This transcript has been updated with speaker names based on the municipal official list provided and the context of the dialogue. *Note: Some names in the transcript were phonetic misinterpretations (e.g., "Guess me" for Chris Nobach, "Neil" for Jon Radermacher, and "Lundell/Groote" for unlisted council members).* [4:45] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Foreign call to order the city council meeting for Tuesday June 6 2023. if I could get a roll call please [4:55] **City Clerk Sara Peer:** Nobach [Guess me]? Here. Groote [growth]? Here. Jeppesen [Jefferson]? Here. Johnson? Here. Kronenberger? Is absent. Lundell? Here. Montgomery? Here. [5:05] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Please rise for the 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. thank you. I could get a motion to approve our amended agenda. [5:30] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Motion by Nobach [Guess me], a second? Second by Groote. all those in favor aye, opposed? Carries. That gets us to our public input. Public input is intended to afford the public an opportunity to address concerns to the city council. The public input will be no longer than 30 minutes in total length and each speaker will have no more than three minutes to speak. Speakers may address topics relevant to the governance of the city. Speakers must sign up in advance and must provide their name, address, and the topic they intend to address. Comments must be on topic, respectful, pertinent to City business and adhere to the applicable data privacy rules. Any speaker that violates these rules will be asked to sit down. If the speaker refuses to comply they may be removed from the meeting. Speakers shall not address topics that are the subject of a public hearing. All such comments shall [6:15] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** be made at the public hearing. The city council will not generally act on issues raised by the public input but may choose to schedule consideration of the item on a future agenda. First up, Rosie Schluter. [6:32] **Rosie Schluter:** Okay, South Dakota has them, Mount Rushmore with all those four 60-foot stone faces. Well, Minnesota has— [6:40] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Right on the bottom of that microphone, like Laura's gotcha... microphone... there you go. [6:45] **Rosie Schluter:** Okay, okay. Did you all hear me before so I don't have to repeat that? Okay, I have no idea what I said anyways. Okay, Mount Rushmore, okay, 60-foot Stone faces. And we have Minnesota’s Bud Grant-named Stone Face. Yes. So what I was thinking—we have got these empty greenery bins, these huge things in [7:18] **Rosie Schluter:** town, or else we've got other places. And we could put a 40-foot to 60-foot head of Bud Grant, our Stone Face. It's just a suggestion. I think people like me, a Vikings fan, we would travel all over just to see it. So that's my suggestion to you. And if you give me any advice of who to contact and who—the things to do. There's other places in town too, but wow, when I was driving down 52 and I saw those empty grain bins, I thought that would be super great. Okay, less than three minutes? Three. There you go. Okay, thank you guys. You don't want yours up there on the next one! Thank you. All right, I'm going to pull this out and there, I didn't do anything [8:06] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** wrong. Okay, thank you. Brian Douglas—Terrace nursing home and noise ordinances. [8:12] **Brian Douglas:** Yeah, Brian Douglas, 1124 Minnesota Street West. Two things. We live—you know, Dow street is sort of Terrace and it was nice to see that the lawn was mowed this week because it was getting pretty long. But just wondering, is there any thing on what's going to happen with that building? Do—I mean, is it just up to the owner to just leave it there if they decide not to come back or what's the situation? Because I have a feeling that's just going to get more dilapidated and every time I drive down Dow, you can see that things are getting worse and worse. Does anybody have any idea what's going to happen with that building? [8:48] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Normally, this—normally we don't treat this like a question. If you want to stay after, I think we could probably have a quick conversation. [8:55] **Brian Douglas:** All right, next—okay then the next one is the noise ordinance. Of course, you know last weekend was the demolition derby and of course we have the same situation. We have flipper—came here last night before was for the racing—but this was not during Fair time. So I was wondering, is it a noise ordinance work if it's—if there are noise that they're making is not during the fair time? You know, if it's like—like this one was an off weekend. Then when the fair is, they were out till 12:30 in the morning, there was still demolition derby going on, noise going on, and I'm like, wow, I gotta find out what the noise ordinance here in this town is. Is there a level? Where do I have to wait till afterwards—asked that question too? Okay, well those are my two things that I'm concerned about. I'll talk to you afterwards. Thanks. [9:38] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Thanks. Mabel Gorman to speak about data requests. [9:43] **Mabel Gorman:** Um, as you know I didn't make the last meeting but I was here a couple meetings ago and I asked about some minutes for a public works commission meeting and I didn't get any answers here or did I get any answers anywhere else. So I went to the next public works meeting and I had to ask repeatedly, but finally in the end, Derek was nice enough to give me his minutes. And the only problem I'm having is I think that they're supposed to be readily available and they should be available to the public. In fact, Diane's even talked about getting them on the website, which I can pull the minutes from the council meeting off the website but I can't come [10:27] **Mabel Gorman:** to a meeting and get a copy of them. It doesn't make sense to me. And then my name showed up on the last Council—just incorrect claims—which is unusual because I've never seen this happen before and Lisa brought it up and she was nice enough not to name me but I think she knew it was me. But—and I'm okay with that, I don't have a problem asking for public information. What I do have a problem with is you folks all sitting here and nobody's told you that I have to pay for those. And right here I've got a bill for $993.93 for a data request. Seems a little outrageous, doesn't it? [11:13] **Mabel Gorman:** Well, it is. Especially when what I'm really looking for is some police commission meeting minutes and some information that you should all have and it should all be public about the candidate that you hired on the police force. Now, I just turned on the news tonight and they're all up in arms in Minneapolis because they've hired an officer that some citizens don't approve of and the citizens are involved and I don't see anybody bow beating them or discouraging them from coming forward—in fact, the news was putting them right on the air. So I'm wondering why Jon [Neil] did not share with you that I have to pay for these. [11:58] **Mabel Gorman:** And I know that I've talked with several of you and you did not know that um... has ever asked what it is that I'm asking for and that seems odd to me. And what really seems odd to me is that I asked the question to several of you about project tulip. Project tulip costs more than four times what you think this data request cost you without you knowing that I'm paying for it, and none of you know what project tulip is that I'm aware of. And if there is, please somebody speak up, tell me what is Project tulip? I'd love [12:46] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** to know. Time is up, thanks. Uh, normally we don't react but if you would like to share... if any resident does a data request the rate is for the paper I believe—or if you would like to share what the—what constitutes that bill? Jon [Neil]? [13:00] **Jon Radermacher (City Administrator):** Kind of complex. Most data requests, the requester doesn't pay for them. Once they reach a certain criteria, the city can charge time and material per se, right? This data request was very in-depth and it took one of my staff members five and a half hours to put it together and that was just one—one person. Did it cost the city more than 993? Absolutely. [13:32] **Mabel Gorman:** Absolutely. That was my whole point and we have not been paid for that yet by the way— [13:35] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** So it's just a bill that hasn't been paid. Right. Okay. All right, moving on. Consent agenda. Consent agenda items may be adopted under one motion as presented or may be removed for discussion and resolution as Council business. Item A: Just incorrect claims for the accounting period that ended on May 30th 2023. Item B: Meeting minutes for May 16 2023 city council meeting. Item C: Approve market analysis and grid calibration. Item D: Approve the home wedding request. Item E: Approve hire of unscheduled part-time employee for the ambulance department. Item F: Approve hire of administrative assistant and permit [14:17] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** technician. Item G: Approve hire of Public Works director. Item H: Approve purchase of utility locator. Item I: Approve bills blacktop quotes. Item J: Approved pavement resources crack ceiling quote and item K: Approve hire of unscheduled part-time employee for the ambulance department. Is there any item the council would like to pull down for our Council business? [14:40] **Council Member Ryan Jeppesen:** I have some questions about item A or I... I'm sorry, I. [14:45] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Is it a discussion or would you like it pulled down? [14:47] **Council Member Ryan Jeppesen:** Uh, we better pull it. Okay, it won't take long. [14:50] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Okay, we'll pull uh blacktop quotes. Item I will be Item B for Council business. Anything else from the council? [14:58] **Council Member Diane Johnson:** Just again another utility locator. [15:00] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Yep, you like that pulled down? Okay, H will then be C in Council business. Not hearing any other, I would accept a motion to approve the consent agenda. [15:15] **Council Member Ryan Jeppesen:** I'll make motion. [15:17] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Motion from Jeppesen. Do I have a second? [15:18] **Council Member Diane Johnson:** Second. [15:20] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Second from Diane. All those in favor aye, opposed? Carries. Moving on to council business item A: Uh, Fourth of July is the first Tuesday of the month next month, so it is being suggested that we have one meeting and move that to July 11th. So just one meeting for the month of July on the 11th. Any comments, questions, discussion from the council? Hearing none, I accept a motion to [15:50] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** approve the July 11th city council meeting. [15:52] **Council Member Derek Lundell:** Motion. [15:53] **Council Member Steve Groote:** Second. [15:54] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** There was a race between Steve and Derek! Well, Derek made the motion, Steve got the second. All those in favor aye, opposed? Carries. Item B: the approval of Bill's blacktop quotes. Ryan? [16:05] **Council Member Ryan Jeppesen:** The only question I have is there we're going to be tarring over EDA property—that'd be the old Lee Chevrolet garage correct? [16:15] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Yeah, yeah. [16:17] **Council Member Ryan Jeppesen:** Um, is like the city going to assume that or can like EDA sell that later on and we already blacktopped it? [16:25] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** They can, but it's been this way for how many years now? I understand that it's [16:36] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** parking, and it's parking. Um, we can better utilize the the striping of it if it's blacktop. When I believe it was a winery did some soil borings out there and um when we had a meeting with him he had mentioned what he found underneath there. Um, it seems like it's going to be quite some time before we see a building up there. Okay, so if it's 10 or 15 years or whatever it takes, it'll be well worth the amount that we're paying for that patch. [17:15] **Council Member Ryan Jeppesen:** Gotcha. Are you thinking that it should come out of the EDA budget? Is that what you're— [17:19] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** I didn't know if it was being EDA or—I don't know, that's why. Oh, it's a good question. [17:21] **Laura Qualey (Community Development):** Yeah, that's a fair question. I think as it's been since the Lee Chevrolet building was torn down, it's basically been treated as an extension of the same parking lot and I think that's the intent, right? And I think most people downtown would appreciate it. It's—it's kind of a mess as we speak. [17:45] **Council Member Lisa Zimmerman:** I mean, is there a possibility that the EDA might be willing to give that property to the city or does one not do that? I don't even know how that works. [17:55] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** I guess we haven't really discussed it too much because it's just been serving as a working parking lot, you know. I mean it's full all the time, so I guess it's [18:07] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** been serving its purpose. Um, I guess we haven't brought it up as far as if it would be gifted back to the city or whatnot, but maybe we can put it on the agenda for a discussion. Absolutely. With all that said, I would take a motion to approve the approval of Bill's blacktop quotes. [18:35] **Council Member Diane Johnson:** So moved. [18:37] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Motion by Diane. Do I have a second? [18:38] **Council Member Lisa Zimmerman:** Second. [18:40] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Second by Lisa. All those in favor aye, opposed? Carries. Council business item C: the proving the purchase of a utility locator. Diane? [18:50] **Council Member Diane Johnson:** And I—I'm totally in favor of it. I just wondered, does this locate—would it locate lead service lines also or is it just like gas lines, water mains... I don't know what it does. [18:55] **Jed Petersen (Public Works Director):** Yes, but we don't know which ones are lead. And I remember your question at the Public Works [meeting] about the lead lines. We have done quite a bit of work already on lead lines—locating—every time we get into a house to fix them or whatever we mark them down whether they're lead or they're copper. Um, you mentioned the money that has been appropriated this year for grants. Um, we are going to apply for some of that just so the council knows that. That will give our [19:38] **Jed Petersen (Public Works Director):** engineering firm some money to—to get a map and get everything put together and we can get it all stamped out wherever all the lead lines are. You know, every city has lead lines still depending on how old the houses are and if there's been reconstructions done. Um, will it know where lead lines are? No. Will it know where the services are? Yes. We'll mark the—you know, your little round shut-off, they'll mark them. What's great about this is they can go right back to the spot in the middle of winter and hit it instead of searching with the wand as you've seen. And then we'll get our maps—right now they're kind of a mess, they've been [20:23] **Jed Petersen (Public Works Director):** around for a long time. You—you kind of treat them with uh... with just "that might be close." So it'd be nice when the guys are out and looking at jetting the sewer lines or flushing hydrants, they can run up and down the block while they're marking and setting these valves and the hydrants and the manholes and then download them onto the system. It's going to be a fairly nice map when we're done. Um, typically what happens is an engineering firm would do that for you and now with the technology nowadays you don't need that. You just need more of an IT guy that knows how to download it and work with you on that. So we'll [21:09] **Jed Petersen (Public Works Director):** do all the—all the marking as time goes on. You know, they do about a quarter of the town on jetting the sewers every year, so they'll—they'll get the majority of it done in four years. So should be pretty good. [21:28] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** When did they ban lead, Jon [Neil]? Do you remember the lead pipes? [21:32] **Jon Radermacher (City Administrator):** No, it's been a long time. [21:35] **Cliff Adel (Public Works Board):** [From audience] 1986. [21:38] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Thanks Cliff. It's kind of random to know—good trivia. Uh, do I have a motion to approve the purchase of the utility locator? [21:43] **Council Member Diane Johnson:** So moved. [21:45] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** I got a motion from Diane. A second? [21:47] **Council Member Steve Groote:** Second. [21:48] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Second from Steve. All those in favor aye, opposed? That carries. Reports—um, we can start with Chamber of Commerce. [22:00] **Maggie (Chamber of Commerce):** Good evening Mayor and Council. Just a quick update from the chamber. Last week we had our first Fun Fest of 2023 and it was a success. The weather—it was hot, but the rain held off to the very end, so that was great. We had a really good crowd. Lawrence Meats gave away all 400 of their free hot dogs [22:31] **Maggie (Chamber of Commerce):** um with a lot of activities, entertainment... it was a great night in Cannon Falls. Um, next up are trail kiosk maps that the chamber provides. So these are located at the Gazebo in City parking lot and then again at the old Garmin rest stop on the trailhead. These are updated for 2023 with new advertisers and they're just essentially a map of Cannon Falls. One, the chamber would like to say thank you to our Flower Basket sponsors this year. The flower baskets are up and have been for a couple weeks. Thank you to the sponsors for making these happen, Public Works department for putting them up maintaining them, and then Chroma Creations who supply them. And moving on to chamber events next week, next Wednesday June 14th is our next chamber member breakfast and this [23:17] **Maggie (Chamber of Commerce):** is open to the public if they want to come. Our speaker is Keller Bartman Properties, who will be speaking about the new apartment complex in Cannon Falls. Um, we just ask if you do want to come please RSVP to the chamber. This is at 7:00 AM here in the city Chamber. And June 19th is a chamber golf tournament. We're still looking for teams to sign up for this and we also need volunteers to help the day of. So if you can do that please contact me. [23:50] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** What day is that? [23:52] **Maggie (Chamber of Commerce):** That is a Monday at Cannon Golf Club. And future events: we're working on a ladies' night to happen in July and then August 4th is a Canon Car Cruisers or the Canon Cruisers and we'll have an event that night as well. And then just wanted to touch base [24:02] **Maggie (Chamber of Commerce):** quick on other community upcoming events. June 9th, Cannon Falls has an open house for their cheese plants. The Fire Muster is June 17th at Hannah's Bend. The Cannon Falls Lions Father's Day pancake breakfast is June 18th at the Fairgrounds. And then on June 25th is the Basis Spring Garden annual tractor parade. So that is all I have for tonight. Thank you. [24:35] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Thank you. Uh, the EDA met on June 1st, I'll try to run through a little bit of that agenda. Um, we talked about the Smith small town Grant and applying for that. Legislative update: the city was gifted $469,000 for use towards John Birch Park and specifically towards the first base side Limestone rock wall, the cement seating above it, and the dugout there. So thankful that that passed and that—that didn't get kicked down the can for next legislative session. Uh, we talked a little bit more about Hardwood Estates and then we had a discussion about lodging tax for establishments here in town: the Caravan Motel and the GrandStay. That's it. Park Board met also on June 1st. Derek? [25:30] **Council Member Derek Lundell:** Yep. Um, just a couple things we did—the Fair wanted to put a sign on John Birch Park fence which is already up. And we had some discussion about the pool for Public Works which is... everything was on the consent agenda except we are advertising for a Public Works Maintenance 2 position, so hopefully we get some good applicants. [26:10] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** All right. Uh, we'll go around the horn. Sara, anything you'd like to add? Laura? [26:18] **Laura Qualey (Community Development):** Um, I just wanted to encourage the community that is watching or if anyone knows of anyone that Small Cities Development Program Grant that the city of Cannon Falls was awarded—to refurbish or renovate any homes or updates for energy efficiency, siding, roof, whatever. We did get a report today from SEMCAC and the goal is to be able to fix up 21 homes or to help out 21 homes. And 25 applications were sent out to [26:22] **Laura Qualey (Community Development):** inquiring people and they've received 15 back. Two of them are pending inspection, meaning that they've most likely qualified income-wise and now the project that they're requesting—whether it's windows, siding, roof, whatever the project is—are now being inspected to make sure that the project qualifies. And then they do have another application in review that is being verified for eligibility. And then six of the applications that they received were actually over the income limit, so they unfortunately weren't qualifying individuals. So I just wanted to encourage anyone to continue to apply or inquire about it. We do have packets [27:08] **Laura Qualey (Community Development):** here at City Hall right in front of Ellen's window. We've got envelopes with the applications or you can go online to SEMCAC's website and you can apply there as well. [27:18] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Great. Chief, anything? [27:21] **Police Chief Jeff McCormick:** Believe it or not, in less than a month we're going to be at Fair time. So you know, just a reminder for residents for the parade: there's no parking along the route, parts of it'll get closed off you know as we get close to the start of the time. And just remind everybody to enjoy themselves at the fair. [27:45] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Jon [Neil]? [27:48] **Jon Radermacher (City Administrator):** Been working on the pay study. We've had two meetings with David Drown and Associates so far. We've got three more scheduled. We should have a plan back to you by July 11th now that we've changed the meeting date. So that should—we've got it on the fast track. As long as we get our work done they'll get theirs done. And July 11th is going to be—and then after that guess what? We're going to start budget time and we'll be doing some work sessions and we'd be talking to you guys about our needs. And uh, hopefully we'll—we'll keep it under control this year. I think it might take a couple years to get back in fighting shape. I don't think we can raise all our capital funds all at once. Maybe it's going to take a [28:40] **Jon Radermacher (City Administrator):** couple years to get it there. We gotta revaluate now that we've got Jed coming, new Public Works director. We'll be working on updating that with his and then we'll be working with the Chief on updating his and of course the Fire Chief and updating them. But the amount that it's went up, we're not going to be able to do it all at once but we'll—we'll get there. We'll get this thing back in shape but it's just—it hit hard. And when you used to buy a truck for 30-some thousand now it's 50-some thousand, it's you know 30-40% increase. You can't do that at once. So. [29:20] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** All right, thank you Jon [Neil]. Uh, Lisa, anything from you? [29:26] **Council Member Lisa Zimmerman:** No. [29:27] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Ryan? [29:28] **Council Member Ryan Jeppesen:** One quick question for Jon [Neil]. When does the pool parking lot start? I've been getting a couple questions on that. [29:32] **Jon Radermacher (City Administrator):** After the pool closes. Oh okay, yeah. That was part of the contract. [29:38] **Council Member Ryan Jeppesen:** Gotcha, okay. [29:40] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** Derek? Diane? Steve? Nothing? I just want to say thank you to Maggie and the Chamber. Fun Fest was actually really successful. It was a ton of fun. They did have that "try to score a goal on the Mayor" and uh I didn't let a single kid score! And it wasn't that I was being rough on them—the goal was so small I felt bad. I should have just got out of the way and let the kids be two steps away. It was barely outside my feet. There's a picture. No, I am a competitive person but it was not it was not that way. Uh, it was a ton of fun and if we get [30:12] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** to do that again I will step aside and let every kid score. But uh, a ton of fun. I'm glad that Fun Fest is back. It felt normal and it was beautiful weather. It was nice to be outside. So with that said, we've got Fourth of July—we already moved our meeting back so everybody enjoy yourself, enjoy the Fair, enjoy the parade, have a ton of fun at all those events. Uh, we have a meeting before—oh that's right, we have one more. Sorry! I thought the soul—I'm not sure, I thought we were getting another month off. With that—with that said, we can adjourn if I have a motion to adjourn. [30:52] **Council Member Derek Lundell:** Okay, Derek. [30:53] **Council Member Diane Johnson:** Second from Diane. [30:55] **Mayor Matt Montgomery:** All those in favor? Opposed? We are adjourned.