This transcript appears to be from a period where the city leadership slightly differed from the provided list (specifically featuring Mayor Althoff and Administrator Neil Jensen), but I have utilized the provided names for the City Council members and staff where they align with the dialogue. [4:39] **Mayor Althoff:** Good evening everyone. I'd like to call the May 3rd city council meeting for the city of Cannon Falls to order. Could we have roll call please? [4:45] **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** Bringold? **Council Member Bringold:** Here. **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** Duncan? **Council Member Duncan:** Here. **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** Gesme? **Council Member Gesme:** Here. **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** Kronenberger? **Council Member Kronenberger:** Here. **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** Lundell? **Council Member Lundell:** Here. **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** Montgomery? **Council Member Montgomery:** Here. **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** And Althoff? **Mayor Althoff:** Here. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [5:21] **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, agenda. Does the council have any corrections or additions? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the agenda? **Council Member Duncan:** So moved. **Council Member Lundell:** Second. **Mayor Althoff:** Motion by Duncan, a second by Lundell to approve the agenda. Any other discussion? All in favor, aye. Opposed? Carried. Okay, public input. Public input is intended to afford the public an opportunity to address concerns to the City Council. The public input will be no longer than 30 minutes in total length and each [6:06] speaker will have no more than three minutes to speak. Speakers may address topics relevant to the government of the city. Speakers must sign up in advance and must provide their name, address, and topic they intend to address. Comments must be on topic, respectful, pertinent to city business, and adhere to the applicable data privacy rules. Any speaker that violates these rules will be asked to sit down. If the speaker refuses to comply, they may be removed from the meeting. Speakers shall not address topics that are the subject of a public hearing; all such comments will be made at the public hearing. The City Council will not generally act [6:53] on issues raised by the public input, but they may choose to schedule consideration of an item at a future agenda. Okay, first and last name? [7:11] **Citizen Speaker:** Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, as you know, I was here a couple weeks ago and talked about the public input not being at the Finance Committee or the Police Commission, and I have not heard anything. And I know of nowhere that—I mean, who decided this? And I can’t find any public record of any decision being made to not allow it. So I’m wondering if you won’t take that under consideration, then I can quit harping about it. Anyway, um, the last Police Commission meeting was in July of 2021, and ordinance [7:57] clearly depicts that it must be held quarterly. There were two items at the two meetings ago that should be on the Police Commission, and there’s one tonight. Um, I just wonder why we are never meeting with it. I have this, Mr. Mayor, if I may? [8:31] And in front of you is the guidelines for holding community meetings was put out to the Minnesota Police Chiefs—the Minnesota Chief of Polices—by Mr. McCormick. And it’s guidelines on hosting public meetings. There’s discussion in here about 40 members being on a community engagement group. It was supposed to have been done in 18 months; here it is two years later and to my knowledge it’s never even been spoken of. And I don’t know where you’d put 40 [9:17] members, and how can we even think about writing something like this if we can’t even put together five, six people and have a Police Commission meeting when you are directed to by your own ordinance? So I would like some answers to some of this. It doesn’t make sense to me. One other thing about the data practices: Thank you, Sarah, you made it clear that you were not following state guidelines. In Neil Jensen's memo to the Council, it talks about due to the high demand of data requests... it is not the data [10:05] requests that fuel this data practices update. It’s because you were not in compliance with state law. That’s why it’s being done. Thank you for your time. [10:25] **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, Bob? Would you like to talk? Oh, you signed up—okay. Okay, anybody else? Public input? Second call, public input. Third and final call, public input. Hearing none, we'll close the public input portion of the meeting and we'll get into public hearings. First one, Item A: Resolution 26-27, certify unpaid utility charges be collected with taxes. Neil, you want to take that? [11:12] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator):** Sure. Quarterly, the city of Cannon Falls notifies property owners of past-due water and sewer bills. This public hearing is for those individuals to speak on their behalf of why or how. Um, at the end of the public hearing, what we're requesting is for you to pass Resolution 26-27, certifying the unpaid utility bills to be collected on taxes. [11:59] **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, let's open the public hearing on Resolution 26-27. Anybody would like to talk regarding unpaid utility bills? Second call. Third and final call. Okay, we'll close the public hearing on Resolution 26-27 and I'll take a motion to pass Resolution 26-27 certifying unpaid utility charges be collected with taxes. **Council Member Bringold:** Motion. **Council Member Lundell:** Second. **Mayor Althoff:** Motion by Bringold, second by Lundell. Any other discussion? All in favor, aye. Opposed? Carried. Second public hearing: Introduction and first reading of Ordinance 383, an ordinance amending the City Code Chapter 121 relating to mobile food units. [12:46] Neil? [12:47] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator):** I'll start with this and then Sarah can take over. We have a business owner in the RB district that is requesting amendment to Ordinance 121.17. Mobile food units are allowed in the city under certain circumstances depending on what kind of district that they're in. The owner right now is in the RB district, so the statute says that they cannot be within 100 feet of a food [13:31] service establishment. What this business owner is requesting is to have a mobile food unit within their property, within 100 feet. So they're requesting a change. Now, in the memo, it states "unless the owner of the food service establishment approves of a closer location in writing," and this will be just in regards to the I-1, the I-2, and the RB districts as it is in the ordinance. This is—there's a line missing on that area. [14:19] So that's what we're looking for tonight, and I see they're in the audience so if they want to further on that. Anything you want to say, Sarah? **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** No, I think just the clarification. If you go down to page 17 of the packet, there's the actual language that's being recommended and it limits it to those districts: I-2, I-1, and RB. [14:53] **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, let's open the public hearing. Would you like to talk? [14:54] **Kelly Elvistad (Owner, Dairy Inn):** Mayor, Council, thanks for having us at the public hearing tonight. I'm Kelly Elvistad, the owner of the Dairy Inn with my husband. The reason we're requesting this is the restaurant business is just really tricky right now and we're trying to think outside the box within the constraints of our non-conforming use. And so food trucks is one of the things that we brought forward as an idea and then just kind of went to the Administrator to see if there was a way to make it work. And this one line in the food truck ordinance really was our barrier. [15:38] We are not asking for the downtown area. You know, where we're a non-conforming use. So according to the code, if we weren't a restaurant, we could have as many food trucks there as we wanted. Um, but the fact that we're going to be serving ice cream means we can't have food trucks. So we're just trying to move forward. This seemed like an option working with Neil that would hopefully not upset the other restaurants because it doesn't affect the areas close to them. I think we're the only restaurant in the city limits that this would affect. So um, yeah, if anybody has questions? [16:25] **Mayor Althoff:** Would you have just one truck or would you have different ones? **Kelly Elvistad:** We would hope to—it's hard to get one. I mean, if I could get one truck, I would just hire them to run my kitchen! Okay, so no, the thought would be to bring in some variety. Um, two, maybe three trucks at a time. We don't have a huge lot and we don't want—the hope would be for us as a business to draw in extra business, you know, and it could be a complimentary business to the food trucks. I know it's appealing to be able to park your truck a place for a few days at a time rather than have to pull it every single night, things like that. So I haven't really pursued it with too many food trucks until this all got settled. So I don't even know if there [17:10] will be interest this late in the year, or if we can get people because a lot of times they get scheduled into festivals and things like that. But um, yeah, it's just what we're trying to figure out how to make it work. **Mayor Althoff:** Open at this point? In other words—yeah. Okay, so the Dairy Inn—you guys are only doing ice cream, not food per se? **Kelly Elvistad:** Yeah, except for a food truck. Yep. Um, unfortunately we're a seasonal business. Um, and the owner before us tried to go year-round; it just didn't work financially to do it year-round. And it's really hard to find cooks. Um, we've been accepting applications for a month; I haven't gotten one person over 15 years old to apply. [17:55] Um, I can't have anybody under 16 in the kitchen and honestly, I don't want to. I would rather have an adult in the kitchen because of our experiences. So um, yeah, that's just where we're at. And unless we want to give up our lives and work in a kitchen for the entire summer... it's just not feasible. You have to have a staff of at least three people to run a kitchen. **Mayor Althoff:** Well, food trucks are kind of a sticky issue. It all came up here a few years ago when Tilion Brewery opened; they don't serve food and they wanted a food truck outside. And we allowed them, but the restaurant owners downtown were kind of opposed to it. But your situation, you're kind of on the north end of town and I think we asked all the restaurant owners to come here tonight and nobody—I don't see anyone. **Council Member Gesme:** I have some stuff to say. Oh, okay, discussion. But I'll wait till then. **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, but you are kind of on the north side of town and I don't know how the council feels but... **Kelly Elvistad:** And another thing is we'd be in the non-conforming use that we have. We did put the Dairy Inn on the market this year and of all the interested parties, they all wanted a year-round restaurant where they could have larger indoor seating and get a liquor [19:27] license. And just again, that's something we pursued. It's just not possible with the size of our lot with the non-conforming use. And we get it; the Dairy Inn is what it is, and honestly I wouldn't want it to change to anything else. Um, I would love to find someone to take it over as a seasonal restaurant with a grill, you know? That would be ideal. But it just—we didn't get anybody interested that's looking for that because the numbers just don't work. **Council Member Lundell:** Steve? No, no. **Mayor Althoff:** Well, do I discuss now or after the hearing? I think you want to wait till after the hearing. Any other questions? Thank you. **Kelly Elvistad:** Thank you. Yep, thanks. [20:16] **Mayor Althoff:** Anybody else want to speak on the public hearing? Diane? [20:27] **Council Member Diane Johnson:** Diane Johnson. I'm sorry, I don't have much of a voice tonight. I was just going to ask if in the ordinance itself—the amendment—should we have just clarification "all owners within 100 feet" as opposed to just "a owner" in case there happened to be, you know? If we do this amendment, it applies across the board, not just to the Dairy Inn location, correct? **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** Well, it only applies in I-1, I-2, and RB districts. And the only restaurant in those districts is the Dairy Inn. **Council Member Diane Johnson:** Okay, but there might have been a future type hypothetically. I was just saying so it'd be all owners within 100 feet. **Shelley Ryan (City Attorney):** I don’t believe it's necessary because it refers to—you have to get written consent of the owner of the food service establishment. So that would be any food service establishment within a hundred feet. **Council Member Diane Johnson:** Okay, so if you've got three within a hundred feet, you'd need permission of all? That's—I just... I try to also look at and having listened to this whole argument, um, I certainly hope the Dairy Inn can continue, and if what needs to happen is to have some food trucks there, I would like to support our local businesses. **Mayor Althoff:** No, that's a good clarification. Just to clarify Diane, that's the Dairy Inn. The Dairy Queen’s on the south end. There is a Dairy Queen too. **Council Member Diane Johnson:** That’s right. Never mind. Dairy Inn. [22:07] **Mayor Althoff:** Hearing none, I'll close the public input or public hearing on the ordinance amending the city code chapter 121. Uh, now is there any comments from the Council? [22:15] **Council Member Gesme:** I have—I've spoken to a—one of the restaurant owners in the city and he was speaking for two other businesses, so three total. And they had some concerns about uh pulling business away from their lunchtime crowd with food trucks. Um, and to be specific, they said some food [22:54] trucks are destination-specific. People follow them around. I think there it goes wherever the tacos are. Did you say that, Derek? Of course, yes. So I guess that was their biggest concern. And um, the only other concern they wanted to address was um, although you are property tax-paying people, and so are they, and they were concerned that the food trucks were not and they were going to benefit by not paying taxes and possibly pulling business from their establishments, especially during the noon rushes when I'm sure the food trucks will be the busiest because they're quick in and out and gone. [23:40] That's what their concerns were. That's all I had. [23:43] **Council Member Duncan:** Anybody else? Um, just a couple questions about the Dairy Inn specifically. If we were to change this, there's still several other—they're the highlighted ones towards the bottom of the document here—that are issues specific to Dairy Inn, such as overnight storage, duration of sales, things like that. **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** How that's on public land? My mistake. **Council Member Duncan:** Okay, never mind that. Sorry Sarah, I didn't mean to step on your toes. I guess the second question I have... um, a little bit of a concern. I realize this only is for certain districts. [24:27] What do we do if in a year or two one of the bar and grills in town says, "You know, we can't get enough kitchen staff either. We're not making any money on our burgers, but we want people to come here so they keep, you know, drinking beer. Can we put a food truck out and close our kitchen?" Are we going to do the same thing for them if it's really that successful? You know? Yeah, I just, you know, and I think it's a fine idea, but I just wonder: Are we setting a precedent here that we might be expected to do in the future? Unlikely probably, but possible. [25:12] **Shelley Ryan (City Attorney):** I don't think you're setting a legal precedent that would be an issue because the Dairy Inn is legal non-conforming. It's in such a different situation than any of the others; I don't think it's comparable. That being said, this is an incredibly divisive issue for exactly the reason Councilor Gesme raised is you've got business owners who put in money to the community, they pay their property taxes, it's expensive. You have a food truck that comes in and doesn't have to do that, and so it's a very divisive issue. In five years, might it be a totally different situation and you'll want food trucks on your street every day? It might be. Right now they're fairly limited um and the goal is to keep them—yeah, you don't want them pulling right up to Nick's or right up to Mill Street and running. I mean, that's what this ordinance is intended to do, as well as other safety things. So might you change your mind in the future? [25:57] There is also a licensing—a liquor licensing component that changes things, as the Chief just pointed out. Um, so might you change your opinion in the future? Yes, it's possible. But I think this particular change is specific enough; I don't think it ties you to any precedent. **Mayor Althoff:** But it’s also a seasonal business. I mean, this is not going to go year-round. So okay, any other comments? Okay, do I have any action? I'd like a motion. **Council Member Bringold:** I'll make a motion to approve the City Code Chapter 121. **Council Member Duncan:** Second. [26:44] **Mayor Althoff:** Motion has been made by Bringold, second by Duncan to adopt the amendment of the City Code Chapter 121 relating to mobile food units. Is there any other discussion? All in favor, aye. Opposed? **Council Member Gesme:** No. **Mayor Althoff:** Matt, what did you vote up there? **Council Member Montgomery:** He's swerving in traffic! Hey, aye. **Mayor Althoff:** Aye. So the motion passes five to one. Okay, moving on, we have a proclamation tonight. Proclamation for National Police Week 2022 and I will read that. [27:49] Whereas, there are approximately 800,000 law enforcement officers serving in the communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the City of Cannon Falls Police Department. Whereas, nearly 58,170 assaults against law enforcement officers are reported in 2019 resulting in approximately 15,000 injuries. Whereas, since the first recorded death in 1786, more than 23,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed or died in the line of duty. Whereas, the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers [28:36] Memorial in Washington D.C. Whereas, 1,600 and 619 new names of fallen heroes are being added this spring including 472 officers killed in 2021 and 147 killed in previous years. Whereas, the service and sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty will be honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's 34th annual candlelight vigil on the evening of May 13, 2022. Whereas, the candlelight vigil on [29:21] May 13, 2022 is part of National Police Week which takes place this year May 11th through the 17th, 2022. Whereas, May 15, 2022 was designated as the Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of all fallen officers and their families; all U.S. flags are to be flown at half-mast. Therefore, be it resolved that the City of Cannon Falls City Council formally designates May 11 through the 17th, 2022 as Police Week in Cannon Falls and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in our community and communities across the [30:08] nation. So said. Okay, moving on. Consent agenda. Consent agenda items may be adopted under one motion as presented or may be removed for discussion and resolution. Item A: Correct claims for the accounting period ending April 28th, 2022. Item B: Minutes for the April 19th, 2022 City Council meeting. Item C: Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 382 [30:54] and the summary of the publication amending the Charter Chapter 152 of the City of Cannon Falls City Code by rezoning certain properties from UR (Urban Reserve) to B-2 (Highway Business District). Item D: Approve the pool scholarship policy. Item E: Approve the use of the City water truck. Item F: Approve the data practice policy update. Item G: Approve a police officer resignation and a fill vacancy. Item H: Approve the surplus property agreement. Item I: Approve the hiring of a full-time paramedic. [31:41] Item J: Resolution 26-28 accepting a monetary donation of 500 dollars from the Southeast Minnesota Emergency Medical Services to the ambulance department. And Item K: Second reading and adoption of Ordinance 379 and a summary of publication, an ordinance of the city of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, amending city code Chapter 152 rezoning property at 415 Hickory Drive from B-2 to R-4 PUD and approving the final plans. Is there anything the council would like to pull down? [32:31] Nothing. Hearing none, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? **Council Member Gesme:** Motion to approve. **Council Member Duncan:** Second. **Mayor Althoff:** Motion by Gesme, second by Duncan to approve the consent agenda. Any other discussion? All in favor, aye. Opposed? Carried. Council business Item A: Fairground fair board grounds plat approval. Neil, you want to take that? [33:17] **Neil Jensen (City Administrator):** Sure. A couple three weeks ago, Mayor Althoff and I and the Fair Board sat down to a meeting to discuss some property issues that came up during an investigation that the president of the board had found out. It's—I don't know how come it's taken this long to figure out that half of Hannah's Bend Park is Fairgrounds property and part of the swimming pool... and some of the right-of-ways in the fairgrounds are still valid and buildings are built on them, etc., etc. So it's kind of a mess. So we sat down with the Fair Board and had a discussion on how we should clean this up, get it cleaned up once and for all, and [34:03] vacate the right-of-ways so their buildings are valid and transfer the property of Hannah's Bend Park back to the city. And there's also a little sliver of the swimming pool parking lot—as you can see in the maps—that was part of the parcel of Hannah's Bend where the road cut through it. So what I'm requesting tonight is to begin the research and whether we have to plat it or just vacate the right-of-ways and divide the lots and create new lots—whatever is the cheapest and the simplest to get this cleaned up. [34:50] Um, I think it's for the betterment of everybody. As I talked with the Fair Board, you know, they've owned that property for 50 years and nobody's got hurt. Well, what if somebody breaks their leg on their property now? It's theirs and not ours. And I think it really does need to get cleaned up and the property put with the proper owners. So that's what I'm requesting: to begin to work on that. And um, I know the Mayor and I are going to visit with the Fair Board and stockholders in the future to explain what's going on here. **Mayor Althoff:** Yeah, the Fair Board is going to [35:37] have a special stockholder meeting here in a couple weeks, and Neil and I will be there and explain the situation. I've been on the Fair Board for 45 years and I never knew this existed! I tell you, a lot of things were done 50, 60 years ago before I was there, but you know, I was kind of shocked to see it. **Council Member Duncan:** How did this all come to light if you don't mind saying? I mean just someone—well, or someone tried to build something? **Mayor Althoff:** Because they were going to do some—add some filler by the main gate for the carny people there and smooth that out. They looked at a map and said, "Hey, this parking lot—and this swimming pool parking lot—oh no, it's actually Fairgrounds property!" Oh boy. But I'm aware of the situation. I mean, [36:23] it happened many years ago that the Fairgrounds couldn't pay for assessments on the street they owned all the way up to Minnesota Street up in the hill there in the west side and wow—I think the fair gave the city those lots and I think they worked out a deal for Hannah's Bend Park at the time, but I don't think half of it got recorded, only right two-thirds. **Neil Jensen (City Administrator):** What I see here is Chuck Whedom has been mowing Fairgrounds property for 40 years. **Mayor Althoff:** I think what are you going to do about it, Fair Board? Yeah, oh wow! But talking to the Fair Board, we met with [37:08] six or seven of them the other day and they want it cleaned up. **Council Member Duncan:** Well, let's get it cleaned up! They want to keep it. The liabilities issue for them—I can't imagine! Okay, down in the park, you know? Well, we wish you luck! [Laughter] I suppose in that case I'll make a motion to approve WHKS and the City Attorney to work on the Fairground, swimming pool, and Hannah's Bend land ownership. **Council Member Lundell:** Second. **Mayor Althoff:** It's a motion and second to work with WHKS and the city and Fair Board and work out some kind of a plat. Any other discussion? All in favor, aye. Opposed? [37:54] Carried. Okay, Resolution 26-29: Authorizing execution of a development agreement with Keller Bartman Properties XIV LLC. Laura, you want to take that? [38:05] **Laura Qualey (Community & Business Development Specialist):** Sure, good evening. So this process has been kind of lengthy. Um, so I did give some background, kind of the steps that it's taken to get us to this point. But um, what was in your packet this evening was an engineering and zoning development agreement. You'd have approved the TIF agreement development agreement earlier—that was back in [38:41] October 19th of '21. So that was approving the TIF district and the business subsidies for the project. But the one that's in front of you is a separate one, and that's for public improvements, utility easements, erosion control, public easements. And so with this, it should be, I believe, the final step—the final document that would need your approval for this project. And then we'll be able to proceed with selling the property to Keller Bartman. So I'm just requesting action. If you have any questions, you can shoot them my way; otherwise I would just be asking for a motion to [39:26] approve Resolution 26-29 to approve the development agreement. **Mayor Althoff:** You've received that last—yep, we received the—we have the proof of financing. We've got—so we've been able to—or we've sent in the final contract for the soil borings. We haven't got the date as to when those will be scheduled to happen, but those will be conducted and then we'll be able to—because those soil borings need to be conducted before they can proceed with any excavating or whatnot. And everything's—uh, I know I've talked to you about this before, but everything with McDonald's [40:12] —everything's done there? **Laura Qualey:** Yep, and the easement agreement that Keller Bartman will have with McDonald's is between them. That would be a private easement agreement between them, not with us. **Neil Jensen (City Administrator):** Very good. There will be one more thing that I will be putting in front of you at the next meeting. The financing is based on an assignment of the tax increment district and the developer's agreement for the TIF, and the city will have to sign off on it. And we're working with Mary Ippel as we speak to get that drafted. We have a meeting with the bank that's financing it tomorrow, but that still has to come through City Council. So you'll see one more [40:57] assignment of the TIF district and then that should be it. Yeah. [40:59] **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, okay. Any other discussion? And take a motion to approve Resolution 26-29 authorizing the development agreement with Keller Bartman. **Council Member Bringold:** So moved. **Council Member Montgomery:** Second. **Mayor Althoff:** Motion by Bringold, second by Montgomery to approve Resolution 26-29 authorizing the execution of a development agreement with Keller Bartman Properties. Is there any other discussion? All in favor, aye. Opposed? Carries. [41:44] **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, reports. Kyle? [41:45] **Kyle Paulson (Chamber of Commerce):** Good evening council and community. I'm glad to be here again tonight and uh just a couple of things to talk about. We have the flower baskets that will be coming possibly the third week of May, maybe the fourth depending on the weather. And so they have been ordered and we are receiving sponsorships. And so if you would like to do an honorarium or an "in memory of," we will include that on our sponsorship poster and ad in the Beacon when we do [42:29] put that in. And so sponsorships for the flower baskets can be anything you can afford. I mean, we've had some that are five or ten dollars, we've had some that are over two hundred dollars, and so it all depends on how you're feeling about it. We also have been collecting flower baskets that the Public Works Department has been storing for us. We always think that we get to use them again the next year because we paid for them, so why can't we use them again? And that just isn't how it works. And so if anybody is looking for large [43:15] baskets, please let the Chamber know and we will get some arrangements made for you. Is that okay, Dan? All right. Um, the spring community-wide garage sale—this is this weekend. So Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th. I am hoping to have the sales list, excuse me, and the map on the Chamber's website on May 5th, and so please be watching for that on our website. The Memorial Day parade and ceremony is scheduled for May 30th. And so um, I think the 10:30 parade and 11:00 ceremony, something like that. [44:00] Okay, then we will have our first Chamber Fun Fest of the season on June 9th. That is the second Thursday, and we will be having Fun Fests and open-air fairs for the four months from June through September. And so please be watching for those registration forms; I'm hoping to get those done soon. And the last thing is our 31st annual Chamber golf tournament and fundraiser. We are now up to nine teams. And so if anyone is interested, the registration form is right on the home page of our webpage. You can click right on it and fill it out and [44:46] it is at the Gopher Hills this year, so hopefully we get a good turnout and good weather. Any questions? I just want to make sure everyone understands: We will be holding two Fun Fests this year, and the Fun Fests are the events that are on Mill Street and the vendors are on the street. We will also have two open-air fairs and there is no street blocking done during the open-air fairs. The vendors are on the sidewalks in front of the stores and offices, and that is very good in getting the people walking around our downtown and seeing [45:33] what we have to offer. And so those events are 4:30 to 7:30 the second Thursday of each month. Thank you very much. **Mayor Althoff:** Thank you, Kyle. Okay, the only meeting we had since our last was the Joint Powers Trail Board. Anything there? **Council Member Duncan:** Um, they're going to have—in the next couple months he's going to have an updated thing for us to approve. The Joint Powers—their bylaws or whatever—but that isn't done yet, so he didn't really have much this month. **Laura Qualey (Community & Business Development Specialist):** Yeah, they [46:18] received a bid for construction of four new culverts and bridges um and they thought that the bid because of construction was going to be astronomical um but it actually came in about what they were expecting so they were pleasantly surprised. So the board approved to move forward with awarding it to the lowest bidder and now it's going to the Goodhue County Board of Commissioners actually tonight to get approved to move forward. **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, very good. Okay, let's go around. Dan, you got anything tonight? [46:44] **Dan (Public Works):** [Music] A couple things. There—Public Works is jetting and vacuuming the storm sewers up at Sandstone getting ready for that final television inspection that needs to take place up there. Work on that fire damage—the gazebo in the city parking lot—is underway. They're replacing the charred boards and [47:06] re-roofing part of it, repainting. So that started. The temporary pole is in place at the water tower in preparation for the painting and rehab. So that's about it. **Council Member Kronenberger:** Um, I just wanted to let everyone know that uh this Saturday May 7th at one o'clock, there is the American Veterans Memorial groundbreaking ceremony. That is the new park that is going to be out on the south end of town, so anyone's invited to attend that. I have put information down at the VFW. Our post commander Jesse Johnson will be speaking. Mayor, I believe you're speaking, if you don't know that you are! [47:54] You're on the rough agenda here so far. Um, but there will be—we'll have two local senior high students will be singing at the event. There will be a dual color guard present from the VFW and from the American Legion. There's a Huey helicopter that will be landing and um someone will be presenting a plaque to the founder Tufang Lor, who is the man that purchased the property. So if any of one is interested, by tomorrow morning I'll have that information up. And also there's a link that you can RSVP to that event as well. So it's—and you can—it's at the [48:40] —there's not really an address, but there's a location at South 52 and County 14, kind of where they've put that new connection in for County 14. There will be directional signage that will take you to that area back there. So anyway, anyone is encouraged to attend. There will be some local political leaders from the area; you're all invited. Um, anyone from the community is invited to attend as well. So they're hoping for a good event and again that's at one o'clock on Saturday. Um, but that's—that's what I have for today. **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, thank you. Oh, Jeff? Has there been a lot of vandalism in the city parking lot? Is that what I'm hearing? [49:29] **Jeff McCormick (Police Chief):** I don't know if it would be a lot. We have had some. Uh, some was more like the fire was, you know, a few months ago wasn't it, that when that dumpster can was set on fire? Yeah, and in that case we, you know, charged the person that did it. The biggest problem I think we've had down there would just be when some of those uprights get kicked out of the decorative railing. I don't think we've had too much as far as some of the other stuff. A light fell over, but I think that was rusted off. Um, am I missing anything? **Mayor Althoff:** No, I'm just checking. Sarah? **Sara Peer (City Clerk):** Well, while we're going around the horn [50:15] I'd like to introduce Shelley Ryan. She's from the law firm of Hoff Barry and she uh drives a BMW. [Laughter] Should I say the news? That Sarah—Sarah's going to be leaving us. Going to be working here for another week or two and then Shelley's going to fill in and we'll see how it goes. **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, fair enough. Neil? **Neil Jensen (City Administrator):** We had our audit last week; everything went real smooth. Sarah and Michelle really stepped up their game this year. I really appreciated their hard work on it. Um, they will be putting it together and they'll be coming to see you in the next month or so. **Mayor Althoff:** Okay, let's go. Derek, anything tonight? **Council Member Bringold:** All right. **Mayor Althoff:** Steve? **Council Member Lundell:** Me too. **Mayor Althoff:** Laura? **Council Member Kronenberger:** No. **Mayor Althoff:** Matt? [51:30] **Council Member Montgomery:** I just want to say congratulations to the school with the U.S. News and World Report. Cannon Falls ranks 42nd in the state—top 5 percent! Uh, not to dig at any locals, but I didn't see Randolph on the list and Northfield is 44th! So good job for Cannon Falls. **Mayor Althoff:** Nothing? No, I was impressed that was—was it 42nd? Well yeah, I don't know, out of 856 school districts, that's good news. Um, I'm just going to go through a few meetings that are coming up that will happen before our next council [52:04] meeting. Monday, Finance meeting—no. Planning Commission meeting—no, that's not there. Library Board on Monday May 9th. Public Works is on this Thursday May 5th. Park Board on May 5th and EDA on May 5th, this Thursday. So keep those in mind. With that, I'll take a motion to adjourn. **Council Member Duncan:** So moved. **Council Member Gesme:** Second. **Mayor Althoff:** Motion by Duncan, second by Gesme. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Carried.