ever be um an invitation for Monaceel and Atiko to be part of that since it would very much impact those two communities right away? And or I think they or could we get an update on that? I'm
Yes, I think they are. I think they they have some I because they they would call they would call the school representatives and say this is a drill the schools would have to do. We have kaleidoscope school within that 10 mile
radius. No other schools. Your your prairie schools are just beyond that 10 mile limit. So, as we were watching them, you know, somebody from public health would say he's in charge of just calling the schools. And then there's
somebody that just calls the cities and says this is, you know, what's going on. Um, so yes, uh, I think they they should have you should have um, but I would love to have Seth Hansen come and talk
sometime about, you know, preparedness uh, on all kinds of levels. He uh he's he's the person that the sheriff has in line and then has, you know, meetings with the fire departments, meetings with
the the sheriff's department on when any kind of catastrophe that would ever happen because, you know, there's quite a few things as we see in Texas and other places. You just never know what's going to affect a community. So, and he
and he's very good. He's also the fire chief in Big Lake. So he knows uh you know kind of the parameters of what needs to be done and he's been doing it for the last I think what eight years.
Before that he was at Sherurn County. Yes. I I think so. Yes. So I as you said kaleadoscope is in the 10 miles but par view is not and wind blows so it's right across 19 so it seems as
though I know it is very arbitrary is right and when I was on the school board the high school was on it but the other schools were not but they're just equally as close you know because uh and you're right where the wind blows but they take
some of that in consideration and you know they have a a plan of where everybody body has to go um where you know and and they figure all that out. So it was very very very eye opening very interesting.
Yeah. And it it's oddgo Monaceel and um a little bit of Buffalo and then uh Big Lake that are all in this little 10 mile pocket. Right. So,
well, we'd love an invite or at least some minutes of that meeting if we Yeah. Well, well, I'll keep you posted. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Answer. Okay. Thank you.
Take care. Hey, we're still under open forum. Any other comments? All right, we will close the open forum and move on to consider our agenda for approval. Does anyone have anything that they would like to add or delete at this time?
That's right. I'd like to bring down 3.9. We can make that uh 5.1. All right. Any other changes? A motion would be in order. Madame Mayor. Yes. Right. and move to approve the agenda as amended. Okay. Is there a second? Second. Motion
by Ryan, seconded by Michelle. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Moving on to item three, our consent agenda. The motion would be in order.
Madam Mayor, that's right. I move to approve the consent agenda as amended. Is there a second? Second. Second. Motion by Ryan, seconded by Corey. Is there any discussion? Madame Mayor, I I just wanted to remark
uh of the passing of uh one of our public safety commissioners, John Brown. Uh he was a great guy and I think was with the city quite a while. I know when I started so deepest condolences.
Thank Is there any more discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Moving on to item 4.1 is the 80th Street Safe Rails to school trail
project. Thank you, mayor. Um, as you recall, this project uh runs from Hunter Hills uh the east plat line over to Macyver Avenue and it's on the north side extending that trail and connecting it
with the rest of the trail systems in the city. Um the safe routes to school project, we got that grant and it was $460,000 and that was uh because this road is fairly well traveled and uh fairly narrow in sections. So people using it
are in conflict with the vehicles. Um we did open bids on July 2nd. We received u two bids which was fairly low and the the project um estimate versus as bid low bid uh is quite a bit higher. You
can see the numbers as they break down. Uh engineers estimate 214,000 as bid at 277,000. So the net cost to the city after you go through all the engineering easement and right away um is 113,000 was the
engineer's estimate 189,000 as bid. Um we're still recommending approval. I think a lot of this has to do with uh the amount of rain that we've had this summer which slows down uh the earthwork contractors. There's a lot of earth that has to be moved on this
project. So I think there weren't as many interested biders at that time of year. And uh again, we're trying to get this project done this year so it can be used uh later this fall and then you know starting next spring again for uh kids walking to school primarily but
also just for um any other resident that would like to be safe and use our trails. All right, questions for staff on this one or a motion would be in order. Madame Mayor, um, Madam would or Dan,
would you have a a map you could show on here of where this is? It'll take me a few minutes, but I'll give you that. I just have a a comment. Um, after people hearing about this, they're very
excited um that this is coming to fruition. So, very excited. Mayor Council, the trail would extend from Macyver Avenue westbound to Wangley Avenue
on the north side of Aiot Street. Actually, just past that, isn't it? Yeah, it would be just to the east plat line. So, where they where that pond is right there. Yep. So there's already trails. Yeah, mayor. There's already trails
extending from that east plat line back to Lander Avenue where there's sidewalk then connecting down to Bodri Meadows Park. Yeah, there ain't there ain't much room on that road right now to walk and I mean there's not much of a shoulder, right? No, that that area um we had to
put in with the development and the developer paid for that uh street widening plus the trail here to make this connection that um a lot of people have been looking for and calling the city. We have to get easement um from
property owners along there in order to have the space to put in the the trail. Yeah, thanks for pulling that up, Adam. Great. Any other questions or comments? Otherwise, the motion would be in order.
Mor, I'll make a motion. Okay. Motion to adopt resolution 2025-32, accepting bids and awarding contract 31. 31. Oh, 31. Oh, mine says 32. Excuse me. Oh, you're on the next one. Oh,
oh gosh, I am. Sorry. Thank you. My bad. Let me start over. Motion to adopt resolution 2025-31 accepting bids and awarding contract to New Look Contracting Inc. for the 80th Street Safe Routes to School Trail
project in the amount of $277,655. Second. Motion by Tina, seconded by Ryan. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. All those opposed, same sign. Motion
passes. Moving on to item 4.2, which is the Parish Avenue trail project. Thank you, mayor. Uh, this is the trail that runs on County State Highway 42 from 96th Street, which sidewalk ends,
and runs down to 91st Street, which is near the roundabout of County State Highway 39 and County State, Highway 42. Um this connects some path and sidewalk and also gets uh people again off a busy
road at higher speeds where people are passing uh within the the shoulder of the road due to people taking a left-hand turn into the development. Um that's caused a lot of concern with residents and uh we
did get an active transportation grant to help with the costs for this. We went out for bids again on July 2nd, opened them, and there were three bids, the lowest one um being $269,939.
Uh same contractor, New Look. Our construction cost estimate on this one was $249,148. So about 20,000 higher than uh we anticipated. Uh but again, it's a good project to get uh residents off the busy that's even
busier street with uh even a bit higher traffic. Um so we uh support the council uh accepting the bids and awarding a contract. Ron, any comments from council on this
one or questions? Madame Mayor Ron, I I think we talked about this, but was this the project where where we were talking about possibly getting a a flashing crosswalk, but we couldn't or something? Yeah, we've been working with the county
at it. the speeds are uh too fast in order to place a crosswalk with um so at 96 street it's the ramps the ADA ramps will be set in place but we won't have any u prior warning besides sign signage just regular
signage at the county do we have to twist their arms to get a flashing sign there okay I just this is what we said we were going to bring up to you if you could help us support. There was some talk about that that Ron had asked
for our discussions on this one about crossing. Yeah, mayor. The policy for the city is a 45 m an hour or 40 miles an hour or less, you can have a crosswalk um active signage, but uh in excess of 40, it has
to um just be crossing at your at your own safety. That's our policy or that's that's the county's policy. The county. Okay. I just I I like the idea and everything getting off. I just worry about being the roundabout and coming out of that.
You know, we've had good success with the lighted sort of flashing crosswalks at other spots if we could somehow get that incorporated. Madame Mayor, that's right. And if I if I remember
correctly, it's one block to the south, it becomes 40. So where we have to put the crossing is going to be in a 45 zone, but just one block south, it becomes a 40 mile per hour. So I think you're right. The crossing would be at 96 street, right?
And 96 circle is where it's 40, right? I think that whole stretch is 45. It drops down 40. Oh, it does drop 40. Okay. Yeah, my my mistake. That's okay that you didn't know that answer because it's a county road,
but it there is a speed limit change in that area. Any other questions or comments? Otherwise, a motion would be in order. Madame Mayor. Yes, Corey. I'll make a motion to adopt resolution 2025-32
accepting bids and awarding contract to New Look Contracting Incorporation for Parish Avenue County State. What's the A AH42 active transportation trail in the amount of 269,939?
Second. Second. Motion by Corey, seconded by Ryan. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion passes.
All right. Moving on to city council reports and updates. Item 5.1. Ryan, you have request that to be moved. Yes. Um, I pulled this down just so there could be a separate vote. Um, it's unacceptable that we have an entire
team with no budget and we aren't even able to know how many employees will make up this team. Although eight new employees are being hired here, applications are still being accepted. There is no limit. Unlimited funding and unlimited hiring violates our very oath
to safeguard taxpayer funds. We also said we're not going to try to take firefighters from other departments. That didn't last long because there are firefighters on this list that are paid on call in other cities, potentially reducing their fighting force and thereby shooting ourselves in the foot. This proposal should not be approved.
The fact that it will go forward without any scrutiny shows that this council is willing to break its promise to residents. I will not be supporting this action. Council, we have item 3.9 originally in front of us, now 5.1. Any comments or a motion would be in order.
Madame Mayor. Sorry. I'll make a motion to approve the hiring of Gregory Hubard, Joseph Tedman, Christopher Brooks, Miles Lefay, Eric Barome. I'm going to mess this one up.