Time being 7:00, I call the Hastings City Council meeting to order. Please 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, liberty and justice for all. Welcome and let the role reflect that we do have a lot more and all council members are are present. Today we will be reading a proclamation for the veterans war and war buddy poppy. Council member house would you please stand? >> Thank you. Whereas at the end of world war I the veterans of war and wars adopted the poppy as a symbol of freedom and the blood sacrificed by troops and wars. Poppies are warm and displayed as a symbolic tribute to our fallen and future uh in the future of and the future of living veterans and service members. And whereas the annual distribution of buddy poppies by the veterans of foreign wars of the United States has been officially recognized and endorsed by governmental leaders since 1922. And whereas the Buddy Poppy was registered with the United States Patent Office in February 1924, a certificate was issued on May 20th, 1924, granting the BFW organization all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. And whereas the Buddy Poppy was adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veteran of Foreign Wars of the United States as it remains today. And >> whereas the Buddy Poppy program provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the BFW national home. And whereas the basic purpose of the annual distribution of buddy poppies by the veterans of foreign wars is uniquely reflected in the desire to honor the dead by helping the living. Therefore, be it resolved that I, mayor of the city of Hastings, urge all citizens to recognize the importance of this cause by generously supporting the Buddy Poppy program through their donations on the designated distrib distribution day and further encourage all patriotic citizens to wear a Buddy Poppy as a symbol of gratitude for the sacrifices made by the men and women who have defended our freedom. Thank you, councel. Anyone here from the DFW? >> We do have a representative, Mr. Mark Geler is here to receive our proclamation for the year. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you for all you do. >> So, Friday, uh, May 15th, Saturday, May 16th will be distribution dates. We'll be at local businesses in front of the stores. These are not for sale. This is donations. If you don't have the means or choose not to make a donation, please take a poppy. We want everybody to have a poppy. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mark. >> Mark, do you want to get a photo? Mark, do you want to get a photo with council? Okay, >> I'll take it. Here we go. Three, two, one. Thanks, sir. All right. Approval of minutes. Council, were there any corrections to the minutes from the workshop or the regular meeting on April 20th? Council member House? >> No. Okay. All right. Thank you. Comments from the audience. >> Your honor? >> Yes. >> Um, Madame Mayor, as a point of order, I have a concern regarding an item that's been added to the agenda, and I'd like to make two comments prior to public comments. Thank you, Aron. First, um I would like to give council member Beck the opportunity to speak and explain to the DAS as well as the members in chamber and people watching as to why this was added to the agenda to have a discussion regarding the city display of the state flag. Council member. >> Yeah, thank you, Council Member Lyfeld. Um thank you to everybody who's sitting out there today. I appreciate it. Um, your voice matters and that's what this body is for. You're good. Thank you. I've been approached by several community members about a concern of possibly going back to the old state flag, the 1983 flag. Uh, I said no several times. Um, to the point where it felt like I wasn't doing my job. I felt it was important to bring to the agenda um with the support of the mayor as well. So, I feel like she should also have an opportunity to say something. Um but again, I just want to thank you. I received your emails. I received your phone calls. I appreciate all of your comments. That is my job. There was no intent to make this a political debate tonight. And I'm sorry if it came off that way. There was never an intent. So, mayor, >> thank you, council member. I will add as your mayor, my role is not to tell you what to think, but to ensure that every voice in our community has the space to be heard. Some residents feel a deep connection to the historic flag and what it represents about our past. Others believe that change reflects who we are today and the values we want to carry forward. Both viewpoint viewpoints come from a place of care for our state and its identity. Decisions about the design or adoption of a state flag are made at the state level, not by municipal government. While we respect the importance of this discussion, it is not a city issue to decide. Our focus here at home must remain to be the work that directly impacts our residents. Finding solutions for clean, safe drinking water, maintaining infrastructure, supporting public safety, strengthening our local economy, and planning for the future. future of our community. These pri priorities require our time, energy, and collaboration. I too support council members back wanting to be it on the agenda for you to be able to speak and for us to hear. Council member Lyel. >> Thank you, your honor. Secondly, I make a motion to amend the agenda to strike item number two, city display of state flag from administration reports from city staff. This topic has statutoily been decided by the state of Minnesota and going against the state is something that we as nonpartisan elected body should reserve doing so only when a decision is being made that directly affects the health, the safety, and the well-being of the residents of our great city. It's your decision to fly >> respectfully, mayor. Second. >> Correct. Motion's been made. A second has been made. Council discussion. Council member House. >> Thank you, your honor. >> I would just like to be clear that when we it's not just about tradition. It's about how we choose to represent our community today. The old flag reflects a version of history that centers settler expansion while native people are pushed in the background at a time when they are being displaced in their own lands. >> The history is real. After the US Dakota War of 1862, many Dakota people were expelled from Minnesota, expelled in exile or moved into places like North Dakota. My husband is actually Native American and is from the Spirit Lake Nation Reservation and his people, his ancestors were pushed out. So that's why I'm speaking on this today. This is personal for me. >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, thank you. >> I'm excuse me, please. Silence from the audience if you wish to speak. >> Thank you. >> My my hand is away from my mouth, ma'am. I I promise you. Uh this is personal for me. My husband's family comes from that history. His ancestors were among those pushed out of their homelands in and around Minnesota and forced north. This wasn't just movement. It was loss. Loss of land, culture, and a sense of belonging that still carries forward. So, when we talk about bringing back that flag, we need to ask, what does it represent? And who does it leave out? Supporters may say it's about heritage. Whose heritage are we prioritizing? Are we willing to elevate a symbol that many in our community experience as exclusionary or painful? When we say we want to be an inclusive town, we want people to feel welcome here. Going back to a symbol that is tied to displacement and eraser does not move us forward with that goal. There's also a practical question. What does that actually accomplish? Does it strengthen our community? Does it improve people's lives? Or does it risk creating division over something that doesn't bring real benefit? At the same time, we have to be honest about our priorities. Our council is responsible for addressing issues that directly impact residents daily lives. Things like public safety, water quality, infrastructure, housing, economic development, and community services. Spending time revising a flag that does not solve any of these challenges takes a focus away from that work and what our community is counting on us to do. We can respect history, respect history without reentering its most harmful elements. We can choose to move forward in a way that reflects who we are now and who we want to be. I urge this council not to return to the former flag and instead focused on decisions that bring people together and reflect inclusion, respect, and honesty of our shared past while keeping our attention on issues that truly matter to our residents. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member House. Any other discussion, councel? There is a motion and a second. All those in favor of the motion state by saying I. >> I'd like to call a roll vote. >> Sorry. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Thank you, clerk. All those in favor of the motion, start by saying, Oh, I'm sorry, clerk. Sorry, >> it's a habit. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> House. >> Yes. >> Very. >> Yes. >> Member Beck. >> No. >> Mayor Fespender. >> No. The motion prevails. The agenda item will be removed from our um agenda. However, we will stay still take com public comments at this point. If you wish to speak to the council, I would like to also remind everyone that the public comment period is not intentional for an extended dialogue. If in respect of everyone's time, I would allow two minutes per conversation. And I ask that the people treat each other with respect, even with perspectives and opinions may differ. Thank you. Who wishes to speak to the council, please step to the podium, state your name and your address. >> Mayor, >> Council Member Verich. >> Thank you, your honor. Just a quick point here. We make this often when we have a lot of folks that are here for public comment that it's not within our purview while we are up here like this to actually answer back and forth in a dialogue. >> No dialogue. >> So if we're just nodding or we're looking at you, we're not trying to be disrespectful. It's just simply we're not supposed to answer while you all are talking to us. >> Council member, thank you. Council member Beck. >> Council member back. Oh, sorry. >> Okay. Welcome. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Ivon Oberly. I'm the tribal administrator for the Prairie Island Indian Community and I'm here to read a letter from President Johnson for the record. Uh, dear Mayor Fast Bender and city council members, the Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council has been made aware that the city council that the city council is considering whether the h city of Hastings should return to flying Minnesota's former straight flag. As you are aware, the prior flag incorporated imagery long criticized by Native nations across Minnesota as degrading and harmful. The old flag and state seal depict a white farmer plowing a field, a generic native man on a horseback riding away in a background and a rifle and axe nearby. The depiction echoes painful historical realities for Dakota people. Our people originate from this area now known as Minnesota. and we lived in harmony with this land for countless generations. The old flag is not discreet in boasting about the taking of land for use by settlers, which was followed by mass execution and forced removal of our relatives. In addition to representing our painful history, the old flag reduces native people in this state to a past era image of recognizing our living communities or our government-to-government relationships. In 2022, Minnesota undertook a formal state statewide process that included broad civic engagement. While we understand that any one design may not appeal to everyone, a decision to break from the state and fellow local units of government on what state flag to fly, I have several concerns that we are certain you are considering. Given how close our communities are, it would be troubling and disheartening if Hastings decides to revert to a flag that flaunts the forced marginalization, termination, and removal of Dakota people from the state of Minnesota. Does the council wish to re-evaluate the scene as a source of pride? When you are deliberating on this decision, we ask that you consider what your vote says to Native Americans living in the city of Hastings, including Prairie Island Indian community members, and to all Native people and tribal governments in Minnesota. Thank you, Grant Johnson, Tribal Council President. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Sure. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak at this time? Well, Peta Hastings Council, I just uh thank you, mayor, and nice to see so many of you again. My name is uh Michael Childs Jr. My Dakota name is Meduska, which means crawfish. Uh I do not speak for the Prairie community officially. I'm a I am a I'm a member of the Prairian community. I'm a past prayer island council member. So, you know, I when I see that depiction on that, you know, I think for me it it it tells me a story, right? tells me a story of I guess things haven't changed so much in the past 160 plus years when people are so I guess they like the they they they want us all to be exiled. Well, guess what? There are four Dakota communities and we weren't exiled. We are here. Maybe you need to know be refreshed about the relationship of Hastings and people. My family personally my grandma Lena her parents are Thomas Wimble Whipple and and u these would be my great great-grandparents would be Thomas Whipple and Anne Hoffman. You recognize them names because they are still names in this area. Some people are still Dakota descendants. Uh if you understand Alexis Bailey, he also had children with a Dakota woman. So we we see the Bailey name around here also. Correct. We are not gone. Maybe some people want us to be gone, but uh you know that's uh that's about all I wanted to say. Again, thank you for listening to me and have a good night. >> Thank you. >> My name is Spencer Johnson. I live at 1106 Eastn Street. That's Cow Town, in case you're wondering. Um, I taught school here for a long time and it was my job to try to explain history and let kids decide what their own views are. In terms of the flag, um, Minnesota did not have an official flag till 1893. And since then, we have changed it sometimes slightly six different times. Many, many states have changed their flags over the years. In fact, when I did a little bit of homework, um, only 13 out of the 50 states have not changed their flag since they had an official state flag. It's a very very common thing to relook at those and try to create an image that is both easy easily recognizable and reflects the community that that the people live in. Um, our flag that we've chosen now or that our our state representative chose and we voted for them. Um the North Star, it's if you look at the fl the floor of the state capital, that's what that flat that star looks like. It's um symbolic of Minnesota, the night sky, the wars of Minnesota, the North Star. Um it's blue, which reflects the sky and the water, things like that. Um, I think it's really important that whatever decision we make, and I really appreciate the fact that you guys have made a decision some sense, that it reflects that Hastings is looking forward and progressing towards the future rather than hanging around and thinking about what was the past. I know change is hard for a lot of people. the old flag, uh, that original image was our state seal with a native person riding into the sunset, basically away from the pioneer, the European American pioneer. Um, and it represents, of course, it's all in the eye of the beholder, but there are many, many other paintings and images historically that have native people running west because the fact that u European American civilization is moving them out. It's you can say it's racist really. Um, it's a perspective, but there's no question what the intention was. in 1858. Before that, Captain Seth Eastman was the army officer that designed that that seal and it was used for a long, long time with some changes. I really believe our state flag now represents the openness of our community. Um, I'm part Irish. The Irish were ostracized when they first came to this country. So were Germans around World War I. A lot of minorities were, and I think we need to be more inclusive, and I think this flag represents that. Thank you. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Jeff Mcmmer. I live here in Hastings. Thank you for your time and listening to this matter. Between 2000 and 2023, lawmakers introduced 10 separate bills to change the flag. 10 attempts. Yet, the design remained unchanged for decades. It tells us something important. motans were not demanding a new flag. It also raises a broader question. Who typically changes a people's flag? Historically, it's been kings, dictators, strong men, not ordinary citizens. And with all the no kings protests happening right outside this very building every Saturday, it's clear that Minnesota does not want kings. The selection committee that agreed on the old plague was offensive to Native Americans, but research by R. Estrada, who himself, a Native American from Apple Valley, shows that Minnesota tribes were not consulted and did not express offense. When a committee speaks for a community without asking them is patronizing and it takes away their own agency. Here in Hastings, it's a farming community. The old flag carries a special meaning. It features a farmer, a direct acknowledgement of people who built this state, worked this land, and shaped our local identity. My family has been farming this land for over a hundred years. Removing the symbol without broad public involvement feels like erasing part of who we are. I urge you to fly to respect Minnesota heritage and Hastings heritage by flying the 1983 flag. Thank you. >> Mr. McNamer, could I have your address, please? >> Uh 933 West Second Street. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon, everyone. Can you guys hear me? Okay. >> All right. Very good. Uh, my name is Blake Council. I live in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. And first of all, I want to thank the city of Hastings for allowing voices to be heard on this precious subject of our state heritage. We need to be heard. We weren't heard up in the hill. A select few went ahead and adopted a whole a new flying for the entire state. And yet the people did not have an opportunity to vote on this flag that affects everyone. So this is an important part of our history, who we are, but it's also part of our identity as all motans. Right? I want to share something with you. I've learned to appreciate the Indian culture all the way from the Navajo to the Blackhawk to the Arapjo, from Colorado to the state of Illinois and now the state of Minnesota. I have never once thought ill of the Indian culture with a rich culture filled with religious heritage and spiritual, tremendously spiritual. And I'm grateful to have the Indians represent in our old flag because it shows that they're here and part of our community. The new flag omits that. I look at the old flag as very positive. I don't look at it as racist. I also look at a bond between the farming community, meeting the natives, working together to survive in the land, be it water, cow, corn, all things that are substance to be able to survive. So, I just want to say that this flag that we have had, it's a very positive flag. It's a rich flag. And I also want to again end this note to thank the city of Hastings to allow the voices to be heard. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> There's a gentleman here comment and Mayor, Mary, council members, my name is Bill Spinelli. I'm a longtime Hastings resident. I live at 1350 Rosemary Court in town. And obviously, I'm here to speak to just a few minutes about the concept of whether or not we should have the new flag versus the old flag flying over the city of Hastings property. For those who are opposed to the notion, I want to remind you that this only says that the flag should be flown on city property. Your heritage is not being erased. You have more than enough opportunity to hold to fly this flag on your own property and to honor your heritage and your family that I also honor. The new flag, new flag honors the Minnesota heritage, both new and old, and it speaks to all of the people of Minnesota, not just to some in our community. I think the other issue I want to bring up and uh this one's probably a little bit tender, but I want to ask the city council not to get dragged into political theater. All too often in the campaign years, we find politicians and voices creating culture wars to distract us as voters from the real issues that we're having to attend to. And if you don't have a policy position that you can argue from, excuse me, argue from or to show that you've had results for that address things such as clean water, access to health care, funding for roads, parks, and trails, then you're going to distract the voters and get them outraged about something that's cultural rather than speak to a policy issue. And I see that's what's happening across the state of Minnesota on this particular issue. And I urge our city council not to be dragged into the political theater of a culture war and pay attention to the things that you address both tonight and the things I've watched in the past, which is what's best for the Hastings safety, life, and the financial and budgetary issues that you confront on a weekly basis or bi-weekly basis in your meetings. Thank you very much for the time. >> Thank you. I got to press a button or anything. >> I think you're good. >> Cool. Uh, my name's Noah Spencer. I don't have the great privilege to live in Hastings, but I attend church down here and I spend much of my time down here because it's a beautiful city and I have a great community down here. Um, couple of things. First off, the new flag is just ugly. It reminds me of like the corporate flattening of all their logos to be minimalist and simplistic. If we're going to change it, we could at least chosen something that compartmentalizes our history, what we do, something more meaningful than just two colors and a star. Um, but more importantly, I think the arguments of like historical eraser and whatnot, I think we are erasing our history by getting rid of this flag. And yeah, maybe it depicts things that aren't super beautiful to the modern day context, but does that mean the person who came before the Dakota has a has a gripe that they can say? What about like the Cheyenne or the Ojiua or the Arapjo or the Cree? They also push these people off lands. That's just what people do. We're sinful and fallen. Hate to break it to you. So for us to erase our history seems pointless. And it's very clearly divisive against a certain kind of people that have lived in this state for a long time that take pride in the heritage of being a plains people. I come from California originally. When I came to this state and I see their flag, I'm like, "Oh, history. I can understand it." And it encourages me to look back and see what happens. My own state of California has the California grizzly bear on the flag. Are we going to get rid of it because the California grizzlies extinct? No. We're also not a republic. We were republic for like a couple of days, but we kept it because it's our history. And in fact, I looked at I'm like, we don't have bears here. What happened? And it encouraged me to actually look into what the California Grizzly was. So, whatever side of the aisle you stand on, getting rid of this is getting rid of the history that you can either teach on or take pride in or both. I think it's a simple simple choice even though there's not enough intestinal fortitude within the city council to actually take it to measure, I guess. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. >> Hi uh Mwitch for having me here tonight. Mwitch for hearing our voices and the community's voices. My name is Sam St. John. My name is also Makwa Ogichida which means bear warrior woman. My address is 3013rd Street West Hastings Minnesota. And I have lived here for 32 years. So in my experience that growing up in Hastings, I experienced a very small community of other native children in my grade. Not a lot of uh children of color in my schooling. Uh my brother got bullied for being brownkinn. And so for me today, seeing this on the agenda continues to remind me that um Native Americans still can still be a culture uh caricature in society and that people want to argue and speak on my behalf and how I feel. And I'm gonna say that this was already an issue that was decided by our government, by our state, and that the need to argue about why should we do something that's greater for the good of all and still need to oppress people of color. So for me that I I appreciate everybody here today. I appreciate the the need for democracy. And by choosing to hear this issue, it also says something, right? By saying something and not saying something, there is still something that's loudly said by this need to bring this up because who does this really affect? Yes, there's the political need to this people, this people divisive, but this continues to divide our community and also specifically send a message to native women like me who grew up in this community. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Sam Meyer. Are pissed? I live at 2250 Brooklyn and I figured more women needed to speak than men tonight. I don't know about anybody else here, but I have never thought more about how we fly a state flag than I have in the last six months. My husband and I moved here from Inenver Grove Heights. For a better community, which we got. If you could silence your phone, that would be amazing. So, everybody has said what they feel about the Old State flag. And I grew up going to native events with my father who ended up not being native once we got our DNA test. But that's a whole different story. But I loved doing all of those things with him and meeting new people and learning new cultures which is why we travel around the world. And here we are tonight debating something that has already been decided. It was voted on. We moved forward. We have a new state flag that represents Minnesota. You can fly whatever flag you want in your home. I don't care. I'll know which one to stay away from. And I think the city of Hastings has other things to worry about. our water infrastructure, the freaking ebikes that are taking over our sidewalks and hurting people. Those are the things that we should be concerned about. Fly your own flag, but I represent the new Minnesota. And I'm proud that we are going to fly the Minnesota state flag. It should not be up for discussion. It was already decided. Everybody needs to move on. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Justin Oil, 1891 Fbrook Drive. Um I think there's definitely some inspiring stories here and sorry that some folks grew up in the environments they did. And to me it's not a not so much a debate on um whether or not the old flag needed a redesign. It's more about the process in which this happened. Um there was a committee that was chosen in silence. Nobody had a voice. This was not voted on. Um and then it was pushed through. Nobody had a say. This has obviously been very divisive in this community. This community should be brought together. Um we should feel like we're all part of the community. And there's clearly a large part of Hastings that is not feeling like they're part of the community. So, the city council does have a choice to not fly the flag and potentially have a vote on whether or not it gets flown. So, I guess that's what I would propose if that's ever up for proposal is that we make a decision or make a choice to have a vote on whether or not um this flag gets flown because the state pushed this through a committee. It was not voted on by the people. So, that's what I would have to say. And, you know, I'm sorry if people find the old design offensive. To me, it's not about the design of the old flag. I'm not saying that a redesign isn't something that might be due. That's not really up for discussion. It's just more about the process that um the current flag went through. So, that's all I have to say. >> Thank you. Hi, my name is Mary Nearing. I live at 58 Three Rivers Drive. I was really hesitant to talk be tonight because um this is kind of one of those you definitely fall on one side or the other of the issue. However, I take I take exception in describing that we did not have a public process. Not having a public process in n no 18 93 when the first flag was made. It was decided by three people. Um, if you're not quite aware, Minnesota was a state in 1950, 1858, I'm sorry. Um and they've done and any commission that is set by the state is set by the legislature including the one that was made in 1957 and in 1983 and 2022 23 that was developed and they had more than 18 months of public comment availability to go through the over 2,000 designs that were submitted that they decided and voted on this last one. It was voted by correctly through a legislative committee. So that I take exception with. Um, I think we've discussed a lot of the other I do appreciate the council's consideration and decisions on this and I hope that we can as a city we can fly the official flag and as in everything else as a citizen of this United States of America. You can fly whichever flipping flag you want to. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello. I'm uh Jim Hansen, 214 West Third Street. Probably taught with Spencer Johnson for many years. Um previous speaker just um covered some of the things that there was plenty of public comment. It's not true that there wasn't. Never in the history of uh of the Minnesota state flag story was there a direct vote. It just wasn't there. Uh there is a mechanism though to do that. If people are upset with the flag the way it is now, there can be a state ballot initiative. You collect enough signatures and there can be a direct um vote on it and people are free to do that. Um as far as the flag um erasing history, that's it's just not true. The history happened. uh we choose to celebrate as a society though our history. Uh so the old flag is a snapshot in time. It reflected uh the current federal forcible removal of the natives to move west. And if you doubt that uh Seth Eastman, the um designer of the flag, his wife wrote a poem about it and you can look that up on your own. And it was very clear what the intent was for white men to take the land and for the native to move all the way to the sea. Um now to have farmers in the flag is a big deal. We've all been beneficiaries from the hardworking Americans that have grown our country. Um but again we choose to celebrate things in the past and I think we can do better than the original state flag. Uh countries as Mr. Johnson said many times and states choose to make changes. The easy example once the Nazis were defeated, they chose a different path and changed their flag. Uh the Soviet Union when it fell, they chose a different path and changed their flag. Um does that diminish everything, the good work of common people in those societies? No. But they chose a different future. So again, if you don't like the new design, uh even though it it works, right? It's Minnesota. It's our star. It's our land of sky blue waters, right? It's in our Hams commercial. Those of us old enough remember that. Uh so it's there. And uh thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, mayor and council members. Is this the right one? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> So, these are tough times for our nation and our state and Hastings, our community. Um, many residents, thanks to federal cuts to Medicare and SNAP, are now choosing between food and medicine, maybe taking their medicine every other day because their healthc care is unaffordable. >> Could you please state your name and address? >> Oh, sure. Tom Bolington, 1585 Tierney Drive here in Hastings. >> Only lived here 22 years. >> I know we know you, but you do process. Okay. That's that's a heartbeat in Hastings. Um, our drinking water is contaminated, as we all know. Um, housing, healthc care, and gas are increasingly unaffordable. Our roads need major repairs. Local businesses are struggling, and we have no organized transit in our city. If you live downtown, how do you get to Cub Foods? How do you get food? How do you get to the clinic? It's expensive not to have a car, not to be close to uh places where you can purchase things. There's no transit here. No transit in or out of the city. Many people in this room, and I know you are because I am, are working two or three jobs out there. And I just want to mention something about um representative democracy. is is far as I know as of 7:45 central time we still live in a representative democracy. That is never really certain with our current president but we still live in a republic representative democracy. And the people that are in our legislature are our elected officials. our elected officials that all of us elected across the state, both in the Senate and the House, voted to create a commission to discuss the flag. We've talked about the public process that that entailed, years of public process, the thousands of suggested flag designs, and we came up with one that's not racist. So, we're here tonight discussing a piece of fabric and I just coincidentally am looking at uh William Beck's Facebook page who is married to one of our council members. The city of Hastings will discuss flying the state flag on Monday at 7. This has been made a political theater tonight to benefit a political candidate for state house. Please remove the nonsense about the state flag from the agenda, >> which it sounds like you have. >> Can I step in? >> Get back to the business of governing. It's time for Hastings to have more leadership and less partisanship. Thank you. Hello. Um, my name is Kim Reiko. Uh, longtime Hastings resident. I'm on Ramsey Street one8. Um, Mr. Spencer Johnson was one of my teachers in high school. Um, it's uh really disappointing to be here tonight. Um, I should be at home helping my daughter with her math homework. My daughter that goes to school here. Um, I understand. I'm I'm I'm torn because I do think that people should have a voice. Absolutely. And I also agree with others comments that that's why we have a representative at the state level and that is the forum. I'm disappointed that this is happening here tonight because this is not worth your time. I as a resident am so upset that you have been manipulated into presenting this. Apparently we're now on the local news, not just on people's Facebook pages. So great, let's just add to it. I was I thought about a lot of the different sides of the debate etc. and I just came to the conclusion that you know it really just comes down to you either feel one way or another but if you feel strongly about it please talk to your representatives at the state level. Now, if you want our state or our city to change and fly something for reasons because you think that an old flag that is ugly, by the way, I mean, ask any graphic designer, it is hideous and it is abjectly representative of manifest destiny pushing people off of land. It is documented as others have stated. If you if you want to debate that, I invite you to come down and talk to a whole lot of people that live 15 minutes away from here and a whole lot of those people's relatives that live in this town and you will get a much different opinion. When you choose to fly that flag, that is what you are standing for. that you want those people gone and you think it's just fine. I don't think that's fine. I'm not Native at all. I'm a mut. Mostly Irish. But my neighbors are Native American. My relatives are and my children are. And when you fly that flag, guess what you're telling them? Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. How are we doing? I'm Nate Medcraft. I live at 1121 Sibly Street here in Hastings. My biggest problem with the flag, the new one, is it had to be revised. And then the next day, they did it one more time. If you remember correctly, I didn't like the old one very much. I really don't like this one. But why can't we just vote on whether or not we keep it or if we don't? Just put it on the ballot in November. It'll really clear it up for everybody. And it's just easier that way. And that's all I had really saying. And I'm sorry that we disagree on a stupid flag, but realistically, that's where I'm at. So, let us vote, please. Thank you. >> Hello, mayor and members of the council. My name is Lee Stafel. I work I live at 1181 Selfio Drive. Um, typically I'm on the other side of things, not on this side, but this is something that was very important for me to come and talk about today. I'm proud born and raised in Minnesota, 20-year resident of Hastings, and a proud local Gov nerd. Many of you know that, not all of you. I don't know everyone anymore. Um, I I served nearly eight of my 15 years in local government for the city of Hastings, two years for Prairie Island Indian Community, and I I really love it. I we're at an age where many people have given up hope on local on government at every level and I will always defend the impact and the importance of local government in our daily lives from the quality of the water we drink to our beautiful parks and wreck planned growth and reliable public safety. The the and the responsibility the responsible use for tax dollars the work you do and the work we do as city employees matters. With that said, I want to raise concern that we're spending time on this. Um, not only does it I feel like it disrespects our relationship with the state, it also further divides people at a time where we desperately need to focus on what unites us. Um, I've heard two main criticisms about the flag. The first is that people didn't get to vote on it. As you all know, not every process in our lives is comes down to a vote. Um, in fact, very few processes require a statewide vote. Instead, we vote on representatives who make decisions on our behalf. No decision has a 100% agreement, and we've all been on the receiving end of that. Sometimes there's things we like and sometimes there's things we don't like. It's just the way it works. Um, but I'll remind you that the state did have a very lengthy open public engagement process. So, I want to just tell you a little story from my own family. I had at that time I had a son who was in seventh grade at Hastings Middle School and he came home and he's not a he's not a talker like I have to pull stuff out of him you know how was your day fine you know and this day he came home and he was so excited to tell me that at the middle school they were learning about vexalology which is the study of what makes a flag great and he was telling me all about the principles what's important and he's like mom do you know that they're trying to design a new flag for the state well yes I knew okay great so we have these family discussions about what makes a good flag. He's at the same time getting to design a flag at at middle school, learn all about the history and everything like that. And it was such a fun it was a fun um it was a fun thing for our family because we would talk about it at the dinner table. And then when the state did narrow down the flags and we all got to vote, you could vote online and we all did it. It was really fun. In my family, we did it. If you missed that, that's that's unfortunate. But it was a really fun process. We talked about it. There were different opinions on what what we liked, what we didn't like. But in the end, a new flag came. And that the flag represents all of us. It represents the water that we all that gives us life, the land that we get to see, the fruits of our labor for the farmers, and the the changing seasons. That's what we that's what unites us as motans is we all love living in this state that has all the seasons. It gives us everything we need and we're lucky to have that. Um and then the north star that guides us. So I ask that you please and end this divis divisiveness and focus your time and leadership on the work that actually improves the quality of life for all of the residents of Hastings. >> Thank you Lee. I never like to follow Lee at city council meetings, but I'll do my best. Good to see you again. Tony Alange, 503 Ramsey Street. Uh from the year 2005 to the year 2017, I served as a city council member for Ward One. the uh issue before us today. I had a whole bunch of notes which I've left in my chair because all the things I were going to say got covered really well. Thank you so much for doing that. Spencer, I'm so mad. You t you stole so much of my stuff, Spencer. Um the one thing that I that I did want to do though that I can still maybe add some value is to uh address some remarks to our city council. Uh because I've been up there um not for this issue, but for some issues that are a little bit similar. when you've got a room that's a little bit more full than usual uh on an issue that you don't have full control over um and where emotions are a little high and um thing one I want to I want to congratulate you on getting it right and one uh before people even start talking I do agree with the vote that you took. I think I get why the people who voted no voted no. Um I would like to suggest to you that I would have felt a little bit better if this had been unanimous. I get why it couldn't be. Uh but at the same time I think that uh this is an issue where we um have to we have to squaltch this sort of u misunderstanding without airing everything that we disagree on. Yes, still better than social media, but um not appropriate, I think, for a city council meeting. I feel even a little awkward being up here now taking more time uh of you and your staff uh of the other citizens that are here, the residents that are here. Um I it's it makes me very self-conscious and I'm not normally a very self-conscious person and I'm I'm hopeful that we can avoid this. And I have a little bit of advice and I'll shift to a topic where maybe um where that that also this council has and past councils have entertained things that are beyond the Israel Palestine conflict comes to mind. Um there are other things that came up while I was a city council member that we would entertain and say gosh should we vote on this? Should we give a sense of the city council? And uh it's perilous. And I think if it hasn't been clear in the past why that's perilous, I think it's clear why it's perilous now. So I would like you to remember this moment when the next time somebody brings up whether I agree with where you're going or I don't agree with where you're going. I um I would suggest that fixing on the city business is the best policy. Uh it really is. And when people do come to you, I'm I'm sorry that council member Beck couldn't be here to see this. Perhaps she'll watch. Jake, should uh folks come to her or any of you in the future and insist that non- city business come before the city that you refer them privately and consistently no matter how many times they ask. Um that is will save everybody the most time and energy. uh if there needs to be some sort of meeting about community meeting about this issue because you want the city to to air it out um perhaps not an official city council meeting u may be the best way to do it just to have a community meeting that we can be in this exact same building have this good exchange uh I've heard everybody truly even those I disagree with deeply I've heard you be polite thank you um and the last thing I want to say um are to the descents of the first people that were here which is I'm sorry that you have to come here and uh and that you have to relive this again. And I see the size in the bag. Just sell it. Um I I I think that a little more humility is in order for those that look like me. I think a little humility in listening to those of us who um have different perspectives um and going beyond I'm sorry you feel that way and taking actual action. I'll take all the time I need. Um sir, I did when I was on council and I'll do it here too. Thanks. Um so that apology is probably insufficient. Uh I get it but you deserve it nonetheless and I thank you for being here. I thank everybody for being here and sharing your opinions. Thanks for your time. S you're doing a great job by the way overall. I really appreciate all the time you do. It's a hard job. Most people don't get it. Take care. Nobody was talking when we were talking. >> Order. >> I'll leave it. I would just like everyone in the back corner of the room to remain quiet when other people are speaking. >> Hi. Um, I'm Kurt Meyer, 2250 Brook Lane. Everyone took the wind out of my sales so far, except I wanted to reinforce what the last gentleman said. Um, I work at a large company. This has been a very challenging environment for us. I work in customer experience and um, we've learned some valuable lessons, not the least of which is to just try to focus on our customers and stay out of this stuff. Um, sometimes people get ticked off because we're silent, but that's both sides and that probably means you're doing it right. What we've discovered so far is if we just focus consistently on uh providing good services, our our our customer satisfaction scores go up. And uh this isn't really well rehearsed. Uh but the point is I think that's a good uh strategy for the city council. Uh what was just said really resonated with me and it's a lesson I've seen play out. So just consistently stay out of this stuff. It doesn't get you anywhere. Um I wasn't surprised to see Ember Grove get into it and I'm glad glad you didn't. So thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. Um, madame mayor, council members, my name is Jacob Sullmanson from 1114 Ramsey Street. Uh, for me it's not um more about politics. This whole flag debate is history, familial identity, state identity, and our sovereignty. The flag, the new flag, excuse me, doesn't show a pride or confidence of our state, but a timid conformity with someone else's rules and a desperate plea to be liked. I'm not against reform. The question is, what is worth preserving or conserving? And where do we draw the line? Tradition is our strength of who we are and where we come from. Respect for our forebears, both settler and native, and for the preservation of generations of their wisdom, their learn experiences. Maternity is not always the answer. Antiquity is too. Thank you. >> Thank you. kind of hard winding my way through there. Um Terry Kennedy Larry's 1410 East 6th Street. Um, I don't have very much to say except that, um, I've heard people talk about the history in the flag and I think sometimes that they get their history wrong and I just want to let them know that there are remedial history courses that they can take. So, um, you know, if you want to really hear about, um, who owned this country first and who lived here first, you know, you can go back in time and you can check out who were the original inhabitants of this country were. So you want to sit there and talk about preserving our history, you know, take a course. >> Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak to the council at this time? Anyone on Zoom? I haven't even asked. There is attendee but at the moment is not raised. >> Okay. No raised hands. One more time. Anyone wish to speak to the council at this time. Okay. With that we will close the public comments. I just want to make a comment that you understand that this body is nonpartisan and we work really hard for this community without bringing any politics into it. I want you to understand when we look at the items that we have to look at for your safety and for the safety of this community, we do not bring any sides that we support in. And that's the way this body has worked. We continue to work and we will continue to work for the benefit of 23,000 people. Hanging a flag. Yes, we took it off the agenda. I and maybe council member Beck wanted to be it be more heard. We heard you. There's probably not going to be any change. I'm I'm just saying that we want to be transparent with you and we will support each other no matter what happens tonight or in our future for the betterment of you. So, thank you all for coming. At this point, if you want to leave, you can. Or you can stay and you can listen to what we really have items to talk about and that better this community. >> We'll wait a couple minutes because it might get loud. What do you want? items to be considered. All right, we'll start uh without her. Um council items to be considered. Anything council? Okay, no items to be considered. Consent agenda. Council, I would accept a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Council member Lifefelt with the second by Council Member Lawrence. Any discussion? Council. All those in favor of the motion of the consent agenda, state by saying I. >> I. >> I. Opposed to that motion, state by saying nay. All right. And that motion prevails. Tonight under awarding of contracts we have a resolution for an issuance of sale of go charter bonds series 2026A. And for this item we have an introduction by our finance manager Chris Idmiller and Tammy Andale of Northland >> SEC. Okay, you're both here. All right. Welcome. Well, I don't have a lot to add here other than we work now for several years with Northland on financing of these bonds that we do every year, usually for a street project, sometimes with something in addition to a street project. So, this year we have a few things that we're including. Uh, well number nine to expand the capacity of our water system along with the annual street project and uh some money for utility work when Highway 61 gets underway. So with that, Tammy. >> Thank you, Chris, and welcome, Tammy. >> Good evening, mayor, city council members. Tammy Umdall with Northland Securities here to present the results of the sale. As Chris noted, the city did call for the sale of bonds to finance street and utility improvements on behalf of the city this morning. Northland took bids um for underwriters to purchase those bonds. But before I get to the results, I just want to note that as part of the process, um Northland did recommend that the city seek a bond rating um from SNP on these bonds and the city's outstanding bonds and that the city's rating of double A+ was affirmed by S&P. I would note of the approximately 34045 cities that S&P um in Minnesota rates um about 15% of those cities have that double A um plus rating and that um made a difference in the sale this morning. There were seven bids received on behalf of the city. Um the low bid was from TD Financial Products LLC out in New York City. And um I would note that their bid did include a premium bid. So the final par amount, which is the principal of the bonds to be issued, is 6,400,000 that reflects the use of that premium to reduce the amount of bonds to be issued because the premium is available to the city to finance those project costs. And the other reason for the reduction in the par amount is the underwriter, the low bid, worked for less. So we evaluate that based upon something called true interest cost which takes into account their um purchase offer. So the final true interest cost is at 3.13%. And I would just note the last issuance that the city did was at about 3.45. Chris and I were talking about that prior. Um I would also note that when the finance plan in April based upon then current rates we thought it was going to be closer to that 3.4%. So, seven bids, great results for the city. It would be my recommendation that the city council um move to approve and adopt the resolution um awarding the bonds in the amount of 6,400,000 to TD Financial Products. And as you've heard before when we're at the podium, the reason your agenda in the packet for the viewing public had a different amount and that was um and that was the correct amount of 6,985,000. That was before we took bids and before the reduction of the premium. So the correct amount is um 6,400,000. With that, Madame Mayor, Council, I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have for me. >> Great news, Tammy. Thank you for your work. >> Council, any questions? Council member House? >> No questions, but I would just like to move forward the resolution to uh issue uh sale of general obligation bonds to TD Bank. um in the count of $64 million. >> Thank you, Council Member House. A second by Council Member Pebble. Any discussion, councel? >> All those in favor of the motion, state by saying I. >> I oppose that motion. State by saying nay. And that motion prevails. Thank you, Tammy. >> Tonight, we also have to accept and propose the authorization work for professional services for well number nine. And for this item, we have our public works director, Ryan Stemsky. Ryan, welcome. >> Thank you, mayor and city council members. Uh tonight, yes, our first item in public works is well number nine. Well number nine has been um in our our 2040 comprehensive water plan to be constructed in 2627. So this has been in our plan in public works to meet the water demands of our system. The location of well number nine has been identified probably over 10 years ago. Um we did investigations. We um we evaluated production of aquafer and we determined Wall and Park was the location of well number nine. We have since monitored with the DNR the groundwater elevation to confirm the adequacy of this well. So this is the well that's been ne next up in our in our water system. Our location has been identified and studied. The next step is to fit this well in context of the park that it's planned to be in. And so in the in the proposal in your packets tonight, there's engineering services for designing the well, but there's also architectural services to produce some renderings of this wellhouse such that it would fit in context of the neighborhood. So, this is looking at design standards within the neighborhood that it would be um stood up in. This is looking at other creative ideas to fit this wellhouse. Um the plan would be to bring in Juneish um some renderings that our public can see and that our city council can see and give feedback to public works staff on what fits for that neighborhood. Then we know what we're going to build. And from there uh we would put together geotechnical services in the bid. We would put together a design. We would put together um uh agency approvals to move forward with the project. The this type of a project, a wellhouse project splits off into two bid packages. One is for the the actual well itself. So well drillers come in and would bid bid on the 400 plus feet of a well drill that we'd have to develop. So that work would be ready for bid probably in the fall uh of this year. Um we would get on a a well driller sked for late in the year or early 2027. Their their uh schedules are filling up as we speak. And so that would be the plan is to actually construct the well in 2027. The se the second bid package would be the the wellhouse itself. Um this is the the structure that encases the well. Um there's a standby generator so that if power goes out we we don't lose the production of the well and then the landscaping and and the burming around to to fit the well in context. And so that that bid package would happen probably towards the end of the year and we would time out that construction with once the well got developed in 2027. Got it to get the well in ground in the ground first and then we'd build the structure around it. So um with that uh the total engineering service services and architectural services that I described is in your packets added not to exceed $165,892. Um our 2026 budget is 1.7 million for the total project costs of completing of well number nine. With that I'll pause for any questions. >> Okay. Thank you Ryan. Council member house. Thank you, honor. Brian, can you tell me a little bit about how surrounding neighborhoods or residents would be able to find out once uh the process moves forward more in Wen Park area? >> Thank you, Council Member House. I I think this is what I was getting at. Once I get my architectural team on board, we'll get some renderings going. We'll find some dates, work work with our team here, uh find a location, and we will put that out on social media. We'll put that out on our website. We will do u mailings direct to the neighborhood. All of our classic ways for for touching folks um to make sure they're informed and so they can see the progress, see the schedule, see the options and what we're thinking and then get that feedback. >> Thank you so much for that, Ryan. I really appreciate it. I would also like to make a motion um to authorize the city uh the city to enter in a contract with WSMV uh for the purpose of utilizing the professional services for the city um with the city to design and bidding of well number nine. >> Okay. Thank you, Council Member House. >> I'll second that. >> Council member Lyel, we'll have a second. And we have some questions. Council member >> Hey, Ryan. Thank you. Um I just one thing I just want to say out to everybody, this is not a water treatment plant. Uh we went through that about a year ago and I just want to let you everybody know in that neighborhood it is not a water treatment plant. It is a well a well to get water out of the ground. It is not a treatment plant. >> So it's not a treatment plant. >> Not I just I don't need the phone calls. I don't need what if you want to call go ahead. But again not uh second question what is the size? I know it's early on but like what is the typical wellhouse footprint? Thi this one we still have to do some evaluation with the department of health. Um the chemical treatment meaning chlorine um and fluoride that we have to put in through uh state mandate. Um that would get its treatment up at the future western water treatment plant not in Wallen Park. Um but so we can make this smaller. So this is where some of the creativity comes into play. we don't have to build those chem rooms that are um traditional or what you see in our other wellhouses in the city. So, we can we can take off some square footage that way. Um little garage size, a little larger than a garage size. Um if if you want to get a visual, but but this is what our team we're trying to challenge them to look at how we package this together and and make it look and fit in the neighborhood. But one of it'll be one of our smallest wellhouses in the city. >> Thank you, Council Member Lawrence. Did we have another question? No. Okay, there is a motion and a second. All those in favor of the motion state by saying I. >> I opposed to that motion state by saying nay. And that motion prevails. Thank you, Ryan. And we have uh another little treatment plant coming up. But we will first listen to our director John Hinsman from our community development and he will be talking about a resolution for a site plan for the eastern water treatment plant and 850 Spyro Boulevard. >> Thank you, Mayor, City Council members. Uh Ryan and I will both be presenting items related to the same facility, which is the Eastern Treatment Plant. And as the council knows, under our obligations for water treatment, this is the second plant that we're building tonight. Building uh in the city, my responsibility in this is the site plan review, which I'll go through tonight. This is a site within the Hastings Industrial Park, 850 Spiral Boulevard, as shown here. An existing wellhouse is located on the property. It is zoned industrial, surrounded by industrial land, but for a small area south of 31st Street that is residential. This area is about 300 feet more back from the structure itself. The structure itself, the property looks something like this today. And the treatment plant would be built on the property here. Would be more towards the front of the property. Here's the existing wellhouse. Here is the treatment facility. It's of similar size as the one that is under construction on North Front Road as we speak, about uh 10,000 or more square feet. We did have the planning commission review the site plan at their last meeting on April 27th. They did recommend approval of this unanimously with limited discussion. They did have some discussion related to some of the project management time of the project existing driveway and wellhouse but uh those questions were answered at the meeting itself. So, not a very hightraicked area, not a lot of traffic going in and out of this facility, but certainly a necessary piece of infrastructure itself, trying to keep most of the development here towards the industrial park with that back corner adjacent to 31st Street being pretty much left as it is. So, I can stand for any questions that you may have on this. This is a resolution that we're asking for action on tonight and I can stand for any questions. Thank you. >> Thank you, John. Council, any questions? Council member Lifeel. >> Thanks, Sh. I'm sorry if I didn't hear you say, "When do we anticipate that we'll be breaking ground to start on this particular facility?" >> I would ask the expert on this one. >> What do you think? >> Um, in your next presentation, >> yeah, let me not get ahead of things. Okay. You know how I love your presentations. >> August. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, John. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Council Member Lifeel. Council member Verich. >> Thank you, your honor. John, I love this landscape plan. Any trees that we're losing, we're getting back. And I even see a plus one tree. Really like that. Can you just reiterate for the people that we have here, which is a lot more than we ever have because it's usually just us and you, John. Um, how close is the nearest house to this? >> Closest house is about uh 300 ft to the south here. So, if you go back to Well, look at this prop. You can see it over here on the other side of 31st Street on that plan about 300 ft back. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, honor. >> Okay. Thank you, Council Member Verich. >> Council. Okay. No other questions. Site plan. All right. I'll make a motion. >> Council member >> with a site plan. Uh, I'd like to move forward with the proposed plan requested um for the eastern water treatment plant for PAS removal at 850 Spiral Boulevard. >> Thank you, Council Member House and Council Member Verich for the second. Any discussion, councel? No discussion. All those in favor of the motion state by saying I. >> I oppose that motion state by saying nay. And that motion prevails. Thank you. >> Now we will hear from Ryan again about the plans and specifications. Welcome back, Ryan. >> Thank you. Yeah, John gets to do all the fun stuff. No, just kidding. Um, yeah. So, my portion of the presentation, this is the getting to the authorization, well, the resolution in your packet that um authorizes uh approval of the plans and the specifications of the project. So, here's our our latest rendering of the Eastern Water Treatment Plant. Um, a lot of similarities. We call it a cousin to our central water treatment plant. A lot of the same elements in the architectural feel um is brought into this one. So when you look at our three treatment plants someday um you'll see similarities. You'll know that's a PAS treatment plant in Hastings, but there it will look different with some of the translucent lighting and and other elements in here. So just kind of bring us back to that very point of the decentralized system. We are not mitigated from PAS here in Hastings until we have all three treatment plants up and operating and and that is because all six of our wells in our future well that we just approved for construction um all will have PAS in them to levels that need mitigation and so we can't um be fully mitigated like I said until all all systems are are having these removal processes. Uh the the the plan we see here um currently the central water treatment plant in the center of the the page off 55 is currently in in construction. Um hopefully walls will be up in June so it'll start looking like a building very soon. So I'll be getting pictures when we get to that point. Um our western treatment plan is still site to be finalized and determined. So we we are uh we are working on that um as we speak. Obviously this is not the right location. Um this is this was from our original feasibility study. Um we've moved that over to the um SE's property is what we're um currently in discussions with. And so that's west of General Seven Drive. So I just want to point that out. And then what we're here to talk about tonight is the eastern water treatment plant and that's over off Spiral Boulevard as John described uh near Commerce Drive. So in our industrial park, John did a good job of of zooming in on the same site plan. Uh we can see in the plan itself. Um this is our location for well number six. So, we already have a raw water mane connected nearly the whole way from well 8 north of us to to just up at Commerce. Um, and so we have a little water mane work to do, but then both wells will be connected for treatment at this site. Our P FOA range is ranging from 6 to 20 parts per trillion. And at the um MCL level of four parts per trillion, we know we need treatment. So, uh, that's where the numbers are there. Our nitrates, um, have ranged recently from 8 to 10 parts per million. Um, and the MCL is at 10 parts per million. So, we're in that elevated range. Uh, we we come up and we come down seasonally uh, with nitrates, but we're in that upper range for for nitrates um, for for wells uh, six and eight. on the south end. I don't know if John mentioned this, we we do have our water treatment. That's an infiltration basin back there. So, that's what you might be wondering what that is. That's capturing our roof drain and recharging that into the ground groundwater. Um, and then we have our our circle driveway here uh to get semi-truckss into our facility to remove the spent media. We we pull the semi-truckss into the into the site. they can back up into the treatment plant without having to do those movements out on on spiral. So that was important to us in operations. Zooming in on the floor plan itself. So once we get inside the plant, um this is where I was talking about backing up. Here's our truck bay right down the middle. Um that's actually a floor drain, the darker section there, but that's that's our truck bay. Um on the back side of the treatment plant, we've got our granular activated carbon vessels. And so this is our single pass treatment system. That kind of means what we've talked about before. The PAS chemicals absorb to the media in these vessels and those get spent someday. Eventually all those those void spaces will get filled. semi-truck needs to come in probably about once a year or or a little bit more than that if if uh if our calculations go to scale. But um we we suck all that spent media out. We put fresh new granular activated carbon in and then we send that material out to get incinerated at high high temperatures. And so that's that's the single pass system that we have on the the PAS. Uh on the west side of the building, you'll kind of see our setup for nitrate removal. We have ion exchange vessels here on the the the rear west side of the building. Um and then we have two brine tanks up at the the north side of the building on the west there. That's very similar setup to our ion exchange treatment plant now um that we have in play. So, it's actually the same setup and we can regenerate and reuse the media in there. So, that's the nice thing about the ion exchange. Uh, we don't have to take it out and and uh have a truck bay for it, for example. We can actually uh just keep regenerating that. We get we get years and years of uses out of out of that um media that we purchase for the ion exchange. So, those are the two treatment systems that we have in this facility. Here's a west view. You can kind of see some of the translucent lighting um on the on the building exterior. Uh this is well six in the foreground kind of matching. We have to get in there and connect up the facility. So as we do that, it it gets a a faceelift to have the same look and feel um as the treatment plant. And I think those are the key elements to point out. Here's kind of a 3D rendering of once we get inside the building. This is kind of a top view looking down at that truck bay. Um, and you can these are these are those those 10 foot diameter um, PAS removal vessels that you're seeing here. And then over on the west side there you see the shorter, smaller um, ion exchange or nitrate removal vessels. Some of the components in the front, those are some prefilters. We kind of take all the sand and media and um dirt and debris out of that might be in our water and that gives our our um uh media life of our granular active car carbon longer life. We're trying to get maximum life out of that so we can use as much of that purchase media for as long as we can. And then here's a rendering. Um this is kind of right next to that um vessel gallery is what we call it, but this is where we do all of our uh testing of the water. So we've got a lab right there. We do our testing, our MDH required testing. We'll have a little office space in there for our operators to do their checks on a daily basis. Um but that gives you an example of what a treatment plant looks like on the inside. So, the total project cost for this facility is the 20 $22.3 million um including the design and soft costs um plus the construction costs. Of that total project cost, we've already got a $1 million MPCA planning and design grant. We've talked about that on the first treatment plan. And then, um we we anticipate getting a $5 million emerging contaminants grant. Again, we're we're that's out of the PFA loan and grant system and we we received this $5 million last year for the central treatment plant. Our eastern treatment plant is actually number one on the state's project priority list. So, um we're already in process of filling out our application for for this. Those are the two known funding sources that we have to date. Then uh we do have a state bonding request in as well waiting for session to play out on that front. Okay. The nitrate treatment system. So we did go to our operations committee and and talk through these elements of our eastern water treatment plant. One thing we talked about at that meeting is a discussion of breaking out the treatment systems cost. So, we had talked about including the footprint of the building like I just showed you that has both the PAS and the nitrate removal in it. Um, we do have an elevated nitrate level and we are on a watch list and a testing program with the department of health. So, um that's kind of why this the nitrate treatment system is is built into this treatment plant. But on the breakout side of things, it's it's a when we looked at the operating systems, um the vessels, the piping, and those elements of the nitrate treatment, it's about a $2.4 million cost of the project. So, pulling that and looking at that specifically, that's the nitrate systems cost for this particular um facility. Not not the building footprint and everything else, just the system that uh actually removes the nitrates within the building. So, if we did that, just playing out that scenario, and we installed it at a later date, if we brought those components back in, um, let's say when we're consistently over 10 parts per million and we we're mandated to put it in, if we did that at a later date, we estimate about an additional $500,000 to do that. Um, and really that cost is to address some catwalk and piping that would be in the way that we'd have to move out of the way. Um, and then we'd have to knock out that translucent wall you saw on the side panel. So, the translucent wall, um, it's it's designed in such a way that we can take it out for a lower cost than a brick building because, um, we have to have a way to get these vessels in and out someday, right? If there's a crack in them or something's wrong, we think it's a actually a pretty creative design to be able to pull these vessels out with having to crane them off the roof or do something else. Um, but you saw on there all the piping, all the manifolds. You can't get these large vessels in and out. So, you have to think strategically in these buildings to not paint yourself in a corner, per se. So, we do have those translucent walls that are easier to take out. Um, and so part of this this $500,000 is the removal and the replacement of of of getting everything back in place if we did this later. Definitely something we can do with a little added cost. Um the recommendation from public works is in in our operation is is to install it now, but we totally understand the um financial position we're in as a city. We understand the costs of these facilities and so that's why we want to we have these discussions and we want to break out the facts uh for council's decision. Um, our thought at this point was to do an add alternate, so an additional alternate in the bid package and that would split out those nitrate components. Um, and we would get pricing on that in the bidding process. And then once we receive those bids back, uh, we'll hopefully have more information on the finances, right? We'll, uh, session will be done May 18th hopefully. Um, but if session's done, we'll we'll know whether we got some bonding money or not, right? We we'll have a little more facts. Um, I I'll share the schedule with you next, but we'd have a little time to learn more information and then council would make a decision upon contract award to the contractor whether we include those nitrate systems in or whether we leave them out. And that would really be at no detriment to the bid process. That's a common practice that we use in engineering that we can either add that component in or we take it out. Contractor doesn't care. We just have to be clear at the time of contract award. So the proposed schedule back to long way to get to council member Lefield's question, but the proposed schedule is tonight we're here um for the plan and spec approval that allows us to move forward in the process and and obtain bids. We have already started the PFA loan and grant application that I referenced earlier. One catch there is we gota we remember from our experience last year is um the PFA program requires that you have as bids in hand. So it's important that we go get those bids and show them factual numbers before they approve a final loan and grant amount. They're not going to do that without the ASB bid information. So that's why this is an important step tonight. in August is when we anticipate that city council award and having that financing package available at that time. That would push our construction closer to September. And that's a very similar date to when we started the plant today. We got excellent bids last year. And so my motto is if it's not broke, don't fix it, right? We try to align. They they were able to get foundational work in, piping work in, and then they could put some crews on some of the interior work that they could get done over the winter. And that worked very well. Our contractor loved it. So, we're going with the same timing because it it saved us millions last year in bid pack packaging. Um, so these treatment plants take a long time to build. You heard me say 18 months in the past. This would get us to start up in February of 2028 with final completion in May of 2028. And I think Yep. That's all I have. >> Great. >> Any questions? >> Thanks, Ryan. >> Great introduction, Council Member Lifel. >> Thanks, your honor. Ryan, so question. when you gave us that I know these are estimates 22.3 million for this um eastern plant did that number include the 2.4 million for the nitrates or we >> Yes. >> Okay. Correct. >> So the first number you gave us you were already calculating in if we went ahead and did both. Correct. Now, as a reminder on the current central treatment plant, we are just building the facility to house it, but we are not putting in the nitro the nitrate treatment plant yet in the central because we're not on the watch list at that spot. Is that correct? >> That's correct. Um, that is we have nitrate treatment next door. So, wells three and five are getting a bypass treatment system. We'll talk about that later. Um and well 7 doesn't have any nitrate treatment but that's at a level of five or six parts per million. So we felt that that's not elevated to the gre to the degree to put in those systems now. So our discussion was we I think in a workshop talked about options okay about building the building now or not and then we re we decided to remove council direction was to remove those nitrate systems and and operations agreed with that with with that particular choice. >> Thank you. And I don't want to take any wind out of um Mr. Watich's presentation later, but just to to remind people that um the city has gone on to contract with PAWA to move forward with litigation against 3M. >> Please explain. >> I just want the public to hear. We we we have contracted with Pawa Law Group uh to for potential litigation against one or more defendants. We have not made a decision on a a lawsuit or a defendant at this point. >> Thank you Dan for that. People are wondering what that question was for. We're seeing a lot of things on social media of well why didn't the city go after 3M? We are. We're trying. They're a very big company. But just so as you were giving us some great numbers about some possible funding that we're already working on and securing, we're continuing to to seek more funding. Um, thanks Ryan again. Um, we know way too much about water. So, thank I want to thank you for that. I'm a lot of fun at a party, so thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Lefeld. Council member Beck. >> Hey, Ryan. I just want to say I appreciate you listening to council member Pemble and I at the operations committee about possible and instead of doing the nitrates allin-one as having an additional bid. I just want to thank you. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. Council member Beck make a motion. >> Council member Lifel makes a motion and uh second by council member Lyeld. New discussion I'm sorry Lawrence. Uh new discussion council. All those in favor of the motion state by saying I. I. Opposed to that motion, state by saying nay. And that motion prevails as well. Ryan, thanks for all the work that we are doing and continuing to do. >> Thank you >> for safe drinking water. Well, more feas update with our city administrator Dan Waticha as he does every month. The first of the month, we get an update. Dan, you're on. because we can never know enough about water. >> We never know enough. Yes. >> Um >> uh a few updates over the past month as well as a little bit uh looking ahead uh on construction end on the central treatment plant. Uh A1 Excavating has uh essentially completed their installation of the raw water man. uh in the coming weeks they will be uh doing paving on uh the streets that were disrupted uh and and uh beginning site cleanup. So that piece is all but done uh on the treatment plant itself. Magny construction uh presently continues forming and pouring footings and underlab pouring or unders slab plumbing and conduit uh late April into early May. Uh so presently uh and grading and forming the slab is scheduled for miday as our public works director indicated. We're expecting the tip up walls in June. Uh so it'll be much more visible what's going on there. Um stepping aside from the central treatment plants construction, uh on April 23rd, uh we met with a number of key legislators up in St. Paul to advocate for our state bonding request. Uh and also to talked about the possibility of increasing the cap on the emerging contaminants grant. Uh and uh this is not new. This is something we have had ongoing for the past two three years. Uh but it's critically important. Um uh we have received over uh from several different sources grants as well as uh some of the state's funding through the uh East Metro 3M settlement over $23 million towards this project and it's still painfully expensive. It's just awful. Um if we get nothing more, we're still looking at a 150% rate increase in water rates and right now we're around 33%. So we're not even a portion of the way there. uh and that's why we're looking at every option for for funding and uh really appreciate people's engagement tonight. I absolutely encourage you to reach out to your state legislators both Senator Seabberger and Representative Depel. We uh have their support, but we need them to keep a good tough spine and uh continue that support. We want them when talking with their caucuses to say, "Our town is screaming. We need this help." So, please uh reach out to them. Your voice does matter. Um mentioned uh uh the the difficulties uh financial difficulties with the water rate increases. Um later this month uh and into June, the city council will be discussing uh the potential for another increase presently calculated at 10% uh July 1. Uh that actually will have first reading on our next meeting on the 18th. Hopefully there's time for the the meeting on June 1st to to change it, but it's moving ahead. Um, the biggest thing that would make a difference on that, there's a couple options, but the biggest thing that would make a difference on that is getting additional funding now from the state of Minnesota, whether that is a state bonding bill or increasing the cap on the emerging contaminants grant that can make a difference on water rates today. Um the the other pieces to to note um I I guess are are uh the last few minutes here. Uh earlier this evening uh council approved the site plan plans and specifications uh and putting out for bid the eastern treatment plant. Uh note the importance of the nitrates uh treatment being an alternate bid. Uh, and uh, although I I think our public works director explained it well, the point to that is although we're right up near the limit on that, it is a place that we could scrimp and avoid a little bit of a increase in water rates uh, until we have to. We know it's inevitable, but it may mean it's a few years later, bit more expensive, but that's some of the trade-offs that council will be discussing over the next couple of weeks, as well as as we get into planning our our upcoming budget. Um, and then sorry, as as council member Lyel pointed out a couple of weeks ago, April 20th, the council hired Pawa Law Group, uh, a litigation and trial firm, uh, for potential lawsuits against one or more defendants. Um, I think that's an important step. It is not an immediate resolution. Uh, litigation could easily be several years before a resolution. So, uh, water rates, unless we get additional funding, we'll continue looking for for grants and and such as as we have, but water rates will be continuing to increase unless we can uh uh get state assistance right now. The the litigation, I think, will be an important step that we'll be talking about in the coming months. Uh, but it's not an immediate solution. It's it's a long-term run. Uh but with that council I can stand for any questions. Thank you >> council. Any questions? All right. Thank you Dan. As always like I said the first meeting of the month. Dan gives us an update. Uh council. Any announcements. Okay. I do have a couple. Uh we recognize May as Historic Preservation Month and National Building Safety Month. And this week is professional municipal clerks week. We thank the staff, Kelly and Emily. Yes, we thank the staff, commissioners, and volunteers in those areas to important services to our community. We also recognize next week as police week. Please join us for coffee with a cop froth and cork on May 8th, police week open house on May 12th, and cop on a rooftop supporting Special Olympics at Duncan Donuts on May 15th. Hastings Area Historical Society will host free tours of the historic city hall building on Sunday, May 17th. Please come to the fourth street entrance. meetings uh forward in uh in the month. Uh Monday, May 11th, 7 p.m. we have a finance committee meeting. 7 PM we have a planning commission meeting. Wednesday, May 13th, 6 p.m. we have a arts and culture commission. Thursday, May 14th, 6:30 p.m. we have a Hedra meeting. And Monday, May 18th, 700 p.m. council, we have a council meeting. Any uh motion to adjurnn? Council member Pemble with a second with council member Lawrence. All those in favor of the motion state by saying I. >> I oppose to that motion state by saying nay. We are adjourned.