Here is the transcribed townhall meeting with speaker names added based on the context and officials provided. [0:00] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** The regular Moose Lake City Council meeting for October 7th, 2017. They'd like to start with a pledge allegiance please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:31] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** First item is the agenda. We have one edition under 5D; this is the road priority list. Also, after number six, New Business, you will see a paragraph: the city moves by Councillor to close a meeting to the public under state statute 13D.05. We will do that actually after number nine. We’ll complete reports, correspondence, committee and board meetings, go through announcements, then we will actually close the meeting at that point and we'll go up to the conference room. Rory can then tear this down and put stuff away, then we will adjourn from the conference room just for everyone's information. Without any other additions or changes to the agenda, hearing none, do we have a motion to accept the agenda? [1:17] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** So move. [1:19] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. [1:21] **Council Members:** Aye. [1:22] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All right, motion carried. Under consent agenda, number 2A1, September 13, 2017 City Council meeting minutes. Any discussion or questions? Hearing none, do I have a motion to accept? [2:11] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** I so move that we accept the minutes as written. [2:15] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** I'll second that. [2:16] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. [2:18] **Council Members:** Aye. [2:19] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Opposed? Motion carried. Under consent agenda 2B, this is the financial reports. Number one is the city accounts payable for October 2017. Number two is the city financial statements for September 2017. Number three is the liquor store profit and loss statement for September 2017. Any questions or discussion for the financial reports? [2:53] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** Only thing is, Mr. Mayor, if our City Works director will talk about the dehumidifier that was installed. I take it he's already going to—is that $19,000 for the arena? [3:11] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** If you want me to talk about that bit, that's part of that Mighty Ducks grant. [3:16] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** Yes, I just wanted it to be brought to people's attention. [3:19] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** And that was for the exact dollar amount as the original bid and was part of a Mighty Ducks grant that we applied for for the arena. [3:28] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** Thank you. [3:30] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Any further questions or discussion? Hearing none, do we have a motion to accept the consent agenda financial reports? [3:38] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** So move. [3:39] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** Second. [3:40] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. [3:42] **Council Members:** Aye. [3:43] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Opposed? Motion carried. We have number three, which is public comment time. This time is reserved for comments from the public on matters not listed on the agenda. Please keep your comments to three minutes. Hearing none, we'll move on then to number four, which is departmental reports. Number 4A is the Police Department report, September 9th through October 6, 2017. [4:26] **Kelly Lake (Law Enforcement Lead):** Councilmen, Mr. Mayor, another busy month. A lot of activities still going on in town. We had a couple of large events at the hockey arena that went very well. We had over 158 ATV people in town for a convention and they went out and rode on their local trails. Just a lot of real positive comments from the ATV riders on just how nice the trails were and how nice the facility was. We also had the Oktoberfest celebration at the hockey arena and outside; there's a lot of people there playing games, having a good time, no issues whatsoever. We assisted the Cub Scouts on a Sunday afternoon for the second annual Pine Box Derby. With the help of Phil's crew, we shut off part of Lakeshore Drive and they were able to race their pine box derbies down the hills. It was neat. I think there were six different contestants. We helped them by running radar and blocking traffic. Other than that, just usual calls. Another busy one for us. [6:01] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** So what was the highest speed on the radar? [6:05] **Kelly Lake (Law Enforcement Lead):** Seventeen miles an hour. It looks like we had 159 calls listed and usually there's more. We have been monitoring the traffic up at the elementary and high school and it seems to be moving along decently. They're just finishing up the turning lane so I think that'll help a lot. Roundabouts—we have had some issues with people being confused on how to use it. We've had to educate some people, but for the most part, it's been working well. And no, it does not need to be rebuilt. It is the correct size. They got the lines painted now. Hopefully the construction is coming to an end. [7:11] **Kris Huso (Council Member):** I was wondering if there would be any opportunity for you to go speak to the high schoolers. I get off work at the same time school lets out and it appears that the kids really don't know how to use that and yield. They just kind of tailgate each other around there. I don't know if there'd be an opportunity to speak at the school just to kind of educate the kids. [7:37] **Kelly Lake (Law Enforcement Lead):** Yep, I can certainly do that. I can talk to the superintendent and set up a time. [7:46] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** Is that speed limit gonna stay at 25? [7:50] **Kelly Lake (Law Enforcement Lead):** They're doing a study right now. Through the roundabout it will stay that way. They will do a study from the bridge to the roundabout. [8:08] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** I thought they were advertising 15. [8:12] **Kelly Lake (Law Enforcement Lead):** I can ask him about that at our weekly meeting as well, but my understanding was it may just be the construction zone. I'll take a look at it tomorrow. Thank you. [8:25] **Phil Entner (City Superintendent):** Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Under the water department, your distribution system distributed 3.7 million gallons of drinking water in the month of September. Hydrants are all flushed and ready for winter. Sewer department collected 13 million gallons of wastewater. A maintenance program is underway. The grinder at the bridge lift station was rebuilt and put back in service. The water repairs on Fifth and Arrowhead were done two weeks ago. The hydrant on Third Street was also removed. One other thing: next week Wednesday the 18th, Minnesota Rural Water is coming to Moose Lake to put on a session for wastewater guys. They're actually gonna tour your pond site and take a look at it. There's been a lot of people talking about the new phosphorus removal plan we're doing and how it's really making the city meet their effluent limits. It's really doing a good job. [10:43] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Good. Phil, can you tell if there's any difference in our I&I (Inflow and Infiltration) after the summer with all the stuff that's done? [10:52] **Phil Entner (City Superintendent):** There's a huge difference. We have not had a million-gallon influent day since that day up until all summer. We would average about an inch of rain and that would get us over a million gallons. Everything we've done down at the lift station and the pipe under the creek has made a huge difference. The PCA should be very happy with us. [11:30] **SEH City Engineer:** Members of the council. For the Kenwood project, the bituminous base is placed. They’re planning on next week Thursday to put the wear course down. On Third Street, all the underground piping got put in. They plan on putting the curb and gutter down on Friday if it doesn't rain. They're planning on paving Wednesday or Thursday next week. Sidewalks will be going in concurrently. Things will look really good in another week. [13:02] **Kris Huso (Council Member):** When they're going to pave, can you come tell us a day or two before so we can go tell the businesses? Last time Jen stopped in and told us and it worked really good. [13:25] **SEH City Engineer:** She already told me she was gonna do that. She'll be back to see you and Katie. [13:38] **Kris Huso (Council Member):** Excellent, thank you. [13:40] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** I do have one question on Kenwood at the nursing home. Was that Augustana's request to have their parking lot closed, or was that the contractor's? [13:48] **SEH City Engineer:** We just talked about that. Their parking lot is gonna get redone. We're gonna build a temporary entrance on that north end so that cars can get in there until Kaminsky comes and tears it all out. [14:34] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** I didn't know that was happening. [14:38] **SEH City Engineer:** It was just a communication gap. I've already texted Jen and she's gonna have it put in tomorrow. [15:10] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Thank you very much. Ellissa, Chamber of Commerce updates. [15:15] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Thanks, Mayor. Things have quieted down quite a bit. We have a Chamber Board meeting tomorrow at the Squirrel Cage at noon in Willow River, and Friday is the drawing of the chamber raffle at the golf club at 6:30. [15:37] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Thank you. Moving on to number five, previously discussed business. 5A, Arena project updates. [15:53] **Phil Entner (City Superintendent):** The dehumidifier we have now ran a couple times; it's working very well. November 1st, the new Olympia ice resurfacer will be here. The garden section went in along the south side along with wood chips. The ice is going in right now, so practice starts on Sunday the 15th. [16:55] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** 5B, Highway 73 updates. As of right now, we are planning on a grand opening either the 25th or the 26th. The 25th is the day we said we would prefer. We'll have a ribbon-cutting down at the intersection by the bank. 5C, Moose Lake City/Township consolidation. There's an email and two letters from the township in your packets. The township declined our request for their last two years' worth of financial information in order to do a study on tax rates if we were to consolidate. The good news is that we can go to the state's website and pull their financials off of there and we'll do the study anyways. Under 5D, Road priority list. [19:18] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** There's a handout on your desk, a road map. I just ask that this be disseminated to everybody so we can be looking at it since we do have a sales tax now. This is the list that was compiled by Phil and our engineers a couple years ago. Third Street and Kenwood are already being handled. I think people want to know where their money is going to be going for this sales tax. [20:52] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** The entrance to John Brown Drive off of 73 was included as yellow and we were able to get that one done as well. We had a good year. [21:13] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** Sometime we should do an update in the spring. [21:43] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Thank you. Moving on to six, New Business. 6A, Moose Tech update. [22:04] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Moose Tech—just the wireless portion, not the fiber network—is looking at being purchased by another company. As part of that sale, they will need to have a lease with the city because there's an antenna on the water tower and the water and light building. This lease lays out how that would work. Our attorneys reviewed it as well. Mike, do you have any input from the Commission? [23:38] **Mike (Water and Light Commission):** No, I'm just feeling comfortable with this. People are going to be provided with the service. Our equipment is getting quite old; it would be quite a few million dollars to upgrade. This is a good thing. [24:02] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** Do you have any dates on when transactions will start happening? [24:06] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Very soon is about the best way to put it. [25:12] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** What are you asking to approve? [25:14] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** The lease. We won't sign it until the sale is done, but it's pretty well done. [25:28] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** I'll make a motion to approve the site lease as provided. [25:34] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** I'll second it. [26:05] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Any further discussion or questions? All in favor say aye. [26:15] **Council Members:** Aye. [26:17] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Opposed? Abstain? [26:19] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** I'll abstain. [26:21] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Motion carried. [27:11] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** 6B, Peddlers permit. Right now, if someone wants to go door-to-door, they get a permit. I would like us to not allow it at all. This last round, they were in the community for five minutes before we started getting phone calls. I have on the table the "Green River" anti-peddlers ordinance from 1937 which bans door-to-door without permission. It still allows people to sell if they are invited or leave door knockers, but they cannot knock on doors. [31:18] **Kris Huso (Council Member):** Now, will this ban, say, the Cub Scouts? [31:22] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** We'll need to have an understanding with our Police Department that football cards or baseball cards are fine. This is not meant for that. This only stops the door-to-door salesmen. Groups that can legally go door-to-door, like politicians or religious organizations, do not fall under this. [34:30] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** So this is informational and there's no action needed because it's an existing ordinance? [34:35] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Yes, I just want to make sure you guys are okay with it. [35:20] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** Mr. Mayor, I have a question. Do we want to up the teeth in here? Because it’s a $25 fine and not more than a hundred. [35:36] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** They are pretty knowledgeable. If we don't allow it, they call ahead. [36:05] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Under six, number C, Kiwanis gambling permit. [36:12] **Brian Ketchmark (Kiwanis Club):** The club would like to hold a little bingo on January 27th, 2018. We're trying to raise funds to help send children to YMCA Camp Miller. It would be for adults from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Soo Line Event Center. We would also like to have a bartender from the City of Moose Lake for a fee. [38:24] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** I'll make a motion that we approve the application for bingo for the Kiwanis on January 27th, 2018. [38:36] **Kris Huso (Council Member):** I'll second. [38:40] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. [38:42] **Council Members:** Aye. Motion carried. Moving on to 6D, Knights of Columbus gambling permit. [39:25] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** They want to hold bingo on January 22nd, 2018. [39:41] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** Motion that we accept this. [39:43] **Kris Huso (Council Member):** Second. [39:53] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. Motion carried. 6E, Chamber requests Hinkley visitor's guide. [40:15] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Requesting $1,200 for the full-page ad. [40:53] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** I'll make a motion that we give the $1,200 with a request to the chamber that they come up with one bill for the year so we can actually budget for it. [41:33] **Kris Huso (Council Member):** I'll second it. [42:15] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. Motion carried. 6F, Bill Carlson letter. [42:25] **Bill Carlson (Public Speaker):** Thank you, Mayor and Council. I am back because I am specifically asking every member of the City Council: why did you choose not to use this technology? It was six years ago that we started this project to change from an analog system to a digital system for Channel 7. The technology was designed to allow people who can't go out to events to watch them on the local access channel. The city took over the project three years ago and it has stalled. Right now, there is no sound on Channel 7 and the pictures are distorted. We have facilities like the Historical Society and the new school that should be broadcasting, but they aren't being used. I am asking you to find out what system is needed and install it. [1:15:20] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Thank you, Bill. The knowledge you carry is invaluable. [1:16:16] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** I think the council has to look at a technology director position. That's where it all has to come from—a center point of direction. We just haven't done that yet. [1:17:41] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Let's move on to 6G, Minnesota House capital bonding committee. [1:17:45] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** The house bonding committee came down to the arena a couple weeks ago. We submitted a 1.2 million dollar project to the state for the expansion of the arena. [1:18:40] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Thank you, Tim, you did an excellent job putting together the package. 6H, downtown business additions and updates. [1:19:02] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Thrifty White is going to be building a new store right along the grocery store. There will be two buildings going up this fall. [1:19:50] **Phil Entner (City Superintendent):** They are yet to tap into the water main, and we are hoping they do so prior to the final lift of pavement on Highway 73. [1:21:00] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** I’d hate to get that done and the first thing we do is dig it up. [1:21:23] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** Give them a hand pump if they have to. We need to send a strong message: get it done now. [1:23:27] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** 6I, health insurance update. We need to review plan options on the 18th of this month. I have some dates for a special meeting. [1:24:21] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Tuesday the 23rd at 4:00? [1:25:07] **Kris Huso (Council Member):** The 23rd is fine for me. [1:25:30] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** 23rd works. [1:25:55] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** 6J, Spookhouse project donation request. They're requesting $400 for the Spookhouse and Trunk-or-Treat on October 28th. [1:26:25] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** I'll make a motion that we approve the donation of $400. [1:26:30] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** Second. [1:26:40] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. Motion carried. 6K, Paula Arnold resignation. [1:27:10] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** She rescinded this at the Park Board, so she's staying with them. [1:27:50] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Thanks for staying, Paula. 6L, full-time police officer position. [1:28:19] **Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Right now, we have two part-time officers filling a full-time position. The Personnel Committee recommends moving forward with hiring a full-time police officer. This will make scheduling much easier. [1:29:45] **Walter Lower III (Council Member):** This would help alleviate overtime and make it more economical to have a full-time person. [1:30:51] **Kelly Lake (Law Enforcement Lead):** Realistically, it would take six to eight weeks to get somebody on board. It is hard to fill shifts with part-timers who have other full-time jobs. [1:31:40] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** I'll make a motion that we approve the hiring of a full-time police officer. [1:31:48] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** Second it. [1:32:05] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. Motion carried. We'll go to reports and correspondence. Under number eight, committee and board meeting minutes, we have the Planning Commission and Park and Recreation minutes. Announcements: regular council meeting Wednesday, November 8th. Water and Light Commission, October 18th. Fire District, November 14th. Park Board, November 6th. [1:34:20] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** Do we need a motion to close the meeting at this time? [1:34:25] **Lou Ohly (Council Member):** So move. [1:34:27] **Douglas Juntunen (Council Member):** Second. [1:34:30] **Jim Michalski (Mayor):** All in favor say aye. Meeting closed.