Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome you to the Obstigo City Council meeting. Tonight is Monday, October 27th. Audra, can you have the record show that our city attorney is on via Zoom, our city planners present, our city engineers present, all council
members, and our city administrator. At this time, I'll ask you all to join us in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. >> Our first item of business this evening is our open forum. This is the portion where residents can come to the podium and state your address and limit comments to 5 minutes or less. Would
anyone like to speak at this time? Hi, Kathy Kohl's 1561390th Street Northeast. I was here three months ago, the end of July, and um Co's not enclosing their dumpster. Um Dan has been in correspondence with them, and he's been keeping me informed
about what's going on, and they have done absolutely nothing for three months. So, I just wanted to make sure that you as council members knew that Dan's trying, but Corrurns is not complying. And here is a picture of what
we had on Saturday. >> Mayor, uh, we're at the point now where we're sending citations. So, they still have not responded either directly or to the mailed correspondents. So, all >> And is this at corporate level? This is at at Sego. You've reached out those
and they haven't responded. >> No. >> Huh. Thanks. >> Well, we're very sorry, Kathy, that you're dealing with that still. Um, >> we'll follow up again this week.
>> Okay. They've had five years. >> Absolutely. Understand. Um, is there anything else that we can do? >> Technically, no other than taking them to court.
>> Let's build an enclosure. It's very specific. >> Simple fence panel is all that's needed. So, >> are we able to go in the store and ask for anything or is that >> We can do that. Yeah, that's was my to-do list this week. >> Okay.
since nothing else has worked. So, >> okay. I >> mean, they added 8,000 square feet faster than they're putting up those little enclosure for the garbage can, >> right? >> Or arts. >> It's surprising they didn't have that as part of the project. >> It was I mean it's it's city ordinance
that's supposed to be enclosed, >> right? Agreed. >> Kathy, did it take a long time? I remember when Coburns was built with the trees the Did that take a long time? >> Um actually as soon as I said I was going to take him to court for not
putting up the fence then the fence went up. >> Oh okay. >> So >> maybe >> maybe to do with this form a letter. >> Well it shouldn't have to be the resident. No it should not have to be >> No. Why not?
>> Thank you for letting us know. for keeping >> us. Yeah. Thanks for trying, Dan. I know they're ghosting you, but >> Well, at least we get to talk. >> Thank you for coming, >> Kathy. >> Dave Davis, 66 Packard Avenue Northeast.
I'm wondering if there's any movement with the contracts with Elbertville, Elk River, Rogers. Is anything being done because some of those contracts have to be done notifying the residents what's going on
going on there? >> Mayor, councel, uh contracts are in place for all three communities for 2026 and Chief Scott is uh working on developing plans and we'll update the city council when appropriate. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you.
Any other comments? >> Hi. >> Hi. Good evening. >> Hi, >> Mary Bartholomew 7589 Odell Lane.go. Um, I wanted to address the council. Um, I wasn't at the large meeting of the
19.3%, but I did watch it back on the recorded line and it was really obvious to me how upset people were. And I thought that
part of talking meant you ask a question and you get a reply. But my understanding is this is an open forum where people talk at you but there's nothing given back. And so my question or ask is
wouldn't it help a lot to have a public forum where people ask the questions and they actually get your input or like why did you do what you do? like you have you should defend the decisions that the
city made why they made it. You know, I pulled the EDA because I was trying to I kept thinking, how did this not go in front of a vote? Um, and I haven't been to a city council meeting. I moved out Seago six years ago. I lived in Elk
River for 28 years. When I moved here, I moved into a new house. I didn't know it, but my taxes were double what I paid in Elk River. Um, but that increase and the increases compared to what I used to pay are a lot and it's a lot for a lot
of people. But I just think it would go much farther. Instead of people being angry at you, why aren't we having an open forum where you can help people understand like this is the decision we made and why? And you know, if you look
at the EDA, I pulled the ED and it said in here that you know the strategic vision is a public hearing required. No. And it says it's a strong organization that is
committed to leading the community through communication. And I don't see that. I just saw a bunch of angry people talking at you guys and really no response from the council and I just think it would go a really long
way to help explain >> it really quell a lot of anger. It would I just thought coming to these meetings meant people could ask a question and they would get a response and I just think it would really benefit
to do that for the residents help them understand and um help answer their questions. I couldn't figure it out for the longest time like how could this not go for a vote and then started poking around in
it and it went to an EDA. Most people don't know that. Why did it go to a EDA? You know, just answering those questions, I think you guys would go a long ways. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Any other comments? All right, we will close the public hearing or sorry, open forum and we will move on to consider our agenda for approval. Does anyone have anything like to add or delete at this time? >> Madam Mayor,
>> yes, Ryan. >> I'd like to pull item 3.3 from the consent agenda. We can make that item 4.1. Okay. >> Any other changes? be in order then. >> Madam Mayor, >> yes. >> I move to approve the agenda as amended.
There >> second. >> Second. >> Motion by Ryan, seconded by Tina. Is there any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion
passes. Next item is our consent agenda. The motion would be in order. >> Madame Mayor. Yes, Ryan. >> I move to approve the consent agenda as amended. >> Is there a second? Second motion by Ryan, seconded by. Is there
any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Moving on to item 4.1. Ryan, you vote that. Yes, madam mayor. I pulled this down. the vote.
>> I oppose this action because our city is able to receive excellent service from our existing contract providers at a price point that is costefficient for the taxpayer. If approved, the total spend for our fire department will increase to $350,939.91, which is more than 6.7 times the cost of
the fire contracts with our neighbors. The amount being considered tonight in the single pay application is enough to cover our existing service contracts for an entire year. As the fire list, there is simply no scenario where the current plan turns out to be better for our residents. It will not make them safer.
It will not be less expensive. Our city will be paying more for a lower quality of service. And the right time to stop this and reconsider the path we are on is right here, right now. Over the next few weeks, this council will be faced with a critical decision to inform our
neighbors that we are cancelling the fire service contracts. We are not making that decision because the service is substandard or because it has become too expensive. If we cancel the contracts, it's not because we must, but because we set ourselves an arbitrary
deadline for going it alone on January 1st, 2027. It's time to stop this madness. Stop this project now. Stop chasing good money after bad. Vote no. >> All right. Any other comments? >> Madam Mayor?
>> Yes, sir. >> I'll make a make a motion to approve pay application number 10 in the amount of 1,521,5465 for work completed on the fire and emergency services facility project. >> Motion by Corey, seconded by Tina. Is
there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. >> I. >> Motion passes 4 to one. >> All right. Next. Next item is updates
from city council under heritage preservation. Corey. >> Thank you, madame mayor. Um, the history commission met or met on o 14th and uh I was just going to say as a reminder they have one more meeting left
this year and then they indicated that they go on a winter break. >> Okay. >> I did that happen last year. I'm not sure that >> did. >> Okay. Um >> what months do they not meet in
December? I think we meet again in March if I remember correctly. >> I think it was a threemonth >> thing. We can >> Yeah, maybe it's February. >> Yeah, >> I was a little confused when it was brought up to me, but >> Okay.
>> Um, commissioners worked on collecting results for the time capsule from their online uh I guess uh poll they had out there and then the festival. And this coming Thursday, we're going to be hosting a
cemetery tour. And I think today we found out we have 17 people signed up for that already. So that's about it. >> Perfect. Thank you. Parks and Recreation, Michelle. Yes, we um the
last time we met, we reviewed um uh kind of the updates results from the community engagement for Lily Pond and looking at that park improvement. Um and uh also kind of reviewed some of the um
proposals that were sent in from um a few different vendors for playground equipment and their ideas and designing around those things. um we will be reaching back out um and getting additional input from them. Uh there was a little bit of a budget
adjust um that um HTG um had recommended for the playground equipment just seeing how um uh you know just getting updated on kind of current pricing standards and stuff. So they increase that budget just for that line item. There's a number of
line items that we're considering, but um that's progressing. It's going well. So, that was our primary focus of the meeting. >> Thank you. Next is planning commission Ryan. >> Madame Mayor, the planning commission met last week. They recommended approval
of uh me third edition, which is what we approved tonight on the consent agenda. Um they also recommended approval of changes to the interim land use plan, zoning ordinance amendment and transportation plan which will come to the council at a later date. Uh planning commission meetings through November
have been cancelled. So the next scheduled is December 1st. >> Thank you. Um public safety you know is absent so I will give you the update on that. Um the group reviewed their
mission statement. um they had some requests and finally made it forward. Um Chief Scott was able to help them kind of curtail and give some suggestions on that. I have spoke with our city
administrator and that update has been made on our city website. Correct, >> mayor. That's correct. >> Um we had a visit with Tony from Alina. They were approved to have two more medics. um hired. There was discussion
on um if they were hired, were they actually zoned for our area versus could they be they were going to be hired for our area, which um is hopefully good for all of us. Um, and then Chief Scott just
uh introduced himself to the group, talked about um what he's been doing thus far, talked about construction updates, and then um meeting with the three other fire chiefs, um planning to meet with them monthly to
then bring those back that information back to our meetings and um next steps. So with that, um, Adam and Mike Scott sent an email to be meeting with all of you guys individually. So,
>> exc Oh, was I supposed to copy you on that, >> Mayor Council? I I don't need to be copied. It'd be a one-on-one meeting with you and and Chief Scott. Okay. >> Great. Thank you. >> That is coming to >> Yeah. Is there anything I missed right?
>> Uh, no, but I did have a question. Oh, sure. >> So, the mission statement by the uh public safety commission uh their current mission statement is something that's based on ordinance. >> So, is that's need to come to the council? I talked to Adam and to Dan on
this also and since it covered in their ordinance it says emer Adam read it to me emergency services this just was detailing out so he you you said it was close enough >> air counsel it it's certainly not
verbatim with what's in code but it's very not that much different so I I I didn't see any conflicts with the revised language and what the purpose established in code Understood. >> Mayor, you may just want to have the council the mission statement since
they're operating then under it at your direction as an advisory group. >> So would we want to do that this evening? mayors, I think there's a larger evaluation of of that code language for
the public safety commission as development of the department continues and staff roles are identified. So, I I I certainly think if the rest of the council's agreeable that something like that could wait until uh you review the entire code instead of just the purpose or mission statement portion.
>> Okay. >> Okay, that makes sense. >> Thank you. Does everybody good with that? >> Y >> Okay. All right, we still are under city council reports and updates. Does anyone else have anything? >> Uh, madame mayor, just really quickly agree with the comments that were made
tonight um by Miss Bartholomew. Um, I think it's time that this council have a public forum, one where we can answer questions directly from the residents. I think we've had several meetings now where residents
uh come and want answers and our current process just does not allow that and uh I think they deserve answers. So I would be in full support of us having some sort of a public forum. That's all I have. >> Okay.
With that I'm not um in disagreement with your comments on that and I appreciate your comments tonight too. I do think that when Mike Scott has some more information, I do think that that may be the time to since have changed
potentially and we're we're still working through all of the logistics of what that looks like for that department. So, I'm not opposed to it, but I do think that there's definitely items as we're moving forward that we are we have staff
that has the answers for that that we are looking to get ourselves moving forward. All right. Any other comments? Uh, city council updates. All right. Moving reports and updates.
Adam, >> mayor, council, nothing for me this evening. >> Audra, >> thank you, mayor. I have no updates. >> Dave, >> no updates. Thanks, Mayor. >> Thank you, Dan. >> Mayor, no update. Thank you,
>> Ron. >> Just some uh updates on projects are going on. Uh Trails Cass 42 is open. 80th Street should be open later this week. uh Costco roundabouts been paved. We're just waiting for the signage, lighting, and seating. Uh and also the project to
open because that's the the detour setup for them. So, and uh the Odin Avenue water man that's wrapping up this week. The trails in 77 Street will be are scheduled to be paved on November 3rd, Monday. So hopefully the weather cooper
that uh paved and all those those trails and the street reopened. >> Perfect. >> That's everything. >> Thank you. >> Sergeant Alman's right county. >> I have I'm serious. Um big piece is Saturday or sorry Friday is Halloween.
Um this is I would typically consider Halloween probably one of the um 90% of the time I really kind of leverage that 25 mph speed limit through the neighborhoods. Um I really like to get squad cars in the neighborhoods when the kids are out and
about and really watching that speed because even when people are at 25 miles an hour which is the speed limit that even seems egregious with everything. So piece is just trying to get everyone to be safe in there. I know that sounds really cliche coming from a cop. I'm just trying to advise and all that to say I want people to be safe, but um
obviously there's a lot that can go wrong when you have that many kids out and about and um I know even when the times when I'm not working and I have my own kids um and they get annoyed with how I try to structure them and I'm yelling at them to watch and cross the street or you know look both ways and
all that. So, um I do that definitely on a different level when I get in the squad car because I'm trying to do the exact same thing and try to slow everybody down and um I I recognize that there neighborhood groups having a good time with uh you know they're getting their ATVs and trailers and stuff. Um
we're not going to again be in the business of saying that is absolutely not allowed, but we have to kind of deal with that a case by case basis. If somebody's doing something that is deemed unsafe, I'm going to address it. Um I I don't want to be at the the fun police out there and
being, you know, having squad cars and yelling at people while they're out trick-or-treating. Um that's not uh the type of cops we are. That's the type of agents who we are, but literally safety, I guess, is the big piece for us. I I can't have anybody out there doing anything crazy when um everybody's
walking around in the dark and um probably be a little bit chilly. So, everybody's kind of wearing darker, thicker clothing and everything like that under their costumes or their costumes. So, um that is the big piece um that I'll get over and that's one of those things that keeps me up for the week.
Anybody that's wearing a police police uniform has to fill a shift, >> right? Well, let's hope >> everybody's safe on Friday. >> I'll be out and about. Uh guys, looks like we got a full shift for everybody. So, not only that, so you gota get everybody everybody kind of working
across the county just do neighborhoods kind of so please don't go speeding down the main drags, but we kind of keep everybody off the main drags and get everybody in the neighborhoods for that that time period. So, we hand out a lot of sticker that. So, >> good. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. That's all I have. >> Okay. Does anyone else have anything? Any questions? Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Right. Nobody has anything. Then a term would be in order. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Motion by Tina, seconded by Corey. Is there any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All those opposed, same sign. The meeting has ended. Thank you all for attending.