Let's call the meeting to order and stand for the pledge of >> 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. Those up there Turn the mics up. >> Are we up as high as we can get? That is as high as I can get it. Testing. Sometimes uh this microphone fades out on me and I don't know why but uh let's start with a roll call. Councelor Gler >> here. >> Councelor Jelly >> here. Council Blah >> here. >> Councelor Peterson >> here. Mayor Buchet >> here. Announcements. Are there any announcements that counselors wish to make this evening? >> No. >> Okay. Um, now we have public comment. Time for individuals to address the council about any item on the agenda. Not on the agenda. Time limit is three minutes per person. Uh, I have a list here for signup. We have changed something from last week. We're only going to ask hometown when someone introduces themselves. >> Current city or >> and current what? Current city or hometown. Uh first person on the list is Rick Davis. >> Hi guys. Uh my name is Rick Davis. I've been in Herman Town for 70 years. I got 12 brothers and sisters. My sister served on the council for at least 10 years, worked with the mayor, so I know a little bit about this stuff. My family in this area could be 70 strong, I don't know, maybe 50 strong, but I'd have to ask my sisters, but every one of them is against this in it in its current location. I'm a 50year union member, proud of it. All these people in the green shirts are my brothers and sisters. I want to see the jobs. There's no reason why it can't be on Highway 53. There's a lot of There's some businesses. There's vacant lands, but not many homes. You know, I just do not like where it is between two trout streams, which I fished all my life. And then uh I don't know if anybody's been watching the national news. They just came out with a survey this weekend. 71% of the community the people do not want a data center in their community. So I mean if you go by I know you think this is good for Hermittown. think it's great all the tax money you're going to get and I think I believe every one of you are doing the best you can and I hate speaking. Yeah, I heard something you said the same 20 people. Well, okay. I'm number 25. I waited for a month cuz I did not want to speak but I got all my family members. My daughter lives in California. She gra she's a little bit smarter than me. She graduated number one at Hermantown, number one athlete, and she's telling me, "Dad, you got to go there and say something." Her friends still live here, and they're all against it. So, she's the one who made me come to these meetings. I hate it. I'm a builder, a worker. We don't talk. When I started working 50 years ago, you don't talk. They fired you. So, I'm not good at speaking. And then another thing, uh, the biggest concern I have is this warmup. According to Google, I got everything off of Google. I know nothing. So, I researched it. These big data centers can warm the temperature up to 16°, >> 30 seconds, right? >> For up to six miles. Okay. But I heard a rumor that you want to build three in Herman Town. So I called the newspaper, an online newspaper, and he said, "It's not a rumor. You released in the documents and you have code names for him that you want to build three. So multiply that 16°* three." And according to Google, if it warms up 10°, it can kill all the trees in the area. That's according to Google, not me. I didn't go to duck duck gold. >> Three minutes. >> So that's the time. Thank you. >> Oh, I got three more minutes though. >> You still do that where you get three more minutes? >> Well, it depends on who's willing to see it. >> Denny. Uh Debbie Flynn. >> What? What was your name? >> Deb Flynn. >> Deb, are you signed up anywhere? Okay. Can you confirm that? Thank you. Just keep it for the next. Okay. Go ahead. >> Okay. Like like I said, that's the biggest concern I have is the warming up of the temperatures. And I know you're not going to like this, but I did run into somebody, a retired person from St. Louis County and he said there's 500 acres available at the US Steel plant and that shovel ready. We wouldn't be going through this crap. That was a cleanup. He said it's all ready to go. The power's there, the sewer's there, the water's there. It doesn't make any sense what you're doing. And why would you do according to a survey that UWS did 70% of the people are against it? You know, I mean, you think it's good, but can any one of you that's sitting up here right now, is that going to be near you or a mile away from you? Are you going to see it? How would you feel if it was in your backyard? And what about can you confirm will you do it at a later date that you want to build three and according to him the two other two you want to build are on the Maple Grove road. Now all of it he said that was in the documents you released. Now I asked him he said it's not a rumor. They filed some kind of suit or something to get this document released. So if it's not a rumor and he said you have code names for them. So, I mean, the people, some people that live in these milliondoll homes might think, well, it does Adolf is far enough away from me, it's not going to affect me. Well, what if you put what you want to do, according to him, you want to build two more. Now, all of a sudden, it's affecting everybody. And what about that heat then? Last year, we had a drought. The rivers drew dried up around here. We were 10 in below on normal. They're building all these data centers. Look at all the forest fires. Now we're having them in the spring. Do you think that has something to do with it? I do. The biggest thing I have is about the heat. But they also say that it produces air pollution. And I Googled why would it produce air pollution? Cuz they have generators. And they run the generators. Even when the power goes low, they start up the generator. According to Google, they're constantly testing the generators and it produces air pollution. And somebody from Metcon came to my house to talk about >> two seconds, Rick >> about the line there. And she said in Mano, they stopped one and then they put one outside Mano. Everybody in the area is getting sick. They're getting respiratory problems. And then according to Google, it can get into your bloodstream. Now, it's all right to think you get all this money. I'll be dead and gone, but what about your kids and your families and your grandkids and stuff? You know, I like Turmantown. The slow development we had this fast. Now you want to put sewer and water on every road. It's crazy. >> Thank you. >> Great. like to ask you to please have no more outbursts like that. We want to continue the meeting and give everyone a chance to speak in time. So, let's have Karen Pianc. >> Good evening. I'm Karen Pian, a citizen of Hermantown. Thank you, Mayor. Um, Council President Bush and all city councilors, I want to thank you for your time, your energy, and your thoughtfulness. You continue to dedicate to this important decision regarding the proposed data center. The level of care and diligence that you are putting into this process has not gone unnoticed. I've had the opportunity to meet each of you at some point during the 26 years that I've been a resident here in Duth and I just want to say how much respect I have for you not only as leaders but as community members. Some of you have grown up here and some of you are raising your families here or have raised your families here. That says a lot about your commitment to Hermantown and it builds a strong sense of trust. I also want to acknowledge that this has not been an easy conversation. It is clear that people care deeply about our community and that is a good thing. But at times the tone of the conversation has shifted away from respectful dialogue and into something more personal. We've seen moments when disagreement has turned into pressure, intimidation, and that is concerning. Whether someone supports the data center or is opposed to it, everyone should feel comfortable with sharing their perspective without fear of being criticized or targeted. That's the kind of community we all want to be a part of. I want to be very clear. While personally I see the benefits to this project, this is not about trying to influence your decision one way or another. It's about trust and I trust each of you. I trust the work you've done and I trust the work you will continue to do to arrive at the right decision for our community. I would also just like to talk about the bigger picture. As a community grows and evolves, it's important that we continue to look for the opportunities of economic growth, especially in the business sector. When we expand our tax base through development, it helps ensure that the cost of running our city doesn't fall solely on the residents. Because the reality is if we don't continue to grow the diversity, the border the burden shifts back to homeowners through higher tax properties. And often it is the same voices these same voices that express concern about those increasing costs that are opposing the current growth opportunity right now. Healthy vibrant cities are one that continues to grow in a balanced way. They create opportunities. They attract investments and ultimately >> three minutes >> provide a higher quality of life for people. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. >> Dave Chur name and city of residence. Good evening, counselors, and thank you for your commitment to public service. My name is David Chur. I live in Duth and I've spent my career working in energy, natural resources, and government. I want to start out tonight by saying I hear and share the concerns about protecting the rural character and our local environment. That matters and it's what makes this area so special. If Hermantown doesn't build a compact, high value commercial tax base along controlled corridors, the alternatives are tough. Higher property taxes on homeowners or more scattered, lowdensity residential subdivisions just to pay for basic city services. In Duth, we've seen how hard it is when revenues barely grow by 1% while expenses keep rising approximately 5% annually. That's not sustainable. National data shows the data center industry is contributing significant tax revenue and supporting millions of jobs across the economy, generating benefits that extend throughout the community. That matters locally because a strong commercial tax base can help ease pressure on homeowners and support long-term infrastructure needs. It also makes environmental sense. Extending the boundary for this utility route would connect the facility to municipal water and sewer, which helps protect private aquifers and reduces pressure on groundwater. As former Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently pointed out, data centers are driving new investment in energy infrastructure, especially cleaner and more modern systems. And there's the reality that every community faces. If we don't grow the community t the commercial tax base in a thoughtful way, the pressure doesn't disappear. It tends to show up as higher property taxes or more scattered development just to keep up with rising costs. To me, this is not a choice between growth and prover preserving what we value. It's about shaping growth so that it works for the community, so that it supports the tax base, protects residents, and is done the right way with the right expectations in place. I appreciate the thought that you are putting into this decision. This is an orderly, practical plan that helps the community stay affordable. >> I encourage you to vote yes on that amend uh that proposal tonight. and I thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Next, Chris. Um, Applebacher. Apologize if I butchered your name. I had trouble. >> It's okay. It's uh >> name in hometown or name in town of residence. Chris Applebacher. So, I think I think you got it that time. Hermantown, Minnesota. >> Good evening, mayor and council members, and thank you for the opportunity to share my perspective. I support the resolution that's up for a vote tonight um to approve the proposed changes to the comprehensive plan. Bringing the whole city into the urban service boundary uh while still identifying where growth would occur over time feels like a thoughtful balance and responsible approach to city planning and cleaning up the inconsistency between the city and the WLSSD is just common sense. Getting that resolved makes it things much clearer, reduces the chance for confusion later, and helps future decisions move more efficiently efficiently. As a resident, I also think expanding municipal water and sewer in a thoughtful way helps prepare the city for the f future. Having more property served by the city utilities instead of relying on private wells and septic systems supports future growth and can be beneficial long term for both reliability and environmental protection. At the end of the day, this feels like this feels like putting a cleaner, more consistent framework in place so the city can approach growth in a more coordinated and responsible way. For those reasons, I would encourage the council to support this resolution. Thank you. >> Thank you, Carol Valentini. Hello, I'm Carol Valentini. I live in Duth and I am a business owner in Herman Town. First of all, I would like to navigate through my three minutes up here by thanking the Hermantown City Council and those serving in a public office who have been patient, respectful, thoughtful, and factual in dealing with this issue. Some see this proposed data center as a defiant challenge and some see it as an economic opportunity. But I am certain that everyone in this room, including those who are vehemently against building the data center, excuse me, are cannot deny that we all rely on the use of our cell phones and computers every day. Use them to organize and gather people, to call your kids, to stream movies, to do business, to do online banking. and for better for worse to engage in the almighty social media that has changed our world. We all take data infrastructure for granted. Whether or not you like it, we can't turn the clock back. Here we are, 2026. Technology and communication have drastically changed the world we live in. We need to deal with the reality of today's technical world together. And I realize there are very there are few legitimate concerns about data centers which I myself have shared a few. But let's direct those issues to the experts who understand the mechanics, the construction and the implications of data centers. We need a town hall to ask the questions and understand the facts which are not presented accurately on social media platforms. Being on the Herman Town Chamber board, I've had the opportunity to ask questions directly to these Google folks to learn firsthand what is a closed loop water system, how does it work, how will air cooling be used. And last week I took an informative tour of the existing data center located on Rice Lake Road that has been operating for 15 years in Duth. I never heard a sound until I went behind closed doors in the center of a room deep inside this huge building. >> 30 seconds >> where we witnessed electronic maze and a closed loop system that's cooling it. The facts are modern designs are far more efficient with air cooling which is why Google selected Hermantown which is has abundance of cool air and wind. I hope we can frame this conversation around opportunity the economic and social benefits for our schools, our infrastructure and our healthcare industry and mitigate the concerns proactively. Remember every call you make, every text, every app, every search you do uses a data center and rejecting that while using the services >> did not make sense. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Next is Nate Weisenhart. Nate name and city of residence. >> Hello. Uh Nate Weiseart. Uh I live in Duth. Uh, good evening, council members. My name is Nate. >> Excuse me. We have some chatter going on here. If we could uh respectfully allow the people to speak. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Yeah. My name is Nate. I'm a Hermantown area resident. I have a property in Pike Lake and and a lake property in in the Hermantown district. Uh my daughter's a my daughter's a student in the district and I've worked in data center operations in Duth for uh just over a decade. So, uh, I'm a data center manager. I've managed multiple data centers in in, uh, northern Minnesota over the last decade. I understand why people have questions about a project of this size, they should. Power use, water use, noise, environmental impact, infrastructure, and community benefit are all fair things to ask about. I think it's important that this conversation balances legitimate community concerns with real world experience from people who have worked inside these facilities. My career has been focused on data center operations, energy management, and now environmental efficiency. That means keeping critical facilities like data centers reliable while also finding ways to reduce waste, improve cooling performance, lower water usage, and operate as responsibility. Operate as responsibly as as we possibly can. Uh the industry's changed a lot over the last decade. Modern data centers are not built or operated the way people sometimes imagine. These facilities use advanced monitoring, automation, efficient cooling systems, strict maintenance programs, and detailed energy tracking. The work in these facilities does not stop when construction is finished. The real work is in how the site is operated every day, year after year. And from my experience, Minnesota is a good place for that. We have a climate that can support efficient cooling strategies, strong utilities, and environmental standards, and communities that expect companies to be accountable. This is all a good com combination for Hermantown. I believe this project represents a long-term opportunity. It can bring a stronger tax base, support for schools and city services, good jobs like my jobs like my job and my teams. Uh local business activity and infrastructure investment for families like mine that matters. I want my daughter to grow up in a community that is stable, forward-looking, and positioned for the future. I know the public's asking a lot of hard questions, and they should. a project of this size and scale >> deserves scrutiny and at the same time I want to acknowledge that this council is also asking the questions uh and they're taking their responsibility seriously that is exactly why that exactly what sorry that's exactly what an effective local government should do but I am here to say that this industry is capable of meeting the expectations of a community like Hermantown and that with the right oversight this can be a project that reflects our values and benefit benefits for our kids. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Sarah Yoko. >> Name and city of residence, please. >> Hi, I'm Sarah Yoko and I live in Herman Town. A famous Greek philosopher once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." You're probably wondering, why am I quoting philosophy right now? You know, we're we're at a city council meeting. I promise there is revelence to this. Um, I took a philosophy class in college and I never thought I would use it. I thought it was a waste of my time. I hated it, but it's coming back and I'm thankful I went to a liberal arts school. That's Classica. Um, so I'm going to start out by thanking Councelor LeBlanc. Thank you for asking questions. I think a lot of other people have talked up here about asking questions and getting answers and not just being given blank answers or no answers or just nothing. You know, again, the unexamined life is not worth living. What does that mean to you? What does that mean to us with this data center coming in? You know, take the time and ask that to yourself. Ask your community members. And it can be on anything. It could be on life experiences. Ask yourself, so I appreciate you questioning things, making people talk about it. It's okay to have an adult meaningful conversation about this. It's okay. Yes, people are going to butt heads, but like what Mrs. Valentini said, there's stuff on Facebook. You don't know if it's true or not. She was able to have that meaningful conversation, which is awesome. We've tried having these conversations and we don't get them. So the rumor mill starts going around. You know, there's the rumor mill that fits the same 20 people. Am I included in it? I wear a big blue coat in the winter time. You can't miss me. You know, am I part of it? I work a 1.0 at the hospital. I am adjunct faculty at the College of St. Scholastica for their doctor of nursing practice committee. I I'm the treasurer for the Hermantown parent teacher organization. And it takes way more time than what I was told. You know, I have four children. I am missing my son's baseball game right now to be here. Okay? So, people have lives and I'm pissed that I'm not there right now, but I feel like I have to come and let you know I am human. I'm not paid to be here like you guys are. All right? Um, I am trying to find my own identity. I'm a young mom. I'm working. I'm trying to be the best person I can be. So, please be mindful of that for anyone. You don't know what they're going through. Another piece I'd like to touch base about is the school. $43 million over 28 years. That is a lot of money, but that's $800,000 a year. I'm sorry, but that's piss money. That's terrible. I talked last fall and council Geyser, you were not here for that. $84 million for a new K through 5th school. Okay, that's what they wanted because there's getting too much enrollment. That's not even half of the school. Have you been in the little girls' room? Probably not, which I hope you're not. There's tile falling off the walls. There's pipes hanging out. It's an old building. So, granted, they wanted to update. >> Three minutes. >> Sorry. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Peter Haftton. Name and hometown. >> Um, Peter Haftton, Soulway Township. Um, thank you for letting me speak tonight. I'm glad a few people trust you guys out of the audience. I think maybe five. Um, I'm not one of them. So, I'm going to ask a few questions. Um, I do side with councelor Leblanc on having some questions about the expansion of the water project and all the utilities throughout the whole city of Hermantown. Um, I don't live in Hermantown, but I do live one mile from the proposed Hermantown data center site. Um, so I have a few questions and concerns about this. Um, will all of Hermantown residents get access to city water and sewer following the expansion of the plan or will the water just be directly brought to the data center site in the Adolf area? What is the timeline for this? These are questions that have not been answered. Um, will all residents um be forced to pay? I mean, I think that was a great question asking if somebody has a hobby farm, if somebody has property and they have a well, are they going to be forced if their well fails, are they going to be forced to put on to be put on city water and sewer and pay a lot of money to draw from that every single day and week? Um, those are good questions. I mean, that's one reason I think that this should be tabled and a lot more should be discussed about this. Um, the second part of my question is, um, the fact that data centers pollute wellwater. I mean, that's a fact. So I have a well and all of my neighbors have wells. I'm not in the city of Hermantown. So have you coordinated with Proctor, Esco, some of these surrounding communities to think if our well waters uh get polluted, what am I going to do? I can't just hook up to city water and sewer with Hermantown. I'm I'm going to have to come up with a backup plan. I'm way closer than some of the other people. Um your actions tonight impact thousands of people in the area, not just people in Hermantown. Um, I would ask you to table this vote and ask the questions, have a public hearing about it, hear our voices, hear our concerns. Um, because I think these are huge impacts that are going to impact people beyond just Hermantown. So, in closing, um, we're terribly disappointed with the transparency of this council. I feel like we haven't learned very much at all. We haven't had a public hearing about the data center, about the water expansion of the city water and sewer. Um, you've lost the public trust in this community. Even though a few people are telling you you have not, you have. There's hundreds of people who think they can't trust the five of you. Um, you've lied to those who have voted for you. Um, and you've been manipulated by a trillion dollar company. Um, they don't care about Hermantown at all. This will be a phase and they will be on to the next thing. >> Um, so instead of a round of applause, I would ask the people behind me, hold up your signs, give them a round of booze. Boo. Thank you. Next is Emma Rickman. >> Emma, >> she's in the other room. >> We'll give her a chance to get here from the other room. On deck is Nate Ricard. Nate is Nate. Emma's here. >> Thank you. Name and hometown, please. >> Uh, Emma Richman, uh, Hermantown. Uh, I am an 11-year resident and I've been struggling with a few things lately. Um, I struggled to understand the motivation behind behind the consistent rubber stamping for this project. I struggled to determine if some or all of our current counselors are here to serve their constituents or their own self-interests. I would like to think that you are here to do the best for the city that you call home as well, but it begs to be questioned. I'm curious if you are truly weighing the pros and cons of this development for Hermantown, or rather weighing how the decisions you make will impact your careers, personal or political, blacklisted by the trades, or seeking future endorsements for potential state level political aspirations. I struggled to see some of my counselors liking Facebook posts from Yes Minnesota regarding the project being the golden ticket for Hermantown. I struggled with one of my counselors this past Sunday night as I happened to drive by home from Duth having zero idea he lived there mowing his lawn with a green yes Minnesota job shirt on. I struggle with my counselor supporting an organization that is heavily infra infiltrated by Minnesota power who stands to benefit greatly from Google's hypers scale data center. I struggle with the notion that you are definitely listening. Are you listening to understand or are you listening to check a box? So, please don't tell me you are getting all the information to make the best educated decision you can when it feels abundantly clear that some of you have already made your decision. To be clear, I am not against unions or trades, but I am against the manipulation of facts being used to fuel propaganda. I struggle with knowing if I am making an impact week after week, month after month, speaking up here. I struggle if I am doing the right thing by sharing any of this with you. But your constituents have a right to know where you stand. It's hard to trust someone who speaks out of both sides of their mouth. I filed to for city council last Friday and I have made it no secret my feelings on this development. So may any of the potential bridges that I burn in this process light the way. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Calm please. Uh, next I on the list I have Rebecca Grandorf, but she wrote comp plan and data center. Uh, they're two. Oh, sorry, Nate. You're after Rebecca. Uh, the data center subject would be now. And if you want to sign up for the comp plan discussion, that would be later. Is >> is Rebecca in the other room or Oh, >> right here. >> Okay, go ahead. Go ahead. >> Um, >> Rebecca Gradorf, um, Hermantown. Um, I attended the planning and zoning meeting where they talked about the comprehensive plan amendment and I was really frustrated by the justifications that were used for people voting to pass it. Members claimed that the water was needed for for the to create the amount of housing that Hermantown needed. Um, and they also one one person on the committee said that they would like to personally be able to build a house in rural Hermantown. I find that ridiculous because none of that land is for sale. So essentially they were looking at our property and wanting to build their own house there. If you read the actual document, it says that you we do not need to extend the uh service boundary for at least another 20 years to stick to stay in um on pace to keep up with the housing trends and how much housing we actually need. Um when I wrote my uh comment for the scoping document, I talked extensively in that letter about this waterline and its sighting. And I encouraged um you guys in your in your AU process to look at other routes for the waterline so that you would not be creating potential destructive development in my neighborhood. I never saw any acknowledgement of that comment and I do not see why you can't look for a different route. I understand that you've done some leg work already on getting this route made, but in having to rewrite the entire comprehensive plan in order to accommodate it is ridiculous to me. you should be able to look for a different route that you don't need to rewrite the entire comprehensive plan and put all of our properties in rural Harmontown at risk for development. Um, that's being said, I think you should stop this process, table it, um, and demand that that be done in the AUA process. I was a little bit disturbed um the comment here that we may not be developing the area around Midway Road um for for 20 years. In the comprehensive plan amendment that you guys are voting to pass today, it says you will not have to develop for 20 years at least that you can get all the housing you need in the current service boundary. So I find that insulting that oh we may not have to do it for 20 years. There should be things written in that in that prohibit development for at least 20 years. Um are you going to put protections in place that are going to protect our wells so that we don't need to connect to the water line that you guys are making? Um why is this being rushed? The data center is not even approved yet. The water line will not be built if Google does not um fund it. So why are we amending the comprehensive plan right now to do something that you have no funding to build unless the data center >> is approved? >> Thank you. >> Thank you Nate Ricard. Nate name and hometown. >> Who's on deck? W >> and Candy Mock is on deck. Nate record. Uh 4878 Trails End Drive, Hermantown. Uh I live here. My wife or wife and kids go to school at Hermantown. Uh I just want to start off. I am supportive of the data center and and the skilled union trades that would would build it. Um that being said, I do think the opposition has has some good points that should be addressed with uh that that can be solved. you know, there's there's one with the with the light pollution and noise. I think those are all engineering things that could could get get uh engineered out of it. Um, in my opinion, I would just ask I think the developer needs to step up and listen to the community and listen to the opposition. Uh, come to these meetings and talk talk to people about it. You're going to hear a lot of stuff, you know, from the opposition, but that's fine. That's how you build a successful project. Uh, I would just I would just challenge that developer to come to these things and and talk to them, talk to people. Uh, I think that this could be a good project for the community. Uh, I just built I'm a construction superintendent. I just built a station in Indiana last year in the middle of development. Installed three jet engines in in literally people's swimming pools are on the other side. We quieted them down to nothing. Uh there's ways of doing these projects that that if you listen to the community, you could do them successfully, but you got to listen to opposition. They have some good points. And I would just uh sum it up with the developers. Come in here and listen to people and hear the negative, but but lot there's a lot of good stuff in that. And it could be a very good project for Hermantown if it's done correctly. Thank you. >> Thank you, Candy Mock. Candy Mock and after Candy is Joanne Bates. >> Hi, Candy Moff. I've lived in Herman Town since 2009. Owned a home here since 2012. I have been on a small city staff in the past where I helped with this process. I'm a currently a road designer for the state so I deal with a lot of technical stuff. I'm also a union member Nate. Um so I'm not anti-development. I'm not anti-change. I am for thoughtful, careful process in the development of any changes. I am also for transparency in government. Um there's a lot of technical details I understand to the process um with this proposed project and the steps that are being taken towards it. So, but I'm going to speak in generalities right now. Um, one of you that was kind enough to sit down with me said, um, very early on that it's tearing this city apart. Um, I see that. I think other people have said it. Right now, there's lawsuits regarding this project. There's other small cities, well, in big cities, too, that are um slowing down the process. And that's what I want to see. I just want to see it slow down a bit. Take a pause. Um, statewide there have been bills that were introduced that are now not happening, but they're going to get reintroduced that are going to put more information and guard rails into this very new process, new in that at this scale in Minnesota. Um, so and it is about the risk versus benefit. And I think that's what people are questioning because we're going in our minds off of gobyss of what we've known in development in the past. But there's a lot of unknowns to this. It's still very new at this scale in our country and for Minnesota. Right now, trust is shaky in the city of Hermantown. I think that's been said already. Um, so I want you to frame it what I'm about to say from that. Imagine if you were cheated on by your spouse, God forbid, but if that had happened and you busted them, wouldn't you want to see trust rebuilt? You would take steps to do that. you would ask for steps from them. That's what kind of thing I'm asking from you. On your own time, I would like you to look up the language of some of the bills that have been introduced. Um SF4816 file is dead in the water right now, but it's going to get reintroduced that talks about Thank you. um >> some of the guard rails that'll be for data centers in Minnesota. I want you to publicly state that data releases must come quicker. six to seven months is not a reasonable amount of time. I want one of you to make a motion and one of you to second that motion to table this um comprehensive plan amendment so that that you have before you tonight. >> The plan is sus as my teenage daughter might say realize every step sends a signal to your constituents. It's >> name and hometown, please. >> Joanne Bates, Hermantown, Minnesota. >> Thank you. >> And I am here to deliver a message from a friend tonight. Inspired by first nation, the Lakota tribe, the glot philosophy emphasizes our dependence on uh here is the problem on the earth. Stating we are living because of earth. The earth is not living because of us. This sentiment is echoed by a respected tribal elder who articulated, "If it's not good for Earth, it's not good for us." I would like to address each council member with a direct and honest inquiry, which I believe is a sign of respect for everyone who is present here. In what way does a data center positively contribute to the earth? Thank you, Tom Bates. name and hometown, please. >> My name is Tom Bates. You might have heard me around here before. Um, my hometown is Hermantown. >> Thank you. >> I've lived here eight years or so. And, uh, want to dedicate this to Council Gisler and, uh, Wallace Loberg and, uh, Helmer Ruth, people. Uh, I appreciate old-timers. It was the dark of the moon on the 1st of June in the Hermantown city hall. We was facing them down and they said not a sound as we stood there facing the wall. We did our best, but not a word would they say as they looked at us standing tall. And we knew in our hearts that this was a fight that would take us one and all 10 four. Cuz we got a little convoy rocking through the night. Yeah, we got a little old convoy. Ain't she a beautiful sight? Come on and join our convoy. Ain't nothing going to get in our way. We going to roll this truck and convoy across the USA. Convoy. Then they came to our town without a sound and threatened our way of life. They bought up our homes and farms and lands and they offered up any price. But we are going to stand right up to the man and tell them hell no. Now the man don't he don't know but we'll fight him hard and go right toe to toe 104. Come on and join our convoy. Ain't nothing going to get in our way. We going to roll this trucking convoy cross the USA convoy. I've spoke to you guys many many times. You've never said a word back to me. You've smiled and nodded, but you've never said a word. And it it it really it's really hurt my heart. So, I had to I had to I had to write this. And uh yeah, we got to have that that conversation here in this room, all of us together. We really need to. We really need to. Thank you. >> Thank you, Sarah. Loal. >> Uh, my name is Sarah Lopald and I'm from Hermantown. Uh, and first I would like to thank you for considering my point of order from the last uh, city council meeting. That made me extremely nervous. Uh, but many of us appreciate uh, no longer having to kind of dox ourselves every time we come up here uh, to speak. Uh, so thank you for that. I appreciate it a lot. Um, and honestly, I haven't prepared much for the general discussion today, but I I just want to point out the amazing response from the community uh, opposing this hypers scale data center. uh my Hermantown neighbors, my new friends from Duth, Proctor, Soway, Midway, Thompson, Fondelac, St. Louis County, Greater Minnesota, Wisconsin, and even from all over the US. Uh many people have reached out to me asking me uh more about this topic and how we're fighting and opposing it. And I'm coming to tell you again, this isn't the same 20 people. Yeah, >> look here. The other chambers are are almost full and they're full of so many people who are very passionate about this project uh and about opposing it. Uh this is a national movement, a fight for our environment, our health, neighborhoods, the democratic process, and our utilities. A fight to prevent corporate interests and financial greed from overshadowing shadowing the public process and resident voices. A fight to keep the usage of our public water, electricity, and other resources in the public eye and not hidden behind claims of trade secrets. There are many reasons why people are opposing this project and you have been hearing all of it for the last seven months. And I have a feeling you would have been hearing about it for even longer if project loon had been revealed to the public earlier in the process. So to bring back my original question from the first six months of city council meetings, if citizens of Hermantown and area communities and the United States at large come to months of city council meetings and express their concerns over a trillion dollar corporation like Google building a 1.2 2 million square foot data center complex in the middle of a rural area. Will you stop the project? And I want to reiterate as well, this is a hyperscale data center. This is infinitely bigger than the two data centers that we have in the duth area right now. You cannot compare the two at all. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Karen Harmon. Karen, >> who is that? Anybody? Okay. Well, we'll wait until somebody needs it then. Karen Owen Lions. Owen's in the other room. We'll wait. We'll wait. And after Owen is Alexis Scarboro. Hello. >> Hi. Name and city of resen Lions. Hermantown, Minnesota. >> Thank you. >> 68.75 years I've lived here and I've never seen anything like this. One thing I'd like to say is don't whitewash stuff. We We have water and sewer lines going by people's properties. You're saying, "Oh, you don't have to hook up to them or you don't have to hook up until your septic fails." But in all reality, you'll be taxed for water and sewer on your road frontage. So, you need to tell people this. St. County is going to come through the year following you put these utilities in and everybody's going to be paying for water and sewer there. No doubt about it. Um most of the stuff, you know, I talked about where's the storm sewer. Um you just got to be straight with people. You can't whitewash stuff like this. I almost swore. Um, tell them the truth. That's what we're looking for. We don't want, oh yeah, we're going to put the water and sewer by your house, but you don't have to hook up to it, but you're going to be paying, guesstimate, $50,000 more in your taxes for that water and sewer to go by your house, whether you hook up or not. That's all I got. Thank you. Thank you, Alexis Scarboro. And after Alexis is Ed Marsman. >> Hello. Um, I'm Alexis Scarro. I live in Duth, less than 10 miles away from this proposed site, reszoned site I should say. Um, and I'm letting my lawn grow and my kids are having to eat cereal tonight because I'm here with you guys. Um, I want you to think about how these AI data centers are not the same as the data centers that we have in the area. When I learned about this proposed project, my first uh thing I did was search online life with a data center and I saw videos and heard I didn't hear bird song. They had to mute out the background to even hear bird song in the background. These are Mall of America size surveillance centers. They're powered by fracking gas and they threaten the health of our most vulnerable citizens like children and seniors. And they place everyone who lives and works nearby at greater risk for health consequences, not to mention added financial burden of the health care needs and costs that we will see soon. They're already rising. If Palunteer or Google is willing to pay for a giant city sewer, why didn't you haggle for more? Why? Why would you just take the sewer? Why not go for like you could budget our failing school systems. You could you could you could rope them. Okay, this is beautiful land. And I never thought I'd quote RK RFK Jr., but AI Data centers prove grave risks. Once they're there and up and running, they have diesel generators and heating and ventilating and air conditioning. These fans let off constant hum and these can exceed 90 dB at times. People are complaining of lower frequencies which have been used to snuff out fires and as weapons in Gaza. According to research from Georgia Tech, 20 megahertz induces fight or flight and it can be felt hundreds of miles away. It is not stoppable. It's not blockable. These are huge waves that go through the earth. They can go up to thousands of miles. Hypers scale facilities require all night lighting. So, I know you said that maybe we could work on that, but I don't I don't believe it's going to happen. I think that you guys are just going to run with it as soon as you get the okay. And I fear that Hermantown is selling out to these billionaires >> crowding out precious wildlife. They're reszoning treed and wetlands, rivers, and clean air in exchange for surveillance surveillance centers that will only profit off of our lives and replace our jobs. It's already happening in Utah. You can see their water levels are dropping and their water is sickening brown and orange water. I hope you guys can think about us. There's way more than 20 people here. And everyone I speak to about AI centers, they say, "Holy [ __ ] why would you have that? >> Why? Good evening. Name is Ed Marsman, business owner in Hermittown, resident of Duth. I'd like to speak to you as a retired public educator. I was a public school teacher, special education teacher in the Luth, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent. And after my retirement from that system, I also became uh connected to St. Scholastica and supervised student teachers. Many of them came to Hermantown. Um I want to congratulate the city council here for exploring the development of this project. Um as an educator, we all am very much aware of budgetary issues. As a city council, you have the responsibility of exploring all the different revenue sources you can develop and I see this as a part of that. I also have enough confidence in the system of permitting. It's not just Hermantown that has to approve this. this will go and we all know that has to go to the state and we all know that getting permits in the state of Minnesota is a real challenge which is a good situation and I hope everybody can feel confident that this will take time and this will provide plenty of opportunity for everybody to have input and everybody needs to be honest and explore the of all to keep an open mind so that we can go further and the future will come if we like it or not and we need to be part of that. So I really congratulate the city of Hermanon to be progressive and to pursue this opportunity. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Dave Thornton and after Dave is Nicole Carnoski >> Dave Thornton. I live in Hermantown on Hermantown Road from the site. >> Thank you. >> I've said it many few times. I'm probably one of the 25 that you have seen before you before. I uh signed up with the idea that maybe I could do those donate some of the time some of these other elegant speakers here but they didn't need it right now. My proposal is this. I think this is a huge huge development opportunity or responsibility for much more than any one of you guys to make. I think you have to put it on the city in a city referendum. That's all I want to say. Thank you. Nicole Carnowski and after that Rob West name and city of residence >> Nicole Carnellowski, Duth, Minnesota. My name is Nicole Carnellski. I'm a business owner in the community and I've served on the Hermantown Chamber Board of Commerce for the past six years. I'm speaking tonight in support of the data center project because I believe Herman Town has an opportunity in front of us that we should not dismiss out of fear. I understand people have questions. They should. Big projects deserve those questions. But question should lead us to facts, not rumors. Concern should lead us to clarity, not panic. And decisions this important should be made based on not be made based on the loudest voices in the room. They should be made based on truth, expert input, and what is best for the long-term future of the community. I'll be honest, I was not fully sure about the data center at first either, but after being able to listen to experts, looking at the concerns, and learning more about the safeguards in place, I'm confident this is a responsible project and a major opportunity for Hermantown and the Northland. This means jobs, means construction work, opportunity for our trades, contractors, suppliers, service companies, restaurants, hotels, and small businesses, many of which we get to work with. It means economic growth in a region that cannot afford to keep saying no to opportunity and then wonder why our young people leave, why businesses struggle, and why growth happens elsewhere. Some people are worried electricity rates will go up. Minnesota is a regulated state and data centers are required to pay their fair share. The cost cannot simply be shifted onto other rateayers and I'm just sharing what was shared with us. Um some worried about water. This project as Carol Vendino mentioned used advanced air cooling technology. It's not draining our water resources. Water use is expected to be for normal business needs like bathroom and kitchen use. Others worried about noise. There is no special noise exemption. The project has to follow local ordinances and state noise standards like any other business. And when it comes to clean energy, Minnesota has some of the toughest clean energy laws in our country. Google will be required to follow the standards. So my ask tonight is simple. Before opposing the project, please fully learn the facts. Being cautious is wise. Being mis misinformed is costly. Herman Town can protect what makes this community special and still move forward. These two things are not opposite. Change is not always easy, but communities that refuse to change do not stay the same. They fall behind. I believe Herman Town's strong enough, smart enough, and capable enough to grow wisely. >> And I'd just sh like to share from the heart, too. I >> 30 seconds >> and thank all of you um for what you're doing and just remind people it's easy to be the armchair quarterback and share how you would do things, but this is a hard job um that all you have. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Uh, I brought up Rob West, but he wrote comp plan, so that's later in the agenda. Next is John Clucker. >> I haven't been able to hear much. Is this microphone on tonight? >> Yes. >> I noticed the monitors are not. I can't see that from here. >> Curious. >> Okay. Uh my name is Jim Clucker. Jim, >> I live in Duth. Um I'm humbled to be able to speak at the same uh podium that I've seen so many residents uh particularly that first gentleman who talked about his daughters in California calling up to say, "Why are you not speaking up, Dad?" Uh I was very fortunate to go to very fine schools and uh picked up a certain amount of public speaking. But I'm watching people who are coming out of their kitchens coming straight from their work site to speak publicly. They're nervous but they speak from their heart and they deserve to be listened to. I myself to let you know a little bit about my history. I spent 38 years in New Mexico. I love that state. I only moved up here four years ago. I moved up here because in that 40 years of living New Mexico, it went from dry to desiccated. Temperatures went from 80° in the day to 100 degrees in the day. There's just huge worldwide events moving, shaping our our living, our path. And you should know this when you uh look at the fact that it's Google and BlackRock, the largest hedge fund manager in the world, uh pulling the strings on this one. I want you folks to do your best to think globally before you act locally. But I do not think you have the resources. You don't have the resources to match these giants, these financial giants that are shaking their their um tail at you. Um you know, it said that the ants run when the elephants dance. Well, we all should be dancing pretty good right now because they are elephants. You are our last line besides the courts to hold these guys back. They will not pay attention to the rules that they make. They are stacking the courts so that if you go to court, you're going to run into Google lawyers saying, "No, we don't think so." So, uh, you know, it's up to the individuals that feel in their hearts how good it is to live here. Once this is gone, you you won't be able to bring this back. No remediation will bring back a rural atmosphere like you have here. This is a good town. >> 30 seconds. >> It's yours to keep. if you want it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ed Montgomery. And after that, Molly Bloomd Doll, Ed Montgomery, Herman Town. I have all these notes and I practiced a couple different speeches today and then you all broke my brain. They're gaslighting us, right? I mean, all the honesty and opening and transparency. I could hit a golf ball from my yard and hit this thing. And the first time I heard about it was 30 days before you all started voting on stuff and zoning. That is disgusting. Right. And and I it's like I'm in the Twilight Zone. I don't know what's happening. But so there is a couple things in my notes that actually pertinent here and that that's some of the highlights of some of the news articles I've been reading. Right. Fesus, Missouri. They've ousted every single incumbent of the council over their over their data center. Right. Pacific, Missouri. The mayor lost her re-election bid to the challenge of running on transparency and openc government after being bamboozled by their council. Mason, Michigan. The mayor and council both face active recall campaigns. Warrington, Virginia. Voters removed every council member who supported the Amazon data center. Cascade locks, Oregon. Two port authority officials, including the port president, were rec were recalled by a two to1 margin. Um, and my personal favorite, right here in Hermantown, residents moved quickly to collect over 800 signatures to create a charter commission and reshape their own government. You you all chose to make your own rules, so we're going to go ahead and rewrite them. Um, that's all I got to say except for a shout out Emma. She'll be sitting in one of your seats here in a couple months. But thanks Molly Bloomd Doll. >> Hello, my name is Molly Bloomd Doll. I'm a lifelong um resident of Duth St. Louis County. Proud aunt and supporter of all the Hermantown athlet athletes um and athletics programs. Um first meeting here. Um excited to be here. Not one of the 20 that is usually standing in front of you. So excited about that. Um, and I want to let you know that the proposed data center in Hermantown, Minnesota is not welcome. We just had a huge loss in protecting our Minnesota boundary waters. And we are fired up as a state against all of the administrative officials that are trying to continue to ruin our 10,000 lakes. We will not let our fresh water be taken for profits. Whether that's up there, whether that is here, whether that is anywhere in Minnesota, we have an amazing space here and it deserves to be protected. If you do not have the balls to vote no tonight, please table a discussion for a later date. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next is Derek Strum. >> Who's on deck when? >> He's on the way. And on deck is Jill Anderson is next. But uh I've been told from someone in the hall that Derek's on the way. Anyone coming? If Jill is in the room, go ahead and come forward. He's on the way. Okay. name and city of residence, please. >> Derek Strong, Hermantown, Minnesota. >> Thank you. >> Every meeting we come up here, we give you statistics, we give you facts, and you guys look at us with a blank stare or you look over there at the clock to see how long we have left to speak. It's unacceptable. The fact that the residents do more research than you is unacceptable. That's why I am here today because the five of you, this is your last year in office. Within the next two weeks, I will be filing a recall vote on all five of you. Now, your dime store attorney here may be able to stop that. And if he does, simultaneously, I will also be filing a civil petition with the courts. You guys are done. We've had enough. There's overwhelming support for this thing to not be here. When you have Newsland, Northland News doing a survey. 76% of the residents do not want this. Yet, you keep pushing it. Larry Frink and Kevin Oly have all said that these data centers are going to cost so much money that the residents are going to have to pay for it. President Trump's administration already signed an agreement that these companies are allowed to take our 401ks, pensions, whatever money they need to build these organizations. On average, 20% increase in utility bills will happen as soon as this is complete. And yet, you got this guy over here saying he wants to give an abatement to Google. Are you guys insane? That is why none of you are fit to be sitting up there. You have no right to be making decisions for us and we will remove you. We own this city, not the five of you. And we will stand up and we will take our city back from the corrupt institution that you guys have laid out. >> Thank you. Is Jill Anderson nearby? And after Jill is Irene Payne, >> name and city of residence, please. >> Jill Anderson, Hermantown. Um, first off, I have a couple things I'd like to touch on is uh I've listened to other people talking and they've touched on them, too. is um how this has gotten so large and so big without a vote from the Herman Town residents. This is something that just a handful of people shouldn't be in charge of. It should go in front of the whole city. If the vote goes through that they want it or that we want it, then we go from there. But if it doesn't, it should just stop right there. Um, you were elected by the city and the people of Herman Town. It's just not a city. Herman Town are the people and you're to work for the people, not just for a handful. Um, also we're talking about taxes. And I don't know about the rest of you, but when Menard's came in, when Sam's Club came in, Walmart came in, everybody said our taxes will go down. Mine's never gone down because when you bring these big things in, you need more sewer, more roads, more lights, more police, and that's the way the community works. But please don't tell us our taxes will go down, cuz that's not true. Also, the last meeting I was at, we talked, a lot of people talked for about 3 hours. It took 3 minutes for you to shut us down. You already know what you're going to say. You already have an answer. That's kind of disappointing. And one more thing is the construction jobs that are promised to build this and I'm sure there's going to be many and a lot of people coming in. Those people will leave and go to the next construction job and we will be left with it. So think about how you want Hermantown to be in the next 50 years. I'll be dead. Maybe a lot of us will be dead. I don't know. But do you want it to be paved over cement or do you want it to be Hermantown City of Quality Living? >> Thank you. Irene Aign. Irene and after Irene is Tim Resburg. Anyone coming? >> Looks like a pain. A P A N E. Here we go. And Tim Resburg is next. Name and city of residence. >> Arena Pane. >> And I live on 4390 Midway Road. I've been here for 45 years. >> Can you guys hear me? Okay. >> Yes. All right. >> Thank you. I have a couple of questions whether we're talking about the data center specifically now or the reasonzoning in the water and sewer on Midway Road. Can you clarify that? >> This is open public comment. You can talk about anything you'd like. >> Okay. Well, um I'll start with the reasonzoning. I have two wells and a septic system on my property. I have 30 acres. I have animals. How much is where is this water and sewer going in and am I going to pay for it? And how much? I know nothing about this. How am I supposed to know find out? So, I'm retired. You know, I did not plan for water and sewer to go down Midway Road 20 years. the plan says. So, shouldn't the property owners where this water and sewer is going in have a say in this? >> Irene, if you'd like to stick around after the end of the meeting, we can answer some of those questions for you. >> Okay, that is good. All right. So, now my questions are about the data. My comments about the data center and um this is on Indian land. It's seated territory. Has the tribes been consulted with about the data center? Um, Spirit Mountain was built before the Indian Religious Freedom Act was enacted. Maybe if Indians had religious freedom, Spirit Mountain would not be there. You know my question is have they been consulted about the data center because they have a serious interest in seated territory. Um I believe data centers is rapid and growing. It's a balloon kind of like our real estate market was. What's going to happen in 20 years? What happens if the data centers go bust? Who takes care of that? Um, and we're giving them a tax break. Shouldn't they be paying taxes and not get a break? Paying they got way more money. Um, there's been no real facts about this put out in the mail to residents. How did we know about this? It's been rather quick. So, I urge you guys to table this for a bit, >> three minutes. >> Um, >> thank you. just so we have open meeting laws. Thank you for your time, >> Tim Resburg. Name and hometown, please. >> Name is Tim Rasberger, Burman Town. actually Adolf and uh Irene, you brought up a lot of questions that I was gonna ask about and uh we've been misled on a lot of information. One of the big ones that was first brought up, we were told this was supposed to be a light business manufacturing about the size of Adolf store. And this was brought up quite often. And then finally, it was brought up that it's going to be a light industrial. Well, this is not a light industrial. It is an industrial. And when you're reszoning a rural residential to put an industrial site in, what is going to happen to the surrounding areas? And it isn't just in Herman Town. You're talking Midway Soulaway residents. And when they start building this, we would like to have some answers, but we're not getting them. And one would be when they're going to be blasting or digging for these foundations on these buildings. I worked in the building trades for 40 years in electrical part. And I've worked anywhere from houses to nuclear plants. So, I got a fairly good idea. Now, our wetlands are sitting there. There are a lot of people's like Irene brought up with the wellwater and stuff and their septics. We haven't got any guarantee what's going to happen to the people's wells and their septic systems. It's going to pay. They said that the data center is going to pay for the sewer and water coming up. And once they pay for it coming in, the residents of Hermantown are going to have to maintain it. The pumping stations, the water tank towers, and all that. And some of the pollution that's been brought up that comes off of these data centers that are going to go into the sewer line that's going back down to Duth. And it's been brought up that some of them pollutions can't be helped out by the sewage plant. That that stuff is going to go directly into the lake. And with the people having to wake up in the morning to send their kids off to school or get up come back home from work and there's no water. There's no guarantee that we're going to have water. And when is this water line supposed to be in and how much it's going to cost the taxpayers? the the data center has never given anybody that we've heard of guarantees on anything. >> Thank you. >> And uh the land values are going to go down for people around the surrounding areas and that >> Thank you, Scott. Good. Yeah, you're who has seated time to you? >> Mrs. But Scott is first. Okay. Then we have Sandy. Good. And after Sandy is Ashley Anderson if that person wants to be prepared. Anyone coming? No. Sandy. Good. Okay. Ashley Anderson. Ashley. Okay. Name and city of residence. Hi, I'm Ashley Anderson, U Duth resident. Um, I am here today um to just remind you of a few things that you probably have already been reminded about, but um a few of you had shared um with the Duth News Tribune when you were elected that you um one of your top priorities is responsible development. Um, I'd like to remind you of that that um part of our part of why we're here today and why we're all wearing red is to remind you of that responsible development. Um, most of us who I'm come from this the Twin Cities. Um, I moved up to Duth area to be near the outdoors, the lakes, the streams. Um, I know some of you up on the up here today also fish and hunt. Um, and I just want to remind you that um, wetlands cover 30 to 40% of Hermantown. 75% of all wetlands um, in this state are within this region of north northeast Minnesota. Um, and 84% of this region has high quality natural vegetation. Again, we don't know enough information on um, the data centers and how this is going to impact our environment. So, as the my fellow uh community members have echoed, um pausing and uh taking a breath for this um is important. Um there's been uh list that this could harm trout streams throughout um this area's watershed. Um, and I just hope that uh you can um vote no to resoning this um as well. Thanks. >> Thank you. Next is Nick Reinhardt. Nick and after Nick is Joyan Oshi Haner. Anyone coming? Okay. Sorry for the delay. Thank you, city councilors. Um, Nick Reinhardt. I'm Hermantown resident. Um, you know, I came here today with the idea that I'm probably going to talk less about the data center and more about other things that I see going on in Herman Town. The first one I want to talk about is what I see going on right down the road from us with the pillars. I'm very unhappy with the way I see that development shaking out. Those new condo like developments where all the setbacks were waved, all the buffer zones were waved. I have concerns that one of those units is literally going to have a car drive through it from Maple Grove with how close it is. I don't like seeing the council do these things. We made these rules for a reason and we just waved them all. Why? Um, I recently had a conversation with a local economic development person tell me by not expanding the Hermantown population, we're essentially gatekeeping our community and protecting it from other people. You know, another thing I want to mention about that is we are kind of gatekeeping the community in different ways too. Hermantown currently has a lack of any affordable housing. I don't hear that conversation going on anywhere. I don't see that conversation going on anywhere. All the apartment union works buildings are market rate apartment buildings. I don't see any room for people of low income in this area. So to be kind of told that I'm gatekeeping by not allowing housing building, we're also gatekeeping in other ways. I'd almost use the word gentrification in some ways. Along with that, you know, we're continuing to develop in these tighter and tighter pockets and making these tighter and tighter atmospheres. Some people like it, some people don't. It's not for me. Um, but when it's a 7 $800,000 house and my neighbors stacked on top me, that's hard to see for me. Um, I saw on the agenda tonight there was something about the road assessments being contested and the city settling with that group. So, it kind of makes me wonder, you know, are these road assessments going on that are new? Is the city ready to handle these kind of assessments? The last two things I'll bring up is um the moving of kind of Steener soccer fields, the whole uptown study that happened. I was really disappointed to see that because people in this community, you know, literally paid for those once. Now they're might have to pay for those a second time again in their lifetime if that study continues. >> Last thing I want to say, and this one drove me a little nuts today. Herman Towns has its own founding principles that aren't the same as Duth. The Duth Chamber of Commerce has no right to tell the citizens of Hermantown and the council how they should be developing their properties. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you, Joyce. >> Name and city of residence. >> Joyce San Hoy. Um, I live in Duth, Minnesota over by Caribou Lake. Um, I was here and signed up to give my time to anybody that needed it. Anybody need it? No. Okay. Um, I have been coming to all of these meetings and I'm not part of Hermantown, but I am extremely shocked that all of you are not listening to the people of Hermantown. It should be, you should be really embarrassed that you're not paying attention to what they are saying. at 70 to 76% of Hermantown is saying they don't want it. And then the surrounding area, all the people out there, a large p part of the population of Duth and St. Louis County also don't want it. They see the environmental effects that this is going to cause. Everywhere you hear in the news is data centers. We should put a pause on it. Let's look at it. Let's understand the facts more. Let's not walk. Let these billionaires walk all over us. They're smart people. They have a lot of money. They have good lawyers and they're going to walk on the town of Hermantown. I guarantee you. And it is not good. It is not the location for a data center. The first meeting I ever heard about this, I rushed over here to come to the meeting and the first thing I did was do a little research and they said the most basic facts per the data center does not belong on a hill and it's on a hill. It should not be near any wetlands and there are wetlands. It should not be near any streams, crooks or creeks or water um sheds or or or lakes or rivers. And here we are. We've got a beautiful brook trout stream that's going to be destroyed and that brook trout stream goes into the St. Louis which goes into the duth uh Lake Superior. It's all going to be affected and everybody says that this is going to be good for um uh for like say hotels and restaurants and so forth. It's not. Northern Minnesota and Hermantown are known for the Northwoods and the tranquility, the feeling of peace, the beautiful night sky. All of that is going to be taken away. All of it's going to be gone and Hermantown is going to be known as the data center city and it's going we're going to lose we're going to lose our tourism. We're going to lose a lot of things and the environment is going to be strongly affected by this. And I I swear, please, I beg of you. I pray every day, three times a day, that you will please change your mind. Please change your mind. Okay? And I'm really embarrassed to hear that somebody would wear a green yes Minnesota shirt. That tells you, that tells us that you've already made a decision. And that's not what you're supposed to do. You are supposed to be listening to the people of Hermantown and the surrounding area and making a decision as where they are telling you to do it. It is not you're working for them. Okay? They shouldn't having to beg for your attention. >> Um it's just it's all wrong. And I will repeat, >> thank you. >> Not good for her as in the world. It's not good for us. Please change your mind. There is a chance. >> Thank you. >> Recovered. Thank >> Tom Holly. >> Tom Holly available. Good evening. Neon, city of residents. >> Hello. My name is Tom Holly from Duth. >> Thank you. >> Um, you know, it's hard to follow up on a lot of the great speakers here tonight. I would just say I've got a lot of concerns about this data center. I know you guys are getting it from both sides. You probably got those Google lawyers kind of breathing down your necks, too, when you're getting these questions. But just want to say everyone is right. This should go to a public vote for the city of Hermantown. I think that would be the best thing, you know, and if that passes, it passes. And if it doesn't, it doesn't. So, please just think about doing that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Jackie Dolan's. Hello everyone. My name is Jackie Nolance. I'm a resident of Herman Town. Uh, thank you again for the opportunity to speak for you and thank you for changing the requirement to speak and not require a full address. I appreciate that. I wanted to talk about perception. Perception is the interpretation your brain bakes makes based on what you see, read, hear, smell, feel, taste, and the information that is already stored within your memory. your expectations, your attention, your personality, your motives, and your interests. Perception is important because it helps you understand the world around you. So imagine the perceptions that are being formed or reinforced when we see city council members like posts that support the data center, but no interactions with those that have serious questions and concerns. The perception that I and many have is that you have already made a decision. the perception that nothing we as the surrounding community do or say will matter. Where is our community meeting with the city council like the Stener Road improvement project? Where is our meeting with Google? When will the community members directly in the vicinity of this hypers scale data center or anybody for that matter be able to have a road trip to visit some of Google's data centers like several of the city council members have? It's all about perceptions. Speaking for myself, my perceptions about this entire process hasn't been positive. And on the flip side, I'm curious what your perceptions are of us. How can we change your perceptions of us so you will hear us? Rumor has it that a city councelor was mowing his yard yesterday wearing a not to be named t-shirt. If this is accurate, in the spirit of impartial representation, I brought a t-shirt that I bought with my own money that I would like to give you after the meeting tonight. So, please come and get it. >> Come and see me. Perception is real. Our perceptions of you are real and they mean something. They matter. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Just because the law allows you to do something doesn't mean it is the ethical thing to do. Just because you have the right to do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. I don't know how else to say it. I'm not against development, trades, or unions. I'm not nimi. I am against inappropriate development in an inappropriate location. I'm against development of this magnitude in a rural residential area. Please stop the Hermantown data center in the southwest corner of Hermantown. Find a better place. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Sasha and I can't read the last name. Sorry, I didn't want to butcher your name. I >> That's okay. >> Sasha Damon hometown. >> Yeah. Hello. My name is Sasha Draina. I am a resident of Hermantown. I live on Hermantown Road. And I just wanted to say that this is my first city council meeting as long as a couple few hours. And I just to put the rumor down that there's only 20 of us. So maybe another 40 today. Anyway, I just wanted to say that this whole process has been in secret and that there's secret meetings. Everything has been hidden from us. I think Nate who spoke earlier had some really good input. He he said that the developers should come and talk to us. I agree. I agree. How we need to put down the the rumors and know what is true and what is false. And all of you are probably tired of listening and not looking at me. So I know you're not really listening. But I just wanted to ask that you would put this up to a vote. If you think this is really great for Hermantown and it's going to bring potential benefits for all of us, then convince us. Convince us instead of all hiding behind things and doing things. I agree with many of these people that say that this is too big of a decision for what eight of you to decide. >> Five. >> Five. >> Five. Sorry. So, I would ask that you would put it up for a vote and if it passes, it passes. If it doesn't, it doesn't. Thank you. >> Thank you, Michelle Modí. Michelle. There she is. Name and town of residence. >> Um, my name is Rocky or Relle and I live in Kenosha Township. >> Thank you. Um, I'm here because I want to tell everybody I am totally artificial intelligence. My job is artificial intelligence. It has been for years. We've not needed data centers. Am I for data centers? Absolutely not. I work artificial intelligence internationally. Ask anybody around the globe what a data center has done. And they had people saying, "Well, we have to use cell phones. We have to use social media. Don't use it. Don't don't use AI. We've been doing it for years. And if you think it's just Google with these data centers, it is not. Do we know what these data centers are? Is it biotech? Is it QFS? Is it XRP XLM? Hashbar? Is it the quantum system? Do you know whoever signed those NDAs? Do you know what these data centers really are? Cuz I work with AI. We don't need it. We've had AI for a long time. And it's not about using our cell phones or using social media. And it doesn't need to be here. data centers. If we need data centers for what? The QFS doesn't need to be here. Put them underground. You bury those data centers underground. It's 50% less electricity. Take the heat that comes off the data centers and heat homes. They do it in Sweden. Heat the homes. And I strongly agree that the people need to vote for this. Not you guys. Sorry, some of you guys are my friends. Sorry. No, I'm not. Sorry. You don't need to vote for this. These people need to vote for it. We live here. I don't live in Hermantown right now, but once you give Google, which is not just Google, if you think that is the case, and if you're finding information from Google, sorry, it's scrubbed. You're not going to find the real information. You got to go deeper, deeper, deeper and deeper. Who has this data center? Google? No. Let's think a little bit deeper. >> 30 seconds. >> Thank you. Is this for social media? No, it is not. Is it for AI? No. I've been working AI for a long, long time. And I'm just saying here, you guys live here, you got wolves behind you. A lot of wolves. And you guys have to stay living here. What would Let the people decide. And I know that you guys are probably having, you know, somebody breathing down your neck. Big Corp. Forget them. It can be anywhere. It they can be in the desert if it's underground. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Julie Mayor. Julie Do you have another list coming? No, Julie. Okay, we will move on to Clarissa E. Good evening. Clarissa X, Soway Township. My 10acre property that I've lived on for 13 years is a quarter mile from this data center development project. So, I'll see it. I'll smell it. I It'll affect my family, my health, um the sky, the air I breathe, and my property value. So, with that being said, I'm going to jump right to it. Um there's been a lot of talk tonight about trust and transparency, and you were all for being so trustworthy, and I would love to do the same. um but instead I'm going to read from some of the documents that were released during the um data um requests. And so that starts with that documents reveal city administrator John Moulder, assistant city administrator Joe Wickland signed mutual non-disclosure agreements with Mortonson development referred to as Mortonson and project LON in May of 2024. Uh September 6, 2024, virtual meeting was held between city officials, representatives from Mortonson and their subcontractor Kimley Horn discussing city's comprehensive plan with meeting notes indicating city of Hermantown offered to take advantage of the opportunity to marry the comp plan to future land use. Um, I will note that on Sep September 9th, 2024, emails were exchanged to arrange a meeting with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the city and Mortonson regarding Project Luon, a confidential project of significant scale with copy to Eric Foresman, um, an employee of Minnesota Power, um, who also helps pay for all those green shirts, um, that everybody is wearing. And that council councelor Jelly was wearing lawn mowing his lawn yesterday. Um, in response to moving forward an October 15, 2025 email, Mr. Ronchetti tells David Bol, city engineer, to charge loan stuff to the water fund. Uh, in response to Mr. Ranchett's email, Brian Wordderman of Kimley Horn indicates on October 23rd, 2024 that the team is still in the process of studying the site and project. So, it's a bit of a moving target to provide detailed flow estimates at the granularity requested. However, we'd offer the following preliminary scale figures. Then he talks about what's been put out there to everyone that the water usage is going to be 50,000 gallons per day. But then the email continues to read, "There is interest in water solutions up to 15 to 20 million gallons a day range as a max capacity condition in a future buildout scenario. What projects could the city conceivably undertake to increase system capacity in a step-wise fashion? and what flow capacity increments made sense from a capital investment standpoint for the city. That's the kind of information that's out there. That's the kind of thing that we're being accused of that we don't know what we're talking about and we're fear-mongering and that we should trust what's going on and what's being said out there, but then when you see the documents, that's what's actually in the documents. Thank you. >> Thank you, Adam Eris. the Oh, what was the what was the name again? >> Julie. >> Julie. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Uh, I dragged myself here tonight like so many others, though I'm exhausted from a full day of work. Um, and I just want to say up top that this is my first time speaking at a city council. Um, it is ridiculous to tell people, "Oh, just stick around for a few hours till the end. and will answer your questions. Like others have said, you need a town hall and a vote. We need to have a conversation because again, it is hard to tell if you are listening. I'm here as a professional ecologist and a concerned citizen. And as a daughter of two union electricians and I'm also a millennial. I grew up with social media, but lately I've been logging off. I've been archiving photos, uh, you know, making a physical photo album. I disagree with the idea that we can't put on the brakes. We can and we should. Reckless development like this hypers scale data center is not worth the two years max of construction jobs, the very few permanent jobs that will remain and all the environmental degradation and displacement and pollution that cannot be undone. Anyone remember 2006? I do. Peak memes, great internet, no hyperscale data centers. Like someone before me said, we can have a lot of these benefits to modernization without these harms. When community members tell you you should slow down and you should listen, you should. Corporations like Google and Meta have lied to other communities like ours about the noise, pollution, and cooling and utility costs. So why would they act any differently here? The opposition to data centers is fact-based. A lot of supporters say we base our opposition on fear, but this is just not true. As an ecologist who studies water quality and harmful algolooms across the Great Lakes, I know one dangerous misconception is that Lake Superior is pristine in our community as a climate sanctuary. This is not based. In fact, Lake Superior is the fastest warming lake in the Lauren Great Lakes. And my research, sorry I skipped ahead here. Uh my research is focused on tracking algolooms here in the estuary and along the southshore where they do not fit the normal paradigm of high nutrients that we see in Lake Erie. Massive development like this hypers scale data center will not only emit more greenhouse gases and emit its own heat that will devastate our forest and streams as another speaker had said leading to more nutrients and pollution in the St. Louis River and more algo blooms. It will also destroy hundreds of acres of habitat and the aforementioned streams and forest and wetlands which purify our groundwater provide cooling and literally build our resilience to climate change. We are not a climate sanctuary any longer if this gets built. Like a previous speaker said, our natural resources are under threat from so many things and our way of life is too. This data center is strongly opposed and you need to listen to us. Thank you. >> Thank you, Adams. Adam. >> Okay, I would like that too. >> Adam name and city of residence, please. >> Adam Maris, the uh 4,000 block here on the lake. Uh I'm not here to repeat baselines stop the data center legal arguments in the hearing tonight. The 200 people standing behind me or sitting have been made the message very clear. Uh I'm here to talk about your legacy and the attitude. Let me be very clear. I despise politics. I don't want to be here tonight. I would rather be tucking my daughters into bed reading them a bedtime story. But here I am. And the very fact that a regular citizen like me is up here is indicative of how poorly you guys have dealt with this entire situation from day one. I think you're in over your heads. Alphabet knows it. And I think that they're counting on that fact. For months, this council has treated us with formal hubris, acting condescending rather than our advocates. Sit down, son. We know what's best for you. There's def Oh, there's only 20 of you guys. But let me be clear. You are our representatives and your job is to advocate on our behalf of what your constituents actually say and want. Whether you personally think it's a good idea or a bad one, it doesn't matter because the Commonwealth is speaking. We didn't hire you to do whatever your special interests or your p or you personally want to do like this is some big game of Sim City. Right now, you are facing a massive turning point. And honestly, the way this council has been o bending over backwards for a multi-t trillion dollar company looks less like leadership and more like textbook case of star struck pushovers. A massive tech company just rolls into town, takes you out for a nice steak dinner, whines you, dines you, and you and a couple corporate presentations later, and you instantly just melt for that NDA, forgetting the oath that you guys took for your actual residents who live, work, and pay taxes here. Which one of you is willing to motion tonight for a but for audit? find out exactly what Google Alphabet would need for this this abatement for, especially if they already need the utilities anyway. The obvious I they obviously don't need the money. They need our climate, grid, and water. Look around this room tonight. Brian, Andy, look around. Look at the roster of new candidates who filed for your seats this past week. The politics in Hermantown has changed while this chamber was busy trying to secure a pat on the back from fancy Silicon Valley corporate executives. If you sit in silence tonight instead of tableabling this project and motion for a real independent forensic forensic audit for the but for cause. You aren't proving you're progrowth. You're just proving that you can be bought like a cheap date. and you should be concerned that those gold stars you're so eager to get on your resumes will end up being scarlet letters signifying your failure in politics. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Miranda Chambers. >> Good evening. I'm Miranda McKay Chambers from Hermantown. Um, I never come to these meetings intending to speak and then I get inspired by all of the lovely people sitting behind me to come up here and speak. So, I do. Um, I just have a couple of points that I want to make here. Um, as for the data center, why that spot? We have plenty of space that is industrial that is already zoned for that. I'm sure we can find an empty warehouse somewhere that can be outfitted to do this. Somewhere that's not going to in affect the environment the way that building that spot right there would affect it. Like there there's got to be somewhere that already has a building or is already built up a little bit at least that we could put it somewhere else. Um, my second point, if I went to my employer and I said, "Hey, I think that I should do this because this just sounds like a good idea to me." And they looked at me and they said, "No, you should not do that. I would get fired if I did it." They I if I went ahead and did it, they'd be like, "Okay, bye. See you later." Um, my third point is if you are really insistent on building up Hermantown and you want to create a better bigger community, how about we start with some basics and we get things like a public library for the community. I mean, we don't have one here in Hermantown. That would be something great that the citizens here could really use. Um, if we want to do something that's going to use a ton of water, build the kids a little water park, a public pool that the kids can go and have a community that they can enjoy. I mean, there are plenty of things that we can add to this community that's going to make it a better community that our members can use and not just a data center that's going to destroy the environment and destroy our community. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there any other sign up out there? >> I'd like to make a personal privilege and take a 10 minute break. >> Let's see. Let's see what we have here. We have uh Gail Johnny for general. I don't need your address, just your name and hometown. Gail, Johnny, Jack, Herman Town for the whole everything that's being talked about tonight. So, I have heard rumors for a while that um people have said it's the same 20 people showing up. Well, there's a lot more of us and I think you can see that. But I want I wonder there have been surveys taken and they're getting the 70 to 76% numbers of people opposed to this. Do you not believe them? I mean, that's not a split decision. That's not a 4951 call. That's an overwhelming majority of people who are not behind this. People in our community who are not behind this. If you do not believe them, those surveys, then maybe take one yourself. Send out a survey to voters. I think Kerman Town would probably um approve of doing something like that. They would they would like that. You could ask all the voters. You could ask voters in some of the neighboring communities who have a right to have a say in this. Um, ask them if they don't agree, why not? If they do agree, why? If they don't agree, what might it take for them to agree? What are their real concerns? How can we address this? I don't think people feel like because it has not been done that you have really asked people in any way other than this forum which is clearly it's not effective because people aren't feeling heard. So better yet the ballot measure is a great idea. Other big things the Herman Tunner arena pros and cons to stuff like that taxes con pros great arena. I mean, there's pros and cons to all of these things, and they end up on a ballot measure. Why would this not be the same thing? Because it is something with actually far greater consequences than some of these other things that you'd put on a ballot. So along these lines, our next door neighbors, Adolf, Midway, Soway, we're not being very neighborly. We're making choices. you guys are making a choice that's going to affect them and that's not a neighborly thing to do. It could affect their wells, probably will, their air, all these things. We are not being good neighbors. And and it doesn't just sit on you guys. Then the whole community is like poof, Hermantown. They just do whatever the hell they want. And that is not I mean, is that really who we how we want to be seen? I don't think so. Um I would request I would Here's my thought. Someone tonight make a motion to table this. Someone second it. This is a big decision with lots of pros and cons for the whole community. >> Three minutes. >> Um, do this right. Ask the people. If you do not, then we can only assume that you really want to know what everybody thinks. >> Thank you. >> Councelor uh asked for a 10-minut break for personal privilege. We're going to all take a restroom break and be back in 10 minutes. >> Folks, we've um we're reconvening. We've reached the end of public comment and now we will have the consent agenda which is minutes approval or correction of the May 18, 2026 city council continuation minim minutes minutes and accounts payable approved general city warrants from May 15, 2026 through May 31st, 2026 in the amount of $646,624.88. Is there a motion relating to the consent agenda? >> Move to approve. >> Motion by councelor Leblah. Is there a second? >> Second by councelor Peterson. Roll call, please. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Councelor Jelly. >> I. >> Councelor Blah. >> I. >> Councelor Peterson. >> I. >> Mayor Bucher. >> I. Next is resolutions. We'll have some public comment on this one. Resolution 2026-55. Resolution approving comprehensive plan amendment to chapter 4 land use. Chapter six transportation and utilities and chapter 7 implementation at as prepared by Holington Koger Group Incorporated. Is there a motion? >> We'll make a motion to approve. >> Motion by councelor Jelly to approve. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by councelor Peterson. Mr. from Moulder. >> So, we're going to have uh Eric Johnson uh kind of introduce this process and then and then when he's done, I'll talk about it before we have public comment. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Moulder and uh Mr. Mayor and members of the council. So, the city of Hermantown adopted the updated 2045 comprehensive plan for the city in the spring of 2025. Now as part of that plan there were seven chapters to the comprehensive plan consisting of the following which were plan purpose and vision background and trends natural resources and recreation land use economic and housing development transportation utilities and implementation. So as part of the uh continuation of the comprehensive plan there have been ongoing cons discussions with the WLSD which is a western lake superior sanitary sewer district. So these conversations were initiated due both to the comprehensive plan, the 2045 comprehensive plan, as well as discussions about a potential Google data center in the southwest quadrant of the city. So the conceptual plan would be to extend utilities along to the Adolf area along Arrowhead Road and Midway Road and then south through Midway Road to the Adolf section 31. So per the 2045 comprehensive plan, the city's urban service boundary generally encompasses the eastern portion of the city from Lindell Road to Hannes Road and from the southern boundary of the Duth International Airport, the city's southern boundary which is generally St. Louis River Road and lastly within the southwest quarter quadrant of the city. So now uh upon further review from the WLSD of our 24 comprehensive plan, it was noted by them that the USB or the urban service boundary does not match the WLSSD urban service boundary and they have recommended that the comprehensive plan be amended to reflect this. So in addition to that and requiring any proposed utility extension within water and sewer, it needs to be within the urban service boundary area even if that utility is not planned to serve properties beyond the timeline associated with the comprehensive plan. So in part of that the existing sanitary sewer and water services currently exist in areas outside of the adopted USB or the urban service boundary. And once again per the uh comments associated with WSD that they're saying that the conference plan should be updated to encompass those utilities. Now particularly these areas up in the uh midway and 194 area uh they have some sewer up in that area which once again is outside of that urban service area and then also within the airport area on SunBan Air Base Road. Those are uh areas once again have utilities outside that urban service boundary area. Hence the the amendment to the comprehensive plan. So what the city is proposing we amend the the comprehensive plan maps associated with that urban service boundary to encompass the entirety of the city. So as part of that we're looking at basically two different growth areas with the language that reflects the WLSD and generally the state statutes as well. So, we're looking at shortterm growth areas which are 10 years or less and those are basically up in that northern part of the city once again over by the airport both to the east and west of that and then long-term growth uh scenarios which are generally west of that Lindall Road area. Now, those are uh propertine is greater than 10 years. That's the difference between the short-term and the long term regarding that WSD looks at servicing of properties. So this information was passed on to uh the consultant Hoisen Kogler who looked at those uh particular chapters, chapters 4, chapter 6 and chapter 7 and they looked at because of these requests both by the WSD and some uh inconsistencies in our mapping that they're proposing that we update chapter 4 to reflect the new map associated with this urban service boundary. update chapter six that provides additional language in how basically short-term and long-term growth is looked at from the sanitary sewer process. And then lastly, chapter 7, that's the implementation chapter to reflect these changes here as well. So at that point, I'd be happy to answer any questions that maybe council has. Otherwise, Mr. Moulder will take it from here. >> Councilors, do we have any questions? Uh, does this amendment obligate the city to build any sewer or water lines? >> Does this amendment? No. It allows for these services to be constructed at some date is part of it. Per the WLSD, in order for them to approve any future sanitary sewer lines, they have to be within the urban service boundary. So that's the at least from the WSD that how they would look at this moving forward. >> So the city could not expand areas that need sewer and water without this amendment. >> That is correct. The WSD would not uh permit those sanitary sewer extensions without the change or update to the comprehensive plan >> and that includes any development in that area. >> That is correct, sir. Yes. Thank you, >> Mr. Moulder. >> So, um, first I want to understand is that the focus on this amendment to the plan is to include the entire city in the urban service area for sewer and water. Eric talked specifically about some areas that we currently have sever um, water and sewer that aren't in there. So, we need to correct that. But then this also makes the amendment so that the entire city would be within that area. Before I get to a little bit about that, I want to just provide a little bit of history of this. Um, the Adolf area has been studied back and forth about the possibility of um, industrial development and it um, dates back even to 2001 when the 2001 plan talked about um, develop new compatible light industrial with adequate public facilities, preserve wetland and rural areas. And it was already identified because of the um rail, the transportation with um highway 2 and Midway Road and the uh large um substation that that was potentially an industrial area that may um want to happen. In 2012, Advance Hermantown talked about the possibility of expanding um and promoting growth in the Midway Road and Highway 2 commercial district. um 20145 there was further discussion about a small area plan. At that point in time there really wasn't a lot of discussion about any kind of development that area. Um and so it was basically left as is. Um in June of 22 the city began the comprehensive planning process. Um during that time period there's lots of discussions about possible development in other areas of the city, things like that as well. And in fact, in August of 23, uh the city held a public hearing um about modifying the development program for district number one. And district number one would be a district where um these are the areas where we could consider tax increment finance financing. It's just one of the tools. And at that point in time, we talked specifically about generally that was had been the eastern part of the city, but then at that point in time, we also included Hawkline Business Park. And at that point in time, we added the section along the Highway 2 corridor. So, we've talked about the possibility of um commercial and industrial development in that area for a number of years. Um, we go through the comprehensive plan uh process. Um, in January of05, we talked with the city council about potentially a legislative issue that would um a potential ask to fund utilities in that direction. Um, at that point in time, nothing happened at the state legislature and it didn't come of anything. Then in March of 25, the planning commission unanimously recommended the plan to the city council. Um there was ongoing discussions and then in April of 25th, April of 25 they held a second public hearing um on the comprehensive plan. Um and again they unanimously recommended the plan to the city council. So it went to the planning commission both in March and April of 25. In April on April 21st, 2025, the council adopted the comprehensive plan. We have had ongoing discussions about the possibility of, you know, the extension of water and sewer to um to foster a specific development, the data center. Um and we looked at that issue and if we're going to do that, then this area needs to be um covered as well in included in the urban service area. That's kind of a little bit of that history. But I think there's some value in terms of what this plan is not. First of all, it's not a plan to extend water and sewer to every street and road in Hermantown. It is not a plan for that. It is simply to identify that there is an urban service area for um that could be served by water and shore. And in fact, we identify certain areas where we don't expect growth in the next 20 years. um regarding the connections and the payments of those things is um there is no requirement anywhere in the city if there is water and su water that you have to connect to city water. Some cities have that. Some cities have it where it's like if you're with it, you know, if we won't allow you to, some cities say you cannot dig a well if there's water available. That is not a rule that or ordinance in the city of Arman relative to sewer. Our current ordinance says that you only have to connect the sewer if your system fails or if the county says as part of a transfer of real estate that your system isn't adequate and um you need to upgrade or if you wish to expand um what's being your house is for. So, a one-bedroom house may very well have a design of a sewer of this size, but a private on-site system may need to be larger if you're going to add two or three bedrooms. And if you had to add that, our system would say then you must connect to municipal sewer. And the purpose of that is to try to protect groundwater um from um private waste systems that may or may not fail. Um currently in terms of the cost um there is an availability fee. So this is not being assessed. This is not being um residents will not be forced to pay for it um if it goes past their house. But we do have an availability policy that says um if your system is failing and you do need to upgrade, then you should connect to the city sewer and there's an availability fee of $5,000 as opposed to the um having a separate private system built that would cost $25,000. Um there's no assessment for the proposed pipe and there's no current plans being uh for bringing water and su sewer beyond to the Adolf area. So there's water and sewer being planned um if this project is approved. Sewer and water down le excuse me Morris Thomas and sewer and wa and just sewer and water. Let me rephrase this. There is sewer going up Morris up midway to um the lift station on Arrowhead. There is water going down Morris Thomas and up um midway up to the proposed new water tower at Rose Road. Those are the only two pipes that are being considered at this time. But this is that is approving this plan does not approve that project. This is simply to allow for the urban service area. >> Thank you. Any more questions from council? >> I'd just like clarification. Uh as Mr. Mhler said, this is a comprehensive plan. I've heard a few speakers previously call it reszoning. It is not the reasoning. >> We talked about dropping that 400 foot requirement at pre-aggenda. Right. >> We did. And if the council wanted to change that requirement, it would simply be a matter of you need to change you would need to change that ordinance and you would want to change that before any pipe was built if that's what you if that's what the council so desired. So you would have plenty of time to do that before any pipe is built. >> Still doesn't require the connector to the water. >> There's no there's no requirement to connect to water. >> Correct. All right. Thank you. Anything else from council? Okay, public input. First person on the list is Sarah Loal. Sarah, I believe someone is seated three minutes to you and that is Roberta. Thank you. Six minutes. Joe, I'm >> g take my time. >> All right. Uh my name is Sarah Loeld and I again live in Hermantown. Um, and I I couldn't help but notice that between the planning and zoning meeting two weeks ago and today's city council meeting, the conversation has changed in in regards to why the comprehensive plan needs to be changed again. Um, today the main subject seemed to be to assist residents uh who would want to hook up to utilities and that they wouldn't have to if utilities went by, yada yada. businesses uh at least at the pre-agenda meeting you mentioned businesses would be able to connect and then just generally support future development all over Hermantown. But two weeks ago the main concern as provided by Eric Johnson was regarding the hypers scale data center needs. Uh in fact, the agenda item specifically stated that quote conversations were initiated due to both the 2045 comprehensive plan and the proposed Google data center and that's a quote from the agenda. Uh the hypers scale data center was the primary discussion feature of this his presentation. Um, it was made very clear by Eric Johnson that in order to extend water and sewer utilities down Midway Road for the hyperscale data center proposed by Google, uh, the city of Hermantown would need to expand the urban services boundary due to a request from WLSSD. And without this change, the utility extension couldn't happen. And without the utility extension, the hypers scale data center couldn't happen. Uh, and it basically it all revolved around the hypers scale data center and the rest of what you discussed at at the pre-aggenda meeting way more than what you discussed just right now. Um, it was considered kind of secondary uh by Eric Johnson's presentation at that planning and zoning committee meeting. Um, which uh, Councelor Peterson, you could you were there. Uh so you would have heard that as well. Um there was the presentation at that meeting revolved around this and all the other things were kind of considered secondary uh and something more akin to well we might as well include all of Hermantown just to make it easier in the future. Uh so the change from the urban de change from the urban development area being mostly concentrated to the eastern side of Hermantown to including all 36 square miles of Hermantown is a huge change. That's not a small thing. That's massive. Uh these are sweeping 180 degree changes from both the original document that was discussed by the steering committee in 2024 that you did not mention uh in your presentation today uh and the changed comp plan that was approved in 2025. These massive changes are all being proposed again with very little community input and at the necessity of the hyperscale data center instead of the people that you represent. So, I'm going to uh repeat uh to you what I said to the planning and zoning committee two weeks ago. Um you all have a golden opportunity handed to you on a silver platter right now. an opportunity to get real input from your residents of Hermantown regarding how they want their neighborhoods, homes, and city to look. A chance for transparency, for honesty, and public discourse about our future. You lose nothing in tableabling this resolution to gather more community input. Uh the development agreement to extend those water and sewer uh utilities down Midway Road for Google's hypers scale data center won't be discussed again until after the AUR is completed. You can take that time to engage the public to review old ordinances uh like as suggested by council blah more at the pre-aggenda meeting than at this part of the meeting where most people are at uh and to find out what is necessary and what is not to make right what many residents have felt have been completely wrong in the process. You have an opportunity to take your time to regain our trust and to engage your constituents. I urge you to table this resolution for your residents that deeply want to trust our city again. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Or partner, please. Thank you. Next is find my list here. They're all spread over. Rob West. Rob West. He left. Jonathan Thornton. Jonathan has an extra three minutes from Scott. Good. Good. Good evening, counselors. My name is Jonathan Thornton. I'm a Hermantown resident. Unfortunately, I only have six minutes. I'd really like to rebuttal a lot of the comments from Mr. Moulder because it is very important. But I'm going to go off my uh prepared comments first and then I'll try to get to that. There's a reason why people are why people keep showing up week after week, month after month to speak out against this project. The reason is simple. It's the wrong project. in the wrong location with a very weak foundation. Let me explain. At this point, you're already aware that between 2022 and 2024, myself along with a group of nine other citizens and city staff members met as a steering committee for the 2045 comprehensive plan. This process was led by the consulting firm HKG. Sound familiar? The plan was dramatically changed sometime between July of 2024 and April of 2025 to include a future urban services area, a term that was never mentioned during the 18 months of the steering committee meetings. Every discussion or every decision that has been made to advance this project has relied on the flawed 2045 comprehensive plan. I would consider the flawed 2045 comprehensive plan the foundation of this massive Google data center project. I will give you one very clear example on why this foundation is flawed and it includes a process that misled the community, the planning commission and you as city councilors. On February 28th, 2025, the city council received an email message from Leila Bonji of Kimley Horn, who was conducting the AUR environmental review. She informed the city staff that she did not believe the city's existing comprehensive plan would justify the development of a data center. Bungie's email to Hermantown Community Development Director Eric Johnson further advised that changes would need to be made uh to the plan before she could proceed with the environmental review. So, it's pretty safe to say that the discussions we had as a steering committee between 2022 and 2024 were actually still intact as part of this plan of the 2045 comprehensive plan in February of 2025. So July 11th of 24 is the last time we met, but those decisions that were made, the plan that we actually came up with was intact until February 28th of 2025. However, at the April 21, 2025 council meeting, city staff presented the 2045 comprehensive plan. Included in this plan is language emphasizing the importance of the steering committee in the process. In fact, the names of the steering committee members are listed in the acknowledgement section at the beginning of the 94-page plan. This was clearly intended to give the public and the council the impression that the steering committee had been involved throughout the process and had approved or otherwise supported the document in front of them. The fact is I along with several other members of the steering committee were never contacted when the final plan was complete. We had a meeting on July 11th of 2024 with every intention of having more meetings throughout 24 and 25, but there was never another meeting scheduled. On October 14th, 2025, Hermantown's economic development director Chad Ranchetti admitted in an open meeting at the Sway Town Hall that he had modified the 2045 comprehensive plan after the steering committee had adjourned prematurely. He also admitted during this open public meeting that he did not invite the steering committee to review the report prior to introducing it to the planning and zoning commission. It's very clear to me and many others that the 2045 comprehensive plan was changed to match the needs of Google, a multi-trillion dollar company over the desires of residents that have spent decades and sometimes literally a lifetime maintaining their properties and building strong community roots here in Hermantown. Don't look down on us as simple collateral damage. Please do not look at us, the people in this room, as collateral damage. Your constituents will be harmed financially. No question about it. There is currently a complaint filed against the city in district court over these same issues. Why would the city continue down this path before a decision has been made on this complaint? The foundation for this project is flawed. Do the right thing and vote no to these proposed changes to the 2045 comprehensive plan. I'm going to uh encourage everybody to read the complaint that was filed in district court. There's a section starting on page four and it goes to page five and I think it might even bleed into page six and it's the history of the Adolf neighborhood small area plan and it completely contradicts what Mr. Moulder was talking about. It actually has many sections in here that talk about maintaining the rural character of the Adolf area. Thank you. Peter Tay t Peter I couldn't read the last but Taylor >> Taylor. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Sorry about butchering. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Name and hometown, please. >> Yeah. Peter Taylor, Hermantown. So, um I have a visual concept of long-term future um in Western Hermantown. So, just thinking about up at uh maybe Arrowhead Road and Midway, seeing one of those mirrored office buildings with the mirrored walls, driving south, maybe seeing some apartments, um town homes, you know, hit Maple Grove Midway, maybe there's a shopping center anchored by a TGI Fridays and a Olive Garden, you know. So um and then kind of kind of copy and paste that over time into the long-term future as uh infrastructure builds out. Um so you know that happens elsewhere and you know I think in a sense like this is a marking of of that process moving forward uh rural Herman town converting into that kind of area. Um, so that's that's I think um actually a reasonable uh projection uh not a not a crazy projection. Um also let's see here. Uh support um a referendum or a ballot measure on on this project. I think that's a good idea. Uh don't understand why this is being voted on now instead of waiting until a decision is made on the data center. doesn't make any sense to me. Um, doesn't seem reasonable. Um, couple other things. The AU coming up. Feel like I'm going to be disappointed. I think I'm going to be disappointed based on a lack of uh specificity. There should be specific worst case scenario information. Um, example generators. Instead of dodging the question of generators, put in a specific worst case scenario information on generators, disclose the impacts. Um there may be other examples like that. Um kind of related to that mitigation plan talked about this previously. Um, you should do a cost collection from Google and hire experts that report to you. And then you should have those experts um recommend design um and mitigations um that benefit the people instead of kind of taking Google's word for it. Great example of that would be generators. Another great example is noise as I've said at a previous time. Um, so you need to do a good job on the mitigation plan. Um, but before all that, you should just put this project to a vote. Thanks. >> Thank you. Next is Nick Reinhardt. Nick. >> Hi everyone. Nick Reinhardt, um, Hermantown residents. Um, I'll be brief on this, uh, just for kind of transparency sake. I I do find, um, the conversation on this piece a little confusing. Um, I know Minnesota law is different from Wisconsin where I come from, but, you know, there's no published minutes, you know, that come to public before this meeting. They're only presented when they're the next agendas done um, and at the next planning and zoning committee. So, I'd love to see, you know, some transparency on that. And I think it involves other commissions, too. That happens a lot of times where they don't you don't see the minutes until the next commission meeting. So, from a public standpoint, we have a lot of problems following what actually happened. Um, luckily, the the SHDC group was nice enough to kind of publish a recap on some of this, which I appreciated. Um, you know, it's one of the few planning and zoning items that I've seen that's ever been a little contentious and didn't have kind of a group mentality of saying yes. Um, 4 to two. Um, just don't see the law in Herman Town. So, you know, when you're if you're voting tonight or you table us, um, just consider that, I guess. And then the the other piece. Well, I guess that's all I have to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Clarissa A. Good evening again, Clarissa Alex Sowway Trip. Um, again, my property is within a quarter mile of the proposed development. I am speaking now just to the issue of what's before you amending the comprehensive plan. I echo the comments of Sarah Loal. Um I also attended the utility commission meeting as well as the planning and zoning commission meeting and tonight and there is a different um story kind of being told about why this is needed. Um but I will get right to the WLSSD because that's what's being presented tonight that that's what's needed is to marry the comp plan um so that WLSSD um can come in uh with the utilities to bring water and sewer for the data center. Uh data records requests reveal that in addition to the two NDA signed by um the the city of Hermantown, 22 St. Louis County employees, one elected St. Louis County attorney and three elected city commissioners signed NDAs related to the Herman Data Center project in 2024 and 2025. Um, but regarding on October 23rd, 2024, there was an email from Director Ronchetty to Brandon Colts, director of planning and technical services of Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, WLSSD with copy to Chris Bates of Developer Mortonson, and David B of Herman City Engineer. Um, with the subject line WLSSD, Project LON team sensitivity private. Brandon, I figured I'd connect you directly with Chris Bates. He's the project Lon contact with the development lead at Mortonson ahead of our meeting on 10:30. Lon would like to have WLSD in an NDA. The city of Hermantown is under one now. You two can coordinate deals there. Thanks for making the time for the meetings. Our meeting on the 30th with the LON team will be at guessware elite headquarters at 30 West Superior Street. Um, two days later on October 25th, 2024, WLSSD executive director Maryann Bowen signed an NDA with Mortonson Development. According to the DUTH monitor, that was the first NDA signed by WLSSD in the past two decades. So, we can see the trail of what's going on. So, that was that email happened in October of 2024. Um, Mr. Thornton went through uh the comprehensive plan changes without steering committee input and how Mr. Ranchetti unilaterally changed the comprehensive plan from the recommendations and the vision of the steering committee in the Adolf area. Um but going then to um throughout the 1700 pages of documents that I've personally read um emails within the city was rampant regarding project loon the secrecy behind it when um references were made uh different members of the city um said take out project lon extension and I can reference those specifically if you'd like me to. But the biggest um problem believe I have >> three minutes. >> Uh you're not signed up, Jackie. >> She did. Okay, go ahead. >> The biggest >> Is there anybody else? No. Okay, thank you. >> The biggest issue going forward then is despite these literal hundreds of emails, I've read them. They come from city administrator Moulder. They come from you, Mayor Bucher. Um, not responding to Bob Colemire, longtime resident of Hermantown, um, emailing you and city officials asking, "Is this a data center? What's going on with my property? Why is Mortonson trying to buy my property?" Instead of responding to him honestly, you and others in the email to said, you know, ignore him. Nobody ever responded to him. Direct him to Mortonson. Then two long-term residents, they're here tonight. Um um Tim and Mike Ralph um they both appeared at the April 21st, 2025 meeting before you uh when this first comp plan was requested to be changed and they both asked why Mortonson was asking to buy their land and what was the development. They asked if it was a data center and they were lied to. They were told no. I've seen the video. I encourage everybody to watch the April 21st, 2025 city council meeting. It's available on YouTube. Two long-term residents were told by city administrator Moulder and Mayor Buchet, "No, it's not a data center." I'll leave it with that. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Quiet, please. >> We're out of public comment on this. Do any counselors have comment? I have a few follow-up questions. Uh, just got to find them as I was scribbling my notes down. >> I'll get there. >> Okay, we got another two or three hours. >> Nothing else on the agenda. Okay. Um uh during public discussion there was discussion about wells. Um I know we've talked about it and I think it's been discussed but it's worth uh just bringing up again. The discussion of wells and what may happen will be further discussed in future uh permitting process. Is that correct? >> Correct. Not sure who >> wells where John >> uh the current like wells on the neighboring uh residents you know what happens if their well gets contaminated or dries up at at what point does that get dealt with? Uh, Mayor Buchet, councelor Gistler, yes, we are uh discussing with the project team um the well issue and it because it's been front and center, uh we are going to um include a discussion about wells and a mitigation plan uh and include um well monitoring uh not for the private wells but drilled wells to monitor uh monitor the water quality and uh quantity in and around the project site. So those those are underway and in discussion for future permits. Of course that is not uh here yet today. Uh that would be regulated under a under a future permit requirement. >> Yep. Okay. Thank you for that. Uh also heard some comment about public meetings. When Google was here a couple meetings ago with their presentation, they said there would be some public meetings uh this summer. Do you does anybody know if those are underway or being scheduled or further discussed? Uh Mayor Bishe, councelor Gistler, yes those are uh those are locked in now. There will be one on June 24th uh which will be held uh by Google which will be an information session on the scenario that is being evaluated as part of the AUR. Uh they're also looking at one that would be project specific ahead of the CIP and the SUP application. uh that date has not at least as far as I know uh been nailed down but uh they will be notifying folks and inviting folks to attend as it will be an open question and answer forum with pardon me with uh tables and booths and uh opportunity to ask questions of uh the development team of Google of other project partners. So uh they will be they will be hosting those and uh the June 24th date at least is locked in. Do do they have a venue? >> Uh, Mayor Buché, uh, council blahla, I have not been a part of the scheduling, but my understanding is that they are going to do it at the odd shrine. >> Joe, will we public publicize that on the city's accounts like Facebook? >> Yep. Once it gets by the developer, we'll do our part for sure. >> Couple more questions on my part, maybe more of a comment. Um during public discussion there was uh and again I know we're talking about the comprehensive plan but um a lot of it focuses around the water and sewer. Um somebody had said even if we aren't assessed for it we'll pay for it. Our taxes will go up. Uh the city council one of our jobs is to be the board of equalization that meets with citizens that come in and talk about their their tax assessment >> value. Property value >> property value. Uh we did that in April and the county assessors were with us. We asked the question about water and sewer versus wells and septic and he said as they assess properties they look at it no differently if it has city water versus a well or septic and sewer. So um that's how the county looks at it as they assess it. um question of why didn't the residents know about a potential water line and I'm assuming because there isn't a potential waterline project yet and if there is it won't be assessed and u again I I've heard many comments about the cost to maintain a water and sewer line um and I know again this will be further discussed but our city engineer has told me that he's done some analysis to study the cost of what the entity will pay versus what the city pays for the water and sewer from WLSSD and the city and the costs that they'll pay for their water will far outweigh any type of u maintenance costs long term. So those are just a few things that I was jotting down during public discussion. So >> uh in reference to your comment about the cost of water and sewer, we do build approximately 80% of the cost of depreciation of our plant which is our water lines and sewer lines into the cost of sewers and we do bill for that so that we have an enterprise fund for maintenance and all subscribers pay for that. anybody who has sewer water service. Uh I do have one question though is uh is there any harm in tableabling this tonight? Is there any burning desire to have this done in the next two weeks or the next four weeks? I I'm just asking We've we've been looking at that in terms of the WSD calendar and we were hoping that we could get this on the WSD calendar um for their um July meeting. Please be courteous. We've been here listening to everybody all night. Please let us go forth with our discussions. poison our wells. Do it. Then we have to hook up to your water. >> Chief, >> can you clear the room of those people? Okay, we're having a discussion as a council. I'm asking a question if there's any harm. Does WLSSD have a meeting in August? >> Yes, they do. Mr. Mayor and Council, uh, in partnering with them on this project, their expectation is that it will come down in July. So, that's why tableabling at least matters for their calendar. I think their preference is uh that it happens now. >> Is it simply a clerical error on their end? >> No, >> I don't think it's simply a clerical error. I think there's just misalignment with how they were looking at the original maps and how we were and some interpretation on what originally what a line that we didn't have any planned hookup for going down Midway how they're interpreting that now as potential hookup in the future. So, one of the more important pieces that Mr. Johnson has worked in with HKGI is the clarity that 20 plus years uh are the plans out for development along Midway Road. And I think that's some of the clarity they're looking for at this point from the council. >> What would you hope to gain out of tableabling it there? >> People have asked for some extra time to look at this a little bit and uh I don't you know we're under litigation for the comprehensive plan at this time also. Uh I don't know where that's going to go or how long that's going to take. But we've also agreed to table something until the AU is complete. Is that correct? >> We have agreed to table the development agreement. Okay. >> At that point, but I think when these certainly two pieces are married obviously the concept of the data center and this particular upgrade. Um but I also think there are entities WLSSD primarily who look at them as separate pieces right they look at the alignment of our maps and what we've done the comprehensive plan also separate from the data center. >> Thank you. Anything else from councel call for a roll call. >> Councelor Jelly. >> I. >> Councelor blah. >> Hi. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. Councelor Giser >> I. >> Mayor Bucher. >> No. >> Motion passes. We will move on to resolution 2026-56. Resolution authorizing and directing the mayor and city clerk to execute and deliver. We'll take a short break till you I'll start start over. Resolution 2026-56 resolution authorizing and directing the mayor and city clerk to execute deliver a mediated settlement agreement and release of claims between the city of Hermantown and Gilbertson at all. Do we have a motion? >> Move to approve. >> Motion to approve by councelor Gistler. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by councelor Leblah. Mr. Moulder. >> As you recall, we had um an assessment uh process for the Hermiton Road. We had two different groups appeal uh through the court system. The court system uh required us to go through a a mediation process. Um so for resolution 56 and 57, um these are two negotiated settlements with those groups. Um the negotiated settlement doesn't make a determination as to the legality of it one way or the other. It simply is a negotiated settlement to um avoid any further uh litigation both in terms of the cost or whatever the outcome might be. Um so the basic settlement is um we reduce the assessment to $4,700. Um, in the Gilbertson group, if the residents paid off the assessment in full prior to it going to the taxes, basically they paid the full $9,400, we would cut them a check for for half of that. If they um put it on their taxes, um their first payment on their installment would have been made in May. So, we will give them credit for that and then we will ask them to pay the balance of $4,700 um within 30 days and then we will cancel the rest of the assessment. >> So, they can't put it on their taxes. >> And in the case of the um discussion and settlement with um the first group, it was just four uh potential there was four assessments. We asked them that to pay that in full and they agreed to that. In the other one, because it was a larger group, again, the same kind of deal is similarly is that if they paid off the assessments in full prior to it going to taxes, we would refund them the $4,700 for the settlement. It's a little bit different than the second case where um there was they would have already made the the first payment. Um they can either pay that full amount or they could put it continue to have it on their taxes. they would pay the full amount based upon in December what's already, you know, on the assessment role and then we would reduce the full $4,700 by what they paid and the remaining amount could be put on their taxes if they so choose or they could pay it in full. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> Can we expect a resolution in two weeks for the rest of the residents on Hermantown Road? >> That was my understanding from the city council. So, we'll prepare something for you. >> And will that one follow the model of the first settlement or the second settlement? Is this correct? >> We put it we put it in the model of the second one just because it was easy to do with the Gilbertson group to be honest. Well, there's this um you know, three individuals, four assessments said, well, it's easier if we just clean it up and we so we agreed upon that because it was a much larger group in terms of the second group and because there'll be a number a much larger group we'll we'll do it along the same lines. will give them the option of putting it over their taxes. And again, my my understanding based upon the mediator going back and forth that that those were agreeable terms with with with the Gilbertson group. Thank you. Any questions from councel public input? Is there anyone from the public signed up to speak on this? No. Roll call, please. >> Councelor Ablah, >> I. Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Mayor Bucher. >> I. Next is resolution 2026-57. Resolution authorizing and directing the mayor and city clerk to execute and deliver a mediated settlement agreement and release of claims between the city of Hermantown and Nicole and Traverse Travis Anderson at all. Do we have a motion? >> Move to approve. >> Motion by councelor Leblah. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by councelor Peterson. Mr. Moulder's already explained this. Do any counselors have questions? Anyone signed up for public input? >> Roll call, please. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Councelor Lebla. >> Hi. >> Mayor Buché. >> I. Resolution 2026-58. resolution authorizing and directing the mayor and city clerk to execute and deliver development agreement with JLG Enterprises of Hermantown LLP for Paytonacres phase 4. Do we have a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Motion by councelor Peterson. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by councelor Jelly. Mr. Moulder, should we have Mr. Johnson explain this one? >> Yes, please. >> Mr. Johnson. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. So this is a development agreement for phase four associated with Payton acres. What it does is it outlines the requirements of infrastructure work for that phase. So when I say infrastructure, it covers sidewalks, water, sanitary sewer, roadway, and storm water improvements in the case of pipes. The storm water pond that will handle this phase of the development was already previously installed as part of the phase 2a work. So currently uh in phase three which is a project that was approved earlier last year uh the utilities are in with the paving, curb and gutter and sidewalk expecting to happen in 26. The phase 4 which we're discussing this evening uh those utilities would be installed here in 26 with paving, curb, gutter and sidewalk happening in 27. Uh traditionally the developer likes to uh have the opportunity for the road bade road bed to settle over a winter season and that way you have a much better product when it is paved and curbed eventually. So once again this is for the infrastructure work i.e. water sanitary sewer roadway and storm water piping associated with the phase 4. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments from councel? Has anyone signed up to address on this? No. Roll call, please. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Councelor Blah. >> Hi. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Mayor Bucher. >> I. Next is resolution 2026-59. Resolution approving wetland replacement plan for Payton Acres 39XS XX Steener Road. Do we have a motion? Make a motion to approve. >> Motion by councelor Jelly. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by councelor Lebla. Um >> should we have Mr. Johnson address this again? >> Yes, please. >> Mr. Johnson. >> Thank you again. So this is the wetland replacement plan for the entire 63 acre Payton acres development. So just to give a little bit of background, the wetland conservation act allows for up to a quarter acre or 10,800 square ft. to fall under a nationwide permit for uh wetland impacts. Now, they view a parcel whether it's a 63 acre or whether it's a 1acre parcel, it still is the same that way. So, up until this current phase, phase four, uh the applicant had been uh keeping that within that dimmin exemption area under the 10,800. Uh but with this final phase, they have exceeded that amount. So, what they're uh looking to do is overall project wetland impacts of 13,53 square ft. So this has been reviewed by the technical evaluation panel which includes the city of Hermantown, St. Louis County, the board of water and soil resources which is a state agency as well as the DNR and they have all looked at and reviewed these uh impacts as well. So this is the final stage for the wetland replacement plan. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? >> Is anyone signed up to address us on this? Roll call, please. Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Councelor Lebla. >> Hi. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Mayor Bucher. >> I. Next is resolution 2026-60. Resolution approving wetland replacement plan for Hawkline Business Park. Do we have a motion? >> Move to approve. >> Motion by councelor Gistler. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by councelor Peterson. Mr. Moulder. Should we have Mr. Johnson address this? >> He's on a roll. Let him go. Thank you, Mr. Moulder, and thank you members of the uh council, Mr. Mayor. So, similar to the previous application, this is one for the Hawkland Business Park. Uh in this case, this is a 46 acre parcel, and it differs obviously between the residential, which was Payton Acres, and this one, which is the industrial project. Uh previously approved um both from a platting standpoint as well as commercial industrial development permit, was a 231,000 square foot warehouse distribution facility. Uh as part of that uh the applicant is looking to disturb 2.31 acres of wetland. Um the applicant has looked at uh different scenarios in order to minimize those wetland impacts. Uh there's quite a few uh conversations and discussions back and forth with that technical evaluation panel in order to uh make sure that these wetlands are being minimized. Uh it's anticipated that there'll be some future wetland impacts uh associated with the construction of a north south road connecting to UGstead, but that'll be applied for uh at a future date by the city of Hermantown. It is a different project that way. Once again, the technical evaluation panel has reviewed and approved it at their end and this is the final step of that process. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Anyone signed up? Uh Ricksman, Hermantown. Um quite ignorant to this. Uh but I would like some clarification. At what point in the process does an applicant go forward with a wetland replacement plan? Like in transparency I'm asking because obviously wetlands are going to be disturbed for this project moon. So like at what point you said something about CDP. So I guess I'm just looking for clarification about the process of when it transpires if I'm asking that appropriately. >> Uh Mr. Johnson, are you able to answer that? So, how it traditionally works is a wetland replacement plan is required when you disturb greater than the quarter acre which falls under the wetland conservation act. It's called a nationwide permit. So, if you were to fill less than that on your own personal property, you're able to qualify under that wetland basically that the nationwide permit. When you exceed that amount, you fall into the actual individual, not the individual permit, but the um wetland replacement plan. So uh it's a multi-step process that the technical evaluation panel as I've mentioned before the different groups associated with that they look at different development scenarios how to minimize wetland impacts associated with it. So in that case uh the core of engineers are possibly weigh in on it as well and um there's discussions back and forth on the minimization of wetland impacts. Uh ultimately the technical evaluation panel or potentially the core would look at it. they would make a recommendation and then it would come before uh basically the technical excuse me the technical evaluation panel in this case would be the RGU being the city and then ultimately the city council for an approval at that point. So it's a multi-step process that happens as we move throughout it. >> Okay. Um the Hawkline Business Park had an AUR is my understanding. Would that have been discussed in that I didn't read it obviously. Um would would wetland mitigation have been discussed in that AU? >> I go ahead. >> Thank you sir. Uh yes as part of that that's one of the things that was studied as well is wetlands. Now under that obviously it a different scenario as far as uh the original AUR from that studied a much larger area was about 800,000 plus square feet and so when you get a project specific then you're able to determine what the true impacts are. basically this the the AO are set up. This is a process. These are different permits that you have to go through for the process. >> Okay. Uh thank you for the clarification. Uh I'm I'm learning and perhaps I'll connect with you in another forum for follow-up questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else signed up? Roll call, please. >> Council Lela, >> I councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Mayor Buché. >> Hi. Next resolution 2026-61 resolution authorizing and directing mayor and city clerk to execute an acceptance of easement agreement to the city of Hermantown from Hermantown Economic Development Authority for the Hermantown Lightning Drive Improvement and Trail project. Do we have a motion? >> Make a motion to approve. >> Motion by councelor Jelly. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by councelor Lebla. Mr. Moulder. So, I'm going to have Trish Creo explain all of resolution 61, 62, 63, and 64 are all easements related to the Lightning Drive improvements. I'm going to have her just walk through all of those easements in in one. Okay, if that's okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Moulder. Uh, counselors and mayor. Yes, all of these easements um were evaluated by our outside party SRF and then offers were made and um except HEDA, we didn't need to do that so much because they were um already owned somewhat by the city, but under the economic development group, we um brought that forward to the economic development group. They have granted us easement. Some of them are temporary and some of them are permanent. Um the other three easements are um a the church on Maple Grove um and a residence just off of Gethel and a commercial development that's at the corner of Lightning and Steener and all of them have agreed and settled on an easements for permanent and temporary. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments from councel? Is this an opportunity for us to generate some funds for HEA? Like the city were to buy because we were doing some different things with that group. >> I mean, I get it's kind of just taking money out of one pot, putting a different pot, but >> yes, theoretically, um, that could have been done. EDA did approve granting the easements to the city. >> Yeah, I should have been there. >> Yeah, it should have been there. >> Okay. anything. Um, Lebla, they're relatively small areas and probably would have taken more time with paperwork and would have been worth it. >> We'll remember that next time he'd ask for money. >> Thank you. >> Anything else from council? Anyone signed up? Roll call, please. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Councelor Leblah. >> Hi. >> Mayor Buché. I next is resolution 2026-62 resolution authorizing and directing mayor and city clerk to execute an acceptance of an easement agreement to the city of Hermantown from Dalstar Partners LLP for the Hermantown Lightning Drive Improvements and Trail project. Do we have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by councelor Gisler. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by councelor Peterson. Uh we've already had the explanation. Is there anyone signed up? Any comments from councel? Roll call, please. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Council Ablah. >> Hi. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Mayor Busher. >> I. Next is resolution 2026-63 resolution authorizing and directing mayor and city clerk to execute an acceptance of me easement agreement to the city of Hermantown from peace in Christ Lutheran Church for the Hermantown lightning drive improvements and trail project. Is there a motion? >> Move to approve. >> Motion by councelor Lebla. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by councelor Gisler. Any questions or comments from councel? Anyone signed up? Roll call, please. >> Councelor Jelly. >> I. >> Councelor Blah. >> Hi. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Mayor Bucher. >> I. Next is resolution 2026-64 resolution authorizing and directing mayor and city clerk to execute an acceptance of easement agreement to the city of Hermantown from Joshua John Toms and Adriana R. Richie Toms for the Hermantown Lightning Drive Improvement and Trail Project. Is there a motion? >> Make a motion to approve. >> Motion by councelor Jelly to approve. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by councelor Gisler. Um, any questions or comments? Anyone signed up? Roll call, please. >> Councelor Blah. >> Hi. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Councelor Gisler. >> Hi. >> Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Mayor Bucher. >> I. Next is resolution 2026-65, resolution accepting petition to vac public street and setting public hearing. Is there a motion? >> Move to approve. >> Motion by councelor Leblah. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by councelor Peterson. Mr. Moulder. >> Um I'd like Miss KGO to um explain that she worked on this one. >> Yes. Thank you u Mr. Moulder, mayor and counselors. Um this is a vacation of the street um on that's Williams Drive which is right off Uggstead Road north of the school. Um there's some future development that's going to be happening. Um and the owner would like to vacate the street but then turn around and give the city right away for utilities and a roadway that's going to go through there. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Anyone signed up? Roll call, please. >> Councelor Peterson. >> Hi. >> Councelor Gler. >> Hi. >> Councelor Jelly. >> Hi. >> Councelor Leblah. >> Hi. >> Mayor Buché. >> I. Next is resolution 2026-66. Resolution approving change order number three for Keen Creek Trail segment 4 construction to Vite and Company in the amount of $23,977.80. Is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Motion by councelor Peterson. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by councelor Gistler. Mr. Moulder, is there someone from staff or do you >> um I'll I'll explain this one. So currently Vit's under construction to construct the trail from Carlson uh road down to Morris Thomas and then King Creek South to the city limits. Um they are starting that work um this summer, this spring and um as part of that contract, we've asked them for pricing on improving the crossing at Anderson Road on the existing Boulder Trail. And so we wanted to do some improvements for that um crossing at Anderson Road to make it a little more safe. We did it under a change order for that project. They will be working on um the boulder trail segment by putting in what I call um rest stops where there'll be a couple places where there'll be some a paved concrete pad and some and some um benches as well. So that'll be all part of that project. >> Thank you. Any questions from councel? We allowed people to purchase those benches, right? Have any have any been sold? >> Eric, can you answer that one? >> So, there's been two applications for those. And in both instances, uh they've asked to um basically select which bench they want to um uh basically memorialize uh once they've been installed. So, uh, once these rest areas have been installed, uh, city staff will reach out to these applicants and then, uh, work work with them to actually pick which one they wanted. >> Nick, can you remind us how many there were? There were several, right? >> As far as people looking. >> Oh, for benches, uh, I believe we're in the low teens. >> Okay. >> And in addition, uh, basically we call it the Y, that's where the two trail systems come together. Um there's also going to be gazebo and some picnic tables there as well just to add just some additional uh amenities associated with the existing trail. >> Thank you and thank you for uh putting in this crossing. I think it's great. I use that a lot and it's a to me it's it's a little bit hairy with the with the road and the dip in the road. So thank you. >> Thank you. Anything else from council? Anyone signed up? Roll call, please. >> Councelor Gisler. >> I. >> Councelor Jelly. >> I. >> Councelor Lebla. I, >> Councelor Peterson. >> I, >> Mayor Buché. >> I Next is a motion to recess. Do we have a motion? >> Move to recess. >> Motion by councelor Leblah. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by councelor Gisler. All in favor say I. I. >> Oppose. Same side.