This transcript features the Hermantown City Council meeting. Based on the context provided and the flow of the meeting, here is the attributed transcript. [0:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** 6:30 let's stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. [0:05] **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. [0:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Roll call please. [0:31] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Here. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Here. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Here. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Here. [0:37] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Um, announcements. Um, should we hold up on the announcements until we're done with the next item, Mr. Mulder? [0:42] **John Mulder:** Sure. Uh, we have a motion—where is that? [0:48] **John Mulder:** Well, as you have public discussion before that, but do we want to... uh, you have public hearings, communications, presentations, and public discussion within motions. [1:02] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Okay. Um, any councilors have anything they would like to discuss or announce? [1:09] **John Geissler:** Mr. Mayor, I just two things. Uh, there was in our packet today, uh, a nice letter written by uh some citizens in Hermantown commending Councilor Hjelle and his organization that he works for in uh volunteering some time to to uh uh shovel out some hydrants. So I just want to recognize that as well. So thank you, Councilor Hjelle, for doing that and for your company supporting that. And then, um, just uh we're going to um—I think we're going to uh appoint Ellie Jones as our next council member. And I just wanted the public to uh be aware that, um, as most people know, we have a vacancy on our Council on that. Um, we went through a process last week uh to take applicants and we had six applicants. We interviewed them all and decided uh to uh appoint Ellie Jones, which we're going to do here shortly. So that's my announcement, you guys. And uh a little bit ahead of time, I'd like to say welcome to Ellie and thanks for stepping up. [2:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Um, no public hearings tonight. Mr. Mulder, um, Councilor Geissler's already taking the communications away from you. Uh, if you'd like to give us just a short synopsis of the presentations under item seven? [2:24] **John Mulder:** Sure. Uh, Eric gave a presentation on just the annual report of planning and zoning and the activities that the Community Development Department um participated in in the year 2022. It's kind of been an annual um report that Eric gives each year. Chief Crace gave um a report on this bow hunt statistics—again, that's a required report that we do every year um just on the number of deer taken within the city. And then we also did a PowerPoint presentation on the possibility of extending Ugstad Road north from Anderson Road and putting in a sewer and water pipe that would connect Oak Ridge Drive and Peyton Acres to those road—to that road. [3:11] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Now we have item eight, public discussion. This is a time that individuals can address the council about any item not on the agenda. We ask that you limit your time to three minutes per person. Is there anyone that wishes to address the council this evening about an item not on our agenda? If so, please step forward to the podium or speak up online with your name and address. [3:48] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there anyone that would like to participate in public discussion at this time? [4:00] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there anyone either present in Chambers or online that wishes to discuss any item with the council? [4:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Hearing none, we will move on to motions. A motion to appoint Ellie Jones to the city council effective February 6, 2023, and have her be sworn in and seated immediately. Do we have a motion? [4:32] **Andy Hjelle:** Make a motion to appoint Ellie Jones as a counselor. [4:35] **Brian LeBlanc:** Seconded. [4:37] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle, second by Councilor LeBlanc. Don't think we need any discussion on this right now. Mr. Mulder, should we take a roll call vote? [4:45] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [4:56] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Um, we will stop and have our swearing in. So Ms. Jones, please stand, raise your right hand, repeat after me. I, Ellie Jones, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. [5:08] **Ellie Jones:** I, Ellie Jones, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. [5:14] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the state of Minnesota. [5:19] **Ellie Jones:** Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the state of Minnesota. [5:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And that I will discharge faithfully the duties of the office of council member. [5:28] **Ellie Jones:** And that I will discharge faithfully the duties of the office of council member. [5:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Of the city of Hermantown, in the county of St. Louis, the state of Minnesota. [5:38] **Ellie Jones:** Of the city of Hermantown, in the county of St. Louis, the state of Minnesota. [5:43] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** To the best of my judgment and ability. [5:45] **Ellie Jones:** To the best of my judgment and ability. [5:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Congratulations, welcome again. And given that we have special circumstances, are there any comments or things you would like to say? [5:52] **Ellie Jones:** Right, well, um, just thank you for the opportunity. Um, obviously there is quite a few people that were interested in this position and I think we all have the same goal in mind. So I appreciate the opportunity and I hope to do my best and be an asset to the team. Thank you. [6:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Next, a motion to approve or deny the following new massage licenses: The Well Company Brian Schrupp and The Well Company Sandra Schrupp. Do we have a motion? [6:28] **John Geissler:** A motion to approve. [6:30] **Andy Hjelle:** I'll second. [6:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Geissler, second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder? [6:38] **John Mulder:** Um, as you know, we approved licenses or consider licenses for anybody who wants to do massage therapy in the city of Hermantown. And so these are two additional ones that will perform massage therapy at um at The Well. [7:07] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any council members' comments or questions? Any comment from the member of the public? Any public comment either in Chambers or online? Is there any public comment on this motion? [7:19] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call please. Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Jones? **Ellie Jones:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [7:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next we have the consent agenda which includes the minutes from the January 17th Council continuation meeting and the January 30th Council work session continuation and accounts payable from January 15th through January 31st in the amount of three million seven hundred twenty thousand four hundred four dollars and 37 cents. Do we have a motion? [7:59] **Brian LeBlanc:** Motion to approve. [8:03] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have a second? [8:04] **Ellie Jones:** Second by Councilor Jones. [8:07] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call please. Councilor Jones? **Ellie Jones:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [8:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** We have no ordinances this evening. Next is resolutions. Resolution 2023-13, resolution awarding contract for 2023 GMC Sierra 3500 HD truck chassis in the amount of fifty thousand three hundred eighty four dollars plus applicable taxes and fees. Is there a motion? [8:39] **Andy Hjelle:** Make a motion to approve. [8:41] **John Geissler:** I'll second. [8:43] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor Hjelle, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder, we'll have Public Works Director Paul Senst explain the resolution. [8:50] **Paul Senst:** Mayor, Council, thank you. Um, this—we're asking through Public Works through our 2023 Capital Improvement plan to purchase the chassis to replace a truck that's uh 20-odd years old and 180,000 miles. Um, it's at the end of its useful life, so we're asking to purchase a chassis through the state bid process um with North Country GMC. [9:19] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Open any questions or comments from Council? [9:20] **John Geissler:** Was it 180,000 miles? [9:22] **Paul Senst:** Yes. [9:23] **John Geissler:** That's a long time. [9:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Um, is there any public comment on this resolution? If so, please state your name and address for the record. [9:33] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any public comment on resolution 2023-13? [9:45] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on this resolution? [9:58] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call please. Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Jones? **Ellie Jones:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [10:09] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2023-14, resolution awarding purchase of an antenna for the advanced metering infrastructure for water meters in the amount of ninety-one thousand four hundred twenty dollars. Do we have a motion? [10:19] **Brian LeBlanc:** Motion to approve. [10:21] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have a second? [10:22] **Andy Hjelle:** Second. [10:24] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Hjelle. Mr. Mulder, again we'll have uh Public Works Director Paul explain this one. Mr. Senst? [10:28] **Paul Senst:** Mayor, Council, this is the second antenna to the AMI system we started back in 2022. The money was in the 2022 Capital plan and 2023 Capital plan here. Um, it's for the second antenna to cover the southeast corner of town over the hill, um, the Johnson, Portland, Carlson, Mary Lane areas of town, um, so we can read the water radios from down in that part of town. Um, by breaking this out from Core & Main and using Omni, who are already the contractors, by breaking up the purchase, we were able to save the city about fourteen thousand dollars from purchasing strictly through Core & Main. [11:10] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Do we have any questions from Council? Hearing none, is there any public input on this resolution? [11:17] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on resolution 2023-14? [11:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Last opportunity for public input on a resolution purchasing an antenna for our metering system. [11:35] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call please. Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Jones? **Ellie Jones:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [11:47] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2023-15, resolution authorizing the disposal of Surplus City property. This would be a squad car from the police department for the purchase of a new one. Do you have a motion? [11:59] **John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [12:01] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have a second? [12:02] **Ellie Jones:** Second. [12:04] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Second by Councilor Jones. Mr. Mulder? [12:13] **John Mulder:** This is um authorization to um trade in a 2014 Dodge Charger. Um, this is part of our cycle of process of of replacing our squads. So this is a—would be—we would trade this one in for the purchase of the new ones. [12:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on resolution 2023-15? [12:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any public input either in Chambers or online for the resolution to dispose of a squad car? [12:58] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on the resolution? [13:00] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call please. Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Jones? **Ellie Jones:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [13:06] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2023-16, resolution authorizing and directing Mayor and City Clerk to execute addendum to engineering contract for Road Improvement Service District number 534 Ugstad Road with MSA Professional Services Incorporated. Do we have a motion to approve? [13:25] **Ellie Jones:** Motion by Councilor Jones. [13:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have a second? [13:29] **Brian LeBlanc:** Second by Councilor LeBlanc. [13:31] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Mr. Mulder, would you like our City Engineer to address this? [13:34] **John Mulder:** Sure, Mr. Bolf. [13:35] **David Bolf (City Engineer):** Thank you, Mayor and Council. So, this resolution is for a uh engineering amendment for on the construction engineering for the reconstruction of Ugstad Road and a portion of Arrowhead Road. So the nature of the the scope amendment is um a couple of items. One is is um the inflation; we originally had planned to do this in 2022 and because of um the MnDOT approval process and the bidding climate, we opted to push that to 2023. So that's one of the reasons for the scope amendment. Secondly is um the original RFP had this project as a reconditioning project with little to no reconstruction as part of the design. At addendum one to their contract, we added um uh scope and fee for the extra design for a part of the reconstruction. So this addendum um accounts for the construction administration and engineering for those uh reconstructed areas, as well as administering and overseeing the the geotechnical work that um we need to do on as part of this project. Lastly, representative from MSA is here this evening so if you do have any questions um that they could answer them. Thank you. [15:18] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any questions or comments from Council? [15:19] **John Geissler:** So basically we changed the date and increased the amount of work? [15:23] **David Bolf (City Engineer):** Correct. [15:24] **John Geissler:** Okay, thank you. [15:26] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** With no questions from Council, we'll move to public input. Is there any public input on this resolution? [15:44] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on resolution 2023-16? [15:54] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** If anybody wishes to comment on this resolution, please state your name and address for the record. [16:01] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call please. Councilor Jones? **Ellie Jones:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [16:11] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2023-17, resolution approving participation in opioid litigation settlements and authorizing and directing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a memorandum of agreement to provide for the equitable distribution of settlement procedures. Do we have a motion? [16:35] **John Geissler:** Motion to approve. [16:37] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there a second? [16:38] **Ellie Jones:** Second by Councilor Jones. [16:40] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Mr. Mulder, should we have our City Attorney address? [16:43] **John Mulder:** Yes, please. [16:44] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director):** Mayor and Council, um this resolution for you this evening authorizes the city to participate in the forthcoming rounds of settlements related to the opioid litigation. The idea is to: one, support the effort of combatting opioids abuse in in our state and our community; and second, to position the city going forward to be able to receive funds, probably in the form of grants, for opioid-related enforcement activities, particularly related to the police department. Thank you. [17:28] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Thank you. Any questions or comments from Council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Anyone from the public wishes to comment to Council on this resolution, please state your name and address for the record. [17:59] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Does anyone wish to address to the Council resolution 2023-17? [18:05] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call please. Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Jones? **Ellie Jones:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [18:13] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Resolution 2023-18, resolution authorizing the City of Hermantown to sponsor a grant funding request associated with the Twins fields for kids ball field renovation grant. Do we have a motion? [18:29] **Brian LeBlanc:** Motion to approve. [18:31] **John Geissler:** Second. [18:32] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Motion by Councilor LeBlanc, second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder, should we ask Mr. Johnson to fill us in? [18:34] **John Mulder:** Yes, please. [18:35] **Eric Johnson (Community Development Director):** Great, thank you very much, Mayor and Councilors. Uh, this is a grant opportunity uh sponsored by the Minnesota Twins Organization for grants anywhere from one thousand to fifteen thousand dollars that can be used towards uh baseball and softball fields in the city. This money can go towards uh sodding, infield work, fencing and dugouts. With our community recreation initiative specifically at Fickner Park and Fickner Field, there's the opportunity that we will be looking at two of our fields over there and this grant could help go towards some of that work in there. This grant does require matching funds associated with it, and with the approved 3.9 million associated with Fickner, that would more than cover that potential match. Thank you. [19:30] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Any questions or comments from Council? Hearing none, is there any public input on resolution 2023-18? [19:39] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Is there any public input on this resolution? [19:49] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Last opportunity for public input on resolution 2023-18. [20:02] **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Roll call please. Councilor Hjelle? **Andy Hjelle:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor LeBlanc? **Brian LeBlanc:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Jones? **Ellie Jones:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Councilor Geissler? **John Geissler:** Aye. **Alissa McClure (City Clerk):** Mayor Boucher? **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Aye. [20:15] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Next we have a motion to move into closed session after which we will have a motion to return to open session to recess. Do we have a motion to go into closed session? [20:25] **John Geissler:** Motion for closed session. [20:27] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** Do we have a second? [20:28] **Andy Hjelle:** Second. [20:29] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** That was Councilor Hjelle. Let's have a uh all in favor say aye. [20:32] **All:** Aye. [20:35] **Mayor Wayne Boucher:** And now we will move to closed session.