Call the meeting to order. Please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance. >> 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. Roll call. Mayor Stone and Council Member Fikman are absent. Uh, approval of the agenda. We have one addition of 7F, position vacancy. Is there any other changes or additions?
Hearing nothing. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Scott. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Brad. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Three in favor, zero opposed. The minutes, approval of the minutes
from the April 29th special meeting. >> Any corrections to those minutes? >> Just uh changing the regular meeting to special meeting on the top. >> I crossed that out myself, but I didn't address it. So, >> and that I did attend only I uh arrived
late. If we can make that change as well. Okay, with those changes, is there a motion to approve the minutes of April 29th, 2026? >> So moved. >> Motion by Brad. Second. >> I'll second. >> Second by Scott. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Abstensions. Three in favor, none against. Zero abstensions. And that brings us to the May 6th regular meeting minutes. I didn't see any changes. Council. >> No, looks good. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to approve May
6, 2026 regular meeting minutes? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Scott. Second. >> Second. >> Second by Brad. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Three in favor, none against. This is now time for our public open forum. Comments are limited to
three minutes. Is there anyone here who would like to speak to the council? Is there anyone here who would like to speak to the council? >> Hey, if you'd like to, you can approach this the stand and just state your name
and address, please, for the minutes. >> Good evening, council members. My name is Jeff Miller. I live at uh 117 Morning View Drive on Morning View Road. I'm one of the three main houses that is being affected by the uh road improvement
that's being proposed and I am in opposition of that road. about 20 years ago, I was right here before the uh council and uh we uh
uh proposed our case and uh we were told by certain council members that uh there would never be a road put between Highway 71 and our road at Warner View and that put it to rest. So, um, I'm
kind of leaning on that and, uh, uh, so I mean, what I would suggest now is, uh, if we could just have a meeting where the council members and the people concerned could get together and we could actually
see what's going on. I mean, I've been in Arizona the last four months, so I'm so far behind on what what's developing and uh I've heard everything from concrete to gravel, the main road, the secondary
road. I don't know. So, I'd like to sit down and and and visit with some people. So, um I think if uh if the the the city is so flush to have this road built, they can uh out letters to those of us
that are concerned and set up a meeting that we can actually get together and talk about it. Um, I got enough time to talk about safety or am I about ready to get >> You got about a minute left. >> Okay. Um, that corner, I don't know if
you know where I live on View, but that corner is it's it's it's treacherous, but I mean I've lived there for 25 years. We're all used to it. I mean, uh, um, I used to chew my kids up for not
paying attention. I, you know, uh, everybody goes scream at me. Um, when when I taught my granddaughter how to ride a bicycle, I wouldn't let her go past that corner because she would get run over. I It's such a treacherous corner that the uh transmitter there on
the corner, not mine, but on the haz cam, you know, they put concrete pile pylons up because they were so sick of repairing the thing from people missing the corner and hitting the the transformer. Uh, and then as recently as uh last
fall, someone knocked down my street lamp or city street lamp and all of a sudden I look out and I got a street lamp laying in my yard. I'm going how did that happen? So, I mean, if we have
added traffic coming through it only, you know, it's I hope it wouldn't turn my yard into a junk pile because that's a that's a dire intersection. >> Okay. >> How am I doing?
>> I think we we're about up, >> but I appreciate I appreciate the comments. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Jeff. >> Is there anyone else that would like to speak to the council? >> That was the third call. Hearing no one else. Our public public open form is now closed. We have no public hearings. So,
that brings us to reports and presentations. Police Department monthly report. >> Good evening, council members. Um, I got the uh your packet you look at the April 2026 activity report. Um, nothing real
crazy that sticks out. Um, as far as anything being higher than normal, uh, grand total was 1,0 which is which is high. Um, patrols making 238 of that. Uh, a lot of that time was spent at the schools. I'll touch on that again later.
Uh, traffic stops, suspicion incidences, right at 11:00. Um, when you look in there, you'll see like the mark reports. Those mark reports are human service referrals, uh, investigations where we're assisting students human services with either adult protection uh,
investigations or juvenile. So, we're s we're starting to get more of those. We're doing joint investigations with with Sterns County Human Services. Um so those are up the up to five there. Um intoxicated persons three uh juvenile
problems eight. And then I'm expecting with the weather getting nicer, we're going to start seeing more of these juvenile problems as the weather gets warmer. Uh in April also we wrapped up so we did we got all our mandated trainings done for the year through the state. So we did our use of force training, our some
of our less lethal training done and some of our mental health training done in April as well. Uh during that time too, I went with our we had the staff meeting where we just did policy updates where we go through yearly policies that I just that I want to remind the guys of
and stuff too. Just a good reminder. So I always pick a few every meeting we did some of those. Um fast forward a little bit more recent events. Uh, so a couple weeks ago back we had the school threats incident. So that took up a bunch of my officer time and resources. Um, we got
that call on that Friday afternoon. Um, and then we kind of I along with the school board and Donnie had kind of came with a plan all over the weekend how we're going to uh move forward that following week. Uh, which ended up me putting extra cops for their request in
the school all week long. um doing the bag checks and then just working with them on press releases um throughout the week to keep people updated. Um as a result of that, I was then summoned by the school board uh and
had some meetings with them and they're looking at wanting us to have more of a presence in the schools next school year. We're going to have some meetings where the school board's wanting to fund uh funds from the school to us to have some extra patrols uh basically maybe
some set hours throughout the week. So, we're going to we're going to have more conversations this summer with the school board about how much money and what that what would that look like and what their expectations would be. So, we kind of had that preliminary paragraph. They're going to talk about it with admin. We're going to re look at that
come probably Julyish to see where we're at. Um and then obviously last week we're busy with the fire stuff downtown which uh worked out real well um as far as our response and coordinate with the fire department and state fire marshals. We're still working on that
investigation but we should have that wrapped up here within give me a week or so after the fire marshall gets me his final report. Um, also we added that uh the next thing in there or the the
moving forward try to start my recruitment for a new police officer. So Dan Moldenhower set his retirement. He's going to be leaving October after 27 years. Um so basically from here on out until the end of the he totally retires. Um he
put all of his PTO his paid time off he's going to be burning up through the summer. Um Dan worked here 27 years. I can count on two hands how many times he called in sick. Uh and he just rarely took a lot of
vacations. So he's he's kind of burning up some of that stuff that he's built up. So this summer um we'll be running pretty pretty low on officers as far as any uh for the scheduling stuff. He's he's basically be coming down working two to three days
per week. Um, and it's which is fine. We got the staff to bounce around throughout the summer. Uh, as long as no one gets hurt or no one else would leave, we'd be okay. But it's going to be we're going to be running a little thin this summer. Um, so I'm looking
towards starting to get that process of recruiting, get the hiring process. So, Alec Tech just let out um, and there's a bunch of good candidates that just graduated last week and I would like to get the process started. So if I could possibly get someone around that
September one time frame so we have a little overlap so we can start training at the end of the summer is kind of my hope. Um but I want to tap into some of these new recruits coming out and some I got some beats and some other people might be interested also. So I'd just like to get that process rolling and
kind of give potential candidates time frame as far as hey if you are interested this is what we're looking at as far as a time frame. So, that's kind of the reasoning for that why we added that to the agenda tonight. >> Okay. >> Um, regarding the the school hours, it
does that look like something that you'd pull from the current police force? >> So, yeah. So, my idea would be like there's a lot of moving parts to it. So, yeah. So, what we what we do is depending how many hours they'd want and the funds available, my idea was is if
they let us know how many um hours they want per week or um we would staff it with um yeah, current officers working. So, there'd be some there'd be some stuff with the contract and stuff how we'd work that out. Um I I wouldn't have
the staff to do a full-time uh school resource officer, and they're aware of that. I made that very clear. Um, but there's it all depends how much money they they'd like to allocate towards it. You know, if depending on the amount of
money and how many hours a week and what their expectations were, we could staff it. Um, you know, there's yeah, there's a lot of things we'd have to work out, but I feel confident that we could make something work on both ends. Um,
and like I said, we'll see what they where they come with what they have for funds. Any questions? >> Good. >> Thanks. >> Uh that brings us to our public works
department report 60. So for the street department, uh the items completed this last last month. If you've noticed, both flashing crosswalk signs are installed. The one on Ashed by the public school and the one at Sinclair Lewis by Holy Family. They've been programmed and they are
operational. They the road patching has started with their fines and they'll be ongoing over several works weeks as product is available. The plants are starting to ramp up. So we'll be starting to get uh some asphalt a couple days a week. They did install the temp temporary speed sign on Hickman Drive.
So that is collecting data on how fast people are going along there by the campground. Uh they did some storm sewer repair was completed on First Street North. We have an additional one needed on Third Street North. The street sweeping has been completed. They do the first round throughout the city as some
summer comes on comes they continue to do that off and on throughout depending on what happens but they've done their first run. A crack failing project was completed. Uh we're waiting to be placed on the schedule for the seal coating and the slurry seal on Asht Street and the road repair selfelling trailers is going
to be completed sometime in the next few weeks. Uh this involves some curb removal and replacement. So there's some work south of felling. I guess it's on that road there by felling. Um the park department had all the sprinklers turned on. We did have some repairs to heads and sprinkler lines. That's very normal. All the bathrooms were open, cleaned,
and we made all those repairs. Uh they replaced the concrete at the park shed. That was the apron along the front of the building and the end of the building. And then they did the tar patching between the parking lot and that new concrete. Uh they got the new fence up and the gate at the community garden. And the campground was open for
the season. We did have a water line break after it was turned on. That's been repaired. All the trees were trimmed and the parking pads. I thatched the grass. Got that already. So, everybody is kind of moved in. Uh they did pour concrete in the middle pad for that Aderondac chair, that big one that the Rotary is donating. So, that should
be arriving shortly. Uh they did trim all the small brush and trees along the shoreline. It was getting kind of high and people were watching for the fireworks and they were looking through the through the little willows. So, they kind of trimmed those down. And the splash pad is up and running. Uh we did have our inspection this last week and everything went good. It will be in
operation over the weekend, but I don't know if it's going to be really warm enough to do a whole lot. Uh the fountain has been painted. The statue was installed filled with water that's going operating and the docks are in. So, they pretty much got that spring rush behind him. Our summer mowing guy
has started. So, he's been going through doing all the mowing and they'll be working probably more on street stuff now going forward. Okay. Any questions about public works report?
anything airport board report. So the the airport um they just do the update on the finalization of that federal and state grant for that land purchase project. Um they did have an inspection report on the hangar project. They had some recommended changes and that's the big hanger that they're building right now. So they're looking
at that. Uh the CIP was updated to include the newly mandated FAA requirements for runway from taxiway access. Right now we taxi out straight to the runway and they want us to have like a jog. So as soon as the FAA, we had to update it to include that, but
they haven't told us by what year. So we'll slide up and down that CIP schedule depending on the year we need to do it. And then we're doing the continued planning on the car show and the flyin, which is at the airport on July 19th. That is the Sunday of Sinclair Lewis Day. So we're getting pretty good um it looks like there'll be
pretty good participation. So, we haven't had a fly in there since we shut the runway down to do repairs. We did it prior and then we never brought it back. So, this will be another added event to Sinclair Lewis Days. Good to hear. Thanks, Vicki. Any
questions? Okay, that moves us to our action item 7A. Approve resolution 2026-40, appointing election judges. So, we have the following persons have agreed to serve as election judges for the Minnesota primary and federal general elections. They're August 11th and
November 3rd. Uh those who sign up to be judges through their political party must be utilized prior to the other judges according to Minnesota statute. So that first section are people that signed up through their political party. And then the bottom section are the ones that we've used before, the trained
judges. So what we're doing now is going through that top list because a lot of times they'll sign up and they're like they don't realize what it involves and so they they bow out. But we're still working through that. So the people that have signed up with their political party are Jill Abvisan, Patricia Engan,
Robert Hammer, Christine Bayan, Janice Bonsik, Christopher Julesgard, Tammy Pribula, Venny Schmidt, and Elizabeth Weiner. And then those of us that have served in the past, myself, Diane Basil, Wendy Draney, Sandra Frederick's, Jack McCirkoff, Melissa Klein Schmidt, Sarah Thompson, Amy Trrisco, and Nicole Vote.
So obviously, we're not going to be using all of these judges. I'm just required to use that top piece first. So, if I have a bunch of those that want, then those at the bottom will be kicked to the curb, I guess, is what you want to say. So, so what we're looking to do is to approve the resolution
2026-40 appointing the election judges for the 2026 primary and general elections. Any questions or do I have a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Motion by Brad. Is there a second? I'll second.
>> I can second. Right, Vicki? Yes. Okay. >> I've been quiet too much tonight. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Three in favor, none against. 7B, approve request of sucks chamber for
usage of park streets for sinclair loose days. So as as every year the chamber does request use of our parks for the purpose of Sinclair Lewis days. So their events this year, they're requesting to close the park road and the use of Sinclair Lewis Park on Friday, July 17th
from 5:00 p.m. to dusk. This is for a DJ on the trailer by the shelter for the kids band. And then there'll be a beer garden by the American Legion and the Kitty Parade. And this is the night of the fireworks. And they're looking for food vendors for the use of the Sincl park parking lot that same evening and
fireworks to closed park road and the boat landing for that fireworks permit as as also from 5:00 p.m. to dusk on that day. For crazy days, the use of the downtown sidewalks on Thursday, July 16th, Friday, July 17th, and Saturday, July 18th. So, this will be sidewalk only. We're not closing the street for
that. The craft fair and family fun festival. Again, closing the park road and use of the park in the parking lot for Saturday, July 18th from 7:30 to 4. And then also that same day, beginning at 7 to 10, they're going to have a chipped time 5K and one mile run. So,
they're using the trail and they're closing one lane of Hickman Drive and Lake View Drive for that that uh 5K. and then also the parade route and that is the same parade route as we've used in prior years and you do have that in your packet. So what we're looking to approve
the uses as requested including the road closures and the parade route. Okay. Are there any questions about this request? Hearing nothing. Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve.
>> Motion by Scott. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Brad. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. Three in favor, none against. >> 7 C. Approve resolution 20 2641 accepting bid for author's edition phase
2 project. So bids were opened for the 2026 capital improvement, which is author's phase 2 on Thursday, May 14th at 11:00 a.m. We had the bids, you have them listed in front of you. We had eight bids. The low bid was Lour Construction at 96224175
goes all the way up through the high bid of Land Pride Construction of 1,47674345 and the engineer has reviewed the bids for completeness has found them to be in order and then you do have the letter from the city engineer there and you do have all of the bid all of the bids uh
detail in your packet as well. So, we have resolution 26-41 awarding the bid for the 2026 CI CIP project to Lour Construction, Inc. >> Any questions regarding this? >> I have just one question about Lour.
We've never worked with them before, have we? >> We have not had Lour as one of our of our major contractors. >> Okay. >> Up till now. >> Are they They have bid before and and the engineers worked with them. them in the past. It's been a few years, but >> Okay. >> They were solid.
>> So, not a new company, but >> no. >> Okay. They've tried. They've bid on some of our other projects. This is the first one they've been successful to be the low bidder. >> Okay. Waiting. I know I know you've had some concerns
regarding this project. So, if you want to voice your opinion before we get to a motion. Uh, I'm going to vote against it to be honest with you because I've been opposed to uh moving this project forward for consecutive year after year after year with large uh capex
expenditure and uh construction and I just feel a year take a year off try to get ourselves back onto a more financially manageable time frame. So that's how I feel about it. by financially manageable. What does that
look like if taking a year off and next year the bids come in considerably higher? >> I would keep kicking the can down the road. >> So the question more comes to what's our long-term construction plan than just
one project. That's what I look at. I looking at 25, 24, 23. Now we're at 26. We got a huge 7 million projects in 2027. We got a $17 million project by the time it's done in 2028 starting through 2029.
That's like you do the math about eight consecutive years of huge projects. I I'm not in favor of spending that kind of money. That's that's my theory. So if looking ahead in the council packet and we have two lots available,
what's currently available in the the already preconceived idea that we had planned this the EDA had planned this for years to make this a a phased in project. We stop now and then what happens when people are looking for property wanting to build and add to to
our property base? I would tell you that there's additional lots other than just these two in the city. If you look around, there's got to be more than two lots in this entire city to build it >> in the city limits. I I can't think of
more than two >> or potential developers that are willing to invest the money rather than the city invest the money to build and develop areas for people to build in. I never in my experience envisioned being the city
being a developer. That's just not the norm. I mean, for this council, it's been a norm. And I know Vicki has noted in past meetings that it has been a transition and a change in cities moving in that direction, but I don't support it. And so I would rather see a
developer come in, the city work with the developer, have the developer do the project and the city do the project and the city being the seller, the city being the developer. That's private entity. We are a public entity. That's how I feel about it. You still have enough people to vote and you still will
pass it, but that's just my feelings about it. >> Yeah. The only problem is there's nobody that wants to come in and develop anymore because of >> That's That is true. Um, and this particular one, it's it's structured so that it's a we do an interfund loan to
ourselves and it's paid back through the sales of the lots. So, we're not involving any tax dollars to do this project. And, uh, the reason we started into it, it was because people wanted lots and there weren't out there any, and we went to different developers, worked with some extensively, and then
they just never could get across the finish line because there wasn't enough profit in it for them. Um, Jen or uh, Freeport's recently done it. Melrose has done it. Avon has done it. Um, Avon got kind of forced into it years ago when things happened in 2008 that weren't too
favorable, but now they came out of that. Okay. Um, so we got kind of into this, encouraged into this by some pretty good donations initially >> and so now we just kind of keep rolling with it. We keep getting inquiries and so we just um, propose this to go
forward. The EDA will be looking at the pricing structure of the lots. Um, but as looking at that, you know, we're pretty confident that the sale of the lots will completely pay for this. It'll be self- sustaining. Um, the thing is we have to carry it as the lots are sold. It took us two years to sell the last
plat out. And we didn't dream that we would be this far along already. We thought maybe we do phase one and maybe in four years do phase two, but then all of a sudden phase one sold out and people are still asking. So the EDA recommended moving forward and taking
this step. So that's why we're here now. >> Yep. Fair. >> It's just a different view. You know, everybody's has a different perspective and we're entitled to that. It's >> And many years ago, the cities never were developers because there were developers there that wanted to do it. Exactly.
>> Because there was money in for them, you know. And we even had a developer we worked with, we're going to give him tax increment financing. So, we weren't going to get any tax base for for 25 years, but at least here we start getting the tax base back right away. So, that was kind of I think what the
EDA was looking at. We do the investment now. It pays itself back with lot sales and we get the tax base right away as houses start to build. So, there's a lot of pros and cons and a lot of conversation that went into getting it moving forward.
>> Yeah. And I would not be opposed to doing it. It's just my concern is is more about consecutive timing year after year after year significant capital investment. >> Right. >> That's my that's my biggest concern about the whole thing.
>> Do we need lots? Yeah, I'm sure we do. >> So that's my that's my thoughts >> and I can appreciate that. I mean, looking at it from the side of a capital improvement project being about developing developing property versus infrastructure and existing roads, two different mindsets, I think is what EDA
and what council is looking at or have looked at in the past. So, I can appreciate that. Um, I guess this if there's no other discussion, Scott, you have any other questions? >> Vicki, do we need uh a a majority of the
full council or a quorum of the quorum? majority of the quorum >> the majority of those present. >> Okay, >> that's right. >> Then I will be looking for a motion. Actually, I would like to make the motion. Um >> I think I can. I have in the past. >> Good.
>> I will make the motion to approve uh the bid for Lour construction of $962,241.75 as part of resolution 202641. Is there a second? >> We'll second. >> Second by Scott.
In favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> I. >> Two in favor, one opposed. Motion passes. 7E. Approved pay request number six, Keley Underground. So this Oh, wait.
D Oh, did you skip? >> D. Yeah. >> DPS lease renewal. Oh, I'm sorry. I crossed it out without even reading. I'm sorry. 70D approval lease renewal. Approve lease renewal with DPS for Civic Arena. So, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has rented space in the
Civic Arena for many years for drivers testing. They've requested a 5-year renewal. They use a facility on Wednesdays for written tests and one Wednesday per month for driver testing. They were paying 5.85 for quarter for about the last 12 years. And so we are re we recommended 750 a quarter given
that the rent rate rent hasn't been raised. And so we're looking to approve that lease renewal with DPS for 5 years at 750 per quarter. Is this um was this part of our schedule? No, because this isn't a it's just an an annual fee or a contract
agreement that we've had. >> No, this is just a lease agreement we had with them separate. They used to be years ago they were at the armory and then when the armory remodeled we let them go up to the arena and they decided they would prefer to stay there. >> I guess I
don't have any issue any questions from council. >> Are they going to have any concern with the increase? I can't hardly believe it. >> Are they concerned with the increase? >> Yeah. >> No, I think they were just happy they had 585 for all those years. >> Okay, that's what I figured. All right.
Okay. Is there is there a motion to approve the lease renewal with DPS for five years at $750 per quarter? >> Also >> motion by Brad. Is there a second? >> We'll second. >> Second by Scott. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Three in favor. None against. Motion approved.
>> Now we can move to 7E. Pay request number six, Keley Underground. So this is pay request number nine. This is for our 2025 Birch Pine project. uh just kind of you can go through the contract amount and what the revised contract was. So the revised contract was 5,ion22,000
or 22,23583. Uh we've completed today 4,874963. So you we're just just about to the finish line although there is a retainage that we hold that we'll have to pay out. So what we're looking for this request is $10,91.91.
I had one question that I asked Vicki about earlier just to clarify the the that largest change order um for Cana Avenue was uh covered by partially by the de the developer and the EDA. So just wanted to let the council know that
remind them. >> Yeah, there there was there was two change orders. The one was that storm line on Pine Street by the old city hall and then the Cana Avenue. I do have a question in regards to the project. Um, when are we going to address the steps in front of the
church? We can't >> Keith is having a staff report on addressing the last project when we get down to updates, I think, in 8 8A. >> So, he'll talk about he you can ask him that then, I think. >> Okay.
>> Well, is this part of that cost? This change order doesn't impact the any cost to finish that steps or anything that we got to redo. Is it >> the the redo won't there won't be that's not our cost. >> Okay. That's why just want to make sure.
All right. >> Okay. Any other questions? Otherwise, is there a motion to approve pay request number nine to Keley Underground for $10,91.91? >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Scott. I'll second.
All in favor signify by saying I. >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. Three in favor, none against. >> Uh 7F or addition. Position vacation sock center PD. And this was uh what Joe had referred to
earlier that they have do have an upcoming vacancy to retirement and he's requesting to bring the process of recruitment having position filled and on the road like coming in about the September. So we'd actually maybe do the hiring in July which allows for exams. They have physical exam, they have
psychological exam, a lot of other things like that that have to happen. So what we're looking tonight is we're not hiring anybody tonight. We're just beginning that recruitment process and getting the word out there. >> You are looking for action from us to do that. >> I well general consent just to take the
next steps. >> I do have some questions for Joe then. >> Okay. Can I? >> Yep. >> All right. Sorry. >> No, you're good. I didn't want to step over here. Um, couple questions, Joe. First of all, I you mentioned earlier about the uh potential of doing some
additional time at the school. Um, and I did hear you mention the fact that you were hoping to be able to do that internally, which makes me feel better to be honest, which I'm happy to hear because I was going to ask you the question in regards
to filling this position if it was necessary. >> And um, the reason I'm asking that is is we have eight or nine full-time officers outside of yourself. How many? >> So, there's eight total and then myself is number nine. >> Okay.
And how long have we had that many officers? >> Oh, let's see. So, we added our ninth four years. Three, four years when we pretty much when we completely axed the part-time. >> Yeah.
>> So, it's probably about four years. So, probably about four years is when we um had to make some decisions. We were losing our butt on the trying to do the part-time thing. we train someone in part-time and then they'd be gone. So
that's what we crunching numbers and it was cheaper, made more sense to no more part-time and then add this other position in. >> So the reason that you went to an additional officer was because we were
had part-times and we had part-times because they were what? we added more shifts or we were reducing overtime or what changed from all of the hours that we worked for a long long time with
seven six officers to then you know an eighth officer and and now a ninth officer because it used to be our chief used to be on the street quite a bit you probably still are I don't know that but in the question I'm asking you is is what's the right number for sock
you know, is it nine? Is it 10? Is it six? >> I think well, let's put this way. So, like if like right now nine's a good manageable number. Um, right now it's set up. So, I've got I
got four shifts. So, I got my day shift. I got a what I call flex shift, which works. They'll typically come in around 10, 11 in the morning. I got my power shift. think they have a midnight shift. Um so in the past if someone would take
a day off or someone have training or sick or have court um we'd have when I started working here I mean we had five six guys on the part-time roster that you could pick and choose from um that they would fill in those spots. Uh the way it's structured
now is if someone takes a day off or someone calls them sick we basically are just shifting people up. So we're we're moving people up, moving people down to cover the shift so we have adequate coverage. So we still have that try to have two guys on majority of the day. Um
which is really important. Um so and that includes myself. So like for example today um two guys took off. One guy sick, one guy had planned vacation. So, I cover the day shift because I have and my plan
was I was going to work dayshift all day today and then have officer Mormon come in later in the evening to cover the evening shift and then Mark Ginstead is who's normally a night shift guy. There's a lot to this was working the midnight shift. Well, then I had a death
in the family. I got a funeral tomorrow. So, now I'm down to two guys tomorrow. So, I called Mormon back and said, "Can you come in and work today till 8:00 when Mark comes in?" So then when Mark comes in, you go home, go to bed, get up, and you're going to be back at 7
a.m. Uh, so I can make it to my uncle's funeral in the morning. If if we go down to if we wouldn't replace Dan's position, it's man like it'll be a prime example this summer. It's manageable for a couple months. The guys are willing to
suck it up. But if I consistently screwed with their schedules and then you're working days this day and night that day, I'll I won't keep guys. Um I I just won't. I mean, there's other agencies where you don't have to do that
type of thing. We had a good crew. Like I said, our guys are really weren't willing to do it. I don't know on a schedule side of things how I could manage it in the long run to keep retention. I'm working. You asked if like if I'm on the road. Yeah,
I work every day. I'm here at 6:00. I go home at 5 or 6 o'clock every night and I'm out there humping calls. Um and I'm fine doing that. I like working the road yet. I still like doing the admin stuff. But I don't have an answer if if we
don't fill a damn spot of keeping morale up on the long term. If I keep the young what I'm seeing with the younger generation is when I first when I started working 20 years ago, you guys paid me a lot of overtime because I was willing to work it. I'm I mean because we're short and
I like the money. I'm surprised my wife didn't divorce me. This generation, they don't care as much about the overtime. They want their time off. That's what I'm seeing when I'm hiring these guys is the number one question is, well, how much how much time off do we get? And it's it's for me it's weird because I'm
thinking, boy, I when I first started, I'd take that money. So, like my thing is is the time off's important to this this new workforce coming out. >> So, is it your is it your des is it your your goal is to always have two officers
or three officers on at a given time? >> You need two. >> So, my my goal is Yeah. My my goal is is two officers on uh you know there's a there's a period of time at 3:00 or 4 in the morning depending on how the shifts align our midnight cars by themselves 3
till 3 till 6 when I come in. Um but this day and age two officer response is extremely important and there's a couple there's a couple different ways reasons why it's important for us to have two on sock center. one trip if we arrest
somebody, someone goes to jail. Uh minimum it's going to be two to two and a half hours that officer takes to get to St. Cloud booking. If St. Cloud PD's got four guys in front of us in the jail, they could be sitting in that cell port for two hours and that and there's
no one here. Um when there's no one here, most time there's no one working down the road right now. We're the only ones out here and there's one west deputy. So, I don't feel comfortable and I don't like it when the town's unprotected for that
long. Most time if if there is one guy working like tonight if uh Mark has to bring something to jail, he'll tell them to dispatch if a call comes in to call my cell phone and I'll get out of bed and come come to take her take the call if it's an emergency. You know, if it if it's something silly, it
can wait. So, that's one aspect of it. The other aspect is uh yeah two officer response to calls are extremely important. Uh prime example last week with the fire I had two officer I had one officer running into two officers running a burning
building. If I have one officer running the burning building and all a sudden he's not coming out or something goes south he doesn't have a partner to back him up. You know since I've been working this area I've lost two people I know personally murdered in the line of duty. you know, Tommy Decker and out in Pope
County. I know those guys personally, so it's it's important, like I said, things can turn south. Um, another another thing, not just officer safety, public safety, too. If you got two officers taking, it might not even be someone going to jail. Could be something with a mental health crisis
where we need to go hands-on. It's much safer for two officers to go hand on. we don't have to use some of these belts, you know, tools on our belt to to use, you know, to harm them more. So, a lot of times if we have a a mental health call, which we run into a lot
more than we probably do as far as criminals, where we got to get them to a squad cars and get in the hospital and they're resisting us, much easier for Mark Ginstead, Matt Mormon to grab We Arm and Basically put them in there. But if you just got one person and they're fired up,
you know, there there's a bunch of there's a bunch of reasons. And I understand that some people two cops working in sock center, that's seems like a little overkill. I can tell you I've been on the side of the road fighting for 15 20 minutes back in my younger day. And when you're
waiting for a deputy to come from St. Joe 20 minutes when you're laying on the ground with somebody, that sucks. That's a crappy feeling. >> Yeah. I I don't think Uh my question isn't necessarily about should two people be on law enforcement
change. People have changed every a lot of things have changed to make that make most sense. Safety there's a gazillion reasons. >> I I don't I don't question that. But I will say that Sock Center for your first 15 years here didn't have two officers on constantly.
>> Nope. >> Nope. We had a floater a full-time a floater and there was shifts. Not saying we're going we go backwards. That's not what I'm saying. My only questioning is is if we have three officers on or if we
have greater numbers and I you know the common theme for many many years has been proactive placing I think is the correct terminology that you have used multiple times. And when I see, you know, three
officers on and 1,500 calls a month, then I start to question, what's proactive, right? >> Okay. And that's why I'm asking the questions. I'm I support you going out and finding another officer. I do. I'm I'm behind you on that. I just want us
to find making sure that one burnout is a big thing and I I am totally on board with that. The last thing we want is one is safety being uh you know uh of concern. Your officers did fantastic the other night at the fire. I mean that was
great. Um I think we've had this conversation in you know a number of times and and and my concern has always been is is uh we don't have to be the protector for the entire west half of Sterns County. We
have to take care of Sock Center. >> Yep. And it's kind of I don't use a I don't use a bad word, but it sucks because there is no other cities that are growing in law enforcement. Sock Center does seem to be the call the city to call to if someone needs backup, if
someone needs a hand. I mean, we have one we have one of the biggest counties populated and then we have one person way out here on western, you know, the west end of the county. One deputy going all the way to Brutin for crying all out loud. They ain't going to support you. You know what I mean? So, no, I get it.
>> So, anyways, um, thank you. Thank you for your service. >> To put some perspective, Melrose just added another officer. So, they're they just added a position this year, too. We're doing the backgrounds for them. Dusty's doing those backgrounds for their agency. So, they're hiring, too, uh, right now in the process of it. So,
that'll help definitely, too. Like, because we're going to rely on them this summer, too. You know, when we're running a little bit short, if we need a second car, we're going to be re relying on them, too, this summer. So that Chief Mouse is kind of in the same boat we are. It's like, yeah, we're we are the
most consistent. And then like you said too, 15 years ago, you know, we also relied on the state patrol. They had a dog watch car. >> So that's true. >> Um now the uh this area doesn't have a what they call a dog an overnight car. I'm not going to announce publicly what time the troopers go home,
>> but >> yeah, >> most of the night there isn't a trooper in the area for for that backup. So it's >> Yeah. And like I said, like I said, when we touched earlier about, you know, the school talking about us manning some hours, you know, I made it clear to them, too, like cuz we're in there, like
I mean, we're in the school a few hours a day already, and they they still want they still want some more. Um, and like I explained to them is, you know, when my guys are in the school right now, if a call comes in, we got to have them clear for it.
um if we have an extra officer someone in there working extra detail they're married to that school bar a really crazy situation you know so >> I just I told him I can't guarantee you know unless they would throw some funds at us that I can consistently have
someone then there and that so that's a conversation we're going to have >> like I said in July but yeah my my goal here is is like I said I kind of got a beat on a couple good candidates and they're kind of looking at me like well you you know, yeah, we'd like to make a
run or, you know, maybe come work for you. We're just kind of looking for a time frame. So, my time frame would be is I'd like to interview them in the next few weeks, but then that background process, so it takes a while. So, um, you know, through the month of June, Sergeant Venwaldi would be doing that
background process. Um, and then my goal would be to come to you guys sometime in maybe July, maybe that first meeting in August with this is who we'd like to get on the road. I'm looking at that September 1st just so I we have uh time to get them integrated before Dan leaves
in October. >> Thank you. >> Questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. And I guess we you said mentioned that we can do a consent general consent. >> Consent. >> Okay. If we have a general consent to
move forward. >> Yep. >> All right. And then that brings us to unfinished business. City engineer project updates. >> Good evening, acting mayor and council. Um well, we'll start with the uh last year's project 125. There's a question
that Brad had on those. Um that project, as you know, we've talked about some concrete issues that we've had out there. We are actually meeting with the contractor and the concrete supplier on Friday morning on site and be looking at
um the issues that we see out there and coming up with a resolution. Essentially, they have to come up with a resolution to to remedy those situations. So, I'll have more to announce after we have that meeting, but that is uh that is Friday morning. Um,
other than that, they'll get started shortly thereafter on actually doing those remedies and starting to finalize and get that project uh buttoned up and uh any last seating that has to be done, receding, those kinds of things. Um, the last lift of paving still needs to be
done. So, those are the things that are to be done on that project as well as the uh the the church and and doing that those final steps and the and the final pavement uh in front of there. So that will be on that list to get completed
for that. Um I think that's most things with that project. >> Are you communicating with the church just so that they got they know? >> Yeah, I haven't yet but I will do that soon to meet with them and to tell them what's uh you know as soon as I kind of know a little bit of a schedule because
that'll be the first thing they'll ask is when that will will occur. So, I'll get that on Friday and get with them. >> Um, uh, on the new project, uh, we are basically turnurning through that at the moment. Uh, a week from today, actually,
we're scheduled to be, uh, in the bypass road looking at wetland delineation out through there. So, we'll we'll identify where the wetlands are at in that in that uh, low area through there. Uh, so that's next scheduled for next Wednesday. Um otherwise we're working on
the uh on the the design for mostly f focusing on 71 corridor and immediately the um you know the roadways adjacent to it. We did meet with Mandot now a couple times and we now have a consensus where
our utilities in the 71 corridor need to be and that's important for us because we need to start from that to sort of move out into the side streets. So now that we have that, that's what we're working on. So I put together a, you know, a preliminary design for the 71
because as you know that's phase two, but we had to kind of start sort of at the back end and work our way forward. So we've got that and now we're working forward with the with the phase one and that's moving forward. Um, we're making actually pretty good strides so far on
that project. So uh that's where that one's at at the moment. Um, I think that's an author's edition. Obviously, you just approved that one. So, we'll get contracts out and pre-construction meeting and get that project rolling as as soon as we can.
Well, obviously, it's depends on the contractor's schedule, which I haven't talked to them yet on that. So, we'll see where they go. But, I have worked with Lour, as I mentioned in the past. They were a fine, reputable company. They have worked in the area um somewhat
recently. I know we've had them on a couple projects down in I think they did one in Albany I believe recently. So um so they've been in the area but they're they've been around a lot of years. They're a good respectable uh contractor. So I think with that I'll
ask if you have any questions of me >> questions. No I'm good. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. 8B author's edition lot sales. So this is just the up update on the
existing author's phase one and there's two lots remaining. You can see all the ones that we have sold and we have those last three are pending. Uh they have to go to closing yet, but they've signed the purchase agreement and paid the earnest money. Um, I was out there last week and there was three cement trucks,
three three driveways being poured, a roof being put on one house, walls going up on the other house. It was just chaos. So I'm like, "Oh boy." So hopefully going forward they'll spread out a little bit. I mean, it was really, really congested, but it was kind of exciting to see that happening and to
see all those new homes going in. So that like going forward from here though the EDA will be looking at the next phase and what the pricing structure will look like and uh hopefully we'll sell these last two lots although they have some challenges on them so they may sit there for a while. I don't know but
um I have nothing really other to report on that other than that those last ones are sitting at the closing company now just waiting for the closing to occur. Okay. Uh we have no new business this evening. So that moves us to our consent agenda.
Uh schedule of claims unpaid claims of $251,631 $251,631.34. Uh un unpaid played unpaid claims of zero for a total of the same. We have April checks for $439,77018.
Every time this time a year by June 30th, the liquor license are up for renewal. And to date, the following applicants have the appropriate paperwork completed and fee paid. That would be Babbott's Wine Bar LLC, Next Door Bar and Lounge, Pied Piper DBA Bear
Trap, Mustang Bar 3, Old Core Socks Center, Mezcow LLC, American Legion Post 67, Palmer House Minnesota LLC, Crazy Jay's Bar and Grill, Westside Liquor, Walmart Incorporated, and Sisters Beer,
Wine, and Spirits. Uh, also this time of year, the onoff sale for 32 beer licenses are up for renewal. To date, the following applicants have submitted the appropriate paperwork and fee paid for uh the 32 sale of for I Isaac's
Northstar Incorporated, Coburn's Sock Center Travel Plaza Incorporated, and Jitters Java Cafe Incorporated. The last of these licenses is cigarette licenses. And to date, the following applicants have the appropriate paperwork completed and fee paid. And
that would be Next Door Bar and Lounge, Westside Liquor, Mustang Bar 3, Coburn's Sock Center Fleet Supply, Casey's General Store, Isaac's Northstar Incorporated, Walmart Incorporated, Sock Center Travel Plaza Incorporated,
Northale Oil Incorporated, Sisters Beer, Wine, and Spirits, Holiday Station Stores Incorporated, Crazy Jay's Bar and Grill, Sock Center Tobacco LLC, and Socks Center Tobacco Incorporated. 10F. We have a gambling application for exempt permit request from the Sock
Center Lions Club for pull tabs for July 29th through August 1st, 2026 and a raffle for August 1st, 2026 at the Sterns County Fairgrounds. We also have a temporary extension of premise permit and road closure for Sinclair Lewis Day street dance on July 18th, 2026. The
road closure request is a twob block area from Main Street at the stop lightss to Elm Street from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and closed one block from Maine to Oak Street from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Eric Kellerman plans to close the road at 6:00 a.m. for the car show
and street dance and reopen at 3:00 a.m. following cleanup. The fenced area will be from the Palmer House across to Gman's and at the intersection of Elm Street. Also a partial closure of closure of Oak Street from Sincler Lewis Avenue up to the alley on both sides of
the street till 4 pm for the car show. The car show street dance road closure permit will be sent to Jod. Is it tight? Tight. Sorry, >> it's not Jod anymore. She's retired. >> Oh, county engineer. >> County. Thank you. At the county after
council approval. Um, we have a request from Eric Helerman doing business as Next Door Bar and Lounge, the ETH LLC for temporary extension of premise permits for a 17th anniversary party with music on August 1st, 2026 in the back parking lots uh behind Next Door
and the food shelf from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. An assembly permit request from Deb Holt for Corpus Christi procession to to be held on June 7th, 2026 at St. Paul's. About 200 people are expected to attend. The procession will be from St. Paul's Church down Birch
Street to Our Lady of Angel's Church and back down Ash Street. We have a request from Melissa Terry's doing business as Mustang Bar 3 Incorporated for a temporary extension of premise permit for anniversary and band on August 29th, 2026 in the back parking lot behind me meets in the old
Main Street Drug Building from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Last, we have a gambling application for exempt permit request from the Sock Center Area Chamber of Commerce for a raffle for July 12th, 2026 at the American Legion Post 67. Any questions
about the consent agenda? >> Fantastic job. You >> lost my voice after that. >> My only one question about all the per the um license and the permits. 3:00 a.m. Is that normal? Are we been doing 3:00 a.m.? It seems late.
>> Is the 3:00 a.m. is a that's for the cleanup to be done by, but the music has to stop at I think 12 >> 12:30. >> 12:30. Okay. Just so everybody Okay, >> fair enough. Thank you. >> Okay. There's no other questions. Is there a motion to approve the consent
calendar as presented? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Scott. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Brad. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. Three in favor, none against. >> We have noformational items. So that brings us >> charter. >> Charter.
>> No charter. >> I know. No spectum lineup change. Uh is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion by Brad. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Scott. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Meeting adjourned.