Here is the transcribed townhall meeting with speaker names added based on the provided context. [0:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Good evening. We're going to call the meeting to order and stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:26] **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Roll call, please. 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:** Councilor Peterson? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Here. **City Clerk Alissa McClure:** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Here. And I'd like to remind the councilors, let's try and use our microphones as much as possible tonight. We have some people that have had trouble hearing us and we'd like to make sure that they do. Uh announcements. Do councilors have announcements this evening? [0:50] **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Nope. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Uh, I would like to thank the community in the area for the tremendous response last Saturday evening to a catastrophe that happened in Hermantown, the explosion. And, uh, what impressed me was the public safety professionals, police, fire, uh, medical, and the public service people, uh, St. Louis County Emergency Management as well as Red Cross and all the individuals and companies that stepped up and tried to contribute. They they helped make a orderly situation out of something that was very chaotic and the community appreciates that and I'd like to thank everyone for that. I know I've missed [1:36] some people that were involved that contributed, but all of your contributions are appreciated and we're grateful for that. Thank you. Um, Mr. Mulder, do we have any communications to highlight this evening? [1:51] **City Administrator John Mulder:** There's just a couple of them on your in your listed on your packet. And uh we had two presentations at pre-agenda. One uh financial management plan. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Could you give us a synopsis of that? [2:10] **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah, this was just a brief uh uh kind of introduction into what all goes into the financial management plan and the process we'll use uh to conduct that. So um as you know that we met last week to talk about facilities. uh at the end of um February, we'll talk about road program, but we're just that financial management plan is just a 10-year financial management plan that looks out in terms of all of the city's financial information and and help us plan each year's budget. [2:43] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Uh and the community development annual report. Um, Eric Johnson just did some of the highlights of some of the work of the community development uh department and the planning and zoning commission. Thank you. And now we have general public comment. And for some of you who may not have been here in a while, we have a a new procedure for public input. [3:09] We would like uh people to sign up on a list outside in the hallway. There are lists out there right now. We have people also that have signed up in a list in front of me. Anyone who wishes to comment on general public input will be able to comment shortly. Uh if you want to comment on agenda items, the lists will be available right up until the calling of that agenda item. And uh if someone feels during any of these public comments that they have time that they want to gift or seed to someone else, please sign up on the list and uh when we get to the subject involved, you could seed your time. Then uh public [3:56] comment in general, first person on our list is Tom Bates. Could you step forward and state your name and address? **Tom Bates:** Well, hello. My name is Tom Bates and my address is 5713. No, it's not. **Tom Bates:** Hi, Joe. 5369. Yeah, I know I'm getting old. 5369 Morris Thomas Road, Hermantown, Minnesota. So, two things kind of on my mind is one, the hyperscale data center. Anybody surprised? Um, I'm really worried that your legacy will be one of polluting Lake Superior because they're not going to turn the water back to Lake Superior in better shape than they take it in. Industry just doesn't do that. [4:52] They could, maybe they would, but we'll see. And I want you to consider that water is available from Sappi, you know, the big big uh paper mill in Cloquet and we could pull 4 million gallons a day from there and build two hyperscale data centers without any trouble. Um there's enough capacity for the second hyperscale data center that's being talked about uh to be built south of Maple Grove Road and west of Misty Morning Drive. I know you guys haven't heard about it, but we have definitely some of you might have. But um and you should all look like you've never heard about it before cuz that is wise. That is very wise. Okay, be good now. But that's all I really got on my mind, gentlemen, except to say I sure love you, mayor. You've had a hard time and people have been yelling at you and beating on you and you've done good. All right. [6:03] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next is Sarah Lofal. And uh you're on here for two items. I'll call the other one later. **Sarah Lofal:** Perfect. Uh, so my name is Sarah Lofal. I live at 5502 Hermantown Road. Uh, and first I would like to acknowledge the Hermantown Fire Department and the others involved in the response to the tragedy that occurred on Saturday. I do not have the correct words to convey the thanks that I uh and our community feel. So though it this is definitely not sufficient, uh, thank you with all of my heart. [6:43] Uh secondly, I'm here again tonight uh to voice my opposition to the proposed data center. Uh I have continued to speak at these meetings because of how strongly I feel about the protection of our city, lands, water, and especially our neighbors. Uh you have heard from a multitude of people who share my sentiments, who are passionate about conservation and environmental protection, who wish to preserve the rural and community-based nature of our town, who demand transparency from our elected officials and hired city staff. [7:22] uh who have legitimate concerns about handing over undeveloped residential land to a faceless Fortune 50 company who you guys haven't even met yet. Uh who worry about the effect of a massive data center on energy and other costs. who feel like every part of this process has been silently manipulated to quickly and discreetly pass all the necessary steps to pave way for the acceptance of this pending project and I do believe that this council shares some of my sentiments. [8:02] So, I will ask you again. If the residents of Hermantown show up at a city council meeting to oppose the development of a massive data center by a Fortune 50 company, will you listen? Thank you. [8:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next is Emma Rickman. And Emma will have six minutes. Joe Peterson, she has three minutes that have been seeded. **Emma Rickman:** Uh before I speak, can I ask a clarifying question about signing up on the list? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Yes. **Emma Rickman:** If you want to seed your time, do you have to assign it to someone specifically or can you sign up and say, "I seed my time to anyone who requires it." **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** You could sign up and then when someone needs it, the person could stand up, come to the podium and say, "I seed my time." [9:04] **Emma Rickman:** Okay. Thank you. That's helpful. Uh Emma Rickman, 5215 Chris Drive. Um I'd like to take a moment to recognize the departments who responded to the fatal fire over the weekend and the city opening its doors allowing people to shelter in City Hall on Saturday and for the two people who lost their lives and their families. I'd also like to take a moment to hold space for Alex Prey and those impacted by the administration's targeted occupation in Minnesota. I know there are folks here this evening who are not in attendance as they are attending a vigil for Alex. [9:34] Uh I feel there is a disconnect between the city, its agents and its residents. I'm talking about the data center. Um this lack of dialogue and communication not making space for key stakeholders in this—the residents. I feel you should be focusing less on coordinating with corporations and more on fostering relationships with your constituents, your community, and its neighbors. To quote from the city's own web page, "transparency is an important part of what makes our local government successful in Hermantown. We want our efforts in local government to be transparent, understandable, and always helping serve and build our community." [10:11] The engagements of our residents are what help make sure that that is happening. Well, we are definitely engaging now. And if engagement is what the city is asking for, and in fact, quote, "We, the residents, are not only welcome, but an important part of Hermantown success," it is concerning to hear that our city administrator is questioning whether folks not directly affected by a project have more say than some in a directed area of a project. [10:37] Has there been residents within 300 ft of this project that have told you that they want this? I would imagine no. I can't say that with certainty. Um, if the people directly impacted are saying no, why does that not carry weight? Why do unions and developers carry more weight than your constituents and they are not in the direct area of the project? Near or far, we are loud. [11:01] We are frustrated. We are showing up consistently to voice our concerns over this proposed hyperscale data center. Some may call us loud or obnoxious. No such thing as bad publicity. I'd say this issue needs visibility not only here in our community but across Minnesota and the nation and since we were not given a seat at the table we are doing anything and everything we can do to get a say in the matter whether it's convenient for the city or not. While I have been a resident of Hermantown for over 10 years I was raised in the city of Eagan, Minnesota. Recently at a special Eagan city council meeting on January 13th, land use and zoning for high-intensity technology was discussed. Tonight the Eagan city council will be voting on whether or not to approve a resolution to direct staff and city attorney's office to prepare an ordinance to enact [11:46] a moratorium for the study of data center and cryptocurrency mining and schedule a public hearing. Moreover, Minnesota state statutes permit cities to adopt an interim ordinance, more commonly known as a moratorium, to allow a study of a specific land use without time pressure generated by pending applications. Currently, there are no applications on the table for a data center in Hermantown, as far as I'm aware. Eagan has identified the need to study the impacts of data centers. [12:12] Following a study, community development along with consultants, if necessary, will make recommendations to the city council regarding any reasonable restrictions on the operation of data centers within Eagan. More specifically, city of Eagan staff and the city of Eagan's attorney's office are hereby directed to prepare an ordinance to enact a moratorium on the expansion or development of data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities greater than 20 megawatts or within 500 ft of residential properties within the city of Eagan for the purpose of studying their impacts. [12:46] Uh a public hearing on the proposed moratorium ordinance shall be scheduled for February 17th. I spoke with Eagan's community development director today. She said Eagan is not opposed to data center development, but now that data centers are getting larger, they are going to have impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. While there are data centers in Eagan, the largest being 20 megawatts, there are no hyperscale data centers currently being proposed. But in a wildly evolving technological landscape, they are looking how to be proactive in following best practices from the planning literature and following the guidance from the American Planning Association and decide if development of this nature makes sense for Eagan. They would be talking with industry groups and soliciting public comment. Ideally, this information will [13:31] lead to a moratorium of up to 12 months, but they're aiming for 8 to 10 to gather more information to guide regulations for adopting a specific data center related ordinance. From my own sleuthing, currently there is or was no publicly available figure for the energy consumption needed for the proposed hyperscale data center in Hermantown. In my research, I came across that is that it is expected that hyperscale data centers can require anywhere from 20, 40, 70 to even 500 megawatts of power. [14:01] Again, at this time, that figure for Hermantown is unknown or rather not being publicly advertised. When I look at Hermantown city ordinances and zoning codes, I do not see any ordinance related to data centers. I do see special use permits for communication centers listed under BLM which is how it was stated in the AUAR. [14:23] However, and yes, it's a data center, not a communications center. So, if we are going to be explicit about what it is, then we should also have explicit ordinances that more accurately reflect the scope and scale of this type of unprecedented development that works to both protect citizens and the environment as well as make space for thoughtful development. There are currently no applications. So I ask you and implore you to adopt a moratorium. [14:47] Take time to study the true impact of large-scale data center development. Work with your constituents. Repair our relationship and put protections in place so you have developers that work with you rather than take advantage of you. Thank you. [15:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next is Joanne Bates. **Joanne Bates:** City Council members, I am— **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Name and address, please. Thank you. **Joanne Bates:** I live at 5369 Morris Thomas Road, Hermantown. Um I most of you have a letter, Joe. I stole your letter because I didn't realize I could talk about it here and then as I reflected on I could. So I have to come to discuss the travesty of what ICE is doing around our state. [15:38] I don't think I need to argue that with you. You, I believe, are civil people that know what's happening is a travesty. I am here to ask this Hermantown city council to protect us however you can. I have some suggestions. [15:56] Um, I'm asking that the city of Hermantown ban all federal law enforcement agencies including including not limited to ICE, CBP, HSI, and ERO from using city-owned parking lots. I'm asking that Hermantown immediately prohibit the use of masks to hide the identities of law enforcement people. I'm asking that the Hermantown police officers are banned in taking part and in providing information or supporting federal immigration enforcement. These are things that Minneapolis and St. Paul are doing in part or it's time to choose which side you're on: the side of the constitution and the people of Minnesota and Hermantown, or the side of the lawless thugs that are murdering our citizens in [17:02] cold blood on the street. Do not think we'll get a tamer ICE up here. We have environments that are inherently dangerous. Um, in Hermantown, we have Walmart and a lot of public places that are likely areas where a lot of people could get hurt. Thank you for your time. [17:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you, Jeffrey. [17:42] **Jeffrey Donahue:** Good evening. Jeffrey Donahue, 5540 Pine Hill Road, Midway Township. Mayor, councilors, staff. Uh, from what I'm hearing, the city wants to enhance the public services for its residents. Isn't that awesome? Isn't that your job? I hope it is. More tax revenue gets it. That's great. More tax revenue. Commercial sites, more tax revenue than residential sites. [18:27] But maybe there's a better way than BlackRock's data center, the third largest business in Minnesota that you want to put on our one-lane roads or they want to put on our one-lane roads. I would suggest there are other ways. [18:46] Let's bring to the community other tax revenue projects that do not destroy the north, do not destroy billions of dollars worth of property value, do not destroy the air, the noise, the light, the traffic, the construction traffic that we don't even talk about. AUARs as submitted by the city are to study sites period, not projects. That's state law. [19:29] EIS is to study projects, especially major projects. This will be the largest electric user in the state and the third largest business by square footage. That's a pretty major project. So even if you guys win the lawsuit and don't need to do an EIS, morality demands an EIS. It just does and the state law should demand it also. So, I'm going to suggest that we all put our heads together. I will volunteer mine and we come up with a project for Hermantown that comes up with even more tax revenue so even more city services can be added. [20:21] Well, that'd be great. Everybody supports more revenue. I certainly support more revenue and more services. While I'm not a resident, I enjoy the city services as as your neighbor. I drive through. I go to the stores. I'm protected by police and fire of Hermantown. [20:42] So, I would love to see that. I think there's uh another project for that site that'll work and other projects. Thank you very much for your consideration. [20:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next is Noel Donahue. [21:06] **Noel Donahue:** Noel Donahue. 5540 Pine Hill Road. Um part of Midway Township. I don't want to be here tonight. That's the truth. I came because I think it's the right thing to do. There's so many other places I want to be and so many other issues happening. This isn't one I should have to think about. [21:26] This isn't one that the constituents of this area should be here dealing with today with everything else that's going on. This should be a no-brainer. Big bad company come in, do bad things to the community, bad things for the environment. Oh, wow. Lots of money. [21:46] They don't care. money is so little in comparison to what this is going to do potentially to the environment to your neighbors to the people who are around here and I shouldn't have to give my time I shouldn't have to put my energy here when I have other things that are pressing in my life things that matter to to me or my family and instead of being at home saying my prayers for my granddaughter who was born 11 weeks too early two weeks ago today, I'm here and I really am resentful that I felt that I had to come here. And this is the first thing I've gone out to besides just sitting [22:31] around asking my friends to please give everything they have in the universe to try to make sure this little girl has a chance. And I hate that. And I'm not going to give any more of my energy to you guys tonight. What you're doing is wrong and I wish you would reconsider. [22:49] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next is Kathy Riddle. [23:05] **Kathy Riddle:** Hi, my name is Kathy Riddle. My address is 3950 Old Midway Road. And I'm here tonight, first time at the podium, but I've been at the meetings, I'd say 99% of them. And I want you all to know that after listening to everything so far, reading all the research there is to be had, knowing that half of it is true, half of it is false, I am here to say I oppose the data center. Uh my husband and I built our home in the mid-70s and raised our family in Hermantown. And I'm a proud Hermantown resident. And I really was proud Saturday night when I saw everybody come together and help with the catastrophe that happened in our own neighborhoods. Everybody did [23:50] a fabulous job coming together and reaching out and helping. I um worked half of my working career at the Hermantown schools. I was a secretary and had the honor of showing many, many families who are interested in relocating to Hermantown around our city, around the school, giving information. And every family that came, their top priority was that they were looking for a place where they could raise a family in a nice, solid, wonderful community. And we had everything that they were looking for right there: rural living, close to city, beautiful town, and they were excited. I don't know that they would be as excited anymore if we could call a [24:38] data center community a quality of city living. Just doesn't make sense in my mind. And just to close, I have also done my research and the one thing I thought was very interesting. I had looked up on my good old AI internet and I asked AI what their thoughts are on our hyper data center. Their response is "AI is transforming hyperscale data centers by demanding massive power and cooling like liquid cooling leading to larger mega campuses with extreme rack densities up to 600 kW and creating bottlenecks around power availability, grid strain, water use, while also driving [25:25] innovations in energy efficiency, security, and smarter management through AI itself, but raising huge financial, environmental, and logistical challenges." AI, that's their opinion. I share it. Thank you for your time. [25:42] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next is Karen. Is it Harmon? [25:57] **Karen Harmon:** Karen Harmon, 5279 West Arrowhead Road, Hermantown. I've had the honor of speaking with you before and um the question I've raised and my question that I continue to raise um because we've had such limited information is who is going to be the principal, the owner of the data center, and why it continues to be something that cannot be released to the public. Granted we know that most of you have signed NDAs or some of you and um that's part of the NDA. [26:37] But as a community member, we'd like to know who is going to own this huge project in our community and if it's not known now, when we can anticipate that the information will be available to us. Thank you very much. [26:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next is Clarissa E. [27:10] **Clarissa E:** Good evening. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Good evening. **Clarissa E:** Clarissa A, 3505 Soulway Road in Hermantown. Um I come tonight um first I want to share um the thanks for the statements made by the mayor regarding the community response and I I couldn't agree more. um tragic situation and it shows how um great our community is and can be and I think that um there's so many people that care about this community and came to this community for a reason and um and I think that I am here again and will continue to be to make a record against development of this hyperscale data center. I [27:55] understand that there's lawsuits pending, but I also want you to know that at any time you can walk away. The city has the ability to let the developer know we're not interested anymore. We're going to listen to our people. You don't have to wait for this lawsuit to um come to fruition for the state to tell you whether an AUAR was sufficient or not. You can make that decision. You can listen to your people. [28:23] Um I do think putting a data center in the middle of an uh rural agricultural community which is in my backyard. I have 10 beautiful acres. I will see this data center. It will—the lights will keep me up all night. I will hear the buzzing. I was never approached. I was never told. I had to find out through the newspaper that this would be in my backyard. Um, but I think that if you're going to put something the size of this and it's the size of the US Bank Center in the middle of Hermantown, I think that maybe initially you'll see some money from it, but I think that you're going to erode the long-term beauty and community of Hermantown. I think people are going to stop coming here. They're not going to want to live here. The schools are already full. I have [29:09] three children in the Hermantown school system. My son has to take online classes, virtual classes because they don't have the room and the space and the teachers. They're cutting classes. We're outgrowing. Um, I believe in investment. I believe in opportunity. I believe in building. I'm union strong. There's other ways to do it. There's other ways to build the community, build jobs, long-term jobs, not just construction for 5 to 10 years that all have to listen to and deal with and be rerouted. Um, and so I just want to implore you to continue thinking. I I hope that you're going to continue to uh do the research. There's more and more coming out of it as these data centers, hyperscale data centers have built across the nation and how the promises do not come to fruition. The uses on electricity grids, it's too much. Um, and just continue educating yourself. [30:06] And um I just want to leave you with the seventh generation principle if you've never heard of it: that when you're making decisions, you should consider the seven generations from today and how it will affect that. And I think that if you do that and you think about those seven generations, it would not be to go forward to destroy our environment and our community with this large-scale development. Thank you. Take care. [30:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Fire Chief Graves, is there anyone on the list out there? So, no one else is on the list for general public comment. We'll move forward to the consent agenda. Consent agenda is the minutes approval or correction of the January 20th, 2026 city council continuation minutes and January 26, 2026 city council work session minutes and accounts payable approved general city warrants from January 16, 2026 through January 31st, 2026 in the amount of 4,943,242.19. Is there a motion? **Councilor John Geissler:** Motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** I'll second it. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Uh, roll call please. **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. And as we get to resolutions, uh, we do have someone that wants to speak on one of them down the line a little bit, but if anybody wants to provide public comment on any of these resolutions, please sign up in the hallway. Uh, as the resolution is being called, we'll bring the lists forward. [31:58] Resolution 2026-15, resolution authorizing the purchase of a Pierce 110 foot ascendant aerial apparatus in the amount of 1,999,986. Do we have a motion? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder? **City Administrator John Mulder:** If Chief Graves would like to speak to that, that would be helpful. [32:32] **Fire Chief Zach Graves:** Thank you, Mr. Mayor and councilors. So, the process to replace this truck started in 2022 with the volunteer department, and then once we started our transition, we kind of had to put it on hold. So the beginning of the middle of last year, we contacted the three major truck manufacturers, started talking to them, and working with the three of them. We have found that Pierce provided the best and cheapest option for the city for our firefighter safety. So I ask you guys to please approve the purchase. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And this is a truck being replaced purchased in 2003 that's ending near its useful life? **Fire Chief Zach Graves:** Correct, sir. [33:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Uh I'd like to note that it will take three or four years for this truck to be delivered. Uh so it's uh there's a considerable lead time. Uh has anyone signed up to speak? No. Okay. Um Dan, we have no questions from council. Roll call, please. **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. Next is resolution 2026-16, resolution approving the terms of internal loan in connection with the purchase of a ladder truck not to exceed $1,300,000. Motion please. **Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder? [34:17] **City Administrator John Mulder:** So what we had and planned on doing is we're going to pay cash for this uh project and in doing so we save 153,000. We had the option of financing it with the manufacturer at 5% interest but instead we decided that we would um take money from the um water fund and would use that money to pay off the truck. And that's why we're using 1.3 because we're going to use 500,000 that came back from the fire department. When they became—we moved from a volunteer fire department to a city department, they had saved money for that truck. And [35:03] so we're going to use that money for that truck and then we're going to um borrow the 1.3 million from the water fund and we'll pay that back instead of paying interest to an outside entity. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Uh any questions or comments from council? It may be worth noting that the city had given the volunteer department that money to begin with. **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yeah. I mean that was part of—we had funded the volunteer fire department over a number of years and every year they were setting money aside for the future purchase of this truck. So that's exactly what the money that we provided to them for long-term capital and then they were saving it and then now they turned it back to us for the purchase of this truck. [35:51] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions or comments? Is anyone signed up to speak? Roll call, please. **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. Next is resolution 2026-17, resolution authorizing the purchase of police portable and squad radios in the amount of $229,231.65. Is there a motion? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, should we have the chief address? Chief Crace. [36:48] **Police Chief Jim Crace:** Thank you, Mayor, Council. Uh as we spoke in pre-agenda, uh our radios uh that we currently have were purchased in 2012 with the state grant when we switched from a legacy um system to the ARMOR system. Um the current radios that we have um have lasted us 14 years and um about 6 years past their end of life. We have stretched the use of them um until we just couldn't stretch it any longer. Um they're starting to um to not uh be dependable and as I said before, these radios are our lifeline um when we're responding to calls for service, tragedies in the community, etc. So, um I recommend that we move forward with this purchase. [37:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments? Is anyone signed up? No. Roll call, please. **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. Next is resolution 2026-18, resolution authorizing and directing the city administrator and the economic development director to execute and deliver a business development infrastructure application. Is there a motion? **Councilor John Geissler:** Move to—excuse me—move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder? **City Administrator John Mulder:** Uh we'll have Mr. Ronchetti explain this. [38:45] **Economic Development Director Chad Ronchetti:** Mayor Boucher, Council, uh, the resolution before you allows us, uh, as staff to reapply for the DEED grant that was awarded several years ago, uh, or about a year ago that we applied for several years ago. Uh, if you recall, uh, we were awarded $2 million, uh, for public infrastructure related to uh, the parcel on the northwest corner of Lake uh, bypass and Highway 53. Uh this parcel is of significant size uh and a long history of uh legacy industry um that is uh now has the opportunity to be uh turned back to the tax rolls. [39:26] Um through this—through discussions with DEED after the award, uh when another developer had come forward, a new developer had come forward with a different land use than was originally contemplated. uh DEED had uh earmarked and uh reserved the $2 million that was awarded while we uh reimagined what that project might look like to help accommodate the new development. Um now that we've gone through that process over the last year or so working with the land owner, uh the developer, um and all of the appropriate agencies, St. Louis County and MnDOT, uh we've come up with a new plan uh for making that site um attractive for a warehouse and distribution facility uh or any other uh larger scale um light industrial facility. [39:56] Um the DEED has instructed us to reapply because many of the assets that will be uh reconstructed or updated will be county-owned assets. Uh and so the county needs to apply themselves and then the city needs to reapply as well. So that $2 million that was originally awarded will be split between the county and the city. Uh this resolution authorizes us to to make that reapplication. uh at a future date uh we will come forward with uh a development agreement uh that will govern uh who is responsible for what uh in terms of that feasibility report and the upgrades that need to happen along with a cooperative agreement whereby the city will uh build the infrastructure on behalf of the county and then turn it over to them when they are done. Uh and then also an update to the engineering contract so that uh we can uh move forward with the updated design. But this resolution simply allows us to reapply for the money that was already awarded. [40:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Uh so far we have one person signed up to speak on this. Uh Sarah Lofal. **Sarah Lofal:** Hello again. Uh my name is Sarah Lofal. I live at 5502 Hermantown Road. Uh and I believe the development of this area needs to proceed with cautious optimism. Uh as we can read in the resolution memo uh for this item, uh this area includes the site of a past superfund site. Uh and many people don't know what this means. Uh but to provide a short explanation, a superfund site is an area designated by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency that has been contaminated by a pollutant and poses significant threats to wildlife, water, and public health. [41:40] This particular site was designated due to improper containment and disposal of waste oil by the Arrowhead Refinery Company. And this was back in the 70s, I believe. Um this resulted in the contamination of soil surrounding wetlands and groundwater and prompted 13 neighboring households to connect to city water in 1990. Uh the designation of this piece of land as a superfund site by the EPA is not an unserious matter. Uh the cost to clean the soil and remove waste sludge was estimated to be 23 to 24 million and that was in 1986. [42:13] Uh though the site was removed from the National Priorities List, this does not mean that the site is fully clean or safe. Uh even now the site is being assessed by the EPA every 5 years, the last of which was done in 2022. Uh and then the next is slated for 2027. Uh the EPA has determined that all cleanup has met acceptable levels and I do not oppose redevelopment of this site. However, I feel very strongly that assurances are needed from any developer who wishes to break ground on this site. [43:18] This should include a plan for prevention of recontaminating the soil, wetlands and groundwater; oversight by a pollution control agency to monitor the work; testing of soil and water before and during construction; as well as continued future monitoring; a plan and fund for mitigating any future pollution coming from this site and probably much more than I've even thought about. Uh, and before any application is considered, these things should be met. I hope this council will strive to ensure the protection of our citizens, environment, and water supply while considering any projects for this site and for any project the future may hold. Thank you. [43:38] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you, Chief Graves. Anyone else signed up? No. Thank you. Roll call, please. **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. Next is resolution 2026-19, resolution approving a scope of work and ordering advertisement for bids for the HVAC control upgrades. Do we have a motion? **Councilor John Geissler:** Move to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Mulder. Is Mr. Holmes going to fill us in here? **City Administrator John Mulder:** Brandon Holmes will explain. [44:23] **Building Official Brandon Holmes:** Mayor, Council, thank you. Um, as you're aware, we've been working for some time to coordinate repairs and upgrades to the existing HVAC system here. Um, it is end of life, outdated. Many of the controls are not even manufactured anymore and are certainly not compatible uh with any replacement parts. Uh with that in mind, we have been partnering with LHB as the design firm and responsible charge to create a plan and scope of work for said repair of the control systems. They have completed their work and their design. I have reviewed it with them. Um and I agree that this will address the problems we have. And so I recommend that we move forward with acceptance of their plan and scope of work and then move immediately to go to bid um so that this process of work could start immediately. [45:08] Um funding for this has already been budgeted in CIP funding both last year and this year um to cover the costs. Uh and if anyone has any questions, I do have a representative from LHB here who could answer questions. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** My—I just have one quick question. Does this take care of both halves of the building? The original build and then the addition? **Building Official Brandon Holmes:** Yes, this includes both. **Councilor Joe Peterson:** Okay. Thank you. [45:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any other questions? Is anyone signed up to speak on this? Thank you. Roll call, please. **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. Next is resolution 2026-20, resolution authorizing the city of Hermantown to waive municipal consent to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the state project 6908-72 on trunk highway 2 resurfacing project. Motion please. **Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll make a motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Peterson. Is there a second? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle and Mr. Mulder. This is a 2027 project? [46:34] **City Administrator John Mulder:** This is a 2027 project by MnDOT. And if you want more information, city engineer David Bolf could uh explain. **City Engineer David Bolf:** Yeah. Thank you, mayor and council. So again, this is a project um MnDOT is taking on in 2027 on Highway 2 from Boundary Avenue in Proctor to Midway Road in Hermantown. So, they're um part of their effort here is they're eliminating driveways on certain parcels. This happens to be the parcel that KTM Paving is located on. They have two entrances on Highway 2. So, they've worked with the property owner to eliminate the the field entrance that they don't use very much. [47:12] So, we're waving consent. There's no cost to the city of Hermantown for this and the waving of consent just streamlines the MnDOT process in order to um fund and construct this project. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Anyone signed up to speak? Roll call, please. **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. Resolution 2026-21, resolution approving wage rates for part-time employees in 2026. Do we have a motion? **Councilor Andy Hjelle:** Make a motion to approve. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? **Councilor John Geissler:** Second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder. [48:22] **City Administrator John Mulder:** We have uh five part-time employees in the city. Uh one is a custodian that works year round and then we have several seasonal help in the public works department. Um, and we're recommending that they would be given a pay raise for 2026 consistent with with the other employees in the city. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. And this is retroactive? **City Administrator John Mulder:** Yes. [48:37] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any questions or comments from council? Is anyone signed up to speak? Mr. Graves. Roll call, please. **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. That ends our business for this evening. Do we have a motion to recess? **Councilor Brian LeBlanc:** Move to recess. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to recess. Is there a second? **Councilor Joe Peterson:** I'll second. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Peterson. All in favor say Aye. **Councilors:** Aye. **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye.