Based on the context provided for the City of Hermantown and the dialogue within the text, here is the transcribed meeting with speaker identifications. *Note: While your provided list mentions Councilors Hjelle and LeBlanc, the transcript explicitly records **Councilor Nelson** and **Councilor Hostchild** (Grant Hauschild) as present and voting. I have used the names as they were spoken in the record.* [0:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** To order and 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 and indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Roll call please. [0:30] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [0:31] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Here. [0:32] **Councilor John Geissler:** Here. [0:33] **Councilor Nelson:** Here. [0:34] **Councilor Hostchild:** Here. [0:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Announcements. Do any counselors have announcements they'd like to make this evening? Not tonight. We have no public hearings this evening, no communications, and no presentations. [0:46] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We are at item number eight on our agenda: public discussion. Is there anyone present either in chambers or online that wishes to speak to the council about any item not on the agenda? If anyone wishes to speak to the council, please state your name and address for the record. [1:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Hearing no public discussion, we will move on to the consent agenda. Do we have a motion for the consent agenda? [1:18] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Motion to approve. [1:19] **Councilor Hostchild:** Second. [1:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Hostchild. Roll call please. [1:24] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [1:25] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [1:26] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [1:27] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [1:28] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [1:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. We have no motions or ordinances. We will move to resolutions. We will have discussion available when a resolution involves a vote to be passed. First resolution is 2021-139, resolution authorizing the disposal of surplus city property. Do we have a motion? [1:55] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [1:56] **Councilor Nelson:** Second. [1:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler, second by Councilor Nelson. Mr. Mulder? [2:01] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is a truck in the Public Works Department that we replaced in 2021. This dates back to 1997, so we're recommending that we dispose of this asset. [2:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public discussion or input on resolution 2021-139, disposal of surplus property? [2:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any member of the public that wishes to comment on resolution 2021-139? Roll call please. [2:50] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Nelson? [2:51] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [2:52] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [2:53] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [2:54] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [2:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2021-140, resolution adopting assessment roll for Road Improvement District number 536, Sunbee Road and Swan Lake Road. Do we have a motion? [3:09] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Motion approved. [3:10] **Councilor Hostchild:** Second. [3:11] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Hostchild. Mr. Mulder? [3:12] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So this is the resolution that would adopt the assessment for the Sunbee/Swan Lake, and we would send that information to the county with that information to be put on the respective parties' taxes in 2022. We did have one objection from Mr. Waddell; he did not show. So this resolution not only approves this assessment roll, but it also, in effect, denies Mr. Waddell's objection. [3:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on resolution 2021-140, the assessment roll for Road Improvement District number 536? [4:12] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** If there is any public comment on this resolution, please start with and state your name and address for the record. [4:27] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** With no public input, I would ask for a roll call. [4:30] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hostchild? [4:31] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [4:32] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [4:33] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [4:34] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [4:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2021-141, resolution adopting assessment roll for Road Improvement District number 537, Levake Junction Road. Do we have a motion? [4:54] **Councilor Hostchild:** So moved. [4:55] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [4:56] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hostchild, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [4:57] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So again, this is the assessment roll for the Levake Junction project, and this would approve the final assessment roll to be sent to the county so that those assessments would be applied to the various parcels. We had a number of objections; there were five of them. Four of them—or one of them was withdrawn—and so this would also, in approving the assessment roll, you would also in effect be denying the objections. [5:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on resolution 2021-141 adopting the assessment roll for Levake Junction Road? If there is, please start with your name and address. [6:01] **Casey McDonald (Public Speaker):** Go ahead? Mr. McDonald? Uh yes, Casey McDonald, 5236 Levake Junction Road. You said it was denied; is that for the people that objected to it? [6:15] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This would deny the objections. As long as in adopting the assessment roll, it denies the objections. That is different than the deferrals; the deferral can be picked up separately by each resolution. I just wanted to clarify that. [6:39] **Casey McDonald (Public Speaker):** Thank you. [6:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. And anyone else with public input? If so, please state your name and address for the record. [7:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** With no public input, I'd ask for a roll call. I need to ask for your forgiveness, I didn't catch the motion and second. [7:12] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** The motion was Councilor Hostchild, Councilor Geissler was a second. [7:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Sorry. Are you ready for the roll? [7:21] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [7:22] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [7:23] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [7:24] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [7:25] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [7:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2021-142, resolution approving application of assessment roll number 537A-9 for deferral of assessment against the property for the construction of Road Improvement District number 537 hardship deferral. Do we have a motion? [7:45] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Motion approved. [7:46] **Councilor Nelson:** Second. [7:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Nelson. Mr. Mulder? [7:49] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Okay, so this would be an application for a deferral of the assessment that you just passed, and this is for the address of 5167 Levake Junction Road. The owner there is Constance Bloom. [8:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? [8:12] **Councilor Nelson:** Um, I'm just looking at the numbers here. Uh, the 537A-9, is it supposed to correlate to 536 or is this all 537? [8:26] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is all 537. This is all 537, yeah. [8:30] **Councilor Nelson:** Okay, that's all right. Yeah, there weren't any for 536? [8:35] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** 536 did not get any, right. [8:37] **Councilor Nelson:** Okay, right. [8:38] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So this is project 537, and then A9 is the individual applicant. [8:42] **Councilor Nelson:** I see. Gotcha. Okay, thank you. [8:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution 2021-142, a hardship deferral for assessment of project 537? If there is any public input, please state your name and address for the record. Is there any input on this resolution? [9:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Given no public input, I'd ask for a roll call. [9:30] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [9:31] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [9:32] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [9:33] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [9:34] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [9:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2021-143, resolution approving application of assessment roll number 537-A-27 for deferral of assessment against the property for the construction of Road Improvement District number 537 hardship deferral. Do we have a motion? [9:58] **Councilor Nelson:** Motion to approve. [10:00] **Councilor Hostchild:** Second. [10:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Nelson, seconded by Councilor Hostchild. Mr. Mulder? [10:02] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is very similar. This is for a deferral for the Levake Junction assessment. This is for the property at 5228 Levake Junction Road and the last name is Letchworth. [10:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on resolution 2021-143, deferral of assessment for improvement district number 537? [10:43] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public comment on 2021-143? If so, please state your name and address for the record. With no public input, we'll have a roll call. [10:56] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Nelson? [10:57] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [10:58] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [10:59] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [11:00] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [11:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2021-144, resolution approving application of assessment roll number 537A-29 for deferral of assessment against the property for the construction of Road Improvement District number 537 hardship deferral. Do we have a motion? [11:21] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Motion approved. [11:23] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [11:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [11:31] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is the last of the deferrals of the Levake Junction assessment. Very similar to the other ones. This is at 5236 Levake Junction Road and the owner is Mr. McDonald. [11:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have any questions or comments from council? With no input from council, is there any public discussion on this or input on resolution 2021-144? If so, please state your name and address for the record. Okay, one last call for public input on 2021-144. Roll call please. [12:18] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hostchild? [12:19] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [12:20] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [12:21] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [12:22] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [12:23] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2021-145, resolution approving final pay request for Sewer Improvement District number 448 to Utility Systems of America Incorporated in the amount of $111,146.68. Do we have a motion? [12:44] **Councilor Nelson:** Motion to approve. [12:46] **Councilor Hostchild:** Second. [12:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Nelson, second by Councilor Hostchild. Mr. Mulder? [12:51] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is, excuse me, the final payment request for Section 24 Sewer Trunk Line and Trail. This has been a long project; the total project cost was just over $4 million, but I think it's a project that the City Council can be proud of. And then this would, upon receipt of the IC134 from the contractor, we would make this last payment. [13:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do you have any questions or comments from council? [13:26] **Councilor Hostchild:** I think it's great that we're finally wrapping this up after a few delays due to COVID. [13:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on resolution 2021-145? If there is any public input on the resolution for this pay request, please state your name and address for the record. With no public input, we'll have a roll call. [14:02] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [14:03] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [14:04] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [14:05] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [14:06] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [14:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2021-146, resolution adopting assessment roll for delinquent utility charges for 2021 with a list that was provided to us at the beginning of the meeting. [14:24] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Motion to approve. [14:25] **Councilor Nelson:** Second. [14:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Nelson. Mr. Mulder? [14:28] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So this is an annual thing that we do for those people who haven't paid their utility bills. We put an assessment on there. They were allowed a public hearing at the Utility Commission; we had nobody show up for that hearing. And so this would be the final assessment roll that we'll send to the county for these charges to be placed on their property taxes. [14:55] **Councilor Hostchild:** Just for the public, can you confirm the notifications and communication that these individuals received, please, John? [15:06] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** I won't be able to tell you the exact dates but, so, the City Council a month or so ago did a preliminary list—a preliminary assessment roll. After that, all of the property owners were notified of that and told that they had until such and such a date to either pay it or they could show up at the Utility Commission for a hearing on the matter. And so, we did not have anybody show up at the Utility Commission. So everyone has received a letter on this issue, and then they will be notified again if the Council approves us and then it will be sent to the county for including that on their property taxes in 2022. [15:53] **Councilor Hostchild:** Thank you. [15:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions or comments? Is there any public input on this resolution 2021-146? If so, state your name and address for the record. Is there any public input on the resolution adopting assessment roll for delinquent utility charges for 2021? Roll call please. [16:21] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Nelson? [16:22] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [16:23] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [16:24] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [16:25] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [16:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2021-147, resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver a cooperative agreement between St. Louis County and the City of Hermantown for Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for Keen Creek. Do we have a motion? [16:51] **Councilor Hostchild:** So moved. [16:52] **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. [16:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hostchild, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [17:00] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** This is a cooperative agreement that the city would enter into with the county to do this revision of the map because of the work that the city did on Keen Creek and the culvert on Okerstrom Road back in 2019. And then St. Louis County redid the culvert on Morris Thomas on Keen Creek as well. And so this is a condition of our permit from the DNR, so we thought that it was a good joint effort and would be more economical for both parties. [17:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? With none, do we have any public input on resolution 2021-147? If there's any public input on this matter, please state your name and address for the record. Roll call please. [18:08] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hostchild? [18:09] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [18:10] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [18:11] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [18:12] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [18:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2021-148, resolution approving tentative agreement and authorizing and directing Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver agreements with Operating Engineers Local 49 for the period of January 1st, 2022 through December 31st, 2024. Do we have a motion? [18:41] **Councilor Hostchild:** So moved. [18:42] **Councilor John Geissler:** I'll second. [18:43] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hostchild, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [18:45] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So all of our labor agreements are expiring at the end of this year, so we've been in negotiations with all of our unions. So this is the first agreement that we've reached—the Public Works unit. We're continuing discussions with the other two. This would provide a wage increase of 3.75% in 2022, 3.25% in 2023, and 3.25% in 2024. In meeting with all the unions, we have a good group of employees, we have a good relationship with our labor unions, and so we recommend this for settlement. [19:30] **Councilor Hostchild:** Yeah, I would just echo what John said. The meetings went really well; it was very cordial, a lot of respect across the table. I think the agreement will be a good one for the members and I support it as the counselor that was in the negotiations. [19:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any other comments? I just have a question to clarify: we use the phrase "directing Mayor and City Clerk"—when we are absent of a City Clerk? [20:00] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** We have an acting City Clerk. [20:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay, that's what I was going to ask. [20:03] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** Yeah, statutes require the Mayor and City Clerk to sign it, so when we don't have the clerk, I sign the document. [20:09] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** All right, thank you. Good question, John. And also as a member of the negotiating committee with Councilor Hostchild, I recommend adoption of this agreement. Any other comments? Do you have any public input? If so, please state your name and address for the record. Any public input on resolution 2021-148? Roll call please. [20:45] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Peterson? [20:46] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [20:47] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [20:48] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [20:49] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [20:50] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Resolution 2021-149, resolution approving wage adjustment for part-time custodian. Do we have a motion? [21:05] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Motion to approve. [21:06] **Councilor Nelson:** Second. [21:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Nelson. Mr. Mulder? [21:12] **John Mulder (City Administrator):** So we have a part-time employee that has worked as a custodian for, I think, six years actually—her anniversary date is today and she's worked here for six years, has done good work for us. She approached me earlier this year given the fact that custodial wages have been impacted severely by COVID and she had never had a step increase in the six years she's been here. So we're recommending this adjustment and it would be retroactive to July 1st of this year. [21:49] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? [21:55] **Councilor John Geissler:** I guess my only comment would be is that we just keep an eye on this and see that we're maintaining competitiveness amongst the, you know, whether it's a hotel or the other paying jobs in this area. [22:08] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. And the reason this comes to the City Council in this manner is this person is not a representative employee or a member of a union, as well as none of our other part-time employees that we employ during the summer. Any other questions or comments? Is there any public input on resolution 2021-149? If so, please state your name and address for the record. Is there any public input on the resolution approving a wage adjustment for a part-time custodian? Roll call please. [22:45] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? [22:46] **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. [22:47] **Councilor Nelson:** Aye. [22:48] **Councilor Hostchild:** Aye. [22:49] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. [22:50] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. And we're out of business. Do we have a motion to recess? [22:56] **Councilor Hostchild:** So moved. [22:57] **Councilor Nelson:** Second. [22:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hostchild, second by Councilor Nelson. All in favor say aye. [23:01] **Council Members:** Aye. [23:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** The same sign. One wants to stay. [Meeting Adjourned]