Pledge algiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> All right. Thank you everybody for being here tonight. Um, we will start with approval of the agenda. Anybody have anything to add? Otherwise, someone would like to move approval.
>> Second. >> Motion in a second. Any discussion? >> There was an addendum that I sent out to city council. We're just going to add the donation for the Minnesota Police Chief Association. >> Um that will be on um item number 4.4. >> Okay. >> It's for $2,000. It can go on the same
>> We'll just add it to four. Okay. >> All right. That sounds good. Okay. With that, we have a motion and a second to approve the agenda. Um, any discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor, please say, "I >> oppose, same sign." Motion carried.
>> The consent agenda. Everybody had a chance to look at that minutes from um October 6th and the financials. >> I had a comment on um under the public open forum on the minutes uh 4.5. >> Yep.
>> Uh just the wording of that. It says uh council member Sandelman and resident Tom Wiki addressed the city council and gave their interpretation of the public open forum. And I know I think that's worded a little wrong. I I kind of I
requested that the public forum be reinstated. So I don't know if that's maybe I'm reading it wrong or >> um No, I I I can see what you're saying. Um I don't know
>> you say request. >> Yeah, council member Sandelman requested reinstatement of public >> forum >> forum and Tom Whitiki spoke regarding it or I don't >> Yeah, I think that would be Can we do
that? Councelor Sanman requested reinstatement of the public open forum and resident Tom Whitiki spoke in support of it. >> Yep. Thank you. Okay. So, we can
amend that. Does anybody else have anything for the minutes or the financials? >> Motion to approve as amended. >> Motion. Is there a second? I'll second. Second by Martha. Any discussion? Any discussion? All in
favor, please say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carried. New business 4.1 resolution about rental property which got my hands frozen. >> Okay. >> It's that kind of date. >> Yeah. Just I don't know. It does it sometimes. Um
so uh currently 3T Farms farms um buy our industrial lot. They kind of take care of it and spray for weeds and do tilling and um all all of that. Um, we are approached by the same organization that has been putting on really great
events at Conklin Hill to expand their event and uh move it across the field onto that field. Um, it's very low income generating anyway. Um, so what
I'm asking council to do today and um is to uh interpret what the group would like to do with it. So, they plan to plant pumpkins, some gourds, um, squash, and make them available for the public for free. Um, and, uh, they had a really
good turnout this last fall for the event. >> Um, they would still take care of it and be good stewards of the land. They're still going to spray and make sure that things are planted in the spring and taken out in the fall. So, this would cancel our contract with 3T Farms and it
would um, just become our property to maintain and manage. There's no bridge uh crossing other than the highway and a little farther. >> Yeah, they're working they're working on that. >> Oh, interesting.
>> So, does 3T Farms know that? >> No, this would be notice. We don't give notice until council approves it. >> How many acres is it? >> It's a little over three, >> but there's like a retention pond and >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Does that include the gra the pay field or whatever that >> um nope. Just south of that that other field. >> I don't have a problem with it. >> And it'd be no cost to us as a city. >> Yeah. We already pay insurance on it. We
already >> eat the cost. >> So no external. >> No. >> It actually might lower our taxes because it would be for public use and public good >> versus rental. And I think that group just did a fantastic job. That fall festival was >> Oh, it was >> the corn maze was
>> Can we win watermelon to the >> crop? >> Good. >> Another celebration there. >> Why not? >> Oh, have a watermelon. >> Watermelon days. >> Call that water. >> All right. >> I saw on the resolution.
>> I'll second. >> Okay. Motion by Kelly, second by Don. Any discussion? Any more discussion? Any discussion? I would just say thank you. Tell 3T Farms it has no, you know, no malice toward them. We just think this is a better use of it >> and legally we can break their excuse
me, I didn't um you know kind of break the contract or >> Yeah. >> just say an annual renewal. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Okay. Any other discussion? Otherwise, I'll call the motion. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carried. Um 4.2 the GFW
school land and building. >> I'm actually going to try to pull this up because [Applause] yes [Applause] Michael computer. >> I know it's pulling it up.
>> Yeah. I don't know why um Adobe every once in a while just like crashes and just doesn't like to do things. If you were by yourself in your office, it wouldn't do that. But now I'm sitting here. >> Does it at my office?
Okay. >> Should I hold mine up and like >> I don't know. It's just loading. >> Okay. So, uh, we see if I saved a hard copy. No, I can't get into the drive.
[Applause] I've got an extra one here if you want to if anybody needs one. You want to do you want to go? You want to plug my laptop in? >> Yeah, that's all right. >> We'll just fly without it if I can't get it here.
>> No, it's okay. Take your time. Just take your time. It's fine. Um, so we've had a lot of meetings um about the the school and the football field. Uh, you know, in April we did a meeting and then July and we've been
taking a lot of um a lot of comments and trying to formulate kind of an opinion for city council to see what you guys want to do and maybe what the next steps are. So, I wanted to remind everyone kind of what we've done already uh and um where
we went from there. So, the GFW school um district put out a survey in January 2025. Uh we had 148 respondents, 59 of which were residents. Of those 59, 67 respondents said there are parts of the
GFW school building that we would like to preserve or repurpose. and 52% of the respondents said uh uh they should not demolish the building while only 15% said the building should be completely demolished. Then we held uh town halls. So we we
held town halls um twice but in April of 2025 we really gave it a good whirl. Um we had a really good participation from the community and really great discussion. Um we talked about you know keeping the gyms, the locker room and the fitness area. We said maybe another
um way to deal with it is just demolish it and redevelop it uh for housing. Some others wanted to keep it as a civic center for kids and seniors. Some saw it as an opportunity to develop affordable housing or uh affordable apartments um
for seniors. Uh some on the football field side. So like what if we put in large public gardens or walking paths or develop into family homes? Um and then uh later that year in July, we brought everyone back together. We got some
engineers involved and we provided cost estimates for certain things that we were going to do with the building site. And if do you remember we kind of broke the building up, right? So we asked the engineers, give us three different
subsections of the building and what would it cost to keep some? What would it cost to demolish some? and what would it cost to like repurpose some of them. So, um we uh reached out to some
companies and we said, you know, there's really three scenarios. The first scenario is we demolish the buildings and get rid of it. Um that alone for the whole building, take take down and tear down is about 1.1 million to demolish
it. to demo just the A and B portions, which is basically the educational side or school side of the building. Um that would still be about a million dollar or $900,000. Um
the reason that really is about is because you know when you when you saw part of a building, you still have to replace walls, shore it up, make it whole again. and then to do just see uh and keep the rest for like affordable housing or
whatever. It would cost about $500,000. So, as you can see, um not really great options. We also involved the engineers when we said okay if we wanted to
renovate the building for apartments or we wanted to redevelop it into something that is usable. You know how much does that cost? Um per square foot it's about $6 to$10 really depending on what um you
know what you want to do with it. Um so our total estimate um down here is that 861 187. This is how much square feet we would have to remodel in order to to make it go. Again, you wouldn't have to do this all at once. I think we talked
at the meetings like you could section it off, you could try different things. Um but we're talking uh big money. So, if you kept area C, um we know that uh over the next 10
years, you're going to have to replace things. You're going to have to replace boilers. You're going to have to replace the gym floor. The roof is leaking quite excessively. Um new electrical service. So, unfortunately on that side of the building, the electrical service is
actually on the opposite side. So, you would have to pull in new lines, rewire most of it. It'll be a project. Um, once you touch it, it also has to be decode to wiring. And let's just say some of it's not. Um,
you know, we'd also have to demolish that remainder A and B part of the building, which would be about 700,000 um without shoring up the walls. So, over the next 10 years, they expect us to spend about $2.2 2 million just to
keep the gym and renovate it. Um, scenario three would be remodeling A and B and that gets really expensive. So, um, you know, per square foot, it's about 180 to 250
per square foot to remodel it. And as as we saw before, there's about 80,000 square feet of building that you would 70,000 square feet of building that you'd have to remodel. Um on the lowest mid-range estimate, um just basic basic
um it would cost us about $17.5 million to remodel and um repurpose. That's without going after grants. That's without going after, you know, anything. But I will tell you on the grant side of things or even if you were
going to try to deem it a historic building, um that's a lot of expense. Um because before you can do that, you have to prove proof of concept. So you're going to have to have engineering plans. You're going to have to figure out what
that cost is before you can spend the grant money. Um and I bet you that engineering on this type of project, you know, if you just talk about a regular ISG engineering, it's about 10% 10 to 15% of
of that total. So you're going to be spending $23 million just to get prepared to go for the grant. So I just wanted to bring that up before we head into that. Um deferred maintenance costs between the two total
ask meaning keeping A and B and C and um goosing it up a little bit. You would spend about 20 million minimum repurposing that school building. So, we really looked at different ways
to fund this. Again, demolition only. Um, you know, we can apply for a redevelopment grant. I don't know how far you want me to go down that rabbit hole, but the redevelopment grant, there's very little money to it. Uh, it seems like a great program, but only about $1.5 million every year is
actually um dedicated to the redevelopment program >> for the whole state. >> Yeah. >> It's a very competitive grant. Uh, you still have to put money forward. Um they reimburse you. It's basically for the
demolition and then if you don't redevelop it or the development falls through, you don't get any money. None. Um you can use tiff uh or levy to cover the match um uh tax and permit
financing. Um and then uh you know you can market it and try to find a developer. Um it's not very popular right now developing anything but you know you could find someone. Uh if you look at you know Gaylord as a really prime example um I think that's gone
back to them now three times four times. >> Um hasn't been very successful because what happens is most developers say you know I'm going to come in there and I'm going to do whatever. They fill out a building permit and they say, "Well, this isn't Dakota and hasn't been in use
and it's use is different." And so if you're going to put residential people in here now, you have to sprinkle the whole building, you know, and then it just goes on from there. Funding for uh living, you know, there's public private partnerships. Um the
school can get in in that um you know, H Heartland Core Products if they wanted some housing. Um there are um lowincome housing tax credits uh through HUD. They're not hard to get. Um I think on a
on a large scale, but I don't know. Um again, you'd still have to get those qualifying documents. You'd still have construction documents and engineering that you'd have to have before you even went for that. Um there's historic preservation credits, but you would have to prove that the building is historic and in
good repair and a plan. Um community development block grants um are definitely a thing uh through the state of Minnesota. USA USDA rural development does do some um projects with HUD uh in cooperation
for low-income housing. Um but you know again that would be not a grant that would be a loan or a low interest um loan. So uh what we really want to know as
staff is like what are our next steps? Um, I think this is really about, you know, who wants to control what happens to the future of the football field and school and, um, you know, we can start approaching the superintendent with your guidance on what we want to do with it.
Um, we're going to have to finalize some kind of funding mechanism because million dollars doesn't appear out of nowhere. And um you know before we we do any of that you know we'd have to sign some agreements with the school district letting them know that we're going to
take control of it. The other option is letting it go to the open market and as we've kind of seen sometimes that doesn't um doesn't bode well. Um, I know that there's been some some
individuals that have approached the school um about purchasing it. And, you know, my exact reaction to that is I I hope they have a lot of money because if they want to, you know, reszone it as commercial, it sounds really easy. You
know, you flip a switch and it's not. um it is zone for public use right now and that school once it flips ownership and goes to a commercial industrial housing development has to meet certain specific codes for occupancy. Um
one of the boilers I know has problems. Um we were made aware of that. Um there's a lot of electrical issues. Um the solar panels that are outside of the school are actually ours. Uh the city of Wright put them in in
early 2000s >> I think. So right >> sometime um and they actually feed into the school. So uh we have to disconnect those somehow at some point anyway because whoever owns the building or if
it comes down um obviously that can't continue to generate power. So yeah, um you know, we just we're here for an open discussion about what you want staff to do next. >> The the school board really controls it. Correct. I mean, the football field,
obviously, it'd be nice if we have that. I mean, that's not going to cost us a ton of money. We could do whatever with it, but this whole school, I mean, if there's someone that would like to purchase it, I don't think we have much to say about it. >> We do. It's public use zoning right now.
Um so administrator Palmer when she was here they went in 2020 and 2015 they went through reszoning anything that was owned by the public and that is very specific. So they would have to request
a zoning a reszone and that would go to planning and zoning first and if they approved it it would come to you and you'd be able to deny anything that you think is a little bit sketchy. So, someone comes in, buys the building, and they want to uh do a marijuana
manufacturing plant in the middle of town. Like, that is a zoning request. Um, which city council would have every right to deny. >> So, refresh my memory. I thought during those town hall meetings because I came to both of them or and I thought we
decided that we were going to let GFW or the school kind of decide what to do with it. >> Yeah. >> Oh, that's it. We're saying, do we want that to do with it? >> I I think it's that we because of the
zoning, we we have some leverage and we have a very vested interest in wanting to see that property not rot. >> Yes. Not rot on the first thing everybody sees when they drive through town.
>> And you know, Gaylords is at least not on the most heavily traveled path through town. >> And So at this point they obviously didn't plan for it. Is there any way we can approach the school and
to me it's inherently unfair for the residents of Winthro >> to bear the full burden of dealing with that property. >> Same with Given, >> you know, because they're going to have the same thing. They're going to have a building sitting there and um what what
do you do with it? And and there too. I mean, a city has a vested interest in wanting the town to look good and not to have a very large building slowly deteriorating in front of all of us.
But they obviously didn't plan for any funds to deal with the old buildings, at least as far as I know. What happened uh when Fairfax was closed? That did somebody came and
bought that? They purchased this. >> They did. I think they were going to do some type of AA. >> Yeah, that was >> rehab facility. I know that they made some progress at the beginning of this year. >> I think they ran into problems again
with uh you're going to put people in that building. Well, it's over 10,000 ft now. It's got to be sprinkled and it's got to have correct code. And >> I I know that they made progress at the beginning of the year, but I don't know where they are at anymore. I know that Andrea hasn't um said that.
>> But I'm saying the city didn't really have a a say in that. Correct. >> I mean, yeah. I I I think that has to it had to get resolved, >> right? Yeah. And I think the original thing sounded fairly promising. So I
think everybody was kind of on board with it when when the building first the school first closed it and they had something >> I feel like the city actually owned it before >> I think they did. Did they own it? >> I think they owned it >> and they sold it to >> Okay. >> I wish I could remember.
>> Well, it's been two different things. I think originally it was supposed to be like for troubled teens or something. Yes, that sounds >> that was the plan and then that fell through and it sat vacant for a while and then I heard something recently was going on. And I I'll just tell you like every call that we're on from Minnesota deed, you
know, that helped fund um things like Emerson Union and they helped fund these buildings that went from a public building to, you know, and they just have very little taste in their mouth for that type of it just the cost is so overbearing to the public to redo these
things as public housing that it is literally cheaper to knock it down and start over. Well, and it it does always beg the question, if the building is in such bad shape, the school can't use it anymore efficiently, then how are we supposed to do better?
>> Yeah. with a building that is old and needs major repairs. >> Maybe we should approach um given and have a group set up or whatever meeting with the superintendent uh or the the
school board talking about what we're going to what what are their plans. They just plan on putting it for sale and let them know what our concerns are. It would be nice if we could work out some kind of a joint payment for
>> Yeah, I think you're both contribut It really is unbalanced. We're already paying the full school district tax and basically dealing with that building is >> a million dollars that would be put on
our taxes. Just our taxes. It is. >> I know when um the superintendent previous was here, I know that they did put together a congressional direct spend request through the state, but I think that was the year that they didn't
do a bond. So, >> it was Yeah. And that would that was when there was surplus and there might have been some money. Has there been any discussion at all with the the school or the superintendent?
>> You've met with him once or twice. >> Once or twice. Yeah. >> I think he's trying to get the new building open. >> Yeah. I mean, I I think that as a city, we we want to work with them and we want
something good to come of it, whether it's demolishing it or if there's a cost effective way to find a reuse for something. But I I just don't think it's fair that it's I don't think it's fair that the only
way we can have some input about what happens to it is if we pay the full Right. >> Well, the info would be if somebody decided to purchase it, >> right, and then come to us and then we're going to be sitting like
where somebody else owns it now, they can't do anything with it. >> Yeah, that would be my >> go back to the school district and see if they can help us >> start working on a I I wish I knew how they felt.
I mean, have they given it any thought at all? >> I mean, I I know they have. I know that the the um for instance, one of the other districts approached GF to see if they could get the bleachers from our old
football field. Like, and the first thing he did is Allan emailed me and would you guys care if they were just, you know, gone by the time you got that? I'm like, no. the less that's there the better. >> Yeah. >> Um so I know that they're mindful of it
and I I know that they you know what's happening in you know Gaylord and Fairfax and all over the state of Minnesota um is that these individuals cannot handle the the burden. Um you know the school district has a budget like 10 times what ours is and they
couldn't fix them. So, um, we can do something like a mutual understanding that they're going to continue to work on finding a fund source to take down the building. So, when the whole um the whole idea for
a new school was brought up, did they plan like were there any plans on what would happen to the old buildings then? Yeah, when all this was going >> I understood that there was money in there, a million bucks or whatever it
was to tear the schools down, but maybe that's just a grant or >> not directly in the referendum. There was not. Um it was a >> we're going to get the referendum passed, but then we're going to ask the state of Minnesota to give each city a million dollars to demolish the
buildings. >> Does it should we try to ask given if they want to be in I mean it seems reasonable they're going to have a similar >> Yeah that's why I was saying we get together with >> or just talk to Dana about and see what
their thoughts are what but they wanted part of the school I thought give >> I don't know if that's true >> I think it might be sort of like our our surveys I mean in theory if if you ask me I'd say yeah let's turn into apartments and make it a you know
community center it sounds fantastic and then you see the, you know, $20 million price tag and you go, that's not so fantastic. >> So, until you have an actual, you know, some sort of cost estimate, it's pretty hard to say what you want to do with the building,
>> but we should get started with it at least. >> And I know it's been said several times, but should not fall on our citizens and our citizens, you know, >> should not it's >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And I keep thinking about Fairfax, but
that's what happened to them or >> I don't know the building, >> but they were able to sell the building. >> That's true. They maybe Yeah, they maybe did get something for it >> and I thought this >> Yeah, I don't.
>> No. >> Okay, we'll take that back and get this. >> That sounds good. >> That makes sense. Thank you for the background on that. >> All right. 4.3, approving the Minnesota
paid family medical leave policy. The admin committee went over this. Um, it's in your packet. Michael or Heather, you want to give us the So, this is the new and improved family medical leave that's
going to be taking effect in 2026 um, starting January 1st. There have been several meetings and phone calls as to how it's going to work, how it's going to operate. It's changed probably 52,000 times so far, and it's still going to continue to change. Um,
we took our policy guidelines based off of what the state is saying we should put in effect at this point, but it may change at a later date. Um, that's why at the end of the policy it states will
be updated as needed. Um, yeah, I there's not really a whole lot of new information about it. They came out with forms and stuff on how they're going to track each type of leave. That
was the most recent update as of last week. Okay, >> we solved things at the admin committee like how how much do we want them to be able to take on intermittent leave? Are we going to allow them to do 15-inute intervals? Are they going to have a full
day off? Um those are what's really in the policy and admin I think did a really good job um at kind of making sure that we crossed our tees, dotted our eyes on the policy. I um it also
talks about it running concurrent with FMLA um which I think is really important. Um and that you know any um intermittent leaves would have to be managed through the city administrator.
And this will apply just so you guys know to fire, ambulance, >> everyone. uh city council. It applies to everyone at this time. >> I am certain that they'll change it. >> This is just going to be like ESST all over again.
>> Yeah. >> So, the funding source for the pay isn't insurance. I'm not >> trying to figure out what that means. >> Yeah. So, >> shortterm disability. >> What is it? >> Short-term disability. short-term disability. LTD is long-term disability.
>> Not that. Not that. >> I just want to realize that >> specifically for that you guys. [Laughter] >> What was your question?
[Music] I I clarifying the funding source to pay the paid leave is an insurance policy. Am I correct that the city >> kind of it's a premium that the employee
pays 44% of and then the city pays the other 40 or 44% not 44% sorry. Um and then it all gets put into a giant pool at the state. So all these employers are paying into that
pool and then when they go to take the leave they have to get it approved through a medical professional of course and then it is administered sort of like unemployment. It's totally administered through the state. That part where they get paid and all that that's not us. The
only part that we would administer is like if they take vacation time or short-term disability long-term disability that is our role in it. >> Okay. which gets plugged into another system for tracking so they know what we're paying versus what they're paying.
>> Yeah. And our our tax um implications just for this one program from the state of Minnesota, the point44% is about $6,000. So it's about a half a percent of our levy that just got tacked on this year. >> And it's it's graduated if you're it it
the amount you collect ba is based on your income. So, if you're on the lower end of the income scale, you'll get up to 90% I think of your >> Yes. >> your weekly or monthly income or whatever it is. And then that >> gradually drops the higher your income is. So,
>> we made it really easy. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And the higher your income is, the more you pay to fund the lower income that gets the more paid. >> I didn't think about that. >> Correct. >> Thanks. >> It's a great system. >> Yeah. I saw a move to approve it.
>> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Motion and a second to accept the Peggy family medical leave policy. Um, any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Opposed? >> Motion carried.
>> All right. 4.4. Approval of donations. Um, this is the resolution that would accept the donation those $2150 from Bernick Farms LLC and the $2,000 from the Minnesota Chiefs Association. Both will be earmarked for Conklin Hill
spending this coming spring. Um, and the chief can talk about that in a little while, but um, and they have he applied for it and wanted a specific use for it. So, >> great. >> All right. So move to accept.
>> I'll second motion by Ed. Second by Dawn. Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Oppos. Same side. Motion carried. 4.5. Soil borings.
Um I do not have a quote yet back from this. So I don't want you guys to take action on it, but I just wanted to explain where this is coming from. So, um, the fire ambulance building we're going to hopefully talk about next month. Uh, we have gone through about 25
iterations of it. It's really hard. Um, I I will just say that that committee has worked really really hard on trying to find a a building structure in an addition to the fire hall that um, number one financially makes sense and number two um, really sets us up to
future use. Uh unfortunately we just have to continue to make it smaller uh because the cost of a building right now is extremely high. Um so we'll bring that back to you guys but uh I'll bring it back to you all in one
piece. The soil borings I would assume are going to cost between6 to $10,000 but we can't get construction documents until we know if we need soil corrections or if it's a stable surface to build on. So,
>> um I'll bring that back to you guys next month. I thought honestly he would have them to me today and he did not. So, >> okay. So, we'll just skip over that. >> Okay. Um I think I'll look forward to hearing that next time. 4.6, the resolution um
about the enterprise payments back to the general fund. >> Every month we make payments out of our general fund and we're just making it right before the audit at the end of the year. um electric uh owes the general fund back for some street light um
materials and for transformers and then uh likewise the water department uh we did a well repair I think you guys remember well too had to get repaired um we paid for that out of the general fund and the water fund is just going to pay us back >> like to make a motion make a motion
motion by Martha is there a second by Kelly any discussion any discussion Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Motion carried. 4.7 preliminary budget review.
>> I just wanted to get to give um some perspective and some updates. Um on some of the things that we know have changed since our budget has passed. >> So, health insurance came back to us. So, um, brief history, we used to have
health partners and health partners dropped not all small policies, but most small policies, including ours, um, last year. So, in February, we switched to Blue Cross Blue Shield. It came in cheaper. We were like, "Hey, this is good. It was 15% cheaper than our old
rates." Well, we got our estimate back. It's 19.1% higher. Um, that accounts for about $36,000 worth of change. um >> 19% higher than the >> than the previous year. It's 19.1% higher.
>> So actually like of their original >> 19% of their original. Okay. So >> it's an increase but not quite as bad as it would have been if we had stayed with held partners. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay, that's good. >> I mean very small. >> I'm trying to look on the
>> very small. Okay. Well, um 4% higher than >> paid family medical leave act was about $6,000 extra this year. Well, up for 2026, excuse me. And then um for property insurance. So in 2023, we paid
37,950. Let's just call it 38,000. Um in 2024, that jumped to 58,684. We changed our premium this year. So if we have >> deducted deduct >> our deductible this year and so our
premium went down about $200. So 58233. However, if we pay just two claims, we are going to lose a bunch of money. Uh it'll it'll go up by almost $10,000. So just keep that in mind. If we if we
get two claims, our deductible is much higher than it used to be. And two claims sets us even for an almost 20% increase. But right now, we're saving $500 year over year. Workers compensation
insurance. So in 2023, we were just paying $35,000. Seemed reasonable. In 2024, it raised to $52,000. And in 2024, we took an audit. That audit said, "Hey, City of Winthre, you
guys owe us $28,134." So, our 2025 budget for those premiums that that includes that almost 20% increase. So, uh we went from 35 to 52 to almost
$70,000 for workers compensation. So, um there's a lot of things that we can't control. Workers comp is one of those. You know, we're on to that state system that um unfortunately the Twin Cities, metro areas are seeing a lot of
work comp cases. Um there's just there's just not a lot we can do um about those costs. We, you know, we did definitely push back on property insurance. uh we we we lowered
uh the amount that we're covered for. Um but those are the main things that have moved um the budget within the last uh month or so. Um and it's it's still putting us at a preliminary levy almost exactly about um oops I opened the wrong
one. Um that we proposed at the preliminary hearing. What about the funding for the police department? Did we find out how much that was going to be? >> What do you mean by that? >> I thought there was some question about that.
>> Oh, the city. Yep. >> Yep. That was put in there and I believe once he pulls that up, we can see, but it was around 52,000 52,000 >> and that's kind of what we expected. Yeah. See, that's >> Yeah. So, you can see our final right
now. That would be the ones where we changed the totals is now at 17.9. Um, and the police that's under Is it under revenue? >> No, it's under police. >> I think Oh, >> no. You might be right. It might be under >> I think it's under revenue. And we're
broken. Okay, we're back. And we're not >> Okay, I'm not looking at that one. I feel like it's on a plate. >> What is going on with that one? >> It's not happy. >> It's the one we just replaced. >> I know.
>> Is that like a bad spot or is there like a ghost? >> Okay. If you get seizures, don't look over this. >> I know. I'm going to turn it off. I was thinking, >> oh dear. >> 50 even. That was the police.
>> No, it's 5196943 is what it came in at. >> Okay. >> The blue one. >> Oh, wow. >> That's what it came in at this year, but averaged over the last three. >> It's about 50.
>> We budgeted 50. >> This the year before it went down. And with all the decreases and everything that they were talking about this year, it's not guaranteed for next year. >> So, we're finger crossed and hoping.
>> Okay. >> Okay. Does anybody have any questions about budget figures? >> Work comp insurance. You said we're on a state program. >> Uh the League of Minnesota Cities. Yeah, >> it's where most of the cities get to
work. >> Wonder if there's cheaper options. >> There's other options, but I can guarantee you they're not cheaper. >> Yeah, I would I mean, the League of Minnesota City is most Yeah. >> Yeah. I know.
>> Jenny's just went too and it's like, >> wow. >> My property insurance went up almost 40%. over last year. >> I I think if when we talked about putting this on the the agenda for tonight, I think it's just
important for anybody here and anybody watching this later or reading in the paper that council and especially staff really really have worked on the budget. they keep working on the budget and we are
trying to contain cost as much as we can. Um, nobody likes the 17.9%. Um, but there are some things this year that are just so far out of our control. I I don't know that any of us have any
more creative ways to >> And just a reminder to council too. Um, so last year we cut all of our funding mechanisms and categories by 17%. So we cut the fat last year um and had a very
small levy raise um while other cities around us were having double digits. Um the year before that we cut expenditures by almost 13%. Um that is exactly when we started implementing the double
approval for all uh invoices. So, you know, we we send an invoice through it for ambulance. Ed approves it or denies it and says, "Nope, this isn't mine. This is yours." We started controlling expenses um far greater than we probably ever had before to make sure that our numbers were accurate so that when we
went to council, we could say, "Yep, you can cut that budget because we know we don't use, you know, x, y, and z numbers." Um but but last year, we cut almost 20% of expenditures with rising costs. You know, those those cost increases between
2023 and 2024 just in workers compensation was 20 grand. Insurance was almost 40 grand. You know, those things we already accounted for last year. So, we're other cities are maybe cutting some of those fatty expenses that they had in there. We we've already done that the last two years.
>> Um, and you know, I I don't know how else to explain lower revenue and higher costs. It it just it just continues to hurt the cities. I mean, as an example, we cut a full-time position in the city front office that was in 20 oh 20 for 25
42 budget. Yes. >> Um >> and now we're doing that again with the library budget knowing that it >> had an impact of almost 10 to 15%. >> Yeah. So, um yeah, we have not backed away from
some tough decisions. So, is this going to be finalized at our work at our next work session? >> Um, not in the next work session. So, um, the mayor and I propose that November 24th, it's a Monday, we'll have a work session for budget. I'll send it to your calendars,
>> but we will not actually finalize it until truth and taxation, which will be December 1st. Um, so just a reminder, we have a public hearing obligation in the state of Minnesota, and that is truth and taxation. That is our first meeting. If for some reason that meeting is cancelled, I don't know why. Snowstorm
um it would be the following Monday. That's our backup meeting. >> We should also um people the public can attend the work session if they would like to. >> Oh, absolutely. >> People are welcome to come and and um >> and I liked how we did the work sessions
in the past and you can >> um say yay or nay to that, but I thought, you know, after each category, we gave people an opportunity to >> worked really well. It was good. I think so too. I would I'd probably like to continue that. So we would just after every budget category would you know have time for some comment from people
who have you know whose taxes it's going to impact. So >> is that starting at seven? >> 7. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> And that's state statute too. So you can't actually have truth and taxation before 6 p.m. anyway. So we just have I
think historically done it during the meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yep. Okay. Anything else on the budget? All right. Then we'll move on to 4.8 Winthr Police Department annual audit. Logan, you want to come and give us a
update? So this is just our so state statute requires that you do a by annual um body camera audit and there is an extensive like four page long list of
things that you have to cover and um through the company that we chose to do our audit um they came back and said that we were compliant with everything and we got our certificates. So, um, it
was a long process, but it, like I said, it's over two years worth of body camera footage that was looked over and made sure that the retention periods are uh, being used properly and has a lot of
stuff that you probably don't really care about, but it was a long process. >> Is this an annual thing or >> by annual? Yeah, so used >> to be a little reprieve. >> Yes. Right. >> That was good to hear. >> Yeah. >> So, unless you have any questions,
that's pretty much all I got for you. It's nothing too crazy, but there is the full report there for you to review, too. >> Thanks for getting the grant, too, or applying for that. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Do you want to explain that process to >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, the Chiefs of Police Association, they
have a foundation um and this year they were really trying to um do community grants so that police departments across the state could um have some funds to do new things in their community. And uh so
I applied for it. It was up $2,500. Um we were awarded $2,000. So, everyone got 80% of what they requested and what I proposed um I called it slice and slide with cops
in Conklin Hill. So, I was thinking I already talked u with Mr. Trouble Horn and um we're going to get pizza from there. We have the heated garage in the at the PD there. Um and then buy um
tubes, sleds for the hill. Um, and in that process, I was like, well, if we're going to spend substantial amount of money on new tubes and and sleds and whatnot, I want a place that they can be used all winter long, not just the one
time that we do this event, right? >> So, I met with Katie Gran and we kind of just figured out what would be best. And initially I reached out for uh Dakota storage sheds to see if they could uh
see if they could help us with that process. They were willing to help us but not enough to cover that. And then Katie um was approached by Bert Hunnel and then Hon's decided that they uh we're going to donate that shed that's
now over by the PD. So that'll be a really cool space. That's a warming shed for kids to warm up in and also store our tubes and sleds that I want to donate. I it still be our property but
donated to the hill so kids can use it all winter long. So >> that's nice. >> Great. >> Very nice. >> Yeah, >> worked out really good. >> Great. Thank you. And then in addition to that, just so you guys are aware too, >> I did submit the grant because we work
such close with Gaylord PD that it would be nice for our community and their community to come together. Um, and so we're inviting their officers and people their entire community over to the hill, too. So be kind of a cool collaboration of everyone get to know the offic.
>> Do you have a date for that? Yeah. So, February uh 3rd, I believe it is, is that first >> probably a good idea. >> Yeah. So, this is all contingent on weather, too, right? Unfortunately. Um but that's what we're looking at is for that that first weekend, February,
February 3rd, uh right before the Super Bowl. So, hopefully we can all get out on the hill and be wore out and then watch football game later. >> Well, Steve Sax would be the first one down the hill. >> Yep. >> Well, I think he has to actually. I think that was in the contract.
>> Yeah. >> Can't you put a grant in for making snow? >> That's a good idea. >> That's a great idea. >> I mean, I'm just thinking like Mount Ko or something like that and all. >> Yeah. Haul it in. >> Just haul it in. >> If it snows a bunch though, we'll just have Troy push it all down the hill so
we can have our even bigger hill. So, >> yeah. >> Oh my goodness. >> All right. Anybody have any other questions for Logan? >> Thanks, Logan. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. Yes. >> All right. Nice to have some good news.
All right. Moving on to 4.9, the resolution about the EDA. [Applause] >> Hi everyone. So, the EDA has been actually really busy. I know I reported that last meeting, but um uh I do have
some updates on my admin report, but this is uh to help get Hans back open. Um, so the EDA was approached by uh Mr. Brooks who is going to be the owner of Hans Restaurant. Um,
I will say this first. So the EDA went through a process last year that um slowed the amount of loans that we gave um through a very I would say more stringent guidelines and process. Um we uh you know you know got approached by
them. They filled out an application. and we were like, "Yeah, this sounds like a great idea, but you need a business plan." So, for 30 days, maybe a little bit over 30 days, they worked with SCORE um and some of our business coaches through Rev um and they came up
with a really good business plan. Um you know, they critiqued it. They g feedback from the EDA uh in early September. They came back to the EDA in September 17th and said, "Okay, I think we're ready. I think we're ready to go for the full thing." Um, we check their
creditworthiness through Midcountry Bank. That's their bank that they chose for their commercial lender. Um, and uh, this would be unlike most of our other loans. This will be a contract for deed. So, the EDA
will own the building in conjunction with Midcountry Bank. So, we'll loan 50%, they'll own 50%. Uh, the estimated market value is over the loan amount at this point. um and we felt comfortable uh with it.
There's also equity from uh the Brooks family that they're putting into it as well. Uh any renovations or remodels that are going to go and take place um actually are coming out of pocket from the equity um that the owner is putting into it.
Um the EDA uh had their meeting last week or the week before um approved this and brought it to city council because this is more monies than we have in our account currently. Um the EDA um has not received its normal stipen from the
state city as well. Um so that would not be on top of this. we're asking to just flush across the board the 140 not including the $60,000 that we um were budgeted for that that would not include on top of that. So um
there are contingency funds that we can use for this. Um I will tell you that uh alone by itself I don't know if the bank would fully fund it. Uh if you haven't heard, 70% of restaurants fail in the first year. Uh
banks are very uh risk adverse and this is something that they normally don't do. Uh but because the loan is covered basically by the estimated market value of the building, um they felt pretty comfortable going forward.
And Dave's here because of that, too. So if you have any questions, you can ask Dave. >> Sure. So, how's the uh contract for deed written up? Repairs, anything like that? That's all the owner. >> Yeah. So, how it's going to be written
up as all repairs, ownership, um taxes, uh insurance on the building, that is all paid for by them. We don't have anything to do with the operating business, equipment. >> But do we require insurance, so on? >> Yep. Property insurance, liability insurance,
>> and what would the interest rate be? Um, well, right now it's 4.25%, but I think the feds are lowering or are going to lower. So, it depends on when we when we settle. And that's why that's really why they're going after the EDA money is because it is much
cheaper than the bank right now. And it brings their loan total amount at the end of the day much lower. So, it allows them to operate a little bit higher. Um, you know, I would say on a monthly average it costs just in utilities about
$300 to $5,000 to run that building. >> Um, so you know, if you can save $500 to $600 on your loan. >> So we have money market that we've >> we do. >> Okay. And what is the interest that we're making? I don't want to make less
money than what we're making on it right now. >> That's going to go down as well. >> Well, true. So, we always charge the exact same amount that we would make on our CDs or 4M fund. We charge the same amount on
our loans. So, if we're making 4.8% on the 4M, we >> That's what I wanted to make. >> That's Yeah, that's a good question. >> Yeah. And that bounces every month. It bounces around. >> But once it's set, it's set in the >> Once we set it, we set it. Dave
>> Aaron Walton is putting this all together and he has done it before. So this isn't his first rodeo with this kind of project paperwork, whatever you want to call. And the reason that we went for a contract for deed is because
it is a legally binding contract. It's not a um loosey goosey contract that you know we have this understanding of the law, not this. If they stop paying, we start taking over. We just take the building, kick them out, and move on.
>> What about the bank? >> They would do do a repossession. >> I was going to be working with the bank on that. >> So, we have already talked to Mid Country about it and um we're still in the final stages of discussion. Unfortunately, one of their employees
left at Mid Country, so we're dealing with a new person, which is fine. Um but they have done this before um many many times down in downtown Hutchinson. Basically what happens if we ask for a foreclosure the first entitled lean
holder also will follow in time. So hey you haven't paid the EDA for 6 months. Here's your notice. You have 90 days to operate and then we're taking everything. >> So is that all going to be specified? >> Yep. And the reason we're doing contract foras in Minnesota is very legal
document. It is very black and white in courts. And when would the payments start? >> Just depends on when we get the loan going, >> but they would start immediately the next month. >> They they would I was just going to say, is there going to be >> with this loan amount? We would want the
money back as soon as possible. >> The other thing with the EDA felt they had a piece of collateral. In the past, there's been some loans and with no collateral, >> right? >> And so this is what the EDA thought. Well, we have a piece of collateral. You know, like Michael said, the estimated
market value is right up there where the loan is between the bank and the ADA. >> So between the bank and the ADA, it's it's 244, a little less. >> The bank is a little bit less because they're putting their own equity in it. So one of the guidelines of the EDA now
is that we will not invest anything more than 50%. >> Of the value >> of the value. So I think the bank is actually doing 100, the Brookses are doing 40, and we're doing 140. So it's exactly 50/50. >> And I think that's one of the EDA
additions, too, is that the the party asking for funds from the EDA has to have some of their own >> Yes. >> money invested. >> Correct. >> And I I think I just want to echo echo what Michael said about the EDA changing their guidelines. They It really is
good. is much more detailed than it used to be. And um you know in in this instance we got a much more detailed business plan and you know they worked with business consultant to you know think about some of the things they maybe hadn't before. Um so I think that's
encouraging. >> Yeah. They look at hours of operations, future projected income, >> trying to keep a business open downtown. I feel comfortable >> and they're I mean they're really excited about it and they want to be
part of the win community and um I I get the impression listening to them that they're not just trying to open a business because it's what they want. I mean it's what they want to do obviously but they want to do something good for our community too which is >> Do they live in
>> right outside of Winra? They live just south of the golf course. He is on the fire department also. >> He is also on the fire department. >> She's on an LOA with the ambulance. >> She's on a leave of absence with the ambulance.
>> Oh, she's expecting. We spent about two and a half hours, not last Sunday, but the Sunday before, going over the business plan, going over the contract, really detailing out some of those things um that I think are important for them to understand. You
know, you don't pay us, we're going to come after it. We're not just going to sit around and and wait for it. I think they're ready to start a business. They're Brandon's family actually just bought the restaurant over in >> Thank you. Cleveland, Luca, it's
Cleveland. um and flipped it and it's doing very nice. So, I think they're taking some of the experience from that and uh going to duplicate it over here. >> Okay. >> All right. Council, what are your wishes? >> I'll move to approve this resolution.
>> Motion by Ed. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Second by Jenny. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Motion carried. All right. Um,
moving on to 4.10, the public open forum. We did um meet this sort of well, we discussed it plenty last month, but we um had talked about the possibility of a listening session or we
said we would come back to discuss that. So I I wouldn't be opposed to um 50 minutes before our meeting, you know, 6:45 or 7 to have an open public forum
for people that want to um talk to the council, discuss with the council, um whatever, you know, they they want that time. And then at 7 o'clock, we'd have our our regular meeting. Um,
>> and I I think we well I wanted some feedback from the city attorney and I think the city attorney's been awfully busy um because we haven't gotten re answers to some bigger questions than that. But before we would agree to that, I would just like to know if we would
be, you know, in the same position we were before where we would just have to sit and and listen and not respond because that really is while it does give a resident a a forum, it doesn't give us the opportunity to have any
discussion or even answer a question. and and I >> well that was during the meeting and I I want to know if >> do we have to open a meeting up in order to have a public >> it would still you'd still have quorum so it would still be a public meeting
>> or we could have it at the end because I know one of your concerns was if we had people that we were paying waiting here you know get all the other business done and then at the end of the meeting if
anybody wanted to speak >> I don't like the end of the meeting because I don't want to be here till 10:00 at night. >> I personally will not sit here at the beginning of the meeting and listen to you. I I will resign tomorrow if we go back to that and whatever that means.
>> I absolutely not. It is hard when you can't have >> and so interestingly I often say I'm surprised at how seldom people actually contacted me about anything and in the week after um last month's meeting I got an email
from someone it said hi Julie just reaching out to share we don't agree with having the open form at the regular city council meeting submitting items for the agenda ahead of the meeting makes the most sense so the council can do research prior to the meeting and be able to address the issues. Thank you
all for your service. And I had um a text from somebody who said um I've never actually sat down and listened to the council meetings, but I decided to do that this morning. And after listening to the most recent council meeting, I just wanted to tell
you how much I appreciate everything you guys do for the city. I think it makes complete sense to eliminate public forum. The way you explained it made so much more sense. if people want to have a back and forth discussion, that's the best way to go. Um, and I I did hear
from other people, too, but those stood out to me that they were completely unsolicited. And even about tax issues or other big things, I if I get a couple of emails about something, I'm kind of surprised. So, um I think that just says
something that a lot of people in the community do like the, you know, putting being put on the agenda and having that as an avenue to get something accomplished efficiently. >> I agree with you. I won't go back to the way
>> basically. Yeah. I was sit here and get slammed for however many minutes and then we couldn't do anything and I won't do it. It is really difficult because I wanted to respond so many times, you know, whether it was to answer a question or
to correct something that they thought was happening or wasn't happening >> and and we can't. And that's that puts us in a really >> uncomfortable position. It makes it look like we don't care and we're not listening. And it's it's really truly the opposite. >> And it started off our meetings very
negative. And >> yeah, it was it was a little hard to get anywhere after that. I I think if if we do anything, I think it would be to encourage anybody within the city who has something that they want to discuss,
they can they can contact any one of us. They can come into the city and talk to Heather or Michael. They can they can email or call any one of us. It could be an email. It doesn't even have to be a face toface thing. You know, our emails are all available and they you know, they could say, "Hey, I'd like to talk
about this." It could be I I would be happy to call and meet with anybody who wants to. We we can put they don't even have to come to a meeting if they don't want to. I mean they could ask for some an issue to be put on the agenda and with enough time before the meeting we'll put it on the agenda and we will
be >> prepared with some background information and we could take action on it right there and not have to put it off. So, personally, I think the best thing we could do would be just to encourage the public to um make use of
the avenues that we have because it is efficient and we do want to hear from people and we want to be able to react as quickly and efficiently as we can to their concerns. >> So, I mean, it is a it's an information item pretty much. We didn't we don't
have to take any action. >> And that is true. I know that one of the questions were if uh they want to get in the agenda, did they have to be on the agenda like 3 days before? >> It's three days. Yeah. >> But if they bring it to one of us, we can add it to the agenda.
>> We could, but the problem is if you bring it that night, we won't have any >> background. We It would have to be thought about. I mean, >> yeah, I think we, you know, >> if we're prepared to. And the example I always go back to is the parking that we decided on a whim at one meeting.
Remember that? And we vacated parking and >> you know we should have we should have done a little homework first. >> So um >> yeah is what >> I would like to keep moving forward as
we are and just keep encouraging people to um talk to us. We're we're not hard to find. We're not hard to talk to. We're We're all really friendly. Smiling.
Um so I mean unless somebody has other um wishes, I think we'll move forward as we are. Okay. Um then we can move on to 4.11. we have a new firefighter joining the
department. >> So going forward, you guys are going to get resolutions um with the firefighters because they are considered city employees and when we go to PAR, they ask for the resolution. Um so you'll see these just like police officers now and ambulance will begin to do the same
thing. We're just going to every time we hire or have a new volunteer, we're just going to do a resolution. Seems like they need it more and more. >> All right. You like to make a motion? I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Motion by Jenny, second by Ed. Any
discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Opposing sign. >> What's our uh >> Oh, member. >> Yeah. Roster. >> Yeah. Roster at Is it full or >> No, they're about five down. >> Oh, really?
>> From last year. Mhm. >> So, they'll continue to recruit. >> Yeah. And I think they actually have two more in the hopper. They just haven't um done the interview yet. >> Okay. Okay. Um so we done with all that. We
can move on to committee reports. >> All right. Um admin, what you got for us? >> Sure. Um I have a list of things, but I just want to talk about streams really quick. On uh October 21st, some of you were there. I appreciate you showing up. the four
cities that um came to the streams presentation in front of the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee. Um it went really well. Um the feedback from them was they liked the regional concept. They wished that more cities could get together and dream up about
these type of projects. Um since then, uh there has been corporate representation from Michael Foods that um they would also like to join the streams project. So, we haven't nailed that one down yet, but we're getting there. Their affluent limits for Michael
Foods just came out and they are very high and I don't think they can actually meet them with their mechanical plant as is. >> But that's just saying in support of the project. >> Yes. Mhm. Yep. Um, so we do have some hard deadlines. I I put them in that
thing there. Um, but we are really um really pushing for our PPL and PIG um funding and that's really where that $4 million comes from from the state is that is just for construction documents and design
4 million. So, um, when we're talking, you know, about these projects, that's what the capital investment committee is really worried about is like, can we add on to it? How do how does it work? um what is it affordable for the communities? So these are this is that's
that next phase that we're really going to be working on is um constructing it. Um the four cities because of our federal ask at the federal level will have to have individual facility plans meaning what would it cost to upgrade
Winthrups? what would it be cost to upgrade Lafayette? And if that combined is less than or one facility, which it will be, um that gets us higher points on the funding mechanism when we go to PAG.
Um myself and Al um and I think will be going to Washington DC in March to go back to our federal legislators. We we went there last year. We told them about our project. They love it. you know, we are asking for funding mechanisms now.
Now, we now we want real money. So, we're going back to them um and asking for an almost $30 million grant from the EPA. So, as um as a lot of these towns are dealing with affluent discharge limits,
we are not alone. Every single city like us is dealing with the same thing. And you know, uh, Lafayette, it was way ahead of this, uh, because their mechanical plant cannot get rid of, um, some of the levels that
they want them to be at. And just for their one facility, it was $39 million for Lafayette. So that's why regionalization in this plan, just like drinking water is going to be in 20 years when we start working on that, um, it will be really important to
regionalize. um very important. I would also say that our industry partners are really excited about it because uh they want to stay here and if we don't provide worldclass infrastructure, they won't be here, right? Um or they won't expand or they won't be viable. So, we
have an obligation to them to make sure they stick around. Um parks, we've had a lot of questions about splash pad. Um I can give you some details, but uh we're still working through some of it. Uh the splash pad uh deconstruction is underway. So the
splash pad concrete um was not poured evenly last uh summer and CRS commercial retail specialists are the ones replacing it and paying for it. We are not paying a dime over what they quoted us. Um they are also taking care of the
extra ISG labor that is going to be needed in order to inspect it and they're dealing with all the plantings this spring. So, there's about $6,000 worth of plants, grass, shrubbery that goes around the splash pad that clearly could not get in this year. Um, they
they're paying for all of that overage. So, um, that's kind of what's happening with it. I don't think they're going to pour. Uh, it's going to get really cold now and it's supposed to snow this weekend. >> Uh, I really doubt they'll get anything more done other than removal this year.
>> And on on another note, just so council knows where we're at. So we have paid VETA. So VETA did like the path work, reorganized the playground, did the wood chips, did the landscaping, and then that was like their project, right? They put storm sewer in. Um so
the park drains now. I don't know if you noticed it actually drains. >> I have. >> Uh which is great. Um so that's Beta. We've paid them. We're pretty much level with them. They have some stuff next spring that they're going to have to do because of the delays, but we haven't
paid CRS anything other than what the equipment is standing down in the park. So, if they pull out and don't finish the project, we haven't paid them a dime. And I'm not going to until they get the fixtures up and they test correctly.
>> Well, I mean, if they pull this van, that was a lot of work. I'm assuming their intention is to complete it. I would too, but there's a so ISG is going to test the concrete and if it's too cold, um there's certain standards that
they have to do. Um I think there's actually less water in it when it's cold. I don't know. Um >> I just mean even if they pour it in the spring. >> Yeah, it would seem to be there. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> It was a lot of work.
>> Yeah. >> The CRS did not pour the first pad, right? >> They didn't. It was actually a subcontracted company from Rochester. >> Let's hope they don't subcontract with them again. >> Allegedly, they're pouring it. So, the removal was done by a separate company,
but CRS actually has their own concrete crews that pour it. So, like the plumbing was all redone. The wire copper underneath it was all redone. All that stuff is getting >> I I see there's stuff out there though. I mean like >> I don't know if it was it drains or
where the water's coming. >> They're the spets or the where the water comes out. >> So are those staying? >> Some of them are staying. Some of them got replaced. >> Okay. As long as they're all working. Y >> yeah.
>> I'm all encouraging. We haven't had to pay for it yet. >> And then I just want to talk about EDA really quick. Yeah. Sorry. Uh the EDA is having a lot of conversations about different funding projects in the city. Um we were approached by a developer to
go through some workforce development housing out by the industrial lot. Um it'll be 21 units, seven units each. Uh they are going for a grant through the state of Minnesota, the workforce development housing grant. Um we are on
board with that. The EDA did pass that. It is a matching fund. Um, so I think they need $175,000 worth of matching that comes from the land utilities and some other things like building permits. Um, with all of
that, we won't actually probably spend a dollar on it other than >> who's doing this? >> Um, it's a it's an outside contract company and since we haven't sent contracts yet, we probably shouldn't say who, but >> And where where would this be? >> Um, by the industrial park. Um where
>> um do you know where we're going to plant the pumpkins? Yeah. Just east of there. >> That big open field where the trees are. >> Yeah. Very good. >> Um and they're all electric heat, so it'll be on our electric. It'll be a It'll be a good project.
>> Is that a good place for housing? >> It's good as any. >> Yeah, it's got the elevator there. We kind of talked about that at our EDA meeting because >> but what we were what we were looking at too is who's going to probably use it.
Maybe people from Winfield the ethanol plant then they're right there >> because we talked about even kind of going north of where I live but then you know maybe somebody can't drive there now at least they can walk over to where they're at
>> and there's space. They had the same photos of buildings that this developer had done, and they were they were nice. I mean, they're not fancy, but they were really I thought they were really well done. >> It is 14 units.
>> Uh, it's 21 units. Uh, seven. >> Three buildings. >> Yep. Three buildings of seven. >> All single level 11. >> No, they're d they're two levels. >> Two stories. >> And then he's going to do some two bedrooms. Most of them will be two.
>> Yeah, there'll be some. Well, yeah, >> I thought he said >> a lot of them were three bedrooms. >> A lot of them were three bedrooms >> and then he was going to do some too. >> He was going to do some two bedrooms. >> One thing I did ask too is about, you know, >> do they keep it clean on the outside? You know, >> that was >> Are they just going to let them go down
and the guy that said his wife is in charge of that and she's really a stickler on that stuff and >> Oh, so they build it and manage it. >> Mhm. >> So, it's not going to be for purchase. It's going to be rent. >> They're renting. >> Oh, okay.
>> And like part of their section and uh >> No. And it's not sectioned per unit like to store bikes and >> it's market rate. I think you said 1450. >> No, but you know I mean >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. And it's not section 8 housing. >> He has built >> some in Henderson. He's doing them but in Hendersonville and Waterville. >> Yeah. I think he's got one or two of them up already. Yeah. >> Sick too. >> This is water, I'm pretty sure. >> So, they do have some going up in Henderson. >> Yeah. Just what? By the Catholic Church.
Is that where he said? >> Yeah, it's a smaller. >> I think it's a smaller unit. I think it's only three or four units. >> Very good. Yeah. I like it. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Is that zone? I mean, can it be out there? >> Yep. They're going to have to reszone
it, but it can be out there. >> As long as we say it, >> long as we say it can be. >> Anybody got >> a lot of the problems with that lot too, just we talked about this at the ED8. >> It's a really squishy lot and so it's
hard to put an industrial use business out there. So slab on great homes would be perfect. >> Yeah. >> And it also comes with a what was a 10 x10 shed? Did you get a 10 x10 shed? >> Yeah. So each one have a we put her bicycles in or whatever.
>> So what we did? >> Yeah. >> All right. >> As long as it makes it stop. >> Um does anybody have any questions for Michael about any of that? >> And then I have one more thing. Go ahead. >> In 2017 um we had uh a bond with Good
Sam on the nursing home and assisted living. I couldn't put it on the agenda today because they haven't gotten back to me and their lawyers have not a long time ago in a land far far away about a decade ago. They overpaid the city of Winthrop to the tune of almost $42,000.
Um it was an error in accounting on their their side and they would like that money back now. So we uh because we want to be really careful with how we deal with this, we're willing to pay it back because it's actually in an account. the overage is already in an
account, but we want to make sure that they don't come back later on and say, "Oh, and by the way, you still owe us that $42,000." Um, so we're making them sign a contract that acknowledges um that it was their error that they paid it out of their own error. Um, we
have emails dating all the way back to when that happened and it was on their side. Um, and that, you know, going forward, as long as they pay on time, the agreement will still stand. But, uh, it'll be the tune of $42,000
in that account. But hopefully he'll read that, get his lawyers on it, and we can solve that before the end of the year. >> Can I ask the question? >> Yeah. >> Is it the home or is it the lodge? >> It's the actual lodge. >> The lodge. Okay. >> Yep. >> How much how many long is left on that
bond? We just refinanced it in 2020. So 20 38 2039 about right. Okay. >> Okay. Um any questions for Michael?
>> All right. Um we'll just go unless fire. I assume we authorized the new hires. Is there anything else going on? Um library. >> We did not meet the board. did not meet in October. Our next meeting is November
17th. Um, side note, the library friends had a really good uh fundraiser. Not sure the exact amount, but yeah, we were pleased. >> Lots of good donations and lots of good bids.
>> Um, public works >> um just said they're done with the street light project. >> The street lights look fantastic. Oh my goodness. >> Yeah, they look way better. And the ones that are on the west side of Second Street, they should be getting turned on soon. So, you'll have lights down there
if anyone has cutting the old ones down and then see the street. Yeah. >> And if anyone's wondering, the street lights for the rest of the town will look like the ones on the west side of Second Street. Um that's the what the style that we're going to go all over
town. >> Okay. >> Um they're just much cheaper. >> All right. Um, planning commission, >> they have not met. >> Okay. Um, RS Fiber, we have not met either, but um, RS Fiber
just notified me with an email that they have come to terms with SH, their sort of parent company, on loan restructuring, um, which will put the cooperative in good financial standing. So, um, the RS5 board is looking forward to re-engaging with 10 communities and
rural customers. um they'd like to do some more aggressive marketing and um they are thankful that the cities have been patient and they are still um aware of us and I know the current board's plan is still to pay the cities back at
some point if they're able to. So um I would there's probably going to be more coming out about that in the future. Um let's see utilities Martha, do you have >> Yeah, I was able to get to the MMPA
board meeting on October 28th that was held in Chesca. Uh we reviewed the AY's financial and operating performance for September and discussed the status of renewable projects the agency is pursuing
and participation in the residential clean energy choice program increased by 36 customers. So, >> yeah. Yeah, I guess good news. >> I think one of the other things that I took out of that meeting is um Excel Energy's transmission fees are going up
by over 20% this year. Um so that is definitely going to impact energy bills um everywhere. Um so the public utility commissions of Minnesota actually denied some of their rate increases. Unfortunately, they don't have authority
over transmission fees. So, um, that's why transmission fees are also going to raise. Um, we were going to bring this up during the budget and I forgot Heather and Heather and I really looked at late fees lately and we really would
like to lower um, you know, we're increasing fees in general for utilities in 2026. We sent those out in the bills this past month so um, residents know uh, what's going to happen. We really would like to lower it from 8% uh late
fee to 5%. And we'll give you some scenarios later on, but generally the people that aren't paying their bill on time anyway are then taking an 8% hit on their utilities. Um we actually got in on this discussion on
the the League of Minnesota Cities forum and like it is wildly different at every utility. like some it's like a flat fee like you're late, here's $10 or $25. It's it's nuts the the differences between all of us. Um but we're I think
you know the next budget meeting we're we're asking it for us to actually go down so that even if they are late, it's a little bit more affordable. Um just because our rate increases are going to really bump that up.
>> Okay. Um any other questions about that? All right, ambulance. Ed, what you got? >> So, we've had a couple of our uh youth make it a little further in their testing pro process. So, we're we're
still looking to gain more numbers here in the in the very near future. So, um, it's been not as busy. >> I didn't do it this time.
>> No, that usually >> um recently um which is good. It's given us a little bit of a break. Um, >> and driving me crazy watching it.
Um, and then on Friday this week, um, a couple of us members have, uh, decided that we're going to do a, uh, a movie and a meal downstairs. Um, and we're going to, you know, provide the food and
come in and we're going to watch this new EMT movie that's supposed to be hysterically funny. >> Um, >> what >> is it? Like, mops or what? >> No, it's What is it called? >> Hold on. >> It's the guy. It's the one funny guy.
>> The one There's only one funny guy in the world. >> Well, the main guy called >> No. >> Um, the movie is called Code Three. >> Yeah, >> it's it's a new movie. And basically
what it is is you've got a a seasoned EMT or paramedic training a brand new. And I can tell you that in a lot of situations that never turns out good. >> Only as a driver, too.
>> So, um it's going to be it'll be a fun night. Um we did tell our members that uh alcohol was not allowed and because it's a city building. So, >> very good. >> Just just wanted to make that known. Um
and uh yeah, that's what we're going to do Friday at about 7 o'clock. So, >> good. Great. Um let's see. Please Logan, you already gave us an update. You got more for us? >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Let's hear it.
Um, so I just kind of wanted to spotlight some recent work that we have done that kind of made public news and whatnot, but um, Nick stopped a vehicle and
it was a pretty extensive stop that uh, culminated in the location of several firearms, saw off shotgun, handgun on the individual. Also, uh, the alleged suspect was arrested for narcotics
possession, um, and controlled substance CWI. So, I I wanted to highlight that for you guys because just is really important for you everyone to know the important work that we're doing um, and the asset
that that Nick is. So, he deserves a a public shout out for that as well. So long ongoing investigation with that but um it was very very good. Um in addition to that this month uh we have a post
audit. So um pretty standard post audit. I already have everything all put together and whatnot but that will be done I believe on the 13th of this month. Um >> for people who post is >> Yeah. officers standards and training.
>> Correct. Yep. >> So, it just covers make sure that we are uh following policy and procedures and hiring standards and that kind of stuff. So, um and then I wanted to make you guys aware of so obviously I've mentioned in
the past about the accreditation program that we have gone into. Um I was approached by the chief's association um to fill a vacancy for the board of commissioners for um men. So it's the
Minnesota uh law enforcement accreditation program. So I'm one of six chiefs and three sheriffs that are on the board. Um, I thought that was pretty pretty cool that they that they approached
us for that. And with that, um, I will be attending the chief's conference coming up here this month, um, up in the Brainard area. And I'm going to be an assessor for the accreditation program
as well. So, in up there, I'll be trained in on how to be an assessor. um for new police departments or sheriff's offices that uh go through the accreditation program and then I give my feedback on uh where they're at. I'm not
um so yeah, any questions? >> Good. Very good. >> And Michael already >> got me with the slice and slide, but let's promote that. I'm I'm getting the flyer out there. Um >> that's great. I'm starting it now. So hopefully I don't know if I'm as good as
Michael on Canva, but I'll get them. >> Be sure you uh you pat your officers on the back. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Appreciate >> it. We'll do. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> All right. Um question. >> We met on Wednesday, October 22nd, and
after this year, we decided to try and have quarterly meetings as we don't really have a lot to discuss. So, we're going to see how that works. Uh we approved a grant to Emanuel Lutheran in Gaylord and our next meeting is December
11th in Gaylord kind of right in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Okay. So >> good. >> Yeah. Um park committee uh Don met right we talked a little bit about um >> we passed a donation policy.
>> Yeah. Um we we've been getting a lot of requests for you know I want a donation of this or that. So then we want to put some guidelines on that >> or people saying where they want it to go >> some of it. We are looking at all that
too. >> Okay. >> You mean people want to donate to the park? >> Yeah. Or like a memorial for somebody but then they they're going to they want to tell us where they want it to be put. >> And so we're looking at all that. because we could end up with something Yeah.
>> filled over here >> and nothing over on this side of the park. >> So, and then I have one more thing. >> Okay. >> The uh GPL um >> Oh, yeah. >> did donate $15,000 to the fire relief
association, not to the city. And I believe the relief association is going to use that to buy brand new um extraction tools. Um, theirs are pretty old, so they're going to go for electric. I think the relief association
is kind of matching that, so they're going to go out for two of them. You know, the new tools are more equipped to cut through the boron and all the other safety measures that are in that. So, um, thank you to the GPL for >> scaler GPL. Wow, >> that's awesome. >> Yeah, that was good news.
>> So, and we had to take that out of our budget for next year. >> Yeah. and they were able to >> fund it otherwise. So, >> yeah. >> And then there's a bunch of dates on the bottom. Just a reminder that we're closed some days in November, December, and then Christmas downtown is December
12th and 13th. >> So, make an effort to be there for that. I think the committee is working hard on that. Um, if we have nothing else, if somebody'd like to move to adjourn, you know. >> So, move. Is there a >> second? Good. Thank you. Thank you for staying
here all night. >> Please say I stay. >> Happy evening everybody.