Everybody's logged in and ready to go. >> It's 6:30. Our new time, 6:30. So, um, I'm going to call the meeting to order. This is the regular city council meeting for the city of Minatrista, December 8th, 2025. First order of business reminder, put your cell phones on silent or airplane mode. And then second, would you please join me for pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance 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. >> Oh, we have a big crowd here tonight. I don't know if the cameras can see all the people here, but anyhow. So, um, again, just welcome everybody here as well as those, um, in the future wa watching on YouTube. I'm glad you're watching and paying attention. Uh, first order of business is I'm just going to do quick introductions. I'm Lisa Whan. I'm the mayor. And to my left are council members Kathleen Refkin, Peter Vicky, Claudia Lacy, and Brian Govern. And then um staff present this evening in person is Gary Peters who is our um director of public works, Paula Bowman who is our assistant administrator, um to my right we have Jasper Krugal our administrator, Brian Grim our finance director, and then we have uh Craig Squires who is our chief of police. We also have a number of individuals that are joining us uh staff members that are joining uh via um remote. uh David Ael, our community development director, and then I believe and Meerhoff, our city clerk, and then also sitting in for Sarah Sansala this evening, we have um Pete McCale, I believe it is. And then I think Allison is also joining us remotely as well as Allison Falsky who is our city engineer. So with that um then next is approval of our agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? Is there any changes or additions you need to make? Okay, hearing none. Then is there a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Miss Refkin. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Vicky. All those in favor signify with I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. So, um next we're going to start out uh we have a um special presentation by our finance guru, Brian Grim. So, just to kind of preface at this, uh, the city council has been working on our budget and our levy for since August. Uh we have met numerous times in work sessions uh together with staff and uh we have uh crossed all our tees and dotted all our eyes and we have worked very hard at um levying the the minimum amount that we need but we need certain we need a certain amount of money in order to function and in order to move our city forward. So I'm going to hand this over to Brian. He's going to go through he has a PowerPoint. He's going to explain uh what we're levying, why we're levying it, and so on. So, Brian. >> Yep. Thank you, um Madame Mayor and Council. So, as far as um yeah, tonight's presentation, we're here to talk about the final levy and the budget. >> Oh, sorry. So, yeah, tonight's um desired outcome for today's meeting is to adopt our levy. Um we need to um send that to uh the the county by the end of the month here. Seeing this is our last uh meeting of the year. So I guess happy holidays to everyone, I guess. Happy budget times. And um that's what we're here to do. So yeah, I guess as the mayor was saying, so we've been meeting since August. So a preliminary meeting was back on August 4th to review the initial like tax levy and budget. Um sort of what we call the the tax levy funds, the general fund and those items that we levy for. And on August 18th, we had another discussion um at the work session and then certified our preliminary tax levy which was basically slightly under a 10% gross levy increase. We went through the final process of preparing completing final budget. We had meetings on water funds, sewer fund, parks funds and stuff um etc in um November or October, November. And uh from there um the final budget documents were in the packet. Um and then uh couple items we're uh recommending was to certify the final gross tax levy at basically that 7,838365 for collection in 2026 and then proving the budget documents the 50ome pages that were in the packet uh uh at at um the subsequent um agenda items under the business portion of the meeting. So we can see we have different components to the levy. Um the largest is the general fund levy which um we did make some slight tweaks. We didn't change the levy from the um previous meetings, but um we did just move money around a little bit between the general fund and the roads, but you can see basically the 5 million.9 million for the general fund. Our debt levies are about 1.25 million. Uh roads, we have 400,000 in cash levy, but we also have several um of that. The debt fund levies, a lot of that covers roads or whatever, obviously the roads and facilities and stuff. And then our CIP levy we have a 250,000 which helps pay for the equipment wads and stuff there. So um as mentioned earlier the 7.838 million. We do get some dollars through the fiscal disparities program which is sort of hovered in that $150,000 range. And then the net levy that's passed to our residents is 7,689. Um this is just a chart showing basically our general fund revenues and expenditures for the last five years. You can see there was a little bit of back and forth like in 22 and 23 where revenues um I think there was some even spend down of some of the dollars of state and federal money you know back in the time and then there was some building permits were a little higher back in 23 with our commercial property coming in with Mac and the apartments. So, but otherwise since then 2024 was really close budget to actual and we're projecting the same for 25 and 26 budgets for revenues versus expenditures in the general fund. So, just another trend or chart that shows it a little differently. You can see um some of the uh the top line's our tax levy and net tax levy. The second line is sort of our our reserves um used or surplus we've had. So, you can see I've sort of referenced our 22 and 23 there. And then we've been um uh spending down a little money and actually that 2026 number we've actually made some adjustments to make that now a positive about 57,000. So that's one number I wanted to update but >> so um I think I got all the other ones >> as far as tax impact. So basically um taking uh if an home and miniaturista had the average value increase was about 4%. You obviously you had some with more some with less. Um but based on that levy increase of the um 9.92% with basically roughly around 3% growth in the city, our tax rates just over 21%. So when you plug that into the different property values and run those numbers, um you can see um some of the different, you know, diff uh level properties, you could be paying maybe $60, $100, $140 more, you know. So when you bring that down to you know month it's more like you know5 to9 dollar or whatever give or take. So um that's >> and that's the city I just want to point this out because a lot of people have made comments about how their um property taxes have gone up tremendously. The city's we only have control over the city's portion. And so what we're showing here is just the city's portion of people's property taxes. So, we're estimating it's going to be approximately 60, 104, or 130, whatever, depending on the value of your home. So, that's that's the increase, not the um annual payment, but that would be the increase. Yep. >> So, a hundred let's just say $100 or it'd be less than $10 a month. Yep. Yeah. Of the increase. >> Yeah. I want to say like on that $650,000 home example, which is around the median home in value in Minatrista, their current taxes are probably might be slightly off and they might be paying 1,400 right now. Now it might be 1,500. Okay? And that's basically and on average it's about 20% of their tax bill. You know, the the county and school are are larger portions in the city. So their total tax bill might be$7,000 or 7500, but we are about probably 1500 of that. So Yep. Okay. um some of the 2026 um things that the city's covering with this budget. Um obviously there's labor contracts with um our our labor unions. Those are set for 26 as well as the non-union salaries and benefits has been talked about by the city council at multiple meetings. Um we fund the uh I think I mentioned earlier our equipment, you know, squads, you know, graders and stuff and fund that through our equipment um CIP equipment plants. We're doing a combination of cash levy and an equipment certificate in 2026. And then the uh pavement management plan as referenced earlier that 400,000 for more of their maintenance type road projects versus um we're also doing a a larger road project in 2026 or the city is. >> So yeah, this is here where yeah, basically the general funds proposed to go up about 57,000 based on the budget and that's that's to with that second point there. That's to keep our projected we try to keep 40% or more of a fund balance compared to our um general fund expenditures. So, and we would be doing that with the the budget that's presented and been updated and talked about with city council. Uh, so I guess yeah, the summary um just action on the final tax levy. We've had the really productive discussions. I think um the levies at the 9.92% basically the 7.83 mill gross levy. It's funding the general fund activities, roads, equipment, and we would be adopting those items later in the meeting. So, okay, if there's any questions or comment from the public or I guess >> Oh, we must have a lot of satisfied um residents because uh there is nobody here for for this. But, um but councel, would you do you have any comments you'd like to make, questions? I I know we've gone over this um a lot of um over the last four or five months um in work sessions um kind of kind of beat this thing to death almost but but still um any comments? >> I don't know if this I know Henipin County is in charge of the increase in our property values. Um is there any kind of um checklist of how they determine because from one house to the next to the next it's it's not static. So they I mean because when we met we meet with them always every year um me and Jasper towards what the end of November and um they've have their processes they do to basically look at comparable sales in the neighborhood annually for um I guess basically the annual increase and then or increase or decrease it can be you know depending what they're seeing and um then they also do I think more an in-depth look every five years they divide the city into like a quintile and every >> every four years isn't it or >> it used to be four. I don't know if it's >> it's either four or five. Yeah. Where they break it down and and and do a more detailed look at an area, you know, the city, I guess, basically whether it's 1/4 or 1/5. So, um I guess that's the processes that they rely heavily on um uh comparable sales um you know, what they're seeing in the neighborhood. They look at you know, offshore versus um you know, onshore. you know, they look at, you know, obviously Lake Minnetonka versus, you know, other lake, you know, I guess Whale Taylor, you know, fewer, you know, different things like that. But I Yeah, they go through their uh and they try to hit certain percent of what um basically if you are selling your property on the market, I think they want to have it valued at between 95 and 100%, you know, is what they sort of shoot for. >> They have to shoot for a certain amount. >> It's like a state uh >> state mandate. Yeah. Yep. So that was whether whether we'd have the county provide it, which um used to be they charged the city and now they've taken it where it's probably just you know through the county taxes or whatever. So or whether you had an independent assessor. I mean you basically have to follow the same rules I guess or guidelines. >> Right. In the past they've also and we could ask them to come in the spring um to give us an update and then they they've provided us with a booklet um and what they compared. So, what the comparisons have been, if you'd like something like that, we can ask them to come. They'll come in. >> I just like to, you know, be able to say to people, here's what they look at, you know, because the house next door sells and it's completely different than every other house on I mean, how does that >> It's just be it'd be interesting to say this is the checklist. >> Is there an in fact a check? >> Oh, yeah. They they have a checklist. Yeah. they they'll look at the size of the house, the size of the property, um the location, um the house, you know, they don't look necessarily at all the individual um amenities in the house. So, like if you have a Bosch dishwasher and the person next to you has a a Kenmore, they're not that's not what they look at. Um, but they do look at square footage, how many bedrooms, um, and they look at the lot, where it's located, and they kind of look at the outside to see what it, you know, is it attractive? I mean, you know, or is it junky? I mean, kind of the, um, what shape it's in as well. And then if you have a question about your evaluation, you can call them. And sometimes they come out to your house, too. And they'll do either an exterior or even an interior inspection. So, if you have questions, uh, but the time to do that is in the spring, >> not not now. Now, it's too late, if you will. >> Yeah. Because it' be spring for basically setting next year that what the taxes are for 2027 or whatever. Yeah. Basically, everything's set pretty much. >> So, you want to pay attention. Um, usually they come out like in March. around March is when your valuation comes in the mail. >> Yeah. Yeah. Because once that comes out, then we'll um and then the county will do um what's called their open book process basically in April and they have several regional meetings I think a virtual one too or whatever. But in and Kevin Win always says just if you have a question just call. You don't have to wait for these set meetings in April or whatever to right talk about the valuation and what they call their open book. >> Open book, right? There's two different processes and years and years ago the city opted to do what's called the open book. So, the city council doesn't establish the valuations or even um work with the residents to re-evaluate the property. That's all done by the city by the county assessor because it's just too difficult for councils to do that. >> Yeah, the border review process is pretty tough on city council. You got to try to be basically a >> de facto appraiser or something or evaluator or >> Yeah. It's not good fun, >> right? >> So, >> thank you. All right. Um All right. So, I I still have to open the public hearing because um it does have to be I I believe a public hearing. So, for right now, um let's see. I think that's later on in our on our agenda. So, maybe I'll wait and and I'll do that um on number five. >> Okay. Yeah, five will be the public hearing on the uh fee schedule. And I think actually just by opening up and asking if anyone's here, I think that satisfies the public comment for the budget. So I think we're I mean is that sound right Jasper? Yeah. So yeah the the fee schedule has the components in five for the uh for the public actual public hearing. >> Actual public hearing. Okay. Well there is nobody here. If they were we'd certainly ask them for comments but um since there isn't. Um now we'll we'll move on to our consent agenda items. They are kind of lengthy. So are there any you need to or would like to remove? did have a question about uh item I think. >> Okay, let's remove that and then >> it's just a question. >> Okay, what's a Well, what's a question real quick? >> Well, um how did the wells turn out, Gary? Do they u do they look okay? And >> because I heard this I read this thing called air surging, which sounded ominous. So, >> I can hear I'm sorry. >> The wells, >> what about the wells that they just finished drilling? Do they look okay? And are they functional and >> Yep. everything the test pumping went well with all that. Um you know and it's you know a per bid you know a per unit bid that comes in. So they we do have extra built into it just in for the just in case stuff. But some of the stuff that we did do in house that we took care that came off was uh site prep um site clean up. all the the bailed sand when they develop the aquifer, they have to remove all that sand in there and it's really fine uh kind of almost like a sugar sand. We took all that and brought it back here to our shop. So, we use that um for bedding um pipe that during like water mane breaks or even for culverts works really great. Um we had a great big supply of it when we did uh well four years ago. It's it's really it's was almost gone. So, it's nice to have all that on hand again. Um, and then, uh, with the with the driveway entrance, we took care of all that, too, which took a few dollars off. But a lot of it comes down to, um, just the supplies that they didn't use. But as far as it goes, everything went great. The screens went in. Um, one of the screens did get a little bend in it. Um, in this it twisted a little bit, so we did get a extension uh, warranty on that uh, part of it, so that if anything goes wrong, they'll pay for the pulling and the fixing of that. Um, we didn't see it as an issue. Talking with trout and then having uh A2S look at it, it didn't seem to be an issue. It just it twisted just a little bit. So, instead of being perfect, it's just got a slight tweak in it. Nothing broke or anything. You could they took the camera around it. You can see it. So, but yeah, everything everything went great with it. So, it just took a little longer than we were hoping, but doesn't really matter because the treatment plant's not online anymore, >> right? Yeah, it's not online yet. >> Thank you. Yeah, I was just going to comment on I of how great it is to come in $500,000 under budget. That was great. That was awesome. So, thank you and your staff and all your hard work on that. >> We weren't all the $500, but you helped some of it. >> You helped. We appreciate it. Okay. So, then we have our work session meeting minutes from November 17th, 2025. We have approval of our city council regular meeting minutes from November 17th, 2025. We have approve our claims and then uh D is accepting the donations. Thank you everybody for your wonderful donations for our events. And then E is a resolution to approve our 2025 budgeted transfers. F is approve our front yard setback variance at 5995 Luring Drive. G is approve our lakeshore and sideyard setback variances at 5415 Cedar Point Road. H is approve a guest home conditional use permit at 7655 County Road 15. I is approve and accept um improvements and authorize final payment for the drilling and development of our two new wells, number eight and number nine. And J is approve our 2026 city council meeting calendar. And note that our first meeting is on a Wednesday, January 7th. Mark that down so you don't forget. I need to mark it down so I don't forget. Um, and then approve our 2026 personnel policy effective January 1, 2026. And then approve offer of employment for Zachary Vidmar for the position of a police officer. And then M is approve our pay plan adoption and employee placement. And N is approve paid family medical leave memos of understanding with our various union groups employed at the city of Minatrista. And then O is approve our whale tale lake alum treatment cost share agreement and there's an amendment to that. Any other questions? Hearing none. Is there a motion to approve consent agenda items A through O? >> So move. >> Thank you Miss Lacy. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you Miss Refkin. Further questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. I. All those opposed. Motion passes 50. So next we'll move on to our public hearings. before I open the public hearing. Um, this is for our fee schedule. Um, I'll hand it over to Brian. I don't think there's huge except for water. Um, changes. >> Yeah, that's I think what you just uh said, Madame Mayor, is correct. The the water rate changes are probably the the biggest changes that people will see. And that's obviously um we talked about the wells and the impending water third water treatment plant in Woodland Cove. So, that's obviously the driver of of that. And I think um hopefully most people are understanding as that um as possible. Um otherwise um yeah there's just some you know minor changes to the sewer rate recycling rate and some other items that's have been identified in the um schedule you know with strikethroughs and in in red on pages 250 through 260 basically. Um I guess I can stand for any questions and or um we'll just have to open the public hearing at some point based on some of the fees that are in there require that and >> Right. Okay. So what I'm just going to start out uh before I open the public hearing nobody's here but anyhow um yes our water rates are going up um no doubt and we've worked very hard to try and minimize those increases. However, um I do want to point out if you get the Laker that there was an article in the Laker in our neighboring city is um actually as high or higher than our rates and yet we deliver healthy quality drinkable water to our residents into their home. Whereas some of the neighboring communities, their water is pretty bad and a lot of people won't even drink it. So, I just want to say we've worked hard. The reason we had to raise our rates uh fairly um significantly is because of the need to um continue to deliver um healthy, safe drinking water. The other thing I want to say too is if you look at your sewer rate, we have a flat fee for sewer whereas other communities have a a base rate and then they charge you depending on how much water you're using and we don't do that. And our base rate is even even just our base rate is less than I know our neighboring cities. So if you add those things together, we aren't really all that more expensive than some of our neighboring cities. I just want to point that out. I think what is our um sewer rate is like 128 >> 128 per quarter >> per quarter, right? And I know our neighboring cities, their base rate starts at like 145 plus plus whatever they're using for water and that's added to it. So um look at that. And the other thing um I do want to point out is that we're going to be going to uh monthly billing for our waters uh water users. And I think that will also help uh people be able to uh budget a little bit better. Hoping to do that no later than July. If we can do it sooner, we'll do it sooner. So, those are just a few comments I'd like to make. Any other comments or questions from the council. Otherwise, um even though there's nobody here, I will open the public hearing. Anybody that has comments, questions regarding our fee schedule and or even our budget and levy, you can do that at this time. Nobody's here. So, I'm now going to close the public hearing and we'll move it back to council. We um we need two two um resolutions or adopt we need to adopt ordinance number 503. That's adopting the 2026 fee schedule. Um we'll do that first. Is there a motion to adopt ordinance number 503? >> So moved. Um, I think Mr. Govern beat you to it, but Mr. Vickery seconded that. Any further questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes 50. And then next, uh, we want to, um, approve the publication of ordinance number 503 by title and summary only. We don't want to do the whole entire ordinance. A lot more expensive. So, thank you, Mr. Vicky. Is there a second? Thank you, Miss Ruffkin. Any further questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. I. All those opposed. Motion passes 5. So, we'll move on to our business items. Uh we're going to start with the LM city applicant. Uh so, we had one applicant apply for the open position. Um as as council knows, uh Michael Kirkwood has served the city um as our representative on the Lake Ritanka Conservation District for the past six years. and he had he gave us um a heads up that he would be um done um as of the end of December. And so we opened up the application process and we had one applicant, a very qualified applicant I might say. Um and we interviewed her during our work session and I think um the council is very comfortable appointing um Jane Anderson. Um is that that's her full name, right? >> Jane Jane Anderson Thomas. >> Thomas. Okay. Thank you. Uh to this position. So is there a motion? Any further questions or comments? Hearing none. Then is there a motion to approve Jane Anderson Thompson to the Thomas to the LMCD as our city's representative? So moved. Thank you, Miss Lacy. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Govern. Any further questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes 5. So next we have to do budget approvals. We're not going to do another uh presentation. Brian, you just did that and we've gone through this time and time again. So, if it's okay with the council, if you have any further comments or questions, I'll take those at this time. Otherwise, is there a motion to adopt and approve the 2026 tax levy? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Miss Brefkin. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Vicky. Further questions, comments? I just want to comment. I think we all did a great job. the council together, uh the staff, we gave them direction. They came back. Uh we've worked on tweaking it a little bit. Thank you very much for all your hard work. Um both on a council level as well as staff level. So, thank you for that. So, all those in favor signify with I. >> I. All those opposed. Motion passes 50. And next, we have to adopt and approve the budget. Now, I just want to explain slightly. A lot of people don't understand the difference between the levy and the budget. So the levy is what we tax people for. That's the amount that is spread out over all the properties in Minitrista. However, the budget is far greater than the tax levy because we have other revenue sources. So the budget includes a lot of other things that um that the levy doesn't pay for. So just that's a very very short brief synopsis of the difference between a levy and a budget. But believe it or not, people don't know the difference. So with that, um, is there a motion to adopt and approve the budgets, the general fund, special revenue, debt service, and the CIP fund and enterprise funds for 2026? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Revkin. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Vicky. Any further questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify with I. I. All those opposed. Motion passes. 50. So now we'll move on to administr Anything else? We'll move on to administrative items. Mr. Cool. >> Yeah. Madame Mayor, members of city council, um the only thing I have is, as I think everybody's aware, we had our our third annual tree lighting event. It was a bit chilly and windy. Um but we did have a pretty decent turnout. I'd say just probably right about the same as last year. Um fireworks were great from what uh we've gotten feedback on. So um I think it was a really well-run um event. Uh big thanks to the public works group. Without them, we would not be able to do it. So they they're out there. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. So, they're out there and they uh they seem to enjoy it. I don't know if they put that face on, but um but they they really do seem to like it. So, >> it's a fun event. Um >> you just adopted the calendar for 2026. I think at some point in time, maybe early in 2026, we should have a conversation if we want to move that date around. Um we've had kind of bad luck with weather the last two years. The first year, great weather. Um but >> didn't like the tree didn't like this time either. So, we're going to work on that. >> Yeah, >> we did finally get it lit and and I have to get credit. Okay, I gave credit to the public works. However, the tree was lit by St. Bonnie fire. I'm sorry. We have to get they they got it working, but we're going to work on that one and it'll be perfect next year. So, >> yeah. Yeah. Um, so >> works were awesome. I mean, just awesome. They were awesome. Okay. >> Yeah. So, um, we'll look at maybe think about if there's another date. I know Mound just recently moved theirs to the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Um but as we know what winter can be like or even fall in Minnesota. You never know what you're going to get. So it could be, you know, middle of November and we could have zero degree temperatures. So um I did get some comments. I've been kind of floating this idea around. Uh but it is nice if there is snow. It kind of gives a little bit more of a Christmas feeling. So um but we will have a conversation about that uh in the near future. Um the only only other thing I'll bring up is uh we've gotten some questions about what's going on to our to our west. Um there's a lot of earth work being done. Um and just so I think everybody just to I don't know refresh memories. Um we have a three-year lease. We we typically have done that in an agricultural lease uh year to year, but we ended up signing a a three-year lease with Excel Energy. Excel is going to be using that site to stockpile u materials. They're also going to be building a small shed which we then get to get or we we we then will own um after they're done. >> Um and they're doing extensive grading out there which will make the site quite uh more usable in the future. So um if you've been wondering that's what's going on. Um and it's a quite the benefit to to the city. um on top of the lease revenue that we're getting. Um I don't know, Gary estimated like maybe like $300,000 or more in grading work and work out there. Just with the amount of rock they're bringing in to put this storage area in. It's incredible. >> Just make sure it's where you want the storage. >> Yeah. Do we have any say where the Chen's going? I'm >> trying to talk them into They need to shed that whole area to to protect everything, but uh they're not buying it. >> What's the revenue? What's the amount we're being paid? >> $3,600. >> Yeah, $3,600. So, it's pretty minimite work and stuff is a big thing. >> It's on par with what we got for the the agricultural lease um per acre, but then we get all these other kind of I call them fringe benefits um because they're out there in the grading and >> it'll be a nice parking area for Trista Day too and the future, you know, really turns into kind of a parking lot too then. >> Yeah. >> So, it's just for storage. So stockpiling materials um I'm guessing wire um conduit. >> Those are replace because they're replacing they're doing the power line from the um mound substation down the regional trail behind here all the way to the Carver County border. Then they got one I think in Victoria and one in Watertown that they're doing. So >> because it's part of that easement we approved or whatever in the correct part. Yeah. >> Right. >> Yep. Yep. So, if you're if you've been wondering, as some residents have, that's what's going on there. And, um, you know, they're following all the all the regulations that that we impose on them and others. So, um, it'll be good. Uh, but bear with us while they're doing it. There's quite a bit of activity there. >> Okay. >> So, that's all I have. >> Okay. Any other staff reports? Otherwise, um, council reports, anything. I attended the St. Bonnie Fire Commission meeting back on November 20th. Uh payroll for 2025 um that was left to be paid out of the budget was around $85,000. Call so far in 2025 for Minotaristo is at 127 out of 220 224 total. Uh budgeted was 220. Uh chief told me or the four of us that were there that the overage is mostly from Lake Township uh from Kong College. There appears to be a lot of popcorn burning going on there. Jeez. Okay. But somebody also burned hot chocolate, which I didn't know was possible. So, that was a little like information tidbit that we found out. Um, their spring mailer got a great response and got them $20,000 in donations. >> Wow. >> Staffing. So, they added two firemen earlier this year and both of them have completed firefighter one. One of them has completed firefighter 2 and the other one's currently in firefighter 2. Uh, both have completed their EMR training, which is emergency medical response. And then they both have hazmat training to go. And then as of the meeting, there were supposed to be two new firefighters starting today. Um, which would bring the number up to 27 with a goal of 28 firefighters. So, there's that. Uh, 2026 budget. The plan is for the new chief to be hired by July 1st. Although, the St. Bonnie council member at the meeting made it seem like they wanted to wait until October 1st to do that. Uh, their meeting, I think, is this Wednesday or Yeah. Well, and if I may, Eric um the current chief um has um extended the offer to stay on board until they find somebody. So, um that might potentially prolong the finding of somebody. So, we will see. >> Uh because council St. Bonnie Council, the council member made it sound like because um Brenda, it's Brenda, right? Is leaving. They weren't sure about hiring a new chief with Brenda getting replaced. And sounds like they just want to delay it. Um, also we talked about um, chief wants to get two new Taho, one for the future chief to have so we have it ready whenever that person gets hired and then they need a new duty officer. One, the one they got from Mound 2 years ago needs more work than was anticipated. So, they want to get a new one for that. The price right now is about $85,000 for each um to get them loaded and with sirens, lights, all the stuff they need. Um, one of the dealerships up north has them. Um the price is good for that. Um the St. Money council member agreed and thought that was a good time to purchase them because they have the money in the budget. So hopefully their council approves that and then they can get them ordered because it takes quite a bit of time to get them outfitted. So hopefully St. Bonnie approves that because all of the commissioners thought it was a good idea. >> Um purchasing for >> Terrell the um >> it's the younger guy. No wasn't there. Um it's the younger guy whose name I don't know. Um, >> okay. >> We didn't do introductions. He's bought the last one, too. Um, I can't remember his name. >> Okay. But yeah. >> Okay. >> And then, um, also purchasing for next year is a new skid tank and pump for the grass rig, which is not a new rig, it's just the thing that goes into the back of the rig. And then also a new skid tank and pump for the UTV, which also just goes into the UTV, not the whole unit. Um, chief does not expect there to be a fire partnership meeting in January. Um, because both Mound and St. Bonnie are doing their audit and actuarial perform 1231. So, they can literally compare apples to apples of where financially both departments are. Expects the results of that in January. So, likely the next partnership meeting will be in February. >> Okay. Um, find out about that probably the day before, but he there would be one. >> Um, we talked about shifts, some changes to the duty officer program and staffing. Um nothing major there. Um just that when they have a chief that'll obviously help with the calls during the day. Um talked about EVs, which was interesting. Um they have a blanket that goes on them to slow the burning of them. It doesn't stop the car from burning, but it slows it. And then we talked about the placement of the EV charging stations in apartments and how they need to be near the garage door. So that way if the EV is on fire, you can somehow manage to pull it out and prevent everything else from burning in the garage. Did confirm the apartment building does have it near the um garage door. Um he's concerned about people who are charging their electric bikes in their apartments or in their homes. >> So, >> and then just a fun side note, apparently you need like 30,000 gallons of water to to slow the burn of an electric vehicle. So, do they waste 30,000 gallons of water doing that and trying to contain the runoff or do they just let the car burn, which seems to be the which one is better for situation? >> I think I need one of those blankets. Well, um they have breakfast with Santa this Saturday and the next meeting will be with for St. Bonnie Fire Commission will be May 21st which I will attend assuming you guys don't kick me off the commission in January. >> Was there any >> I think you can stay >> issues >> that's no because that's the um that's the partnership meeting and so right that we'll talk about in February once both Mound and St. Bonnie both review their numbers. Um the the St. Bonnie meeting the the five of us all agree that they shouldn't merge if Mound is still paying out monthly. So that >> there's two different pension plans. >> Yeah. So the the monthly will definitely be the straw that breaks the camel back if Mound doesn't want to end the monthly payouts. which >> but it's a little more comp complicated because there's a a board, you know, you >> and they have to vote on it and there are a number of people Yeah. that are still on the monthly payment plan before they converted to the annual payout or the one-time payout. >> And so, as long as there's so if the board won't approve it, that's that's the sticking point. >> Um Yeah. So, we'll see. >> Yeah. And St. Bonnie definitely their >> it sounds like their relief association won't >> won't go to the monthly. >> Won't go to the monthly like the monthly. It's just more expensive. >> It's more expensive and and >> more work. They have to do more, >> right? Paperwork and everything. Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. >> That was my long update meeting. It was nice. It was short, actually. I attended the Pioneer Sarah Creek watershed uh meeting and um of course tonight was a big night because we just approved the final alum treatment for whale tale and um that's really big uh for a couple reasons. Um the biggest one is that it'll probably take whale off the impire impaired list which just about every lake in this area is impaired. So that is a real step uh forward. Um and the other thing to keep in mind is that this was a massive project. Um close to half a million dollars. Uh so we really got a huge benefit out of this uh uh compared to some of the you know other projects that are going on and like Greenfield and you know the other uh member cities. So just delighted by uh getting this done tonight we can go ahead. Um I attended the planning commission meeting and uh uh you know nothing uh major there. Um and of course went to the tree lighting and I didn't realize I guess everybody was so bundled up I didn't see everybody that was there but but it was a really fun evening. I really enjoyed that. >> Y like yeah >> like oh I thought I was home. >> No me. Am I done? Are you up? You're done. Okay. Um I went to the the Gillespie Center had their holiday boutique. It was unbelievably um >> uh attended. It was just packed every single day. It was marvelous. And they they kind of crunched it into a smaller amount of time Monday through Saturday because they had the church service which runs the building on Sunday. So um fewer days but I think people it it worked well for them. Um so that was a great success. And then um I attended the West Tanka community and commerce meeting that they held at the um Voyager facility. Um I was so surprised to learn first of all the organization is very wellendowed. They have some great supporters, but they have an event. So they have um every day from 3 until 7, 5 days a week, they have a bus that will pick kids up at the school and bring them there um for um an after school program 3 to 7 serves them a hot meal cooked by someone and uh and it's completely free. And I just don't understand why this is not being used by more people. So many parents complain, you know, their kids um they need someone to they're paying either for after school programs when they don't need to. I just don't know. I wish there was a way our city baby could feature this and just get the word out there because they're thinking about discontinuing it. >> Oh wow. >> Be a great asset that we have not >> let people know about. >> It's beautiful facility, beautiful thing. >> Um I really think maybe we could help in a way to get the word out. Um, and then just in closing, the West Tanka Community and Commerce, I think I mentioned before, is changing their name to West Tanka Connect or Connect West Tanka, I should say. And uh, it's a wonderful new logo kind of shows a bridge to tie in all the water we have out here with a W in it that look, what do you call those things in a bridge, Peter? I don't our uh gussets or whatever >> structural yeah trellis or something. It's a it's a wonderful logo and um they're launching that the fees are going to go up substantially. They found that um most chamber of commerces um or organ organizations like them charge in the area of like $450 a year where um WCC was charging 75 and 125. So, it's going up to 200. Um, but I think they're in some new exciting young good hands to be doing some fun things for our community. So, >> great. Great. I guess we're joining, right, Jasper? >> I believe so. So, we might as well. >> Great. Thank you. >> All right, Brian. Anything? >> No update for me. >> Okay. Um, so I don't have a lot of reports. I know next week is going to be somewhat busy. Um there's going to be the North um no this week actually um I I will be attending the uh Northwest League um of cities and uh we have all of our representatives representing this whole area. So there'll be um two uh senators and three representatives there. And and then next week um I do know I'll be at the um Rotary the um lunchon holiday lunchon. I know we have a um public safety meeting. I'm looking forward to that. Milo system I think we're going to be viewing or trying out or something. >> We'll definitely be trying it out. >> All right. Good. Fun, fun, fun. And um and then also there's a Zoom meeting with um um Senator Anne Johnson Stewart with some of the mayors in this area. So those are some of the things coming up, but um you know this is our last meeting for the year and I don't always do this. So, I'd like to um have your attention for about three or four minutes if I could. This isn't a report, but what I'd like to say is I'd like to say thank you to council members and I'd like to say thank you to all of our staff. Um I know Brian, you're this is your first year here, so you're the rookie. Okay. >> And um you know, coming on board, I'm sure you didn't know what to expect. I'm hoping that it's been a good experience for you. um almost good as he breaks the chair. Um but I I know too um having a newbie come on board is sometimes difficult to integrate and and um create um you have you be part of the team, but I think it's been seamless. I think you've been a great asset. You come prepared. You have great great things to say and great great questions and I've appreciated. I don't sense that you had any kind of personal or hidden agenda. So, you've come um with an open mind and um I've really appreciated that. It's uh very nice to have you on board. Looking forward to next year as well. I'd also like to say thank you to um um Miss Lacy, to council member Lacy. I know there's times where you've been very passionate about some of your pet. Okay, we won't talk about pet pets, but some of pet pet um things such as chickens. But anyhow, um it was very interesting. >> All for the people. It's all for the people and I know you have and and that's the thing I I love about um your your um enthusiasm is it's really about community and you know the other thing um I really like is you've been so respectful. It's just um a fresh a breath of fresh air and thank you so much for that. I really appreciate it. You know when when there's people that you work with and they're they're respectful and they're thankful um you know it's so much easier. And so I I want to say thank you for that. Peter, you are not very vocal all the time. You you're kind of quiet. You're that contemplative quiet person, but you think and then you speak up. And usually when you speak up, always when you speak up, um it's very well thought out and you have some very good things to say. So, and you've you come well prepared as as all of our council members do. But um I really appreciate that from you as well. And Kath and Kathleen, I have to say a lot of good things about you as um the acting mayor. You stepped up to the plate and you've you've been there and you supported me. And I know sometimes we're not always on the same page, but you know what's so important and I think one first, not everybody should have the same opinion. We should be able to come and feel like we can say and give our opinions and even if they're different. Um but in the end I think we've always we've either come to a a good compromise or else if we haven't what I really think is important that you do all the time is whenever it doesn't go your way after the vote is taken and after we move on you move on and so many other councils experience um negativity after that and you never do that and I really really appreciate that that is something and you're very thorough as we have um seen tonight in your reports. You're very thorough and that is something not every council member can do um including myself. But um that is just that's such a great attribute and such a great quality that you bring to the council. I think this year as a council we um and you know I have to say Brian when you came on board I knew that you'd have some big shoes to fill because an was here before you and I wasn't sure how that would work out but it's worked out um very well. I think as a team we've really worked well together, but I do have to say, and excuse me for talking a lot, but I have to do this. I have to say the council is only as good as its team, as good as it staff, and we have excellent staff. And I'm going to start with Jasper. Jasper, um, you have done a phenomenal job. And I just want to say it has been very, um, plea pleasant and and great to work with you. probably I work closer with you than some of the council members, but almost you put up with my calls and my text messages on a daily basis and even on weekends sometimes. And what I really appreciate is your willingness to to work with the council and to do what the council please um at, you know, what we ask you to do. And you also um work with our residents and um want to make them happy as well. And because of that, I think and your leadership amongst staff is great. I know you have a great rapport with the staff and I think that's a real big asset. And Brian, I can sleep well at night knowing that you are handling our finances because um you know, I have heard from other mayors and communities that uh they have some financial issues and we don't. And I I know that you are watching over our finances that it's it's honest and it's it's it's you're very thorough and your team helps you with that. But um I like I said, I seriously mean um you are very good at your job. I greatly appreciate it because financial part of this organization is is huge and to be able to sleep well at night knowing that being well cared for and well looked after is is a big asset and thank you for that. I know David isn't here in person, but he's he's probably hopefully still listening in because David, I would like to say something very very nice about you as well. Um I call you and I ask your advice about planning issues and development issues and I am always amazed at your knowledge um not only about planning but um your knowledge on our um ordinances and it's just wonderful to have somebody that's so wellversed and that's so well grounded and knowing our community and knowing what the council needs. and sometimes you tell us what we need to hear, not necessarily what we want to hear. And that's really the um the issue with all of our staff. I really appreciate that. But um I think your expertise in in our planning department and your leadership in our planning department is um above so is is just great. I don't know how else to say it, but I really appreciate that. And then we have our chief of police. Um, Craig, you're new as the chie as a chief, but I can't say um I am so happy I can say that I'm so happy that about a year and a half ago, we decided to to promote you to be the deputy chief in preparation of Paul's retirement because we knew that was coming. And we knew that we thought if you could step into the deputy chief position, then it would be a seamless hopefully a seamless transition. And it has been both uh moving you into the chief position and then moving Pat um Cummings into the deputy chief position has been seamless, has been great. Um you're a great chief. I know you had some big shoes to fill and you filled them very well. And I can I have um great hopes for the future for our police department. I know it's a difficult time um recruit recruiting, but um I know that um everybody in the department respects you. I know I respect you greatly and I'm looking forward to many more years as our chief. With that, I'd also like to say I know Sarah isn't here tonight. She's not even remote, but um maybe Pete, you could pass this on to Sarah. She had some pretty big shoes to fill when um Ron Batty left because Ron was here for many many years with a lot of experience and um I have to say Sarah has been a a gem to work with very knowledgeable and always helping with um uh and telling us what we need to hear and um she's always been there for us and I and to protect the city's interests and I really appreciate that and uh if you could pass that on to her I'd greatly appreciate that. Next, I'm going to move over here. Um, again, Allison Fowski isn't here, but I've worked with Allison for many years and and uh she is the kind of person that bends over backwards to try and make things work for our residents. And sometimes they don't quite get it or maybe it doesn't fall exactly like they want it to, but she works very very hard to please them and also to work within our within our um confines of city ordinances and so on. Allison, you have done a fantastic job. I greatly appreciate working with you. Um, you're just a a great asset to our staff. I know you work have to work with Gary and that could be difficult. I'm sure. No, I'm just kidding. But, um, she works well. Yeah, I know you work well with Gary. Um, both of you work well together. And because of that, um, sync there, uh, we have been able to accomplish a lot. And Gary, I just have to say you're a rock star. Not just because you you do our gravel roads, no pun intended, but you're a rock star. You bend over backwards to try and please our residents, and that is huge. And you figure out problems that other directors or supervisors have not been able to do. And I really appreciate you make my job easy because I do not get a lot of calls from residents um complaining about roads or complaining about um other issues. So I want to thank you for that. Gary, it means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to our residents. Paula, you're new, so there's not a whole lot I can say except you did also have some big shoes to fill and I know you've done that very well. you've come in with a smooth transition here and um I'm looking forward to to working with you again next year and and um getting to know you even better. I know your experience, your 24 years of experience and Delano has been a great asset to our city now. So, that is wonderful as well. I don't I can't name all of the people in public works and all of the uh officers and and so on. I know there's um Lori and Amy in in the police department with many years of experience. They're great at their jobs. Again, thank you so much for their expertise and willingness to serve our community. And also Angie and Renee and Darcy. Again, they do great jobs. I never I don't think I've ever had a time where I've come where Darcy has been here and she hasn't been smiling. So, um you know, and and I know that's the um what she projects to people that come here and then also that call. So, I just want to say thank you to Darcy and Renee and and Angie for their service to our community. And Gary, you do have to say thank you to all of the guys in public works as well. Fantastic job for the holiday event. I hope it was fun for them. I know it was for us as well. >> They enjoy it. >> Good. Good. So with that, that is all I have to say. But I think it's well worth um because not only is there are these people that are um working for this city and working for our residents, but there's a mutual respect, a respect between the council and staff and vice versa. And with that, we can do a lot. And we did a lot this past year. And because of that, if we didn't respect each other and we didn't work well together, we would not be able to accomplish what we've accomplished. And what our our goal is, of course, is just to create a better Minatrista. And every year we've kind of um done that a little bit better, a little bit better, a little bit better, better roads, better parks, better, better water infrastructure. And we've been able to do that with this fantastic team, council and staff. So, thank you very much. And that's all I have to say. So, So um with that if there is a motion to adjurnn we can be adjourned. >> So move. >> Thank you Miss Rkin. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you Mr. Vicky. All those in favor signify with I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Thank you. >> And I didn't even cry. You sound