Right. >> It would turn on. >> Probably not. >> Oh, never mind. >> Teams, let's go on. >> Your mic on. >> Mhm. >> Uh, good evening. I'd like to call the regular city council meeting to order
for October 27th, uh, 2025 at 7 p.m. Uh, please stand for 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. >> Uh, the city council members are here to serve the city of Piers. We expect respectful conduct at all times. Slander or inappropriate language will not be tolerated. Please speak only when addressed, one person at a time. Each
speaker has a fiveinut time limit. Uh we thank you for your cooperation. Uh we have a really good uh group here tonight it looks like. So um we will move on to the approval of the minutes for the city council meeting of October 14th uh 2025.
>> I'll make that motion. >> Lynn makes the motion. >> I'll second it. >> Uh Gary seconds the motion. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Uh motion carried. Uh then also we had a special city council meeting for October 20th uh 2025. If I
could get approval, >> I'll make that motion. >> Donnie makes the motion. >> Seconded. >> Gary seconds the motion. All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Uh motion carried. Um then we move to um additions andor removals
um to the agenda. Um I do not have anything. Gary, Donnie, >> no. Lynn, >> I just want to do a clubhouse update. >> Okay. And I think we got that under here somewhere. >> We can do that on a council update, couldn't we? >> Yeah, absolutely. Council update. Yep. And then, uh, Sarah,
>> no. >> Lori, do you have anything you'd like to add? Okay. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda then as presented. >> And Donnie makes a motion to approve it. Lynn seconds it. All in favor say I. >> I. Motion carried. So, next we have uh
the honor of having Joe Call here uh for the basketball club request head coach uh issue. So, if you'd like to have a chair there, Joe, >> the hot seat, what do you call that? >> Yeah, the hot seat. Yep. So, Joe's have you have an update for the basketball
court? Thanks. I believe. >> Yeah. So, like you said, my name is Joe Colin, the head boys basketball coach here in Piers. And uh for a while here, we've been doing a fundraiser um in hopes of building an outdoor basketball court uh not knowing how many obstacles
we were going to be faced with. As time goes on, everything continues to get more expensive. Uh we explored a lot of different options. Our first option was uh to put up a outdoor basketball court next to the fire station. uh when we went and had it surveyed and looked at
uh we found out there was a water drainage issue where water would have had to been rerouted and obviously that turned into a little bit of issue. So we moved on from there. Uh we looked at um maybe possibly putting it in by the
tennis courts at the high school. Uh the amount that it was going to cost just to have somebody come out and look at it and look at the soil and everything was really really expensive as well. So that kind of put a kibos to that. Uh we explored different options of donating
money to uh Holy Trinity and Pioneer with their basketball courts, but after um further investigation with their basketball courts at Pioneer, they're actually in pretty good shape. >> Uh Holy Trinity, it's my understanding that their outdoor basketball courts are
going to be included in the renovations that they're doing right now. Uh we explored some other um options with Holy Trinity as well, but uh ultimately um put the blame on Becky here. She had a great idea actually to um fix up the the
outdoor basketball court down by the golf course. Um Andy did a lot of leg work on getting some estimates and what I have written here uh that is in front of you guys for the uh Piers Park basketball court proposal. The Piers
boys basketball club has received an estimate to expand the current outdoor basketball court. This is the one down by the golf course. Uh expand the current outdoor basketball court and add two new basketball hoops to it. Uh, so this would be a total of four hoops that
are down there. We actually went down there, looked at it today, and the two hoops that are down there right now are in pretty good shape. Um, so this would include expanding the current court 15 ft to the south and 10 ft to the east. Uh, the slab would have a sport cork
finish to it. And, uh, like I said, we'd also be adding two new basketball hoops to it as well. The estimate that came back to us is uh right around $40,000 and the Piers Boys Basketball Club would like to donate to cover all expenses for
the addition. Uh and the Piers Boys Basketball Club would be willing to work with the city to help maintain the basketball court in the future as well. If you turn uh to page two, I think we're all looking at the the same page
here if we got this right, but I'm looking at the page that says the current slab with two hoops and the addition. So, right now the the current um court is in the bold. It's 50 ft by 30 ft. And we would expand it 10 ft,
like I said, to the east and 15t uh to the south. And then just if you turn one more page, it would show you kind of how the layout would be with the uh the basketball hoops as well. So that would be the finished slab with four
basketball hoops um on there as well. So if there's any questions, I know these guys would love to answer all of them. Um, and I I know last year when Donnie and I were in the park board, we were looking at doing something with that
slab back then and um I know be it's put in the the flood flood plane zone um through FEMA, but I know we looked at it and uh uh we could revisit that. I mean, I think it's a great idea actually, other than I wish you'd have some pickle
ball courts on there too since Randall has pickle ball, Royaltton has pickle ball, Little Falls has pickle ball, we're the only city in >> pickle ball club going. >> So, >> and that that was excuse me, but that
was um Pierce Freedom Fest was going to repurpose that court and paint pickle ball on that court. They were actually going to add a second court alongside of it, >> but I don't know. They never came back so I don't know what ever happened to that. >> Right. So we I I like the idea. We And
uh I think it'd be a great spot for it. And the other issue is that at one time we were looking at parking additional parking for the for the golf 18hole golf course and that was an option. I don't know if it is anymore. I think actually I think the parking went pretty well this year. I think right with what we have existing. Yeah.
>> So that might not be I don't think that's a problem but um I like it. I mean I like the idea. I don't know Gary or K. What about you? You got thoughts? >> I play softball. >> You do? Well, your kids might play basketball. >> Uh Gary, I don't know. What
>> does the update include uh lights for outside for kids playing at night or >> So, currently there is a light there. Um I don't know, Andy, is it is there enough light there where they could play at night? Yeah. So, there would be enough light there. >> The other thing is if there's already a pole there with electric, >> right?
>> You can also try to add more just lighting to it if if it's in the right spot. So, >> yep. Definitely something >> to look at. Yep. >> Kind of like what we're doing at >> over here. >> Over here. Yeah. Just adding an extra arm just to give you a little bit more. >> Perfect. Yep. That'd be good. >> Do you worry about flooding water?
>> I don't think with with the slab we're putting there. Yeah. And the court. I think it would be just fine. Yep. >> Okay. >> And you guys would take care of them each year? I'm assuming it has to be painted the lines every year. >> Yeah. Every so often. I think it needs to be uh probably refinished
>> every four year. four or five years. Andy, >> it's like a two-part epoxy similar to what like a tennis court is. >> Okay. >> So, I'm not sure what every year, but probably every couple years. >> Okay. >> Like I said, we're going to continue to do our our fundraising and um like I
said, willing to help out >> moving on down the road. >> Um so, I I mean, I I think all of us are are uh I mean, I don't think anybody's really got an issue with it. Um, but I would I think before we do anything, we should probably make sure that we can uh
legally put it there. I don't know if we need to talk for >> Well, they were going to let us put the parking lot there. We did check with the county in terms of that. >> Were we going to surface it at all with any >> Okay. Well, then we'll probably >> even talked about moving the playground and they were going to let us do that. >> Okay. So, um I don't know. I if you guys
want if we want to make a motion, I would say move forward with it because I really appreciate I mean that that really needs an update. So, I really appreciate that. That's a perfect spot for it. Maybe move forward with it under the condition that we can put it there in case something comes up. >> I'll make the motion.
>> Okay, Donnie makes the motion. >> I'll second it. >> Gary second the motion. Uh all in favor say I. >> I opposed. Uh motion carried. So we'll do is that we'll we we'd love to have the donation uh on the contingent that we can actually add. But
>> check the county. >> Yep. >> You'd want to call um it'd be um soil and water. >> Okay. I would assume would take care of that. If there's any permits that need to be gotten ahead of time before you start construction. >> Perfect. >> And what's the timeline in terms of starting? What are you thinking?
>> Probably next spring. Uh probably next spring. >> And and you know what? Uh also is that um Joe, if you have any questions, I mean, I hate to stick it on to Laura, but she said a million things, but she's got some really good expertise uh talking to the county. She's already got really
good connections. So, she could I'm sure she'd be more than happy to help you out. Uh, too, cuz that now you're kind of getting that that politic end of it that >> I don't want to be. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. You don't want to be there. Trust me. >> Yeah. >> So, but we do really appreciate
everything I think. And you quite good, sir. You good with Christians? Yeah. So, well, thank you. I really appreciate it. >> And I just want to thank everyone who's supported our fundraiser, you know, in hopes of doing something like this here. and we want to make sure it looks good and we're giving back to the community
and the kids out there that uh want to use it. So, thanks to everybody out there who supported us and uh making this happen. So, >> it's awesome. Nice job, coach. >> Yeah, that's great. We really do. I really thank you. Yeah, that's really nice for you guys to do that. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Yep.
>> Are you good, Becky? You have anything? You You're good. Okay. >> Yeah. Uh so we're going to move on then to number eight which is the PTO uh payout update. So at the meeting on April 14th it was decided to offer a PTO payout to employees. Um I believe this
is to be uh only for this year and will not carry over in the future. Uh looking to I'm looking for confirmation from the city council members u the minutes to not share that don't share a lot of the information. But what we're looking at doing is doing the onetime thing and get
a uh we already got the approval to do it and we've done it, but uh we just I would like to have a motion that this is the only time that we're going to do it that we're not going to move forward with doing it doing it every every year. >> So would we decide on a yearly basis,
John? Is that what you're thinking? >> Uh we did it the reason why we did it was because uh of SS or SST or ES what is it Laura? >> ESST. >> ESST. there were some changes to the the benefits program and to how everything was paid out which kind of threw kind of
threw everything off. So, uh at the uh back at April 14th, we decided since we had all these changes with that that we do a one we'd do a one time uh one time thing to kind of as a true up so everybody has the same program kind of kind of moving forward.
>> I didn't realize it was a one-year thing. I thought it was just a nice benefit for the employees to be able to do that. So, um, and I'm okay with making it a yearly decision >> kind of thing where we talk about it and decide.
>> I don't know what everybody else's thought. It's just mine. >> What do you think, D? >> Well, I was just finding out about it, but we were talking that you had told me it was just going to be a one time deal. Thought it was. >> That's up to you guys. >> I think it's great benefit for the
employees. So, I think it should stay as a yearly option. Sir, how do you what do you think, sir? >> I thought it was just to get rid of those sick banks that we had before pro resources, which is why we switched to pro resources. >> It kind of was >> I don't I
don't doesn't matter. I guess it can be a yearly option. I just thought it was because we were trying to clear out those pre-resources sick banks. >> I I just I don't know. I'm hesitant on on looking at it every year because it
creates a a precedent and um it just >> Well, I mean >> I I I'm crew it and they don't have time to use it, they still deserve it. >> Well, I know, but I know people that are working that uh they I mean I'll use where I used to work is that if we went
over our time, we lost it. If we didn't take if we didn't take it, we lost it. They give you so many hours like we do. But >> um >> both ways >> with the state. If we don't use our time, we lose it as well, which is horrible thing. And if I had the option to cash it out, I sure the heck would
take it. >> Right. >> Not as easy as they make it sound to use the PTO, >> especially when you have small departments. >> Exactly. >> And you don't know what's going to happen in that year. Well,
>> and I'm okay, like you said, not putting it in there that it's a guarantee every year, but I think it should be talked about and we >> then then we don't have to really vote on anything then because I think that's how it's left, Laura. Right. How is it left? How do we leave it in April? >> Ah, you have that in the minutes, that
highlighted piece. >> Yeah. The city will offer a PTO payout of 40 to 80 hours in October. The city will also consider starting a process of payout uh to pay out employees old sick banks. >> Oh, I would say it doesn't state how we're going to do it. >> It doesn't.
>> And voting on it now would clarify things in the future. >> Mhm. Well, to me, I interpret as a city will offer a PTO payout of 40 to 80 hours, whatever the city would decide, and if there is any old sick banks, they can consider the process of paying those out. It's a two-part deal.
>> Yeah, it is separate. The sick banks are actually as separate from the rest of it, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So I think with the city we need to decide >> one employee should be close to done >> with the sick banks. I don't ask Laura I think there's two. How many employees are do we were dealing with sick banks?
>> Two. >> Two. That's I thought. Yeah. Which we are going to address. We're going to address that separately. Right. >> We'll address that at employee advisory committee. >> Right. Yep. And then come to the council with a recommendation. Yep. So say I think according to this the only thing
the city would have to decide is whether it's going to be 40 or 80 hours a >> 4280 >> or it was however >> 40 and 80. >> So I guess that's a yearly decision we'd have to >> it would we'd have to do that every in
April of every year I guess. Huh? >> Just or just >> this says in October, >> right? So we would make that decision in October, >> right? Is that is that what that means? >> Yeah. October is the payout time. >> Yeah. >> So we don't have to make the decision in April to pay it out. We make it like
>> and that would also give us the information throughout that year in terms of what happened, you know, was there a situation where our employees couldn't take it, >> right? >> Okay. I So I guess I'm looking for uh
and I for me I there's arguments on both sides. So, I guess I'm fairly neutral on it. I just uh kind of know how they do it in the in the real world. But >> that's not true in the real world, John, because some employers do do it, some don't. It's it's the employer's option. >> Yeah. >> On how they want to do it.
>> One suggestion that I'd like to see on it is that it would only be an option to somebody who is going to lose it come their anniversary date. So, if they are going to be above their carryover amount, >> there you go. >> It's pretty blank in that. So, >> yeah. Yeah, I would agree with that.
>> That works. >> The most sense, >> huh? >> You said that makes the most sense. If you're going to lose it, then >> Well, let's make somebody make a motion then so we can uh uh move forward, I guess, with it.
I will make a motion to offer an employee a payout of up to 80 hours of their PTO if they are going in danger of losing said PTO. >> But will the decision be made every October one by the council?
>> Every first meeting in October. >> Okay, >> I would second that. >> Okay. Sarah makes a motion. Lynn seconds. Is that good? because I can't state an employes's name, >> right, >> for the BDO part. So, I I think it does need to remain with the employee advisory committee like we were doing.
>> Okay. >> Um >> well, they can >> but the whole council would decide if we're going to go ahead with it. >> Oh, sure. Yeah. That's what I'm saying. So, if I bring Okay, sorry. My bad. >> Yeah, we don't need to name names. Just say we have an employee that would like to >> You know, you could I mean, we I know
the problem I think I I actually agree with you, Laura. I think we should it should come from the the employee advisory board. That way we can discuss it more candidly on what the situation is because we can't discuss it really up here if we
don't know who the employee is. At least in the employee board we can discuss it candidly and make a decision. Is that that kind of how you were looking at it Laura? >> It was but I see confused look. So maybe I'm looking at this differently. >> Well if we're going to offer it it's to every employee. We're not going to look
at each employee and say, "Well, yes, we'll give it to you, but no, we won't give it to you." >> In October, we would say, "Yes, we're going to based on what happened in this in this year, we will say yes, we will honor this." >> But that's only if they are if their time bank is over. >> Correct.
>> If if they're two hours under, we're not going to offer to them. >> Nope. That's correct. >> That's what I was hearing. >> Yes. >> Okay. But then when they get turned in, if we make the decision to go with it, that's when it will go to the employee advisory committee to say yes, we'll do it.
>> But if we vote no. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's what I that's how I meant too, right? Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm I'm totally on board with that. Absolutely. >> So, so then uh are we okay with Sarah's motion and then just that makes a lot of sense. >> Okay. Sarah made a motion.
>> Lynn second it. So >> Lynn seconds a motion. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Um then we have number nine we got uh Eric is up. Mr. Henkin.
>> Good evening everybody. Um the first thing I'm just going to put out there and I'm not going to go into many if you guys ask me questions. I'm not going to answer most of them, but I want to put a big shout out to F&M Bank when we went after these these camera systems for our community. Piers is one of the first
communities in Morrison County to put in effect the camera systems that we have that are a very highly system that we can pull into our squad cars and it records a lot gives us a lot of data and I started going around to
different organizations and FN Bank told me to step back hold on Sharon Bell took it to the board. The board approved it three hours later to pay the $6,000 fee for the year for these cameras to be implemented into our community. And again, by us doing that, it puts me into
a camera system from St. Cloud to the international border that we have that we can access different information for for law enforcement. So, with what F&M Bank did, it's absolutely incredible the donation that they made. So, they the one camera is up. It's working. the
other ones coming up in a month or two. And so we'll have these cameras throughout the city that are giving us a lot of data that not only am I using, I've had agencies from the metro logging into them and looking for vehicles that might be traveling north to help them in
active investigations. So I'm not going to stay where by no means. They can take a guess. We've over my 14 years, we put I think there's 20 or 30 cameras on Main Street. If they want to believe them or the cameras, have at it, but it's up to them. But it's a great system that we have and we're the first agency in
Morrison County to bring this to law enforcement. So I just want to make sure that that F&M Bank has that recognition to Morrison County record and a big thank you from the city of Pierce for what they did for our community. >> Yep. That's awesome. >> Any questions for me on that one? Now I get to embarrass Mr. Rushlo.
Uh >> oh. >> Oh, he's already blushing. He's already blushing. >> Why he's here >> and he's looking real sheepish. So, the last about last two, three months, I've had some members of our community come forward where Preston's responded to calls with great
professionalism and dedication representing all of us and doing a wonderful job. So, and this month, it's three years that he's been with the city of Piers, and we're lucky to have him. So, I'm just going to read some words. On behalf of the Piers Police Department, I'd like to express our sincere appreciation for your three
years of dedicated service and your ongoing commitment to the value integrity, professionalism, and community safety. Since joining the department, your consistent performance and strong work ethic have made a significant impact not just within our team, but most importantly our community that you serve. Whether responding
highly to high pressure situations, treating individuals with fairness, respect, and simply leading by example, your actions consistently reflect the high standard of law enforcement. Your service over the past three years is a milestone that deserves recognition. It represents the perseverance, courage,
and the heart it takes to wear the badge. We are proud of your contri contribution and thankful for your difference you make. So with that being said, I made you something for your man. Keith Preston, I didn't make it. Okay. But uh
Russell 552. >> Nice. >> Thank you. >> He wasn't here for the flat camera. >> Hey Preston, you want to stand up? Maybe Joseph, you want to get a picture with them, Joseph? Yeah. Why don't you stand up? Yeah. Both you guys. And then uh have your plaque. Get your plaque there.
You got to get that in there. Nice job, Preston. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Very awesome. >> Thank you. >> That is great. Thank you, Preston. >> Thanks, Preston. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. We'll see you guys. Okay. So, next
we go to our city administrator update. I do not have much just that I am working with the attorney to create the apartment lease that we had discussed. Um the other part is I did learn from public works that our red Ford is um
>> having some issues. >> So hopefully the sourceful grant comes through >> but I will keep you updated on >> when I learn more on it. I just found out today. So >> what kind of issues are we having with it? >> Sounds like it doesn't want to go in reverse. transmission issues. >> Oh, no. Really?
>> No big deal. >> Got to park it to go forward. >> No. Yeah, we can go in a circle. >> Yeah, just go to a big circle. >> Go forward. >> Oh, that is all I have for an update. >> Okay. And then Lynn, you wanted to um somebody asked that I would give an update on what's going on down at the
clubhouse. Um so, um after our last meeting, um we approved the bids for the exhaust and fire suppression system. I did reach out to them. Uh we made the down payment that we needed to and they have ordered the equipment. Um should be
here and they should be starting mid November. >> Great. >> Um the air minits will be in the second phase and so that should be coming out of the 2026 budget. So we've got it split the way we talked about. Mhm. >> Um, also part of what needed to be done
down there from we got from public health, any of the wood, the cupboards, the floor, all of that cannot be there. That is a U feeding ground for bacteria and different things like that. So, the
cupboards had to be removed. Um, the floor will have to be covered with a tile. um any place where we're storing food, beverage, anything like that. So, the cupboards, um Gary and I talked about that. Um we could have had
our staff remove them, but we would have had to pay our staff wages to do that. >> Um there was nobody who really wanted them. So, I we talked about and said if there was anybody in the community that could use them, great, but you're going to have to take them out. We didn't want to have to pay to do that. There was
people who reached out. Um they actually removed them over the weekend and so they're gone and we're good to go. The carpet um will be removed from the back room. We're working on that. Um the guys are working on getting quotes then for the new flooring. Um we should have
all of that to bring to the park board next meeting and then we can bring it back to council after that. So things are moving forward. It's just step by step. >> Questions? >> Great. I don't have any. >> No, that's great. That's really I
appreciate the update. You got a question? >> I have one more thing I forgot, Mr. Mayor. Just done whatever next. >> Yeah. Anybody else got any? Once you come back up here, >> as you know, I haven't been around much. I burnt some time during harvest, but the one thing I didn't have a chance to
do is reach out to the police committee and thank you both for um working with the union to take care of Mr. Rushel. And I also want to thank the council for voting in favor of getting that three-year contract with Preston through. So, it uh means a lot to me. It means a lot to Preston that he's he's
squared away for three years. So, it's something that uh hopefully another three years I can give him a six-year plaque and we have him here for another three. So, it it definitely helps. But, I'm I'm just thankful that you guys took care of him. So, that's all I had. >> And obviously, you know, we appreciate everything you guys do, too, Eric. It was a It was an easy easy one.
>> I appreciate it. Thank you. Yep. Okay. So, I you Sarah, you got anything? >> And we're all good. We're good to go, I think. >> Then I will make the motion to adjurnn at 7:27. >> Donnie makes a motion to adjurnn.
>> Second it. >> Gary seconds it. All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. A motion carried. So, we got we