This transcript appears to be from a Moose Lake City Council meeting held on August 14, 2019. Based on the context provided, I have assigned the speakers to the dialogue. [0:01] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you. Welcome everyone to my regular meeting, Moose Lake City Council, August 14, 2019. [0:39] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: On the agenda is changes, additions. [0:55] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Both for the consent agenda. Minutes for July 10, 2019, Moose Lake City Council regular meeting. Any questions or discussion on minutes? Could I have a motion to accept the consent agenda minutes? A second? All in favor say aye. (Aye). Motion carried. Under 2B, financial reports. You have the city accounts payable for August 2019, the city financial statements for July 2019. [1:41] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: And the liquor store profit and loss statements for July 2019. Any discussion or questions on our dashboard? There's just two. [2:15] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any other discussion or questions? [2:28] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: A vote. And then I retrieve public comment. This time is reserved for problems from the public on matters not on the agenda. Please keep your comments to three minutes. [2:48] **Kelly Lake (Carlton County Sheriff/Law Enforcement Lead)**: Number four, Department reports. Police Chief Department report for July 2019. [3:03] **Kelly Lake**: It got very busy. July 4th was very, very congested traffic. Very, very busy. Yes, you. [3:37] **Kelly Lake**: Naturally, English success, 500 people in... just... that's me, my training in September, mandatory taser. [4:11] **Kelly Lake**: You see a hundred million calls physically. Thank you very much. I pass it on to the staff, the Public Works superintendent report. [4:18] **Phil Entner (City Superintendent)**: There are a couple on this pump. It’s very, very busy—I say that every time I’m up here—but it seems like this just water particles start there. Distributed 4.6 million gallons of drinking water from Moose Lake. One water break for water service or very fixed with one second. Nominal perch. Probably season, the hydrants will make up. They look good. [4:59] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: They do, they really look—they look really nice. I just have to say it. [5:05] **Phil Entner**: They do, so anyway. Sewer Department collection system collected 7.5 million gallons of wastewater for the month of July. We’ll be starting our discharging here in September. We got a string of discharges at the wastewater plant. Probably got ones applied for more than we usually do. Everything I see discharging is—it’s not a good filter on the ballot—but there’s multiple testing, sampling. There’s a lot of African-era stuff that we can stuff, it works good. That will be coming up here quarterly. We’re assuming that your last week—Ashford, right?—no, tell me early one morning making a whole lot of noise, hopefully different plates. [5:47] **Phil Entner**: With this televising the campground, that’s a year in engineering importantly that was completed and the last week that actually happened, almost never thought. So that’s done. Street department: pothole filling as usual on a monthly basis. Blacktop patches for repairs. We did have a couple instances where utility companies are not following through with their permits—gray waste or not watering sewer electric, but other utilities—and we had to get down on them really good. There was one actually—was two years here—got a figure I’ll take care of and the money’s going to get this works properly. But we really had to do there's some things that might... let's go along with that for future status. [6:34] **Phil Entner**: Sidewalk repairs here. Was sidewalk repairs on 5th Street, the first three I think. This monitor Street, afford a couple new concrete pads down at the market for the campground. Part of what the thing is, is going to us, the city, which I have to say that we really appreciate as a really nice gesture they're doing when those are done right. We have one going in down here at my place to attend the leaders. Pacific general, pretty nice. Concrete was poured for a lot of concrete at this point. Concrete was reported at the Clemens memorial as well, and new concrete vendors were reportedly placed there as well. Cemeteries are... but we are having some water issues up there at all night area sport locations. [7:20] **Phil Entner**: When we had an accident at the Morgan, I actually ran over a satellite for a water riser that got shot off last week. The system in town for a technology fix next week, and then I think the pump went over well and other side area today. I just honestly, I just looked at that and thought about it. So what they did is on me generally... are there aspects of water like that all the time and so I called... [8:27] **Phil Entner**: Thank you very much. [8:39] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator)**: For technology, we met with CW and went over our capital budget for the next five years. Planning ahead for computer replacement, servers, everything else. We need to replace another our computers before the end of the year, which would be at once for next year. But other than that we're looking pretty good. That was talking to all the CW at library, all that, as the hours work. [9:32] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: The a second book seal. [9:47] **Ellissa Owens**: For the city engineer, the biggest thing that works out here right now is the wells and the well house. Anybody is interested in being a part of those discussions, first Tuesday of the month... [10:13] **Ellissa Owens**: The first Tuesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. we meet with the engineers. We'll be talking about the well house for the next 12 months. Some of the design stuff is beginning with what the building will look like, that she wants and needed inside the well house. All of those things are being discussed. So it’s a little bit more exciting. That will explain water testing. [10:46] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any questions? [10:59] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Nexus to burst. [11:07] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: And however one was ready. Well. [11:35] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: We got the Chamber of Commerce updates. [11:49] **Chamber Representative**: Yeah, Ellissa [Owens], people have talked to that number and she's been excellent, so we're looking forward to having her on. Meanwhile, the summer events have been pretty much completed. Our golf is down from other eras, in a number of [events] it’s short this year. So, make sure and bring out jeepers conducting examples of any cheaper members are invited. [12:39] **Chamber Representative**: Right for the raffle behind September 14th at Budapest. That'll be a campers issue, a pallbearer at booth that's there. That's the diamond and that's all for right now. [13:02] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: And right, yes. Possible... so the other exchanger... [13:29] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: They had to 6A. We'll come back to buy after that. 6A. [13:42] **Public Health Representative**: Consonants are having needs mate. Just wanted to give a quick overview and update on where our plan for Tobacco 21 is, special ordinance within. And what I lack there, commission... something which computers in access to panel looking at what expected 21 ordinance look like. And so since then, we put together and they didn't have a little bit lower attendance become one at a school hearing this lake and okay. Also just to kind of approach of informing the community about the potential of what the Tobacco 21 ordinance would look like. And then we also have fitted some information in July and so that's kind of where we started. [14:45] **Public Health Representative**: From here on out we're going to be putting together a meeting with the stakeholders, sending that along with the city of Moose Lake, and on the line our county commissioners, Carlton County. Moose Lake and Cloquet are now licensed tobacco retailers separate from the county. And so we're going to come at it as a climate of approach and look at a draft policy with the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grant that they were under. We have access to a couple technical assistance support students—the flashbender has really want us to draft an ordinance and get that looked at for inclusion and then talk about what it looks like. Backing up a little bit on what it is and the why for doing it... [15:31] **Public Health Representative**: The basics of Tobacco 21 is raising the legal sales age of tobacco to 21. And there's a couple reasons why we're doing that from a public health standpoint. 95% of adults addicted smokers started before 21. So that's kind of one of the big pieces. And then the National Academy of Medicine reports that if the tobacco age was released to 21 nationally, that there would be a 25% reduction in this whole thing initiation—220,000 fewer premature deaths in 2003. So kind of taking that, there's a lot of numbers... [16:17] **Public Health Representative**: I'll leave these statistics and pass those out too. But we think about raising a sales age to 21, an initiation rate between 15 and 17 year olds. Taking that other statistic of 95 percent starting before the age of 21, if we raised the sales age to 21, that takes 18 year-olds out of the picture who in tobacco were still in high school. So those 18 year olds who are in High School are able to purchase for their friends most of the time. According to the 2017 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey, 60% of kids who are using these right now are getting them from friends. So if they take that out of the picture, it's much less likely to be in their sphere of influence. One of their city and Massachusetts have actually passed this back in 2005 and they've even had a drop by nearly... so that's that outcome you're somebody's attic requirement. So that's kind of I wanted to keep it short to give you the basics, but I'm here to answer questions. I have a couple infographics too that I'll leave... about increasing the age to 21 with that. [17:51] **Public Health Representative**: Actually a one Carlton County specific youth tobacco use sort of Student Survey. It will be interesting to see, we will be releasing the 2019 survey soon. Looking forward to seeing the difference. [18:18] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any questions? They look at anything at this... [18:24] **Public Health Representative**: Yeah, just kind of information at this point. Like I said, it’s our meeting just got scheduled for August 28th I believe, so we'll be at that conversation about what the future holds. [18:47] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: To the next meeting then. And conversation is a state... statewide at all of the... [18:59] **Public Health Representative**: Yeah, so right now 36... 6 and 8 counties have... Maryland and the state did look at this last legislative session that didn't go through partly we've heard because of timing, there were a lot of bills in. So that's what the feedback we got, but it wasn't because there was a lot of opposition. So potentially the next go-around. But also knowing Carlton County in general is kind of one of the reasons, even our citizens push. [19:34] **Council Member Walter Lower III**: I don't eat all these, are they more the road officers? [19:40] **Public Health Representative**: Yeah actually most of them are, oh yeah, and in context on the website that kind of lists... [20:23] **Ellissa Owens**: Way back to five, previously discussed business. By means of special assessment multi, turning on page 38 is graphics that our engineers prepared last time regarding different percentage examples and then the policy begins on page 41. We changed—remember the last time there was several highlighted sections—we changed all of them to include what we talked about from the last time. The only areas that are still highlighted are the percentage and then the very last pages if the policy was adopted. So the big thing that we took away from the last time is a remainder that we need to decide upon is: if we want to have an assessment policy, what is the percentage that we want to use? [21:28] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: We start that discussion and conversation. Okay members, there's another option. Was that tax percentage instead of increasing that? It was given to me that everybody uses the roads, maybe not as much as the people living on them at some time. Here everyone uses it. Typically, setting a tax, putting that data aside tentatively in an account but it is only with infrastructure—not necessarily have an assessment policy. Maybe opportunity is... [22:42] **Ellissa Owens**: Sure. So the mayor and I talked about this for a little bit. The biggest thing with the assessment policy versus just levying an additional amount that would be earmarked or restricted just for road projects is we know that there's a gap in funding that we have for these projects. So we have X amount of money coming from sales tax, the gas franchise fee, and then there's this remainder. So the things that we have to play with are basically the length of time in between road projects or coming up with another way to fund to close that financial gap and period of time. If we are to do the assessment policy, the thing that we need to know is: what is the percentage that guides us in a long period we have in between road projects? [23:47] **Ellissa Owens**: If we look at doing a levy increase, the only thing that you know is the dollar amount per year, and it would work the same way as the sales tax with the gas franchise speed where basically we set aside a lump into a restricted fund for construction. And each year we would levy for those funds and basically, as fast as that balance grew every time that we were able to do a road project, it would go back to zero and we would start back over again building that reserve back up. So if we pick the $80 home, I can tell you what the levy increase that would correspond with that is. It is a way to spread the cost over, say, instead of 150 residents, it would be over all residents for every road project with the understanding that... so an example would be if we were to say set aside a hundred thousand dollars per year, that would be approximately a five percent levy increase. We would take that section of money that we decided for our restricted fund and each year balance there's a different dollar amount and a different percentage, but basically you're still playing with length of time. [25:22] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: And the end would see instead of $50 a month for 15 years, talking maybe it's $50-$60 in the year, in the month. So it affects the people, yes. Just another option have to the whole day for the budget for September and we have time for you to think about it. It's another option, another way of putting this without any individual sound involved so happily a lot... [26:08] **Ellissa Owens**: Well I mean I will say that there are plenty of examples of communities that do it this way. It has the same struggle that an assessment policy has which is initially setting it up—it is going to be unpopular. However once it is set up and built into a budget and projects are being done, it's just another part of paying property taxes. I will say that doing it with a levy rather than a special assessment makes it so that we likely would no longer bond for projects. If you do an assessment you're taking a cost and spreading it out over 15 years and we would need the bonds for the assessment. Or if we just levy for it and there's a certain amount of money in each year once that reserve got to however much a project cost we would just spend that down and start it back over again. So there would be some savings in doing it through a levy rather than a special assessment. [27:16] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: So these are the cultural week with probably three options right? [27:26] **Ellissa Owens**: I mean it kind of comes down to it. If we're doing a road project—excuse me—we're doing the road project next year, I need... there's that gap in funding that I need to know. And if we're not, then we're just initially pushing on road so yeah. And if we're going to levy for it, I need to know by next month, or assessing we have probably two months to plan projects for next year otherwise we're getting into... [28:16] **Council Member Lou Ohly**: Council question: these possessions... well I guess I'd be interested in learning more about this levy personally. I am NOT supporting a special assessment. That's optimal. I guess I have some concerns both with both the assessment and the tax increase with not knowing what the county and the state are doing this year for possible tax increases with the jail. That would be a property tax increase or if they are... I mean that sales tax or how they are looking to do that and just... I worry about the state. I don't see the state increasing spending and I wonder about the state doing tax increases at the same time which if they do it at least makes the decision protected and will be more difficult for million ways because... Does the county have an idea of how they would full funding for the jail? [29:48] **Council Member/Official (Carlton County context)**: Did you guys reach the point in the discussion where we are looking at trying to fund the jail with a personal assistant, AG commissioner? Yeah as we're moving forward with the jail, things kind of changed in the legislature. We thought in November we were going to put that out to the public about building the jail using a half-cent sales tax but now things have changed down there. So we have to go to the legislature so it kind of pushed it off a year and we have to get their approval just like the state of the Moon when they wanted to have cent sales tax again with their role problem. You know they had to get the support of the people who lead and it had both legislature. [30:35] **Council Member/Official**: And so that's what we're looking at. We're not looking at property taxes. They already denied in this county looking at property tax increases. And for the jail, you know I'm not on the Finance Committee this year so I'm not sure exactly what right now where the process of doing things like that. And like I said on the orange shop what was decided on that, that we'd have a $15 wheelage tax and we're taking a small percentage of our sales tax that would use for roads because it's used for the building that houses our transportation equipment. That it's a lot of gold air and so we're not using any property taxes to do that remodeling. That's what kind of... when you know your license tabs right now it says zero or a wheelage tax. So like for example I have two winter cars and two summer cars and an old truck. One of those vehicles is a '92 and so I would have to pay when I renew their license tabs. I would pay $15 for each vehicle that I have. So if you only have one vehicle you would be paying $15. And what you have, yeah, that's with people that live here and their car is registered here. But you know we have a lot of people here that live on the lake—they even live on my road—that have a cabin but they're from a different part of Minnesota. They buy their license, they would be paying a wheelage tax here. So that's what... if we don't have a... right now Pine County had it for a while then they decided to drop that just go have some sales tax. So that's something what we decided on the $15 wheelage tax—that we would do that until the pawnshop has paid off and then it would go away without a paper. [33:22] **Council Member/Official**: Yeah, 15-20 years unless things change at the legislature and they start giving us a little bit more money for their transportation. I don't think we've had a transportation bill for a while—they always talk about it and it never gets done. But they decide to... you know when they talked last year about raising the gas tax, different things like so they pass I feel like the legislature then they would provide more money for the city of Moose Lake and townships and the county is something so that that could change the equation doctor. [34:02] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: All right can you hear the questions? Is there consensus for... [34:20] **Ellissa Owens**: I said I don't care more about that yeah for rapid assessment policy 30%. Got some people I want to report that different the numbers... information. [35:16] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Okay moving on. Becoming prosecution services contract. Talk a little bit about this. The mayor and myself, the attorney as well, are going to meet to discuss the prosecution services contract that we have. Back in 2000 we had, since I think that she is quite interesting, something put in place to help on her budget. [35:57] **Ellissa Owens**: So basically I just wanted to bring it... that's along... Any further questions comments? [36:16] **Ellissa Owens**: Also periodically he blogs and business... 2016 working council meeting for the 2020 budget. So similar to years past, I'd like to have a working council meeting. No decisions would be made; it would allow us to go over the budget. I'm looking at for September. We need to have our initial levy passed by the 15th which is probably the 13th then, I'm not sure if they push it back to the 16th or not. But if we meet the first week of September, that will allow us to make any changes by the 11th city council meeting so we could set our initial path. [37:15] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: When David before? [37:31] **Ellissa Owens**: Anyone Thursday we need to do it at and I think that... [38:05] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Okay so let's let's do it. So the that's the other thing with that is as we're bringing together we're just not done. Is there anything that you all would like to see included other... [38:39] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Very good moving on to six. [38:49] **Ellissa Owens**: 16th, page 56 and 57 are quotes for replacing one of the rooftop units. This was in our capital budget. Yeah we have seven—six or seven rooftop units—and rather than having them all break at once, replace one a year. They are all certainly ready to be replaced so we budget for this. My suggestion... [39:33] **Phil Entner**: Offices on the up stand that's at $3,900. We do not need 1,500—no, that the economizer side is 1,500. The economizer is an add-on this I would probably suggest that we add on but that's not—that was not part of the original. If the economizer... basically on a day like today if it's calling for cooling, it's cooler outside, it doesn't actually need to run the air conditioner—it can just pull just outside air and blow it through. It’s considerably more efficient. We would suggest that we probably do that, but for this purpose... [40:21] **Phil Entner**: So this would be the air handler for the kitchen and that there's a sort chose the storage room that's over there. They have I think three freezers in there, it makes it a little bit harder. [40:49] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Motion and questions discussion? All in favor say aye. (Aye). [41:00] **Phil Entner**: Then are you okay with adding the economizer in there? [41:07] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yeah I'm fine with that fluid illness it's pretty close to what the other... [41:17] **Ellissa Owens**: Yes we watch it. [41:31] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Here's one in a second yeah if you want that I mean it's within my ideal altar... all the fantasy I okay. [41:57] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Number six. New well house location. [42:01] **Phil Entner**: As we've been talking about the new house, page 58 is on the map. You can see the blue star is where the house is currently located. It's right next to the campground office and right next to the park. It's likely we are going to have a new well house building with two pumps and it would need to be moved to a new location so we could fill that while the other pumps are still working. So in planning where that could fill a new location for the well house, basically the land that we own, we would be moving the Wells closer into the park like towards and all of that stuff. That is an option—there's technically enough room to do that—but I think we're putting a building in there that doesn't... [43:03] **Phil Entner**: So what I am asking is permission to start having a conversation with the owners of the school. There's a parcel that's highlighted in red there where there's a garage on it. If we were to purchase that, it would be right next to the well house in a location that's very accessible that we could basically be able to separate the wells by a privileges right now and have a much better setup for our wells than that otherwise... [43:48] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Is that everything? I mean you're talking like $36-$40? [44:00] **Phil Entner**: No everybody and we have been talking about designs like aesthetically at the outside it's gonna—it will look pretty nice, things like that. But I still don't know everyone in the park unless that's our last resort. [44:38] **Phil Entner**: Yeah and I'm not looking for like a motion to buy it because I don't know the price would be, so I'm just asking for... [44:59] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: They didn't... there is another option which would be... [45:18] **Ellissa Owens**: I mean so I want to be true... it's brocade on that? Okay, I'll just have a conversation successfully. Pro expansion—the Historical Society is talking once again about trying to go out of the state for a bonding request to expand the building. Last time that they came to us was kind of late into the session and they got a little messy, so they're trying to start it a little bit earlier this time. Instead of it being an L-shaped building they're looking at just adding on to the back of it and having it still basically it will just be a continuation of the building. [46:17] **Ellissa Owens**: They are going to start working with the county EDA executive director on some additional funding sources. Hopefully right now their plan is to request a hundred percent from the state. That's a little hesitant with that, but they would need basically we would be submitting the capital request to the state for this project because it is a city homeland property in the building, the city. So it would be the city asking for funding of the state. They're going to provide us with information and come and speak to us prior to that. I just wanted to find out from you guys if there's anything specific that you wanted to see from them? Obviously a cost estimate, the layout, all those kinds of things... but is there anything else that we would like to see from them for them to make... oh that but computer stuff, storage room and a they call it like a really very going up to the attic. [47:59] **Ellissa Owens**: This would be there we have to act as and you... [48:24] **Council Member Walter Lower III**: Supported and paid for it? Oh, put together you... [48:56] **Council Member Douglas Juntunen**: I'd like to see it cannot get it what funding stream that they improved its back oh but I understand we're good everybody they're not looking to pay back at all they're they're looking for a hundred percent grant from the sea state I agree. [49:35] **Ellissa Owens**: The exception is a school for the 164 and then at 7:30. [50:00] **Council Member/Official**: Part of the economic development percent. Mary was here today so we met with the Historical Society, Sharon and Steve today, and provided all this information of Mary and Mary's had a look at it. She's got knowledge and background and bonding and all the different things. So she's going to work with them and then they'll come back to you and do a presentation and Mary said that she'd come at that time too. And you know there's possibilities of a legacy grant or the different possibilities out there just explore every option available to see if we give this project forward. I think for the city, Moose Lake, when people that stop up there and all that so over this head wait and see what Mary puts together this is accurate information. [51:19] **Ellissa Owens**: Yeah just if anybody wants me to pass something along that line... I wouldn't prove to earn anything. We're not moving anything other than yes. [52:01] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: There are all three of you yeah as a deduction. All right consensus number seven. Reports of correspondence that it penny said 40 minutes of Moose Lake regular meeting in this Lake Park Board minutes which 8-2019 agency mostly require protection ministers by 1990. Vista Caitlin subscribe peasant national all ready in there when they went down with a firecracker and that was last month a desirable. [53:41] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Our ability to develop more at the archive? I want to write in there's no way. [54:27] **Steve Aldrin (Fire District Board Chair)**: Or halal. They're looking at selling another piece of purchase a ladder truck. I did bring that up tonight. These other equipment that they had it did sound like it it is something that definitely a large Purdue said that I should I'm definitely concerned about it myself information they all hey they are educated oh just like you have terrible look at the numbers. [56:10] **Ellissa Owens**: Under 18 was like an almond and pony like that. They're doing some new house development background language I was warming that they were able to any new homes for you it's also said that they had oh... [56:52] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Then it was kind of cheating there was something if I wanna drive and I don't think to be ended up doing it we have another person that's looking at buying one and each person that bought one is also said that they're planning on buying so I'm not sure. The questions constantly and... [57:33] **Ellissa Owens**: Wednesday September 11th at 4 p.m. Moose Lake Economic Forum on Tuesday September 11th at 4 p.m. Moose Lake Water Lake Commission record meeting Tuesday August 20th at 3 p.m. on her life Dennis as evening is already. [58:09] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: The next Moose Lake housing redevelopment authority for September 9th at 11:00 a.m. Moose Lake Battered office. Moose Lake Fire District Tuesday September 10th 6:30 at Moose Lake National Guard center. Moose Lake Park board meeting September 2nd since their hand that's go to the next Monday September... [58:40] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Monday September 19th 6:00 and Thursday after the rustic diner on. [59:13] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: And the last meeting library ordinances September 9th 1:00 p.m. [59:24] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Moose Lake to turn and holiday or say aye. (Aye).