has the presented agenda. >> Move to approve the agenda. >> Okay, got a motion by Rick Siler. I will second that to approve the agenda. Does anyone have any questions? Any changes? If not, all in favor say I. >> I. Any opposition? Okay. Passes 5-0. Next on the agenda is the consent agenda. [clears throat] Anyone have any questions or anything that needs to be clarified in any items in the consent agenda? If not, I'll look for a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. Got >> a motion by Maggie Bass, second by Rick Syler to approve the consent agenda as presented. If there's no other questions or any questions or concerns, if not, all in favor say I. I. >> I. Any opposition? Okay. Passes 5-0. >> Next, [clears throat] we're go on to the public forum. Uh, we have two people that would like to speak at this time. First on the list is Dennis Tits, [snorts] the Sora County Commissioner. What? >> What? Second one are you in what? >> District one. So, Dennis Titz, County Commissioner, District One, which is Southern City Limits of New Prague, uh, Lansburg Township and the city of Hillemberg. Just give you guys a couple updates what's going on in the county. As you got in front of you, a map of Lansburg Township. [snorts] Um, you can see the city of New Prager, the southern half of the city of New Prager is shaded in gray. Um, we had Bolton and Mink come in and give us their professional opinion on what they think should be in Lansburg Township, what would be good for the community for residential, which is highlighted in yellow. You can see around the city of New Prague, it's highlighted in yellow, but there's dark mark or uh black slashes. That's because of your future city limits. So, [clears throat] we probably won't be touching any of that. Um, the yellow is, like I said, the residential. The red would be industrial. Um, this is just a proposal. Tomorrow, we start our workshops on this. And then a week from tomorrow, we have our public hearing on that to hear from um citizens in the county of for the whole county, not just Lansburg Township. If you guys see anything that's concerning or of interest, you can either get a hold of me or Aaron Stubs, uh, who's leading this up with the county. Also, a very, very hot topic. I know I talked about this before. In 2025, legislature passed that the whole state of Minnesota could go to rifle. However, they're giving each county the opportunity to adopt an ordinance to stay with slugs. [clears throat] If so, Lee sewer county, all of Lee Sewer County right now is slugs currently for us to go to maintain the slugs, we have to have a public hearing. If we do absolutely nothing, then it's state law. It goes to rifle. >> And this is to clarify, is this for deer hunting solely? >> I'm sorry. Yes, deer hunting. Thank you, Maggie. Um, we decided we are going to have a public hearing, not because we already have our minds made up that we're going to go to slugs, but we've had a lot of phone calls both for going to rifle and for staying to slug. So, that date is March 19th at 6:30. That's at our new government center, the EOC. You can also go online. Um, that public hearing notice should be coming out here shortly. Um, some more updates. Back in 1943, the state of Minnesota decided to go to slugs because mainly because of the deer population was so low and people wanted to increase the deer herd. So, they wanted uh people to have more of a challenge to shoot the deer. Um, at that time, the research I've done and I think the other commissioners, it wasn't a safety issue. We also got feedback that right now you can you can hunt deer with a pistol. [clears throat] You can fox hunt with the rifle. You can coyote hunt you with the rifle, which is totally legal in our area right now. So, if someone went out tonight, they could be using a rifle coyote or fox hunting. We can change this every year to year. However, if I decide I want to go to rifle again, I'm only one of five. I don't plan on ever going back because you're going to have people buying rifles, getting rid of their slugs, and then I don't think that would be a good a good thing. What I know is Scott County right now, well I should say as of about 10 days ago, two weeks ago, is not having a public hearing, meaning they are probably going to go to Rifle. Blue Earth County, they are not planning on having a public meeting. [clears throat] Rice County is up in the air. They're thinking about having a public hearing kind of like us. and was county. We have to let the DNR know by May 1st just because of the DNR synopsis that comes out, you know, the booklet. So that's why we want to do this March 19th and then we'll be acting on it probably two or three weeks at our regular Tuesday meetings. Um, for me, I would say I've been keeping track. I went to the sportsman club Thursday meeting. It's about 8020. 80% of the people want to keep it slugs. I'm listening to my constituents. So, right now, if I would, I guess, have a say, I would keep it slugs. I can't say that for all the commissioners. I think we're going to have [clears throat] it's going to be a close vote to be honest with you just because of Bmore on the southern metro area. Um, also going on, we just finished up our O RO OS uh for ditches. That was not so much fun, but we got it done. >> Can you please clarify RO? >> Uh, reclaim of benefits for ditches. Yeah, reclaiming of benefits or Yeah. Sorry. So, uh, yeah, basically telling people what they're getting assessed for ditches and the waterershed and all that. Um, any questions? >> No, I don't think anyone have a question. I would highly encourage for I know there's a lot of people that watch online or listen online or go back if you have if even if you're not in my area get a hold of your commissioners if you have a big decision on this because they are listening what you have to say. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you J. >> Okay. Next on the list is Brian Pollson. >> Hello. Uh Brian Paulson, 2064 Street Southwest. Uh thanks for placing the flock on tonight's agenda, the flock cameras. I'm following up on just the previous meeting that we talked about it and I guess you had mentioned that it would be discussed more in depth um at this meeting. So I appreciate that. Um and my previous request to reiterate was the public search audit feature for the transparency portal. Uh the portal [clears throat] is already live. It automatically shows policies like what the cameras detect and prohibit and aggregate stats [clears throat] like how many vehicles are scanned and the hot list hits. Uh however, the public search audit is not enabled. Uh this is a downloadable log of individual searches. Enabling the public search audit would ease public concerns and clearly demonstrate that the department is operating fully within the law. residents could see for themselves that every search meets the statute's strict standard building trust and showing proactive compliance. A month ago, I submitted a data request for the autologs. It took 10 days for a response that mis misinterpreted uh my request and completed the request uh requiring me to do a new one. uh something that I clarified in person in an email uh having to submit a follow-up request with clear [clears throat] instructions from a Flock user manual. Uh it's gone two weeks now still unfulfilled. Um this manual process is cumbersome and timeconuming for both sides. Enabling the public search audit on the portal would automate access to this public information and limiting delays and staff effort for simple requests. Enabling this feature is a one-time task. Once on, Flock updates it automatically every night on a 30-day rolling basis with no human intervolment or manual polls. It costs nothing extra and reduces delays like the month long and counting for my recent audit logs requests. Other Minnesota agencies like Wyoming Police Department, as I mentioned, have enabled this feature, providing self-s serve access without manual requests. There's no good reason not to enable the public search audit on our portal. It makes transparency immediate and ease easy for everyone. I urge you to direct the police department to enable the public search audit feature immediately. That's a loweffort way to strengthen accountability, save staff time, and build public trust. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else who's not on the list like to speak at this time? Okay. If not, we'll go on to the next item on the agenda is public hearings. We have none. the city engineering updates. Uh I think it's view really isn't any change from the last meeting um that I'm aware of, but uh does anyone have any questions on the the list that was provided in your packet? >> I I guess my concern is the 2024 street um and utility project, why the contractor is not responsive and how the bonding agency is supposedly stepping in. What kind of assistance are they providing because this is at least the third or fourth month or meeting rather that we've seen the same comments. So what kind of progress is being made if any? >> Well, I think our retention right don't we? >> Yeah, usually we retain funds at that point andor call on the bonding agency um [clears throat] because we require almost like an insurance from these companies before they enter into a project. Um I can certainly check with Matt. Uh I know something came up tonight. he wasn't able to do anything. So, I can check with Matt and get you guys the answer on where exactly the progress is. >> Okay. And and [clears throat] so if we we retain this these dollars, then who eventually is going to complete the 2024 project? >> So, so the idea being that if for some reason an agency has to these dollars from the bonding agency, then we would just be responsible. We we'd get the dollar amount we need to complete the project. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. In this case, it's mostly grass and >> I Yeah, I don't think there's anything like giant [clears throat] and huge like they didn't put a street in. It's a lot of just small things that we shouldn't accept the project until they have fully completed it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions on >> No, I'm going to need to point personal privilege for the bathroom. >> Okay. There's a little on there. You can keep going. >> Okay. I recommend we take a break. >> Okay. Uh we will take a break for a couple minutes while Rick takes care of himself. And >> this thing is really fast. [clears throat] >> I will. [clears throat] We're taking a break at what I got 6 6:13 um a few minutes and then we'll reconvene I'm back in December. >> You can use December 31st, but you got to tell the system that it's have to hit few >> if you paid on December 31st. That's the date you paid. >> But they didn't pay him December 31st. >> Oh, okay. >> They were in the AP in January. >> Okay. >> At least the the golf course instance. >> Okay. >> Okay. Okay. Uh we're back in action here. It will reconvene at 6:17 and uh we're going to kind of go back to this city engineering projects update and >> uh yes I did an update >> I was able to get a hold of Matt Renda. He did state that I guess as a city we are expecting some sort of timeline and or schedule from them about when they will be completing this stuff in early spring and e and if we're either not happy with the schedule they give us or they don't provide us with one at that point um we kind of filled in the attorneys and we'll be looking at taking that out to get the bonding money and take care of the project ourselves. >> Thanks for the update. >> Is that that's doing the bird dogging on that then? Are they following up with >> As of right now, yes. SE is the one that's kind of doing that for us. >> Okay. >> As our contracted city engineer, yes. >> All right. Do they come up with the date that Okay. The the line has been crossed. We're just we want the bond money now. >> I think I think uh yeah, Chris and Matt have been in discussions about that. So, I I didn't get the exact He just said early spring. >> Okay. Thank you for the update. >> Okay. Next, we have ordinance for introduction. We have none. Ordinances for adoption. We have none. Resolutions. We have none. So, we're on item 10. General business. Um, I assume Ken, are you going to take this uh our annual community development reports? >> I will. I'll kind of run through everything and I'll jump back and forth a little bit and I'm going to give a high level overview. If you have questions, feel free to stop me along the way. But um what we do every year and uh at the first meeting in February is provide an update on vacant lots uh businesses that have changed in town and then our [clears throat] building permit stats and I did add in a rental license map so you can see where that program is at after our first two-year um cycle of licenses. So we'll we'll go over that briefly, but I want to start with the uh growth stats which are really the building permit statistics. So obviously we've uh are down this year uh or in 2025 I should say for single family home construction. Uh we only had three new homes uh issued in all of 2025. That's down from 10 in 2024. Obviously the uh corresponding value was also down as well as the average new construction home value is down as well. Uh but uh one of the bright spots we did obviously have the 54 unit uh multifamily apartment building constructed with 8.6 6 um in valuation uh compared to zero dollars in the prior year and actually many years prior. Um so that was a positive for 2025. Uh commercial and industrial permits we were down a little bit in the actual number. Um and uh down uh about 1.5 million roughly in uh the valuation from 2024 to 2025. However, that was still in the top u five uh within the past 15 years. So, still a very good year. Uh, we had a number of uh larger projects including a new building for Heartland Credit Union, which is under construction in front of Coborns, a 20,000 square foot addition to Great River Energy in the industrial park, and then a roughly 10,000 square foot building for Bevcom in the industrial park. Uh, just to name a few. Uh, public permits, we were down uh in the number on those. However, we were up uh greatly on the value of public permits, which in the grand scheme of uh things that are not taxable is really irrelevant. However, it was our 15-year high for a the value on those permits uh for public permits. So, that was led obviously by the New Prag police station addition. Uh then followed uh thereafter by a couple of projects at Falcon Ridge Elementary and a new roof at uh New uh excuse me, Ravenstream Elementary and then uh smaller projects at Mayo uh clinic hospital not including the uh oncology edition which the state maintained uh the control of that permitting for that project as they are able to do that. And then the pops uh facility was permitted in 2025. And then finally um some ballpark related uh updates for ball field dugouts at uh the uh basically the Memorial Park uh softball fields uh not uh Memorial Stadium. And then at Memorial Stadium we had the German deck to complement the Czech deck that was already built at the site there. So, just another uh platform for viewing and obviously that'll be taken advantage of at the state tournament here later in 2016. Uh so, overall was still a very busy year. Just the single family home construction was down. Um if you have any questions on that, otherwise I was kind of going to jump into the uh vacant lot inventory I believe is the next item on the agenda. Ken, have you heard how the occupancy of the apartment building has been going? >> Uh, no, I have not had a update from them. I will uh definitely check on that and can provide that to you. I know when we did the um rental inspections, as we do for all of our other uh rental units, um they indicated things were going well, but even at that point um late last year, we did not have any uh specific number, but I'll see if I can get that uh for the council. Uh, regarding the vacant lot inventory, if I can get my map to actually pull up here. >> Can we get this pulled up? Um, >> oh, yep. >> Thank you. >> Mhm. [clears throat and cough] >> Bear with my computer here. little sluggish. So, we're going to start with the vacant commercial property listing. Uh, so really only one uh lot was uh built on that was on the inventory last year, and that was the Heartland Credit Union lot. I don't if you I don't think you can really see my pointer up there hardly, but um that was the only lot that came off the inventory. Uh other than that, we have a smattering of uh various sized lots throughout um kind of our commercial corridor along Main Street that are still available. Um some of them are not necessarily for sale, but they are vacant. Uh but we just point that out that they are um obviously vacant uh commercial lots. So, one near Raven Stream, uh one kind of by the West, uh Quick Trip, um in the B3 zoning, uh one that Palmer Welcome owns kind of off uh street southwest and trunk highway 1321 and then everything else is out by basically that Cobborn's um stretch of land out there. So, um again, kind of a good variety that we have right now. Um, we've talked that um, you know, things look to be moving forward for a potential [clears throat] commercial development on the east side of Alton Avenue with that annexation petition that we received, but everything on that's kind of on hold until we get that Alton Avenue uh, realignment study completed. Um, which is about [snorts] two months out at this point. So, that's a commercial property listing. Next one is industrial. um we did not include because they're uh kind of under pending sale the two remaining lots in the industrial park that uh the city is selling. So that basically leaves 76 acres that we've got labeled as number two on the map uh on the overhead. And then lot number one is just a about an acre lot north of the uh fire station police station area right on the corner of uh chunky 21 and sixth street northwest. So that is what we have for vacant lots for industrial and then finally the residential. Um so we basically have 21 lots overall. Um this does include some multifamily out near Ravenstream Elementary that we've talked on and off uh about a 5 acre parcel that um has been openly on the market uh for multifamily. Uh the Latter Day Saints Church does have some land that's not on the market, but we list as just vacant land. And then, uh the single family lots are very, very tough to come by. There's a smattering kind of throughout town that are owned by adjacent lot owners, aren't on the market. Um at any given time, there's maybe eight to 10 single family lots on the market in total. Um we have had quite a bit of interest uh from uh potential land developers for residential lot development. Obviously nothing at this point has risen to the level of u any applications. So, nothing we can publicly uh note at this point, but I've mentioned previous uh times with our comp plan update, we do continue to have uh a very good supply of land available for development, including land both within city limits, which would be in the Ravenstream uh neighborhood uh out near Ravenstream Elementary, that could get a permit in here tomorrow, and people could get going on on platting and actually getting homes built out there. And then um some other land that's on the market [clears throat] um which we've referred to as the Beasik property on the northeast side of town um north of uh Seventh Street Northeast. And then uh another chunk of property kind of in the southwest corner of town uh 1 Avenue um that uh was platted initially back in 2020 as Tekkowski Estates and that land is still uh available for development and was annexed and uh reszoned at that time. So we do have a number of uh potential sites for uh commercial or uh excuse me residential development and uh hopefully we get some movement on that. But we definitely have had far more discussion on the background of all of these sites that we have um in the past 5 years combined. So hopefully that'll lead to actual platting of of lots. And then um moving on to our commercial building audit. I don't have a map uh for this one, but I'll just put the memo up here on the overhead. Uh so we track every year u kind of the ongoings in all of our um industrial, commercial and um even uh we'll say public ongoings in town and we usually compare to the prior year. So we did have 14 new business openings in uh 2025 compared to 11 the prior year and that is either uh new business startups or businesses moving into new PRA. So something that had not been in New Prague previously. So that's a good sign that that is on the uptick. Uh we did have 32 business closings and changes. I will note most of them are changes and had uh only 26 last year. So definitely more activity on that front. Um that could mean a business actually closing their doors, moving out of town, but more uh likely will run over a few businesses that were in town that um basically maybe moved a location, expanded or some other improvement um to their business in New Prague. And then finally, vacancies are down uh to 23 total vacancies compared to 31 last year. So that's another good metric to point out. But um some new businesses that we had open up in 2025 included Brickside 19 that was obviously vacated by Smoke and Fire restaurant prior. Uh Nison's Corner Bar 2 downtown had been a vacant uh former bar building for a few years. Uh the Bros Event Center was basically a new business that opened up um in what had been a wedding venue but a new business to New Prague. Uh Berg [clears throat] Direct Primary Care at 314 East Main Street. uh Fancy Bones Pet Grooming that opened in the former mill at 200 uh 2nd Avenue Southeast. Bohemia Flats apartment building we put on there. Even though it's not technically a business, it does obviously employ uh people to run that. So, we do include that in our totals here. Uh then Case Aesthetics opened in another vacant space on Main Street near the library. U other notable changes uh were um we'll just note a few of them here. 2F byC Tactical obviously did a major expansion and investment at the former mill. Um Bargain Lodge moved from their location across the street uh on the north side of Main Street. Uh Kubish Furniture and Flooring, you've obviously seen the uh improvements they made to the exterior of that location. [snorts] Uh [clears throat] Great River Energy that I mentioned before with a 20,000 foot addition. Heartland Credit Union uh new building. Wells Fargo made a bunch of improvements internally and externally on their building. Um, Starlight Productions was able to move back into their original location that had been uh vacated due to a fire at the old theater building. And then Cedar Press Coffee has new ownership downtown and uh you know they're looking at doing further improvements to that location as well. So, uh, a lot of activity, kind of smaller permits and that type of thing, um, coming in from a lot of these changes, typically remodeling and and other code compliance issues that we have to deal with. And, um, uh, exciting to see a lot of that happening, particularly in the downtown area and to keep everything uh, generally um, full and and viable in the downtown area. So, um, overall, uh, another, uh, good year, and it's kind of fun to look back from year to year and see where we're at. Um, and you can look on the actual listing in the pack. It goes back for a fiveyear time period, but we've been tracking that going back to about 2001. So, if you ever want to see that, and it's pretty fun to look back over, you know, 25 years, how uh, how things have changed and actually how some businesses did not change during that time. So, um, I can always email that out if you'd like to look at that as well. Uh, final map that I'll put up on the overhead here, and I'll try to skip ahead to get to that rental map. So, as I noted, um, we do have, uh, the two-year time period that wrapped up at the end of 2025 for our rental license program, and that is what led to the creation of this map in the packet for those 470 units. I did want to note that it does not include uh places like Malastana including both the uh assisted living or the memory care uh type units or anything at uh PRAA village. Those are licensed and inspected by um another agency that is at a state or a federal level. Also does not include Mil Pond or Philip Square which again are are larger complexes but are inspected by other agencies. So, it tracks pretty well from what we had been tracking on our rental registration leading up to our inspection program. Um, and speaking with our building official on how the inspections have gone, I think, you know, initially there was a lot of trepidation on um, property owners and renters [clears throat] and how the process would go, but by and large, uh, we've actually gotten a lot of compliments from, uh, both tenants and landlords on it being a, uh, pretty easy process. you know, we're looking for life safety issues and ultimately um haven't run into any, you know, really uh troublesome issues that couldn't be uh pretty easily or pretty inexpensively resolved. A lot of missing smoke detectors, CO detectors, um some occasional issues with sticking windows for fire escapes, that type of thing. But um I think uh the other thing that some landlords have mentioned that it's a good way that they can keep an eye on their property on a more regular uh basis. Um whereas prior to the uh inspection ordinance, they maybe wouldn't go in a property for you know five 10 years if they have a a tenant that you know pays the rent on time and and continues to u outwardly look like they're being a good tenant. So, um overall I think it's a good start to that program and we're basically um working on inspections for that next cycle um here early in the winter and then we'll have another set. We've broken them up between each county if you remember part of them uh on one year and then the next year we go to the other uh county to get those units done. So, um, again, everything pretty much concentrated, we'll just say generally closer in the, uh, uh, near the downtown area, but there are [clears throat] some few exceptions to that in um, we'll say newer homes, um, in the community, but mostly uh, older homes near the downtown. So, >> I'm sorry if you said [clears throat] said this, but what is our compliance with people getting the license? Uh so we have had uh depending on uh how you look at it uh a little bit of difficulty on the final few uh people that are not understanding why we have the ordinance and we've had to actually have our city attorney send some letters out. I think we did uh 20 letters here in December to kind of get the final uh few property owners to gain compliance. I think we're down to three as of uh LA late last week. So, um if we need to, we don't want to, but they could be cited for operating a rental unit without a license, but I think we'll we'll gain compliance in those final few here before we get to that point. So, >> sounds like maybe those 20 didn't necessarily say they're not going to do it. It's just they wanted to be educated. >> Correct. >> Yep. And we've had um some people that uh honestly have had u family within their rental unit and that is one of the exceptions. So getting some of that information on who they are and making sure that they fit that u compliance criteria to not have to get a rental inspection for uh relatives. So >> is there a form for that that you proactively [clears throat] can send it? No, they do have a check box that they can check on the application and then says supply additional information and I think a lot of people just haven't, >> you know, been forthright with providing the follow-up information. So, >> is that all online then too? >> We do not have that process online yet. We are working to get that all online. >> Okay. So, with that, that's kind of the annual reports that I have for the year. Anyone have any questions for Ken? >> A lot of information. I appreciate everyone that's involved in getting it put together, especially the business followup is a lot of work. >> Yeah. And I should thank uh uh Eric uh Evan Gary, our planner, and uh Brook uh Stika at the chamber as well for helping um get the inventory of the businesses kind of put together for the year. So, it's a lot a lot of work. >> Okay. Awesome. Next item, uh, golf board request. Josh, you want to take that? >> Yeah, I can kind of I can kind of kick it off real [clears throat] quick, but, uh, Kurt Ruling is certainly here, too. So, um, as you read in the memo at its meeting in, uh, late December, the golf board discussed and then voted unanimously by those present to recommend Jess Trovino um, have her pay increase from $20.40 an hour to $25 an hour. Um, she currently works as the food and beverage manager for the golf course. So just just as some quick background um here in 25 the comp the city did do a compensation study which placed a scale of $12 an hour um for step one and 20 $20.40 an hour for step 15 in place for part-time employees. Um as far as uh Miss Pickle, our finance director, and I can tell this is kind of the first time we've really broken it down for part-time employees as well as full-time. Um, and the golf board's current request now is to move Mino out of that $25 an hour. So, um, I kind of spelled out that I'm not opposed to certainly increasing the pay of someone who brings value to the city, especially in a position where it's a salesdriven department. Um, with increased sales mean increased revenue. As I discussed in the memo, certainly something to consider is whether even moving this position to a full-time position, but I know myself talking to Kurt about that. He didn't know if there was enough work to fully pull that off. So, I will actually move this over to Kurt, I know to kind of talk about the position. Um, if you want to step up to the mic andor, uh, with the mayor being on the golf board, he can kind of talk about it from that angle, too, since it was their kind of their request and recommendation. So, >> all right. Thanks. Uh, my name is Kurt Reang. I'm the uh management contract holder for the New Prairie Golf Club, general manager there. Actually, uh celebrating 15 years and two days in the position. So, um yeah, I just uh what um I wanted to thank first of all, I just wanted to thank uh you guys going through that uh comp study because it's very helpful for uh new hires. What uh what I am bringing to this meeting is this Jess Trovinho um she she performs numerous roles and I don't know that they were all like brought together to do the study on I think pieces of them were which I believe the framework covers uh perfectly but not only does she just coordinate the uh the food and beverage she's also uh she's also the chef. She prepares everything too. In the past, we've either had a caterer assist with that or another part-time staff member. Uh she is also exclusively the manages the bar as well, uh which we have always had a second staff member assist um with [clears throat] her experience and we met she's going to oversee our uh our newest addition to the golf course pull tabs benefiting the fire department. She's had experience in the past with those. So, she'll be overseeing that, training staff with that as well. And just a just a quick history on her, she she had been uh in the past uh general manager out of Perkins was promoted to a regional general manager there. Uh didn't necessarily care for the corporate [clears throat] um what would you call it framework or so. Um, she also was at the horse and hunt club, uh, hospitality director, which is kind of a larger scale of what we do at the golf course. Our our big events are one to 200 people. She was dealing with 500 at a time. Um, uh, she had some, uh, different visions than the owner did, so it was no longer there. Uh, she was actually out at St. Patrick as well, and u [clears throat] she was their bar manager there for a couple years, too. and it uh with young children it kind of got into her affected her parenting a little bit but she's very familiar with this area and uh we have had great uh food and beverage coordinators in the past with certain skills and I just believe Jess has all of them and like I said to start um I don't know that [clears throat] everything that she encompasses was truly looked at with the comp study that's why we're asking for u for an increase to $25 5. Uh Josh had mentioned a little bit about a full-time position and my my concern right now is until we ramp it up. I don't I don't know that we would have a full 40 hours a week in the off season. Awfully close. She's introduced she's brought a couple brunches uh to the facility. We haven't done that for uh 15 plus years. uh she's or she we I guess, but she's kind of heading this organizing fish fries and some other lunches and stuff, too. So, I'm uh for what it's worth, I'm very impressed with what she brings to the golf course. Uh her work ethic is excellent and her customer service um in that position. Like I said, we've had some great ones. She's kind of risen to the top of that, too. So, I don't know if you guys have any questions on that, but uh >> what kind of action you want on this with Josh? Do we um procedure or is this a actual >> So, I would say yeah, I mean um if the council wants to move forward with this, I I would like some sort of action from the council just because it removes her specifically from kind of the pay scale alto together. um we don't really have a step for this and so >> I'll make the motion to advance her from $20 to $25. >> Okay, one second. Um I did talk to Brian Connley today. Uh you know, he manages uh Creek Spend and uh they do have a full-time uh person, but they also do lunches every day um and uh that sort of thing. And same thing with the ridges. You know, they they they're kind of a different model than us right now. [clears throat] Um I would like to proceed, I know there's a motion, proceed with this and then maybe as she grows in the position and maybe wants to try more things in the winter months, we can maybe address looking at doing a full-time position at that time. Uh but to Curt's point is that right now she's starting to do certain things. Um and we're kind of the golf board's kind of hey, you know, if you're willing to do it, let's try them out that stuff because obviously we lost the the bingo uh for those six weeks. But uh I think it was this is the golf board way of looking at say hey we want to make sure she stays because when you find someone that we feel that is fits the position and is willing to put in the extra miles and gets along with the staff and is and has grown the staff so that we have uh you know during the summer we have more uh waitresses and bar people to help and keep uh you know for tournaments because we seem to be doing a lot more tournaments. in bigger events and she seems to manage that real well and she's very personable. So that's just my opinion uh coming kind of at the consensus that came from the golf board. >> I appreciate that. Well, there's a motion and I will second the motion. >> Okay. Any other comments? >> Yeah, I have a few questions. Um you referred to the board approving this. Was this just done last week by the board then? >> Yes, the board just discussed this. They Yes, they recommended approval. So yeah, they don't actually have approval authority. They're a recommending body. But yes, just here last week they recommended this. >> I'm just curious why it wasn't talked about in November or December or or when we did the >> Well, we didn't have a December meeting. >> Okay. >> Because there wasn't much on there. So we addressed it the first meeting we had in 2026. >> [clears throat] >> Um, we certainly talk about staff at different levels for different people, but I would uh it does make it a little uncomfortable that we're talking about an individual person when we're in such detail that maybe we should just keep our thoughts to the position because it's really up to Josh as uh the person responsible for whether someone moves up a step or not. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, certainly for me, I feel like this would be more of a position move than a single person move. I don't know. You'd basically be trying to pull this position out if for some reason the position ever became vacant. We would hope to hire somebody and almost expect them then to do the work that is kind of being created with the position. >> Yep. >> Right. So, I I I'm not close enough to judge the merits of the individual person besides, you know, [clears throat] what you say. So, I I don't have that. But um [clears throat] I totally support it if Chuck or Josh I'm I'm not clear if you're recommending us to approve it or not. Um I don't see that but what is >> Yes. So >> and also I just want to mention Robin's in charge of HR so I don't know what her opinion or if that's been funneled through you or where we're at with this. So, I just want to make sure we're following the lines of how this I think would or should work. >> Yeah, that's fair. So, Robin and I have had extensive discussions about this. Um, my opinion, I would certainly lean towards the, and I brought this up both to Kurt and Chuck, the full-time position. Um, having just done the comp study and I kind of wrote it in here, I'm a little uncomfortable kind of just throwing pulling a position out just months, not even months into having this approved. Um, that being said, I think that this position itself, whether it's Mino or anyone else, certainly lends itself to being someone who can drive increased revenue at the golf course and that is that is worth paying a little bit more to get a lot more out of. So, if um if Kurt is telling me that he is not sure that we could find work full-time, especially in the winter months, I would support certainly support moving to the $25 an hour. Um and then even following the mayor's idea that maybe as this evolves and progresses, there might be an opportunity down the road where it does become a full-time position. Um um but at this point if I would certainly not not recommend moving to a full-time position if it can't be fully handled. I did put it in the memo here just so we certainly could have that discussion um and thought as well. But if there are certainly not the duties, I would not recommend going to the full-time, but I would certainly recommend pulling it out. And this may be something where um Robin and I have kind of discussions of do we have to kind of add a small separate pay scale um as we kind of especially look now into the future um for this position similar to what we used to have for the like the line and that sort of thing of creating a smaller step scale outside of the one part-time scale we currently have. And just let you know I made that motion based on the fact that that pos that is switched several times in my tender and um I did it based on his recommendation. >> But just so I'm clear then we're just talking about uh this part-time position. We're not talking about change adding a different position which is full-time. >> Correct. So yeah, the the recommendation coming both from the golf board and from Mr. ruling who oversees the department and [snorts] correct me if I'm wrong Kurt is to keep it a part-time position but certainly start to build out and I will work with Robin then on setting up a very very specific kind of job duties list um but then to move that out of the pay scale keeping it part-time um to $25 an hour. So, >> I just want to make sure we're clear because we're talking about fulltime at the same time and like >> correct >> sometime in the future. But >> so everyone knows that if something would happen full-time, we're talking about a new approval through the city council. >> Correct. >> So there's no misunderstanding there. >> And then also just to be clear, we're not um this person got put in this uh basically a generic part-time of the matrix is is our parttime. kind of a generic >> Yep. Yes. So, we've got we've got one generic part-time catchall at Okay. >> ranges. Yeah. So, >> that's why we have kind of an issue going here where we've got probably more responsibilities than typical parttime and that's what's happening. >> Correct. Yeah. Prior to this comp study, it was kind of every department had kind of its own informal little pay scale we put and this kind of brought them all together and then Yes. But you do run into a position where we've got a position like this that tends to have more duties than a normal part-time position. >> Okay. Well, I totally support it, but I just also want to add the C caveat that I've been around long enough to know that food and golf course in New Prague doesn't really always make profit in the history of our golf course. So, just be careful about adding a lot of overhead and being able to understand how that works and assuming that the budget is going to be able to support this >> or are we looking at a change material change or anything? >> No, I think we're we're planning to keep the the budget hours and that stuff projected. She'll manage that. >> Well, I appreciate everyone working together to get this figured out. >> Okay, any other questions, comments? I got a motion by Rick and a second by Maggie. Uh, if there's no other comments, questions, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposition? Okay, passes by. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Appreciate your time. Thanks. >> Thanks, Kurt. >> Next flock, camera general discussion. I think Sean, you wanted this on the agenda >> just in case it popped up again. Um I didn't have any specific questions per se other than um I just wanted to get the council's feeling on where their thought process is with the um releasing of the data that we've had at least one individual that's wanted. Um, [clears throat and cough] and other cities are doing it at a greater extent than we are. And I think that should be probably a council decision as opposed to just the chief of police. >> When you say the release of information, are you talking about the public search audit function that uh Mr. Pollson brought up earlier? >> That is correct. That would be one of them. And uh Chief Applin, if you have information available at or are able to talk about it, can you please give me a little bit more information about the public search audit? Um, and I understand that this is being brought up uh, you know, kind of unannounced based on our council packet. So >> it is. Yeah. Um, so no, I don't have anything prepared to tell you. Okay. So I I don't want to do that and I appreciate that speak. So I I want to make sure that I'm pointed in my response to that. Absolutely. >> Not that I'm trying to >> I just there's a lot there. Not that there's a ton to it, but I don't want to >> I want to make sure that I have all the correct information. And I wasn't prepared, so I didn't go back and research any of this because >> I wasn't aware of any topics that were going to be discussed. >> No. Fair enough. Because this was not included in in our packet. So, I can completely appreciate that. Um, >> are you referring >> I don't know. Pardon? >> You referring to some handout or something? >> Uh, yeah. >> Previous meeting that Mr. Falsson gave us. >> Oh, that. >> Yeah. So, that was at least in my packet when I reviewed it online. That was not part of the packet. Um, so therefore not I wasn't prepared to speak about it uh or dive into the state statutes. Um, but it something that was brought up about the public search audit. Um, so I I can't speak to it. I I don't know enough about it. Um, and uh and if it wants to go on another uh future meeting agenda, then perhaps we should discuss it there. Um, when are you planning to do a the annual uh kind of update of how the first year went? When were you planning to do that, Tim? >> As soon as um record staff just got the um end of the most of the end of the year reporting done. So, I'm hoping to get that in the next two weeks here to be able to present that. And I was going to do that at the same time if you're okay with that. >> Okay. So, we looking in March, end of March. Um, I would say early March. I think we could get that in and then uh the flock camera audit along with our Axon audits will be happening in March. So, we would have I don't know what the timeline is on that to get that back. I know the last um Axon audit we did it took about two weeks to get back. So, I don't I can't speak to how long the the flock results would take. I can't imagine that it would be much longer than that. But, >> and we're having the same firm do both. >> Yeah. Yep. I [clears throat] have a an agreement for that I'm going to give to Josh for you guys to sign here. So, >> okay. >> Well, I I just said I guess another question. I know that uh Mr. Pollson has put in a data request. Um, [snorts] and just going off what he said earlier that it's been a couple weeks. Is there a timetable that to get the information to him when >> I sent Mr. Paul in an email on January 26th indicating that the information was ready and able to be viewed. >> Okay. >> So, I don't know if you received that or not. I copied um administrator Tesla on an email as well. So, >> okay. Is there >> has been sent off and I haven't heard anything back. So, okay. I guess I wasn't. >> Um, is there any reason that we wouldn't just release the information to the public? I it and again, I don't have the specific facts, but I know Mr. Pollson did have some information [clears throat] at a previous meeting that there are cities that are just it's wide open. >> [clears throat] >> Is there a reason that you wouldn't want um residents to see >> No, I spoke about at the last the last meeting um again >> without being prepared because nobody said that we were going to talk about this tonight or I didn't get any information to prepare or facts to provide you. >> I'm not going to speak to that right now because I want to be accurate and give you the reasons. But no, there is no reason that we wouldn't other than it creates duplicate work and it creates information that's already available in our audit when that happens. Okay? >> So that information is all published when we do our audit if somebody wants it prior to that. It can be done through a a data request and they can get at any time. >> Okay. It just seems like he was having problems getting that. I was just kind of curious. Um, >> well, like I said, that I responded on January 26th, which was within our timeline for Minnesota data practices. >> Okay. >> I I guess I kind of have an an issue with the city being targeted for certain information. And I'm just going to spew here because this has been on my mind for a while. You pump gas, you're on a camera. You go to the bank, you're on a camera. You go to a department store, you're on a camera. You go to the drugstore, you're on a camera. You're on the freeway, you're on a camera. So why this microscopic look at new Prague in particular because we have cameras. It's not an unheard of technology. We're on camera everywhere. We've got doorbells that have cameras. So, I don't understand this heightened concern that New Prague somehow is doing something different with their cameras than anybody else. Do we know that when we're pumping gas, what what that how that data is being used or we go to the bank or the department store or the drugstore or the freeway, how do we know how that information is being used and do we question it? So why New Prague specifically? >> I'm not quite I could really care less about the flot cameras. I'm doing this on behalf of a constituent that seems like he was having problems getting some information that according to state statute is supposed to be available and that's all I'm bringing it up for. I I I don't care if I'm on the camera. It doesn't bother me in the least. Like I said, I'm bringing this up to discuss and try to get some an uh answers for a taxpayer. >> Okay. No, and and and I wasn't pointing that question at you specifically, Sean. It's just in general, I just don't understand what the concern is. Our our our faces are being [laughter] pictures are being taken everywhere. you know, we go to a federal building, we go to a state building, we I mean, it's just what is the big deal? >> Yeah. I can't answer >> and I don't I I I can't answer the question. >> Yeah. >> And so, we're spending so much time and money and time getting information that just doesn't make sense to me unless there's a very specific reason. there's some incident that happened that somebody wants some information and we already have processes in place for that to happen and and we've we've heard about that from some previous concerns. So, I don't get it. And we're spend money is being spent by this city to provide information and that really irritates me unless that information is very for a very specific reason. So, um there's my rant. I'm just >> Well, I totally agree. I'd like to know why this got on the agenda. I mean, we we're there's nothing to discuss. Why is it on the agenda? >> There is something to discuss. I >> that can be done that is done that can be done outside the council. That does not have to be brought to the council and it doesn't need to be put on the agenda. >> Well, it wasn't that long ago that the city of New Prague was sued because we had police officers looking up private data information and it wasn't just New Prague. It was widespread throughout the state >> for cameras. >> No, >> for looking up information. >> It wasn't cameras. And there was and New Prague was one of the communities that uh we had law enforcement with no reason looking up celebrities, looking up state legislators, looking up private people's data on their work computer and it cost the city money. >> I agree. Mhm. >> So there is a there is a reason that that data should be available to make sure that we're not being put in a position by them somehow abusing that information that they have. So >> and we've got processes in place. We have procedures in place. We have a contract with Flock. We know what this information is being used for. the camera information is being used for and I'm sure that um Chief Appan uh with the update coming up will provide us a very good overview of how that information is being used. Um so I'm just I'm tired of the conversation. I'm I'm tired of our police uh personnel and and administrative people um having to provide information when there's no clear reason as to what this person wants with this information. So I'm just going to end it at that. >> Okay. Well, I guess uh the way I see it is we will uh when Chief Afflin brings back after the audits and gives us statistics uh we can address other issues or any questions regarding the information. But um as long as Tim is you're fulfilling the obligation when you get a request, I guess that's all we can uh ask for. Yeah, like I said earlier, I I did respond and you know, it was in communication with the city attorney about it and it, you know, Okay, >> I did I did respond the 26th. I looking at the email right in front of me. >> Okay, thank you. Looking forward to that uh information. Now we're at miscellaneous. >> Nothing. >> Rick Bruce. >> Hi Josh. I was just curious [clears throat] as to I forget the the description or what that software was that we purchased for document storage. >> Laser >> laser fish. >> How's that going? Are we using it? Does it you have a system? >> Uh yes, we are currently in the implementation phase. I know right now we're uh getting a few choice staff currently outfitted with scanners on their desk so we can start kind of working immediately on getting um some of that. I also know that when we [clears throat] have various city employees go on light duty, we've kind of got a plan in place to um kind of get them working for us scanning papers. As much as it's not fun, it allows us to keep them keep them moving. So, uh it is going well. I don't believe it's fully implemented yet at this point, but um Robin and her team are working diligently on that >> kind of the plan the planning of how you're going to do it and outline of it anyway. >> Yeah. So especially I know her and uh Alyssa Shopakome the administrative coordinator have really been working on the organizational structure behind it because a big part of that is once you get it how are documents being labeled um folder structures that way it all comes out the same because doesn't [snorts] work if everybody is labeling things differently. So they're yeah working on that whole background of how we we as a city will start labeling stuff organizing that whatnot. I have. >> Okay. Maggie, >> no sir. >> No. >> Nothing. >> Um Josh, you any anything? >> Nothing further. No. >> Ken, >> Tim. Mitch, you good? Patrick, you're good, too. I just have a couple quick things. Ken, do you have this map? Are you aware of what's going on with this? >> Um, >> yeah. Actually, I've been in contact with uh Aaron Stubs with Lassour County kind of throughout the comp plan process. Been to a number of meetings and open houses that they've had before. So, yeah, I think the main discussion that I had with Aaron on this was they want to make sure that nothing in their future land use plan will hinder our growth and development within our growth boundary. So that was kind of the point of, you know, hashing out that area is to make sure that they don't have any land use uh that will basically allow a bunch of uh rural development to happen that would cause us uh financial hardship uh to develop as a city in the future. So that was kind of the the point of what they're putting here, not only us, but like Montgomery [snorts] and all the other cities. So >> yes. >> Okay. Ken as an example on that and I just had a question that because that that land that we on a contract for dement farms that we rent is is zoned industrial if I'm looking at the map correctly. >> Yes, you are correct. >> I'm not would you say >> you say zoning or how what is what would this what is it? So guide guided industrial. Yeah. For the >> this is lassur county's >> lassur county's comp plan and ultimately they're going to work on their or zoning ordinance will go hand in hand with this as well. But that is what they have it guided as. We have it guided as um business flex. I had to think of the right way. >> Okay. That was my question because if if we would use it for a soccer field or something that's not a big change or issue. >> No. Not not for our um city land use. No. It's interesting then that we have that as industrial any benefit to making it bigger red or [laughter] >> we can always look you can you know depending on um what kind of development proposal may come in the future we can always change land use plan and >> um but at this point yeah being business flex that does provide a flexible quasi industrial quasi business type use there so Any other questions? >> Um I one other thing you know back I don't know a few years ago when we had that uh massage for you issue. Um my question I wasn't on the the council at that time. Was there ever a thought about making massages parlors having to get licensed in the city? I know [clears throat] other cities do do that. Um, and I don't know if that would have been done or if it would have maybe stopped this pro this issue or >> I guess it I can say that we have not discussed that. >> Okay. >> And I don't know if any council members have ever had those discussions prior to me, but it's certainly something we can look at. >> Yeah. >> Um, I [clears throat] do know that the city of Lakeville does require a license. I'm actually a massage therapist. Um, and during a baseball tournament, I provided my services and I did have to get a license. Um, and you [clears throat] have to have, uh, proof of your schooling in particular and then some, you know, other credentials. >> Um, uh, I think it would could certainly be something to look into. Um, I know we have a m number of massage therapists here. Um, in the city and at that time I think that the license was $25, but it was just more of a little bit of a background check, [clears throat] you know, in ensuring that >> yeah, you're probably every couple of weeks from somebody looking to, hey, I'm going to be in town. Do I need a license for that? So, I do actually have quite a bit of research I've done on that in the past because five 10 years ago a lot of people um were getting into this and then cities were putting an ordinance in place. So, yeah, we can definitely >> I know Savage has one and too I don't know about Prior Lake or Belplane or Jordan. >> And you think of you know like stylists, you know, anyone that cuts hair, an esthetician, they have to have a state >> uh license, right? So, uh, as a massage therapist, I certainly would feel better if my clientele knew that I was licensed within the city. I think it just gives a little bit more license. >> Uh, they do not not in the state of Minnesota. Um, other states do require state license and there's also I think the state of Florida requires um something at a higher level. I'm trying to remember for my schooling, but I can't. it. Yeah. So, yeah, I to your point, Mayor, I I think it's worth looking into. I think it just gives legitimacy to um the profession. >> Are you thinking a part-time gator or something? [laughter] >> You don't want these. >> I was going to go somewhere else with >> Yeah, there's no trust. >> Bruce, I can get my hands around your neck. [laughter] >> Okay. I didn't have anything else. So, if we don't have anything else, I'll go make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Got a second by Rick. All in favor say I. I. Any opposition? Okay. Thank you everyone. >> I have to go to the bathroom again. >> I drank a lot of coffee today. [laughter] >> You're wired too. Not going to sleep. >> I have not hollered once. >> No. I when I'm getting back to that backdating thing that's how the systems I'm when I work with people and businesses you you have a system whenever you