[0:00] Jim Michalski: Let's call the regular December city council meeting to order. First thing will be pledge of allegiance. [0:16] City Council and Staff: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:32] Jim Michalski: And then there will be one addition to the agenda. It'll be under new business F, the holiday license. Are there any other additions? Is there a motion to accept the agenda? [0:54] Council Member: So move. [0:55] Council Member: Is there a second? [0:56] Council Member: Second. [0:57] Jim Michalski: All in favor? [0:58] City Council: Aye. [0:59] Jim Michalski: Opposed? Carried. Consent agenda. We have the regular city council meeting for November 12th, 2025. Special city council meeting December 1st, 2025. Financial reports payable. City accounts payable November through 2025. City financial statement November 2025. And the liquor store profit and loss statement November 2025. Any questions on any of those? [1:37] Council Member: Motion to approve. [1:38] Jim Michalski: Is there a second? [1:39] Council Member: Second. [1:40] Jim Michalski: All in favor? [1:41] City Council: Aye. [1:42] Jim Michalski: Opposed. Carried. Public comment. This time is reserved for comments from the public on matters not listed on the agenda. Please keep comments to two minutes. Seeing none, department reports. County Sheriff's Office. [2:09] Kelly Lake: Thank you council. Believe everybody got the uh November report. Uh total calls 217, 92 of which were extra patrol and details, 25 traffic stops, 25 business checks, six community engagements, six on view or public assists, and eight paper service. Two assists to other agencies, two medicals, and 51 other calls for respond to 217. [2:38] Jim Michalski: Any questions, comments? [2:40] Council Member: Yeah. How's everything going now that we have a full accompaniment of law enforcement there? [2:50] Kelly Lake: [clears throat] I think it's going well. Um the uh changing everything has been working great. It's uh nice to be fully staffed down here and I know we're uh in the process of uh working to hire some more as well for the sheriff's office. Um question back is uh is it Lisa [Ellissa] the contact then for like other community events that would be like coming up because I don't know if like the usually this time of year they'll they'll have pond hockey at the end of the month and stuff like that with the brewery. So I wasn't sure who I talked to about some of those. [3:30] Ellissa Owens: Yeah, I can absolutely be the point of contact for that stuff. Uh we will have engagement whether it's you know chamber events, city events, things of that nature. Um a lot of those events require some type of city permitting. Um and so generally we are notified prior to and that's when we'll reach out for additional engagement. Um and so absolutely if you know at um council's request I can certainly be the point of contact for that. [3:56] Kelly Lake: I know last year this—I don't know who contacted me about it—but it was good to give the guys a heads up about that event that was going on for extra control or extra traffic at the crossing and stuff. So— [4:14] Ellissa Owens: Absolutely, that's great. [4:17] Jim Michalski: Questions, comments? Thank you. City Superintendent Phil Entner. [4:28] Phil Entner: Thank you, Mayor, members of the council, Ms. Owens. Um, start with the water department as we always do. Uh, water department uh the month of November distributed 3.4 million gallon drinking water. Um I know you even counselors write that number down every month because I watch you. Um if you go back and look it's considerably down from where we have been for many many years. Um I know about the month ago this time we had a pile of water breaks up and down Elm right up there with the post office actually that uh that lost water equated to about 80,000 gallons a day that we're losing. So I like looking at that 3.4 million gallon mark, hoping that's our new norm, which is fantastic. When I took over here, it was almost 300,000 a day is what we're just pushing out to the distribution system. And I know we were not selling that much because we can tell on the other end. And uh so the lower we can get that number, the better because we do pay for that water coming out of the ground to the DNR. [5:18] Phil Entner: So uh sewer department collection system um 8.6 million gallons of waste water in the month of November. That is also down a hair. Uh I think uh three of those what turned into be six breaks I think three of those were definitely impacting some I&I which is just going to continue to um increase our capacity at the wastewater facility. Um sewer department as well cleaning and televising for the trunk sewer line rehabilitation project was completed just prior to the snow coming, the first storm we had. Um so that is done. I think actually we're touching on that. My bad. Doubled up. Okay. So, that's done. So, that's good. And the engineers have that. They got that day off. So, try to cut down on any additional lead time so we can move that bidding process up as fast as we possibly can. [6:30] Phil Entner: Treatment facility. This one's kind of really neat. So, I know might not mean a whole lot to anybody in the room but me, but just some couple things I want you guys to hear. Um, normally every year we do four discharges a year totaling 20 to 34 million gallons of waste water and it's all geared on a 210 day retention time at the ponds. So essentially there's discharge windows that we have that we can discharge in and there's discharge windows we can't discharge. So the goal is to store that water for [snorts] at the worst case 210 days. So we have enough storage without having to discharge that pattern. In the past, we have had to have four discharges per year. We did not have to do a fourth discharge this fall. So, that is a telltale sign of lining projects working, I&I reduction, possibly the bugs, the bug program because that is also taking up capacity in those ponds as well. Uh the bugs we won't know until next year after we do our initial survey. [7:34] Phil Entner: But anyway, so I know we sit here and we look at these fancy documents from the engineers and that's great and they do a wonderful job, but it doesn't mean a whole lot to a lot of people. But in the field, we are definitely seeing the actual results. So, we're moving in a good direction. Other than that, it's been snowing. Everyone knows that winter's here. We have shifted gears. We haven't broke—I don't think we broke anything so far. So, that is fantastic. Um, got some new operators and some new routes. Even pulled the old dog in and ran a couple routes this last week. So, I'm feeling the pain, too. And let me tell you, there has been a learning curve for a few years. So, um, with that being said, I think that's actually all I have to touch on tonight. Everything else is parks are all shut down, cemeteries are shut down, nine yards. So, any questions for me? [8:15] Jim Michalski: Oh, thank you guys. [8:17] Phil Entner: It's great work. [8:18] Council Member: I Well, I thank you. [8:19] Phil Entner: I'll tell them that, but they're going to say thanks for paying us and employing us. So, that's going to be their response. They appreciate having— [8:25] Council Member: driving to work this morning. Right. The road was nice and— [8:28] Phil Entner: actually I actually plowed this route this morning. So, thank you [laughter] very much. I I did— [8:34] Council Member: I was so impressed. Thank you. [8:38] Jim Michalski: Wait, did you set that up? No. Just how it worked. [laughter] Finance department, technology department and library department. [9:00] Ryan McKeon: Members of the council, Mayor Michalski, Administrator Owens. Uh you want me—should I start with the liquor store? [9:05] Jim Michalski: You can. Yeah. Yeah. Start liquor store. [9:07] Ryan McKeon: Um let's see here. Liquor store. Uh first and foremost, uh there here there's some new break requirements that are changing in January 2026. You have a handout I just put. This is really—I'm not going to go through all of this. There's quite a bit in there. Um it affects all departments, but in particular it will affect the MUN. So there's a little MMBA checklist that's on page three there. So it's something that Mari and I will go through and just talk about it. Um but it is a good read. So it's kind of interesting what they're changing on there. Let's see. Our commemorative glasses are almost in. I was hoping they'd be here so I could bring a couple in for you guys to visually see, but they're not quite in just yet. Um, let's see. [9:54] Ryan McKeon: I know in meetings past I talked about how busy in particular the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is. So this year we did 11,429.57 which is just above last year's Wednesday before Thanksgiving at 11,391.93. It's just a really busy day down there. Um, always has been. Uh, we're looking at other food items to sell down there. Uh, that something that wouldn't require us to have a restaurant license. And then also a handout is I have from Upper Lakes Foods, a new dishwasher. The dishwasher we currently have down there is almost—almost to the point where it's beyond repair. Jim, I don't know if you have any comments about that. [10:43] Jim Michalski: It It does waste a lot of water because it continues to run. So, it's not a good thing to just have it keep running either. [10:52] Ryan McKeon: So, we talked about at the liquor committee meeting, um there's an option for leasing and then there's an option just to purchase outright. This would fit in into the capital budget of this year, which is which is why I'm bringing it forward right now. So, if we want to purchase this and get things moving, my recommendation, I guess, would be to buy it outright along with the service agreement to buy the chemicals from there and they will come in and service this dishwasher. [11:26] Council Member: Question. Yep. [11:28] Ryan McKeon: What kind of—uh you going to ask me in particulars about the dishwasher? [11:31] Council Member: Yeah. Um, [clears throat] well, it just seems like we're replacing this dishwasher quite frequently. So, is there some kind of warranty on this? [11:42] Ryan McKeon: Um, so to my knowledge, I don't think we've—we've only repaired this dishwasher on a couple of different occasions. I'm not sure when the last time we purchased it is. Maybe Doug remembers. [11:56] Douglas Juntunen: 2020 or 2021. And I thought that was brought up that there was a purchase of a dishwasher. Uh we asked [clears throat] at the liquor committee uh with every piece of equipment that's been purchased now uh since uh we've been discussing new items is that they come with some type of maintenance program. This one will have a maintenance program. Uh and the other equipment that we do purchase along the way will be maintained. [12:29] Jim Michalski: Any other questions? Any motions? [12:35] Council Member: I'll make a motion that we purchase the um glass washer outright from Upper Lakes Food. [12:52] Jim Michalski: There’s an agreement. Is there a second? [13:00] Council Member: Second. [13:02] Jim Michalski: Any other questions, comments? All in favor? [13:04] City Council: Aye. [13:05] Jim Michalski: Opposed? Carried. [13:10] Ryan McKeon: I have for the liquor store too anyway. Uh, let's see. IT department. We will be getting new workstations for Phil and Taylor. Um, I have asked about a wireless access point for the conference room to strengthen the internet that's in there because it's really spotty. We get dropped a lot. We were dropped today on a chamber call a couple of times. Um, I don't want the city to have to foot the bill for them to drive down here and install this thing. So, I've asked to talk to some people to see if I can install it myself and what it encompasses. So, I'm just waiting on that to save us, you know, 600 bucks. That's what I got for it. Any questions? [14:13] Jim Michalski: Finance department. [14:15] Ryan McKeon: Finance department. There's another handout looks like this for you guys. Uh, it is kind of just a seasonal impact what it looks like. Um, again, more for your information. One thing that stands out to me is uh quarter 2 and quarter 3. I thought there'd be more of a separation there. Obviously, quarter 4 is not quite done yet. So, um but I thought July, August, and September would be much higher than April, May, June. I think what we—what I've seen is September actually we see a pretty steep drop off, you know, once school starts up and campers go home and all of that such. So kind of interesting. [14:51] Ryan McKeon: And then at the bottom there, those are average revenues by day of the week for those quarters. Quarter 1 2 3 4. Kind of interesting stuff. I'm also working on something similar um for all expense codes and all revenue codes for all the departments. So when I'm done with that, I'll definitely bring that forward and you guys can take a peek at it. Um but again something that just helps us better track and better accountability of things. So um let's see also in here we got what else was next here? Deposit slip error. So um an error was made on deposit slips. We need deposit slips to make deposits. So inadvertently, First National Bank, we ended up with the DMV deposit slips for the liquor store. It wasn't caught until—I don't know, a couple of weeks in. So sounds like it'd be something easy to remedy. It's really not. So it was quite a little bit of a fiasco at the end of the month end stuff for me. Um, but we got it all sorted out. They'll have the right correct deposit slips now. [16:08] Ryan McKeon: But if you see in um the financial reports, it's going to show that the liquor store is probably down about 30 grand and the DMV is up 30 grand. So that'll get sorted out in the following month once we do the journal entries for that. So again, for your information, um a lot of behind the scenes work when that kind of stuff happens. And then we got the duty disability reimbursement. Just an update that that money did come in. So 126,000 some odd dollars did get deposited. So we have been reimbursed. Any questions? [16:51] Jim Michalski: Questions, comments? Thank you. [16:56] Ryan McKeon: Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. [17:00] Jim Michalski: City engineer. [17:05] Ellissa Owens: Uh yes. The city council uh received the meeting minutes from uh December 3rd in this month's packet. Uh, a couple of items to highlight. One thing that Superintendent Entner mentioned, um, with the trunk sewer line rehabilitation project, um, the televising is complete. The next phase is going to be project bidding and award. Uh, that's going to happen here in January and February. So, more to come from uh council on that particular topic. Um, in addition, in regards to the MPCA storm sewer inventory and analysis project, um, we've mentioned that city staff and the engineers have been working with the upper St. Croix watershed, uh, regarding some funding opportunities for our match. Uh, we have made a submission. Uh, there's been some back and forth dialogue regarding updating our work plan in order to um, incorporate water quality benefits. So, our engineers are working through that. Uh we are hoping to see uh our city match portion of $8,500 being um almost completely taken care of through that uh watershed opportunity. So more to come on that. [18:11] Ellissa Owens: There will be a public flyer as part of the MPCA requirements that needs to be um published, posted, and it will go out in billing statements to residents as well. Um so uh council will have visibility to that flyer and then residents will receive that flyer as well. Um in addition to that they are going to be um urged to participate in the information collection process and what that looks like is they'll be a method where they can do it online. Um they can call the city offices, they can email the city offices or they can stop in. And we're actually going to have a um a map of the city to which uh residents can then mark where they um where they see you know flooding in uh rain events, significant rain events and things like that. So then the engineers will be collecting that data from residents and then using that uh with their modeling to make sure that they've captured every single point and it essentially—the community engagement reinforces the work the engineers are doing and vice versa. So a really cool uh community engagement uh opportunity will come from that grant as well. More to come for council on that. [19:26] Ellissa Owens: Um as far as the uh Rebel Heights development is concerned, there was an open house that went well. Um, city is continuing to engage with the realtor uh regarding the sale of uh the town homes. And in addition, um we are looking to establish meetings with uh local organizations [cough] in the [clears throat] community uh in order to have some additional dialogue regarding their housing needs and and what future partnerships could look like between um the city, the developer, and community organizations as well. [20:00] Ellissa Owens: Uh the last item from the engineering meeting minutes that I did want to touch base with council on um it's on page five of the engineering meeting minutes. So the second to last page um it's under let's see—is that 6C I believe? Yes, 6C—it's um under the water tower section. So, one thing that uh city staff and uh Councilor Juntunen and Mayor Michalski has engaged with our engineers on is um starting to have discussions about long-term planning and what that looks like for each of our utilities and their um respective enterprise funds. And so some of the dialogue that has occurred is we requested um information regarding the cost of continuous uh maintenance improvements and repairs to our water tower. So this is a process that we'll be engaging in for our utilities and our major assets of those utilities. [20:57] Ellissa Owens: Uh what the engineers provided is a breakdown of what maintenance uh repairs and improvements may be needed over a 25 year span for the water tower. So what administrative staff will be doing with that data now is working with the city engineers to figure out what this looks like from a savings perspective and what monies need to be set aside on an annual basis in order to be able to um repair and maintain and improve those major assets of our utilities. So we will be engaging in this process in the background and bringing forward more information to council. Um, I know council has been highly engaged in um our water and sewer utility funds um and making sure that those funds are viable and that those funds um are operating um in a in a positive way while maintaining as low rates as possible. And that's been, you know, priorities that the council has set forward. So, this will be added in our in our process moving forward. [22:03] Ellissa Owens: Just know that the rates that were presented at November's meeting as far as the water fund is concerned and then again tonight, they don't incorporate these figures yet. So, there's a lot more work to be done. Um, we've taken this in bite-sized chunks. Uh, one thing that we added in in the last couple years is depreciation and the value of such into those expenditures for those funds as well. And so the next step will then be asset planning um with our our utility funds and what that looks like. So um we'll engage more on the water fund when it comes to the 2026 budget presentation, but um please just keep in mind that um what is presented tonight for those utilities does not incorporate these types of costs associated with operation. and we'll be adding them in and continuing to work on this over the course of um the next year. [22:58] Douglas Juntunen: Yes. Uh I would just also bring up under F what city administrator Owens brought up—E—that's $1.86 million. That's a 20-year program for that. So if you break that down, that's $93,000 extra dollars a year, which would wipe out any lining project that we're doing if if we needed those two funds. So keep that in mind that it's $93,000 a year, and as you stated, it has nothing—these figures have nothing to do with what we're looking at. That's been proposed by city staff already. [23:33] Jim Michalski: Any other questions, comments? Thank you. Uh, looks like Chamber of Commerce monthly update. [23:40] Ellissa Owens: Yes, executive director uh Michelle Anderson did provide an update. The uh chamber meeting was moved to Zoom today based on weather. Um, and so we did get uh an emailed update that I will share now. Um, so the 2026 planning is going really well for the chamber. Uh, they are looking for more board members at this time. Um there was dialogue regarding the Jolly Holidays Santa meet and greet and how well it was attended. Um with excellent attendance this year over 50 children and their families were participating in it which was just phenomenal. Um, and in addition, annual award nomination forms were sent out uh to chamber members. And so any chamber member who's looking to participate in that award process um that information was included in the chamber newsletter. [24:38] Jim Michalski: Questions, comments? Thank you. Previously discussed business, we have none. New business. 2026 special organizational meeting discussion. [24:55] Ellissa Owens: Oh yes. So uh historically the council meets in the first week of January um in order to conduct the uh organizational meeting for the year ahead. Um just looking at the calendar there are a couple of options for council. So, the first working day in uh January is actually Friday, January 2nd. We do have a lot of staff off that day. However, we could make it work. I didn't know if council was also going to be possibly traveling for the holidays. So, the um option that has been put forward would be Monday, January 5th. Um and just looking to have dialogue and um discussion about what is preferred by council—either that Monday or the Friday the 2nd. [25:48] Council Member: Discussion that works for me. [25:51] Douglas Juntunen: I think that Monday would work for me also. [25:53] Council Member: Yeah. [25:54] Jim Michalski: January 5th. [25:55] City Council: Yes. [25:56] Jim Michalski: It's fine with—we have consensus for that. Excellent. Thank you. Uh, Resolution 25.12.01. [26:11] Ellissa Owens: So the city is engaging in the Elbert [LRIP] grant um funding application. Once again, the application will be submitted on Friday. Uh this resolution looks a lot like ones that uh council has seen previously regarding grant applications. Um this will be submitted on Friday. In addition, we're currently collecting letters of support from the community, which is going excellent. Um, just looking for council approval of the resolution that essentially certifies the city's commitment to [clears throat] fund the city's portion if um the grant is awarded. The project that uh is incorporated in the submission is for First Street um and improvements from Trunk Highway 73 to Birch Avenue. [26:57] Jim Michalski: Questions, comments, motions. [27:03] Council Member: I'll make a motion that we accept resolution number 25.12.01. [27:12] Jim Michalski: Is there a second? [27:14] Council Member: Second. [27:16] Jim Michalski: Any further discussion? All in favor? [27:18] City Council: Aye. [27:19] Jim Michalski: Opposed. [27:21] Council Member: I'm abstaining. [27:23] Jim Michalski: Any car? You get that—Rebel Heights development update. [27:33] Ellissa Owens: Uh yes. So, uh council in their packet um received a map. The parcels pertinent to the um development agreement, purchase agreement, and EDA resolution um are [clears throat] going to be the next three in line. Um this would give the developer a total of six parcels and essentially the ability to construct three town homes. Um so in the packet uh following the map, council received visibility to the development agreement um to the purchase agreement and to the EDA resolution authorizing the sale. Um the purchase agreement is between the EDA and the developer um and the resolution is pertinent to the EDA as well. Um what I am seeking a motion from council on tonight would be the development agreement. The verbiage in the development agreement resembles that of the previous uh development agreement. The modifications are pertinent to this next phase. And so how it was um established within these documents is we're still in phase 1 and this is phase 1B. So the secondary um portion of phase one and so you'll you'll see that 1B is incorporated in all three of these that is relevant to the next three parcels. [29:05] Ellissa Owens: The EDA will meet um next week and the EDA will engage on the purchase agreement and the resolution at that time. Um the EDA did receive these documents at last month's meeting. We have engaged with the city attorneys. Those are who have drafted these. Um and we will continue to engage throughout the remainder of next week um where the EDA will essentially look to approve the purchase agreement and resolution authorizing the sale. [29:40] Douglas Juntunen: I just have a comment. Um section 5.5 it does tell us—uh it's page 75 of the document—that when uh a property is—um the developer has a property—they have that one year to build build upon it. Uh so we do have some safeguards in the agreement. So that came up as a question. [30:10] Council Member: Is that one year to start or finish? [30:14] Douglas Juntunen: It says to start and then there's also something about if something doesn't happen. Subject to unavoidable delays, the developer must timely commence construction of the minimum site improvement in 60 days. It goes on to state that the minimum site improvement to the property not later than one year following the execution of the agreement. So, okay. And then construction of a town hall of initial spec town home not later than one year following the execution of this agreement. [30:46] Ellissa Owens: So, I think that we have some pretty good safeguards built into this agreement. The EDA's uh communicated commitment was uh to continue to engage with the developer in good faith. The project is going really well. Um and then you know uh engaging in a way that um continues to um promote partnership with three additional parcels. Um that would leave four more for phase one. [31:15] Jim Michalski: Any other questions or comments? Motions. [31:22] Council Member: I'll make a motion that we approve the development agreement between Joseph properties 1B. [31:36] Jim Michalski: Is there a second? [31:38] Council Member: Second. [31:40] Jim Michalski: Any further discussion? All in favor? [31:42] City Council: Aye. [31:43] Jim Michalski: Opposed? Carried. Law enforcement budget discussion. [31:50] Ellissa Owens: So, what council received in uh their packet is a copy of the invoice for law enforcement services for 2025 from the Carlton County Sheriff's Office. Uh there is a breakdown on that invoice regarding cost per. Uh you can see that there are prorated amounts based on um the time that deputies started uh for the city of Moose Lake and that is all broken down really well. Um in addition, council received a couple of financial reports and uh the intent was to give council visibility to what was budgeted for in 2025 versus what the expenditures are. So, there are a few expenditures above and beyond uh just the contract amount in the police department expenditure budget. And so, council got um a breakdown of what those expenditures are per line item. [32:46] Ellissa Owens: Um in the 2025 budget, the uh total expenditure amount was $695,544.17. Uh the current department expenditures were at $146,041.67. Then we have added in the um current invoice from the Carlton County Sheriff's Office at $400,136.12. And that has come up with an expenditure savings to date of $149,366.38. Now, that is not going to be the exact total because we still do have some expenditures rolling in for December, but that is a current savings of approximately $150,000. [33:39] Ellissa Owens: Um, to highlight what has gone on on the revenue side of things, um, so the revenue budget—the department itself is is not geared towards being a highly revenue generating department. Um so you'll see that $12,500 was the 2025 revenue budget in itself. Um those items are highlighted in the police department monthly expenditures revenue report that was also in the packet. So it breaks down what we've received and at what point in the year we've received that for those items. One item that we did not budget for in revenues which was discussed at the council level was our duty disability reimbursement and that is not an indefinite thing. Um and this was going to be our first year getting it in totality. That item was not budgeted for but is incorporated in the 2026 budget because we've received our first full reimbursement which is what finance director McKeen was speaking about before. We know that it's not indefinite, so we have to be really careful, but we have incorporated it for 2026 because we've not been notified that we won't be receiving it. [34:53] Ellissa Owens: So, with that, if we're looking at an overall um impact of the transition to the law enforcement services contact with the sheriff's office, we are at a positive general fund impact of $271,745. Now, we have had a lot of engagement from the community requesting this information. Uh, we did just also receive a public data request for such that has not been fulfilled yet. We just received it. Um, looking to have council engagement and discussion as far as the expenditure savings of the $149,366 and what council um would like to see occur with those savings. um whether or not it be um put towards a specific item, broken apart and put towards multiple items. Uh just looking to initiate dialogue about that today. Um and wanted council to have visibility to what the general fund impact has been of the $271,745 and also the expenditure savings that um can be allocated towards something specific here yet in 2025. [36:00] Jim Michalski: Questions or comments. [36:02] Ellissa Owens: Then in last year we had 220,000 savings I should say. So last year a lot of those savings were allocated towards the gravel pit [cough] and so we [clears throat] have funded the gravel pit as far as what is needed from an activation perspective as far as costs are concerned. Um we—I did discuss with staff and just kind of was taking feedback and ideas about what this could look like and you know feedback is all over the board. You know, I mean it could be anything from the community playground and allocating monies to purchase a playground in 2026. Um it could be putting it towards road projects. It could be putting it in as a savings account for another item. Um I'm trying to think of any other items that were brought forward. Those are the kind of internal dialogue that we've had if that just spurs anything from a council perspective. And so um we can talk about this again. I just wanted to get everybody's gears turning regarding what council would like to see done with those savings here in 2025. [37:36] Jim Michalski: Questions? Comments? I guess my feeling is that I would like to see it go towards road projects. [37:54] Council Member: I agree. I'd like to see it go towards our own projects, but I'd also like to see it be used to purchase the playground equipment since um that is for the children of our town and families. And if we're pulling the other one out, that won't be there in the summer. And I feel it's kind of important to have that replaced as soon as possible. But I do understand the road projects—that makes sense too. [38:35] Jim Michalski: But with the—with the park, I wonder about the grant. You know, we don't know whether or not we'll get that grant. [38:43] Douglas Juntunen: If I may, when you when you apply for those grants, a lot of them—if you spend the money first, you're not eligible for the grant. So, I would—I think that we should slow roll this just a little bit and make some decisions and find out what those grants first because I'd hate to see us lose $149,000. [39:06] Ellissa Owens: Understood. So, the the grants require you to budget for it, right? And so, we have budgeted for one—or you know what the city can afford to budget for in 2026. So the grants require you have the money upfront but not that you spend it. [39:22] Douglas Juntunen: That you spend it. [39:23] Ellissa Owens: So uh you know there could be a allocation into a savings account based on whatever council's priorities are with those funds and we would absolutely continue the process of trying to get grants. Um at the same time we don't have to do anything with it immediately. Just starting. [39:44] Council Member: Are we looking at putting the the playground equipment in in 2027? [39:47] Ellissa Owens: So, um it could be that we wait to see if any grants are awarded in 2026 because those submission timelines, you know, happen throughout the course of the year, some in the beginning. Um but installation then if you're—if you do receive the grant, installation doesn't happen until 2027. [40:09] Jim Michalski: Any other comments, questions? [40:14] Council Member: Yes, I'd like us to each—each one of us come back with some ideas. That's a lot of money just to make a quick decision on it. I know no one's making a quick decision, but people are bringing out their ideas and thoughts. [40:28] Jim Michalski: So, we'll put it under previously discussed business for the next meeting if everybody wants to come forward with different ideas and city administrative staff can continue to do due diligence in the background. Any other questions or comments on that? Annual appointment discussion. [41:00] Ellissa Owens: Uh yes. So, these are the appointments that will be reviewed at that organizational meeting on January 5th. Um some adjustments were made as per requested by you, Mayor Michalski and so we have those presented as intended on the 2026 annual appointment document incorporated in the packet. [41:24] Jim Michalski: Questions? Discussion? [41:27] Douglas Juntunen: Were these requested by the individuals that— [41:31] Ellissa Owens: No. [41:32] Douglas Juntunen: Um I I guess if they want to remain on their committees, they should have that opportunity. [41:42] Jim Michalski: And this—this is out. So that's why I asked at the special meeting for if people wanted to change or— [41:51] Douglas Juntunen: Yeah. [41:52] Jim Michalski: Yeah, as far as I go, I—I [clears throat] did not—and as the mayor stated, I did not request to leave the committee—item on and we can discuss this at that date when we have time to discuss this. [42:21] Jim Michalski: Any other questions on that? F, tobacco license for Holiday. [42:30] Ellissa Owens: Uh yes. So we were waiting on this one to come in. Um we have essentially received all of the tobacco license applications received in previous years. This is the last one. This is for Holiday Station Stores. Um and thus far we have not had any issues with this licensee. [42:51] Jim Michalski: Questions? Comments? Motions? [42:53] Council Member: Motion to approve. [42:54] Jim Michalski: Is there a second? [42:55] Council Member: Second. [42:56] Jim Michalski: Any further discussion? All in favor? [42:57] City Council: Aye. [42:58] Jim Michalski: Opposed? Carried. Can we go through the rest of the agenda and then come back to the taxation discussion? Excellent. Um, eight reports of correspondence. Carlton County Drug Prevention Coalition meeting minutes November 3rd, 2025. Minnesota Department of Health Wellhead protection plan scoping decision notice number one. Looks like Star Gazette 2026 official newspaper designation bid letter. Moose Lake Area Chamber of Commerce planning meeting dinner invitation and the Doc DHS citizens advisory committee meeting event notice January 15, 2026. Committee board meeting minutes: Moose Lake Area Fire Protection District October 14th 2025, Moose Lake Area Fire Protection District meeting minutes November 11th, and the Parks and Recreation Board meeting December 1st. [44:00] Jim Michalski: Announcements. Moose Lake City Council special organizational meeting Monday, January 5th, 4 p.m. Moose Lake City Council Chambers. Moose Lake City Council regular meeting Wednesday, January 14th, 4 p.m. City Council Chambers. Moose Lake Economic Development Authority Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, 12 p.m. in the conference room and the Water and Light Commission December 16th 1:00 p.m. in the Water and Light office. Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board Monday, January 12th, 2026, 11:00 a.m. Hillside Manor. Moose Lake Area Fire Protection District Tuesday, January 13th, 2026, 6:30 p.m. Emergency Response Center and the Moose Lake Park and Rec Board Monday, January 5th, 5:00 p.m. City Council Chambers. Is there a motion to recess till 6:00 for the taxation? [45:08] Council Member: So move. [45:10] Jim Michalski: Is there a second? [45:11] Council Member: Second. [45:12] Jim Michalski: All in favor? [45:13] City Council: Aye. [45:14] Jim Michalski: We're in recess.