Join us in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Um, tonight we'll start off uh the council session with some awards. Uh we're going to present the uh Steve Stuckle Community Enhancement Awards. Uh tonight, it's my honor to present the
2025 Steve Stuckle Community Enhancement Awards. This award, formerly known as the Winstead Pride Award, was created to recognize individuals and businesses who take great pride in their property and make a lasting contribution to the character and beauty of Winstead. The
award celebrates excellence in property enhancement and superior design standards, thoughtful improvements, and exceptional maintenance. These qualities reflect the vision and values of Winstead, ensuring that it remains a community we can all be proud of. The
residential award goes to Joseph Pavec at 845 Malard Avenue. Joe is well known in his neighborhood for the extra care he puts into his property. His lawn and landscaping are not only beautifully man maintained but also bring joy to those
who pass by. Neighbors have noted how his efforts enhance the entire neighborhood and how his pride in his home shines through. Joel, your hard work and dedication make a difference and the look and feel of your neighborhood. And we are grateful for the care you put into making Winston a
place we can all enjoy. So, if you want to come up front and and uh the award and Austin will take [Applause] And then our business award goes to the Chilson Funeral Chapel at 200 Fairlon
Avenue West. The Chilson family uh has been a cornerstone of Winstead for many years, serving families with compassion during some of their most difficult times. In addition to this service, the Chilsons have always made it a priority to care for their property. The family
is often seen working together to maintain the grounds, which are consistently manicured and well cared for. This dedication not only reflects pride in their business, but also a deep commitment to the community they serve. To the Chilson family, we thank you for your longstanding care of both people
and property here in Winstead. Uh on behalf of the city of Winstead, we'd like to extend our congratulations to both uh the award recipients tonight. if the Pilsons could come and join me up front for photo opportunity.
I don't know how. Congratulations. Um like that work. [Applause] Okay. Uh we'll go on to regular city business. Uh we will do the consent agenda. Items listed below are
considered routine and non-controversial by the city. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless requested by a council member, staff or citizen. If removed, the item will be discussed at the end of the regular agenda. The item A, approval of minutes. Approve the minutes of the following.
City work city council work session August 19th, 2025. City council regular meeting August 19th, 2025. Item B, public facilities authority funding requirements, waiver and declaration. Authorize the mayor and
city administrator to affectuate a waiver request, waiver certification, and real property declaration on behalf of the city of Winstead with the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority with relation to the financing of well number five to the extent that it is
necessary. Item C, engagement letter for general accounting standards board uh 67/68 actuarial services. um approve an engagement letter with Northern Consulting Actuaries Incorporated doing business as VA
actuarial solutions for GASB67-68 pension actuarial services for the city of Winstead and the Winstead Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association pension. Item D, resolution R-25-34,
Winstead Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association Gambling Contribution. Adopt Resolution R-25-34 to accept a contribution from gambling proceeds from the Winstead Volunteer Fire Department relief association in the amount of $15,000
to be dedicated toward the Winstead Volunteer Fire Department capital improvement plan. Item E, sidewalk replacement estimate. Tim Rings Concrete, First Street North, authorizes city administrator to approve an estimate and effectuate a service
agreement with Tim Ring Tim Rings Concrete Incorporated to replace sections of sidewalk on First Street North from Elbert Avenue to Fairlon Avenue for an amount not to exceed $9,910. Item F, Security Bank and Trust Company
pledge securities. Approve the pledge securities that security bank and trust company has purchased for the city of Winstead for the month of August 2025. Item G, building permit report August 2025. Approve the building permit report
for the month of August 2025. Item H, financial report July 2025. Approve the financial report for the month of July 2025. Item I, claims, uh, approve the claims list for September 16th, 2025.
And then item J, sidewalk replacement estimate, Mark Buu, authorizes city administrator to approve an estimate with Mark Buu to replace various sections of sidewalk in the city of Winstead for $45 per linear foot for an amount not to exceed $18,000.
Uh, that is the consent agenda. I would entertain a motion. >> Mr. Mayor, a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented and I abstain from voting on item F. >> We have a motion. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> We have a motion. We have a second. Is
there any further discussion? All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Motion carries. Um there are no uh public hearings. There's no old business. Uh we have new business. Uh resolution uh R-25-35
20226 preliminary property tax levy certification. Neil, >> thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. Uh well, we'll go through a little slideshow here. So, we're going to talk a little bit about the budget process
and talk about significant changes, the five-year budget model, and then preliminary property tax levy and where we get our money from, and then just some general discussion about the process. We start as a staff preparing proposed 2026 budget, city
council work session on the 19th to review recommended 2026 general fund budget and the preliminary general fund debt service property tax levy. We didn't need the one on the 26th on September 2nd. Um we talked about it
again at our work session a little bit. And then that brings us to today where we certify the preliminary 2026 general fund and debt service property tax levy. On October 7th, we will start working
for the final um property tax levy and with the 21st doing uh some hearings and start talking through the airport funds, capital funds, fire funds, general fund, sewer fund, water fund. So really in addition to right now we're only doing
our generals, we'll do a lot of the enterprise funds. Um coming up there the 18th we'll work session review recommended 2026 general fund budget prior to truth and taxation public hearing and on the second we'll have the truth and taxation. Then finally on the
16th we'll approve the recommended final property tax levy. So the preliminary levy in general here um some of the things that we take into account conservative revenue and expenditure assumptions implementation of the 2026 compensation
plan we had a 22% cost increase in employee health insurance benefits. Uh we are still waiting on a few other quotes but it's likely that this is going to remain the same. Uh we had a lot of claims this year. Just generally
costs have gone up in health insurance. Uh reallocation of current resources based on needs and actual history. So we adjusted the budget to reflect some actual expenditures and then adjustments to what we're bringing in. This supports our full-time equivalent of employees
right now with one additional seasonal position. So, um, somebody to help with the lawnmowing and not sure what those hours look like quite yet. Uh, supporting the street capital improvement program as adopted
in 2017 budget. So, there's some funding there. continued funding for the EDA, the lawn service with additional part-time mower and a additional lawn mower and support CIP increases to
parks, facilities, streets, and trails. So, you can see some of these things here. the we have $50,000 more budgeted for facilities for making some upgrades to city hall and other properties that
we have. Continuing to fund the parks. Um looking for 2026 to really start on the Hanland Park improvement project. adding a little bit more to the streets project here considering
Mloud County Road One lights and other projects that we have talked about and in anticipation of the 2027 street project which is going to be a major project for our city added $25,000 to the trails and um kept the equipment
fund at $50,000. So those were some of the real major changes that would be in the preliminary tax levy. So per state law, the city council must certify a preliminary property tax on or before the 30th of each year. That
always important to stress that it can be lower. The preliminary um may be lower or I'm sorry the final may be lower than the preliminary but not the other way around. So, we cannot go higher after this point. So, this is
what's going to end up on homeowners um property tax statement, their preview, I guess, of their property tax statement. So, it's the general levy plus the debt levy, and you're going to equal the property tax levy.
Some things to consider, LGA did go up. We increased $832, but that doesn't keep pace with inflation, which means we have to make that money up somewhere and typically gets ends up being made up in the um tax levy.
Here's a listing of our bonds. Um so, this is hard for me to see on both screens, but as you can see over here in 2028, we have some falling off, but that is an anticipation of that big street project that those will be replaced. So, I don't anticipate us having a huge
reduction and we'll know more of those numbers before our final budget happens. But these are our debt service levy where we don't have a choice. This is money that we've already spent, money that we have to have to pay back for our bonds.
Uh this slide here is just showing you some of the ones that are falling off, which would be the San Car sewer one after this year. And then obviously we will pick up with a new well bond coming up in 2026. Um won't have those exact final numbers
quite yet, but just getting out into the future. So what we're looking for for 2026 preliminary 2026 general property tax would increase by 15%. The preliminary 2026 debt
service levy would levy would increase by 22% resulting in a total of an 11.7% increase. This is the same numbers just in numerical form I guess instead of me
reading all the way through. So adding up to those two we would end up with a 2.228 $897 property tax levy or 11.7% increase.
Again preliminary property tax levy should provide the city council with maximum flexibility regarding future budget decisions. final property tax levy may be certified at a lower amount than the preliminary property tax le levy but not greater than it. So really
what this does there's some flexibility in here where now we can really drill down and see where we want to get to after tonight. But it leaves us if anything does come up, something major happens in the next few months, uh, we
have some room to be able to to adjust. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Consider a motion. I'll make a motion to adopt resolution number R2535 certifying the preliminary
2026 general property tax levy of1,782,397 and preliminary 2026 debt service levy of $446,500 for a total preliminary 2026 property tax levy of $2,228,897.
>> The motion is our second. I'll second. Go ahead. I'll second. >> Have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Uh item B, hanger drainage improvements. Improvements
agreement hanger number 43. Neil. Oh, just waiting for this to load here. All right. Mr. John Valure has uh purchased Oh boy, now I'm messing up. This not good.
He has purchased hanger 43, which Oh no. You're not going to see. >> You know, you think you'd practice. >> I had it all ready and I use I usually use ours and I'm using the county site. That's my only excuse. And I can't see. Does that say Winstead?
>> Nope. Stewart. >> Close enough. All right, we're done with that math. Anyway, so Mr. John purchased a hanger number 43, which is on the east side of
one of our taxi ways. Um, he purchased and found out that he had water in there. I think he knew, but he wanted to remedy that. He came up with a solution of ripping up some of the tar that's in between his property and the property to the north or hanger and the hanger to
the north rather. It's our property and he wants to put some drain tile in between there. He wants to run the drain tile down the west side. There were some concerns that he would um be creating an more of an issue because the hangers to
the east of him do get some water in them. But most of that water is coming from the north. I did speak with our engineers, actually two different engineers, and neither one thinks that this is going to be an issue, but I wanted to be safe. So, we drafted up a maintenance agreement with Mr. Velure.
And in there, it states that he is responsible for putting in the drainage and he's going to be responsible for maintaining it for the first 3 years at least. So, we can see what it's going to do. Are there questions on that?
Consider a motion. >> I'll make a motion to authorize the mayor, city clerk, treasure, and city attorney to actuate a hanger drainage improvement agreement with 4J's LLC and John and Jill Lavour with or with
relation to hanger number 43 at the Winston Municipal Airport to the extent that is necessary. >> I have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> A motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries.
>> This hanger, if you guys want to see that one right there. So, we're going to have the drainage that goes in between these two and then it's going to come out here with a popup stand pipe. Um, so there'll be water that'll be held in here. We don't think that there'll be a huge water event that would make it
continue to go downhill. And, um, >> can you blow that up, Neil? I can I can blow that up. I just have to get the right amount. We can go right there. That's about it. Do >> you have any idea the distance from that particular hanger to the city of Stewart? >> Yeah. No, I'm not sure. We can do that
though. We can figure that out after this meeting. >> Okay, that'd be great. >> Or maybe we'll do it upstairs where there's air conditioning. >> All right. Thanks for that. >> Um, we've come to the open forum uh part of our council session. Uh it provides
residents uh with the opportunity to address an issue that is not on the agenda with the city council. Uh the city council will not take official action on items discussed during open forum except to refer items to staff for future report or follow through. Um if
you if you come up uh to participate, we'd like you to state your name and your address and the topic you're going to speak on. Uh it wouldn't appear that we have anything. Chief, do you have anything tonight? No. Um, so we don't have anybody to participate in open forum. Uh, so we'll go on to city
administrator update and announcements. >> Um, you heard most of it. We're really focused on the budget and what that tax levy is going to look like here for the final levy for in-house. We the truck that we had
uh designated surplus equipment is now online at Jeff Martin Auctioneers and our snowblower is now online at Iron Planet. Hoping to get some good money coming in for those. >> Fantastic.
Um Tom, do you have anything? Just uh clarification so public isn't confused that the preliminary levy of 11 something% is not where we'll end up up that will end up lower than that
>> likely >> the that the goal is significantly lower um than that >> right >> um so yes >> thanks for that clarification Matt do you have any >> I'm good >> Tim >> no sir Oh, wait. Tim, you have to say
goodbye. >> Well, I could do that since this will be my last meeting for the audience and the members of the council and our mayor. Uh, I will be uh resigning effective the end of the week uh on the 19th of September as uh my wife and I are moving
out of the community. It's been a good run. We've been here 24 years. A lot of that time I've spent here uh working with the city and and the the residents. So, it's a it's a tough decision for us personally to leave the community, but we'll be back on a regular basis to
visit the folks and uh we appreciate how uh comfortable and how u uh people have been so kind to us over the years and uh we'll certainly miss being part of the >> Thank you. Thank you. >> And I'd like to thank you for your uh commitment to the city council this past
couple of years and uh your commitment to the community. 24 years is a is a long time. and I know you've raised your family here and they were uh all a very vital part of the community. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. Thank you.
>> All right, with that um Yes. Thank you. >> that I'll uh entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> we are adjourned.