Here is the transcribed townhall meeting with speaker names added based on the context provided. [0:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Sorry. 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. [0:22] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Quick comment. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilor Peterson? Here. Councilor Geissler? Here. Councilor LeBlanc? Here. Councilor Hjelle? Here. Mayor Boucher? Here. [0:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Announcements. Do any councilors have announcements? Thank you. Uh, no public hearing communications. Mr. Mulder, do you want to, or do we want Mr. Johnson to highlight his communication? [0:43] **City Administrator John Mulder**: Uh, sure. Eric, can you explain that one? [0:45] **Community Development Director Eric Johnson**: Great. Thank you. So, there's a question about properties at 5788 and 5790 Hermantown Road that one of the property owners had indicated that their home took access to an existing right-of-way. So that property had been platted once upon a time with that right-of-way being basically determined at that time as a 66 ft right-of-way. So that flag lot actually takes its driveway through our public right-of-way to be able to access that property, but it does indeed tie down onto Hermantown Road. [1:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: So they do get an assessment? Thank you. Any questions from council? Next is presentations. Mr. Mulder, could you give us a short version of the quarter one financials that Mr. Orme gave us? [1:35] **City Administrator John Mulder**: Sure. Our Director of Finance and Administration presented just kind of the first quarter financials; kind of showed you, as always, where the money is being held and what funds and what banks, and we also just review the various general fund budgets. [2:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Should we have Mr. Bolf go over his closeout plan presentation—just a short version of that if you can—or do you want somebody else to give it for you? [2:15] **City Engineer David Bolf**: I'll give the short version. Okay. So, we had two projects in 2024 that we're finishing up. At Fichtner Park, we talked about a number of items of work that needs to be completed under the contract and some warranty work, and all of that work will be done by July 1st. And we also went through the project on Hermantown Road identifying a number of issues that need to be addressed. We didn't go through each item, but again, David will talk with Northland Constructors about that and all of that work will be done by July 1st as well. [2:56] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Next we have public discussion. Does anyone wish to speak to the council this evening? We have someone that raced in the parking lot and is coming in the door. Um, second opportunity for individual public discussion about items not on the agenda. That's V-Max. [3:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: We’ll wait. He's on the—he's the V-Max. Okay. Uh, one more opportunity for general public discussion. Hearing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda, which is minutes approval or correction of the April 21st, 2025 city council continuation minutes and the April 28th, 2025 work session minutes, and accounts payable approved general city warrants from April 16, 2025 through April 30th, 2025 in the amount of $283,444. Do we have a motion relating to this? [3:55] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**: Move to approve. [3:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [3:59] **Councilor Andy Hjelle**: Second. [4:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Roll call, please. [4:03] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [4:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolutions. Resolution 2025-72: Resolution honoring National Police Week, Peace Officers Memorial Day, and celebrating 50 years of service by the Hermantown Police Department. Is there a motion? [4:30] **Councilor John Geissler**: Motion to approve. [4:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Do we have a second? [4:34] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: I'll second. [4:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [4:37] **City Administrator John Mulder**: Um, this is a resolution that we've done for a number of years. Sometimes we've done it via resolution, sometimes we've done it just as a mayor's proclamation, but just honoring the police officers that have served over the 50 years for the City of Hermantown. [5:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this motion? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2025-72? Roll call, please. [5:21] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [5:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolution 2025-73: Resolution approving tentative agreement and authorizing and directing Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver agreements with Law Enforcement Services Incorporated Deputy Chiefs for the period of January 1st, 2025 through December 31st, 2027. Is there a motion? [5:54] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**: Move to approve. [5:56] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Do we have a second? [5:58] **Councilor John Geissler**: Second. [5:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder. [6:01] **City Administrator John Mulder**: This is a first contract with the two deputy chiefs who formed their union late last fall. We met I think four different times and then we met in a mediation session to kind of come to an agreement. So this agreement will be for '25, '26, and '27. [6:23] **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 2025-73? Any public input on the resolution approving the tentative agreement with the deputy chiefs? Roll call, please. [6:43] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [7:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolution 2025-74: Resolution authorizing and directing Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver agreement for the use of the City of Hermantown Athletic Fields with the Hermantown Summer Softball Association. Is there a motion? [7:18] **Councilor Andy Hjelle**: Motion to approve. [7:20] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? [7:21] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: I'll second. [7:23] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, do we want Mr. Johnson to handle it? [7:28] **City Administrator John Mulder**: Sure. Eric. [7:29] **Community Development Director Eric Johnson**: Great. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. This is a three-year agreement with the Hermantown Summer Softball Association, and it pertains to Rose Road Fields 1, 2, and 3. [7:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Is there any public input on resolution 2025-74? Is there any public input on the resolution between the City of Hermantown and the Hermantown Summer Softball Association? Roll call, please. [8:04] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [8:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolution 2025-75: Resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and deliver development agreement with V-Max Incorporated for the Stebner Road planned unit development project. Is there a motion? [8:40] **Councilor John Geissler**: Motion to approve. [8:42] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Do we have a second? [8:44] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: I'll second. [8:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, should we have Mr. Johnson go over this? [8:51] **Community Development Director Eric Johnson**: Great. Thank you again, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this is a PUD for a 10-building, 20-unit development which was approved back in 2024. This is a project just off of Stebner Road, just north of Peyton Acres development. Originally at that time in '24, the city drafted a development agreement with Mr. J. Zerdan and Zerdan Builders. Uh, now since then, V-Max has taken the lead as the developer for this property. So, the city has reworked this agreement just to change out JZ to V-Max Incorporated. Other than that, all the things that had been outlined in that development agreement in '24 still pertain to this agreement. [9:16] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? [9:36] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**: Just have one quick question. Does it have a sunset date for completion for the work? [9:40] **Community Development Director Eric Johnson**: I believe it's October 15th, 2026, I'm sorry. [9:48] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**: Next year and a half. Year and a half. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. [9:52] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Any other questions or comments? Hearing none. Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution to execute the development agreement with V-Max Incorporated? Is there any public input on resolution 2025-75? Roll call, please. [10:13] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [10:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolution 2025-76: Resolution accepting a proposal for engineering services for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) inventory from Northland Consulting Engineers. Do we have a motion? [10:47] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: Motion to approve. [10:49] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? [10:51] **Councilor Andy Hjelle**: Second. [10:53] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, is there anyone in staff you'd like to address this? [11:00] **City Administrator John Mulder**: Sure. We'll let David do it. [11:04] **City Engineer David Bolf**: Yeah, thank you mayor and council. Because the city hit the threshold of the number of full-time employees, it triggers the compliance with the ADA act. The first part of the ADA transition plan is an inventory of all the ramps that we have within our right-of-way and our public spaces. So this proposal encompasses that first part of that process. [11:43] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions from council? [11:46] **Councilor John Geissler**: Just the usual when we issue a contract with Northland Consulting. Just a clarification: my son works for Northland Consulting Engineers and the result of this contract has no financial gain for he or I. Thank you. [12:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Mr. Mulder, we are over 50 employees, but they're not all full-time. Correct? [12:05] **City Administrator John Mulder**: That's correct. So, I mean, the 50 employee is FTE (Full-Time Equivalent). We're probably right on that fringe, so we decided to proceed. [12:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any other questions from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2025-76? Any public input on the resolution accepting a proposal for engineering services with Northland Consulting Engineers? Roll call, please. [12:39] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [12:56] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolution 2025-77: Resolution receiving preliminary engineering report and calling for a public hearing on road improvement district number 452 (Lightning Drive and Thunder Chief Lane) including sanitary sewer extensions and other infrastructure improvements in section 14. Do we have a motion? [13:20] **Councilor John Geissler**: Move to approve. [13:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [13:25] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**: Second. [13:27] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder, again, let city engineer David Bolf explain. [13:35] **City Engineer David Bolf**: Yeah, thank you mayor and council. We've been looking at the area around Lightning Drive, Thunder Chief Lane, and Getchell Road. Last July, we put a preliminary feasibility study together and we analyzed six different options of sewer and road improvements. We narrowed it down to the preferred option that this study before you dives into a little deeper. There are five segments: the reconstruction of Lightning Drive; the reconstruction of Thunder Chief Lane; the sanitary sewer trunk spur to Stebner Road; the reconstruction of Getchell Road; and the fifth piece is a new multi-use trail connecting City Hall to the Maple Grove and Stebner Road intersection. This is approximately a $10 million project ($9.8 million to be exact). Funding is a combination of sales tax, DNR grants, and assessments. We are proposing $4,975 for residential lots and $25,000 for commercial lots for the road portion. The remaining sources are stormwater utility, street light utility, and the balance of approximately $3.2 million from the general fund. [16:33] **City Engineer David Bolf**: So that’s a quick overview. Is there any questions that the council may have? [16:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Any questions from council? [16:40] **Councilor Andy Hjelle**: Um, the trail connection is going from Lightning Drive to Maple Grove Road then along Getchell? Correct? So the sidewalk on Getchell is getting redone? [17:01] **City Engineer David Bolf**: So, no—it goes along Stebner. It goes from the intersection of Stebner and Maple Grove north on Stebner to Lightning Drive. [17:23] **Councilor Andy Hjelle**: Got it. Correct. Thank you. [17:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Any other questions from council? [17:30] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: So, we're redoing the sidewalk on Stebner Road from Lightning up to Maple Grove there? [17:35] **City Engineer David Bolf**: That’s to be determined. We have two paths: either the east or the west side of Stebner Road. The east side is where the sidewalk is, but there's also overhead poles and hydrants in the way. On the west side, we have wetlands and ditches. Through the design process, that will be vetted out. [18:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any other questions from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2025-77? Any public input on a public hearing and accepting the preliminary engineering report for road improvement district number 452? Roll call, please. [18:52] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [19:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Next is resolution 2025-78: Resolution authorizing and directing Mayor and City Clerk to execute an acceptance of easement agreement for parcel 395-0010-04340 to Minnesota Power from the City of Hermantown for the Duluth Loop Reliability Project. Is there a motion? [19:24] **Councilor John Geissler**: Move to approve. [19:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Do you have a second? [19:28] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: I'll second. [19:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [19:31] **City Administrator John Mulder**: Uh, we'll have Utility Director Trish Crego explaining this one. She was the lead person on this effort. [19:40] **Utility and Infrastructure Director Trish Crego**: Yes. Thank you, mayor and council. This property is basically Fichtner Park and there is an existing easement already by Minnesota Power along this area. This would just be widening the easement. The easement goes between the old football field and the existing new park. We worked through the language and have come to an agreement. The price they are giving us is on page 149, and page 150 shows an image of that easement. [20:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? [20:20] **Councilor Andy Hjelle**: I have one follow-up. I teased at the pre-agenda about the amount we were getting, but in all seriousness, what are we going to do with the money? [20:30] **City Administrator John Mulder**: It goes to the general fund. I don't know that we've decided yet. [20:34] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: How wide was it and how wide is it now? [20:40] **Utility and Infrastructure Director Trish Crego**: I believe it was widened by 20 feet. It’s going to be 160 feet total. [21:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any other questions from council? Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution for an easement between the City of Hermantown and Minnesota Power? Any public input on resolution 2025-78? Roll call, please. [22:05] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [22:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolution 2025-79: Resolution authorizing and directing Mayor and City Clerk to execute an acceptance of easement agreement for parcel 395-0010-04390 to Minnesota Power from the City of Hermantown for the Duluth Loop Reliability Project. Do we have a motion? [22:25] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**: Move to approve. [22:27] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [22:29] **Councilor Andy Hjelle**: Second. [22:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, should we have Ms. Crego explain this? [22:35] **Utility and Infrastructure Director Trish Crego**: Yes. Thank you again, Mayor and Councilors. This is a similar property but just a smaller property and this is what we own on Maple Grove Road. We don't have anything existing on that property. There's quite a few wetlands, so it was at no disadvantage to us to provide that easement. [22:58] **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 2025-79? Any public input on the second agreement of easement between the City of Hermantown and Minnesota Power? Roll call, please. [23:23] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [23:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolution 2025-80: Resolution approving change order numbers 21, 22, and 23 for the Northstar Ford Arena in the amount of $27,727. Is there a motion? [24:04] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: I'll make a motion to approve. [24:06] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? [24:08] **Councilor John Geissler**: Second. [24:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder. [24:12] **City Administrator John Mulder**: These are three change orders on the arena. One is for additional grading for the parking lot where the existing garage will be removed. The second one is changing the metal railings to glass railings at the request of the advisory board to improve visibility. And the last one is changing the roof access door so there is a step down to prevent the door from pushing up against snow accumulation. [25:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2025-80? Any public input on the approval of change orders number 21, 22, and 23 for the Northstar Ford Arena? Roll call, please. [25:47] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [26:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Resolution 2025-81: Resolution approving pay request number 11 for the Northstar Ford Arena to Krauss-Anderson Construction Company in the amount of $2,490,592.60. Is there a motion? [26:26] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**: Move to approve. [26:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [26:30] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: I'll second. [26:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [26:35] **City Administrator John Mulder**: Um, this is for the work that's been done through April 30th. [26:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? [26:45] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc**: I was just thinking that this one pay request is twice the cost of the original arena. [26:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Anything else from council? Any public input on resolution 2025-81? Any public input on the resolution approving pay request number 11 for the Northstar Ford Arena? Roll call, please. [27:31] **City Clerk Alissa McClure**: Councilor Hjelle? (Aye). Councilor LeBlanc? (Aye). Councilor Peterson? (Aye). Councilor Geissler? (Aye). Mayor Boucher? (Aye). [27:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: And Mr. Mulder, do we have a need for a closed session this evening? [27:45] **City Administrator John Mulder**: We do not. [27:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: So the next item of business is a motion to recess. Do we have a motion? [27:50] **Councilor John Geissler**: Motion to recess. [27:52] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [27:53] **Councilor Joe Peterson**: I'll second. [27:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher**: All in favor say aye. (Aye). Oppose? Same sign. Meeting recessed.