I'd like to call the regular city council meeting to order for January 26th, 2026. 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. The city council members are here to serve the city of peers. 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 fivem minute time limit. Thank you for your cooperation. Uh first I'd like to get the approval for the minutes of our regular city council meeting for January 12th.
>> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second it. then makes a motion. Don Donnie seconds that all in favor say I. I >> I opposed. Motion carried. Uh then um do we have I don't [snorts] see Do we have any additions to the agenda?
No additions. Anybody? No. Okay. Uh then um could I get approval of the agenda? A motion for that? >> Make that motion. >> Gary makes a motion for approval. >> I'll second it. >> Donnie seconds the motion. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I.
>> Opposed. A motion carried. Uh the first item we have is resolution 2026-01 26-1. It's to designate um the polling place for uh this year's elections. And uh it
would [snorts] be the polling place would be for the city of Piers uh Morrison County, state of Minnesota. Um, so if I could get um a motion to >> I'll make that motion. >> Okay. Lynn makes a motion to designate polling place. >> I'll second it.
>> Seconds motion. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. A motion carried. And then the next one that we have is uh resolution 2026-0126-2 to accept the donations and that's for
uh the the Pierce Park playground project and uh it's to accept donations. I just want to uh read who it is and how much it is just to show our appreciation of all the help with all from the community. Uh the Pierce Fireman's Relief Association is is donating
$10,000. The Harding Sportsman Club is donating $3,000. The Last Snowgoers are donating $500. The Piers Lions are donating$10,000. And then the the Lions Club of Piers is
donate donating 10,000. Uh, so if I could get a a motion to accept the resa uh the resolution. >> I'll make that motion. >> Uh, Lynn makes the motion. >> I'll second. >> Sarah seconds a motion. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> I. Opposed. A motion carried for the resolution 2026-0126-2 uh to accept the donations. Uh the next item we have is the sealed bid process and that is for the park uh playground equipment.
Um and uh everything's all spelled out in our in our packets. Uh the scope of the project would be posted in the paper February 1st. The deadline would be uh uh February 17th at 4:30. Uh open day is
uh February 17th at 4:45. And then we would review it for acceptance on February 23rd uh the city council meeting for uh acceptance. Um [snorts] if so I would I would assume we need a motion for that Laura too. Okay. If I
get a motion for that. >> I'll make the motion. >> Okay. D makes the motion. >> Second it. >> Gary second motion. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. A motion carried for that. And then the next item we have is the
department updates. And actually we have Eric. So why don't why don't you go first Eric. Good evening everybody. Um I present to you like I do every year. It's my 2025 annual report reference to what the department has uh
went through number of calls that kind of thing. So, we'll just start on page number three. [clears throat] You can see that we investigated 958 calls for the year. If you do the math, that's about three calls per year. The highest I've seen in my 14 years was in
2021 at 1,048. So, it seems like they're always just over 900 calls per year for the city of city of Piers. Page number four just goes through the most common calls. Accents are 13. We can mark that down as uh this is for 2025, but we all know what's happening on Main Street. We
had another accident on Main Street near the post office again today. Um number of call outs is 41. That just means when I come from home when dispatch calls and there's somebody that needs Pierce Police Department, I don't keep track of Preston's medicals is something I'm
always extremely proud of for 89 for just for the two officers. It's actually pretty cool. That doesn't count the calls when we assist Lake Buckman and or head out east to to to assist Lake Hillman, Southern Lake area. So at 89 is cool. The thefts, most of them thefts
are probably from um gas drive offs that we have in our community. And then citation related, that's mostly traffic stops is 187 and that is credit to officer Rushlo. And uh I don't spend that much time. I spend my time patrolling, but the last thing I sort of look for anymore is a traffic stop just
to get paperwork done and work on other projects for the city of city of Pierce. Um, call outs is Wednesday, not call outs, excuse me. Page number five time by the day is Wednesdays again. I believe it was the same thing last year, but it's always been Wednesdays or Thursdays. I have no science behind
that, but it's always a busy time of of the of the the week for us. Page number six, number of calls. Again, it's always been 2:00 to 8:00 in the evening, 342 calls. And then the last but not least, the busiest month is November. That
changes from year to year, but November with 95 95 calls of service. And then the other thing that I just thought was unique to include is some of the money that we have taken in from the police department that it's not from the taxpayers, it's not from our community, comes out of either
Sourcewell and or the Lucas device. Most of it on top is all source well. The Lucas device was through a medical group out of the cities, but I brought in over $78,000 to the city appears to help with items that we need, items that we had to replace. So, it's just it's a cool benefit when I could bring that type
that type of money in to the city and to the taxpayers of peers. So, that's another thing that I'm extremely proud about. So, with that, I think we all know that we've had we had a very busy year and this year starting off with a boom, but it is what it is. But, we have the resources, we have the men to do it. So it's it'll be another it'll be
another fine year before we're done. So any questions for me reference to activity and or the police department. >> I just had one thing Eric when in the beginning when you started I just want to clarify it for people that are watching uh maybe watching this on TV. Uh you put we had three calls per year.
It's actually three calls per day. >> I just wanted to clarify that. >> And most time is and somebody can do their math. We take the 365 but something I don't do is we don't patrol on Sundays. It's usually for family and for God. So, anytime we come in on Sundays, if it's a call out, so then you take that away that brings us just just
over three calls per day. So, it's actually a strong number. And I think it's also a big big thank you to the sheriff's department with Sheriff Larson and his staff. When we're not here, Sheriff Larson is absolutely incredible. His men and women take care of us when we're not here. And it's absolutely
incredible what he does for the city of peers and taxpayers. So the the small town appears police department. It really I don't know if it would it could sustain if we didn't have the support that we have from our local sheriff's office. So thank you to sheriff with to his men and women that help protect city of peers also.
>> Yeah. And I think we all really appreciate everything that you do and u um you do a great job. You >> and then I'll just give an update on that last page said 40,000. The new squad car has been ordered. That's just when it gets here that's going to go to Mr. brush low. I'm assuming sometime in
uh March or April comes in, the equipment's been ordered. That's all sitting up at the the gentleman that installed it. So, it's just a matter of the process to go there. And the one thing I forgot to mention earlier, I just like to put this out to you guys that Piers lacks the vehicles for like public works and for the city city
employees to drive around and go to different say if it's up to Duth for Minnesota power meetings if it's Andy to run down to St. Cloud. the squad car that it's the current Tahoe. I think it'd be the city should look into it if they want to keep it and use it for
staff and for other processes because I know the the the red fort pickup sitting up at dual public works no good. The old vehicle down at the golf course I read that's almost garbage too. It's just here' be a good vehicle that could last a long time. I've kept it. It's been maintained. Oil changes, consistent
tires. It's just something that maybe instead of let it go to the two if I put it out on min bids, let's look at a price and try and keep it maybe in the city. But I thought I'd say you guys think about let me know what you want done because it'd be a good vehicle, good runner for somebody yet. >> So I just I'm curious, Lauri, you know,
when you go to like either sourceville meetings or maybe we go to a mayor's meeting or something, is that something that we would want to utilize to go to to go go to ourselves, you know, to go to meetings and stuff? Oh, >> I mean I, you know, instead of having to
pay per mile when we drive or what what have you, uh maybe we could recoup some of that and just keep that keep the keep that and then we we'd save on having to pay out for mileage. >> Absolutely. >> And it's already paid for. We have it. Why wouldn't we? And we know who's been running on it, Eric?
>> Um just over 90,000. >> Yeah, 90,000 miles. But it's got 10 to 12,000 engine hours on there because it, you know, it's with the equipment, it's always running summer or winter. But like I said, it's service right now. there's really no issue but a little bit of rust coming in but I think for the city it would be a very good runner.
>> So maybe [clears throat] we could take a look at that and then I don't know if Rick wants to just check it or who what committee we would go through maybe to look at making a recommendation whether we keep it or not. I think it's that's a really good idea though. >> At the at the end of the day though would the city then transfer instead of
because it's it's money that I take back say if I sell it say if it's 10 12,000 is that something that the city will take from the general and put back into my dedicated [laughter] account? I cuz at the end of the day I got to count on the money to keep mine going to replace my next one. So that's the only thing is because if you're going to take it it's
one thing. Well then I'm going to put it on min bid and it's going to be out the door. >> I like that attitude. [laughter] >> Well it's just I have I have I have to plan for the next one. >> Absolutely. Without that money I'd be it come back and hurt me. >> I'm sure it'd be part of the recommendation to the council that your budget
>> you guys got to you you have to do it. I just thought that I just watched what the city has and I think it'd be a great runner for somebody cuz the last one we sold it to the fire department for you know we actually let it go pretty cheap but the fire department utilized it. It helped them for their they did the same thing for their training vehicle to get
from A to B. So there's not liability put on the other employees and their vehicles. So it's just >> you let me know at next workshop or something we'll discuss it. Just let me know how we want to move forward. Yep. >> But I won't let it walk away until I have direction from the council. >> Great. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Any other questions for me?
>> I just want to say thank you for going out and looking for those grants and those different money sources and saving our taxpayers money. It's greatly appreciated. >> I always have. So, I take pride in it. So, I appreciate it. Thank you, L. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? >> Stay safe. >> Thank you. >> Thanks.
>> Thanks, Eric. Uh, let's see. Then we have public works. We have Rick from public works. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh, since the last update, it's just there's been a lot of snow and cold and drifting [snorts] and
so we've been battling that, but uh, I think we're trying to I think we're keeping on top of it pretty good. Uh, breakdowns minor, just little fixing here and there. Um, skating rinks are doing good. We
still add a thin layer of water each week to try to keep them nice and smooth. And the one over behind city hall here gets used quite a bit more. But, uh, >> no, it's it's good. I'm happy they're all using it. And I think so far I think
they're doing good. Um, the heat wasn't working in the apartment. So, uh, we had we had Lyman come in there first thing in the morning to get that done and taken care of and
hopefully hopefully everything will be good there. >> But, uh, >> was it an occupied apartment? >> No, no, the other one. >> Yeah. Would you explain the Yeah, I just tell I mean others I can do you explain what kind of what happened? It actually froze. Everything froze.
>> Yeah. It had gotten [clears throat] the furnace had gotten fixed and we're thinking that the part that the new part that got put in it is faulty and it ended up freezing the
>> freezing the water up. So, >> okay. Um, I was in there a couple times today and we got Lyall coming first thing in the morning to replace the same and look it over to make sure that that might be
it. And hopefully it'll end there and you know, fingers crossed the the pipes are good. >> Yeah, they'll do it'll get the the heat going again and th everything out. But >> it's really rare that there's no damage that >> that's a good thing. >> Hopefully we'll know. Yeah, we thought
it out. They'll find out. Yeah, >> we shut the water off to to up there for >> but no pipes burst. We didn't have any of those problems. Thank god. >> Right. So, >> um really that's about it that I have unless you guys have any questions for
me. >> Thank you, Rick. >> Thanks, Rick. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate all the work you do, too. >> Thank you. >> Um does anybody want to give a golf We got golf course on here. Um do anybody want to give an update or no? or um is there something >> I don't think there's anything from the
last we the last meeting we had we had met already just previous to that >> okay >> um donations continue to come in >> um for our park project um we're getting close >> um fingers crossed we can hit the mark and we can do it all >> great that'd be awesome
uh Laura >> I my only update is the board of appeal and equalization is set for April at 100 p.m. Um, usually you guys decide who's going to come, but I think we decide closer to
>> and then just working on our audit. >> Oh, yeah. It's that time of year, huh? >> So much fun. 28 days. [laughter] That's all I have. >> Good. Awesome. Anybody here? Okay. >> Gary? >> No, sir. >> Donnie? >> Nope.
>> And then good. Okay, Donnie. Well, have at it. Uh 7:15. I will make a motion to adjurnn. >> Donnie makes a motion to adjurnn. Second. >> Let's see. I'm going to give it to Sarah. Here he is. Okay. Gary seconds a motion. All in favor say I. I. Post. A
motion carried.