Based on the context provided for the City of Hermantown, here is the transcribed town hall meeting with the correct speaker identifications. **Note on Identifications:** * **Councilor Andy Hjelle** is transcribed as "Jelly." * **Councilor Brian LeBlanc** is transcribed as "Leah," "Lah," or "the block." * **Councilor John Geissler** is transcribed as "Gisler" or "Gerler." * **Councilor Joe Peterson** is referred to in the transcript as "Jones" (This may be a transcription error or a recent seat change, but based on your list, this speaker is Joe Peterson). * **David B.** is the representative from Northland Consulting Engineers. *** [0:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** You 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. [0:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Roll call please. [0:12] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Jones [Peterson]? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Here. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Here. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Here. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Here. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Here. [0:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Announcements. Do any counselors have announcements they'd like to make this evening? [0:30] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Congrats to the Mirage. Yep, 8 o'clock tomorrow night. Got the night cap. [0:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Um, public hearing. We have no public hearing. Mr. Mulder, correspondence? [0:45] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Correspondence is simply a draft of the funding agreement with the ice arena between the city and various uh fundraising entities um to fund that gap for the ice. At some point in time we'll present that to you for hopefully for approval once we work out those details. [1:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Uh, could you give us a short synopsis of the presentations that were made at pre-agenda? [1:12] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Um, so we started by swearing in three new officers in the police department. Um, was a good event, got that those employees to be public. Um, Kevin gave a summary report of financials. Um, Jeff Miller from HGI um presented some initial findings and kind of recommendations on the comprehensive plan and just kind of where we're at and what we were learning in the project. And then Chief Crace uh provided an annual report for the Hermantown Police Department for 2022. [1:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. And this is a time for open public discussion about items not on the agenda. If anyone wishes to address the Council, we ask that you limit your time to three minutes per person either online or in chambers. Please uh identify yourself with name and address. If you're in chambers, you can step forward and use a microphone. [2:11] **Mel Henrich (Public Speaker):** Glad to see you all, Councilors and Mayor. I am—my name is Mel Henrich. I'm from Duluth and uh I'm a District Captain for a volunteer group that's nationwide. We are doing the Convention of the States, Article Five of the U.S. Constitution. It's a hard route; it takes 34 states to convene a convention. Right now there's 19 states on board. A lot of people forget about the civic part of it... [Speaker continues discussing Constitutional amendments and federal overreach]. [7:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Sir... Sir, we normally have a three-minute limit on this and you're five minutes in. If you could take another couple of minutes and wrap it up within another two minutes, I'd appreciate it. You're free to submit anything to the City Clerk you'd like in writing, but uh we have to get on with the business of the city this evening. [8:25] **Mel Henrich:** I just—we just basically want the resolution, just trying to remind you of that. That's what we're trying to do. Thank you very much for giving your time and may you have all a good day. [8:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Thank you. Is there any other public input this evening? If so, please state your name and address for the record. I was asking, is there anyone online, Joe? [8:55] **Asst. City Administrator Joe Wicklund:** So if anyone online would like to have input, please start with your name and address. Sir, there are online people attending the meeting also. Okay. Okay. [9:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay, but thank you for your input. Any last opportunity for public discussion from anyone in the chambers or online? Hearing none, we will move on to motions. Motion to appoint the following for a three-year term to the Planning and Zoning Commission: Matthew Forier. Do we have a motion? [9:38] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion. [9:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [9:42] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. [9:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Um, Mr. Mulder, we have a—we have two vacancies. Um, Mr. Forier applied. Um, I understand Mr. Geissler interviewed him and uh so we have an opening that we can fill? [9:59] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah, I apologize for not making that meeting, I was a little busy at the time. Um, any other questions or comments from Council? [10:10] **Councilor John Geissler:** Yeah, I spoke with Matt and he's actually a neighbor of mine, lives down the street from me. I had never met him until I talked to him about this position and I think he'd be a good add to the uh—bring a good add to the commission. So, looking forward to that. And we need one more. [10:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Anything else from Council? Is there any public input on this motion? Any public input on the motion to appoint Matthew Forier to the Planning and Zoning Commission? Any public input on the Planning and Zoning Commission appointment? Roll call please. [10:45] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [11:05] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve or deny the following tobacco license application effective February 21st, 2024 through December 31st, 2024, contingent upon complete application being received, successful background checks, and license fees being paid in full: CAPL Retail LLC, DBA Joe's Quickmart at 4221 Haines Road. Is there a motion to approve? [11:30] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Motion to approve. [11:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [11:35] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [11:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder? [11:39] **City Administrator John Mulder:** This is just a change in ownership of the Minit Mart on Haines Road. [11:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Hearing none, is there any public input on this motion? Any public input on the tobacco license application in front of the Council? Is there any public input on this motion? Roll call please. [12:18] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [12:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve or deny the following THC license application effective February 21st, 2024 through December 31st, 2024, contingent upon complete application being received, successful background checks, and license fees being paid in full: CAPL Retail LLC, doing business as Joe's Quickmart, 4221 Haines Road. Do we have a motion? [12:55] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [12:57] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [12:59] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [13:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Uh, this is in addition to the previous license we have approved and will go along with the next one under consideration. Is there any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public opinion? Any public input on this motion? Any public input on the motion to approve a THC license application? Roll call please. [13:30] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [13:49] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion to approve or deny the following 3.2 off-sale liquor license application effective February 21st, 2024 through June 30th, 2024, contingent upon complete application being received, successful background checks, and license fees being paid to CAPL Retail LLC, doing business as Joe's Quickmart, 4221 Haines Road. Do we have a motion regarding this? [14:15] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Move to approve. [14:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? [14:20] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [14:22] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. This goes with the previous two approvals. Is there any—are there any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public opinion or input on this? Any public input on this motion? Any public input on the motion for a 3.2 off-sale liquor license? Roll call please. [14:37] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [14:55] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next we have the Consent Agenda: minutes approval or correction of the February 5th, 2024 City Council continuation minutes and accounts payable. Approved General City warrants from February 1st, 2024 through February 15th, 2024 in the amount of $308,861.50. Is there a motion to approve? [15:15] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [15:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [15:19] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. [15:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Roll call please. [15:23] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [15:25] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next, resolutions. Resolution 2024-23: Resolution approving final plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bids for the improvement to Fichtner Park. Is there a motion? [15:40] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Motion to approve. [15:42] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Is there a second? [15:44] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [15:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder, what's being planned and we anticipate that we would award— [15:55] **City Administrator John Mulder:** The—looks like Mr. B's ready to go. [15:57] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** Yeah, thank you Mayor and Council. So, for you, you have the bidding documents and plans for the improvements to Fichtner Park. A quick overview of that is we're going to reconstruct Field 1 and put an artificial turf surface, reconstruct Field 2 with grass, and new lights for each of those fields. Um, we put a new pavilion in the center that has concessions, bathrooms, and storage, and then a bleacher system on the front side of that, and um a place—a second story to that building for the announcing of the game. We have a pavilion that overlooks the new playground. Um, we have some new batting cages that will be part of this, a new skate park, new basketball court over by just north of the Old City Hall, and some new trails that connect all these facilities. Um, we have a couple alternatives to the bid: one would be the paving the old City Hall to on the east side—the gravel piece—and then um the other alternate is a concrete slab and garage building that supports the amenities at the field. And I have a full-size set of plans on the front table there. Um, and then we're asking for approval of this to advertise this on Thursday this week, four consecutive Thursdays, and then we open up bids. The other thing I'd like to add is Eric and I worked with Gunner on procuring some of the bigger items through Sourcewell, and those items include but are not limited to the playground equipment, the bleacher system, and the turf for Field 1. Any questions? [18:12] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Questions? [18:17] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Uh, yeah, just wanted to make sure that the Youth Baseball Association, High School baseball, softball, everybody's seen these plans and everybody's okay with it? [18:25] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** Yes, over and over, and everyone said yeah. [18:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Anything else from Council? [18:32] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Had a couple uh questions. I had asked David—in the packet was just planning. I had asked David about the buildings and he showed me the plans and they were pretty much as presented before. I think they're going to look nice on the part of the design. Um, early on there was some—I had a couple of people talk to me about it, and I brought it up at the council meetings, but striping of the main turf fields: will it just be striped only for baseball or is there going to be soccer stripes as well? [19:00] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** What's in the plan right now is baseball-only striping. [19:05] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** I'm going to report back to the people that have been talking to me and let them know that. So if there's change to that, let me know. Um, and then I like the idea of the City purchasing those items to save from tax money. Um, they are then installed by that contractor. My only concern would be is like if the bleachers were damaged or warrantied or something, you know sometimes you get the "I'm not responsible because you provided it." Is there any clause in there that the contractor is going to take this and—? [19:40] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** I will have to revisit that section of the specifications to see how that works. [19:50] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** And then the last thing was—asked the question about the bleachers, about if they're aluminum or composite deck or whatever. Maybe you could just follow up on that? Okay. I think maybe everybody would want to know, but I would like to know. [20:05] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** And the bleachers are aluminum... they're kind of a bolt together but they stay there permanently, correct. [20:15] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Correct. And what was the bid date? [20:20] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** Um, let me look on the calendar. [Pause] March 21st. [20:36] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Okay, those are all my questions and thoughts. Thank you. [20:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any—sorry, go ahead. [20:42] **Councilor John Geissler:** Does youth baseball or is the City have someone trying to sell say the pavilion and the grandstands and the scoreboards and the playground somewhere to what the arena legacy fund is doing for the [arena]? [20:55] **Asst. City Administrator Joe Wicklund:** So the City has acquired two uh yet to be made public public donors who have helped make this process possible. And then there's been uh guidance to that group on how they can fund should they want to. [21:10] **Councilor John Geissler:** And I guess follow-up question kind of on the same vein, Dave: do we feel like with the agreements we have that aren't public yet and the sales tax dollars, can we realistically get this done? [21:22] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** Yes, that's our—that's our intent. Our estimate right now, engineer's estimate, is at just over $5 million. [21:30] **Asst. City Administrator Joe Wicklund:** One thing I'd like to add too is that we are going to close the park in its entirety for this season. So we have a plan to you know um close off each entrance, both vehicle and pedestrian, to the park. [21:45] **Councilor John Geissler:** Where is the baseball and Little League going to be played, you know? [21:50] **Asst. City Administrator Joe Wicklund:** Uh, they'll attempt to do some minimal work to King Creek Park to be able to make that uh playable for some of the surface. Otherwise, they'll spend uh most of the season on the road. Uh, obviously in the spring this is a bit of a unique year, but that hasn't been a problem for the Hermantown team. Part of the reason that we're making these changes is they've played minimal home games in the last few years and they're making some accommodations down at Wade Stadium in Duluth and then uh the other parks, some of the other levels, have done stuff like join the Quad Cities League or rejoin for a year so they can play all their games locally but not in Hermantown. [22:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Anything else from Council? Uh, Mr. B, I had a question about the parking lot that is an alternate to be paved: is that the east side of the Old City Hall and tool house? [22:56] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** That is correct. All of the gravel between say the pavilion and the Maple Grove Road. [23:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Correct. Anybody aware of the huge spring and frost boils that are in there? [23:10] **David B. (Northland Consulting Engineers):** In discussion with Public Works and administration, direction is we have money, we were seeking an alternate to pave it only, so we're only shaping the Class 5. If we get in, if we accept that alternate, and there's subgrade issues, then we'll have to evaluate that when we get there. [23:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** I'm just aware of years of chasing frost boils through those parking lots uh when that was an active city tool house. Okay, dump trucks getting stuck in their own driveway. Okay, thank you for that, it wasn't a good thing. Thank you. Any public input on this? Any public input either in chambers or online? Please state your name and address. Last opportunity for public input for Resolution 2024-23. Roll call please. [24:10] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [24:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next resolution 2024-24. Resolution approving the 2024 Compensation Plan. Do we have a motion? [24:30] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [24:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [Seconded]. Mr. Mulder? [24:35] **City Administrator John Mulder:** We have gone through the compensation study over the last about six months. Um, in that process, we reviewed each position using um a program that compares each position so that we're consistent and equitable and we can defend it in terms of local government pay efforts. Um, we also did market uh research to say on what the market is paying. The consultant was recommending this pay grid um for 2024. Um, at this point, we're not um implementing it um—we will have an implementation schedule for each of the various employee groups including the three unions and the management um later on. The resolution does reclassify three positions and put them on this grid. [25:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Councilors? [25:40] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Yeah, I'm reading through this quickly here. So we're just approving the grid, not either of the plans that have been discussed in the past? Simply approving the grid here tonight? [25:50] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Okay. And then every um implementation plan will come back to you as a separate okay and where they get placed on... and that implementation plan will say "this position is in Grade M and this person will be placed on Step 4," but that's not this resolution. That's not here. [26:15] **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Okay, all you're doing is kind of the—yeah, put—we're pretty much just accepting the results of the wage study. [26:25] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** I just had one—one more question for John. Can you remind me of the nine steps versus what did we have before? [26:35] **City Administrator John Mulder:** We had eight steps before and the eight steps vary by union and management as to when those steps were made. The implementation plan we'll talk about—what we're going to propose is that these steps are um annual increases. You start at 1, after each year you go up, and try to have it uniform for all. [27:00] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Thank you. [27:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions or comments? Is there any public input on Resolution 2024-24? Any public input on the resolution approving the Compensation Plan? Any public input on the resolution in front of the Council? Roll call please. [27:25] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [27:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next, Resolution 2024-25: Resolution approving reclassification of certain positions and placing them on the newly adopted 2024 Compensation Plan. Do we have a motion? [27:45] **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [27:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [27:50] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Second. [27:52] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [27:55] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Now that you've approved the compensation grid, we're going to place three positions. All of these positions um have been a change in responsibility over the last uh year or so, and so um we've reclassified them and put them on the—conversations, we've asked these employees to additional duties and responsibilities so we want to make sure that we're paying them appropriately. The first one is the Chief of Police to the Director of Public Safety, um then the Director of Communication and Engagement to the Assistant City Administrator, and then we have the Assistant Finance Director. We're placing all of them on the grid um as indicated in the resolution. [28:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Are there any questions from Council on this? No. Any uh any public input on this resolution? Any public input on Resolution 2024-25? Any public input on the reclassification of certain positions and placing them on the newly adopted 2024 Compensation Plan? Roll call please. [29:15] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Hjelle? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor LeBlanc? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Councilor Geissler? **Councilor John Geissler:** Aye. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [29:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And we have no closed session this evening, Mr. Mulder? [29:35] **City Administrator John Mulder:** That's right. [29:36] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** So a motion to recess? Do we have a motion? [29:40] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** So moved. [29:41] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle. Any second? [29:43] **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Second. [29:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Mr. Peterson. All in favor say aye. **Councilors:** Aye.