Based on the context provided about the Hermantown City Council and staff, here is the transcribed townhall with speaker names identified. [0:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Good evening. We'll call the meeting to order and stand for the pledge of allegiance. **All:** 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. [0:26] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councelor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Yes. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councelor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Here. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councelor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Here. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councelor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Here. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Here. Announcements. Do any counselors have announcements this evening? **Councilors:** None. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. And uh we will move on to the public hearing for the truth and taxation hearing. Uh Mr. Mulder. [0:49] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Um we're going to go over uh briefly with uh the proposed budget. Um, and so I'd like our uh director of finance and administration, Kevin Orme, to kind of kind of do a high view of uh the proposed budget. [1:05] **Kevin Orme:** Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of council. Um, in July, we started this process. We presented to you the capital improvement plan. We presented to you the 2026 proposed payroll budget. Since then, at various council meetings, we presented the other um parts of the budget, the other pieces. Uh, as we've told you before, payroll makes up the large majority of the budget. Over uh over two-thirds of the budget goes to payroll. And as far as revenue, the bulk of the revenue, almost 90% of the revenue is supported by property taxes in the general fund. So those are numbers that we've given you before that obviously impacts the budget. In September, you the council set a preliminary levy that went to St. Louis County taxpayers uh later received in the mail a proposed property tax statement based on that preliminary levy number. Since that time we have uh reduced expenditures at some level and so that is going to reduce the number before you on resolution 2025-176. [2:14] **Kevin Orme:** The uh if you approve that tonight, your final tax statement, the citizen's final tax statement will be lowered, the city portion from the preliminary statement that they received in the mail already. So after we reduce the expenditures, the overall levy increase for the general fund is 7.48%. Initially, it was over 10%. The effective tax rate for the city if approved would actually go down almost 1%. That is the rate paid per valuation dollar previously was going up about 1.75%. If approved tonight, this levy will be submitted to St. Louis County and be part of the uh property taxes for 2026. you could table it and then it would um need to be approved at the next meeting before the end of the year. Any questions? [3:11] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any questions from council? Uh the total dollar amount you said in our budget was going up around 500,000 for from one year to the next. **Kevin Orme:** The total levy dollars is going up a little more than 500. It's between 6 and 700,000 and 80% of that is payroll costs. [3:33] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mulder. Anything else before we open it up for public input? **John Mulder:** Uh, no, not at this point. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay. We have one person that has signed up for speaking to the council, and that's Jackie Dolan. Could you step forward and state your name and address, please? [3:50] **Jackie Dolan:** Hello, everyone. My name is Jackie Dolan. I'm at 5842 Old Highway 2 here in Hermantown. Uh, thank you for your service. I always want to say that first. I didn't really prepare any remarks, which I'm probably going to regret. Um, I just wanted to maybe vent a little, and I know this isn't in your wheelhouse, but I figured it's important for you to hear. We've been in our house now for a while. And in 2019, our taxable market value of our house was $220,600. In the proposed taxes, according to the county, it's now 342,144. It's a 55% increase in value since 2019. My property tax statements as proposed tonight, I've got an increase of 15.5% or $631. The county's actual to proposed is an increase of 21.5. City of Hermantown's proposed and actual is 16.6% is what it equals on mine and then the average comes down to 15.5. With everything going on, with everything going up, I appreciate the work session that you had last week. I wish I could have been there. Um, and the thoughtful conversation that you had and trying to bring the costs down, but we're seriously getting taxed out of our residence. I mean, it's $4,700 for my house. No changes, no improvements, no additions, no nothing. And it's just getting to be a lot. Homeowners insurance up $1,000, car insurance up, groceries up, you know, my increase at work for my pay 3%. It's just crazy. So, thank you for your time. I just guess wanted to say a little bit. I appreciate it. Thank you. [5:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. **Joe Peterson:** Thank you. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Anyone else wish to speak during the truth and taxation public input? Is there anyone else that wishes to speak to the city council for the truth and taxation hearing? Okay, we will move on to the resolutions. Resolution 2025-176, resolution adopting the final 2025 property tax levy collectible in 2026 in the amount of $10,112,191. Is there a motion? [6:44] **John Geissler:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Any councilors have any comments on this? [7:00] **John Geissler:** Uh I appreciate Councilor LeBlanc's suggestion that we have a work session and uh thanks everybody for making it and Mr. Mulder and team to put it all together. So I think it was a a valuable time spent. So thank you. [7:16] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Uh, anything else from the council? Roll call please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-177. Resolution adopting the final 2026 city general fund budget in the amount of $9,864,686, in the overall budget of $28,022,830. Is there a motion? [7:49] **Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? **Andy Hjelle:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Any comments from council? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. [8:05] **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is public discussion or comment. This is a time that individuals can address the council about any item not on the agenda. Time limit is 3 minutes per person. We have two lists here. First one is Jeffrey Donahue and uh after Jeffrey is Allison Haftton. Could you start with your name and address please? [8:39] **Jeffrey Donahue:** Yes. Jeffrey Donahue, 5540 Pinehill Road. I'm in Midway Township, about 4.8 miles away from the proposed data center. The data center can't be built on this site. It is a heavy industrial use in a residential community. Can't be done. Legally, can't be done. Logistically, can't be done. Two-thirds the size of Mall of America you want to put on our one-lane roads next to homes—can't be done. You'll need 300 4-megawatt generators. Each one generating over 100 dB each one. That's about the sound of a jet taking off. About 100-110 dB with silencers and sound enclosures. You can get that down to about 75 dB. 75 dB is substantially higher than the limits for residential. You have to comply with residential as you well know because you're adjacent residential. Not one generator can be built on that site. Not one. Can you imagine the cumulative effect of 300 jets taking off at the same time continuously for as long as those generators run? Not one generator can be started on that site. You go with smaller ones, you lose about 5 dB. You can't build those either. There's so many reasons this data center can't be built on this site. Shouldn't have been rezoned. This council knows that the bulk of the people that live here don't want this data center. We don't want it. Why did you vote to rezone it when 90% of the people don't want it? This isn't democracy here. It's not democracy means you vote the way your people want. This community, whether it's Hermantown residents or other, we don't want this data center on this site so I would ask that you rezone it back to residential or whatever it was. Data center isn't—I mean, this would be the largest user of electricity in the state of Minnesota and you're putting it next to our homes. [11:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** 30 seconds. **Jeffrey Donahue:** It's not light industrial. You guys can't increase the sound limits that are allowed. Could decrease them. You can't increase them. I know you wrote the—rewrote the zoning laws so you could have this. It's not going to work. We don't want it. Even if it does work, we don't want it. Listen to your constituents, please. Thank you. [11:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next is Allison Haftton. And after that is Althia Montgomery. [12:00] **Allison Haftton:** Good evening, Allison Haftton at 5971 St. Louis River Road, Proctor, Minnesota. With Thanksgiving just passed us here, I just want to share a few things that I'm thankful for with you. I'm thankful for the health of my family and friends. I'm thankful that I have three amazing kids and an incredible husband. They're at home without me now as I'm here speaking to you. This year, we celebrated 10 years in our home, our first home. A home we chose because of the beautiful wooded property, a spring melt stream that runs through it, the quietness of the rural neighborhood, and the wildlife that it contains. I'm thankful to watch my husband walk out the back door into the woods to hunt and harvest a deer. I'm thankful to watch my kids run around in the yard and the woods knowing nothing is going to harm them. They can have that fun childhood. I'm thankful for dark skies and quiet nights. This home of mine that I speak so dearly of is less than a mile from the recently rezoned Adolf properties and the proposed data center. We just put new windows in this home as we plan to stay for a long time and I'm sure you all know the cost of new windows. Um I hope it was for naught. All that I'm thankful for in my home is at risk. If this data center goes in, we won't have dark skies and quiet nights. The wildlife will disappear because of the sound and the light and the frequencies emitted. Um, I'm I'm also thankful for the freedom of speech that we have in this country, my ability to speak it here tonight, our freedom to gather, our freedom to protest. I will keep investigating. I will keep fighting. I will keep showing up to speak out against this data center for my home, for my kids, and for my own quality of life. Thank you. [14:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Althia Montgomery. And after that is Derek Strom. [14:23] **Althia Montgomery:** Thank you. Thank you for having us, um, here this evening. I wanted to join along with my neighbors and my friends and my community members. Althia Montgomery, 5713 St. Louis River Road. I wanted to have my voice join with my neighbors and my friends and my community members. We've been a resident of Hermantown since 2006. I taught at the Hermantown schools until 2013 when we moved away out of state. Two of my three children have graduated from the Hermantown schools. When we moved back in 2016, we chose to relocate to Hermantown, our youngest wanting to graduate from the Hermantown High School. And we bought our current home. I learned about the data center from a text message from my dad that day that it was released to the News Tribune asking me how we would be affected. Our home and our property are along the proposed data center borders, probably less than a half a mile from it. We had no idea. No one has come to our home to investigate um what our property looks like, how it would be impacted by the flow of water. We had been involved with communication about um what would happen with the spring melt when we remove the forest land, the wetlands, you add increased impervious um surfaces. Our home is down the slope of the site of both St. Louis River and uh a road and then also the data center. In the spring, we end up with um vernal um streams and ponds just from typical snow melt. What is going to happen when we—if this proposed center goes through with these profound environmental changes? We chose our home as our future retirement home. The threat of the property value plummeting is um heartbreaking for us. I've worked hard on cultivating spaces for wildlife from pollinator gardens. I have a monarch waystation that has been um counted as part of the migratory routes. We've got apple trees that I've planted. We have chickens and honeybees. I don't know how that fits with the common AU which is for urban development and brown fields. My property, our home is teeming with rural amenities. It does not sound like um brown fields or urban areas. I wanted to add my voice to the others in opposition to this proposed data center for the future of um our retirement, the future of our home, the future of our community members, and the community of all those who are involved. Thank you. [17:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next is Derek Strom and after that, Annette Ralph. [17:15] **Derek Strom:** Name's Derek Strom, 5853 Highway 194. Our community needs new leadership. This data center is being based off of so-called experts. Back in the 60s and 70s when the measles were out, people sent them home. But experts nowadays say you got to have all these vaccinations. These experts that you so-call have is only here to fit your narrative. Prime example why you all need to be removed is mismanagement of funds. I am sitting here with documents just from the storm water tax. Storm water paying your salary sir because according to this just last year alone over 100,000 was paid to engineers. Why are we doing that? This stuff is supposed to be to preserve the wetlands but yet we got salaries, Medicaid, all this other stuff that's going into this storm water management. According to this, you have three employees that are making 15 bucks an hour that are doing all the work. They even have a little bit of overtime. This is just one little aspect that I've looked into as far as this city council's mismanagement. Now, I have recently requested another data inquiry for—I want all your text messages, emails, and transcripts of everything having to do with this data center because when I told people here last time was I was planning on coming here and telling you all that I'm going to do whatever I can to recall every single one of you in an election. But people don't know what's going on. They listen to communist organizations such as the Duluth News Tribune and Northland News to get all their information from the experts that you so-called people pick up. So now I'm going out and I'm going to prove everything that you've been telling us is a lie. And in 2026, one of you council members is losing their position to me because I will be running. And in 2028, mayor, I'm coming for you. Under the Minnesota data statutes, chapter 13, all data collected, received, and maintained by government entities shall be made public unless specified underneath chapter 13 section 6. Under chapter 13 section 6 it basically involves that unless it involves minor personal information or national security that stuff must be released. Now if you guys, because of what I've told you, decide to delete uh remove any of the information, you can be held under Minnesota statute 138.225 and that is a misdemeanor charge which can go up to $3,000 fine and up to one year in jail. Basically, I am coming for you guys because we are tired of this. You guys don't care what happens here. I sit and watch my fellow members up here crying, doing everything they can to get you guys to change your minds, and you guys don't care. So now you got to deal with me. [20:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next signed up is Annette Ralph. And there are no other names on our list. Is there any other list out in the hall? Name and address, please. [20:37] **Annette Ralph:** Annette Ralph, 5781 St. Louis River Road. For a while, I've been asking myself, at what price did we and our neighbors become expendable to you? At what point did you decide that our lives and our homes, properties didn't matter anymore? At what price did you decide it was okay to pollute the wetlands and our well-water? At what price did you decide that it was okay for all of us to endure this for the rest of our lives? At what price did you decide that it would be okay for this to happen? What was the price that they promised you to look the other way? Well, I found my answer on your website under the questions and answers and it says, "What about taxes?" Minnesota has a higher tax rate for commercial development than residential. Although the equation can be complex, commercial rates are usually twice as high or more than residential rates. Currently, this area generates about 80,000 per year in taxes with the new project likely to generate more than 10 times that in a commercial tax upon full construction. So, I don't think it's going to be 10 times that, but let's give you the benefit of the doubt. If you think it's going to be 10 times, so that's $800,000. And you divide that between all of our properties and our people and all the surrounding communities. That's just a drop in the bucket to this 50-500 or 550 Fortune company or whatever. I don't know why. We don't matter. But that's the reason the data center wanted to build it here because it's convenient for them. You didn't have to say, "Okay, that's okay. We'll do that." You could put it somewhere else where it's not going to bother anybody's homes and properties and lives and uproot everything. [23:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** 30 seconds. **Annette Ralph:** So, I think that everyone that votes for this should be forced to live within 350 ft of the data center and then for the next 30 years and then you decide and come back and tell us why you think it's so perfect and great. [23:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Okay. Does anybody else wish to speak to the council under general public discussion? Otherwise, we have public discussion on the items on the agenda. Step forward and state your name and address. [23:57] **Noel Donahue:** Thank you. Noel Donahue, 5540 Pinehill Road. Um, I wasn't sure if I was going to speak tonight. I've spoken before. You've heard me. I'm against the data center. But listening to everyone else, it kind of made me realize some more reasons why. And I'm not saying it because you're going to listen to me. I'm saying it so that I can say it so it makes me feel better. I don't live in Hermantown. I live right next door. I live in Midway Township. In Midway Township, we're good neighbors. I don't put things on my property that are going to make my neighbors hate me. I don't put things on my property that are going to bring down their property value. I don't have ruckus parties. They don't have ruckus parties. When one of us has trouble getting our car out of our yards, the other one comes over and helps. We make sure everybody knows what's going on. And when I first found out about this data center, I thought, my god, how could Midway Township have done this? How could they have signed off with you guys? Because they had to have known, right? My people had to know what was going on until I went and talked to them. And you know what? They didn't sign NDAs. They don't do that. They didn't know anything because nobody from Hermantown, nobody here thought to talk to them as this project butts up to the same property. I mean, you would do that to your neighbor, I would suspect, or I would hope. So, I don't understand why you would do this to everybody else. You've only talked about what it will do supposedly to help Hermantown. I don't believe those things, but it's going to supposedly, you said, do good things for you for people in Hermantown. But it's not doing anything good for anyone outside of Hermantown. It's going to give all the negatives to everyone who borders around it. And there wasn't—it doesn't—there wasn't like any thought given to us, given to the good neighbors that we try to be. And I don't understand why Hermantown and—and here's the thing. It's not Hermantown. That's the thing. Because the people here, they're good neighbors. They're the ones who care. But it's the five of you making these decisions, not listening to your constituents. And I don't understand it. I don't understand where you went from being a good neighbor and being the people who you want to be around to being... [26:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** 30 seconds. **Noel Donahue:** ...people who are disliked. I mean, if you go through with this, you're taking away people's lives. You're taking away their forever homes and their thoughts for their children and their grandchildren and what they came and what they love about Minnesota. I hope you change your mind. [26:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Anyone else under general public discussion? Please step forward and start with your name and address. [27:14] **Emma Rickman:** Emma Rickman, 5215 Chris Drive. Um people come up here with a wide range of emotions. Confused, mad, frustrated, angry, uh scared beyond recognition for this project. Uh a worry that they have never known. Uh, I see people coming up here with their hearts bared and to watch Kelsey Mack at the planning and zoning committee meeting come up and politely bear her soul and see her as a shell of a human being for all of the energy that she is putting forward into this. I just deeply identify with her. That is what this is doing to people in your community. Um, and it takes extreme vulnerability to stand up here and tell you how we feel. Uh, typically my strategy has been to come here with prepared remarks and read them out because this is a difficult exchange for me and I like to try to keep on track. Uh, and I'd like to feel like my three minutes of time amounts to something. Uh that the content that I create can help move the dial in the agenda. Uh today I am feeling very exhausted. I haven't really prepared any remarks um because I'm not really feeling like the city at large is open to receiving our message. Um please show me that I matter. Please show us that we matter. You were elected by the voters. To see all of you in favor for the reason, I can't imagine that that represents all of the voters. And to think that all of you could vote to move this data center forward certainly does not represent all of the voters. Um, it was also very deflating to learn that despite whatever planning and zoning might have to say about potential permits, uh, especially if they were to name them, it is within your right to disregard those recommendations. And that quite frankly feels very deflating. Um, I'm tired. I'm a mom, so I'm definitely tired. [29:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** 30 seconds. **Emma Rickman:** Uh, I'm up here and I'm fighting and this is taking away from my time and productivity. This is taking away from other people in the community's time and productivity. Um, I would like to have a more meaningful conversation with you, some form of town hall. Um, it would be nice to exchange words with you, to hear where your head is at, to know maybe some of us have you in our corner or that we are in your corner, that you represent us, you represent the people who voted for you. Um, thank you. [30:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone else wish to speak to the council under general public discussion? Please step forward and state your name and address. [30:41] **Bob Ker:** My name is Bob Ker. I live at 5757 St. Louis River Road. I'm worried about our democracy. NDAs—please answer yes or no, each one of you. Can you cite me anywhere in our democratic constitution where the usage of secrecy such as NDAs are part of or described as an acceptable principle of democracy? Do you get it? Yes or no? If you sit down, that's a no answer. Stand up to say yes. You don't have to say a word. Okay, everybody. I know you can't find anywhere, you can't cite anywhere in our constitution. Thank you. That's what I thought. I don't know if you uh picked up the Hermantown Star, the last publication November 26th. There was an article by Wade Petrich editorial called "Cost of Silence." He states transparency is not a bureaucratic hurdle. It is the foundation of our democracy. Do you agree with that? Lively group here. Thank you. Um, sorry I have to say that, but this is this is bearing down on all of us and it should be bearing down on you, too. You are losing our democracy right along with us. And I didn't fight for this country to lose our democracy or our voice. You all hear me? Silent. Thank you. That's what I expected. It's Chad Ronchetti. He states that—not quote but um the word just slips my mind but paraphrasing him—it is the foundation of our democracy. Civil discourse, that's what he claims is the foundation of our democracy. I would claim taxation without representation is tyranny. Taxation with representation is the cornerstone of our democracy. We pay tax. [33:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** 30 seconds, Bob. **Bob Ker:** What's that? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** 30. **Bob Ker:** 30. Okay. We pay taxes. We expect representation. Do you understand that? All right. My last comment is what's taken place in St. Louis County at the meetings there. One of the commissioners stated that if we wish to... Okay, sorry. Thank you. [33:52] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there anyone else? No one else wishes to speak. We'll end the general public discussion and move on to the consent agenda. Consent agenda contains resolution 2025-178. Resolution approving pay request number two for King Creek Trail segment 4 construction to Vite Construction Company in the amount of $345,937.75. Approval or correction of the November 17, 2025 city council continuation minutes and November 25th, 2025 city council work session minutes along with accounts payable approved general city warrants from November 16, 2025 through November 30th, 2025 in the amount of $1,518,272.92. Is there a motion? [34:59] **Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? **John Geissler:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next two are ordinances for a second reading. Ordinance 2025-20, an ordinance renewing a franchise granted to Mediacom Minnesota LLC to construct, operate, and maintain a cable television system in the city of Hermantown, setting forth conditions relating to the continuation of the franchise, providing for the regulation and use of cable television system, and prescribing penalties for the violation of its provisions. Do we have a motion relating to this? [35:53] **Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? **Brian LeBlanc:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder. [36:13] **John Mulder:** So this is a ordinance that would grant Mediacom a um franchise to operate in the city's right-of-way for their cable system. This is a non-exclusive ordinance or franchise. Um and we've had it—the last time it was updated was in 2015. It's good for 10 years. Um as part of that uh they do pay a franchise fee and that franchise fee is then used for—primarily in the past it's been audio-visual equipment uh for the city and for um uh video cameras in our parks. [36:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this ordinance? Is there any public input on ordinance 2025-20? This will be the last opportunity for public comment on the ordinance renewing a franchise agreement with Mediacom. Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is ordinance 2025-21, an ordinance granting to Minnesota Power a non-exclusive franchise to construct, operate, repair, and maintain in the city of Hermantown necessary poles, lines, fixtures, and appurtenances for the furnishing of electric energy to the city, its inhabitants, and others, and to use the public ways and public grounds of the city for such purposes, and prescribing certain terms and conditions thereof. Is there a motion relating to this? [37:59] **John Geissler:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson, Mr. Mulder. [38:15] **John Mulder:** Similar to the franchise that was uh approved for Mediacom. This is the same thing for Minnesota Power. It allows them to have their electrical distribution system within the city's right-of-way. Um, we've had this in place in excess of 20 years. It was last updated in 2015. It's a 10-year franchise agreement. [38:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this ordinance? Do we have any public input on ordinance 2025-21? Is there any public input on an ordinance granting to Minnesota Power a non-exclusive franchise within the city of Hermantown? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is an ordinance 2025-22, an ordinance imposing a franchise fee on Minnesota Power. Do we have a motion? [39:30] **Andy Hjelle:** Make a motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second? **Brian LeBlanc:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc, Mr. Mulder. [39:50] **John Mulder:** This ordinance is um again a repeat of what we've had in the past um back in 2015. In 2015, even prior to that, we've had a franchise fee um from Minnesota Power that they typically pass on to their customers, but then paid to the city. This money is used specifically for um paying for street lights and street light repairs, the power for street lights and also um any repairs and/or um improvements we made to traffic signals on city streets. [40:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Uh, I'd like to comment that until we instituted this franchise fee for a street light fund, there were no street lights on any of the intersections or roadways in Hermantown except for a very few. Uh, since then, we've set a policy of trying to have one street light at every intersection for safety reasons. And it's taken several years to get to the point where we are now. But this has allowed us to create a safer driving environment in the community. Um, any other comments from council? Is there any public input on this ordinance? Do we have any public input on ordinance 2025-22? Do we have any public input on an ordinance imposing a franchise fee on Minnesota Power? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is ordinance 2025-23. This is a first reading. We will not be voting on this ordinance this evening. The second reading is scheduled for our next meeting in two weeks. 2025-23, an ordinance of the city of Hermantown, Minnesota, amending chapter 18 of the Hermantown zoning code by adding a new section 1830 accessory dwelling units. Mr. Mulder, do we want Mr. Johnson to explain this? **John Mulder:** Yes, please. [41:53] **Eric Johnson:** Great. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. Uh kind of give a brief synopsis of um this ADU ordinance here. Uh a little background first is um the city staff has been discussing both the city council and primarily with uh planning and zoning commission the addition of accessory dwelling units to the residential zone throughout the city. So as part of that process, city staff looked at a number of different communities around the state. How do they handle ADUs? Um looked at ones that allowed those and and tried to glean some information from that. So, in the writing of the city's ordinance, um drawing on some information that other communities have used as well as discussions once again from the planning and zoning commission. So, to highlight, we're looking at a minimum size of these ADU structures at 350 ft, a maximum size of 1,000 square ft. Uh the prime—the owner of the property must reside somewhere on that premises whether they're in the primary home or whether in that ADU structure. Water and sewer connections can come from either the primary structure and/or the street they can make individual connections that way. Uh if there's going to be a well and septic site associated with this they would have to go through the St. Louis County process to verify that the site can actually um support an additional ADU unit and at that point that information is passed on to the city's building official who handles permits at that point. There'd be a requirement of one additional parking space for the ADU. This could be part of a detached garage or its own separate structure. Uh the maximum height as well as setbacks mirror that uh underlying zoning district associated with the residence. Uh the height is 35 ft. Uh setbacks are generally 50 feet front yard, 40 in the rear, and then uh 10 to 15 feet in the side yard. Once again, depending on upon the zoning district, they're going to be allowed in all residential zone districts. And then they're only associated with single family homes. We would not permit an ADU on a twin home site that way. And then lastly, this would be through an administrative review. An approval only, similar to like we do at the fence permits. Uh an application would come in. Uh city staff would notify the adjoining properties of the ADU application and be able to uh solicit any comments or questions at that point. [44:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any comments or questions from council? Okay, this is the first reading, but we do have public comment available. Is there anyone that wishes to comment on the first reading of this ordinance? Does anyone wish to comment on the first reading of ordinance 2025-23? Is there any public comment on the adding a new section to Hermantown zoning code section 1830 accessory dwelling units? Hearing none, we will move on to resolutions. Resolution 2025-179, resolution authorizing the publication of a summary of an ordinance renewing the franchise granted to Mediacom LLC. Is there a motion? [45:29] **Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Do we have a second? **John Geissler:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler to approve. Um do we—Mr. Mulder? [45:41] **John Mulder:** Just a brief explanation. Um this resolution um authorizes the publication from a summary of that ordinance. The ordinance is several pages long. Um so we just print a summary of that. The full ordinance is available on our website and at city hall for inspection. [45:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any comment by council? Is there any public comment on this resolution? Do we have any public comment on resolution 2025-179? Any public comment on the publication of a summary of an ordinance renewing a franchise granted to Mediacom Minnesota LLC? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is another summary resolution. Resolution 2025-180. Resolution authorizing the publication of a summary of an ordinance granting to Minnesota Power Franchise. Um, do we have a motion? [46:54] **Joe Peterson:** Make a motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? **Andy Hjelle:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Uh Mr. Mulder. [47:05] **John Mulder:** Again, just like uh the previous resolution, this is just a resolution for the publication of a summary of the Minnesota Power franchise agreement. Um again, it's a long uh document. So, we just print a summary. That full document is available at city hall and online. [47:23] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions by council? Any public comment on this resolution? Any public comment on resolution 2025-180? Any public comment on the resolution authorizing the publication of a summary of an ordinance granting a franchise agreement to Minnesota Power. Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-181, resolution adopting assessment roll for delinquent utility charges for 2025. Is there a motion? [48:18] **John Geissler:** Motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [48:33] **John Mulder:** This is an annual resolution that we have every year for people that do not pay um their utility accounts where then we then um put an assessment on their property taxes for that delinquent amount. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-181? Is there any public input on the resolution adopting an assessment roll for delinquent utility charges for 2025? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-182, resolution approving application of assessment roll number 541A55 for deferral of assessment against the property for construction of road improvement district number 541 and 542 hardship deferral. Is there a motion? [49:46] **Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? **Andy Hjelle:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder. [49:57] **John Mulder:** The city has a deferral process for people um that are assessed on road projects if they meet certain conditions. Uh this uh particular individual applied for that deferral, met those conditions, and we're recommending that you provide the deferral for her. [50:09] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-182? Any public input on the approval of the application for deferral for a property in the construction improvement district number 541 and 542 a hardship deferral. Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-183, resolution authorizing the city of Hermantown to participate in a St. Louis County maintenance program. And we have found out for sure that it involves striping. Is there a motion? [51:17] **John Geissler:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. [51:24] **John Mulder:** So this would be a cooperative agreement from the county as opposed to going out for a separate bid on ourselves. We just piggyback on the county's um contract for uh striping of its roads. So um that we would participate in their contract for certain roads in Hermantown and that would give us the same pricing as St. Louis County. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Yes. Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Any public input on this resolution? Do you have any public input on resolution 2025-183? Is there any public input on the resolution authorizing the city of Hermantown to participate in the St. Louis County maintenance program? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-184. Resolution authorizing a contract for managed IT services with Computer Integration Technologies Incorporated, CIT. Do we have a motion relating to this? [52:46] **Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson, Mr. Mulder. [53:06] **John Mulder:** So, we've had contracted services for our um kind of our managed IT services for a number of years. Um we we decided to go out for proposals this year. Um and we received four proposals. Um Computer Integration Technologies was the low proposal. Um good recommendations from other cities both in terms of doing the city work but also um particularly as it relates to some of the police department work. So we're recommending uh this change in a contract. [53:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Are there any questions from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-184? Any public input on the resolution authorizing a contract for managed IT services? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-185 resolution approving preliminary and final planned unit development with JLG Enterprises of Hermantown LLP for the Payton Acres planned unit development. Is there a motion? [54:30] **Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? **John Geissler:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Uh should we have Mr. Johnson address this? **John Mulder:** Yes, please. [54:43] **Eric Johnson:** Great. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. Uh what's before us this evening, it's three lots within the Payton Acres phase 4 development. Uh that phase 4 is going to have 14 lots in it. And as part of that, three of these lots and the interior portion of that are proposed to function as a PUD. That would allow the applicant, which is the um JLG Enterprises, to potentially construct up to three two-family homes for a total of six units total. Uh what in the process of developing this property the applicants have received multiple calls from people looking to purchase properties in some cases getting adjoining properties so they could have family members living close by. So, as this project has continued to develop, uh they're looking to provide an additional different type of housing style within this development that could uh provide that opportunity for people. So, what that would be is the ability to construct or potentially construct three twin homes associated on three lots within that development. Uh these these homes would utilize that same sidewalk system associated with it. And once again, it provides another housing style that's not currently within this development. Uh the project would also utilize existing roadway system, utilities, etc. and have the same building setbacks associated with the other single family homes within that development. [56:08] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions from council? **John Geissler:** Uh Mr. Mayor, I have a question. Um if they would decide to do uh only one of the three uh and it doesn't work out for them and then at some other point say well we want to put these back to single family uh residences or single family lots do they have to—can they just do that or do they have to go through the process to undo a PUD? **Eric Johnson:** What we've done in the past is uh we have had that scenario happen before and what uh at that point we suggested or at least the applicant never went through with it would be the modification of the PUD to bring it back into it that way. **John Geissler:** Okay. Thank you. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-185? Any public input on the approval of the resolution for preliminary and final planned unit development with JLG Enterprises or Payton Acres. Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-186, resolution approving preliminary and final plat of Payton Acres phase 4 and imposing conditions on that final plat. Is there a motion? [57:50] **Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second? **John Geissler:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder, should we have Mr. Johnson go over this again? **John Mulder:** Yes, please. [58:11] **Eric Johnson:** Great. Thank you again. Uh this is the last phase of the Payton Acres development. It consists of 14 lots. Uh it's essentially the extension of Payton Drive that will continue to um intersect into the Oakridge development just on to the south of that. It also includes a small cul-de-sac located up in the northeast corner that would uh have four additional lots up there. So um similar to the other phases in this development um these are all half-acre minimum lots utilizing that uh roadway system and utilities that have been constructed to date. There will continue to be an interior sidewalk system which will once again uh finalize that link throughout the Payton Acres development. Uh the storm water pond which was constructed as a previous phase will accommodate all the storm water associated with this phase. So, as I had mentioned, this is similar to the previous four phases that we'd had received. [58:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-186? Is there any public input on the approval of the preliminary and final plat of Payton Acres phase 4? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is resolution 2025-187, resolution approving a special use permit for grading and filling within a natural shoreland overlay area. Do we have a motion regarding this? [59:58] **Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? **Andy Hjelle:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. And I am told we will have two members abstaining this evening. Mr. Mulder. Should we have Mr. Johnson go over this? **John Mulder:** Yes, please. [1:00:14] **Eric Johnson:** Great. Thank you again, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. So, this is a 4.1-acre parcel. It's located in the northeast quadrant of Westberg Road and Maple Grove Road. Um, Keene Creek uh exists on the south side of Maple Grove Road and associated with Keene Creek is a natural shoreland area. So, that shoreland area extends over Maple Grove Road and about 200 plus or minus feet into this property per se. So the uh applicant is looking to construct a 15,000 square foot office-based building along with a 43-vehicle parking lot. None of that work is happening in the shoreland district. What is happening is actually the construction of a portion of that detention pond associated with this development as well as on-site grading for it. This would be approximately 14,000 square feet of work within that shoreland area. Uh this is a similar process that we've gone through on other residential projects and this is one of the um uh one of the few that actually falls within the commercially zoned areas within the city. [1:01:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any comments from council questions? **John Geissler:** Just as mentioned, uh I'll be abstaining. **Andy Hjelle:** I'll be abstaining as well. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2025-187? Is there any public input on the resolution approving a special use permit for grading and filling within a natural shoreland overlay area? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Next is our final resolution. Resolution 2025-188, resolution naming softball field at Rose Tom Bang Field. Do we have a motion? [1:02:17] **John Geissler:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Do we have a second? **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. Should we have Mr. Wicklund? **John Mulder:** Yes, that'll fill us in on this. [1:02:46] **Joe Wicklund:** Thank you, Mayor and Council. We uh worked through a process that was started originally with a community effort out of the softball community to commemorate Tom Bang whose uh legendary commitment to uh Hermantown through both his teaching efforts and his uh building of the softball program uh is really unparalleled. Uh we went through a uh a really thoughtful process with the park board because uh it's been a long time since we've done the naming of things and we do have some new opportunities in our community where we do have corporate naming pieces that are helping to defray the cost but also still want to have those commemorative naming pieces. Uh and so they went through that thoughtful process and recommended the naming of uh one of the fields over at Rose. [1:03:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? And I am told 23 state tournament appearances and three state softball championships, a little over 700 victories. Thank you. Is there any public input on this resolution? Do we have any public input on resolution 2025-188? Is there any public input on the resolution to name a softball field at Rose Tom Bang Field? Roll call, please. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc. **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson. **Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler. **John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle. **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. Uh, next a motion to recess. [1:04:06] **Brian LeBlanc:** Recess. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? **Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. All in favor say aye. **Councilors:** Aye. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Opposed? Same sign. [Meeting adjourns]