[4:36] quickly. Okay. All right. Like to call to order the uh regular meeting of the Bayport City Council for January 5th, 2026. Um we are going to stand for the pledge of allegiance. [4:53] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [5:09] >> All right, let's call another role. Mad bunch of them tonight. >> Council member Bliss here. Council member Gilmore >> here. >> Council member Hill >> here. >> Mayor Hansen >> here. Thank you. All right. Um, let's see. Can somebody please um, let's see. Do I just need to request the agenda to be amended and then we will do the Yeah. [5:39] Okay. So, we're going to make an amendment to the agenda to add a proclamation for Malta Day and also add number 15 to the consent agenda, which is appointment of a full-time fire chief. So, if we could have a motion to approve it as I noted and then a second. [5:58] >> I'll make a motion to approve as presented. >> Thanks. >> Second. >> All right, Ethan and Carl. Thank you. Um, all in favor? I >> I >> Okay. Anyone opposed? All right. We'll move on to the proclamations. Um here it is. [6:16] All right. So, this is proclamations, accommodations petitions and announcements. And all we have on that part of the agenda is the proclamation for uh World Snow Celebration Malta Day, which will be January 13th. So whereas the city of Bayport, Minnesota takes great pride in celebrating cultural diversity and fostering international relationships through events that unite individuals and communities from across the globe. And whereas the World Snow Celebration, a prestigious international event showcasing the artistry, creativity, and technical skill of snow sculptors from around the world, will be held January 13th through the 25th in 2026 with team me once again representing the nation of Malta [7:02] and contributing to a vibrant global exchange of artistic expression that brings recognition and distinction to our community. And whereas Adriana Oramus, Sarah Hutgur, and Robert Folks, a dedicated and highly talented team of snow sculptures sculptors will be participating in this esteemed competition and their continued involvement reflects both international collaboration and the pride Bayport takes in supporting excellence in the arts. And whereas the city of Bayport previously proclaimed Malta Day in recognition of team mea's participate participation in the world snow celebration and the continuation of this designation for a second consecutive year reflects the community's pride in this enduring international connection. [7:46] And whereas the city of Bayport recognizes that international events such as the World Snow Celebration strengthen community identity, promote cultural understanding, and inspire pride among residents as they share in the celebration of creativity, winter culture, and global friendship. Now therefore, I, Michelle Hansen, mayor of the city of Bayport, do hereby proclaim January 13 of 2026 as Malta Day in Bayport, proudly marking the second consecutive year this recognition has been bestowed. [8:19] Um, oh, it's been rewritten. I don't remember this part. On this day, we extend a warm welcome to team mea and all participants of the world snow sculpting championship, celebrating the continued contributions and the sense of pride they bring to the cultural and artistic life of Bayport and the world. [8:38] Can I skip that? >> Okay. All right. Thanks. Um I'm excited. They've team um Malta um servat has already uh reached out to me and is excited to meet again with me and come to our beautiful city. So, um, yeah. So, that's great. And last year, I know that we went to the elementary school and the kids loved it and so I don't know what's planned for this year. Haven't seen the agenda, but anyways, that's great. So, thank you to Doesn't mention anywhere on here that it's First State Bank that is uh sponsoring them. Um, and last year Jason, the president came and spoke about that. But anyways, they're the ones that are making all this happen and we are here to help them. So, that's [9:23] that. Um, next is the open forum and I think I can skip the spiel because it's just Orin out there and the chief. So, um, we'll skip that and move on to the consent agenda where we're going to consider a resolution adopting items 1 through 15. The December 1st city council workshop and regular meeting minutes. December payables and receipts. [9:49] December building, plumbing, mechanical, and zoning permits report. Renewal of commercial refuge hauler licenses for 2026. Special event application from Bayport Community Action League for all the 2026 community events. [10:04] Uh the no waiver of statutory tort liability limits for city insurance coverage. Appointment of Bob hiring to the planning commission for a term to expire on December 31st of 2027. Certification of lot line adjustment for conveyance of land from 437 Central Avenue to 139 5th Street South. A donation request from Washington County Historical Society to support historical preservation efforts for Bayport. [10:35] Revisions to the city's sanitary sewer maintenance policy. Service contract with Ellers's Inc. to provide financial consulting to the city's audit. I'd like to add um a max limit of $10,000 to be spent on that. Can I make that amendment right now? [10:55] >> Un noted. >> Okay. And then um accept council member John Dah's resignation, declare a vacancy, and appoint Orin Kip to fill the remainder of the term to expire on December 31st, 2026. [11:10] uh year-end transfers from the CRA capital improvement fund to the general fund. And finally, uh new number 15, the appointment of a full-time fire chief. Let's see if anybody uh >> I'll move your adopt a resolution approving the consent agenda with changes. [11:30] >> Thank you. Second. Thanks, Katie. Council >> member Bliss. I council member Gilmer. Hi, Council Member Hill. Hi, >> Mayor Hansen. I Okay, there are no public hearings. We have no unfinished business. The only new business we have is to consider appointments and designations designations and city council leasison on assignments for 2026. [11:53] So, we did meet in the workshop ahead of time to just go over this and what fit with everyone's schedules now that we have Orin and not John. And the um can I just note the changes versus reading? Oh, I can just say what we've changed. [12:09] Okay, so the acting act acting deputy mayor used to be John D. It's now going to be Ethan Gilmore who has the longest tenure on the council other than me. And the other let's see um citizen representative for inspiration foundation Orin's going to take that over from John. He's also taking over the liaison assignment to the middle sink cry watershed. [12:32] and um he's also going to be the alternate for the Lake Elmo airport advisory liaison. Um and we removed having an alternate for Excel Energy King plant stakeholder leaison because staff also attends those meetings. So we didn't think it was necessary. And Bayport Community Action League liaison um alternate is going to be Ethan instead of John. [12:59] So, if that sounds like what we discussed, I think we can do we just have to approve it or do I just announce it and it's done? Nobody has to >> make a motion. >> And the mayor, you should make a motion. >> We do have a motion. Okay. >> I move to approve the appointments and leaison assignments for 2026. [13:19] >> Second. >> All right. Thanks, Katie and Carl. All in favor? >> I. It kind of feels like Orin should have a say in this, but okay. He did earlier, so he did at the workshop, so we didn't just do this without him, but okay. So, that passes and then we move on to city council liaison reports. Um Katie >> Bal did not meet in December. Uh the only thing is the planning commission that we had earlier today that we went through the plat for the Bay Haven. [13:59] >> Okay. Awesome. Ethan Cable Commission. >> Uh we have not met. Nothing to report. >> Okay. They only meet quarterly, so that's okay. >> Same with the uh Lake Elmo airport report. They met during our last meeting. >> Oh yeah. Okay. [14:17] And they did they send minutes after that? I can't remember. >> Uh, usually with the next package >> something. Yeah. You don't get it till later. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. And I um was able to attend the Langford Exchange soft opening with Ethan and Katie. That was way back like the day after our last meeting and that was really lovely. [14:37] Also, the lighting of the green happened since our last meeting um on the 3. Thank you very much um Bayport Community Action League and the library for doing that. and of course city staff for all the lights and everything that's out there. Thank you Joe and your staff. Um I had a chance to talk to Dick Zimmerman from the Still Water Trolley reached out to me. I was very excited because I thought maybe he had some proposition to have the trolley come to Bayport or have some historical tour or something. [15:09] um he was interested in his son opening a um cannabis retail business here and I told him we've already uh done our one for now and we'll see what happens later. So I think he's pursuing he had already started pursuing one in Oak Park Heights but anyways it was just I had told a couple people how excited I was about meeting with him and that's what it ended up being. So maybe someday I'll get him to do something down here with the trolley. I did learn that they are having the trolley for the world snow competition on the weekends. So, if you want to go down and see the sculptures, you can um pick up the trolley at the Legion. Um so, and I think the also the parking lot uh the GOP parking lot, let's call it that, but it's really ours that Anderson uses over by Lakeside Park is I think the trolley I think is going to loop [15:55] through there, but double check that before you just plan on that. The Legion would have those details. Um on the 6th, I went up to Mounds View City Hall. I was uh all the mayors in the region were invited to hear from it was called understanding the aftermath and it was u families that were affected by the enunciation shooting that the mayor of Mullins View coordinated and it was very powerful. There was a huge crowd and a lot of Kleenex boxes being passed around. Um and I think there's some good that will come out of that with the legislature. Keith Ellison was also there um and was willing to advocate for some more um help with some gun legislation. [16:42] Um on the 7th I went to the fire relief meeting. Uh I'd say nothing too exciting. The financials are always good. They do a great job of managing everything. Middle St. Corey wershed I attended for John on the 11th. I guess nobody on the 11th because we didn't have anyone assigned. Um the most applicable thing that happened there that is of interest is that we approved um increasing the single lot resident review fee for the watershed because what's happening now is that they charge a certain fee for every time they have to review what's going on. you know, if someone has some change they're working on with their property and it's not [17:29] always enough money and so then they try to if it's a certain amount they'll build back to the city try to get the money from us later and it just it's been very convoluted. So, we increased it tiny bit from 350 to 400 because it hadn't been raised in a long time. But the main thing we did, we added a new category for riverway residential reviews because those are more complicated and are the ones that tend to take up all the time that are being under build currently. So, they're going to be $600 each. So, that's um take away from that. I went to the community collective social justice meeting at St. Croy United Church on the 11th. I had gone to their original meeting and then I just was checking in [18:15] again to see the progress and it seems like they're still kind of honing in on their main objectives. They've done a couple things along the way, but they're um next meeting is Thursday. This Thursday coming up at 7 o'clock at the church. Again, it it's not a necessarily a church related thing. Um if you're interested in finding out more about that, I highly recommend you go. 7 o'clock in the basement of the church, St. Croy United. this Thursday. Um, oh, I forgot. I got to see the meet with the fourth grade scout troop on the 12th. They were uh asked some great questions about what it's like to be mayor, how you get elected, how elections work, and that was a lot of fun. And then afterwards, they went and collected the bags that they had put on some doorork knobs out there. If you [19:00] live on that end of town by uh Bethlehem Lutheran, you might have had a bag from them. So, they went and collected some food that people donated. and I attended the library board meeting. Again, Jill gives a pretty good summary of what's happening at the library whenever we get our packets. [19:16] Uh, and I went to here the county commissioner Bethany Cox. Um, she had a presentation to the Optimus Club that I wanted to hear. She summarized the county's mission and services. So, I did learn a couple things about what the county does for us and everybody else and attended the fire chief interviews. [19:37] And there were really no chamber events um because of the big world snow planning that's going on. Um so that's that's it. Busy month for only like half a month I guess because of the holidays. So Matt, what's happening with the staff reports? [19:57] >> Um well first we'll hear from uh Fire Chief Eisinger. >> Okay. Good evening, Madame Mayor, council members. Uh, for the month of December, December, our call volume was 105 compared to 107 in 2024. Our year-to- date for 2025 was 1,225 compared to 1,270 in uh 2024. Monthly drills were quarterly SCBA and ice rescue. Fire inspections are ongoing as well as new plan reviews. uh had the Washington County Fire Chiefs meeting, the Santa Escort, uh we did complete the repair on our aerial truck. Uh so that's back in service, so that's good. Um just it's a [20:44] significant amount for the repair, but when the price tag is 2.5 million and 3 years for a new one, I think it's well worth uh us keep that thing running. Um, upcoming events, Washington County Fire Chiefs, uh, assist in the transition of my replacement. Uh, administrator Klein asked that I start keeping a list of what we do or what I do. Uh, access the dates and stuff. Completed the fire relief uh, member report yesterday. So, just getting ready to close out 2025 and help the individual with uh, getting on board. [21:20] >> Yeah, it's actually kind of nice timing, isn't it? beginning of the year and >> yeah, it'll be interesting. And the individual did call me so. So >> Oh, he did call you? >> Yeah. He just wanted to make sure I don't run out the door. I said I assured him that I would >> make sure it's a smooth transition. [21:36] Nobody wins if we don't >> help the individual succeed. So >> really appreciate that, Chief. Yeah. Thank you for Thank you for all you've done and for even being here tonight, your very last meeting with us. >> Yeah. Well, >> appreciate that. >> No problem. uh be here when he hopefully gets sworn in. [21:54] >> Oh yeah. >> Sooner than later. So yeah, we hope >> I didn't know you're kind of, you know, up at your cabin now. >> We we hope to have membership here supporting the individual when they get sworn in and stuff. So >> that's great. >> Any other questions? >> Great. Thank you. [22:10] >> Thank you. And enjoy retirement. >> Police Chief Jackson. >> Hello, Madame Mayor, council members. Uh kind of a slow month for our public events uh just with the weather. Uh we were at the lighting of the the green uh toys for tots. We rocked it this year with the help of everyone involved. Uh our best year yet. We had more toys than I've ever seen. So that was awesome. And then we did our uh compliance checks for all of the liquor establishments in Bayport as well. So that's all we had for kind of community notification stuff. But I will stand for any questions. Did the compliance checks go okay? [22:49] >> Well, >> needed a little help. We >> have a few things we had to work on. So, >> not on our end, but on their end. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, thanks for doing those. We need those. >> Awesome. >> Any other questions? >> Perfect. >> Thank you. [23:04] >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Chief. >> Public works director Hansen. Madame Mayor, council members, uh since we met last, uh most of public works staff time was uh used up by switching over to winter operations, uh getting things prepared, uh for our winter snow events and closing down uh our parks and making sure everything's ready to go for the winter. Um all of our fall maintenance has been completed. Uh the annual sewer jetting uh was completed as well. Uh and staff continues to do our inspections and document our water service line uh inspections as required by our state uh lead service line inventory. Um still [23:51] waiting on uh more of those to come in. And as of today, we started taking down all of our Christmas lights and decorations around town. Um, staff has also been busy with snow removal along 95 and 5th. That's our update for this month. I stand for any questions. [24:13] >> Thank you. No questions, but just want to say thanks for all of the snow plowing that has had to occur so far. It's been from my perspective, I think it's gone really well. I don't know if anyone's heard any complaining, but nice job as always. I was going to comment that last big snow event we had and then later on that same morning seeing the uh the rink getting flooded. [24:34] That was a a big day >> because you guys were up in the middle of the night and then you're out there doing that. >> Yeah, our our rinks have been rather challenging this year with our weather to say the least. Um with the temperatures coming again this week, um we're doing our best to keep them open, skatable. Um so everything's working out well. Um we'll keep them in the best condition that we can. [24:55] >> Yeah, thank you. They're very much appreciated. I think uh the rinks and everything that you're doing. So, thank you. >> Uh assistant administrator Taylor. >> Madame Mayor, members of the council, um I'm happy to report that a total of 32 mattresses and box springs were collected from over 23 households during the month of October. [25:17] >> That's awesome. >> And recycled by Second Chance Recycling. Uh just a reminder, this uh free collection event is made possible by a grant from Washington County and we are going to participate in 2026. So look for that date to be or that month to be announced um this coming summer. The most recent edition of the city newsletter was mailed before the holidays. So if you haven't already received a copy, look for that in your mailbox hopefully this week. Um the preliminary plat for the second phase of Bay Haven was reviewed by the planning commission and approved by the city council earlier this evening. The final plat is anticipated to be presented to the city for consideration probably late winter or early spring. Okay. [25:57] >> Uh finally, thanks to Orin and Bob for their willingness to fill the vacant seats on the city council and planning commission and staff will be working with them to schedule an orientation session in the coming weeks. Stand for questions. >> I have none. Thank you. You've been very busy. I know. [26:16] >> All right, Madam Mayor. I just have a couple things. Um the fire chief position um was added to the consent agenda. We had a candidate who um we um has accepted the position. We'll be doing background check. Um that includes a significant amount of work, psych evaluation, different things like that. Um our hope is that by the end of maybe the end of the January, beginning of February that that candidate um uh could start work. [26:46] Um, also working through the old fireh hall with a lease extension with the Department of Corrections. Our intent is a three-year uh lease with options for the fourth and fifth year. They are requesting a couple of um improvements there. Um improvements that um we're also considering even before we talked to them. Um and then finally the uh sec or two 18point road mitigation involving the cleanup of that property has been completed for the court order. [27:18] Um city staff is preparing an invoice and a letter document that will be sent to the property owner. Our expectation is that that will likely go unpaid. Um, but we were given the option by the court order to assess that assessments won't occur until next fall. With that, I will stand for questions. [27:43] None might go down in history. Okay. Anyone else have any other items or announcements? Otherwise, take a motion to adjourn. >> Madam Mayor, I do have a fun thing. So, um the uh for anybody out there, the Malta flags will be flying again um this time. So, if people inquire about, hey, why are there American flags and Malta flags? Um that will be happening again this year for about a two week period probably. [28:13] >> Oh, that long. Okay. >> Two weeks. I I think that >> during the world snow celebration time. >> It lasts from the 13th through the 26th, right? >> Yeah. So, during that whole time. Okay. >> Flags are scheduled to come in the 9th. So if we get them, we'll put them up this way. >> They didn't hold on to the flags from last year. [28:29] >> We gave them back. >> No, I'm like they You think the bank would have held on? >> Well, they remodeled. >> Oh, they got lost in the shuffle. Maybe. Ah, okay. Cuz I'm like, I'd take one if they were going to Awesome. >> All right. Motion to >> I move to adjourn the meeting. [28:47] >> Thanks. >> I'll second. >> Thanks, Ethan. All in favor? >> I All right. >> We be adjourned.