This transcript features the Moose Lake City Council meeting. Based on the context provided, here is the attributed transcript. Note: The transcript occasionally refers to "Mayor Shaw"; however, as the provided context identifies **Jim Michalski** as the Mayor, his name is used for the presiding officer. **Officer Chad** appears to be the Interim Chief or Lead Officer present, as Sheriff **Kelly Lake** is mentioned as the lead for the subcontracting proposal. *** **[0:03] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Item is Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. **[0:28] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Amen. I'd like to welcome everyone here, thank you for coming. Next item is approval of the agenda. Do we have any changes or additions, subtractions to the agenda? **[0:40] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Mayor, just as long as the city council all got the updated agenda with letter N added to new business, and it should be on all the copies that were provided tonight as well. **[0:55] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Have a second? All in favor say aye. Opposed? Motion carried. The next item is the consent agenda. 2A, the minutes. Number one, the regular city council meeting for October 11th, 2023, and number two, the working city council meeting October 25th, 2023. Any discussion or questions on the minutes? **[1:37] Mayor Jim Michalski:** I have a second? **[1:38] Council Member Douglas Juntunen:** I'll second. **[1:40] Mayor Jim Michalski:** All in favor say aye. Opposed? Motion carried. Moving on to 2B, Financial reports. Number one is the city claims payable for October 2023. Number two, the city financial statements for October 2023. And number three, the liquor store profit loss statement for October 2023. Questions, discussion? And is there a motion? Do I have a second? **[2:23] Council Member Walter Lower III:** Second. **[2:25] Mayor Jim Michalski:** All in favor say aye. Opposed? Motion carried. We move on to number three, this is public comment. This time is reserved for comments from the public on matters not listed on the agenda. Please keep your comments to three minutes. Please come up to the podium. Yeah, could you state your name please? **[2:40] Mel Henrich:** Mel Henrich. I'm with the nonprofit organization Nationwide. We're a grassroots organization for a commission of states... [Continues through 7:49 regarding the Convention of States resolution]. **[7:55] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Thank you, I appreciate your coming. Thank you. Any questions? Anybody? We’ve got all your information. You're more than welcome to stay. All right, moving on to departmental reports. 4A, Police Department. This is a report for October 2023. Thank you. **[8:45] Officer Chad:** Evening counselors, Administrator Owens. So I just noticed that on the top line here I put 243 calls of service, that was last month. So we actually had 253 calls for service in October... [Continues with crime stats and concerns about 24-hour coverage]. That is my report. **[10:45] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Very good, appreciate it. Thank you. Council, any questions? Appreciate it, thank you very much. Thank you. City Superintendent Phil Entner, report for October 2023. **[11:00] Phil Entner (City Superintendent):** Mr. Mayor, members of council, Administrator Owens. Busy month, we're kind of switching gears here trying to get into snow removal... [Continues regarding water, sewer, and arena operations]. That's all I have for now unless there are questions. **[12:40] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Thank you, Phil. Do we have a hard copy? Mine is shutting down, things happen. Hang on a minute. Thank you, Paula. Yes, next is Municipal Liquor Store Department report for October 2023. **[13:08] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Yes, members of the Council, Mayor, it's been a great couple of last days. We had Brenda Bernic from the MMBA down there with us, really great to go through processes and brainstorm with her... [Continues regarding inventory and POS systems]. **[14:15] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Any other big changes? Okay, appreciate it. Thank you very much. Moving on to Technology and Library Department IT report. **[14:40] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Yeah, so Library and Technology together there. I had to go down a few times now to fix their printer. So it's my recommendation that we get a new one for them... [Continues regarding Wi-Fi and the city camera server proposal]. **[16:10] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Are you looking for motion tonight or is that information? **[16:15] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** It's just more information for you guys to make an informed decision. **[16:25] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Does that depend on the number of cameras? Because I see us going down to a minimum use of cameras in key positions. To me, that becomes a budget item for us to really look at... I think we should do that between now and next month when we do the final budget. **[18:05] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** This quote is for 30. **[18:32] Officer Chad:** At this point, our computers can't even run them. That was one of the big issues at the PD. The programs don't work, they're useless. **[19:18] Mayor Jim Michalski:** It's all useless right now. That's why I'm bringing this up. I don't want to pass a budget to replace 30 cameras next month. **[19:50] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** It's not currently in the budget, so we would need to add it in if we're going to do it. **[20:34] Council Member Kris Huso:** I get confused. In the police report, we're talking about how people know we're not having 24-hour coverage, and then we're talking at an open meeting about where we're going to place cameras. I struggle with it because it's like we're just broadcasting where we're putting cameras. **[21:10] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Well, I guess next month we have to pass a budget. If we're going to do 30 cameras, you're talking a lot of money. I'm asking for a consensus to look at it and bring the information forward. Doug? **[22:08] Council Member Douglas Juntunen:** I would say we should table it. **[22:45] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Okay, it's tabled. No, I voted yes to look at it. Let's look at it, bring the information forward. Thank you. Engineering monthly report. **[23:05] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** The meeting minutes for the monthly engineering meeting are in the packet. We did have Counselor Juntunen attend the meeting this month, which was excellent... [Continues regarding Highway 73 trail and sewer lining projects]. **[25:10] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Thank you. 4F, Chamber of Commerce updates. **[25:18] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** The administrative team was engaged in other meetings today, so we did not attend. We recommend checking their website for upcoming events. **[25:55] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Moving on to number five, previously discussed business. We have none. **[26:00] Officer Chad:** Mr. Mayor, there was one item I did want to bring forward really quick. I spoke with Laura Setter from the League of Minnesota Cities regarding a wellness program for law enforcement... [Continues regarding PTSD funding requirements]. **[27:30] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Good news. We need to hear how that would go and get that in place by the end of the year. Thank you. Number six, new business. 6A, 2024 tobacco license renewals. **[27:45] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** In the packet you'll see the establishments who have applied. No new additions. Looking for approval. **[28:40] Council Member Lou Ohly:** I'll make a motion to approve. **[28:45] Council Member Kris Huso:** Second. **[29:05] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Motion carried. 6B, 2024 liquor license renewals. **[29:11] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** All establishments have submitted required fees and insurance. No new additions. **[29:35] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Chief, any problems? **[29:38] Officer Chad:** Not since I've taken over in August. **[29:50] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Do I have a motion? All in favor say aye. Opposed? Carried. 6C, Moose Lake City Park special event application and fees. **[30:12] Taylor Hansberry (Deputy Clerk):** Evening Council, Mayor, and Administrator Owens. It was decided that events renting our city park should go through the same procedures as the arena. We are proposing a $250 fee... [Continues regarding the flea market permit and vendor fees]. **[33:10] Council Member Kris Huso:** So you're saying to rent the little pavilion is going to be 250? **[33:17] Taylor Hansberry (Deputy Clerk):** No, that remains $50 a day. But if you want to use the entirety of the park, like Art in the Park does, that would be the $250 fee. **[35:45] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Do I have a motion on number 6C? **[35:55] Council Member Douglas Juntunen:** I'll make that motion. **[36:00] Council Member Walter Lower III:** Second. **[36:40] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Motion carried. 6D, Riverside Arena open skate procedures and fees. **[36:42] Taylor Hansberry (Deputy Clerk):** We have proposed an increase in daily admission to $3, and a $25 season pass. We are also requiring helmets on the ice and children under 12 must have a parent with them. **[39:15] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Motion carried. 6E, Moose Lake residential chicken permit application and fee. **[39:47] Taylor Hansberry (Deputy Clerk):** With the passing of our chicken ordinance, we have a one-time $100 application and fee. **[41:10] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Motion carried. 6F, City of Moose Lake Campground 2024 fees. **[41:29] Phil Entner (City Superintendent):** The highlighted areas are where we would like to increase fees. Daily is going up $5, seasonal up $300. This is after market research. **[42:15] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Motion carried. 6G, Sewer Department lift station service checks. **[42:30] Phil Entner (City Superintendent):** You're going to find it on page 85. Every one of our lift stations has issues. The main station is critical. Replacing those pumps is about $300,000. **[44:30] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** It would be a cost-sharing option across all customers. We need to have that meeting as soon as possible. **[50:02] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Thank you. 6H, recycling center fee schedule. **[50:15] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** We are relocating the recycling shed to the area where the brush pile is. We’re looking at establishing a fee schedule for non-residents. **[53:45] Phil Entner (City Superintendent):** That brush pile is huge. We end up spending a lot of labor and equipment repairs because it's full of nails and tires are $2,500 a piece. **[1:01:42] Council Member Kris Huso:** Obviously, residents only. If there's people that have rentals in town, they should be considered residents. **[1:02:15] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Consensus is residents for free and non-residents for a fee. **[1:06:40] Mayor Jim Michalski:** 6I, ISD 97 Memorandum of Understanding. **[1:06:45] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** This is for the new scoreboard at the arena. The school district is agreeing to up their lease fee to contribute to the project. **[1:08:15] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Motion carried. 6J, 2024 preliminary budget presentation. **[1:08:35] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Water rate discussion. We looked at different metrics. For a 4,000-gallon user, it would be a $6.01 increase per month. We are looking for consensus on a 14% increase to break even. **[1:14:28] Mayor Jim Michalski:** I would like to see a $10,000 contribution from the liquor store fund to these funds every year. That’s what a municipal store is for. **[1:15:15] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** I align with that mindset. The auditors suggest we wait to see a full year of revenue first, but we can plan for that in January. **[1:21:25] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Moving to the sewer fund. The table is indicative of a $15 service charge and a 10% rate increase. Without the service charge, the rate increase would have to be 52%. **[1:28:45] Mayor Jim Michalski:** I like the $15 service charge and 10% rate increase. Do I have consensus? Yes. **[1:32:43] Mayor Jim Michalski:** 6K, PD subcontracting discussion. **[1:33:00] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** LELS (the union) gave the city the green light to engage with Carlton County for a subcontracting scenario. Carlton County proposed four dedicated deputies and a 0.5 clerical staff for $574,000. **[1:38:55] Council Member Walter Lower III:** I have an issue with the county telling the taxpayers of Moose Lake what they can and can't afford. **[1:39:55] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Option C for our own department is $687,000 for three officers. The county is $574,000 for four. We have to look at the math. **[1:41:45] Officer Chad:** Nobody wants to do this job anymore. I don't see how the county could even find four people to send down here. I’d hate to see the city have no coverage while waiting for the county to hire. **[1:47:15] Officer Shadow R:** I work at the PD. Are we looking at contracting any other department? Are we looking at cutting services anywhere else other than on the backs of us? **[1:48:15] Mayor Jim Michalski:** We have to look at every option for the citizens of Moose Lake. Our house payment—the PD budget—is going from $645,000 to $922,000. That leaves us $78 left a month for every other service. We have to do our due diligence. **[1:55:59] Darren (Former Chief):** You're not going to get the same level of 24-hour coverage for that much less. You owe them an honest answer. **[1:57:32] Council Member Douglas Juntunen:** This is the first time since I've been on the board that property tax has actually covered the PD budget. We are a small town with a 29% tax base. Our infrastructure needs over $100 million. We are in a very difficult situation. **[2:02:56] Mayor Jim Michalski:** 6K, Resolution 23-11-01 for the LRRIP Grant. **[2:03:00] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** This would cover 50% of the next road project, reconstruction of First Street. **[2:05:05] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Motion carried. 6L, Resolution 23-11-02 regarding election funding. **[2:05:40] Ellissa Owens (City Administrator):** Carlton County will retain these monies from the Secretary of State to provide our voting equipment. **[2:06:40] Mayor Jim Michalski:** Motion carried. Next is reports and announcements. 7C, resignation notice from Paula Arnold. Thank you, Paula, for your excellent work over the years. 7D, thank you letter from Essentia Health. 7E, drug take-back event results. **[2:11:40] Mayor Jim Michalski:** This agenda item is pending litigation, City of Moose Lake vs. Raymond Couture and PERA. This portion of the meeting will be closed pursuant to Minnesota Statute. I will now entertain a motion to close this portion of the meeting. **[2:13:20] Council Member Douglas Juntunen:** Motion. **[2:13:22] Council Member Lou Ohly:** Second. **[2:14:15] Mayor Jim Michalski:** The time is 6:14. The council will now go into closed session. **[Meeting proceeds to closed session]**