[Music] [Applause] Call the meeting to order. All rise 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. Roll call. All members are present. Approval of the agenda. We have two changes or two additions.
7J, approve resolution 2025-87, ordering repair or removal of hazardous building. and 7K, approve resolution 2025-88 ordering the vacation of rental
property. Is there any other changes? Council have any. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda with those two additions? Motion to approve. I'll second. Motion by Heidi, seconded by Joe. Call the question. All those in favor
signify by saying I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. Five in favor, none against. Approval of the minutes of the September 3rd, 2025 regular meeting. I'll receive them in your packet. Is
there any changes or corrections needed within those minutes? Hearing nothing. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes of the September 3rd meeting? Motion to approve. Motion by Scott. Do I have a second?
Second by I'll go Brad. Sure. Any other discussion? Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Five in favor, none against.
This brings us to our public open forum. Is there anyone here that would like to speak to the council? Is there anyone here that would like to speak to the council? Call a third time. Is there anyone here that would like to speak to the council?
Seeing no one, our public open forum is closed. We now we don't have any public hearings. We'll then move on to reports and presentations. Police department monthly report. Joe, good evening. Mayor and Council, uh, the
August 2025 monthly report. Um, nothing super crazy as far as major incidents. It was a busy month. It was a fair month. Um, so we had Sterns County Fair went off the hitch. Uh, some of the higher numbers, uh, agency assists are
up again to 18. Uh, 28 medical emergencies, which was actually down a little bit, um, from last year that time. Um, you look at the thefts and the shoplifting. Most all those thefts that I could see were all retail based. Um,
the shoplifter, you see there's one shop, one theft. The shoplifter is coded that way because it was caught in progress. Most time we get called after the fact. Um, 664 for traffic stops, a bunch of patrols, nine welfare checks, four people went to jail on uh when he
went knocked on the door for routine warrants for 1,247. Um they kind of looked over everything as far as the holes for the summer. We had a really good summer as far as um no major crime sprees or nothing like that. The accident numbers were were
down overall from years past. Um we didn't have uh in years past we've run into some vandaliz vandalism spre uh too concerning. Uh the parks, we didn't have too many issues down the parks. Some of you may have heard we had
someone going through coolers for a couple weeks uh down the campground. We put that one to bed. We caught the teenager doing that going through people's cooler seal and beers at night. So we educated on that. Uh so overall uh the summer was real good. I mean we're
seeing uptick right now in financial exploitation cases working on basically people getting scammed over the phone and their credit cards. So those are kind of keeping us busy during the day daytime a little bit. Um and we're back into that school routine now. to see that we're at the school every morning
before and after school and we're there during the day. I know the the school board had some initial concerns with stuff that happened in Minneapolis about our presence, but uh I was talking to Mr. Pesel and they're happy with what we're doing now. I mean, we're we're in there three to four times a day, both holy family and the public school. So,
and we're at all the sporting events. So, we're going to keep doing that throughout the year to make sure everybody's safe there. Okay. Questions? Any questions, concerns? Yes, sir. Thank you.
Public works department. BIM. Good evening, Mayor and Council. This past month, we did shut down the PLA splash pad for the season. We did winterize that, so that's completed. Uh the bathrooms at the splash pad will remain open until early October when all the bathrooms are closed and winterized
for the year. Fitness Park. We did some troubleshooting with Game Time on our timer issue on the 40-yard dash. So, we were able to confirm the parts that we need through them. So, they're still working on getting us that pricing for those replacement parts and then a plan on how to deal with the turf and get
that fixed. Uh we'll probably do the actual repair in the spring. No sense doing it this fall. Uh tree planting. We did plant 20 trees across St. Louis Park, JC Park, and the campground. And then we'll be keeping those watered until the ground is frozen.
street sweeper issue that we discussed last month with you. The manufacturer has had representatives out several times now. Uh they did send an entirely new pickup head for the sweeper, which we did install and test with them while they were here. We got slight
improvement, but not great. So, it's not done with yet. We're still working with the manufacturer on what the proper solution is for this, but we'll keep after them to get that working the way that it should be. uh potholes downtown on Highway 71, we filled those along with several other areas in town that
needed to be addressed before winter hits. Our salt order did arrive for this season. So, that's in the shed and ready to go. The compost pile, we moved and restacked um the two different piles. We have three total piles. So, we moved the
first and second row over, which makes room for everything that's going to come in this fall. We have a significant amount of leaves and grass that gets hauled in during the next two months. our brush pile. We did have a contractor that was in need of wood chips, so they came in, they chipped the entire pile. That was no cost to the city, which was
very nice. Um, we're hopeful that this can turn into a long-term solution, but it has to make sense for the contractor on their end. So, we'll see how this first round goes for them, and if it was profitable, then they'll continue to do that, which is better than burning. The full depth reclamation is completed on
Park Lane and Hendrickk Street. The senior center, we had a drainage repair that we had to do up there and then we did a large tar patch in the parking lot to fix some crumbling asphalt. The arena, we had several dry floor events on the weekends. No issues with those. Everything was good. Uh the last one is
scheduled for September 26th. We've been doing some of the prep work on the building prior to the ice being installed in October and then that'll go in on the 13th. Starting on October 13th, uh we put a new concrete apron on the east side of the arena and then the LED lights are also installed at the
arena now. And the rooftop unit is scheduled to be put on next week. So that's everything up there. Is there any questions I can answer? Questions, concerns? Okay. Thank you.
Planning Commission report. Good evening, Mayor Council. You have a copy of our agenda from the September 9th. We did have one public hearing and there's an action item later on the agenda for that. You have a copy of the August building permit report and the
code violations complaints and zoning permits. So, if you have any questions on that for me questions, concerns, guess not. Thank you. Thank you.
City engineer report. Keith. All right. Good evening, Mayor Council. Um 2025 project is moving right along. Um we're about 80% complete at this point in time. Uh all curbon gutter with
the exception of a couple radi has been installed. um tenatively looking at paving the remaining that which isn't paved. Uh basically fifth and couple blocks of birch and pine will be hopefully the end of next week. All kind of depends on rain the next few days and
see how that all pans out. But that's a tent of schedule. So we have mostly flat work after that. So that's driveways walk and those kinds of things. Um there is a fair amount that's ready um subgrade wise for for those walks that
come in. So I have been on the discussions with the contractor regarding schedules and making sure that they're you know they're uh those are all subs who are doing that work that they're engaged with their subs and make sure they get in here. We sort of in
agreement as to how many weeks worth of full-time work is remaining. So I said that's, you know, they got to be here otherwise it's not going to get done. And they've opened it all up. So they're required to get it done, required to get it restored in grass growing. Um
hopefully you've noticed those areas that have been restored. Um the grass is looking quite quite good in in most of those blocks and so hopefully the rest of it will be that that well as but as you get to the end of the year then it's kind of dormant seating and see what
happens in this in the spring. But we we'll hope for our best and if you know if things have to get receded they have to get receated but hopefully not. Hopefully things will work out well for that. But that's where things are at with that. Um at the the church on Seventh Street um unfortunately there is
failing concrete tests in there. The 28 day breaks did not uh make it where they needed to be. They're actually a fair amount short. So all that walk that's in there on the church side basically from ash all the way to the umh to the alley
has to all get removed reput back in. My concern at this point we've been discussing with the contractor is all right do we tear all this stuff up? Can we get it back in in time related to all the rest of the project or are we better off because
there's a wedding there on October 18th as well. So there's a right in the middle of kind of a unfortunate scheduling thing. So the question is, you know, it looks to me at this point we might be better off to leave that concrete sort of temporarily put in the
boulevards and for the winter time and let it sit that way until spring and then have them come back and and tear up that stuff and redo it um in spring because I'm afraid if we try to get it I don't think we're going to get it done before the 18th and I don't think we're
going to get it done after the 18th. So that's kind of the the the issues we are with the with the church. So I think that will, you know, a temporary solution that's fairly easy to do would be in my opinion probably the the least risky thing for us to do at this point
in time and get them back having services and all those kinds of things that they can they can start doing and we can get that kind of buttoned up temporarily and deal with it, you know, in the spring. So that's one issue that's hanging out there with that. um
Kan tractor trail that um all the the curb is in in there, all the grading's done through there. Um so we'll be looking at getting in putting more gravel in there, getting the um driveway aprons for for tractor supply as well as
the bank in uh and move forward with those and move towards paving on that one. Because there's really no utilities, we'll look at probably doing both lifts of asphalt so that job will essentially be done you once it gets restored. So that can be that that little thing can be taken off our plate
for that one. Um the last thing is the South Industrial Park. Uh Mark Lee is finally coming in there to start doing that repair work. We've marked out the areas for them to mill and and take out. So they'll be coming in soon to do that milling and do that repaving and getting
that taken care of. So it's taking a long time for them to finally get there, but uh it's finally finally going to happen. So, with that being said, I'll ask any questions you may have. Questions? Is the concrete in front of the on Seventh Street in front of the
church? Is that the second time it what's currently down? Is it the second time that we've attempted to put it down? No, that was that was first. Yeah. And we have to wait till the 28 day break, which didn't pass a 7-day we had
indications that it it may not make it, and indeed it did not. Um, we actually had another failing test just today that yes, today that I received. Um, and it also is the same supplier of material. So, I've had a discussion with the
contractor about this supplier shouldn't be delivering to our project because obviously they can't um they can't meet the specifications. Um, it's not their main supplier. The main supplier is Worms here in town and we've had, you know, good success with with them. So
it's it's really their kind their backup supplier if they if they need to, but it's not going well with that. So So we have a few driveways aprons that are going to have to be removed that were poured with this last failing test that we got from them. So you know, those
things all have to get done and you we're starting to get short on time. So you know, you just never know this time of year. You could run into a whole spade of rain for days on on end. So, it's that's the part that concerns me at this point is unfortunately that
flat work and unfortunately these things that have to get removed and replaced again. We don't we don't want those driveways like that. Those they're not acceptable. They'll more inclined to potentially crack and break on up on people. So, we don't want that. Um they
should be the quality that is specified in the contract. So, that's where we're at with those. Did you say, Keith, that I I might not have heard it that um there was the uh underground heating system or the the heated sidewalk that was included in
that that also failed or are we able to salvage that? There w there was uh heating system on the north side of the building. The church decided not to replace that. So, that is not included in what's what's there now or would be in the for any
remainder. So they didn't apparently they hadn't used it for a number of years actually since it's been in. I guess it costs too much to run. So, okay. Yeah. One of the talking to Keith earlier today about all of this was just
pure fact that we did tell the contractor whatever gets opened up is going to get closed up and done and finished and it is in the contract that it could affect their bottom line if they don't. Keley
basically has everything done. It's all their subcontractors right now that are causing the problem. So until but they the main contract said anything that gets opened up will be finished. So we do have that option where we are
going to have to probably look at that that penalty clause of that and in my opinion they have been reminded of that. Yep. Yep. You know, excuses won't cut it when it comes to
this now because I don't want people sitting without a sidewalk in front of their house or a driveway. Pat, no. It all needs to get back filled and put back. There is one other thing on, if you recall, we you know, we those on Pine Street between fifth and fourth
there's some taller um tanning walls through there and those were always question of you know how long if they were going to hold up through there. happy to report only one section uh that's about a 20 maybe a 20 foot section that needs to get pulled out and
re redone. We're going to do it with just CMU block and a and a poured core through there and that's been gone over with the landowner and they're they're very happy with with that. But, you know, based on the conditions of all of them, I'm I'm pleased that that was all that occurred through there. But, um
that is just the one. There's another one actually just north of that one. uh that the landowner themselves is is tearing all that out and wants the the yard slope back and they're going to get remove that big retaining wall. So, so that's actually I just learned that
today. I I wasn't aware of that. So, okay. Any other questions? Just one. You have a couple signs on I think seventh and eighth street says uh no no through traffic or road under construction yet or something. Is that still what's the story there? It's been
that way for a while. Those are to try to minimize the traffic that's just going through the project. So that because there's still work going on behind the behind the curb, those kinds of thing, there's still construction traffic happening, construction activities happening. We normally try to
keep only those who sort of live there back and forth and try to keep other people going around to other directions. So that's the reason for that. Yeah. The other day when I went by, there was, you know, there's a dump truck dumping gravel on there, using a
skid loader with tracks to dump more gravel behind the curb to build up the sidewalk base and stuff like that. And I can see they don't need any more traffic in those streets. And if they got that going on, then that's why the signs are
still there. It It's really a safety thing trying to keep traffic minimized. So, any other questions? Okay. Thank you, Keith. Thank you. Airport board report. So, the airport board met on September
10th. That was a regular session. Uh the the land acquisition grant and we can apply for that in May of 2026. So, we'll be holding it until then. We can apply and then expect the issuance in July or August. the hanger grant for the the 80 by90 hanger, the AIP and the AIG,
they're in process and actually I have uh asking for approval to sign those grants later on in the agenda. We did look at our capital improvement program. There's some new requirements for runway access may require us to make a change to our capital improvement plan and put
that into our our planning process. And it has to do with how when you come straight out from the hangers to access the runway, they want you to make like two maneuvers, so taxi way along beside it before you turn to go onto it. Uh the land lease contracts are up for renewal.
Uh the south 38 acres there will see a new renter next year. We did receive a request for an easement over the 11 acre parcel we purchased on the east side of 186. uh that yet um because we purchased that with grant dollars, FAA has to be
involved in that process. We did have a grant audit by Mandot. They came and looked at our prior grants last week and we came through that just fine. In fact, it worked out good for us because we had some unfinished business. We were waiting for MIDOT to finish and after we talked to him the next day, all of a
sudden everything was getting done. And then we do have the grant agreement for the 26 and 27 fiscal year maintenance and operations. So that is on the agenda tonight as well. Okay, questions, concerns.
All right, then we will move on to our action items. 7A, approve resolution 2025-83 granting variance to Schmezing. So the planning commission acting as the board of adjustment conducted a public hearing at its meeting on September 9th
to consider the application of Scott and Trista Schmezing for the variance from the maximum square foot allowed for accessory buildings and garages. The property is located at 508 Alex Moore Street. The request is to allow a 780 ft addition to an existing 1,200 ft
detached accessory structure where a maximum of 1,200 is allowed and a total of 3,68 square ft cumulative when combined with the existing garage where 1,800 ft² is allowed. And I do have a copy of the certificate of survey you
can see in your packet and the hatch mark is the addition to the back of the garage. The planning commission after consideration of the request recommend that the variance be approved based upon the findings and conditions that uh no evidence has been submitted indicating
the location of the new structure would adversely affect the public health. Uh the request is consistent with the comprehensive plan by improving the housing stock. A detached garage is allowed use in the low and medium density residential and they're not asking for economic considerations
conditions where no part of it shall be used for human habitation. uh it's null and void in one year after it effective date if not acted upon and then of course no application for the same or essentially the same variant shall be made within six months if it is denied. The request is actually to approve it.
It's resolution 2025-83 granting the variance to Scott R and Trista Kmezing. Questions, comments. Do I have a motion to approve the resolution 2025-83? So move
motion by Brad. Do I have a second? I'll second. Second by Joe. Last minute discussion. Call a question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Five in favor. I actually will abstain
as a neighbor. All right. Four in favor. None against. One abstension. Thank you. 7B. Approve resolution 2025-84 approving preliminary 2026 budget.
So following the reductions made to the proposed preliminary budget by the city council at the workshop on September 3rd, the updated budget leaves an overall increase to the general fund expense budget of 2.86%. Uh the items that were changed at the hearing or at the public meeting where
they removed the fuel system from the street or 11,000 of the fuel system from the street department, added back in the summer wreck of 8,100, removed 125,000 for morning view shelter and 40,000 for the Hickman Trail. So that was a total
general fund reduction of 167,900. The special revenue accounts uh remain uh fairly flat. We did remove that parking lot from the arena and also 4,500 for the floor scrubber in the arena and 4,000 from the purchase of a
courtesy car for the airport. Uh the debt service funds saw the biggest increase due to the new debt coming online for the bond project for the project we're doing now for the financing of Birch and Pine. Uh the overall revenues for the city are projected at 12,318,780.
expenses at 12,965 35630. Uh the reason for the overall expenses exceeding revenues is primarily due to expending funds for the finalization of Birch Pine. We already have the revenue in the bank. We won't be spending it till next year. And then I did include
an updated copy of the budget detail. And then the resolution adopting this preliminary 2026 expense and revenue budget for the city of Sock Center, which is resolution 2025-84. questions, comments.
I got a comment. Um, just looking over I had a chance to visit with Vicki today and and she did a fantastic job of kind of bringing me up to speed or helping me out since it's been quite some time since I've been here. Um, but I'm just the general operating budget is, you
know, over the last 10 years is is nearly doubled um from a 1.5 million to 2.9 2.889. 889. Um, understanding that over the course of an average of time that's not a significant amount and a lot of times that that's made up by the
increase in our property uh values. Mhm. Right. So that allows us to maintain the tax capacity rate of roughly 40 to 5 to 50%. That's what it's been. Um the my
only concern about that is is at some point the tax valuations of our community is going to write itself in my opinion. At some point it can't go up year after year after year after year. So when that happens
our budget which is nearly doubled in 10 years isn't going to just automatically go down. That's going to stay there because it's operating costs. So, I'm concerned about the continued rise in that. I I support the budget, don't get
me wrong, as it is, uh, in 2026. It's just an awareness that caught my attention. Our budgets are designed to maintain fiscal responsibility of us and for the city. And I think uh, and thanks to um, Heidi here, she made light of
that when we were talking at the last meeting. I spent some time uh, thinking more about it. So, thank you. Um but I and I think we're doing that by the rate. My only concern is what happens when the values become streamlined and start to drop but our budget stays high.
Then we're going to have a pro potential issue which you're correct that the only thing is is you know we don't have that crystal ball. Yeah. We can't look into the future. Um, some of that increase on that general fund,
if you look at it, is wages, health insurance, all of that stuff has gone way up. It's probably has doubled considering most of the wages are anywhere from 3% to 7% increase based on union contracts.
Um, over 10 years, I can easily see that happening. I would hope at some point too in the future that the cost of of of businesses coming into town would make up for some of that maybe loss tax base
in in residential housing or something would happen that makes it um easier for people to build on top of like a stagnant housing market that is just come and go. new builds, new commercial market, new
all of it that could maybe offset that that difference or predicted idea. One one of the things and I'm going to add to it and you you touched on it was businesses coming into town. I remember when Walmart came into town, we
basically didn't have to raise taxes for what, six years, because their tax base was so much that it covered most of any increase the city needed and made the city council look like heroes because we didn't have to increase. But, you know, that's where we
need them businesses coming into town for that tax base. And as long as we're promoting sock center and they keep coming in, I think it hopefully we'll cover that increase. So
I would say Brad, I do hope that we do come to a a level of stagnant in that tax um property tax, you know, market, but like Warren said, it's not we don't have a crystal ball. Any other comments
or questions? Otherwise, I'll look for a motion to approve resolution 2025-84. Motion to approve. Motion by Joel. A second. Seconded by Heidi. Last minute discussion.
Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries. Five in favor. None against. 7 C. Approve resolution 2025-85 approving preliminary 2026 levy.
So this is the levy component that supports that budget. Of course it's not the 13 million or the 12 million that's the budget but the levy um is uh the general fund 1,941255 special revenue of 188,000 and debt
service of 760. This is that when budded com or Brad had said 2.889 889. That's actually the total levy, not the general fund budget. So, it's total levy for all funds, which was 20 years ago was 1.5 million. So, close, but not quite.
So, that is the budget that supports the uh the levy that supports the budget. And then also on page 31, I did put that calculation in the tax rate calculator. So that levy would increase a $200,000 house by $8.33,
a $300,000 house by $1363, a $500,000 house by $2423, and it follows on the various values of commercial property. So what we're looking here tonight is to approve resolution 2025-85
adopting the preliminary tax levy collectible in 2026. Questions, concerns? Do I have a motion to approve resolution 2025-85? Motion to approve.
Motion by Scott. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Joe. Last minute discussion. Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries.
Five in favor, none against. 7D. Approve resolution 2025-86 accepting grant for airport maintenance and operations. The city has received the maintenance operations grant to offer from fiscal year 26 and 27. This grant hopes to
offset costs for operations at the airport from July 1st of 25 to June 30th of 27. The amount of the grant is 254,91 penny per year. It's a reimbursement grant and reimbures the city for 75% of
the costs up to that amount. So items that we would reimburse for costs would be electric bill, phone bill, cost of labor to be out there taking care of the snow, fixing the lights, those operational costs of the airport. We're eligible to get reimbured 75% of those up to that 24,9101
per year. So that's this resolution 2025-86 approving the maintenance and operations grant from MIDOT Aeronautics. Questions, concerns? Do I have a motion to approve resolution 2025-86?
So motion by Brad. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Heidi. Last minute discussion. Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Five in favor, none
against. 7E. authorize acceptance of federal grant hanger AIP portion. So this action and the sec and the one to follow both have to do with the construction of the big hanger at the airport. Uh the 2026 fiscal year grant
for the hanger has been offered for approval by MINDOT and the FAA. Uh the AIP portion is the portion that will pay through the annual entitlements that have accured. The FAA portion for this grant is 368,747. The state portion is 9,70388
and the local portion which is us is 970388. And so I'm requesting that authorize the execution of the grant documents for the FAA AIP portion of the hangar project. Questions? Vicki, I have a question in regards to
the hanger. This is a new hanger. Um are all the hangers in all of the buildings completely full as we speak? And we have do we still have a waiting list? Mhm. Mhm. Okay. And the box, I understand, is the the
preferred, right? It's has the more option to the box hanger versus the T hanger. The T- hanger, the plane goes in one way and that's it, and there's no additional space. This hanger will be like where the old courtesy car garage is. And this will be designed like for an FBO. Um,
one of the options is for Central Plains to move into that hanger, which is larger, and then rent out the hanger they're in separately, or they may keep both hangers, or someone else may move in. So, that's the that's the intent of this hanger. Any other questions, concerns?
Do I have a motion to authorize the execution of the grant documents? Motion to approve. Motion by Heidi. Do I have a second? I'll second. Second by Brad. Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. Opposed. Motion carries. Five in favor,
none against. 7F, authorized acceptance of federal grant hanger AIG portion. Um, this is also for that 80 by90 hanger. Uh, this money is funded from that infrastructure bill that was passed from the federal government about five years ago. I believe it was. Uh the city
of Sock Center was allocated $585,000 of that grant. Uh we actually had so much a year it's accumulated to that and that's our max. Uh so the FAA portion of this is 585,000. Uh the state will kick in 15,39474
and the city 15,39474. So this one as well we're requesting permission to execute the grant documents for this portion of the hangar project. questions. Both of these are in the budget, I'm assuming, for the airport budget. Yeah, it's already funded.
All right. Is there any other questions, comments? Do I have a motion to authorize the execution of the grant documents? Motion to approve. Motion by Joe. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Scott.
Any other discussion? Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed extensions motion carries five in favor none against. 7G approve ordinance 850 repealing
shoreland ordinance moratorum. So the policy committee has met and they've made recommendations on the processes to acquire a shoreland alteration permit. They did develop a brochure kind of like a how-to and what you can and cannot do and that has been distributed for back to the committee a
couple times for review and then to the city council. Uh we're not recommending at this point to actually amend the shoreland ordinance itself. Just the permitting process for it is what we were working on. Uh the committee recommends that the moratorum be lifted at this time and so I have the ordinance
850 repealing the shoreland alteration moratorum. Questions, concerns? I went over it a little bit with Sarah earlier and changed some language in it. Um
but otherwise what's the policy committee have anything they want to comment? I would just say that it was you know an effort of you know folks from the planning and zoning along with the policy. you know, there was a lot of lot of input, which is
fantastic. And um we also looked at multiple counties uh and what they use for uh not only their permitting uh which as we know we follow Sterns very closely, but more of their their uh notification or
theirformational packet so to speak. And um we believe this covers you know a lot of the questions. This also so supports the checklist that you know is already part of our document that's handed out anytime anybody's doing any shortland
work. But I think the biggest thing is is uh you know we tried to highlight the most was anytime any work is done on a short land it requires a permit by the city. Just doesn't really matter what it is so to speak. It's going to require some type of permit and it's going to
require approval by the city in some fashion. even if it goes to the wershed first, still has to come back to the city. I mean, it's our whole goal was to clarify that we have to have you have to have a permit from the city if you're within the city and working on your
shoreline. That's kind of a a big goal, I think. I correct me if I'm wrong. Yeah, I I agree and I I appreciate the work that Sarah put on this and the input from the planning commission like you said um to have multiple eyes on this and just get a really comprehensive
um more of a comprehensive or educational checklist or document that is not so doesn't leave room for a lot of you know questions. If it if this is what you're wanting to do, check this document. Understand there's
a permit, but who do I go to? this document will tell you. Okay. Any other questions or So, a big part of this we we talked about when we put it in place with the ordinance and the educational piece was kind of getting all the agencies kind of on the same page between the DNR, the
watershed, the city. I mean, do we feel that that's been accomplished through this or is it so much more that we're like, hey, you need to get a permit from the city and that's the end all beall. We're not worried about cohesiveness with the other agencies as much. I I I
think I guess that maybe the best answer that was is um we were always on the in our conversations it was unclear I think if does this where does the city what role does a city play and that was what we were trying to define in this not
necessarily what the rules are for the wershed or other any agencies but what they need to do if they're in the city of su center I think that was our our goal I don't know if that answers the question. Did we personally sit down with the other agencies? Um I don't know
if Sarah reached out to them or communicated with them, but Okay. So, um that was that's the a only agency that we did reach out to. Okay. I just Yeah. I know we talked about consistent as far as the way the process is done and stuff. So, I just want to make sure we've
y feel comfortable with with what we did and you know, obviously we took a year where it's just an educational piece is all we're we're providing here at the end. I think also to to touch on our due diligence is that we discussed having this document sent out to all Shoreline
property owners twice a year. So if there is an exchange of property within a year at some point somebody's going to get this document from here on out. Okay. The one question I got and I know that what you the policy committee worked on
is for the shoreland piece of it. Is the policy committee going to work with how we are going to handle people that just ignore the rules and go do what they want to do? How are we going
to cover that penalty? Isn't that already in our existing existing is it going to be enforced or are we going to crank it up or I want to kind of make sure we cover all our bases. It's great to tell them how they got to do it. But if the there's a few people
out there that don't listen to rules and we haven't discussed anything on penalty. So I just want to know if that discussion is going to keep going on. I do have on my checklist and I know Sarah took a picture of it because as we were meeting I wrote down kind of a priority list of what we needed to accomplish to
be able to lift this moratorum. One was creating thisformational item that's on us. Y then was also you know supporting documentation that expounds on anything else that they might have questions about. Then there's also the cons the um
contractor issue um that came into the discussion of penalties. So that was I think item list number three or four when we started discussing penalties. We didn't talk a lot about it, but I'm also not officially on the policy committee. So whether they, you know, continue to
discuss that I guess is I'm I'm willing to do it with the planning commission if that needs to be a more in-depth discussion. But that might be something that I think, you know, policy committee or a committee of some type sets a guideline.
Okay, you did this without a permit. This is what you're going to get fined. You did this, you're going to get this right on the top. I mean, it says work done without appropriate permits will be fined $100 per day. The violation is present. So, I mean, that's which is our current policy, right?
Yeah. But you're asking to be very specific to holding ourselves to our own. You clearcut a whole pity, you're that's more going to be more than a hundred bucks. Fine. Otherwise, you're going to have everybody just doing it and then
say, "I'll pay the hundred bucks. Big deal." And we know that it's happened in a few places. So, that's the reason why I'm bringing it up. I think it needs to be carried on a little farther. Well, I think that'll have to be developed beyond this repeal, I guess.
Well, then they got separate separate separate process. If they clear cut, they're going to have to replant trees. That's that's part of the So are you asking like for these these are the different types of violations and this is your fine for that violation. Yep. So that would be something that would be
an amendment to the code and then you would mimic that in your or you would put it in the code that the violations are set by council resolution. We would include it in our fee schedule at the end of the year. Right. So if that's something you want to do then we do the fee schedule the second meeting in December every year. Have a couple months to have that conversation
with the planning commission. I think it would be the thing to do and I think we can roll this uh the information or the the verbiage that isn't currently part of our um code language in that discussion too. Correct. Regarding the contractor,
right? So, okay. Um I think general consent we can discuss that further. for right now. Um, do I have a motion to approve ordinance 850 repealing the shoreland alteration moratorum? Motion to approve.
Motion by Heidi. Do I have a second? I'll second. A second by Joel. Any other discussion? Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries.
Five in favor, none against. 7H. approve advancement of EMT to paramedic. So Harry Dunn has been an EMT with our service since August 8th of 2024. He has now taken the paramedic class on his own. He's completed all required
training, testing, and clinical hours. He has passed the natural national registry test and now is a licensed paramedic. The department is requesting that Harry Dunn be promoted to paramedic level one paygrade according to the current's pay scale when he's acting in the capacity of a paramedic and then he
would be at EMT4 level when he performs act or duties as a BLS EMT. So we're looking to advance Harry Dunn to a paramedic paramedic level one effective immediately along with EMT4 when doing the BLS duties.
Questions, comments? That's pretty impressive. Yeah. That he did that on his own. Yep. To do that on his own. Yes. So, do I have a motion to advance Harry Dun paramedic? So, move. Motion by Brad. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Joe.
Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Five in favor, none against. Seven. I accept resignation of EMT. Uh Jamie Olsen has submitted her resignation from the ambulance service
as of September 12th. She has cited changes in her lifestyle circumstances have caused her not to be able to commit the hours necessary for this position. So we're acting to accept the resignation of Jamie P from the service effective September 12th. Do I have a motion to accept the
resignation? Motion to approve. Motion by Heidi. Do I have a second? I'll second. Second by Joel. All the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Extensions. Motion carries. Five in favor, none against. And I want
to thank Jamie for the years of service that she was on the ambulance service. 7J. Approve resolution 2025-87 ordering repair or removal of hazardous building. So, due to ongoing safety concerns at
the Old Mill Apartments, the city reached out to the owner of the apartments for permission to enter and conduct an inspection. The owner signed a consent form and authorized city representatives to accompany his insurance inspector for the inspection on Monday, September 25th. Those who
conducted the inspection were fire chief Jeff Bromanshankle, police chief Joe Jensen, building official Rick Holt, and rental inspection Kelly Kurfeld. Also in attendance were the owner, Roger Doden, his insurance adjuster, along with an insurance engineer inspector. At the
conclusion of the inspection, the city representatives provided a report back to the city which was compiled into exhibit A of resolution 2025-87. The resolution, if passed, orders the repairs be made or the building be demolished. Authority for this action is
found in Minnesota State Statute 463.15 and 463.261, 261, also known as the hazardous buildings act. The city should determine what is an appropriate timeline to give for the repairs to be made. There's a significant amount of repairs that need to be made before the
apartments will be habitable. A timeline of four to six months has been discussed and may be appropriate. Appears will repairs will be inspected along the way under the required building permit. Items not requiring a permit will be inspected in the final inspection prior to the city council declaring the
property uh no longer hazardous. uh in the resolution and I certainly am not going to read all the items that need to be repaired but the things that are identified were 16 items. Uh fire alarm system is inoperable. The fire escape ladder is loose and insecure. Water is
penetrating through the roof with sky visible through the ceiling. Mold is evident in multiple areas. Windows are substandard substandard. Suspicion of lead paint and asbestous. There's falling plaster. Heaters are substandard, rested, sub and rusted, subject to moisture. Evidence of mice,
cockroaches, and millipedes. Floor coverings are not cleanable. Appliances are in disrepair. Loose and broken light fixtures, some water seeping out of them. Missing and or inoperable smoke detectors. Suspected instability of building due to cracks, sidewalks falling away and yard slumping. A
basement crawl space with rusted support structure, water seepage, cut floor joists, and loose electrical wires. common areas and private areas need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and the electrical panels are in the wet area like in the bathroom. So these are
the 16 items and then the exhibit that is attached um goes into more detail of how you need to go about what needs to repair within those and I'm not going to read those tonight. So what I'm looking for tonight is to approve resolution 2025-87
ordering the repair or removal of the hazardous conditions located at 23 Main Street South. And also I would need you to fill in the blank on how much time we want to give him to do this. Questions, concerns? Is that Monday, August 25th that the inspection was just
for the record? Yeah, August 25th. Any other questions or comments? I know each of us received the pictures. They got 195 of them with explanations of what Kelly and the inspection team
seen bringing us to this point. Um, personally, I don't see any reason why we can't pass this because obviously no one should be living in that type of
conditions. Um, the one thing is if they if the property owner wants to repair any of this, I think it has to be done by licensed contractors,
not just themselves doing this, because we've seen in the pictures what some of the repair jobs have looked like. And if we're going to do it, let's do it right, especially on electrical. You know, there's floor joists down in the
basement that were cut. Obviously, a contractor wouldn't cut a floor joist. So, I mean, if they were done by themselves, I mean, they'd have to pass the inspection process and stuff anyways. If it doesn't pass those inspections, we
wouldn't declare deem it adequately repaired. We would have to go through the whole I mean I would expect everything's going to have to be permitted. So the electrical would have to go through a state permitting process, right? Then everything else would have to be some sort of a it would come across from
you know Sarah's table and the permit application permit. It would be inspected. Yeah. So I mean if they did the work themselves they did the work themselves. I mean it still would have to pass the permitting process was done the correct way. So, right. Um, I don't know that you have to mandate that they're licensed
contractors if he's got the abilities and it would have to pass inspection and can do the repairs. If it's not done adequately or up to standards, it doesn't pass the permit. He's got to redo it at a greater cost. And if we're going to have a timeline, well, then we know there's a timeline. So, I mean, it all kind of has to fall
in place. I think on that timeline of four to six, you've got outdoor work. You've got the the bricks falling off the external. You've got window sills. How is that going to be manageable in a winter setting?
Just a date that was recommended to me. I It was recommended by the owner. Uh no, just in talking to various people that that do that type of work. It you still got at least two months you'd be able to take care of anything.
That's but if the building is sliding into the river and you got to put put a building back and reinforce any of that by the time you get you got to get permits from the DNR because you're next to the river. You're going to have to get permits from the watershed. You get
permits from us. It's going to be quite a lengthy ordeal. This So yeah, this isn't just saying that this has to be done by this amount of time. We're just allowing this work to be done. If it's not done, we just continue this process of what
could be the next action item. Yeah. Um, if they really wanted to repair it, I would think they would could start getting permits and everything already by the end of the week.
Um, it just reinforces the reason why I push really hard to get a rental inspector on board because obviously there's nobody that needs to live in this type of conditions. Um,
if you made it four to 6 months after the permits are acquired, they could have the work done. Uh, I don't know if you want to say after the permits are acquired because what if he never acquires the permits and you don't the six month never starts? You get a year after a permit is
acquired anyways. I think to the building permits are if it's a building permit issue, you have to do so much work every like 180 days. So, you can really draw them out. Okay. about three months for three years. Uh Kelly, do you have a recommendation
based on your experience or as the inspector on on this? Like what do you think an adequate time frame would be? Building repairs like these if we give them six months to complete these repairs. I mean I think that's an adequate time frame.
My question too in that or sorry I didn't mean to cut you off the removal of hazardous conditions what does that entail so the the hazardous conditions are all of the things that we like you know like the mold and the asbestous and all of the things that are listed those are the
hazardous conditions and so you either repair all those and and remove the hazardous condition or the other removal is the building is gone that was my question so ultimately the owner could say, "I'm not fixing all this stuff. I want it
gone." And typically, I hate to say, in this situation, when they just want it gone, they just walk away and then it ends up being on the city's back. And then we have to go through the county process of condemning it and writing it to taxes and then being able to No, no, there's there's a hazardous buildings act.
We can Okay. procedure for that. Um whether he's got an insurance claim out there as well. So, yeah. So, this just kind of sets in in These are the things that need to be fixed. You need to fix it within a certain period of time. You know, you
either repair it, you remove the hazardous part of it, or you remove the building. So, that's kind of where it's at. It's gotten to that point. One thing right now, he's kind of got a running bill with the city right now because we got the barricades there
because that was even asked for from his own insurance person from what I understand because of the bricks hitting the sidewalk. was a public hazard. So for them barricades sitting there every day and nothing getting done, he's
getting the bill for those barricades. We're not giving that a free gratus thing. So I checked into that. So he will be getting the bill. So as long as everything sits there and things keep the way it is, he's getting the bill for
each one of them barricades. We can we can work with the owner on the timeline. If you want to put a timeline in there, we can amend that in the future. If he all of a sudden comes in and says, "I'm going to have it all done in three months or it's going to take me a year." I mean, we can adjust that. We just have to put something in here so we
keep this project moving forward. The process moving. Six months takes us to the middle of March, probably our second meeting in March, right around that time frame potentially. Yep. For us to review if we need a grant, an extension.
Yeah, four to six months for doing what it has to do. Considering all the out exterior, the building structure itself, it doesn't pay to do anything inside that building from what I see without fixing the outside exterior and
getting that building stable because you can do all the interior work you want, but the minute it's moves another half an inch down the hill because we didn't fix anything on the outside, it's all going to shift and it's not going to look the same or up to date or
way supposed to be on the And you know it it you got to fix one before you can fix the other. And you can't do the two backwards. So can they do the work and get that all
fixed up on the outside during the winter? I have no idea. That's with the contractor might be able to help do that. As you can see in the picture, some of them are 3-in cracks where that whole building is sliding. It's a 4ft drop on
the back of the building where it's the fire chief's report said that unless somebody is in that building, none of our firemen are allowed to go in to even put out a small fire cuz he doesn't deem deem it safe.
So when the fire chief tells me that and you guys have all been on fire department so you know that's got to be serious. Been in there. I'm ready for a motion. I'm ready for a motion. All right. I'll make a motion to approve
resolution 2025-87 ordering the repair removal uh located at 23 main within the next 180 days. Okay. Got a motion by Brad. I will second it. Any other discussion?
Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Five in favor, none against. 7K. Approve resolution 2025-88 ordering the vacation of rental
property. So this resolution is accompanies the prior resolution declaring it a hazardous building and declaring it to be requiring it to be repaired. This is declares it a public a threat to public safety. Uh this is a separate action and it's in through the
rental code and it orders that the building be vacated until the repairs are made and it's considered safe to return. The same this was at the same inspection. Uh I do have this order if p this resolution if passed orders the building be vacated until appropriate repairs are made to correct the
deficiencies that are the threat to public safety. Authorities are granted for this action by Minnesota state statute 504b Minnesota rules 1300.0180 and the sock center city code chapter 119 which is our rental code. Uh, in addition to the listing of repairs from
the inspection, it should also be noted there have been nine tenant complaints from various violations, including cockroaches, bed bug bed bugs, plumbing not working, water intrusion through the ceiling, and the ceilings falling. Also, I've had various complaints pass through from Sterns County Public Health since
we've had the rental code in place. Uh, the city should return determine the appropriate timeline. Again, I would imagine you would do it the same as the other one for 180 days. Repairs will be inspected all along the way with the final inspection or after the final inspection, a rental permit cannot be issued without the city council's
approval. So, they'll have to come before the city council to issue that rental license. So, this is resolution 202588 declaring the property at 23 Main Street South a threat to public safety and further order the building be vacated.
Okay. Questions, concerns? I guess I have just one concern regarding where these people can go and I know I've I've been informed that there's, you know, there are public enterprises that will come in or or
private charities that will come in and help. How are they informed and how can we inform them? So, first we'd have the this information will all be served legally upon the owner and then um usually the Red Cross steps in. Uh we there's a couple different agencies that
have in the past when when or buildings have been ordered vacated and so we will put the word out to them, but usually the minute it gets out it they come they come to us, they find us. So, but what I do want to do is have you give me a a date by which they should vacate the
premises. Give them maybe a little bit of time to find alternate accommodations. Okay. I I had heard once what 20 days 23 Main Street out oh
they've got like three addresses in there. I'm looking I'm the address that it is in Beacon and Sterns County. Okay. So the legal not the mailing address. I'm talking the legal address attached to the parcel for the property tax. Right. I just want to make sure we cover it.
Yeah. Okay. I think first 20 days is what I had kind of heard was the standard to give give them a chance to find a different place. But the more every time I look at those
pictures, I go, nobody should be in there more than one. But I understand you got to give them time. And you may want to put a cold weather rule is October 15th. Yeah. Yeah. Coming up.
And one of the things is the cold weather rule does not affect this. No, it doesn't. But the minute it's push once a once a building is deemed not good enough for human to live in or
the conditions are that bad, the cold weather rule does not affect it. We can do what we need to do. It protects the ones other people, but the land owner can't stop us because of the cold
weather rule. So 21 days would put you before the cold weather rule and it's 3 weeks if that makes any difference. Should be plenty I would think. Just saying. Still a timeline. Kind of what I was thinking. I'll take us to October 8th. Yeah.
October 8th. Okay. And then at that time, would it be October? If we set the date at October 8th, would that be the time that Kelly would put the placards up or would he do it now? No. Once once once we notify the owner
and we'll have the placards go up and then the placard will say the date that they need to be out. And if they aren't, then they're removed. Then we they're removed with the assistance of our wherever takes it.
We've been m, you know, this is our first one we've had to really get into. So, it's been a little bit longer than what I would have liked on doing this because um when the police chief and the rental
inspector find any place in the city of Sock Center that's not fit for human for a human to live in, they can shut it down immediately. So, this could have been shut down
August 25th already, but we were making sure we had every tea cross and I dotted. It was kind of like telling our city officials not to do their job, but we wanted to make sure we had everything
correct on the legal side. So, by doing this now, there really isn't anything that we can get in trouble for. So, do I have a motion?
Motion to approve. How long? Uh, the October 8th deadline. Okay. We have a motion. I'll second. From Heidi, a second by Scott. Does
everybody understand the motion? every and we got the same 180day timeline too that we talked about that they can uh this is this is to remove the people the people have to be out of there by October 8th if not sooner
and then that gives them plenty of time. So any other discussion call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries.
Five in favor, none against. We have no unfinished business. We have new business of digital payments. Uh just kind of FYI, the federal government is moving, they're phasing out paper checks as of September 30th.
If you expect a check from the federal government, it's going to come digitally and not through paper. Uh the benefits they're saying is to cut fraud costs and delinquent accounts. As you know that we've been migrating to paperless as well. We have approximately 75 payments are made now through we push money
through a like payroll is all direct deposit. When we make payments to vendors, it's a uh as the federal and state governments moved to 100% paperless. We uh is our intent to move that direction as well. Uh we will in a future meeting have a resolution be presenting it to the council to say that
payments will be made via via a in the future kind of on that same timeline as the federal government uh by January 1st. And most people that we reach out to um everybody's happy to do it. There's just a few people that um when we send a you get an email that says an
AC is deposited from the city of Sock Center on this date and this amount for this invoice. But somehow not everybody likes to do it that way digitally. So it hits their bank, they don't know what it's for, or they may get multiple ones in a day and they don't know what it's for. And so there's been a little
resistance, but I think once people get set up, they'll be fine. So we'll work with them on that. I just wanted you guys to be aware that that's something that's being worked on so you don't get caught off guard. Is this a requirement for even like the PUC to change public utilities?
It's not a requirement. Okay. All right. The federal government, state, they're going, they're requiring it. It's up to the council or the PUC whether they want to require it. It's just a staff recommendation is that we follow theirs and do it as well. Okay.
All right. That's just information. We then move on to our consent agenda. We have schedule of claims unpaid claims $378,98.39 paid claims of $29 for a total of $378,937.39. August checks paid claims and payroll of
2,90,000 two yeah $2,90,53647. We have a gambling application for an exempt permit request from the CenterMat Youth Wrestling Club for a raffle on December 30th, 2025 at Sock Center High School. Is there any questions on the
consent calendar as presented? Do I have a motion to approve the consent calendar? Motion to approve. Motion by Scott. A second. Second by Brad. Last minute discussion. Call the question. All those in favor signify by saying I.
I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Five in favor, none against. Informationational items. Uh just to remind you that at the next meeting on October 1st, we'll be having the public hearings for the Birch and Pine project, uh the Park Lane and
Hendricks Reclamation Project, and the Delinquent accounts. And they have all been mailed individual notifications of their dollar amounts. So, everybody has been notified. It's been published. We may or may not have a good showing at the meeting. I can't say. Uh you also have the spectrum channel lineup changes
that are in your packet. And then a third thing I wanted to add that at the art on the Avenue uh in two weeks from now uh Mindot will be having a tent there to talk about the trunk highway 71 to answer questions that people may have. So you can feel free to stop by the tent. We're going to try to have
some some renderings up uh just kind of and to answer questions and to gather input from the public and also to pass out a flyer how you can QR code into the mind website or how to access the website that walks you through the process. So just a moment of information there.
Okay, questions on either one of them? Okay, that brings us to the end of our agenda. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Motion by Joe. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Scott. Call the question. All those in favor
signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Five in favor, none against. Meeting adjourned. [Music]