Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the transcript, here is the formatted version with speaker identifications. **Note on Identifications:** * **Mayor Jim Michalski** is the primary facilitator. In some instances, he is referred to as "Ted" by staff, suggesting a nickname. * **Katie [City Staff]** is the primary administrator speaking. While the provided list mentions Ellissa Owens and Taylor Hansberry, the council repeatedly addresses the speaker as "Katie." * **Darren [Police Chief]** provides the police report. * **Phil Entner** provides the Public Works/Superintendent reports. * **Greg** is addressed during roll calls; though not on the provided list, he is clearly a voting member of the council (likely Lou Ohly or a vacancy replacement). *** [0:00] Mayor Jim Michalski: This conference will now be recorded. I'd like to welcome everyone to the regular meeting Moose Lake City Council for Wednesday, December 9, 2020. And uh, first thing is a Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:39] Mayor Jim Michalski: Next item is the agenda. Do we have any additions or changes to the agenda? Um, I've got one addition and that is the Arbor Day proclamation. And one... we’ll add one item. Baby new business is fine. [1:13] Mayor Jim Michalski: So that would be uh, H... um, should be I. [1:24] Katie [City Staff]: There's... I sent you two packets. One of them was newer than the other. You might have printed out the old one. [1:32] Mayor Jim Michalski: I did. What is H? [1:36] Katie [City Staff]: H is the 2021 um, annual appointments. [1:42] Mayor Jim Michalski: All right. I'm going to take a second to see if I can get to that newer packet. [2:26] Mayor Jim Michalski: There, I have it now. Thank you, Katie. [2:33] Mayor Jim Michalski: Do you have a motion to approve the agenda? [2:38] Council Member: I’ll make a motion. [2:42] Mayor Jim Michalski: Have a second? [2:44] Walter Lower III: I'll second. This is Walt. [2:47] Mayor Jim Michalski: All in favor say aye. (Council members: Aye.) [2:57] Mayor Jim Michalski: Thank you. Financial reports—excuse me, consent agenda. This would be 2A, the minutes: Regular City Council meeting for November 18th. Do you have any discussion and or more changes? [3:24] Mayor Jim Michalski: Do we have a motion to accept the minutes? [3:28] Council Member: So moved. [3:32] Mayor Jim Michalski: Have a second? [3:37] Walter Lower III: Oh, second. [3:39] Mayor Jim Michalski: All in favor say aye. (Council members: Aye.) Oppose? Motion carried. Under consent agenda 2B, the financial reports. Number one is the city accounts payable for November 2020. [4:01] Mayor Jim Michalski: Number two is the city financial statements for November 2020. Number three is a liquor store profit loss statement for November 2020. Any discussion or questions? [4:21] Mayor Jim Michalski: Right now, do we have a motion to prove? [4:26] Kris Huso: So moved. [4:30] Mayor Jim Michalski: Chris, are you second? [4:33] Kris Huso: Second. [4:35] Mayor Jim Michalski: All in favor say aye. (Council members: Aye.) [4:47] Mayor Jim Michalski: Motion carried. When we get down to the lower area where we have to do individual motions and vote, I'll do a roll call. I just want to kind of get through the consent agenda that way. For public comment, this time is reserved for comments from the public on matters not listed on agenda. [5:17] Mayor Jim Michalski: Now we'll move on department reports. Police Chief. [5:22] Darren [Police Chief]: Mayor and members of the council, um, as you should all have attached, you'll see a copy of the police report for November. We had 180 calls for service. 11 of those calls for service were to MSOP. In addition to the service, we spent approximately 80 hours on MSOP calls and two hours at the Department of Corrections. Um, tomorrow I'll have a meeting up at MSOP and we'll be discussing some of this along with some other items, and then there'll be another meeting with DOC to follow, trying to look at a couple different things uh, in the works on maybe what we can do with the amount of time that we're spending on those calls. I think you can even see between last month and this report here, a lot of our extra patrol and some of those things have kind of locked due to the volume of some of those other calls. So something's got to get addressed there. I know I mentioned it last month and we're in the process of moving that way, so I can keep you updated. Um, or if you have any questions let me know, but I will be meeting uh, tomorrow as at least a kickoff meeting um, for some of that. If you look at the self-initiated, we had 13 extra patrol, 40 traffic stops, and 24 community engagement. Of the ones that were called to service, we had 28 assists to other agencies, 68 calls for service, and 7 medicals for the total of 180. [6:43] Darren [Police Chief]: I know there was some kind of rumor report that there was a robbery at Dollar General. Um, it ended up being uh—I haven't talked to the officer that was there—but somebody had shot the window out with a BB gun. So that explains some of that. And I know there was some other question about something maybe up at McDonald's, and I have not heard of anything um, with any type of report up there. So other than that, uh, we're just finishing up another long investigation for MSOP, um, and our end will be pretty well done with that moving forward. And other than that, it's just the same old stuff. I'm gonna clear here. Do you have any questions for Darren? [7:29] Douglas Juntunen: Oh yeah, Darren, I have a question for you. I see that there was a lot of stops on I-35 this month—a lot more than than normal. I'm just wondering how often are our our officers patrolling I-35? I see that some of them were for to assist other agencies, then there was some traffic stops. [7:53] Darren [Police Chief]: Yeah, most of the time they really aren't going to be out there doing our own patrol out there. If the state gives out a possible drunk driver or something similar, driving complaint, road rage issue and we're close, they'll respond out there if it's close to one of our exits or in that range there. I know I've talked to some of the other officers in the past uh, to be selective on what we go to and that we're not going to be responding to the Barnum/Mahtowa some of these other ones. So they're aware that that you know, depending on the nature of the call and what it is. But as far as just sitting out there doing patrol on the interstate, they might shoot between the two exits to come in on the other side of town every once in a while, but they shouldn't be spending any time out there. [8:41] Douglas Juntunen: Okay, thank you for your response, I appreciate it. [8:44] Darren [Police Chief]: Yeah, if you hear otherwise or see otherwise, let me know, but uh, I'll have a talk with everybody as well. [8:47] Mayor Jim Michalski: Okay, thank you sir. Thanks, Chief, appreciate it. Pass the thank you on to the staff there. We go... Public Works Superintendent report. [9:01] Phil Entner: Yeah, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Um, kind of a kind of a weird month. We jumped into uh, snow and ice removal there really quick and then now uh, now we uh, we don't seem to have a whole lot of snow, so kind of weird. Um, but anyway we'll get going here. Water department: 3.4 million gallons of drinking water in the month of November that we uh, ended up distributing to our customers. Uh, the well house is coming along—we can discuss that more in the engineering report here after I believe this segment or one or two more. Um, Sewer Department collected 12.8 million gallons of wastewater in the month of November treatment system. We are still gonna plan on doing one more discharge in December here. That's gonna average somewhere between 18 to 20 million gallons. Um, we should be wrapped up then after that, and that'll take us through... that'll put us right up until about Christmas Day somewhere in there with that discharge, and then we'll be pretty much wrapped up for the year as far as treatment goes. Um, so far everything is looking good. Our results, our parameters are all met. PCA seems to be happy. So uh, yeah, we're in good shape there. The ferrochloric acid that was approved at the last meeting was delivered and yes, is delivered and yeah, so that's that's good, that's done taking care of. Um, nothing to report on the cemeteries, the campground, or the park other than the mower deck that was approved at uh, the last month's meeting uh, has been ordered, picked up, installed, and ready to go. So we're set there. Street Department: Believe it or not, we're still out patching a few potholes, that kind of thing. If there's some that poke up at everybody or raise some concern, please feel free to get a hold of uh, City Hall, Public Works department, myself, anyone... any one of us can get you going in the right direction with that, we can get on it right away. Um, and then just you know, snow and ice removal um, and that'll be the same, that'll be the word here for I'm sure the next three three to five months. So other than that, that's all I had on that report. [11:06] Mayor Jim Michalski: Do you have any questions uh, for the Public Works Superintendent? Thanks a lot, Phil. Pass uh, thank you on to the crew. We'll do. Moving on to technology and library report. Katie? [11:20] Katie [City Staff]: Um, I have a technology report included in the packet from CW. It looks like some information from um, the last six months and what kind of tickets have been open um, and then what kind of licenses and renewals and things like that. I just wanted to give you guys a picture of what we see for technology and what CW does for us on the back end that we don't see on a day-to-day basis. [11:58] Mayor Jim Michalski: Any questions from the council? Hearing none, thanks Katie. But engineer report is next. [12:06] Katie [City Staff]: For engineering, um, there's nothing to too wild going on right now. Um, we're just kind of continuing on with the well house project. Uh, the trail—this Highway 73 trail—will be likely up for bid and um, well they'll probably request to post that in January and then we'll do bid openings in February so then we have a contractor um, in place and ready to go come springtime. Same goes with the Soo Line trail. Um, Phil, do you want to give a update on what's going on at the pump house? [12:53] Phil Entner: Sure, Ken. So we did actually have our weekly update meeting um, this afternoon. Um, as of right now, the precast panels for the ceiling have been set, pinned, and grouted. So I mean essentially there is a roof on the building, however that is not the roof that's going to be on the building. That is the concrete structure that goes on top of the walls that basically binds the entire structure together. There will be a wooden truss roof, very similar to what you would see on a house. Uh, those trusses should be getting set on Monday and then from there will be... or they'll be shooting and then getting uh, um, getting the roof put on and then continuing to get it weather tight so they can get some heat going in there. Uh, the actual the uh, the electric heaters have been installed and are ready to be wired up, that should be taking place as early as Monday. Um, the trusses I spoke about... one more thing this week yet they're going to try to do is there's a there's a waterproofing membrane that goes on the exterior of the block. If you drive by you see it's a block foundation and black walls, there's a waterproofing foundation that has to go on and since the temps are still up they're going to try to get that on yet tomorrow and Friday I believe. And then from there we'll be starting to move to the interior with electrical and the the hardware and the gear for the electrical and the uh, um, the SCADA system and that kind of stuff. So we're moving moving right along. [14:27] Katie [City Staff]: Um, and then the other big thing that we talked about was which I had emailed all you guys out earlier maybe last week it was um, about the LRIP grant. So that grant is one the one we received for I think it was Kenwood in third. Um, there's a few criteria and I sent you guys the information on it. So if you guys can think of any road that that applies to, our engineers are also going to be looking at the CIP list that was put together last year the year before and compare that to the criteria to see if anything meets meets the the couple of different requirements. So if you guys have any ideas please just let me know and I'll pass them along. [15:08] Mayor Jim Michalski: Very good. I can think right away that connects to 73 and that's First Street and that's... that's bad shape from 73 up to Ellen. [15:13] Katie [City Staff]: Yeah, I thought I thought of that one. Um, I thought of 4th Street. Fourth Street was my the first one that i thought of just because of the connection to the campground. Um, and then I thought of Second Street because of the connection to the boat launch. Um, or Third Street to the connection to... I mean we've got we've got options. [15:37] Mayor Jim Michalski: So well we have that list um, for the next meeting. The full list that we made, we should review that anyway. Any questions from the council? [15:53] Mayor Jim Michalski: Oh, Doug, you're muted. [15:56] Douglas Juntunen: Well how about that. Um, we didn't ask if there's any questions on the well house. Uh, I know that there was a lockout of a contractor and Phil, has that been rectified? Are they... is there is there any other issues? [16:15] Phil Entner: I know there's no other issues at this time and yes they are um, they're not allowed in there and that's the way it is and that's the way it's going to go throughout the rest of the project. So but as of right now we're in good shape. [16:29] Douglas Juntunen: Okay. Other question: Uh, you'd mention that there was a curing process and that that when the temperatures were colder that there they had to put up that structure around it and um, apply heat to it. Are we good to go? Are we sure that the engineers checked it out and there's no structural issues with that? Any cracks in the foundation or anything? [16:46] Phil Entner: There has been two different inspectors on site from our engineering firm at different times and uh, there's they are doing a wonderful job and they're really making sure that the contractors are keeping their eyes dotted and their T’s crossed on this. So I'm... I've been very very happy with what I've seen. [17:09] Douglas Juntunen: All right, thank you. [17:11] Phil Entner: Yep. [17:12] Mayor Jim Michalski: Any further questions for the city engineer part? I got something that I missed. Uh, I'd like to ask Darren. Are are the vehicles that we have, are they in good shape? Did we have a couple need repair? [17:28] Darren [Police Chief]: Well, um, well we're down to the two now. Um, you know Phil has the truck with his crew over there now, and then we had to do some work on the Tahoe here recently for about $1,700 on motor mount, um, and then some struts in the front end. Other than that that seems to be going good. We had some warranty work done on the Explorer and because that was cutting out, not running right, but now that's back up to speed. So everybody everything seems to be working well at the moment. [18:03] Douglas Juntunen: Sounds good, thanks. So you we got two vehicles in there? [18:08] Darren [Police Chief]: You have two, correct. [18:10] Douglas Juntunen: Okay, thank you. [18:12] Mayor Jim Michalski: Moving on to uh, Chamber of Commerce updates. Katie, do you have anything you want to mention to them? [18:18] Katie [City Staff]: Um, I don't think anything necessarily Chamber related. We had we just had a meeting with... well their monthly meeting was today and I discussed possibly working on a little bit of a partnership with them um, next year for 2021. Should we decide to do fireworks, it kind of sounds like we're running out of volunteers to shoot off the fireworks, which means that we will have to pay a company to do that. And I just contacted one company a couple weeks ago and the increase in price is about three thousand dollars. So I was trying to figure out a way to work together with the Chamber on fundraising, asking local businesses to help pitch in for the increased cost. And as I was doing that, some more ideas uh, were presented to me so um, we will likely be working with the Chamber on some fundraising for the fireworks uh, for next year. So that was the biggest thing. Also the Chamber is going to uh, have another program between now and the end of the year on... I think they voted on twelve thousand dollars to be given out to different businesses that apply for it that may need help um, with this COVID stuff going on still. They actually approved um, they're purchasing twelve thousand dollars worth of gift cards from businesses. So they're doing the same program that they did um, I can't remember when they did it, in May/June. Um, so they approved up to $12,000, that doesn't necessarily mean that they will... the the need will be $12,000 but that was the dollar amount that they gave. [19:57] Kris Huso: Chris, did you have a question? Yeah about the fireworks. Um, did they how much money did they receive this year for the fireworks that never happened? [20:10] Katie [City Staff]: None. We we didn't work together this year. We typically we typically purchase the fireworks. [20:18] Kris Huso: And have these boards don't they? [20:21] Katie [City Staff]: What’s that? [20:22] Kris Huso: The business used to donate towards them. Do they not get any donations anymore? [20:27] Katie [City Staff]: Nope, nope. And we also haven't asked since I've been here. We have not asked. [20:34] Douglas Juntunen: Yep, go. Yes, Doug. Chris, I think it's been like five years ago and it's still a crawl on my side but uh, since they stiffed us uh, $2,500 or $5,000 and uh, never they never repaid it. So that we've been going along since then, it's been for four years maybe. [20:56] Kris Huso: Okay, so... [20:59] Katie [City Staff]: Right. Probably right before I started because since I've started we've not gotten a penny for fireworks. [21:05] Kris Huso: No, I just know that the businesses used to contribute um, to the fireworks in addition to the city, but some of the funds were from Chamber businesses or local businesses that contributed to it. So kind of what... collected those and are have those in a pot for next year? [21:24] Katie [City Staff]: I wish. Um, but it as we were kind of talking about it, Ted and I were talking about it today, we could put donation bins at the liquor store, at CA, see if we could put it one at KJ’s, um, anywhere that has a large number of public going into and see... because I don't think that the public is necessarily against donating. They we just we just don't offer it right now. So you know, throw a couple bucks in the donation pot and um, at least it'll help pay for some of it. [22:00] Kris Huso: So now these were specifically business donations. Businesses I used to donate... [22:05] Douglas Juntunen: Sure, they haven't done that for a while Chris. But that that wasn't normal for until about four or five years ago and uh, that stopped and the city went up to... we used to donate five thousand, we went up to seven thousand and then... [22:25] Kris Huso: Go ahead and that's where we're at right now. [22:28] Mayor Jim Michalski: And that's why we asked the Chamber for their support. As many businesses that as can that can put out a donation can or box or whatever, and that would include the business also they could... [22:42] Kris Huso: I guess I'm... I'm just not aware of that at any time the Chamber stopped requesting donations from businesses for towards the fireworks. I mean that's the way it always had been when I was on the Chamber and owned a business. So I I just assumed that it still was going. I didn't realize we were paying the whole cost. [23:05] Douglas Juntunen: Not anymore. Uh, Katie, did that company give you a quote on how much it would cost for the total production of a fireworks show? [23:14] Katie [City Staff]: Yep, they said about ten thousand dollars. [23:18] Douglas Juntunen: About ten thousand? [23:20] Katie [City Staff]: Yep. That’s for 15 to 20 minutes. [23:23] Mayor Jim Michalski: Yep. We did have uh, Jim did volunteer. Jimmy works at the liquor store. He volunteered to still shoot off the fireworks for the start of the Agate Day Stampede and the in the Fourth of July. So whatever company we work with, we'll ask him to get four bangers and uh, that's so there's one for each of them and there's a spare in case there's a dude. Are there any updates on Agates? [23:59] Katie [City Staff]: Uh, they're meeting January 15th I believe, so nothing yet. Still planning like as if everything will be normal and as the year goes on we'll see how things work out and it'll change as as things change. [24:19] Mayor Jim Michalski: I guess that's the same with all their events for the year. Any further questions on the Chamber update? Hearing then, moving on to the Truth and Taxation public hearing. Uh, that's actually going to be at six o'clock. [24:50] Katie [City Staff]: Okay, so leave that as it is. [24:54] Mayor Jim Michalski: Yep. I don't think everyone wants me to go through it twice. No. So we'll move on to previously discussed liquor store freezer. [25:09] Katie [City Staff]: Uh, so last month you guys approved a freezer through the Webster on store. And I think it was the day after or maybe a couple days after, Elaine got word back from AirServe, which was the one who came and serviced the uh, the freezer to tell us that it had died. Um, and they gave a quote on an Aurora freezer which I asked Elaine if the size was comparable and she said that it was. Um, so this one is a little bit cheaper. It's three thousand eleven dollars and twenty two cents. And then um, I I kind of figured the perk of this one would be that if something goes wrong with it, we have a local-ish company that will service it. So I thought I would throw it in here and see what you guys thought. [26:02] Douglas Juntunen: Yeah. Any further questions? Go ahead, Doug here. I think you're muted. Sorry about that. That quote that you just gave Katie was garbled. I did not hear what the quote was. [26:15] Katie [City Staff]: Oh, sorry. Um, the total of the quote from AirServe was $3,011.22. And the one that we approved last month was $3,128.29. [26:33] Douglas Juntunen: Thank you. I'll make a motion that we go with AirServe for $3,011.22. [26:41] Mayor Jim Michalski: We have a motion. Do we have a second? [26:47] Council Member: Second. [26:50] Mayor Jim Michalski: We have a second. All those in favor say aye. I'll do a roll call. Walt? (Walter: Aye.) Greg? (Greg: Aye.) Chris? (Chris: Aye.) Doug? (Doug: Aye.) Hi... I heard who am I missing? I missing one. Greg? Aye. Motion carried. Thank you Katie. Moving on to new business. Uh, A: The 2021 liquor license renewals. [27:33] Katie [City Staff]: Um, in your pocket you have a list of the completed 2021 liquor license renewals that everything came back good. They all need approval so we can send them off to the state. [27:54] Mayor Jim Michalski: Any questions? We need a motion right on that? [27:59] Katie [City Staff]: Yep. [28:03] Douglas Juntunen: Any questions send or emotion? Um, I'll make a motion. I just want to make sure, Darren, there's been no issues with any of these people? [28:11] Darren [Police Chief]: Nope, nothing's uh, my knowledge. [28:15] Douglas Juntunen: Okay, then I'll make a motion to approve the uh, five individuals on the list. [28:19] Mayor Jim Michalski: Do I have a second? [28:22] Walter Lower III: I'll second. [28:24] Mayor Jim Michalski: Thanks, Walt. All in favor say aye. I'll do the roll call. Greg? (Aye.) Walt? (Aye.) Chris? (Aye.) Doug? (Aye.) Motion carried. Moving on to uh, B: The 2021 tobacco license renewals. Discussion and or emotion. [28:55] Douglas Juntunen: I'll also make a motion to prove them as long so long as there's been no problems there. [29:01] Darren [Police Chief]: Nope, nothing on that either. [29:03] Mayor Jim Michalski: Okay. (Roll call) Greg? (Aye.) Chris? (Aye.) Doug? (Aye.) Motion carried. Thank you. Moving on to number C: The Lakehead Constructors pay application number one. [29:32] Katie [City Staff]: Uh, yep. This pay application is for... oh gosh where was it? I think it's for September and October um, in the amount of $398,050. [29:48] Mayor Jim Michalski: Any questions, discussion, or emotion? [29:52] Douglas Juntunen: So Phil, that's a good one to pay? [29:56] Phil Entner: Yes sir, yes. [29:59] Douglas Juntunen: And Katie it means the financial whiz... all right I think that's probably a wise idea. I'll make that motion that we pay that $398,050. [30:14] Mayor Jim Michalski: Do you have a second? [30:16] Kris Huso: Second. [30:18] Mayor Jim Michalski: All in favor say I. Start with Greg. (Aye.) Walt. (Aye.) Chris. (Aye.) Doug. (Aye.) Motion carried. Thank you. Moving on to the Cindy Walter resignation. Katie? [30:38] Katie [City Staff]: So Cindy... Cindy works at our recycle shed and she told me that she had um, gotten a job as the clerk for Windermere Township. So she is going to need to resign her position. She did say that she would stay on for like a fill-in basis but um, we will have to post for this position um, I would say like next week maybe. [31:09] Mayor Jim Michalski: All right, thank you. Do you have a motion to accept the resignation? [31:14] Douglas Juntunen: I'll make that motion. I have a question now with that. We'll ask first and then uh, then ask the question. [31:21] Mayor Jim Michalski: Chris, do you have a second? [31:24] Kris Huso: Second. Chris. Question: Wasn't there another lady that alternated with her? Is she gonna stay on? [31:35] Katie [City Staff]: Yeah, yes. [31:36] Kris Huso: Okay. So couldn't we just ask her if she wants the position? [31:41] Katie [City Staff]: I I probably will ask her if she wants to keep both weekends, um, but if she doesn't then I'll probably post for it if that's okay with you guys. [31:54] Mayor Jim Michalski: Very good. All those in favor say I. Start with Greg. (Aye.) Walt. (Aye.) Chris. (Aye.) Doug. (Aye.) Motion carriage. Moving on to the Moose Lake Windermere Sewer District. Katie, do you want to explain the overage there? The overage charge? [32:12] Katie [City Staff]: Not really. Um, no I'm just kidding. Uh, 2019 overage charge. I included a little summary of this in your guys's packet. Um, we charged them a little over $7,500 at the beginning of 2020 for their 2019 averages. Um, per their contract um, they paid... I can't remember when they paid, they probably like August. They paid 75%, which means that they still owe us $1,896.14. Uh, Phil, Ted, Greg, and I all attended their board meeting in August and then I discussed this further with Darla in September. I discussed this with her again i think in October and it's still obviously is not paid. Um, so I guess I'm looking for a little bit of direction as to what we all want to do going forward because as i mean no secret to anybody 2020 is now coming to a close and we're gonna have this same issue for 2021. [33:14] Mayor Jim Michalski: You know, during the the meeting with them, they want to negotiate with us this dollar amount. And to me this is not a contract item, this is a late payment. And this was created... we went to uh, a different type of method of of uh, certifying the meters and it's a more of a digitized type of of certification instead of using a tape measure. So it's a new development and it's way more accurate than a tape measure and we told them we're not going to go backwards or keep using an old method when there's a new method out that everybody else uses and that's where that they disagree with having to pay this extra amount um, caused by a new and more accurate way of of measuring. And Phil, do you have anything else to say on that? [34:25] Phil Entner: No, I think you uh, I think you did a a mighty fine job Ted, thank you. [34:31] Kris Huso: So we have a disagreement and they want to negotiate a different price or... [34:39] Mayor Jim Michalski: Well I think at first they wanted their contract person to be present when our contractor does the certification using the new equipment so they could see how it was used. So to me it's a ridiculous thing. [34:53] Katie [City Staff]: The other part of this the other part of this too that I will say is um, I think it was in 2018 they decided that they wanted to... well we took over the lift station because they just wanted to be like another customer to us where before it was backwards—they would tell us how much they owed and now it's the exact opposite is we're telling them how much they're owing us. Well I'm telling you you owe me $1,896.14 and they're not paying it because they don't like the number. So I I referenced you know, a power company. If you don't like the number that's on your bill um, you don't get the option of not paying it or you're not going to have any power. So I don't know, i mean i've i've probably talked to them about this same issue at least five times. So i'm not sure how much what more i can do aside from continuing to send them a bill. I've even offered to have Phil help um, to see if he can figure out what the problem may be and to my knowledge I don't think that they've called you. [36:03] Kris Huso: I do have a question. Yes, Chris. So next year are they going to say the same thing as we didn't measure by tape measure so what we they owe us is just what they think they owe us? I mean you're correct, it's just like getting a power company—you don't negotiate the price you're buying or getting your services from. I say continue to bill them and there's a monthly charge too when you have a late payment. [36:34] Katie [City Staff]: Um, we haven't calculated that but that would be almost for a whole year. Um, unless you've done that now Katie? I have not, but it says so... um, it says I looked under the like what their the interest rate would be and it unfortunately doesn't list one but it does say that under Section 8.1: "the board shall pay the base rate and any excess flow charge on a monthly basis within 21 days of the receipt of the bill." [37:11] Kris Huso: Well it's been much more than 21 days. [37:14] Mayor Jim Michalski: Well I think we should probably send them one more time the bill with that contract language and after that I think we should contact our lawyer because I don't consider this a negotiation item on contract—this is a late payment. And the contract does not state that we have to use an old method using a tape measure you stick it in the modern look at it where we can use a digitized measuring device which everyone in the world is using now. So they are aware that this method we used last year will be used this year and there will be no question about a tape measure. [37:58] Kris Huso: Yeah, we're not going to go backwards. [38:00] Phil Entner: Yeah. Phil do you have anything else to add? Um, I I can kind of sum up a little bit of the calibration process if there is any questions on it real quick here. Um, that meter is is supposed to be calibrated twice a year. I do not previous to the city owning it, I do not know how often it was calibrated. I know from the day we owned it I started calibrating it once in the spring and once in the fall, so twice a year. Um, it's giving us very, very similar results across the board from since we started using it to even when I had them here in i think it was October. Um, this uh, this outfit we're using now it's called First Systems Technology—Brad White is his name and he's been in business for 25 some odd years. And excuse me, he uh, very very knowledgeable person. And for I think $50 more, we're getting a service of a measurement to a calibration of within a thousandth of an inch versus like like Ted explained, I have pictures of the guy doing it before with a tape measure. So I mean it's very simple and I mean it's you know it's 2020 almost 2021, we got we got to get with the game here. Um, it is what it is. I'm very happy with this company, I think Katie and Ted are as well and yeah that's that's kind of that's kind of it in a nutshell. Is there any other questions that can be uh, feel free to answer them for you. [39:35] Mayor Jim Michalski: Thanks, Phil. Anybody have any more questions on it? So we'll try one more bill before the end of the year and that's to me then we turn it over to our lawyer because this to me this is not a negotiating item, this is just the late payment. [40:02] Douglas Juntunen: Can we sign that certified please? Say that, Doug? Can we send that certified please? That's... [40:11] Katie [City Staff]: Thank you, got that Katie. Got it, thank you. [40:15] Mayor Jim Michalski: Thank you. Moving on to to uh, number F: The brush mower quotes. Phil, would you like to explain? [40:24] Phil Entner: Sure, of course I can. So you guys know we've been doing a lot of different things that we have not been doing in the past and it turns out it's actually saving the City of Moose Lake a ton of money. So that's good. Um, a couple quotes I have here for you are for a brush hog. They are for the front of our skid steer. Um, my intentions for this is to clear our street rights-of-ways, um, water and sewer utility easements, rights-of-ways, anything like that. We do have some remote sites for some sanitary stuff as far as easements that we need to get in and clean. This—this for the right word here—but this aspect of the utility itself has not been looked at yet since I've been here. Um, there's some places that were we're walking around some some overgrowth of quite a few years trying to drag hoses and nozzles through the brush and through the woods to get our equipment to where they need to go. And it's... I mean it's making it a lot harder and not to mention that vegetation, those roots from that vegetation are going to eventually get into our system and they're going to create an issue. So this is just another huge maintenance tool that would help us dramatically. Um, they are they're essentially... they are two they're the same 72 inch cut mower, the same flow, the same gpm, they're the same unit. They do are made by two different companies. Um, one for uh, to implement um, for $5,100, and then one from Ziegler Cat for it looks like $5,350. And this will come out of um, if approved, some leftover capital funds from the general fund that we won't spend otherwise. So I'll open it up for discussion, agenda, or emotion from the council. [43:01] Douglas Juntunen: I want to make sure our budget can handle it and that's no problem and we're not taking it out anybody else's fund. How much do we have left over in our general fund that we're pulling this out of? [43:16] Katie [City Staff]: Out of capital, we've got probably $40,000 in capital. [43:24] Douglas Juntunen: That just brings up a question to me that uh, Darren can answer. Uh, we are on a cycle for uh, law enforcement vehicles and uh, I know that uh, Walt has had some concerns about spending there and I just wanted to make sure that we're still on par looking for... uh, I take it that would probably need another vehicle next year possibly. I just wanted to see where we're at there and if if there's other things that we need as we move forward. [43:55] Darren [Police Chief]: Yeah, i mean Katie and i have talked a little bit and i know we're going to need to be looking at ordering one and just even now for the process of how long it's taking to get them. So i've kind of been looking at some different ones here and what's going to be the most beneficial for our agency. Um, and then as far as budgeting wise it's kind of where Katie’s at—if we're looking at ordering one towards the end of 2021 to be here, we'd have to... if we ordered one in like August we probably wouldn't have it until um, April/May somewhere in that time frame. [44:33] Katie [City Staff]: So um, that brings up something that I can touch on too at six o'clock but uh, we will have some money left over in our general fund uh, capital. My idea with that was to put that into a GL account which basically just separates it from um, the rest of our our money and designates it for a future capital need. So let's say we we end 2020 with $40,000 or $35,000—we can use that for um, a future squad or um, any equipment that Phil might need or what really anything but it just sets it aside from our our the rest of our reserves. [45:21] Douglas Juntunen: What are our total reserves? [45:24] Katie [City Staff]: Uh, I I don't know, I can't answer that right off the cuff because we have some adjusting journal entries that we have to make for our sales tax and and whatever we have but it's very healthy. I can tell you that. [45:41] Douglas Juntunen: Okay, thanks enough that we're like uh, was it seven or eight eight months out that we could cover if... [45:51] Katie [City Staff]: Yeah, so we got we were sitting really well. I think that's what we were at the end of 2020 and 20... or I'm sorry 2019. So in 2020 we're doing just fine financially. [46:12] Mayor Jim Michalski: Very good. Any more questions by the council? No more questions, we have a motion for the brush hog. [46:27] Douglas Juntunen: I'll make that motion. I do... okay which one? I should say there was one for $5,100, I believe it was cheaper. [46:38] Mayor Jim Michalski: Okay. Do we have a second? [46:42] Kris Huso: Second. [46:45] Mayor Jim Michalski: (Roll call) Start with Greg? (Aye.) Walt? (Aye.) Chris? (Aye.) Doug? (Aye.) Motion carried. Thank you. Moving on to the next item 7G: The sewer jetter nozzle quotes. [47:04] Katie [City Staff]: So um, I'm going to have Phil talk about the details of what this is going to do um, but this would come out of the sewer fund of which we have a very healthy reserve for also. Um, and I'm not sure if it's included in the financials for this month or if it came in early December but we did receive our um, our insurance money from when the mixers went down so that was uh, $20,000–$25,000 um, so just so you guys know we have a very healthy um, balance in our sewer fund. But I'll let Phil talk about what he's going to use this for. [48:20] Phil Entner: Okay so in 2016 I put together a sanitary sewer maintenance program which is actually um, actually required for the City of Moose Lake to do. Um, I know it somehow it's through League of Minnesota Cities for insurance and whatever and whatnot. Um, so we ended up with with our trailer jetter and that is a wonderful piece of equipment and we have now been in every single manhole and in every single stretch of pipe in this town which is I think the first time in I think forever—it was crazy. Um, so at the end of uh, at the end of that at the end of that line that goes down the sewer line is it's a nozzle. Okay so it's it's not just your ordinary nozzle there there's different types of nozzles. We have a clean nozzle and we have two heavier duty cleaning nozzles but then there's this one and this one looks like it kind of looks like a Coffee Thermos to be honest with you. And what it does, it's it's made for removing heavy, heavy soils and debris, which we have a lot of because we have a lot of clay pipe and tongue. Um, we have removed yards and yards of rocks and dirt and sediment and stuff that are that are in these pipes and this nozzle we actually had a chance to demo one from our uh, a local cleaning company in Duluth who I don't know very well and this thing is unbelievable what it can do. The the amount of sediment it moved was... I it would have took us it would have took us five shots in the same manhole which a shot takes about five to seven minutes—it would have took five five to six shots in that manhole to do what this thing did in one shot which was five to seven minutes. Um, so there's there's two estimates here in front of you for what's called an ends Bulldog nozzle for removing heavy debris and heavy silt. One is from Center Service Equipment Company, the same same same exact nozzle same same everything... that one there for $3,400 and $3,450. There's one from Flexible Pipe and Tool Company for $3,265. Once again, same exact nozzle, same PSI, same horsepowers in everything—they're apples to apples completely. So any questions? [50:47] Katie [City Staff]: Sorry, I'm just gonna jump in really quickly just to explain why the League of Minnesota Cities has that uh, requirement there. Um, when somebody's basement backs up or whatever, one of the first questions that the insurance company asks me is "When was the last time your that line was clean?" And I swiftly hand them Phil's phone number because I don't know the answer to that but he does, uh, because he's put this program together. So um, this this equipment has saved us a lot of money through insurance so... [51:11] Mayor Jim Michalski: Pretty good, thank you. Questions by the council indoor motion? [51:14] Douglas Juntunen: I'll make a motion that we accept the Flexible Pipe Tool Company quote for I think it was $3,265. [51:31] Mayor Jim Michalski: Any questions? All in favor say aye. I'll start with Greg. (Aye.) Walt. (Aye.) Doug. (Aye.) Chris. (Aye.) Motion carried. Move on to uh, 7H: The 2021 annual appointments. Katie? [52:03] Katie [City Staff]: Uh, these are... I highlighted the um, individuals who are up for reappointment um, at the end of this year beginning of next year. What I'm going to do is I will contact these individuals to see if they are still interested in being on these boards and authorities and things like that. I also uh, plan on putting an ad out uh, just to see if anybody else is interested and then we kind of just go from there. But I just wanted you guys to be aware of who was all up for renewal um, in 2021, but you'll see this again in January. [52:45] Mayor Jim Michalski: So also any council members, as you look through the different committees, if you want to get on a different committee or want to change from where you're at, contact the council member that is on the committee and talk to them about if you want to change or so forth. And uh, anybody wants to serve on Power and Light, please contact me. I would appreciate that very much. Greg, was that you? [53:18] Council Member Greg: I didn't say a word. [53:20] Mayor Jim Michalski: Oh, I thought I heard something. All right, we have another edition and that is I, and that is uh, was it the Arbor Day proclamation? [53:30] Katie [City Staff]: Arbor Day proclamation. You want to explain it, Katie? Sure. So it's just a proclamation—they actually did it in October but it so then we can keep our Tree City USA designation. Um, Clarissa asked me to get it approved um, I can just read kind of the end of it—this is all coming from Ted um, as the mayor. It says: "In the City of Moose Lake, um, I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the area and promote the well-being of this and future generations." So I just need a motion to approve this and then pass it on. [54:19] Mayor Jim Michalski: You have a motion? [54:21] Council Member: So moved. [54:24] Mayor Jim Michalski: Have a second? [54:27] Council Member: Oh, second. [54:29] Mayor Jim Michalski: All in favor say I. Start with Greg. (Aye.) Walt. (Aye.) Chris. (Aye.) Doug. (Aye.) [54:43] Mayor Jim Michalski: Moving on to uh, reports and correspondence. There are some correspondence from Duane Grace—that's called a backflow preventer. Is there anything on that um, my last bill that uh, I haven't had a chance to talk to you about it? [55:07] Phil Entner: Yeah so I got yeah go ahead... no go ahead. You sure? It's all you. All right so I got this given to me I think it was I think it was last Friday and I started looking at some things in there and then i pulled out the plumbing code and looked at that as well and uh, we're we're gonna get into some of this. We're going to start a file on this and we're gonna start looking at some of these. Uh, my biggest concern right now is the RPZ, which is the reduced pressure zone backflow preventer. Um, and we're going to start there and we're going to work this into our our yearly file that we take a look at. Um, it is something that is basically pushed around by the state through the plumbing code to the local governing official, which happens to be us. So we are going to start looking at this probably and I would say probably by January we'll be starting to look at this already. So if anybody wants to get me... wants me to get into detail with this i'll gladly do so. I recommend doing that not in a meeting like this because it is extremely lengthy. So um, I definitely can, but um, definitely can share more information with anyone who's interested in this. [56:37] Mayor Jim Michalski: So i mean essentially the nuts and bolts of it is that um, the individual resident, business owner, whatever it is would have to pay to get their backflow preventer inspected? Right? Did I say that right? Okay. [56:52] Katie [City Staff]: Um, okay. So kind of what Phil and I had talked about was was starting some type of a program and maybe starting with some of the larger users—you know starting with Kwik Trip and McDonald's and those kinds of places and perfect the system and then go from there. Because likely McDonald's is big enough that they're probably already doing this, so it's essentially just getting us the paperwork that they've had it inspected. That was our thought was to get started on it that way. [57:25] Mayor Jim Michalski: Will this ever affect the individual homeowner? [57:28] Phil Entner: It will... it very well can, yes. Um, is it a mandate for um, older construction or will be just for new construction for homes? That I'm not sure on. So this is this is kind of a new book here for us to open up and to start digging into, that's why i want to start slow with this. I know this program is in place in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and I believe St. Cloud. I do not know of any smaller cities that are doing this. Um, I did reach out to uh, um, couple colleagues of mine with Real Water um, and they gave me the same answer. Um, however this is kind of a CYA deal. This is... we're gonna definitely look into this um, and just just keep picking away at it. That's what we're going to do. [58:15] Mayor Jim Michalski: All right, thank you. Any questions by the council for Phil? Moving on. Committee and board meeting minutes. Moose Lake Area Fire District minutes for November 10th. Walt, do you have anything new you want to add or just cover? [58:43] Walter Lower III: No, there wasn't a whole lot discussed at the last Fire Department meeting. [58:49] Mayor Jim Michalski: All right, thank you. I'll go through announcements then Katie will discuss what we're going to do be after we're done with that between then and six o'clock on announcements. Regular Moose Lake City Council meeting: Wednesday, January 13th at 4:00 PM, Moose Lake City Council chamber. The Moose Lake Economic Development Authority: Wednesday, December 16th at 12:00 PM at the City Conference Room. Moose Lake Water Light Commission regular meeting: Tuesday, December 15th, 3:00 PM at the Water and Light office. Moose Lake Housing and Redevelopment Authority board: Monday, December 14th, 11:00 AM, Hillside Manor office. Moose Lake Area Fire District: Tuesday, January 12th, 6:30 PM, Emergency Response Center. And the Moose Lake Park board meeting: Monday, January 4th, 6:30 PM at the Council Chamber room. [59:43] Mayor Jim Michalski: Also, before any of the meetings, just remind everyone you have to do uh, reorganization because it's the beginning of the year and the Council will be doing that the first item of business in January before we do conduct the meeting. All that will have to be done. And just a reminder for your boards and committees you're on, that you'll have to do that also in January. So Katie uh, between now and six o'clock are we gonna call this just a um, recess and open back up? [1:00:19] Katie [City Staff]: Yeah, I would imagine you guys are probably gonna all go eat dinner and uh, yes we'll just kind of meet back. We'll use the same meeting code. I'll stop this meeting and we'll... I'll start it back up a little bit before six. [1:00:36] Mayor Jim Michalski: Okay, so I need a motion to uh, take a recess. [1:00:41] Council Member: So moved. [1:00:43] Mayor Jim Michalski: Got a second? [1:00:45] Walter Lower III: I'll second. [1:00:47] Mayor Jim Michalski: All in favor say aye. (Council members: Aye.) Motion carry. So we'll see everyone uh, around six o'clock. Thank you.