that. Oh yeah, the colonel. That's a maybe. Uh, good evening. Um, I'd like to call the regular city council meeting to order for May 12th, uh, 2025. Uh, please stand for the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge algiance 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. Good evening. I just like to recite the
council protocol. Uh the city council members are here to serve the city of Pierce. We expect uh 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. We thank you for your cooperation. So, uh first off, um we have approval um of the minutes for the city council meeting of April 28th, 2025. I'll make that motion. Then makes the motion. I'll second it. Gary second
the motion. All in favor say I. I opposed. A motion carried. Uh, next we have additions and removals of the agenda. And we have Dan Rushlo here, uh, our fire chief, and I'd like to add him,
uh, to, uh, to the agenda if I could. And then I don't know if anybody else have any additions. You guys good? Laura, you're good. Great. So, if I can get approval of the agenda, I'll make that with motion with the addition of
Dan Rushlo. Okay. A motion. Second that. Okay. Seconds a motion. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. A motion carry. So, uh, first we are going to be Parker is going to give us an update. And if you could please sit over there. Parker,
warm up the hot seat for us. I'll get ready for school. I got a few updates here for you. Uh, first we had um Dale Brazen u put in his resignation. um from the park board. So, we're looking to have that accepted.
Um Okay. If I could have a motion to accept Dale Browson's resignation for I'll make that motion. I'll second motion. I'll second it. I'll second the motion. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. All right. The next one we had uh we had a member at the golf
course last year purchase his membership and two weeks after that he broke his leg playing softball. Uh, so this went to the park board for discussion last month and they're recommending that we uh give him his discount or give him a membership this year. Um, and then have
him pay the difference in fees from what 2024 was to 2025. And Lynn, I wasn't there, so if you have anything else on that. So, we talked about that um we would do that for this gentleman because
it was talked about um last year before some of us were on this board. Going forward though, um it's the recommendation. We either come up with a policy or we just kind of say a flat no, it is what it
is. Um that'll be that's a council decision in terms of how you guys want to handle that. So, I don't have a I don't have a problem with it. You got any questions, Donnie? I mean, there's not a whole lot we can really Yeah. So, we'll probably bring that back up over the winter sometime um to have a
decision made on that. Motion to uh approve. Have to do that. Do I have to? Okay, then go ahead. Um update for you. We've sold five of the six golf carts. Uh so, thank you, Donnie, for that idea. Uh the one we have left is um out for
$2,300, which is what it was at the entire time. So I post on Facebook again this morning. Uh so hopefully we'll get that one sold in the next week or so. If not, we might want to look at lowering that, but we'll give it another week and maybe another Facebook post later this week, too. Then we did ask Laura um to
take and put those um monies aside for purchase of new carts to replace, you know, and our dealer has does have those set aside for us. Um I'm not sure when they get released. Um I'll have to reach out and contact that. But yeah, we're doing very good on those. I think and we
might have talked about Parker. I know when Donnie and I on our goal was to kind of start we never really circulated them in and out of service and our goal is to every year do the same process. Hopefully a certain number of them and Yep. That's the only way we're going to
stay ahead of the whole Yeah. Absolutely. And do it most cost effectively as well. Yep. Um, I've had a request from the Vernig and Leblah families. Uh, they would like to donate a shelter to put on the new nine. Uh, so if there's a rainer rain or storm that
golfers have a place to go without having to go all the way back to the clubhouse, uh, they're willing to do all the work um, and pay for all the materials. That's fantastic. So, they're going to work with um the grounds crew in terms of location
kind of central. And then in an area where we're not um running over things that we shouldn't during the construction. Yeah. And at that location, we'll also look to put the portaotties um as well as our drinking water as well to kind of make it a central hub.
Yeah. Uh, next I have um hopefully my last new hire request. Uh, he's really just trying to get us through Memorial Weekend is what this one is, but I'm really excited. He seems to be a really good kid. I'd like to hire Max Barlay at uh, $14 an hour. He'll be helping us out every other
weekend as well as a weekday potentially. And I did talk to Parker. My question was, you know, we went through a whole list of hiring people and then we're still kind of hiring people, but I think Parker's done a really good job with that. I think we're really close to the end. I hope I really think we are. Once
we get to June, we'll get all of our teachers. Um Mark will be done with school and you'll be done with baseball. So, we'll really be hitting in June. And I from what I've seen in the past, I think we got a really good crew that we're going into the summer. The ones that he originally brought have since stepped down. We don't have them. So,
it's kind of replacing what you had. Yep. So, if I could get a motion to hire Max Barklay at $14 an hour. I'll make that motion. makes a motion. I'll second it. Then second the motion. All in favor say I.
I. I. Opposed. A motion carried. Thank you. And then uh one last one. Uh we have a request uh for the Lion South Shelter um away fee request. Who is that for to on July 9th? Oh, Jim Gerwing is the
one specifically asking for it. It's for an annual event they do. It's on a Wednesday. It's for the Lions, right? Yeah, for the Lions. I make the motion to go ahead and wave the um fee for the Lions South shelter for July 9th. That makes the motion. I'll second it. I second the motion. All
in favor say I. I. Oppos. Thank you all. Yeah. Thank you. Thanks, Parker. Okay. So, next we have our fire chief Dan Rushlo. Good evening, council.
So, I'm just going to read you a letter that was given to me and uh we'll go from there. Dear Chief Rushlo, due to the unfortunate delay in the purchase of the property out of the Piers Fire coverage area, I Philip Scribner and requesting a six-month leave of absence
from the Piers Fire Department in hopes that the issue at hand will finally be resolved. I wish to start this absence start on May 1st, 2025. I would still be current on any certifications required by the governing bodies. If this purchase does fall through, I would be
able to return to duty if upon approval. Thank you for your consideration, Philip Scriber. So, I'm just requesting a six-month leave of absence and it's in our policy. So, we've done it a couple
times, I know, through the years. So I guess as long as it falls under policy it's should be fine. Yeah. Do we need questions? I don't have any. So could I get a motion for that?
I'll make that motion to approve his sixmonth leave of absence. Sarah makes a motion. I'll second that. Second the motion. All in favor say I. I. I. Oppos. Motion carried. Okay.
That's it. Any questions for me? We've been busy. I hope it rains. That's all I can say. Just fires actually a lot of grass. We actually had a couple structured like at night time or Friday night heard this. Uh I can't even keep
uh was it Friday night? Friday or Saturday? Saturday. That's grass fires. Yeah, grass. We had a structure fire last Saturday night. Pretty large shed. Uh then we had that huge grass fire out east like that. Yeah.
So I don't know. It's And they got a huge one brewing up north. So I don't know what's going to happen there up in the It's actually just north of Brainer Ways. So they might be asking for assistance. I don't know if some guys but we'll see. So hopefully pray for R.
I do have a question. Are you guys covering Freedom Fest for parking? No. Okay. I just didn't know. Nobody Nobody said anything to us. No. Yeah. From what I from what I understand because they're at well actually we you and I talked about it I think for a sec. I talked to somebody from the fire because they thought of you. Oh yeah. And it would be
really tough for us. You may want to double check the website because the last time I checked you guys were still on it. Oh. Mhm. Okay. So I don't know if they're expecting that. Just so I don't want them to expect you guys to be there and then you're not. Yeah. Right. My understanding that you guys weren't
going to be there for Okay. I mean in the fire department. Todd probably. Yeah, I know he's kind of on that board maybe or Yeah. And I haven't looked in the last month um if it's changed, but prior to that it still said it was you guys. Really? Okay. I know Eric Bozer is
on that committee. Okay. Yep. I'll get that figured out. I'd like to say thanks for uh doing that brush cleanup on the 17th. Seeing that come through on the minutes, so I know the city appreciates that. Fire department does it every year. So, it goes pretty good. So, less
and less every year. We must be keeping up. All right. You guys be safe. Yeah. Thank you. Have a good night. Yep. Uh the next item we have uh is planning
and zoning. We had a temporary permit uh put by in by Daniel Margie Lloyd and Piers and they were granted a six-month temporary permit, a structural permit. And then uh we do need approval for to
add Joe Stangle to the planning and zoning uh committee. Um that's something we do. So we have to do those separate. The planning the planning and zoning with Margie and Dan that is that is for an actual greenhouse not a structure of
for putting things in. It's a greenhouse for flowers. Okay. And I'll make that motion. Makes the motion. I'll second the motion. All in favor say I. I opposed. Motion carried for that. And then we also need a motion to approve to
add Joe Bang to the planning and zoning committee which will do. Are we full then with people on it or we're good then? We're good to go. Okay. So I'll make that motion. That makes the motion. I'll second it. Second the motion. All in favor say I. I. Approval.
Jo. Um then we have Sarah with the claims claims report claims for April um 3004, uh2774. If I could get a motion for approval of the claims report make the motion. Gary makes a
motion. I'll second it. Donnie second motion. All in favor say I. I opposed. Motion carried for the claims report for April. And then we also have Sarah with the treasures. Um the balance at the end
of April was 3 million2 or 3,27,37268. And I see it's starting to tick up again a little bit. So maybe that's I don't know if that's because the golf course is open. Maybe helped a little bit in April, but it's good to see it back over three million. So, if I
could get a motion for approval. I'll make the motion pending audit. Sorry, wrong meeting. What was that? What's going on? Nothing. It's wrong meeting. I'll make the motion. I'll second it. Sorry. Second
motion. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. That motion carries for just the treasures report. Oh boy. Okay. Uh then we also have um a resolution uh approval of resolution number
2025-0512-1 and it's establishing penalties for the what the resolution we did last two weeks ago and I don't know if you want to explain it really quick Laura. it is. So, the ordinance we did last week was for when people do not pay their garbage bills, it goes to their
property taxes um or their taxes. And then the resolution for this one is specifically when people get warned to not put specific things in their garbage can and that gets left um there will now be a fine after a warning that will. So
that is what this resolution is stating and it's pretty consistent of how our they work in the city anyways because we're just making it consistent with the rest of the ordinances. Yes. Y So if I get a motion for approval, I'll
make a motion. Karen makes the motion. I'll second. S the motion. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. A motion carried for resolution 2025-0512-1 establishing penalties. So
next we have our liquor license renewal for uh 7125 through 630 uh 26 and Lori has the list of the people for that. I do have the list. There are no new
um businesses requesting renewal. So it is all the same. If you want me to read them off, I certainly could. Yeah. Yep. Uh, Bootleggers, Boozers Bar, so Frosty's, um, Jansen's Liquor, Tony's Tavern, Piers Ballroom and Lanes, City
of Piers Golf Course, Legion Ballpark, St. Joseph's Church, and Piers Lions Club. So, if I could get approval for the liquor license removal for those establishments, I'll make that motion. I'll make the motion. I'll second. Sarah Seconds the
motion. All in favor say I. I. I opposed. Motion carried for the liquor license renewal for 7125 to 6326. Uh next we have an exempt permit for St. Joseph's Church for 83 25 for
the yearly bizaar that they uh that they have there. If I could get a motion for that. I'll make a motion to approve. Sarah makes a motion. Second it. Second the motion. All in favor say I. I opposed. Motion carried
for the exempt permit for St. Joseph's Church for 8325. We went through all the clubhouse stuff. Um and then the next would be the parks uh update. I just have three small updates.
Um Jim and Brad went through some items in the shed at the golf course and had found that quite a bit could get thrown out for our cleanup day and they're requesting approval to do that. It would be right about 105 to
$125 to throw these out. This would be uh some of the items are golf cart tires for one. There's about 35 that they can't use. Um, there's some chairs, a printer, other items are free. There's a
old grill there. Oh, there it just just needs to be cleaned up type thing. Yeah. So, what I'd like to do for that is maybe get a motion for up to $150 in case they find anything else back in the back in the woods. So, they kind of got
their bases covered. I'll make that motion to allow them to spend up to $150 to clean up golf course miscellaneous. Second. Seconded. Seconds a motion. All
in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried for the cleanup damage for the golf course Laura for up to $150. Thank you. And then I was going to let you know that we did get some grounds crew applications. And I know Gary, Brad, and Jim are working on setting up
interviews for that. And then Brad had just given me an update that the items that the pack had purchased for the Pierce Park, they had come in today. So they're working on getting those. That is my parks update. Okay. So
now we have Eric public works update. Got some good news for us. Oh, always, always. All right. Good evening, Mayor and Council. So, where do we want to start? I got a I guess a few things. Let's
let's let's uh let's start out with the new hire request. Um um our hiring committee suggested, well, not suggested, it was me and Don, and we found out of the ones that we um interviewed with is we would like to hire Tyler Hisel
um for $24 an hour. We're requesting your guys' permission for that. Uh if any you guys got any questions on at all? You guys good? Good, sir. Uh could I get a motion to hire U Tyler Hoel at $24? Where did we
come in at the dollar amount per hour? Is that a negotiated with him or how did we come up with that? Because it's at the higher side. It is. Yep. Yep. It's within parameters and then it's on the higher end of that. Um so from a qualification standpoint, you guys feel that he met that? Yes. Okay.
Um, I'll make the motion. D makes the motion. I'll second the motion. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried to hire Tyler for $24.
Thank you. His proposed start date would be May 27th. Um, an update on the street project. So last week you guys probably did see the cement trucks around. So they were just taking out the old stuff, putting new cement on on their punch list where they had first to have a new
Camnik um Cassie alleyway back in here. Um it looks really good. So that should be that's one step down. So on that checklist Yep. And I think I I am not 100% sure if they'll be in if there'll be something
else going on this week or not, but I would assume there'll be a few more things happening. They still got some light bases to pull out yet from the old lights that are down First Avenue. Um, so they'll get those out, get all the dirt put back in there and seated up and
then I would imagine at some point they'll be here for tar, you know. So that's is about as far as I know with it, you know. Um, a couple other things. Last week, I think it was last week, I got a letter from Morrison County Public
Works Department. Um, and I called this Tony Hennon, nice guy over there. But, uh, it said something about, uh, we're not going to be checking your bridge inspections anymore. So, at first I'm thinking, well, only bridge I kind of know of is the one on Park Avenue and
that's going to get redone. And I didn't, you know, I was just confused a little bit. So I called him and he told me that they would inspect the golf cart bridge as well when they did it all. So I'm like, "Oh, okay." So he says, "They're no longer going to do that." I
said, "Well, what requirements do we need to do or do I need to get something to inspect a bridge?" He said, "No." He goes, "Basically, go down there and look at it maybe a couple times a year. If you start seeing stuff, then worry about getting repaired, but doesn't need to there's got to be nobody special to look
at other than we're doing a routine check of it, you know. Um, they're just going through and eliminating stuff like that through the county. So, we're not there's there's other towns that had little walking bridges that they would go and inspect. So, all they're doing now is just bridges that haul cars over water and overpasses that are around.
So, we got that squared away. I did share that letter with Brad and Jim as well. Yep. And I'll talk to you. So, they'll be watching. And then, um, so I had my, uh, I did have some patches marked out around town, seven of them in different areas. You probably
seen them driving around. Um, I did get two quotes. Um, one was from Bob Marshick Enterprise. That quote uh, came back at 10,750 bucks. Mike Schaefer, uh, the guy who did our seal cracking, I had him
quoted as well. He does do that stuff. He came back at $4,975. Um, price difference wise is pretty big. Uh, he did mention to me at some of the potholes in town since they dip down really far, we can just kind of overlay
instead of cutting out and going through a massive process where I think Bob's he's cutting everything out and doing that way. So, kind of looking for your approval on either way if you guys want. I'm assuming when they cut it out that would be a better fix than just trying to
overlay and have the stuff underneath still breaking up and it's just going to rebre. In my opinion, yes. Um, ultimately the best fix is going to be cut it out, repair the dirt underneath there and then put new batuminous in there, you know. Um, but that's the
price difference between right doing that to some of the potholes and then covering up some of them or doing that to all the potholes. So, we do have I think it's 50,000 dedicated on our line item for street maintenance. So, um just
whatever way you guys would like to go if you want to what's your recommendation? Truthfully, my recommendation is to fix it, right? Um and that would be to go with Bob Marshick. So, looking for your approval on on on that. Yeah, I agree.
I'll make the motion to go with Bob Marshek. I'll second motion. Sarah second motion. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Okay. Um, let's see here. I got a couple
other things. Um, little bit of some stuff. So, there's a it's called a bounce button that's broken at this park back here at the blue park, Lions Park. I did get one ordered, so that'll be coming soon. Um, we do have a cone over the top of the
uh stem that comes out of the ground there. So, that should be here soon. Um, the brush cleanup day with fire department was talked about already. Um, I am getting quotes for the paint sprayer for Main Street, you know, the yellow curbing and the white. That'll
come next time. Um, I did get the weed sprayer, so the obnoxious weeds, thistles, all that. I got him scheduled. Um, probably in the next week or two. the guy who normally does it will call me and come into town and do that. Um, we'll lock up the brush gate again at on
June 2nd, Monday, June 2nd. Um, oh, um, I found a guy. I'm not sure if I mentioned name yet, but I did find a guy to give us a quote on a new handrailing in front of here. Since that is all kind of rotten out and busted out, um I'm going to meet with him this
week and we did get clearance and okay that we can instead of reinstalling that same thing in the cement, we can put it and mount it. We put pads on the bottom of it and mount it on the actual cement sidewalk just below it. And hopefully we can build it in sections so if we do
just get a bad section, we can just replace a section on it. Hopefully also that'll help. I mean, it's a lot of salt that gets dumped up here all the time anyways, but I think when that thing's shoved down in there, that just sits and rots it out so fast. So, hopefully now it'll be out in the open, it'll last a little longer. So, once we get uh that
guy in here in a quote, I'll I'll present that to you guys as well. Then, we just repair the cement on the Yes. Um I did talk to a couple other cement guys that's repairable. So, it'll stay together a lot better without having that railing in there. So, we'll be able to take care of that stuff. Perfect.
Um, oh, there are some dead shrubs uh on a north and south sign that come to pierce like your welcome to pier signs. So, we're going to be looking at replacing those. We're probably just going to go with the same or similar shrubs that we had up there. Um, yeah, they're they're just due to the lack of
everything here the last few years, they took a beat in there. There is a few of them that are in Bilig Park, too. We'll look at and get get replaced. I'm really waiting, honestly, see what's coming back. They have that green um I don't know if it's a low growing alb arborite that's in there. That green thing that I
don't know it looks like it's kind of dying but maybe it'll come back. So we're just going to keep an eye on that. If it dies in my opinion ain't the end of the world. We'll rip that out of there and get it all cleaned up because it it just hides so much stuff under there and I'm sure everything kind of needs to be
fluffed up under there. Pretty big size. So we'll watch that and then uh city of clean up. City appears cleanup day is this Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. And that's that's all I got. Any
questions for me? No, sir. You guys got any questions? Nope. Good job. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Okay. So, we have uh Yes, I have a few. So, with the new
hiring for the public works department, I do believe we had stated, Phil Scriber's position does need to be discussed. Um, my recommendation would be if Tyler is starting on May 27th that the Friday
prior, so May 23rd would be Phil's last day if that's how we're still moving forward. Okay. So what I would need would be a motion to have Phil Scriber's last day
May of 23rd of employment. I'll make that motion. Lyn makes the motion. Second it. Cars the motion. All in favor say I. Opposed. A motion carried. So that'd be so Phil's last day would be May 23rd,
2025. Okay. Thank you. So, I will give Phil a call tomorrow and let him know. Um, my other update is we did have two interviews for the golf course superintendent position. Um, beyond
that, there's no more conversation on it, but that was exciting compared to last time where I didn't have any applicants. So, um, I would like to I had a request to hold a public hearing on June 9th to
discuss the chicken ordinance. So, I did give you guys all an updated chicken ordinance to review. I'm hoping that you can all get me any edits or questions you have for it. And if you could get it
to me by next Monday, the 19th, I will have time to make any changes um and have it submitted to the paper to be posted on May 25th. So it gives us the time we need to post for the public hearing. So, what our goal is, I believe, u
talking to Laura is that to uh to have to have an open hearing on it and then just have our discussion on it and then we have the ordinance all set up and then we can just vote yay or nay on it that evening and either um move forward
with or be done with it instead of going to keep going round and round in circles on it. What time would we do this at? Public hearing would be during our council meeting. It would be during it. Yes. And we'll try to keep it off the little light with the rest of the stuff
so we got plenty of time. Yeah. So, let's get let's get that into our uh Facebook post or wherever to make sure that we have multi-residents knowing that that's what's happening. I will absolutely. Um and then I'll have the
summary for the ordinance. Yep. Once I get any edits then. Yeah. If anybody's got any questions, yeah, talk to uh Laura. She's kind of compiling all the questions. I think I need an approval. Or do I make a motion for that? I'll make the motion
to set the public hearing request u for June 9th, 25 for the chicken ordinance. Okay. L makes the motion. I'll second it. Donnie second the motion. All in favor say I. I opposed motion. Uh some
smaller updates are we garage sales start. I don't know if you guys have noticed people are prepping. So that starts Wednesday the 14th. Cleanup day was mentioned on the May 17th. So this Saturday 8 to 10. Um our next council
meeting due to Memorial is going to be Tuesday, May 27th. So have a happy Memorial weekend, you know. And then I also Zach's last day was the last Friday, so May 9th. I do need to request
approval for his PTO, an old sick bank that was in our handbook to pay that out. Um, now his PTO, he still acrewed hours the last week he worked. So I'm giving you my best guess on this. it his PTO
will be right about 233 hours 49 hours should total about $7,971.35. His old sick bank is at 458 hours and a quarter. um we do divide
it by half that is stated in our handbook comes to 229.13 hours should total about $7,82250. So, I am looking for approval to pay Zach his PTO and old sick bank on our next pay schedule, which would be
May 23rd. Um, totaling right about $15,793.85. Okay. I I need a motion to cover Zach's PTO and Sick Bank of $15,793.85. a motion for that. I'll make a motion to
cover that. I'll second that. Gary second the motion. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. A motion carried. And then my very last thing which is pretty exciting. We Kay and I were able
to do the winners for the Freedom Fest tickets. Um which I should have asked Mr. Mayor if you wanted to do this. I apologize. I have it all here if you really want to be the one who announced it. No, go for it. Knock yourself out. Okay. So, for the two general admissions
for Friday, it is Jim Talbert. For the two general admission for Saturday is Linda Churny. Two general admission tickets for Saturday as well is Roger and Jeanie Bigress. Um,
and for the two VIP tickets for both days is Brenda Bleecker and I will reach out to all of them tomorrow. This is the first time announcing it so they actually do not know. That's fantastic. Yeah, that is fantastic. That was exciting. That was nice that to do that.
Congratulations. That is all my updates. Great. Um, I do I do not have anything for an update as of now. I don't know if Gary. No, sir. I don't have anything either. Nah.
So then you know what that means? I'll make the motion to adjurnn at 7:33 p.m. Donnie makes the motion to adjurnn. I'll second. S the motion. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried.
See how I plan to end that on a brighter note.