This transcript follows the Hermantown City Council meeting proceedings. Speaker names have been added based on the provided official list and contextual clues (motions, seconds, and staff introductions). ### **Hermantown City Council Meeting Transcript** **[0:00] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** ...presentations at this portion of the meeting. Public discussion. This is a time for individuals to discuss any item with the council that is not on the agenda. We ask that you limit your time to three minutes per person. Is there anyone who wishes to speak to the council for general public discussion? **[0:30] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** If anyone wishes to speak to the council under general public discussion, please step forward to the podium and start with your name and address. **[0:40] Unidentified Public Speaker:** Hello. I signed up uh on the list. Was that— **[0:43] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** That's later? **[0:44] Unidentified Public Speaker:** That's later. **[0:46] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** That's during the agenda item that you signed up for. **[0:48] Unidentified Public Speaker:** Okay. So I... Okay. **[0:50] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We will call you later. I'm sorry. We will call you when we get to that point. **[0:53] Unidentified Public Speaker:** Oh, I thought it was for this part. So, can I just do my spiel now? **[0:56] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is this about—What is it that you want to talk about? **[1:02] Unidentified Public Speaker:** It's in general um it's a little bit zoning, it's a little bit data center, and it's a little bit NDA, it's a little bit feedback. **[1:10] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Then you should uh do that under the uh ordinance. **[1:13] Unidentified Public Speaker:** Under the ordinance. Thank you. **[1:15] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay. Does anyone else have any items of general public discussion? Items not on the agenda tonight. If so, please step forward to the podium and start with your name and address. **[1:34] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any general public discussion this evening? Hearing and seeing none, we will move on to the consent agenda. Minutes approval or correction of October 6, 2025 city council continuation minutes and accounts payable approved general city warrants from October 1st, 2025 through October 15, 2025 in the amount of 2,212,130.21. Do we have a motion relating to the consent agenda? **[2:08] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. **[2:10] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? **[2:14] Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **[2:18] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Roll call, please. **[2:20] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **[2:21] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **[2:22] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **[2:23] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **[2:24] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **[2:24] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **[2:25] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **[2:26] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next, we will move on to ordinance 2025-18. An ordinance amending Hermantown Code of Ordinances section 270 fee schedule. This is a first reading. We will not be taking a vote on it this evening, but there will be an opportunity for public discussion. Mr. Mulder, could you summarize this for us? **[2:47] City Administrator John Mulder:** So, this is an annual uh resolution that we have. **[2:52] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** It's not coming through. **[2:54] City Administrator John Mulder:** This is an annual resolution that we have uh each year where we take a look at the various fees um that we um charge residents for various things. In some cases, we're actually decreasing them. In other cases, we're adding uh late renewal fees. Um and so, there's a number of them on the agenda. We're not taking any action uh tonight. Um we will have a public hearing on the uh fee schedule in two weeks before we adopt it. **[3:21] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Is there any public input on the change to the fee schedule through ordinance? Do we have any public input on the first reading of ordinance 2025-18? **[3:44] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Last opportunity for public input on the ordinance amending Hermantown Code of Ordinances section 270 fee schedule. Hearing none, we will move on to resolutions. Resolution 2025-155, resolution authorizing the city of Hermantown to provide municipal consent to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for state project 6908-68 on trunk highway 2 improvements. Do we have a motion? **[4:23] Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **[4:25] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? **[4:28] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. **[4:30] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder, could you explain this for us? **[4:33] City Administrator John Mulder:** Sure. Whenever MnDOT or St. Louis County is taking action or doing improvements to their road work um in the city of Hermantown, they ask for municipal consent. In this particular case, there is a parcel on Highway 2 just west of Midway where there's currently two driveways. They're going to change that to one and put in a turn lane. So, they're asking us to actually—we're not providing municipal consent. We're waiving that municipal consent. **[5:02] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions from counselors? Is there any public input on this resolution? **[5:14] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-155? **[5:26] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on the resolution authorizing the city of Hermantown to provide municipal consent to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for state project 6908-68 on trunk highway 2 improvements? **[5:48] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **[5:49] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **[5:50] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **[5:51] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **[5:52] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **[5:53] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **[5:54] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **[5:55] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-156 resolution approving memorandum of understanding and authorizing and directing mayor and city clerk to execute deliver MOU with law enforcement labor services local 47 LS. Do we have a motion? **[6:13] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. **[6:15] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? **[6:17] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. **[6:19] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, could you go over this for us? **[6:21] City Administrator John Mulder:** Sure. Following our last meeting when we had a following our last meeting when we had um a closed session to talk about um some of the difficulties we had relative to uh the recruitment of police officers. Um we um sent a um proposed memorandum of understanding to the police union. Um they did sign off on that today and so this will provide some additional uh compensation as a recruitment bonus um for new officers between now—between June 1st of this year and December 31st of of next year. Um and it'll also provide some additional uh benefits um that will be provided to them vacation and sick on the front end. Usually they have to be here so many years to get some of those benefits. This would allow sick and vacation um on the front end. **[7:13] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? And this will allow us to recruit for an open position that we've been unable to fill. **[7:21] City Administrator John Mulder:** That's correct. **[7:23] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. **[7:24] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Two open positions. **[7:26] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Two. No, one. **[7:28] City Administrator John Mulder:** We filled one of the two. **[7:31] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on this resolution? Is there any public input on the resolution approving an memorandum of understanding between the city of Hermantown and law enforcement labor services local number 47? **[7:56] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any public input on resolution 2025-156? **[8:05] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **[8:06] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **[8:07] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **[8:08] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **[8:09] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **[8:10] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **[8:11] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **[8:12] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-157. Resolution authorizing mayor and city clerk to execute a 10-year multi-jurisdictional agreement between the city of Hermantown and the city of Duluth to create a regional tactical response team. Is there a motion relating to this? **[8:32] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. **[8:34] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? **[8:38] Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **[8:40] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, should we have our chief? **[8:43] City Administrator John Mulder:** Yes, please address us. **[8:45] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Chief? **[8:47] Police Chief Jim Crace:** Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. **[8:50] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** It's not coming through. **[8:52] Police Chief Jim Crace:** It is on. I guess I got to get way closer. Uh, yes. So, we've been uh considering this cooperation uh and agreement for some time. Um, the main idea here is it'll strengthen inter-agency cooperation and capabilities um through our uh regional approach to tactical response. It'll increase um and enhance officers' opportunities for growth both tactically and uh for professional development and it's going to uh provide a cost-effective way for us to uh provide those services. **[9:30] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from council? Uh chief, does that mean our officers assigned to this would be responding to these type of incidences in Duluth? **[10:06] Police Chief Jim Crace:** That is correct. Uh when when a page goes out for tactical response from the team, uh our two officers, if we have them assigned, would be responding to the city of Duluth along with uh Duluth officers and then um they would they would be providing the same response back. **[10:06] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** So we would have their response in our city if it was needed. **[10:09] Police Chief Jim Crace:** Correct. **[10:11] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other questions or comments from council? 10 year agreement. I'm assuming that previous one's expiring. **[10:20] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** We did not have an agreement uh Councilor LeBlanc in the past. Uh we depended on the county's uh emergency response team in the past. **[10:26] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Have we been in a situation in the past where it would have been helpful to have the Duluth response? **[10:30] Police Chief Jim Crace:** Yes. **[10:32] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Anything else from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? **[10:44] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-157? **[10:56] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on the resolution authorizing a multi-jurisdictional agreement between the city of Hermantown and the city of Duluth to create a regional tactical response team? **[11:12] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **[11:13] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **[11:14] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **[11:15] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **[11:16] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **[11:17] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **[11:18] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **[11:19] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-158. Resolution approving DEED contamination cleanup and investigation grant application. Is there a motion relating to this resolution? **[11:33] Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **[11:35] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Do we have a second? **[11:38] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. **[11:39] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder, should we have Mr. Ronchetti address this? **[11:42] City Administrator John Mulder:** Yes, please. **[11:54] Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti:** Uh Mayor Boucher, Councilors, uh this is an application uh to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for contamination cleanup. Uh the state makes funds readily available uh to applicants through a competitive program. Uh those applications are due uh in rounds. Uh one of them being uh November. Uh this November, Oppidan Development who undertook the Pillars development and then the associated Fox Ridge cottages of Hermantown. Uh the cottages of Hermantown project discovered some contamination related to the soil underneath that project. Those soils have been remediated so they have been disposed of uh properly. Uh but Oppidan has asked the city uh as the required applicant through this program to make an application on their behalf. Um and we are proposing uh to the council that we approve that application. Uh which though the the cleanup has already been done, uh the funds that would be returned to Oppidan would allow for uh some lifestyle and amenity upgrades uh that we feel would be beneficial to the community uh and make the development and uh the experience of the residents uh more beneficial. **[12:59] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do you have any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? **[13:13] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-158? **[13:38] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **[13:39] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **[13:40] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **[13:41] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **[13:42] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **[13:43] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **[13:44] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **[13:45] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-159. Resolution approving consent related to the development contract between Hermantown Economic Development Authority, the city of Hermantown, and KTJ 360 LLC for the Pillars of Hermantown senior living project. Is there a motion relating to this resolution? **[14:08] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. **[14:10] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? **[14:13] Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **[14:16] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, who would we like to handle this from staff? **[14:20] City Administrator John Mulder:** Uh, Mr. Ronchetti was the lead on this one, so we're going to let him explain this one. **[14:23] Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti:** Uh, Mayor Boucher Council, uh, this is again about the Oppidan development group, uh, who developed the pillars. Uh, they developed that under the company of KTJ 360. KTJ 360 is who the development contract is with. Uh it is a three-party agreement between the city of Hermantown, the Hermantown Economic Development Authority uh and KTJ doing also known as uh Oppidan. Uh our development agreement with them requires that uh if uh if they are going to do any uh refinancing or any having any uh change in the contract uh with who owns the contract or who is the the actual developer that holds the contract, we have to give consent to that. Um that's what this consent is for. Uh to do the Fox Ridge cottages of Hermantown project, they refinanced the pillars to take advantage of the equity that they've built in that project uh and help bring on uh more housing uh uh on the site. And so this consent allows them to do that refinancing uh and also transfer the development agreement uh to the operating company uh rather than the development LLC. **[15:35] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council hearing none. Is there any public input on this resolution? **[15:49] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-159? **[16:20] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **[16:21] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **[16:22] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **[16:23] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **[16:24] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **[16:25] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **[16:26] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **[16:27] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-160 resolution approving consent to assignment of development agreement among KTJ 360 LLC, Pillars of Hermantown LLC, and City of Hermantown and authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute and deliver the agreement on behalf of the city of Hermantown. Do we have a motion relating to this? **[17:02] Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **[17:04] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? **[17:07] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** I'll second. **[17:10] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, do we want Mr. Johnson to explain this? **[17:14] City Administrator John Mulder:** Yes, this is uh similar project but a slightly a little bit different on it and Eric was the lead on this part. **[17:16] Community Development Director Eric Johnson:** Great. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and members of council. As Mr. Ronchetti said this is essentially the same type of agreement that we're looking for for the reassignment. So back in September uh the city entered into agreement with KTJ 360 for the development agreement associated with the cottages of Hermantown. Now as Oppidan who is essentially the same group as KTJ as well as Pillars of Hermantown their lender is requiring that the agreement be in that same uh group i.e. the Pillars of Hermantown LLC to be able to finalize their uh financing package associated with this. So, what this ends up doing is aligning the ownership structure associated both with the Pillars Senior Building as well as the Cottages of Hermantown. **[17:58] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from counselors? **[18:05] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Is this the same uh agreement where we take ownership of the pipe that's in the ground after construction? **[18:15] Community Development Director Eric Johnson:** Yes, that is correct. That is the development agreement. **[18:18] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** I still think we should revisit that. I don't think uh city should own a pipe that a private entity is profiting off of. I think we can revisit that in a future agreement as we've already approved this one. **[18:31] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-160? Could you step forward to the podium and start with your name and address, please? **[19:00] Karen Harmon:** Karen Harmon, Hermantown. 5279 West Arrowhead, Hermantown. Um when that parcel of land was originally going to be developed, they were going to have cottages and houses in that development. Are you talking about similar houses now or cottages? **[19:31] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Ask uh Mr. Johnson to describe the cottages that are in a different location and of a different type. **[19:40] Community Development Director Eric Johnson:** That is correct, Mr. Mayor. Um, so earlier back in 2020 uh when the application came forward, there was uh the 105 unit apartment building um that was actually hard up on the corner of Levake, as well as uh Maple Grove. Uh there were 20 single family small lots associated with that as well as four quad homes basically would be 16 units. So what was approved earlier this year for the cottages of Hermantown, this is for 10 twin home buildings that are essentially out on that location where the previous building was going to be proposed. So uh it is much less dense than what had been uh proposed back at that time. And I've been told that these are transitional housing for people to transition into the Pillars as they age or need more services. Uh the original ones I believe were not connected to the Pillars in a management sense and these people would be allowed to use all the amenities of the Pillars. **[20:44] Karen Harmon:** Okay. I know that the community was quite upset with the the large development at the first um proposed development and um and so they were happy when the development was downsized. So, I hadn't seen anything about the new plan. And so, I'm glad to see that their concerns were um again considered with this second development. And what I've seen with the changes in um the St. Scholastica where you have people that could come into the program and as their needs changed be able to stay in the community... From what you've said it sounds like that kind of enrichment. So thank you very much. **[21:46] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other comment on the resolution in front of us? Last opportunity for public comment on resolution 2025-160. **[22:09] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **[22:10] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **[22:11] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **[22:12] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **[22:13] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **[22:14] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **[22:15] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **[22:16] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. And now we move to ordinance 2025-17, an ordinance amending title 2 of the Hermantown city code by amending the official zoning map. Do we have a motion relating to this? **[22:33] Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **[22:35] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second to approve? **[22:38] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. **[22:40] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder, we'll start with you. **[22:45] City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah. So tonight tonight is the second reading of the ordinance to rezone 220 acres in section 31 of the city of Hermantown. We are following the process that is outlined in our ordinance and statutes and we use this process regardless of size, scale, and the end user. The recommendation um before the city council tonight is an issue of land use for those parcels of land and this is just an early step in that process. We're going to have several um staff provide background on the proposed rezoning. We'll start with Eric Johnson, our community development, to give background on the rezoning and the comprehensive plan. Chad Ronchetti will then speak to the proposed um economic development part of the project. And then we've asked representatives from Mortenson, the builder, and um Kimley-Horn, the engineer on the project, and then also representative Minnesota Power to speak to some of the issues relative to power. So, Eric, why don't you go ahead and get started? **[23:38] Community Development Director Eric Johnson:** Great. Thank you very much, Administrator Mulder. Uh, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. So, I'm going to break this into a couple different aspects. The first will be speaking to the zoning map amendment and generally how it relates to the comprehensive plan. And then lastly, the whole comprehensive plan process as well... [Detailed explanation of comprehensive plan and rezoning process]. **[30:41] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Uh who's next? Mr. Mulder. **[30:43] City Administrator John Mulder:** Uh Chad Ronchetti with economic development director to talk about the economic development impact of this. **[30:52] Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti:** Thank you Mr. Mulder. Uh Mayor Boucher, Council... [Detailed explanation of the proposed 300,000 sq ft data center project and community benefits]. **[37:47] Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti:** So I've told a few stories to try to make it a little bit more grounded uh in what this project actually means outside of just metrics and numbers. Uh from here I think I'll kick it to uh the Mortenson team to talk about the project specifics. **[38:06] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Hey Wayne, uh just a question. If we have questions as we go, would you like us to wait until our comment period after the public discussion or should we be if we if we have questions for Chad? Should we ask them before so people maybe have some of their issues assuaged before they come up to speak? **[38:22] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** At the end of this these presentations, we'll have a chance to ask questions before public discussion. **[38:28] Dan Leser (Mortenson):** Dan Leser with Mortenson Development. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor, councilors, chief, city staff. Um one of the common threads we heard was more information... [General intro to data centers]. **[39:39] Brian Werdean (Kimley-Horn):** Thanks Dan. Uh Brian Werdean with Kimley-Horn uh one of the engineers working on the project. [Technical site plan overview, wetland delineation, and traffic impact]. **[49:51] Jason Scrimshaw (Kimley-Horn):** Thank you, Brian. Uh, good evening, Mayor, members of council. [Technical briefing on noise/acoustics, lighting compliance, storm water filtration, and landscaping]. **[1:00:56] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. **[1:01:03] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Mayor, I'd like to ask for a motion for personal privilege. Take for a five minute break. **[1:01:10] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We will pause for five minutes and then we will move on to— **[1:01:13] City Administrator John Mulder:** We're going to have the presentation by Minnesota Power and then we'll open it for public comment. **[1:01:16] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Yes. ***[Break from 1:01:16 to 1:01:31]*** **[1:01:31] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** All right, folks. We're ready to get started again. **[1:01:50] City Administrator John Mulder:** So, as part of the uh the presentation, we're going to have uh a representative from Minnesota Power come up. There's a lot of questions about power usage and the impact on power for a data center. So, we've asked Minnesota Power to address that issue. Thank you. **[1:02:10] Julie Pierce (Minnesota Power):** Good evening, Mayor Boucher, councilors, and staff. My name is Julie Pierce. I'm the vice president of strategy and planning for Minnesota Power. [Explains electrical grid connection process, integrated resource planning, and regulatory oversight]. **[1:11:46] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. We've reached the end of our presentations, Mr. Mulder. **[1:11:50] City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah. So, just a couple of reminders. Um, we wanted to go through some of this extra information relative to the project, even though it doesn't really apply to rezoning, but we know that those you can't entirely separate them. Just a couple of reminders um for the public is that speakers are asked to provide their name and address. The speaker should address um the city council with their comments. Um, and we ask that everybody be respectful of all voices. **[1:12:30] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We did say earlier we're going to have a few moments here for counselors to ask questions. Mr. LeBlanc had some. **[1:12:40] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Um, yeah, I was asked to reiterate some of the questions we had talked about pre-agenda... [Questions on sight lines, air pollution, noise enforcement, water capacity, and tax projections]. **[1:15:47] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** David, could—there was a note on the presentation that the facility is going to use between 2 and 5% of the water. Um, it's my understanding that the site is going to put us, you know, if we were to add no, um, water towers, it would put us at our maximum. Can you kind of explain how that's going to affect our water? **[1:16:11] Paul Senst (Public Works Director):** Yes. Thank you, mayor and council. So, um, the city of Hermantown on a maximum day in the summer would use about 700,000 gallons... [Explains water infrastructure, new elevated water tower, and Duluth supply capacity]. **[1:19:25] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** I guess the last thing I had, um you know, in my mind, this project, the the biggest benefit to Hermantown is going to be the lowering of residential taxes... When do you think we'll have that projection? **[1:19:40] Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti:** Uh Mayor Boucher uh Councilor LeBlanc we are currently working with Ehlers who is our public finance consultant uh to do some uh modeling on what the tax revenues will be... **[1:22:15] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** That's all I got. **[1:22:20] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other counselors have anything else? Great. Okay, now we're going to move into the public input section. [Mayor reviews rules and starts calling names]. **[1:23:51] Frankie Flegi:** My name is Frankie Flegi. I live at 1905 East Third Street, Duluth. [Reading compiled questions and criticisms from constituents]. **[1:30:30] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you uh for your input. We're going to move forward slowly and we're going to stick with the quorum. A three-minute limit for every speaker. Next on the list is Matt Baumgartner. **[1:31:10] Matt Baumgartner:** Good evening, mayor, counselors. My name is Matt Baumgartner. [Speaks in support of rezoning and economic development]. **[1:33:54] Katie Hawkins:** My name is Katie Hawkins. I live at 3683 Steer Road. [Urges a "no" vote, citing concerns over transparency and backdoor meetings]. **[1:38:29] Lynn Bradford:** My name is Lynn Bradford. I reside at 3525 Solway Road. [Criticizes the environmental impact study and lack of transparency]. **[1:42:15] Michael Koppy:** Michael Koppy, 5124 Beaver Creek Road. [Expresses concern about groundwater and trout stream protection]. **[1:46:10] Eric Palmer:** My name is Eric Palmer and I've been a resident of Hermantown for over 18 years. [Speaks in support of rezoning for job creation and tax base growth]. **[1:49:31] Nick Reinhardt:** My name is Nick Reinhardt. I live at 4976 West Arrowhead Road. [Expresses concern about the massive scale of a hyperscale facility]. **[1:52:52] Megan Ellering:** My name is Megan Ellering and I live at 5969 Morris Thomas Road in Duluth. [Questions the legality of changes to the comprehensive plan]. **[1:56:45] Clarissa Abicht:** Clarissa Abicht, 3505 Solway Road in Hermantown. [Urges council to follow their oath to residents over corporate interests]. **[2:01:02] Deb Flynn:** My name is Deb Flynn, 5863 St. Louis River Road. [Voices concern about home values and property enjoyment]. **[2:02:26] Nate Rickard:** Nate Rickard, 4878 Trails End Drive. [Supports rezoning to help lower the residential tax burden]. **[2:03:48] Carrie Heron:** Hi, my name is Carrie Heron. I live at 374th Street in Proctor. [Criticizes the use of NDAs and lack of transparency]. **[2:06:49] Kirk Ilenda:** My name is Kirk Ilenda. I'm VP with business development with Lakehead Constructors. [Supports project for local union construction jobs]. **[2:10:26] Joanne Bates:** My name is Joanne Bates and I live at 5369 Morris Thomas Road. [Concerns over sewer/water assessment costs]. **[2:11:54] Mandy McDonald:** Mandy McDonald, 3904 Reinke Road. [Environmental concerns over forest and wetland loss]. **[2:13:13] Mark Hummell:** My name is Mark Hummell. I live at 5195 Junction Road. [Calls for a postponement of the vote until social/environmental impacts are assessed]. **[2:15:46] Gail Johnny-Jack:** My name is Gail Johnny-Jack. 5195 Lake Junction Road. [Concerns about noise, light pollution, and health]. **[2:19:53] David DePasquale:** David DePasquale, 5332 Norwood Street, Duluth. [Questions the long-term sustainability of AI and the "exit plan" for the facility]. **[2:26:50] Andy Peland:** Andrew Peland, 5831 St. Louis River Road. [Asks for a "no" vote on behalf of the community]. **[2:27:38] Kathy Hannon:** My name is Kathy Hannon. I live at 1501 3rd Avenue in Proctor. [Suggests looking at other communities with data centers for data; water resource concerns]. **[2:29:26] Allison Haataja:** Allison Haataja, resident of Solway Township. [Criticizes secret planning and irreversible impact on rural Adolf]. **[2:32:45] Andrea Dingmann:** Andrea Dingmann at 4204 Ugstad Road. [Questions international funding, accountability, and health impacts on children]. **[2:35:37] Mickey Pearson:** Mickey Pearson, business recruiter for Apex. [Supports project for economic diversification and retention of young professionals]. **[2:38:44] Anna Radmacher:** Anna Radmacher, lead of external relations for Apex. [Supports project for professional opportunities for local graduates]. **[2:41:24] John Soshe:** My name is John Soshe. I live at 4095 Reinke Road. [Claims the AUAR is inadequate and NDAs violate open government principles]. **[2:45:09] Nathan Barta:** Nathan Barta. Rolling Road in Esko. [Speaks on behalf of Thomson Town Board concerns about regional impact]. **[2:46:58] Richard Hilton:** Richard Hilton. 5502 Hermantown Road. [Criticizes the "minimum legal" notification of residents and lack of leadership]. **[2:50:37] Sarah Leofold:** My name is Sarah Leofold. I live at 5502 Hermantown Road. [Deep historical ties to the land; concerns over trout stream and environmental review loopholes]. **[2:54:12] Matthew Murphy:** Matthew Murphy. 2210 Cottage Hill Circle. [Expertise in servers/IBM; concerns about the "AI bubble" bursting]. **[2:57:33] Kyle Bukovich:** Kyle Bukovich, President of IBEW Local 242. [Supports project for high-skilled union electrical jobs]. **[3:00:43] Dan Olsen:** Dan Olsen. 6001 Avenue, Superior. [Encourages council to follow the zoning ordinance process]. **[3:03:55] Nikki Norland:** My name is Nikki Norland. 4419 McCullough Street, Duluth. [Pleads for council to regain community trust with a "no" vote]. **[3:06:56] Kathy Kohlmeier:** I'm Kathy Kohlmeier. 5757 St. Louis River Road. [Wetland and impervious surface concerns]. **[3:09:19] Jackie Dolan:** Jackie Dolan. 5842 Old Highway 2. [Asks to leave rural Hermantown rural; trust has been shattered]. **[3:13:10] Rebecca Grandorf:** Rebecca Grandorf, 4198 Solway Road. [Questions how the comprehensive plan changed without robust public input]. **[3:16:30] Mike Ralph:** My name is Mike Ralph. 5781 St. Louis River Road. [States the citizens say no]. **[3:17:37] Sadie Sigler:** My name is Sadie Sigler. [Presents a petition with 1,600 names against the project]. **[3:19:39] Dave Thornton:** My name is David Thornton. 5861 Hermantown Road. [Shares history of fighting industrial encroachment; son's exclusion from the advisory committee]. **[3:21:59] Tom Bates:** Tom Bates. 5369 Morris Thomas Road. [Concerns about Lake Superior water chemistry and job automation]. **[3:25:38] Jack Carlson:** My name is Jack Carlson. President of the Duluth Building and Construction Trades Council. [Supports project for local union trades' careers]. **[3:27:52] Donald Smith:** Donald Smith. IBW Local 242. [Supports rezoning for union labor opportunity and community investment]. **[3:31:45] Kelsey Mack:** My name is Kelsey Mack. I live at 368 Midway Road. [Rezoning threatens the safety and sanctuary of her home/neighborhood]. **[3:35:23] Kim Parer:** I'm Kim Parer, President/CEO of the Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce. [Supports project for tax base and intentional growth]. **[3:39:25] Bill Olson:** Bill Olson. 408 West Superior Street. [Supports project for construction industry ripple effect]. **[3:42:47] Peter Taylor:** Peter Taylor. 4198 Solway Road. [Argues the rezoning is essentially an approval for the data center; calls for EIS]. **[3:46:30] Annette Ralph:** My name is Annette Ralph. 5781 St. Louis River Road. [Impact on wells, quiet, and property value]. **[3:50:09] Nick Smith:** My name is Nick Smith. 2973 Exeter Street. [Criticizes the naming "Project Loon" and incomplete drawings]. **[3:53:28] Brian Johnson:** Brian Johnson, 460 Sangstrom Road. [Cites utility rate increase risks seen in other states with data centers]. **[3:56:50] Amanda Mosciniak:** Amanda Mosciniak. 3221 Restormel Street. [Opposes data centers as intensive industrial complexes needing better EIS]. **[3:99:33] Bob Kohlmeier:** Bob Kohlmeier, 5757 St. Louis River Road. [Living 350 ft away; feels like an "acceptable victim" of noise pollution]. **[4:02:51] Tim Riesgraf:** My name is Tim Riesgraf. 3634 Midway Road. [Against putting heavy industry in a rural area]. **[4:06:45] Emma Rickman:** Emma Rickman, 5215 Chris Drive. [Concerns about water consumption and misuse of the AUAR]. **[4:10:04] Rebecca Gilbertson:** My name is Rebecca Gilbertson. [Notes data center industry standards recommend against placing facilities near rivers/railroads]. **[4:11:47] Christina Gallup:** Christina Gallup. 1114 Kirby Drive. [UMD Professor; notes environmental review is deficient per state statutes]. **[4:15:40] Saul Helgeson:** Saul Helgeson. 4006 5 Corners Road. [Questions the actual quality/quantity of permanent jobs]. **[4:19:39] Rocky Russo:** Rocky Modí Russo. 4884 Midway Road. [Concerns over EMF frequencies and long-term health]. **[4:22:09] Nicole Kearney:** Nicole Kearney. 7740 Birch Road. [Requests full environmental review before "green lighting"]. **[4:40:55] John Gallow:** John Gallow. [Concerns regarding Minnesota Power land acquisition]. **[4:42:33] Sarah Yoke:** Sarah Yoke. 3867 Ugstad Road. [Concerned about tax revenue for schools and actual community cost]. **[4:47:33] Lily Hall:** Lily Hall. 4516 Pitt Street. [Argues passing the rezoning is the equivalent of passing the data center]. **[4:51:48] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We will move to the city council to see if any counselors have questions or comments. **[4:52:14] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Nothing at this time. **[4:52:16] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Yeah. I just I think it should be said that we are not approving a data center tonight. We are rezoning property um in overviewing the area, driving around... [Lists existing businesses]. We are not approving a data center. **[4:52:49] Unidentified Public Speaker:** (Inaudible shouting) **[4:53:11] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Yeah. Please pause. Second. Is everyone ready to allow us to speak? **[4:53:29] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I have a couple things that I uh want to point out. First of all, no one on the council has signed an NDA and there is no planned assessment for anybody on water or sewer line. One person did bring up something that piqued my interest and that is exit plan for data center closing in case it ever close. I would like to see some type of plan going forward for this type of thing because I I remember what's happened with mines and them opening and closing. And I think that's something that we can work on through the process. And like Councilor LeBlanc said, we're only approving a zoning change tonight. We are not voting on the data center, although it affects the data center. Um, does any other counselor have anything to add or comment? **[4:55:00] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Roll call, please. Councilor Peterson. **[4:55:02] Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **[4:55:03] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **[4:55:04] Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **[4:55:05] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **[4:55:06] Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **[4:55:07] City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **[4:55:08] Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Motion to recess.