I call the Piers regular city council meeting to order. 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 and inappropriate language will not be tolerated. Please speak only when addressed, one person at a time. Each speaker does have a five limit five minute time limit. Thank you for your
cooperation. Read this now. I have a announcement. Citizens of Piers and council members, this is from Mayor John Pearlyberg. I am formally resigning from my position of mayor of Piers effective 5:00 p.m.
5:11 of 2026. Due to unforeseen family obligations, I need to prioritize my time and attention elsewhere. With balancing the budget every year, I was in office along with growing the city into a stronger financial financial position with our 2025 audit
shows it is poised for a bright future. I am grateful for this opportunity and I have to serve this outstanding community. John Pearlyberg. Oh. Well, I'd like to thank John for his service.
Absolutely. >> I'll make the motion to accept the resignation cuz we have to do that. I'll second it. All those in favor? Aye. >> Aye. All those opposed? Motion passes. So, I think we have to add it to the
agenda on how we're going to fill a seat. [snorts] You're the acting so you will have that seat until we appoint January 1st, I guess, or whatever. But we have to then fill your seat, so we should have a
We should add it to the agenda, and maybe we can do it underneath uh Laura's report or something. Right. Does that work? Mhm. Okay. So, we're going to add it to the agenda underneath your underneath your report to to try to figure out what to
do. Gary would be acting mayor until January, but the mayor position is up for election this year. Yeah. Yeah. Right. We [clears throat] would be appointing somebody for a council member to take Gary's position. Yes. That's what we'd have to do. We'll We'll talk
about it for Laura. When when Laura's update, just cuz it's easier to put it in there. So, Laura will look into that and make sure that we're following the correct protocol. Sure. Which would make the most sense. >> had to do it, I think, for both these two already, so we have the protocol already there. Yeah.
Yeah. Is this good to go? >> We'll Let's put it underneath Laura just because Mhm. Yeah. We need to put it somewhere in here, and let's talk about it later on than earlier. Yes. Okay, so we'll add that on the agenda. Uh first, we need to get the approval of
the minutes from uh the meeting in April 27th 2026. I'll make that motion. Will make the motion. >> I'll second. Are there seconds? All those in favor? Aye. >> Aye. All those opposed? Motion passes.
Uh no adjustments to the agenda. We need to add planning and zoning. We need to add planning and zoning. [laughter] Yeah, we're going to add planning and zoning. >> Underneath six? >> Nobody skipped it. I'll make the motion to accept the agenda then with the adjustment, unless
there's anything else. So, we're adding planning and zoning and replacement of the council seat. Correct. Right? Yep. Okay. All those in favor? Uh well, we didn't get a second. >> I I second. I second the motion. All those in favor? I. I. All those
opposed? Motion passes. Okay. So, for planning and zoning, we have two permits. One is for Jim Sitzmann, uh 608 Park Avenue Southeast. He's adding a concrete slab in the back to go
alongside of his deck. And the other one is for Jeff and Deanna Furman to add a 14 by 24-ft uh shed. He's got a shed on his land already. He's taking that off. And then this is going there on a floating slab. Planning
and zoning has uh uh agreed for both of them that they can go through. They approved both. Okay. Any discussions? Can I get a motion to accept? I make that motion to accept. May I get a second?
I'll second it. All those in favor? I. >> I. I. All those opposed? Motion passes. Perfect. Uh claims report? The total claims for April totaled in 300 353,649.32.
Right. Any discussion? I'll make the motion to accept the claims. Any a second? I'll second that. All those in favor? I. >> I. All those opposed? Motion passes. Uh treasurer's report? The ending
balance for April was 3,444,170.33. Any discussion? Can I get a motion to accept? I'll make the motion. Any a second? I'll second. All those in favor? I. >> I. All those opposed?
Motion passes. Uh we got liquor licenses renewals for 7126 to 630 of 27. I'll make a motion to approve. Um those licenses. >> to list what they are, who they are. We should read them to the room.
>> Yeah. Um, let's start. We have B&T Bootleggers. Um, Frosty's Bar and Grill. Um, Pier's Ballroom and Lanes. Jansen's Liquor or Lloyd's Liquor.
Tony's Tavern. Um, Pier's Golf Course and Legion Ball Park. Okay. Any discussion? Can I get a motion [snorts] to accept? I'll make the motion. I got a second.
>> I'll second it. All those in favor? Aye. >> Aye. All those opposed? Motion passes. All right, we got park committee. I'll take that. Um Playground update. Um
Removal of the old playground equipment will start this week on Thursday. Delivery um and start is going to be last week of May, first week of June um pending weather. Which is awesome.
In terms of um the balance, um we got another check in today. Laura, do you know off the top of your head >> what the correct balance is? >> top of my head, but You know where it is? $29,015.11 Is what we have remaining? >> 96 cents.
Close. We also did find out that we can use um some of our SCDP funds um to pay whatever balance is left. So, it will not need to come out of capital expenses. Correct. Perfect. Which is awesome. >> Yes.
Um we also did Andy's 6-month review. Um he's doing an exceptional job. And we would it was already budgeted um for this. Um we just missed it. Sorry, Andy. So we would um
approve what was budgeted for and that was a dollar increase. $1 >> $1 increase and that would have started March 1st. So it will um my recommendation would be to backdate that. Absolutely. Do we need to do a motion for that, Laura? Yes. So I would make the motion then um to
accept um his 6-month review and then to back pay him to March 1st um at an additional dollar an hour. I second that. Okay. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? The motion passes.
The hiring committee um also met um and we interviewed two candidates for our grounds crew lead. We are bringing forth um the application that we would like um to get approved tonight and that would be for Brandon Shetabury
at $28 an hour um with a dollar increase um at at 3-month review if performance warrants it. And I would make the motion to approve that tonight. Any discussions? Okay.
Got a motion, can I get a second? I'll second. Okay. All those in favor? I. I. All those opposed? Motion passes. Welcome aboard. >> Welcome, Brandon. You'll work with Laura then on getting everything else ready for
employment. Congratulations. I think we're all very excited to have you aboard. Very, very excited. Yes. You guys aren't going to put him in the hot seat? >> [laughter] >> Not today. >> You should ask him some questions, mayor. Yeah, something. Do you have any
questions you'd like to ask him? Why don't you come up here and have a seat? >> [laughter] >> Apparently, they don't >> You almost got out of it. I tried. >> [clears throat] >> All right, Brandon, tell us a little about yourself. Uh Brandon Chute-Eberle. I'm 33 years old, have
two young'uns and a wife that I love dearly. Um >> How long you've been married? >> Again, sounds suspicious. >> Oh, that'll change, don't worry. >> [laughter] >> Uh moved to Minnesota in 20 Christmas 2018, so I've been here for 8 years now
and spent most of my time in Montana. Uh 13 years or not 13 years total, but 8 years going on 9 in the golf industry. Been from country clubs to resort courses up in the mountains to
mom-and-pop owned courses to Little Falls. Now I'm here. This feels much more like home. Sure. >> So far. >> [laughter] >> It's a great community and I think you'll you'll find it welcoming, so Yes. I like it. So far, everything feels very
nice out at the course. Feels more my my speed, my tempo. Sure. Yeah, you bring a wealth of knowledge, so like I said, we're all very excited. Well, that's a good thing. Awesome. Is it? Welcome. Thank you. >> [laughter] >> I jumped out of that chair fast.
Welcome aboard. Thank you. >> Yes. And that's all I have, Gary. Okay. I was looking at some stuff. Did we talk about an opening date? Oh. Um we have a couple dates in mind and I'm still waiting to hear back. Okay. Okay. >> Um So, we were talking about um potential
ribbon cutting um dedication for the new playground and we came up with a couple dates um and I've been working with another organization in regards to also doing something on that date in conjunction with that. So, I'm just waiting to hear back. More to come. Perfect.
Very exciting. All right. We'll move to department updates. Nobody's here for the police department. Fire department. I did not receive any resignation. I believe there might have been a little
miscommunication of where where it was being brought to first and then how it was getting here. I do believe it is still set for April 30th, but I don't have anything for anyone to approve. You know anything there, Mr. Todd? No. Okay.
Okay, move on. Public works. Rick. >> You're here, you have to talk. >> PW hot seat. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening, mayor, council. I don't have much, I guess. Just that we
got the water line installed now at the park over here. So, we just got to wait for concrete to be poured so we can set the lion out there. Did Ray ever get over there and paint? >> It is painted. It's all ready to go. >> Yeah, looks good. >> He said it this one? It'll be over here
at this one by the shelter. >> Yeah. And we also had him remove the bench that was bent up and Easy out or not? What's up? >> Easy out? Yeah. What kind of person was sitting on it that it bent that much?
Well, I wasn't there to see it, but but uh Yeah, I know. He just grabbed it with the backhoe and pulled it out. >> Okay. Well, that's good. I was a little bit worried about it, but Right. No, it come out pretty good and then uh we turned the fountain on and the
sprinklers on at the Billig Park today. So, that's all fired up and ready to go. Okay. So, if anybody's walking through wants to get a drink of water, now you can. Nice. Yeah, and as you said, we'll be starting the playground this Thursday. Starting to remove it, and we'll be
closing it off. Cuz we're going to have to prep the site. Sure. Right. You going to run a snow fence or something by there? It'll be a snow fence around it to keep everybody keep everybody out. Sure. So. Todd hits his golf ball there once in a while, so just have a little scooper for him, like
a poop scooper. >> legs, he can walk over it. His [clears throat] are attracted to sand, yes. You might have to cover [laughter] the sand. Yeah. Just don't build a pond in there, and it's fine. Yeah. I'm going to put a reminder on Facebook for that. Yes. Okay. That Todd hits his balls in the sand? Yep.
>> [laughter] >> Oh, good. But I think that's all I got off the top of my head, so. Okay. Awesome. Good to hear. All right. Thanks, Rick. Keep up the good work. Thanks. Thanks, Rick. Clubhouse Sandy? I can come up there. You can use No, I'm all right. You can limp over, it's okay.
Yeah. All right. Good evening, acting mayor and council. Um I guess I don't don't have too much for you guys, but um other than uh everything's going pretty smoothly. We had a pretty busy weekend, um finally getting some decent weather.
Uh today we had um a couple of golf meets. The junior high girls um was today, as a makeup, and then uh the varsity girls was a makeup, too. They rescheduled a couple times, so they finally got it in. Um
campgrounds going well. Uh we got water on last Thursday, so that's starting to pick up. Um Yeah, other than that, I guess I don't don't have too much stuff. Um excited to work with Brandon and get going down there, so. Um leagues are going now. Women's league started up,
going. Um couples league, we have a meeting for that Wednesday night. Um and the plan is for it to start the first week of June, too. So, I know we've kind of debated between last week of May and first week of June, but sounds like people are pushing for June, so. Okay. Um
yeah, other than that, I guess I don't have anything too exciting, I guess. Getting in the swing of things. Seems like it's popping down there. Yeah. Yeah, it's starting to starting to pick up, so. Um kitchen will is fully open now, so we started today finally started doing
lunch specials and everything, so. Um I guess if there is listening, look on Facebook for for our specials throughout the week now, so. Yes, I saw that you posted that today. Yep. I like that. Yeah. I'm excited. Yeah. I think you're going to be busy on Wednesday. Yeah. Good. Awesome. Everybody wants to the clubhouse.
>> Yep. Anybody else got anything for me? No. Okay. I'm good. Okay. Golf course. Anything? Yeah. >> [laughter] >> You must have a good week. What happened to Lori? Just kidding.
>> [cough] >> You got a city administrator update. I'm going to go with the ones I'm prepared for. >> [laughter] >> Garage sale days are amping up. My gosh. Lots of phone calls. They're on Facebook.
Uh they start on the 13th, go till the 16th. Clean up day is this Saturday for the city [clears throat] residents. It is 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Fire department will be picking up sticks, so just leave them out. Um what is it? Along your driveway?
>> Curb. Curb or curb? To curb. Um and then there will be the veterans will be there to pick up clothing once again this year. I want to say they want they're planning to be there till noon. It's all at the Pioneer again. Um any questions,
this is on Facebook or you can call the city hall. Rock, Roll, and Stroll event, first one is set for June 4th. And at the beginning of April, we submitted for the community fund grant through
Sourcewell, and I did receive word that we did get the full amount. So, $12,303.36 for our park safety improvements. That's awesome. Okay. Stop signs, security cameras, fencing.
There's a few more things. Speed bumps. >> Speed bumps. Garbage cans. Garbage cans, so it's exciting. >> Yay. Uh, we have a few items for cleanup day, but it's it's it's going to cost us like 20 bucks, so I don't think we need to
approve them. I know last year we had a bit more, so Get her done. Good. Okay. And my very quick research that I did >> [laughter] >> for tonight is, um, a typical sequence of this would look like um
with we accept John's resignation, mayor's resignation, acting mayor steps in to temporarily perform the mayor duties. Council appoints the acting, they can or any other council member appoint as mayor. And then that council member's seat
becomes vacant. With that, we would post for a position or for to fill that council member's seat. Now, um, I don't know how long we would want to go with an open seat if we
I I don't need It doesn't look like I need a resolution. It looks like I guess we can just do it at the tonight if we if you wanted. Um, I will say that both the mayor and if you were to put Gary in
as the mayor, his seat is also up or will be up this year for election. So, it would be a 6-month stint pretty much for somebody to stand in if that's how you guys want to do it. >> period. If they like it, they can run, and if they don't like it, it doesn't
make any difference. Right. So, I I don't know time frame wise how you guys want to do this. I will say Gary should not vote on it if that is the way you guys would go about it. So. First of all, we need to ask Gary what he wants to do.
I'll do it. I mean, it's kind of exciting, so and an honor. I don't I I think he should. Yeah, if you guys would have me, I'll do it until January. It's fun. No problem. Yes. >> a motion that we uh
make Gary our uh mayor for 6 months. Official mayor for the next 6 months. Till January 1st, right? >> Yes. Yes. December 31st. Or okay. I think is what we do because isn't the new year was there? >> old in the new mayor?
Until the new election? Yeah. Yeah. He's just finishing out John's term. I second. Just finishing a term. Any discussion? I think we just had it. All those in favor? >> [laughter] >> I. All those opposed? Motion passes. Pay it.
Then I'd make the motion to open up applications to fill Gary's remaining 6-month seat. I'll second. Any discussion? How long do you want to have it open for? I can We could do Tuesday to Tuesday, so
you guys can and then I can uh I as soon as anything comes in, I'll send it out to everyone and I don't I How we did it for the treasurer, um it didn't have too many applications. I mean, I don't
>> [laughter] >> That were [snorts] that lived within the city. I had quite a few outside of the >> That's one of the things that anybody that watches this are thinking about it. They have to live within the city limits to be on the city council. >> Correct. So we can't have >> doesn't No, anybody that's out there
that would like to do it that they have to be >> already. Yeah. Yep. Have to be within the city. And I and I would think that maybe we could once we get them as council members, we should just be able to say Let's say there's five of them. We should be able to rank them one through
five. And then we should be able to send our stuff to Laura and we should know maybe who the top two are and narrow it down to the top two. I don't know if we need to interview all five or all 50. Let's wait [snorts] and see what we get, maybe. And go from there. Okay.
So So open it for two weeks. Yeah. >> And then we'll come back and decide cuz maybe there's only one applicant. All right. I was thinking a week. I guess. Tuesday Tuesday But maybe that's too soon. I think I think don't think we've done a council member. I feel like that's not enough time. Just because
not everybody watches this immediately. >> [snorts] >> Because then we can decide at our next council meeting going forward how we're going to seat that person. Correct. Okay. Does that make sense? Yes. Mhm. And I think I have to have paperwork and stuff. Yeah. It has to be advertised for
So we'll take applications until 26th. Yep. >> Yes. Is that Memorial Day? Yeah. We can't >> So then the 26th No, no, no, no, no, no, no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no. >> What a great mayor. >> [laughter] >> Correct. We did
pick the right one. Yeah. Okay. Any more discussion? So we'll take applications for two weeks until the 26th and then we'll make more decisions then. Mhm, sounds good to me. Okay. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All those opposed?
Motion passes. And the last bit is the senior center. Yeah. >> portion. I don't Council updates? Do you want to talk about it? The senior center thing? I can try. Oh. So, we LSS [sighs and gasps]
Yep. has come back and said that the equipment that they have back there, um, they are donating to the city to do whatever we so choose with it. Yes. Um No restrictions. No restrictions. We also had a meeting with two of the senior center board members.
Um without them talking to the whole senior group, um, their feeling is that they think they'll go with whatever is back there. They'll follow what LSS is doing, but we're waiting for them to have their meeting. So.
And then the goal would be once that's cleaned out back there is we would turn that portion of the kitchen into the seniors' new area, and we would have actual council chambers in the front. That'd be nice. Is the goal.
Work in progress. Mhm. So, a few things up in the air, but >> we're working towards it. Sounds good. Mhm. Perfect. Okay. Do we have to do the SCDP thing? So,
Small Cities Development, I know it's super short notice. I got it today. Um I'm a little new to Small Cities Development program. From my understanding, we utilized this back in Well, I'm not even going to say a year
to be sure. Um, but it was kind of to businesses use it to Main Street, yeah. Restart Main Street. >> Yep. And we received a certain amount of money the city received a certain amount of money to loan out to these businesses that filled out
um very low payments back. And from the amount of money that we received from the original loan, there is $1,900 that never was loaned out. And
now I need to let Deed know, who runs that Small Cities Development Program, what we want to do with this amount of money cuz it's not a lot to loan out. Um
So, I our options I had wrote down there were we let them know that we're going to try and do something with it, we return it, we I don't really
>> Yep, that was one thing, ask for an extension, but I need to have a formal letter to them by the 26th. So. I mean what would be wrong about just returning it if we I mean, that seems like the simplest option.
>> Nothing, there's not anything that holds against us if we return it. Returning it doesn't disqualify us from No, right. No, and we can always um ask to be part of that program again. Mhm. >> [clears throat] >> Just put it It just stops the reporting part of it for Laura, which is very confusing right now.
>> Right. I mean, I feel like that's probably the simplest option at this point, but Especially seeing as though we haven't done anything with it for years. And it's a tiny amount. There's really nothing [clears throat] you can do with it. I don't know. I would vote to return it.
That would be my motion. Second. Any discussion? I'm okay with that. Okay, the motion is uh return it back to deed. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All those opposed? Motion passes. So, you're going to do a cover letter
and everything and return it? Yep. All right. Well, that was very quick. >> [laughter] >> Okay. I'm sure that doesn't happen often. Anything else from anyone? If not, I'll make a motion to adjourn. I'll second.
There's been a motion to adjourn at All those in favor? Aye. >> Aye. All those opposed? Motion passes. Meeting adjourned.