will call the meeting to order and begin with the pledge of allegiance, please. >> 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. All right. Thank you everybody for being here tonight. Um, we can start with the approval of the agenda. Um, does anybody have anything they need to add?
Otherwise, if somebody'd like to move approval of the agenda, we can move to approve. >> Move to approve. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion in a second. Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> I.
>> Oppos? Same sign. We have an agenda. Um the consent agenda is in your packet. Um anybody has would like to make a motion regarding that. >> So move to
by Ed, second by Don. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Oppos. Same sign. We have our consent agenda approved. All right, moving on to new business. The first one is microphone and speaker system.
>> Um, so during some of the meetings, we've noticed that people have stated they're having trouble hearing some of the discussion, hearing some of the people that are talking. Um, so we'd like to go out for an RFP to have someone come look at the acoustics in the room, give us some quotes on what it
would take to microphone and make if our speakers that are in here will work or not, or just have somebody look at the room and tell us what could be done with it. So, we need approval of >> sending out the RFP. Yes. And the bids
won't cost any money or do bid I don't know. Do bids cost money? >> Not generally. No. It's people that come back to us and say, "Hey, we're interested in looking at this amount." >> And then once we have the bids, it would come back. >> And it would be good to know if it's a
$50 fix or a $50,000 fix. >> Correct. >> So move. >> Motion by Kelly. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Martha. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor of the RFP, please say I.
>> I. Opposed. >> Motion carried. Um, next on the list is City of Winthor Rentable Land. So, we have two plots that um are currently rented out by individuals. Um, Bartles
has one and 3T Farming has the other. They've never really been looked at by council as far as if you want to continue doing that. Do you want them to continue going to that same person or see if anyone else is interested? Um we did recently what
happens is we um invoice them for the tax portion of the land and that is their rent. And we're just wondering if you want us to look into how other cities are doing it or if you
want any changes. Okay. So, this is just anformational thing tonight, but does anybody have any thoughts about it or questions they would like staff to follow? >> Did something happen that >> No. Um they they were being charged the
tax portion up until 21 and then magically because of loss of staff. We didn't know that was happening and it was found and they are now getting charged exactly what they were before according to what was found. Um we didn't go back and charge them the back
years. But I'm just wondering what you want to do with that. Is it legal to gain revenue off of those >> plots of land? >> It's not really revenue. It's covering the taxes on the land, >> right? But if we if we build them a rent
amount. >> Yeah. I mean, I think the question is, can we charge them rent, right? >> Do they So, they don't pay rent, per se. >> No, they just cover the tax portion >> and it's not it's not the entire tax portion. It's the
taxes before. There's a certain name for it and it's skipping me right now, but it's not the whole tax bill for the property. It's just a portion. >> I would I would think the city could I mean the EDA charges rent in building.
>> Why wouldn't we be able to? >> Well, I don't know. >> I mean, yeah. I think that'd be something find out what current rent rates are and if we can charge rent then >> maybe we look at that option >> in addition to your taxes or okay
>> I think I would like to find out what other cities are doing. >> Typically we pay the taxes and so on but then we charge rent to cover all of that. >> I'm not sure it's if it's some of the stuff I'm thinking about is probably not the best land because I think it floods
sometimes. Am I thinking of the >> I think yeah, a couple of them by the windmill, but I'll probably >> One is by the windmill. Yep. And the other one's out by the industrial park. >> That would be all right. You're thinking down below here. >> Yeah, I could be. Yeah. So, I mean, maybe we should get some more
information. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Does anybody have any specific questions? >> What are they using the land for now? Like, are they using the land? >> Yeah, they're they're far. Oh, yes. Okay.
Yeah, I would think if so they're getting income from the land. >> Yeah, I would be curious what other cities do what that land, you know, if it was privately owned, what would that rent for? >> Right.
Okay. >> Okay. Any other >> questions on that? Um, then we can move on to the next one. Budget questions and updates. What you got for us, Heather? >> So, this is just kind of an update. Uh, the League of Minnesota series insurance
came back uh after raising our deductible. It saved us about $4,500 a year. Um, at the time that this was built, the police financial support was not announced yet, but we did get a number back on that. And we're currently going through and comparing it to past history
to kind of predict for 26 what we think we're going to get. Um, >> when do you expect that? >> Probably by next meeting. >> Okay. Um, also we got back the um with the league giving back the insurance
stuff we can go through and figure out allocate to the different >> uh categories what effect it's going to have compared to last year >> that you mean the rebates we get back or adjusted for the property. >> Okay. >> That we saved the $4,500 on.
>> But what did we raise our deductible by? Uh 2500 I think. I think it was 2500 and we went up to five I believe. I'd have to double check that though. >> Did they raise it? >> No, we asked for both both ways.
>> Okay. >> So, we saved $4,500 a year. >> But if we have a claim, >> they're really only going to come out >> Yeah. two grand. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> which is still $2,000, but it's not quite as great as it looks at first glance.
>> And then, uh, many counties and cities around Minnesota are continuing to see the pressures of the decreased revenues, um, and increased in insurance costs and everything else. So, just a reminder that what we set in September was the
prelim. >> We still have until December to do the final. And I've kind of been watching um most I haven't seen any smaller cities that are under 10%. Some of the larger cities are in single digits, but they're
still >> 8 n 10% and you know for them 1% is is a much bigger number than it is for us. >> Yeah. I think the highest one I saw was 50 pre >> that right that was approved as a Yes.
Yeah. Yeah. It's there's some pretty big numbers. Does anybody have any other questions about the budget? And it is um for anybody who's interested. It is posted on the website so people can look at the budget in its current um state if you
want to if you want to weed through it if you like numbers. There's lots of them there. >> And it does say right on the website that it's preliminary. Correct. Thank you. >> Yes. Um Okay. So, we're done with that.
Moving on to 4.4 GFW schools request. That was a well written letter. It's pre-appointed >> and it went to all the important people. >> Yeah. >> So, that's the letter that they are sending or sent out. Um, and we're just asking to write a letter supporting
their basically backing and reiterating that we care about our children and our people that are coming to our school and that that zone in front of the school needs to be a school zone. and slow the traffic. >> Just as a an observer from the outside, it does not make our mind district look
good that they're not actively doing something to fix that. So, um, council, what are your wishes? Do you want to sign on to the letter in support of the GFW request from MDOT?
>> Absolutely. I make a motion. >> Motion by Ed. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion by Ed, second by Dawn. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carried.
So, I would assume that'll get put together and sent out shortly. Um, all right. 4.5, the public open forum, anformational item at this point. So, we received a couple of requests. uh
one from councelor Samman and one from resident Tom Whitiki requesting to review the public open forum that was retired back in December. Um as it was previously discussed and
changed in our charter, these rules and procedures were put back in. Also, the League of Minnesota C's uh guide was sent out with the packet for review as well. And I don't know if Sanman wants to take
this one since she requested being put on the >> Yeah, I would love to. Thank you, Heather. I thought it was January though that we got rid of it, not December cuz >> it was voted on in December. >> It was. >> I thought we passed it. >> City council. >> Okay.
>> Cuz I thought I was I thought it was December. >> Anyway, but maybe I was We had elected. We had we had talked about it. >> The first meeting without it, I believe, was January, but I believe it was voted
on in December. I could be wrong. >> Yeah, I I kind of together because I know we talked to, you know, the city attorney and we got different gathered a lot of information. So, >> it's anyway, it's been within the last year, give or take.
>> Okay. Um, regardless, I'd like to I did a little background research and it was included in my email to Michael, but I thought I would read it uh to get on record. I have that our January meeting, but um maybe it was December. Uh the
city council voted to eliminate the public forum portion of our agenda. This ended a 100-year tradition of winter governance and something nearly every city in Minnesota still takes pride in.
The mayor's stated intent, I believe, was to encourage residents to put more thought into their issues, submit them in advance to the city administrator so as to allow the council to be better prepared for discussion.
In practice, however, it has had the opposite effect. Fewer citizens are attending and overall engagement with city government has dropped. Many residents that come and talk to me personally
don't see why they should bother when a simple idea now requires formal wording, formatting, deadlines, and the very real possibility of being denied being on the agenda altogether. The public forum has always been an important outlet for everyday people to
speak directly to their elected officials. Sometimes it wasn't polished. Sometimes was a little loud, but it was real. And it gave neighbors the chance to be heard. And what I've heard over the past
nine months is this. I would rather hear people stumbling through their words or criticizing me personally or the rest of us than not hear from them at all. And I think it's a
I I think it shows more transparency, more commitment by the council, and just an openness to listen. And I think the people that come here know that, you know, we can't like like you've said,
mayor, that they can't be responded to right then when they speak during a public forum. >> Yes. >> And I think most people that speak do know that and you know, they would know that again. So anyway, those were my thoughts. I a lot of people come in and
talk to me when I'm at work, which is fine, but um they want a council that is more open. They want a council that listens and it's easier to approach and talk to. And I I really
think the public forum was a great way to do that. And I would love to see it be reinstated. So that's Those are my thoughts. Okay. Um
well, let's see. One I I think some I I would just like to give some clarification. Um that one of the biggest pushes to go with this format is was the timeliness of
issues because if someone brought an issue to um the public forum as a council, we aren't able to respond to that at all at that meeting. It can't be discussed. We can't have a back and forth with that individual. So if they
came to a meeting on October 1st, it may have been the most legitimate complaint that or issue that needed attention. It could not receive our attention until the November meeting. And that's a long lag time. The the hope was by asking
people to bring things for the agenda that if they had something that was pressing, they could come ask to be on the agenda and we could we could discuss it. We can have a back and forth conversation and we could act on it at that November or that October 1st
meeting and there wouldn't be that at least 30 30-day delay. Um, so I think that was one of the biggest things because that was a very big frustration for me, um, was that we would talk to people where we would hear from them and
the appearance to the public was that we said >> we didn't care. >> We're not respond. >> That is so frustrating. And people would come here and we'd be set up in a way to make us look really stupid as counselors. We're not saying anything
>> and that was really unfair to the city. I think I like the open public forums. I I do. But you made the remark that most cities still do it. I don't believe most cities still do it. I know most school boards no longer do it because it just
got too out of hand. >> Okay. >> I It seems to me that when we look into this because that is a concern. >> It is. And and I think it's actually had the opposite effect though because you know like um I somebody came in and told me that it's intimidating. You
intimidate you know it's intimidating going into city hall and asking to be on the agenda. Somebody told me and you know it's um >> they don't specifically have to come into city hall. They can email, they can call, they can talk to a counselor. It's
any way >> and I don't think an individual would even have to be here personally to bring up their agenda item if they didn't want to. >> If they felt uncomfortable out there, then I could definitely >> I mean, just to bring it up and have
some conversation about it. >> It got me thinking about it again because I loved the public forum during our work sessions. You know, it was great hearing from people. I thought that was fantastic, >> you know, and and I thought, you know, it would be great to hear from people all the time again, you know, and have
more of an engagement and >> but I think what since I've been on here, anybody that has sat at that table, most of them on the open forum have come up here and pretty much tried to pick us apart and then we can't say anything. And again, like Kelly said, it
makes us look bad. And so if they would come with a legitimate thing, >> but it's usually they're complaining about something and and it's something that maybe we can't fix right now or I mean the budget or our taxes where our taxes are right now. We're we're trying to lower those taxes.
>> But if you're going to come and and sit here and say, "Well, your taxes are too high or this or that." >> And we can't say anything back, but we're trying. So it does in ways make us look bad that we can't re we can't come to you and say this is what we're working on.
>> Yes, we we we look bad, but it's not so much that we look bad. It looks like we don't know what's going on. We do we want to respond. I it's so hard to sit here when you know what's being said isn't accurate or it's not complete. Uh
it's out of context, things like that. That gets frustrating. Just as background again, that was at advice of our city legal council that we are were advised to not respond at all because if you respond to one person with one comment back, then you know it it opens
it and then if we don't respond to somebody else, we find ourselves in a bad position. So the advice of council or legal counsel was to not just to listen. And you're right that we were actively listening, but what I heard very often was that well, you're just
not listening because we weren't able to respond >> and people have the impression now that we're not listening. >> I've heard that. >> Yeah. >> Over and over. I I don't know. I don't know what we can do. >> I would guess that when you were mayor
many years ago, you heard that. >> We tried having more public meetings that was needed. I mean it was it's difficult to get people involved unless they're upset about something. >> One of the other things that was a part of the discussion was when we have professionals here, we have engineers,
we have people that were paying by the hour to be here and there were there were many meetings that went 45 minutes or more until the business meeting started. And that's a long time to ask people to sit and wait when they're here and they've already put in their full
professional day and you know, yes, we're paying them to be here, but it, you know, it's still this is a business meeting and it it should move along in a timely manner. But I I I sort of got sidetracked because um Tom Whitiki did
ask to address the council if you if you want to >> because always says if you don't vote, don't complain. >> That's right. So if you don't come to the council meetings and things keep changing but I don't think you listen. I mean I I mean I
>> What do you mean by well example and I talked to Martha a lot. Martha listens. Y >> but I feel there that a whole bunch of this council represent a minute amount of people in the city because when when
they were doing second street I asked the city administrator to please go talk to all the business people and because I did and he didn't and I asked >> I'm going to ask you right here I I would I'm more than happy to hear any
com comments we have but we're not we are those city staff are our employees and we owe them the same responsibilities as their employer as your employer would show you or anyone else's employer would show them and that is that we're not going to you know say
well this employee did that and they shouldn't have or that employee didn't do that and they should have so if you can address the council >> so if I asked you to go talk to other the dairy the business I worked for 40 years has got a for sale sign right now >> yes
>> the $28,000 worth assessments And a lot of it had to do with in the street in the store. We understood the beautifification. I don't know. I I don't I you know where I stood on the beautifification. >> You know where I stood on the splash
pad. But $28,000. I talked to him personally. That business left town. It's still a business. It's not here. But you know how many more businesses can we lose? >> How many more businesses have we got? How many businesses have opening and are
opening? >> Our downtown's looking. >> We heard it was going to be the end when the store closed, but it's opened up again. Um I hate to see the pharmacy come that was really hard. >> It was very sad. >> Yeah, it it was. But I mean somebody
from it could be you. It doesn't have to be Michael. It could be you that go to talk to the business people to see um I just for me. I went to have my dent my teeth fixed again. I said, "Dave, you should really go ask them for a handicap
parking." He says, "Tom, it doesn't pay. They don't care." So Dave Bankson is the largest private business on Second Street. Largest. They don't care if they I have handicapped parking. They didn't care if I have a handicap ramp. He came to the
meetings. >> I came to the meetings. So let me say >> I don't think you listen. That's what I need. >> Well, you certainly did listen. And there is handicap parking there. There is more handicap parking >> in front of his business. >> In front of Dave's business.
>> He has more handicapped accessible parking than there was before the project >> over by the chiropractor on the other side of the lot. That's the handicap parking. Handicap parking is on a pro and on a
project like that it it is determined largely by Mandot and the other road safety standards. The from what I can recall the handicap parking that was marked on the street previous to this
project did not meet ADA H standard for handicap parking. It may have been striped blue or marked handicapped, but just because it's marked that way does not make it ADA accessible, but there there is >> and there was none put in separately for
the clinic. I mean, that's just a corner. All the corners had >> somewhere that you know is accessible sometimes. It's maybe Midnot says it. >> He he was a large business. He asked for it and we don't and
maybe he'll go away too. I hope not. I hope that Dr. He's 70 years old. He doesn't. But, you know, we should try to cater to some of the, you know, or listen to him at least. And I I know that Vendinski because he told me personally that that the 14 or the
$28,000 assessments was, you know, it might have not been it was close to the nail in the coffin. It was it was a tough tough. >> Do you know that people didn't talk to the businesses downtown? Do you know that city staff or city
council or EDA people did not talk to people? >> Everybody I talked to said that nobody ever came to talk to >> and I the only person I asked was the city administrator. >> I didn't know who else to ask. >> Yeah. And that's >> I mean I think that city administrator
but you know I mean I got two houses in town. I pay taxes just like you guys pay taxes. I hope you represent all of us. I'm hoping, you know, even if you don't like me, I still hope you represent me. >> Well, when you say we represent a minute
part, everybody was elected to be >> the splash pad got railroaded through and it was a minute. >> No, I wasn't talking about the splash pad. You're saying that we don't represent the majority. >> So, that's what I actually feel. And
that's why I'm here. >> Okay. >> I'm here because I feel like I'm not getting represented, right? And I I know that uh what am I I I know I said well maybe we have to look at maybe we have to share with Sibly County if our police department we can't afford as much
>> yeah we are going to stay focused on the the issue on the agenda is the public forum. Okay. So, >> but I mean we have to stay. >> But that's I guess that's the biggest thing is I mean and go to giving >> when I came and talked to Heather on
Friday at 11:00 and asked to be on the forum. There were two cars on Main Street. Two. The bank is open. Both banks are open. Two cars. Go to Gib. I go to give them 10 15 cars.
I mean I It is We got a lot of part-time businesses. I'm glad there's part-time business and not empty stores, but I don't know as far as other than Martha, but I feel comfortable to come and talk to >> I've come to your house and talk to you. >> You did.
>> I mean, >> and I appreciate that. >> We try to listen and and unfortunately >> sometimes we we don't always agree with with what's going on >> and uh don't think we don't care. Gosh. I mean, I
>> But I represent I said it many times when I've been up here. I represent the Grandma Keenses, my mom, all the older widows in town that live on social security that don't have, you know, we whatever social security gives us, it gets up pretty
much by whatever the their garbages go. So when if we decide to raise the city bill 50 or 80 bucks and maybe Ed's well off and maybe you know but when they can't they're trying to figure out how they can pay for groceries and they they live from check
to check we have to represent them people too >> and there's a lot of them in town. >> How would how is it different for you as a as a citizen? Why was it more cumbersome for you to request to be on
the agenda tonight and know that we can have this back and forth as opposed to just showing up tonight and making >> We were actually talking back and forth and you wouldn't respond before you said >> exactly. I know and I understand that. >> So you would have had two minutes to make your statement and that would have
been the end of it. this, you know, this is a a give and take an an exchange and and >> so what I'm asking you is why is this why is the public forum where you're limited in the amount of time and we can have no no give and take. Why is that
preferable to requesting to be on the agenda like this and having a discussion? Yeah, I don't I think that Yeah, it's I I got on. I And it was I appreciate it that I got on. I I I don't
think that for a lot of people it isn't that easy to and and and Okay. What are you going to say? Don't say you can only say one thing or you can't say anything. >> Well, that's with anything. You could, you know, if if if Dawn requested an item to be on the agenda and we started
discussing it and, you know, she suddenly had a list of 10 other things, that's not on our agenda. We have to stay with what's listed as that agenda item. So, at this at this moment, it's discussing the public forum. So, that applies to us as well as
>> I mean, like Megan was on the council and she was elected and and sometimes she thought that the some people here were just wanted to get done. They didn't care. They just wanted to get done. I mean, they didn't care, you know, because it ran a half hour longer or 45 minutes longer. Well, that's maybe
part of the job. >> It is. >> You know what I'm saying? And if you don't want, you know, and >> that's it. So, that's if if you don't want to do that part of it. >> And when I was talking about time, that was really related to the professionals that we have to be here that we asked to
be here, you know, and some of it's our city staff. if the, you know, if the city, if the street guys are here or the fire chief is here or the police chief or the engineers, you know, that's all time that we're asking them to spend an extra 45 minutes at what is supposed to
be a business meeting. Um, and if you're on the agenda, then it's legitimately part of that business meeting agenda. >> Yeah. One other thing you you said and this is it's really hard too for us is that if there's an issue with one of the
employees I mean we certainly can't talk about that publicly and people I think get the impression because they don't read about anything in the paper blah blah blah we didn't do anything we can't talk about what we do you can't make public discre uh whatever how we're
handling that um the data privacy Yeah. I mean, we we just can't say things like that. I mean, um, any other business, too. They're not going to allow you to hear what you did to your buddy that got wrote up for something. I mean, it's and that's hard
because I love to say, well, yeah, we did listen. We did do this and hopefully things will get better. What was the idea that was kicked around about before the meeting? We we did talk about that having a listening session
before the meeting which would you know allow people to bring things to the council discuss with us directly um you know and then we would start the meeting at 7 with the business meeting and follow the agenda as presented but give
people an opportunity to come in. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and we you know we could certainly consider that. I think I still think being requesting to be on the agenda is the most efficient way to do it. If you have something that's that needs attention, um there should be no
reason that someone wouldn't want to be on the agenda and have it addressed as, you know, efficiently and quickly as possible. And I would just like to make clear to anybody here and anybody who's listening to this meeting that if you came if you approached one of us or city
staff with a request for the agenda, I I can guarantee you would not be denied attention. There is a possibility when we came up with this policy that if your question had to do with um let's say a pothole in front of your street or let's
use that that that might go to the streets committee first because they can address it more efficiently than the entire council can. But that doesn't mean that your request isn't receiving the most efficient appropriate attention. And I I would just like to reiterate I
don't think we would deny any request to be on the agenda. And people don't have to have any special, you know, it doesn't have to follow a certain format. We just need to know what your um your request is and you know >> or what the grievance is and it could be
discussed here even if it's in a letter form >> because to me it'd be harder to be sitting out there where you are >> than it is just to request to get this on the agenda. Mom, we've had people write in before that we've read their
stuff without releasing your name just so council can talk about it. It's not even that you have to be here. It's just >> council can't respond unless it's on the agenda. >> Sure. As as a for instance, Tom, you brought this up. You asked to be on the agenda. It's on the agenda. In our
agenda packet, each one of us got theformational memo from the League of Minnesota Cities that is well 18 18 from 65 40ome pages long that you know we had
the opportunity to read through. So we had some background knowledge on the subject so we can talk about it in a more formal manner in a more instead of just off the cuff well you're right I don't want to because blah you know no
we have the information in front of us that we read or could have read that says this is why we're doing it the way we're doing it you know these are the reasons why we have emergency meetings closed meetings things. I mean, there's a whole, like I said, 40 pages of it
just about. >> I I agree. It was hard to stop that uh open public court for that and I think we all struggled with that, >> but it felt like we had a voice. And I I quit coming to meetings. I told you
I quit. And you saw I quit because I just didn't feel like it mattered. And when but when I get two tax statements and I look at what's happening and it's not going to be just WR, it's going to be the county, it's going to be the school, it's going to be, you know, it
all has consequences and you know, I hope that when you're thinking about and I should have been at the budget meetings >> really good and I should have been there and I don't and I don't understand that what where but I could learn I could
learn, you know, but honestly the one I really feel that I could talk to is Martha and probably you Kelly. Otherwise, I don't think I the rest of you really care honestly what I have to say. >> We've we've had discussions over the past year and you referenced Bankston's I I spoke to Dr. Bangston and Mrs.
Bankston numerous times over the last year. So, you know, we we do listen. We want input. I I I wrote a column for the paper that should come out this week. It it clearly says here's my phone number. Here's my email. Please let me know what
you think. Your other council people, their email is available on our website. Let us know what you think. It it's it's >> if I would have put that in a statement and when I asked him or you or whoever to go when they before they did Second
Street to go talk to them people because I went up and down the street just as a business person or ex- business person and asked him. It was sad that they said that no. I mean from the bank to pharmacy was still going then to the
other bank to Bankston to win telephone company. Nobody from the city came and talked to them. >> So you know I would I would push back on that a little bit because I spoke to some of them. It may not have been that I walked in during business hours and
said I'm specifically here to talk about Second Street. We had numerous public meetings that were, you know, and they were specifically invited to those. That was when we had um engineers and staff and plenty of time for input. There were
there were numerous opportunities that we asked people for input and said, "Please tell us what you think." >> I did input a lot and it never didn't do any good, but I did input a lot. I guess I got lip service, but I did. And I think maybe that's something that, you
know, we all do this because we're all human, but just because the council's action doesn't follow what citizen A wanted them to do, doesn't mean that we didn't listen to or we didn't listen to citizen A or liked citizen B.
We we're charged with making the best decision we can about whatever is in front of us. And so I would just like to say that we we do listen We we listen and we solicit input from people
whenever we can and we we want that. And I think part of the hope of having people on the agenda is that it does give you the opportunity to interact more with us and to address an issue
much more efficiently. But if you have skin in the game, like I got two houses, but I mean a lot of people that even work here, they do not even uh they don't live here. I mean I mean that's sad, but I mean >> but we all do. The the council who votes
we're the ones who make the decisions. The the council is what city staff doesn't vote. The council votes. We're the one that adopt the budget. We're the ones that, you know, we make the decisions. It it comes back here to us. You know where we all live. We're your neighbors.
And we we do I I ask people all the time, you know, what did what did you think about this? How are you feeling about that project? >> Unfortunately, Martha's the one who gets the brunt of all my talk because she's there and I know she listens. So, and I
I hope that I mean I'm for opening it up again. I honestly am. >> And I know it's tough for you guys not to talk, but I mean, even if you can't, you still have you could take it and I could give you my phone number, too. And then after you look into it, you could get back to me.
>> So, given a choice though, you would still prefer a public forum where you had a limited two minutes to speak and no feedback for at least a month over requesting to be on the agenda and presenting your issue to the council.
I guess unless there's an easy maybe you could do something beforehand whatever make whatever. >> Are you talking about before the meeting if we open the meeting or not open the meeting but 15 minutes before the meeting if people had concerns? >> Yeah that'd be awesome something you
know I don't I mean it's but to say okay what's your action item? I got a lot of things I like to talk about but what's your action item? So that tells me I I can say what what can I say? Well, I have to say what is it that you we came
in here public for I mean >> and I asked you for examples and you gave me some >> I I I've been here for 40 years. If you think downtown is great, you didn't know. You had no idea what it was like 40 years ago or 20 years ago. But when
you've been here >> Yeah. But I don't see that in many towns anymore. I mean, we've become and that's bothered me since the 80s. We've become so regional. We shop regional. Um >> yeah, it's and we haven't even lost the school yet, which was the is one of the
biggest businesses that's going to leave town shortly. >> I mean, that's the electrical, it's all the water. Think about it. It's going to be a huge >> We've we tried to get >> I went to the meeting. I've been going to the meetings. I went to the meeting
out there and when and u Michael and the former mayor and they were all hoping up and how thought it was great that you know to go to Gibbon and after the meeting was over at the Berdan Center I says congratulations you just lost >> wait a minute you said I thought it was
a good idea >> no the former mayor not you >> oh >> you know I was going to say I thought we are getting off topic again so let's >> as I said it's action item I don't know what I can tell But but I but I still as a somebody who still and I guess I was
told I can leave you know we can leave Winre. >> Well >> I mean yeah but I mean that's a hurtful thing when it says well if you don't like it you can leave or imply that you can leave. >> I would truly hope that that never came from a council or staff person. I I don't think that
>> none of us to res. Well it is I mean and you people can choose that but that would not have come from a council person. So, could we do could we have this like 15 minutes before? Because I think that sounds like a great idea. And then people can still get on the agenda
if they want to, right? I mean, if >> not that night, I mean, >> right. Well, if they still do. It's just >> you can get on the agenda or you know, you can >> but start with giving that 15 minutes. Now,
if I we have 10 people that come to the open forum and we got to cut it off at 15 minutes. >> I have looked I >> and now now we're going to have nine people mad or let's say five people mad because they didn't get to do the open forum. >> Then they're going to say something like, "Well, I didn't even get to talk. They only gave us 15 minutes."
>> I did a lot of reading and there's there are a lot of cities that have listening sessions and they're very delineated. they have at 7 o'clock or whatever time their meeting starts, the business meeting starts. If people are still waiting to speak, they're first on the list for the following meeting. But um
you know, it it's pretty hard and fast that when 7 o'clock rolls around, that's when the business meeting starts because that is the purpose of a council meeting. >> We understand that. >> Yeah. But I mean there's you know and I believe me I spent a lot of times in a lot of meetings and sometimes it doesn't
you'd like to be home at a certain time and you like to be that but that's life you know I mean if you're signed up for >> I guess I've never noticed that. I don't know I mean people trying to turn >> we were here until decision >> 10 o'clock on a couple of those budget meeting nights. I I think we all put in
>> shoot we used to be here till 1:00 when I was in there. >> Oh I'm sure you were. But I was so proud of Pete and Pete was so proud and I so I've been in town a long time. I kind of understood what was going on and you know that's a different I you know how did we get to where we are today? I
don't know. You know >> hopefully we can figure it out. >> We do appreciate feedback from residents and of any and all opinion. We you know we're not afraid of um and we don't even agree as a council all the time. We did we don't
>> you're married right? No, we always have to go. >> So, we do welcome input from people. >> Yeah. Tom, call me. Stop and talk to me. If I If you feel like I'm not listening,
hit me in the head. Do something. >> Don't say that cuz right there. >> I gave him. >> He told him, Logan. Heard you. He said, "I can." >> He just said I could, >> you know. I want you to know that I want I want to listen. I want to be just like, you know, you go to Martha. Come
to me, you know. Don't stop going to Martha. Come to me, too. >> Just like he said, go to him. >> Kelly's on the way to my kids, so I can I know where he lives. >> Yeah.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Yes. Um, so that was technically anformational Yes. Right. item, >> but I think we should talk about that. Okay, thank you. >> Get on the agenda.
>> All right, we'll we'll give that some due consideration. Um, then we can move on to committees, admin, and EDA. Do you have any updates from Michael? >> No, we're just finishing up um
finalizing budget things and Michael, I'm sure, has a lot to report, but I don't have any of it. So, Michael's going to need a vacation from vacation, right? >> When does he get back? >> Tomorrow. He'll be back tomorrow. >> And I would just like >> meeting next week, right?
>> Yes, I think so. I would like to thank the city staff for all the hours that have gone into the budget planning so far because that's never a quick and easy task. But, um, it's been really, really detailed this year. And I appreciate all the hours and deep dives
and you know moving things around to see what this you know if you change this input what happens there. So thank you very much. Um utilities Martha do you have anything? >> I was not able to get to the MMP. >> All right. So that I don't assume we
have anything. >> Um just public works has been uh in case anyone's wondering the digging up of me. >> I was going to ask about that. So, they are uh running wire for the street lights that needed repair. >> Cuz they were broken off underground. So, they're working on that. They're working on getting street lights done.
>> Okay. Amongst other small projects like sweeping and all kinds of stuff. There's no leaves at all out by my house. Every time they come by with a sweeper, I'm like, "Oh, leaves. Just trees. Just hold on to your leaves for a few more minutes." So,
they could just make an endless loop around our block. >> Um, fire department uh they had their open house uh this last weekend >> and we're still getting some envelopes in for donations. Uh they're doing their pizza delivery nights this Friday uh
from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. And then I'll check fire Atlanta fire alarms. >> Oh, okay. smoke detector. >> Thank you. Those things. >> That's a neat program. >> What time was that from?
>> Uh 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I might need them. My smoke alarm was beeping when I got home today. Um library. >> Yeah, the library board met on September
15th and we are working on an update to the bylaws. Um, also Bob Morland is stepping down at the end of the year, so we are looking for at least one new board member. Um, October 19th through 25th is
National Friends of the Library Week and we'll have a silent auction to raise money for non-budgeted items. And this month is mental health awareness month at the library. So, there's all kinds of
really nice programs going on at the library. >> Good. Any questions about the library for Martha? >> Public works, I think Heather addressed that. >> Planning Commission, I don't think there's >> no nothing.
>> RS Fiber, we have not had a meeting. Ed, ambulance, got anything? >> Nothing significant. >> Okay. >> Just still plugging away. >> Police Logan, you got any? >> Yeah. Um, so recently I applied for a grant through the Chiefs of Police
Association. It's a community grant, so to interact with the community. So I'm trying to put that together right now of what our game plan is going to be. Um, still preliminary with we don't know if we've gotten the grant yet, but we
should know fairly soon. Um, and tentatively we're looking at like a slice and slide with the the cops utilizing Conlin Hill. Um, and then teaming up with the uh Pizza Corner, too. So, hoping that goes through. Also,
weather depending unfortunately. So, hopefully we get some good snow. >> Are you wishing for snow? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> For that day. >> Okay. One day. All right. Um, in addition to that, um, I think it's really important that, uh, we recognize,
uh, the work that Nick is doing with K9 Nash. Um, in the last month, um, he has seized over 600 grams of methamphetamine and uh, nearly 10 grams of fentanyl just in the last month.
>> Where? >> Here in Winthre, >> all over Winthr uh, local drug task force. Um, drugs are movable. So, maybe it uh wasn't within the city limits, but it's
close by. >> Yeah. >> And uh >> street value on something like that as well. >> A lot. >> That's a lot. >> So, he the K9 be called in by the sheriff. >> He was already working, but yeah. >> Okay. best.
>> Yeah, it was a really good team effort and I'm just really proud of them. They're putting in a lot of good work and this is why we did this program, you know, thanks to you guys and allowing it um we're
literally saving lives because of it. >> And we're never going to be able to quantify that um because we have prevented it before it could happen. So, um, it's very important work. It's a thankless job from time to time. So, I have to take the opportunity when I can
to thank him >> and Nash for for doing a really good job. >> And, you know, and the word gets out there once those people that are dealing all these drugs and they know that they're getting busted over here. Yeah. >> Getting arrested, they're not going to be moving over here either. >> We've experienced it just in our own
community of people dying from overdoses. >> Um, like I said, drugs are movable. they are here. They and we're going to do our best to get it out. Um, and the conversation that I've conversations
that I've had with a lot of community members lately is um they would like to hear about those stories more often. Right. Unfortunately, law enforcement in general um is kind of an iron
>> iron curtain u and we can only talk so much details. Um but those details we can talk about. It's huge impact on our our community and surrounding communities. So
>> I would have to say the K9 project is probably my favorite thing community thing that the city has been involved in. I mean, it was such a an organic thing that people, you know, it was it was truly a community project and people donated quickly and willingly to that
project to get the money to do it. And >> to see it up and running so successfully is really really heartwarming. So, make sure you tell Nick that we really appreciate it and you know Nash should get an extra treat or something. >> Yes. So, um other than that, uh last
point is we started field training our part-time officer now. So hopefully he'll be up and running in the next couple months or so depending on his availability for his full-time job and coming here working part time. So
>> all right. Well, let him know that we appreciate efforts, too. It's nice to have one more. >> Yeah, >> part time. Um, let's see. Cable commission, do you have anything? Yeah, we well, no, we attempted to have a meeting in
September, but we didn't have a quorum, so we turned around and went home. >> Yeah. >> So, our next meeting is October 22nd. >> Okay. Um, Dawn Park Committee on there.
Okay. Um, is there anything else that I missed under committees? If someone would like to move to adjourn some move. >> Is there a second? Everybody wants to stay. >> Second. >> All those in favor, please say hi.
>> I opposed. >> Have a good night. >> What is the um the advent committee meeting? Oh.