[0:00] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Okay, let's call the meeting to order and 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. Roll call, please. [0:13] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [0:15] Joe Peterson: Here. [0:16] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [0:17] John Geissler: Here. [0:18] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [0:19] Andy Hjelle: Here. [0:20] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [0:22] Brian LeBlanc: Here. [0:23] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [0:24] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Here. Um, any announcements by councilors? [0:29] Brian LeBlanc: Nothing for me. [0:31] Mayor Wayne Boucher: We have no public hearing. Communications are on file. Mr. Mulder, could you go over a short description of the presentations made at pre-agenda? [0:46] John Mulder: Sure. First, we went through a discussion about cameras in various public locations, specifically at the lot on Lightning Drive. We also looked at some camera placements in Fichtner Park. We talked about the possibility of extending that into the Hermantown Marketplace in 2025. Under the trails update—excuse me—we looked at Segment 4, which is from Hermantown Road and the former Engall site south to Keene Creek Park. We talked about the status of the easements that we need there and the process of trying to obtain those. And then finally, on the work plan, I went through a list of a number of projects that we're working on in 2025 in anticipation of having a work session next week Monday at 4:30 to talk about Council priorities and goals for the next two to four years. [1:33] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Um, next is public discussion. This is the time that individuals can address the council about items not on the agenda. We ask that you limit your time to 3 minutes per person. There will be time for public discussion under the agenda items relating to that specific purpose. Is there anyone that wishes to address the Council? If so, please step forward and state your name and address. [2:12] Keith Harris: Good evening. My name is Keith Harris, H-A-R-R-I-S. I live at 5632 West Arrowhead Road, and I'm here this evening to get some answers. I paid my storm water fee and I'd like to know why it keeps going up, the direction it's going. When that first started out—I don't have city water, don't have city sewer—the first time I received this fee, it was $42. It went up to 49. This time around, it was 49.68. And looking closer at the bill, next time around it's going to be 51.42. So my question to the Council and for people that are way smarter than me is, how is this based? Is this based on the volume of water, i.e., the snowfall, the rain? I was told at one time that this was based because I don't pay into a city water per se, but it's to help with culvert replacement, things like that. I'm just looking for some direction. Is it based on volume? I mean, the last couple years, this isn't like the winter of 1991 where we had all the snow dumped on us and yes, there's more water in the ditches and things like that. Can you explain to me, a layman, why it keeps going up? And I know you probably can't give me an answer now today, but it's something for you to look at. [3:53] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Keith, I’ll try as much as I can to grab the points that matter in this. The storm water utility fee is meant to cover the city's costs of maintaining our storm water system throughout the city. It's called a utility because we are allowed by state law to bill individual property owners for that. The way that we have chosen to do that is by billing a storm water fee versus putting it on people's property taxes and having everyone pay based on value. On the storm water fee, it's based on a concept called the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). We've designated 9,100 square feet as the average home Equivalent Residential Unit. So each house pays one ERU. If a business has 10 times that, or 91,000 square feet, they pay 10 ERUs. This more fairly assesses the cost of storm water maintenance to the entities that create it. So what it's based on is the amount of impervious surface that businesses and residents have. We can find out how much impervious surface the businesses have just from the air, from photographs, but we can't photograph each house and we can't calculate each one. So we came up with a number that each home like yours has, and that's 9,100 square feet. That was kind of an average; the City of Duluth uses a lower number of like 2,800 square feet. And the reason it keeps going up is it's based on our cost to maintain this system. We have to maintain the culverts, we have to maintain the water flows through the city. And if we don't do that, then the state takes away our right to issue building permits ultimately. So we tried to come up with the most fair way of covering this cost where a business that has a lot of impervious surface, even though the value is lower compared to a house, it's paid in the residential unit versus the dollar value of the property. Can anyone else... Joe, can you step in and add anything to what I've said? That’s kind of my expertise, unless Mr. Mulder has anything to add. [6:33] John Mulder: Well, I was just saying again, the fee was originally set back in I believe 2017 at $5. At that point in time, we looked at what it was going to cost us to maintain the storm water utility, and the $5 per ERU was set—excuse me, it was $7. We initially proposed $5. After we had a task force of businesses and residents and we talked about this, it was initially set up at $7 and we said we would not increase it for five years. And then after five years, we would hold a public hearing to increase it. So then it was increased a slight percentage the past two years to maintain, you know, the revenue to cover the cost of the utility. [7:34] Keith Harris: And this first started in '17? [7:37] John Mulder: Yes. [7:38] Keith Harris: Okay. So now we're expecting our fourth increase on this? From 42, 49, 49.68... now it's going to go up again this next round to 51.42? [7:51] John Mulder: Yeah. So again, is that a half bill or...? I'd have to look at that closer. Because I know that you get the bill every six months, correct? And um, it shouldn't... it should increase as of January 1 of '25, but I don't think it's scheduled to increase again. [8:12] Keith Harris: It's not scheduled to increase again? [8:13] John Mulder: Not scheduled to increase again. So I'd have to look at that. You might be looking at December or the last half of last year over the first half of next year. I can't tell off the top of my head without looking at it. [8:23] Keith Harris: Well, this is according to your city ordinance 2024-09 is where the City Council approved the increase to 51. [8:35] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Was that the change of the fee schedule? [8:38] John Mulder: That's our fee schedule ordinance. So all the fees are under one ordinance. So when we approve that every year... if you'd like to stick around, we can try and go over this at the end of the meeting if you'd like. [8:48] Keith Harris: I was just wondering if it was based on water volume, i.e., snow. [8:53] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Not—no. A flat dollar amount for residents. [8:56] John Mulder: And that's everyone. Even those that don't have City Water—they pay the same thing. Every parcel that has an improvement on it pays a flat dollar amount unless you're a commercial property, then you pay that rate times the number of ERUs. So again, if Fleet Farm has 100 ERUs and you have one, they pay 100 times more. And they do have the ability to get discounts for treating their storm water, but they pay that same equivalent per ERU that they have. [9:30] Mayor Wayne Boucher: And the difference between people that don't have public utilities like sewer and water: the ones that do pay it on their water bill and sewer bill every month versus every six months like those that don't have it. [9:43] Keith Harris: Right. Okay. All right, thank you. That's why I'm here, just to get some questions answered. [9:48] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. [9:49] Keith Harris: Thank you. [10:02] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Is there any other public discussion at this time? Joe, anyone online? Last opportunity for public discussion. If anyone has any public discussion, please start with your name and address. Hearing none, we will move on to the consent agenda. Consent agenda includes minutes approval or correction of January 6, 2025, City Council continuation minutes; accounts payable approval of General City warrants from January 1st, 2025, through January 15, 2025, in the amount of $804,498.30; and appointment of the following for a three-year term to the Park Board: Dwight Wickstrom; the Utility Commission: Bill Berg and Doug Kerfeld. Mr. Mulder, is that the end of the consent agenda? [10:50] John Mulder: It is. [10:51] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Okay. Do we have a motion for the consent agenda? [10:53] John Geissler: Motion to approve. [10:54] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [10:55] Andy Hjelle: Second. [10:56] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Roll call, please. [11:03] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [11:04] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [11:05] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [11:06] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [11:07] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [11:08] Joe Peterson: Aye. [11:09] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [11:10] John Geissler: Aye. [11:11] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [11:12] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Next, we have the second reading of Ordinance 2025-01, an ordinance amending Chapter 3 of the Hermantown Code of Ordinances by amending Section 330 and Section 340 to continue to administer and regulate the public rights-of-way in the public interest and provide for the issuance and regulation of the right-of-way permits. Do we have a motion? [11:32] Andy Hjelle: Motion to approve. [11:33] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? [11:35] Joe Peterson: I'll second. [11:36] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, could you give us an explanation of this? [11:41] John Mulder: The purpose of the right-of-way ordinance is to regulate what's going on in the right-of-way by various contractors. The idea here is for the City to communicate to those contractors what would be expected when they do work in the right-of-way so that what they are putting in the right-of-way doesn't interfere with the City and County's use of that right-of-way, and then also to communicate for them back to us in terms of knowing exactly what is happening there so that we have a record of the improvements they've made in our right-of-way. [12:11] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from Councilors? Seeing none, do we have any public comment on this ordinance? If anyone wishes to comment, please start with their name and address. Anyone online yet, Joe? Okay. Any public comment on Ordinance 2025-01? Last opportunity for public comment on the ordinance amending Chapter 3 of the Hermantown code. Roll call, please. [12:59] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [13:00] Joe Peterson: Aye. [13:01] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [13:02] John Geissler: Aye. [13:03] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [13:04] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [13:05] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [13:06] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [13:07] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [13:08] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Next is another second reading, Ordinance 2025-02, an ordinance amending Chapter 10 of the Hermantown Code of Ordinances by amending Section 1060, Erosion and Settlement Control, and Section 1080, Control of Post-Construction Storm Water Runoff of the Hermantown city code. Do we have a motion? [13:34] Joe Peterson: I'll make a motion to approve. [13:36] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? [13:37] Andy Hjelle: Second. [13:38] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [13:41] John Mulder: So this is an ordinance for 1060, as you read them, settlement control for land disturbances, and 1080 is post-construction storm water runoff. Both of these ordinances are being updated on some technical stuff in order to keep consistent with the state's MS4 permit. [14:15] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments by Council? [14:17] Brian LeBlanc: Hey, Mayor, I do have a question. Is this going to affect any projects we currently have in the works? [14:21] John Mulder: Shouldn't. [14:22] Brian LeBlanc: Okay, like Peyton Acres? It won't have any effect on that? [14:24] John Mulder: They're developed—well, Mayor and Council, the question is, does this updated ordinance affect any of the active projects? The ones that we've already issued an MS4 statement of compliance for will not be affected because that's under the old ordinance and old permit. But anything moving forward—so the phases of Peyton Acres, for example, that are not permitted at this point—will fall under the new ordinance and the new MS4 from the MPDS. [15:05] Brian LeBlanc: Not having read it—so take it with a grain of salt—but is this going to add a substantial amount of work for our contractors? [15:10] John Mulder: No. [15:11] Brian LeBlanc: Okay. [15:12] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Any other questions from Council? Again, any public input on this ordinance? Does anyone wish to comment on the second reading of Ordinance 2025-02? Any public comment on Ordinance 2025-02? Roll call, please. [15:37] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [15:38] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [15:39] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [15:40] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [15:41] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [15:42] Joe Peterson: Aye. [15:43] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [15:44] John Geissler: Aye. [15:45] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [15:46] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. All right, next is the first reading of Ordinance 2025-03. We'll only be taking the first reading on this ordinance this evening; that'll take place at our next meeting. Ordinance 2025-03, an ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Hermantown Code of Ordinances by adding a new Section 280, Housing Trust Fund. Do we have a motion? Oh wait, do we have an explanation? Sorry about that. [16:35] John Mulder: So the purpose of this ordinance is to create a special fund for the City where we would put the money that we get from the State of Minnesota for housing to kind of help assist in any housing development. Chad Ronchetti, our Economic Development Director, could speak more to that if you would like more information. [16:45] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Chad, feel free to approach the podium. [16:47] Chad Ronchetti: President Boucher, Councilors. I realized I'm supposed to be at the bench, I apologize for that. But yes, this is the creation of a trust fund put into statute in 2017 by the State of Minnesota. This is intended to create flexibility when wanting to support housing projects at the local level to help address any gaps in housing projects, as well as potentially buying down mortgages and those types of things. Important to note that in the creation of this trust fund, there are not automatically affordability requirements with any money spent out of this fund or allocated to this fund. However, State dollars that are deposited or used to capitalize this fund may—and do so—have some strings attached to them. The initial deposit and resolution that is attached to this ordinance places the state affordable housing aid which has been provided to the City from the state under some legislation passed in 2023. And so that money will have some affordability requirements tied to it when deployed from the fund. And I'll stand for any questions if there are any. [18:17] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Any questions from Council? [18:18] Brian LeBlanc: I had one. This is entirely external money and no general fund money? [18:22] Chad Ronchetti: The resolution that allocates funding associated with this trust fund is external money; it's money from the state. If and when the Council approves any grant applications, there will be local matches required with that, so there would be local funding. This fund also provides the opportunity for the City to put money into the fund to be used specifically for housing projects, but at this time, no dollars from the City specifically. [18:59] Brian LeBlanc: Thank you. [19:03] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Anything from Council? No. Is there any public input on this ordinance? Any public comment on the first reading of Ordinance 2025-03, an ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Hermantown Code of Ordinances by adding Section 280, Housing Trust Fund? Hearing none, we'll move on to resolutions. Resolution 2025-09, a resolution of the City Council of the City of Hermantown, Minnesota, declaring its official intent to reimburse certain expenditures from the proceeds of bonds to be issued by the City. Do we have a motion? [19:56] John Geissler: Move to approve. [19:57] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [19:58] Brian LeBlanc: Second. [19:59] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder? [20:01] John Mulder: This is an annual resolution we do so that when we issue bonds for projects, to the extent that we've expended any money prior to the issuance of those bonds from the general fund, we could pay the general fund back with the proceeds from the bond. So we are required to do that every year. [20:25] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Hearing none, is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-09? Hearing none, I'd ask for roll call. [21:05] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [21:06] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [21:07] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [21:08] Joe Peterson: Aye. [21:09] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [21:10] John Geissler: Aye. [21:11] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [21:12] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [21:13] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [21:14] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-10, a resolution authorizing and directing the distribution of the pay equity study to the State of Minnesota for the City of Hermantown. Do we have a motion? [21:28] Andy Hjelle: Motion to approve. [21:29] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? [21:31] Joe Peterson: I'll second. [21:32] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder? [21:35] John Mulder: Every three years, the City is required to provide a pay equity report to the State of Minnesota. The pay equity report simply looks at the points and classifications of each position and then the salary ranges for those to make sure that we don't have any issues of male or female classes being underpaid relative to their points. So every three years we take a look at that. We use the City's classification system, which is recognized by the state, and we submit that report. [22:15] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions from Council? [22:18] Andy Hjelle: What classifies a job as male versus female? I see we have 14 job classes under male and nine under female. [22:25] John Mulder: Um, it depends upon... we have a lot of positions that are what we call single incumbents, so only one person is holding that spot, and it depends on which gender is holding that spot. So if the City Administrator was a female, then that would be a City Administrator female class. So that's how they determine that. And then if there is a classification like police officers where there's male and female, it's called a balanced class. [22:54] Andy Hjelle: Okay, thank you. [22:55] Brian LeBlanc: I have one quick question. Do we get a response from the state then that they've received it and we're in compliance? [22:59] John Mulder: Yeah. So we'll submit the report later this week, and they'll then send a letter saying whether you're in compliance or not. Based upon my review of the compliance report and the interpretation of it, we should be in compliance. [23:10] Brian LeBlanc: Okay, thank you. [23:11] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Any other questions from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-10? Any public input on the authorization of the distribution of the pay equity study to the State of Minnesota? Roll call, please. [23:44] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [23:45] Joe Peterson: Aye. [23:46] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [23:47] John Geissler: Aye. [23:48] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [23:49] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [23:50] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [23:51] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [23:52] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [23:53] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-11, a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver an agreement with Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) Local 47 for the period of January 1st, 2025, through December 31st, 2027. Do we have a motion? [24:14] Brian LeBlanc: Move to approve. [24:15] John Geissler: Second. [24:16] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [24:18] John Mulder: So the City met with the union two different times to talk about the expiring contract and how to proceed going forward. We reached the tentative agreement in front of you; it includes a number of changes and provides a wage increase each of the three years. [24:38] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Hearing none, is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input or comment on Resolution 2025-11? Last opportunity for public input or comment on the resolution approving a tentative agreement between the City and Law Enforcement Labor Services Local number 47. Roll call, please. [25:15] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [25:16] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [25:17] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [25:18] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [25:19] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [25:20] John Geissler: Aye. [25:21] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [25:22] Joe Peterson: Aye. [25:23] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [25:24] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-12, a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver a Master Services Agreement for Professional Services with Braun Intertech Corporation and Engineering Partners Incorporated. Do we have a motion? [25:46] Joe Peterson: I'll make a motion to approve. [25:47] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? [25:48] John Geissler: Second. [25:49] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder, could you explain this resolution? [25:52] John Mulder: Sure. Since 2017, we've had a master service agreement for both geotechnical evaluations and for material testing on our various projects. We have those both with Braun and Engineering Partners. So then, as we have a need for either one of those services, we go and get quotes from these two providers, and then we have a contract in place and we award that based upon the low quote for that specific project. [26:30] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Are there any questions from Council on this resolution? Hearing none, is there any public input or comments on Resolution 2025-12, the agreement with Braun Intertech and Engineering Partners? Any public input or comment on Resolution 2025-12? Roll call, please. [26:58] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [26:59] Joe Peterson: Aye. [27:00] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [27:01] John Geissler: Aye. [27:02] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [27:03] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [27:04] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [27:05] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [27:06] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [27:07] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-14, a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver a naming rights agreement for Fichtner Park. Do we have a motion? [27:31] John Geissler: Move to approve. [27:32] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [27:34] Joe Peterson: I'll second. [27:35] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, could we get an explanation? [27:38] John Mulder: Uh, sure. We have reached an agreement with Centricity to have their name put on the baseball fields at Fichtner Park, and so this is the result of that work. We're happy with the partnership that we have with Centricity, so we're recommending this agreement with you. And this includes a donation of a half a million dollars. [28:10] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? [28:12] Andy Hjelle: I guess just thank City staff and Joe [Wicklund] for executing this and working diligently to get this accomplished. So, thank you. [28:20] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Anything else from Council? [28:21] Brian LeBlanc: I would like to mention I am on the board at Centricity Credit Union, so I'll be abstaining from this vote. [28:26] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-14 for Fichtner Park with Centricity Credit Union? Roll call, please. [28:37] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [28:38] Brian LeBlanc: Abstain. [28:39] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [28:40] Joe Peterson: Aye. [28:41] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [28:42] John Geissler: Aye. [28:43] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [28:44] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [28:45] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [28:46] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Resolution 2025-15, a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver a purchase agreement for pitching mounds and mats purchases for Fichtner Park from Pite Pitching Mounds. Do we have a motion? [29:21] Joe Peterson: I'll make a motion to approve. [29:23] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? [29:24] Brian LeBlanc: Second. [29:25] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder? [29:28] John Mulder: So this is some of the equipment that we wanted to make sure that we ordered in time for delivery by the 1st of April. This provides for pitching mounds and various equipment for the baseball fields. [29:43] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Hearing none, is there any public input or comment on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-15? Any public input on the resolution authorizing the purchase of pitching mounds and mats for Fichtner Park? Roll call, please. [30:23] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [30:24] John Geissler: Aye. [30:25] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [30:26] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [30:27] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [30:28] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [30:29] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [30:30] Joe Peterson: Aye. [30:31] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [30:32] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Resolution 2025-16, a resolution approving Pay Request Number 8 for Fichtner Park improvements to Casey Incorporated in the amount of $43,212.18. Do we have a motion? [30:53] Andy Hjelle: Move to approve. [30:54] Brian LeBlanc: Second. [30:55] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Hjelle, second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder? [30:57] John Mulder: Correct. [30:58] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-16 for Pay Request Number 8 to Casey Incorporated? Roll call, please. [31:26] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [31:27] John Geissler: Aye. [31:28] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [31:29] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [31:30] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [31:31] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [31:32] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [31:33] Joe Peterson: Aye. [31:34] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [31:35] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-17, a resolution approving Change Order Number 1 for Road Improvement District 541 in the reduced amount of $19,757.35. Do we have a motion? [31:54] Brian LeBlanc: Move to approve. [31:55] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion to approve by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [31:56] Andy Hjelle: Second. [31:57] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, would you like our City Engineer to address this? [32:00] John Mulder: Sure. [32:02] Representative (Northland Consulting Engineers): Yes, thank you, Mayor and Council. So this is Change Order Number 1 associated with the new bridge we built on Hermantown Road. There are seven items included in Change Order 1, and they are all decreased quantities. In the field, we found less bedrock in the creek bottom and thus the rock removal and the structural concrete and associated work items all were reduced because of that. So this change order is reflective of those reduced items for a total savings of $19,757.35. [32:46] Mayor Wayne Boucher: So this change order is a total reduction, correct? [32:49] Representative (Northland Consulting Engineers): Correct. [32:51] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-17, a total savings to the City in the amount of $19,757.35? Roll call, please. [33:24] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [33:25] Joe Peterson: Aye. [33:26] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [33:27] John Geissler: Aye. [33:28] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [33:29] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [33:30] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [33:31] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [33:32] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [33:33] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Only four to go. Resolution 2025-18, a resolution approving Change Orders Number 2 and 3 for Road Improvement District 541 in the reduced amount of $339,549.34. Do we have a motion? [34:04] John Geissler: Motion to approve. [34:05] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [34:06] Joe Peterson: I'll second. [34:07] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. B? [34:10] Representative (Northland Consulting Engineers): Yes, thank you, Mayor and Council. Again, this is Change Orders 2 and 3 to Northland Constructors for the work associated with Project A, which is the Hermantown Road reconstruction project. Change Order 2 is specific to the areas that we had muck excavation; when we got into the actual work, the muck areas were significantly less than what we had prepared in our plan. So there's a number of items that decreased, and that total amount was a savings to the city of $271,000 and some odd dollars. And then Change Order 3 is what we call a compensating change order, and that brings all the estimated quantities up to the completed quantity value. So that's a composite of items that both increased and decreased, and the net result of that change order summary was a savings of $68,233.47 to the city. So the total contract reduction for Change Orders 2 and 3 is $339,549.34. [35:36] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Hearing none, is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution approving Change Orders Number 2 and 3 for Road Improvement District Number 541 in the reduced amount of $339,549.34? Roll call, please. [36:00] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [36:01] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [36:02] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [36:03] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [36:04] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [36:05] Joe Peterson: Aye. [36:06] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [36:07] John Geissler: Aye. [36:08] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [36:09] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Resolution 2025-19, a resolution approving Pay Request Number 7 for Road Improvement District Number 541 to Northland Constructors in the amount of $450,568.21. Do we have a motion? [36:51] Joe Peterson: Move to approve. [36:52] John Geissler: Second. [36:53] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [36:57] Representative (Northland Consulting Engineers): So this resolution captures the payment for the previous two resolutions for change orders associated with the Hermantown Road project. So this is for Pay Application Number 7, which is broken down to Project A and B. Project A is for the roadway, and there's just over $364,000 that Northland Constructors is due for work that was completed in October and November of '24. We are still going to withhold 5% retainage of just over $140,000. And the question was asked earlier—there's still work to be done, and this, in my opinion, more than covers the value of work that remains to be done. And then in Project B, the bridge project, this pay application of $86,000 will be a final for that. We are releasing the 5% retainage. All work under that project has been complete, reviewed, and approved by our consulting engineer, LHB, for that project. [38:15] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Are there any questions or comments from Council? [38:19] Brian LeBlanc: Yeah, one of the residents, I think, talked about the... what's the best way to phrase this... where the road meets the bridge? I don't remember what direction it was, that there was a lip or a bump or something there. Was that bridge inspected and everything, and we deemed that it wasn't enough of a bump there to warrant rework? [38:43] John Mulder: I remember that being asked late fall, and I talked to the Public Works Director and I talked to our consulting engineer. They looked at it and they felt that was within the parameters that were spelled out in the plan. We have a warranty period on this project, so once we accept the contract, which I expect to be in June of '25, we will have a warranty walk-through. And if there's an issue that we feel is unacceptable or unsafe, we will certainly address it at that time. [39:27] Brian LeBlanc: We'll see how it lasts the winter then. So it was within the acceptable "bump limits"? [39:35] John Mulder: Well, we don't know what's happened to it in the last week. [39:41] Joe Peterson: Mr. Mayor, I just have a follow-up question as well. So then, substantial or final completion in June or so, and then we would get the next payment application at that time? [39:51] John Mulder: Correct. [39:52] Joe Peterson: Correct. And then just one more follow-up: we kind of paused the assessment process with this last year, last fall. When do you foresee that going forward again? [40:02] John Mulder: I would envision that we would make sure that all the work is completed and then we would go through that process this summer. [40:11] Joe Peterson: Yeah. Okay, thank you. [40:15] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Any other comments or questions from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-19? Roll call, please. [40:38] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [40:39] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [40:40] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [40:41] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [40:42] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [40:43] Joe Peterson: Aye. [40:44] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [40:45] John Geissler: Aye. [40:46] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [40:47] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. Next is Resolution 2025-20, a resolution authorizing the City of Hermantown to support St. Louis County for County State Aid Highway 6, Maple Grove Road Project. Do we have a motion? [41:12] Andy Hjelle: Motion to approve. [41:14] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second? [41:15] Brian LeBlanc: Second. [41:16] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor LeBlanc. I've been told that this is a county project on Maple Grove Road west of Midway Road that does not include any Hermantown City roads, correct? Any questions or comments from Council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-20, CSAH Number 6, Maple Grove Road project? Roll call, please. [41:42] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [41:43] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [41:44] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [41:45] Joe Peterson: Aye. [41:46] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [41:47] John Geissler: Aye. [41:48] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [41:49] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [41:50] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [41:51] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. And a late addition, Resolution 2025-21, a resolution designating Saturday, January 25th, 2025, as Dave Huddle Day in Hermantown. Is there a motion? [42:15] John Geissler: Move to approve. [42:17] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion to approve by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [42:18] Brian LeBlanc: Second. [42:19] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor LeBlanc. This is to recognize Dave Huddle's contributions to the community and his retirement as Arena Manager next Saturday. Are there any questions or comments from Council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2025-21? Last opportunity for public input on the resolution designating Saturday, January 25th, 2025, as Dave Huddle Day in Hermantown. Roll call, please. [42:57] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler? [42:58] John Geissler: Aye. [42:59] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle? [43:00] Andy Hjelle: Aye. [43:01] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc? [43:02] Brian LeBlanc: Aye. [43:03] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson? [43:04] Joe Peterson: Aye. [43:05] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher? [43:06] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Aye. And now the moment you've all been waiting for—with no closed session—is there a motion to recess? [43:16] Brian LeBlanc: Move to recess. [43:18] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to recess. Is there a second? [43:20] Joe Peterson: Second. [43:22] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Oh, I think Councilor Peterson got it in first. Nobody wants to stay. All in favor say "Aye." [Councilors]: Aye. [43:35] Mayor Wayne Boucher: Oppose, same sign.