[0:00] Wayne Boucher: Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:25] Wayne Boucher: Where is Geissler? here? here. Peterson? Here, here. Um, announcements. Do any counselors have announcements this evening? [0:40] Wayne Boucher: And we have no public hearing this evening. Communications. Mr. Mulder. [0:43] John Mulder: Uh, just two items were included in your packet. Uh, one was the letter from Mortonson um asking for their application to be removed from the planning and zoning commission um in November. And then the second one is um a certificate of substantial completion from DSGW and Krauss Anderson relative to uh the Northstar Ford Arena. [1:06] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. And could you summarize the presentations that were delivered at pre-agenda? [1:10] John Mulder: Sure. Um we started with Kevin Orme, our director of finance and administration. um went through the budget booklet, the online budget booklet um just to so you could see where um the various sections of the um budget were and and how it was laid out. And so that just give you an update about that. And then we have the um budget hearing on December 1st. And then um we presented just an update kind of on the Hawkline business park. um specifically as it relates to um some infrastructure improvements we're making up on uh Levake Bypass and UGstead road [1:53] um and a grant application that we're making for some potential changes to that road there which is resolution 175. [1:57] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. And now we have public discussion. This is the time for individuals to address the council about any item not on the agenda. The time limit is three minutes per person. I have a list in front of me of people who have signed up. Uh first would be Jeffrey Donahghue and after him Paul Buckington. Jeffrey. And we have another list coming. [2:27] Jeffrey Donahghue: Hi, I'm Jeffrey Donahghue. I live at 5540 Pine Hill Road, Duluth, Midway Township. I'd like to talk a little about the data center. We have uh the stop the Hermantown data center uh organization now has uh knocked on doors maybe a thousand homes. What's interesting is virtually every single household is against data center. The website now I'm told now has 4,300 followers. 4,300. Interesting interesting numbers, huh? Over 90% probably 95% of the people surveyed now are against the data center. There's a saying that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. This is the worst right here. This is the worst. NDAs. Really? Public servants signing NDAs? That's abominable. It's unethical. It's inappropriate. And to say you should be ashamed goes a step too far or not a step too far. I'm going to suggest y'all resign. City staff, city council, mayor, your services should no longer be required. I don't live in Hermantown, but I'm enraged anyway because you're attempting to build a data center down the street from my house in a residential community. So, how big is the data center? It could use as much as 1.2 gigawatts of power. How much power is that? Well, the state of Minnesota right now has the capacity for 17.8 gigawatts of power. That's total capacity. So you're talking about a potential of 7% of what the state now has a capacity to produce. That is equivalent to 420,000 residents, which happens to be the residents of the city of Minneapolis. One business could use as much as all the residences in Minneapolis put together. [5:03] Wayne Boucher: 30 seconds. [5:05] Jeffrey Donahghue: one how how is that possible that you don't know that and if you don't know that why is that so to say that you have been lied to by city staff you five people you five gentlemen is an understatement I can't imagine that you know the truth of this data center that's been proposed and if you don't you have the responsibility to tr to verify all that information. [5:44] Wayne Boucher: Thank you, sir. Paul Buckington. Okay, folks, if we can hold it down, we won't be taking away from someone else's time. Paul Buckington and Ken Melansen is on deck. [6:10] Paul Buckington: Paul Buckine, Stark Junction Road. How long has this been going on? I just basically heard about it about two months ago. I live within a half mile of this. I'm surprised that nobody reached out and talk to the neighbors, send us any information. It's we're zoned agricultural. I don't know if the animals would appreciate all more buzzing or whatever's going on. That's all I got for now. [6:33] Wayne Boucher: Okay, thank you. Ken Melansen. [7:00] Ken Melansen: my name is Ken Melansen. I live on the St. Louis River Road in Midway Township. this data center, this proposed data center, um, is going to be probably 600 ft from my house. I'm I'm going to look out my living room window at this and I just wanted to say that I have family members with asthma and allergic to things and um, we're vehemently opposed to this data center. The other thing is I have property in Adolf. I've had it for 40 years and I just got my property tax statement the other day and the taxes went up 86% and I'm really wondering if other people have gotten tax statements in Adolf that went up 86%. It's all BS. [7:58] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Next is Kathy Coleman and after that is Derek Strum. He's not on the list, but uh on the first list he was on. Go ahead. Kathy Colemmyer, 5757, please. [8:39] Kathy Colemeyer: Kathy Cole Meyer, 5757 St. Louis River Road. Um, I just want to talk about um how I feel about the Fortune 50 companies that are seem to be getting richer and more powerful. They want us to follow their rules, not our rules. for example, insisting on signing NDAs, pushing government officials to bypass more thorough environmental studies such as the use of an AUAR, and then promising tax revenue, jobs, and the funding of infrastructure such as water and sewer extensions. But at what cost? In some communities such as Saline, Michigan, these companies have threatened to sue the township if the zoning changes needed to build a data center did not pass the township board. Makes one wonder if the city of Hermantown was threatened in a similar manner. Also, the BLM zoning guidelines for Hermantown were rewritten to accommodate a large industrial project, a CIDP, commercial industrial development project. The 234 acre site is not suitable for a large industrial project for a number of reasons. It's a wooded residential area that includes a flood plane and two sensitive trout streams. residences would be subject to 8 to 10 years of construction noise. This site selection is wrong and it's time for us to stop, evaluate, and determine what is best for our city and the surrounding community. Thank you for listening. [10:15] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Next, Derek Strum. Derek, and I've been told someone else seated you there three minutes. [10:24] Derek Strum: Yes. And that person is he is that person on our list? [10:27] Wayne Boucher: Okay. [10:28] Derek Strum: If I happen to go over. [10:29] Wayne Boucher: Yeah. So you've got six if you need it. [10:33] Derek Strum: My name is Derek Stum, 5853 Highway 194. Uh last week I uh lost my cool in here. Uh the disrespect that you, mayor, showed these people when they're trying to voice their opinion is an absolute disgrace. You guys work for us. We don't work for you. We are not your personal piggy bank. We are not raise taxes so we can fund this, fund that. There is a back in the 1800s, 1890 to be exact, Blair Mountain, West Virginia, there was a coal mine up there where a corporation came in and tried to bully the people. And you want to know something? That was the largest conflict in US history other than the civil war. The US military actually dropped bombs on the people because they are armed and going against corporations and the people like you. When the people unite, we stand together and you guys are nothing. We give you the power. You don't have power. We give you that power. The data center approval happened because of two things. One, either the five of you up there are too stupid or two, you're getting financial kickbacks because when you look at what's going on here, you have the majority of the population of this city saying no. If the if the information that they are giving out is actually correct with what they're using as far as water, why not put it dead smack in the middle of the Superior National Forest? You want to know something? They're not going to do it. They're not. Because just like the jab when they said it was completely safe, you have people dying of myocarditis right now. This data center is not safe. BlackRock has taken over Minnesota power. We all know that our electric bills have already gone up due to this state's going green and they're they do not want to put the cost up. They're making us consumers put the cost up. Now these data centers once they are complete the on average they increase people's electric bill 19%. You going to foot that bill? They tend to put these data centers in what they consider low IQ low income places because they feel that people do not have the courage or the strength to fight back. I've already contacted our state representative, Pete Stauber. I am waiting to hear back from him. And right now, people here, it is time to take our town back. We have two choices in this town. One, we can file a petition within city hall and recall all five of these members. Or two, we can let their terms run out. if we let their terms run out. Two of these members are up for reelection next year. So to the city of Hermantown, I promise you that I will be transparent. I will give the people a voice. I will not cow down to big corporations and I will give the people a voice on what they choose to have in their city. My name is Derek Stum and I am running for city council in 2026. [14:22] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Okay, folks, let's uh hold the clapping. Next is Jim Cluckert and after that is Thomas Cooper Bates. [14:29] Jim Cluckert: People get quite passionate. My name's Jim Clucker. Uh 206 North 11th Avenue um West Duluth. Um, people get real passionate here. Um, and that's understandable. Um, I'm trying to be a voice of reason here, but people get passionate because they view the data center as an attack on their home, on their community, and on and because of the nature of the process on the on an attack on democracy because this has not been a transparent process. Now, people get heated and they're going to say nasty things to you folks. But I believe that you folks are basically well-intended. People do not get into community service, which is what being on the city council or mayor is. People do not become law enforcement. People do not become teachers except that they want to serve the larger public. So, I believe you guys are well intended. I also think that anybody who steps into the public arena, there's got to be a certain amount of ego. And I say that because I know that I'm happy to get up and talk and be the center of attention for a little while. But I'm here to tell you guys, and it's all guys, that the folks downstream from you, people from Duluth like me, are not happy about what's happening up here. And the longer this goes on, the more money will be lining the pockets of your political opposition. So if there's enough ego up here that likes sitting where you sit on the council or as mayor, you might want to think about how long you want to let this go on because this is not a winning strategy for an individual. I want to thank you for your service and um let's not let it go personal, but uh there you have it. Thank you very much. [16:33] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Next is Thomas Cooper Bates and after that is Andy Peland. [16:40] Thomas Cooper Bates: Hi, my name is uh Thomas Cooper Bates. That's the name they want me by. Um I live at 5369 Morris Thomas Road. I get a little nervous up here. um in Hermantown, right next to the cemetery. um you know a couple of things uh come to mind. One is that you you do serve when you come to come to be you know city council people and there is a bit of sacrifice to it and I want to thank you for it. Shocking, isn't it? Somebody come up here and actually thank you for serving as city council members. But I mean it. Um the other thing is uh these data centers near as I can understand it are noisy things. Um there's there's the noise is divided into two areas. One is is above 50 Hz that's easy enough to block out. below 50 hertz is a is a deeper sound and that's what it'll carry and it'll carry about 2 and 1/2 miles and we won't be able to get away from it very easily at all and it will bother people I'm afraid it will you know this will be a problem if they build it um the other thing is if the power goes out they need to they can't have a break in the power they can't lose power in a data center. So, they'll have to have backup power. And you guys know all this already probably, but um the diesel generators that they use, they run at about 90 dB. That's a lot. That's loud. That's Real loud. Anybody has any of you been alongside a a diesel gen set when they fire up a big one? Yeah. They're they're quiet and peaceful, right? It's like time for earplugs. The the jet powered gen sets that they use are even louder. They're about 100 dBs and they pollute. Um the diesel generators, we can put uh scrubbers on them, what they catalytic converters like we use on our cars and trucks. the the other ones, they don't tend to because the EPA doesn't require it. So, we get real fine particulate and we get noxious nitrides out of them. We do. And that's making people sick wherever these things have been installed. And I hope this thing doesn't come um it's got a lot of issues, a lot of things that we would need to work out with the company. We really would. Um, we don't want to make people sicker and we don't want to make people crazy. And thank you very much for my three minutes. [19:48] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Have a good night. Okay. Next, Andy Peland and after that is Robert Colemire on the second list. [20:06] Andy Peland: Uh Andy Pelen, 5831 St. Louis River Road. I'm concerned about the data center. I strongly encourage you stop pursuing the data center build. The people you represent clearly do not want it. From what I have seen, the only people that want this data center either believe you'll lower our taxes or stand to financially gain with this. Most of the people not being residents of Hermantown. Please listen to the people and the community. Thank you. [20:34] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Next is Robert Colemire. Did he give you two of his three or go ahead for six? Well, only one person conceded time. Okay. [21:16] Robert Colemire: Uh, my name is Robert Kmire. I live at 5757 St. Louis River Road. And right now, as far as I know, I still live 300 ft away from the uh property of the proposed data center. Um, my comments tonight are sincere and meant to be taken positively. They're not directed at the city council, but at Mr. Dan Lesser regarding his letter dated November 10th to the city of Hermantown government. I will address Mr. Lesser's last sentence. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the city of Hermantown to ensure the project reflects the values and priorities of the community while meaningfully participating in the public process. Therefore, um Mr. Lesser. In its current form, respectfully, the Hermantown data center project does not reflect the values of our community. Its jobs are attractive, but its location is unacceptable. But we do believe it will fit much more sustainably a little bit further north on the Iron Range where the jobs will follow. Our vision for the greater Northland region builds on sustainable economic growth aimed at tourism and recreation along with jobs they bring to our entire greater Northland region. We can do both simultaneously. And let me explain. First, we value sustainable stewardship of all natural resources simply because they nurture our every need. We value reuse of already desecrated lands across our northland. The Mesabi range contains 120 miles of numerous vacated iron ore mine pits, wastelands that could be reclaimed to serve the economic growth of heavy commercial industrial development projects like data centers without impacting existing residential communities. We do not value more unsustainable destruction of our lands on the scale your large industry demands. We value the greatest of great lakes, Lake Superior. Its freshwater is shared by hundreds of thousands of people in neighboring communities including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. The city of Cloquet, Hermantown, and cities along the north shore of Minnesota. We value our many inland lakes, the BWCA, the many rivers and trout streams which provide recreation such as camping, fishing, and boating. We value our renewable re uh forests, our many snowmobile and hiking trails, and our world-class ski hills, cross-country ski trails, and designated mountain bike trails. This entire region is a natural all-season family tourism destination for enjoyment by people from near and far. We emphasize that everyone needs a place to get away from it all and this region has the green space to fulfill that need. Visitors love it up here. The economy of recreation and tourism is booming and it is still in its infancy. It has room to grow. We need to build on sustainable economic growth, the growth model and not the model of more concrete paving over massive amounts of land and the mowing over of families who reside in their wake. There is plenty of less intrusive places for heavy industry. We value wildlife of all kinds. These critters do not have a voice in human affairs and we support them in their fight for survival and in their natural habitat. They are what makes our Northland uniquely wild and attractive for visitors. Next, we value elected officials and public servants who live up to their oath of office as well as their pledge of transparency to whom they serve and their pledge to work together to serve and build our community. Unfortunately, this has not been our experience here in Hermantown. Our entire community has been let down every in every undemocratic way. It ain't right that a veteran and former community builder like me is treated like a dirty shirt. We are respectful community members who value honesty and openness in government affairs and we value timely written and verbal dialogue with those who represent us in our democracy. When the vote is 5 to 1, we expect the majority to be heard and heeded. We know that when elected officials ignore the will of the people, civil disobedience becomes a justifiable response. We do not value going down that road, but we will do whatever it takes to fight for our voice and our homes. These things are sacrosanct to every human being. We appreciate and value our need to be allowed a lengthy review period to study all private business plans and documents particularly when they pose such a great impact on established residential districts. It's unconscionable to think any of us was given due process which is necessary for learning about the true impact. We do not value the use of NDAs in any sort of public-private business affairs. Period. In January, we reached out to Mortonson as was requested, but was [26:33] Wayne Boucher: 30 seconds. [26:35] Robert Colemire: We were roadblocked by NDAs when its impact when it impacts us like this project already has. We value dialogue throughout the process, not afterwards. Mr. Lesser. We know you have additional plans for our region. If you seriously want to partner with residents, we ask that you share with us your vision for a positive long-term sustainable future here in the Northland. Be honest and open. We challenge you to inspire us and we hold you to honor your company's pledge to us. At the end of the day, we want to be sure for making sure the built environment has a lasting positive impact for customers and communities they serve. We value the same. [27:23] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Okay. If if we keep the noise up, we can take a 10-minute break. Okay. Next is Emma Rickman. And after that, Joanna Bates. Jo, did you seed your time? You'll be next. [27:42] Emma Rickman: Hi, Emma Rickman, 5215 Chris Drive. Uh, I'm a little uh nervous being up here, so if anyone has like a minute, they would be willing to seed that might help me deliver uh the majority of my message. Um, since storytelling has been used by this panel as a way to connect, I thought I would share a piece of my story in hopes of doing the same. It takes great strength and vulnerability and time to speak out in opposition. I struggle to find the balance between my roles as a wife, mother, and newly minted community activist. And then other things in life throw you. Things like a spouse who has to work long hours or a toddler who every time I leave for one of these meetings pleads, "Please, mommy, don't go." to the point where he's having nightmares in the middle of the night crying out, "Please, mommy, don't go." Or a dog that's likely to be diagnosed with cancer tomorrow at her vet appointment. But still, I am here and still I rise. I am struggling to manage my anxiety since this bomb has exploded. The uncertainty of this project leaves a gnawing feeling in my gut as it eats away at me every day. When you kiss your children or partner good night, do you too feel the heaviness in your heart as you know the battle continues tomorrow? It's draining the unspoken toll this project is already taking. I often walk with our kids and dogs around our wooded property as a way to find respite from the worries of the world. As you crest our hill, you are gifted with the beautiful sight of a far-off mountain. Made even more visible now that Minnesota Power has cut our lines wider for the new Transformer Station. I know now after listening to my neighbors that this is Oakhill, the pinnacle of this landscape, and I can see it from mine, is now another trigger. Beneath her summit, the earth will be pillaged for concrete and greed. And I have the vantage point of bearing witness to its hideous evolution. Earlier today, I experienced one of those rare moments that you don't hear one of those rare moments from my property where you don't hear the trains or highway 2 or the gun range and you are left with only your breath and the very heartbeat of creation. The gentle wind, the birds chatting, the leaves crinkling. I had to wonder to myself if those will be lost forever, too. Will this beautiful stillness be overshadowed by the hum and drum of this hyper data center? My story is not special. It is not meant to garner sympathy, but rather empathy and action. I share it to highlight that every single one of us in the room, including your own, has a story. We are all juggling one thing or another. Does not any of this resonate with you? [30:26] Wayne Boucher: 30 seconds. [30:28] Emma Rickman: Oh, not necessarily what I am sharing, but one thing. But has any one thing someone has shared in opposition resonated with you? Has it hit your heart to soften your resolve to push this forward? My god, I cried when Lynn spoke about the birds in his sanctuary, or how Kelsey and her son can breathe while they hear the wind, or how Bob and Kathy planted all those trees many years ago to enjoy their retirement. But if none of this resonates with you, I question your morality. I am asking you to step back and re-evaluate what this would mean for our community. [30:53] Wayne Boucher: Someone else did already. Someone over here. [Regarding time extension] [30:57] Emma Rickman: Thank you. This project is like no other that Hermantown has ever undertaken before. As far as I am aware, the implications of this monumental, life-changing, environmental changing project should not be taken lightly. I urge you to put this hyperdata center to rest and close the chapter and close this chapter of our city's story. Don't treat us like a Fortune 50 company has. We are not nameless and faceless—or I'm sorry. We are nameless and faceless to them. They do not care about us. We are but an obstacle. Will you treat us like we don't exist too? Mr. LeBlanc, you showed more concern whether or not some goats and a few horses would cause problems for neighbors than you did for the people who will be impacted by this hyperdata center. We are standing here in front of you. We have names. We have faces. Talk to us. Talk with us. Hear us. If you do not like how the data that we have come across has been reported, then talk to us. Create a space for constructive dialogue. Our community is showing up in the ways we can to voice our dissent. In spite of the things that life throws at us in spite of whatever our story may be, perhaps because of our story, we rise. We do not want this to become part of our story. [32:21] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Next is Joanna Bates. You don't—Okay. Clarissa A. And after that, Eric Enberg. [32:42] Clarissa A: Clarissa A, 350 Soulway Road, Hermantown. Good evening, council. Again, I thought about how I would use my three minutes tonight to voice my opposition to the proposed data center. Would I apply to your sense of humility, to your sense of community? Would I show you more numbers on your voting records? Would I point to the fact that this proposed data center is bigger than UMD? It's bigger than the US Bank Stadium and the Minnesota fairgrounds. It's bigger than the city of Eveleth. But I point to the nearly 1,700 pages of documents released through the data practice release referring to the data center project since at least September 2024. Dozens of project LON meetings hidden from the public on purpose. Changing references to project LON to Adolf. Making changes to business light manufacturing. changes to communication facilities to allow businesses and industry to run 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Should I point to where Tim Resburg asked in April of 2024 to all of you if the changes were to accommodate a data center and where Mayor Boucher said no, it wasn't when we now know that you, Mr. Mayor, knew this was a data center as early as September 2024. Should I point to all the data centers that have been built before this? Showing that the promises of data centers fall flat. The benefits are not borne out. However, the detriments are real. The problems, the pitfalls, the pollution, the decreased property values, the detrimental health benefits are real. Instead, I'm going to point out that we are not going to stop fighting this project. I'll come here week after week. We will continue to listen to the rhetoric calling our homes green spaces. That was rude. We are going to be watching the budget, the expenditure of tax-funded public funds on legal fees. That is legal fees to fight against your own constituents to pay legal fees to fight the residents who elected you and who have overwhelmingly told you they do not want this data center. We're watching. It is sad and disappointing to me that the developer Mortonson pulled the permits after listening to the public and you elected to represent Hermantown continue to push this agenda. I will leave you with this, and if you've heard it before, my apologies. Imagine driving down a one-way road, say Second Street in Duluth, and you're driving, minding your own business, and a car starts heading towards you the wrong way. You start honking, you're flashing your lights, you're waving your arms, saying, "Hey, you're going the wrong way." [35:32] Wayne Boucher: 30 seconds. [35:34] Clarissa A: and the car passes safely, and you breathe a sigh of relief. You keep driving, and a second car starts heading towards you and also going the wrong way. and you start doing all the same things again, honking, waving your arms. But then when a third car heads your way, it is then that you need to stop and realize that is not in fact the other cars that are going the wrong way. It's actually you. You're the car going the wrong way in this. It is not all of us going the wrong way. We are all not wrong in this. We are all not ignorant to the benefits of this. We're not against development or progress or technology. Um, we are not uneducated. I'll wrap up in just two seconds. We know what a data center brings and we do not want it. It's Hermantown going the wrong way. And I ask you to turn this car around. [36:09] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Thank you, Eric Inberg and then Bria Shaminski. [36:19] Eric Inberg: Hello, my name is Eric Inberg. I'm at 5425 Morris Thomas Road. I just wanted to take a little bit different tack tonight and first of all thank you all for your service. I did want to go ahead and talk about the data center but from a different perspective. The assuming that there is going to be 500 megawatts worth of electricity going through this and maybe more that equates to 40 billion BTUs of waste heat per day. That's the equivalent of 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year. And Duluth by comparison uses a third of that or 5 billion cubic feet of natural gas to heat all of its processes. This is a major source of heat and moving it to residents along Morris Thomas Road with the extension of planned city services from Levake to the data center would be giving people who are the most impacted by this project a tangible benefit in the form of free or reduced heat costs. So I encourage the city council to do three things. one, lay claim to the heat with an ordinance which claims first dibs to it. Now, you can exercise your option if you wish or you can give it away, but the city really does need to have first dibs on industrial waste heat in this town. Secondly, while extending city services, lay down pipes for an eventual heat district using fourth generation heat district technology. You can cap the ends for now, but while you've got an open trench and you're putting in other utilities, put in some pipes because that will be very useful and it will really cut the cost down. And finally, if there is a working group established for this purpose, I would uh be willing to volunteer for it. Thank you. [38:13] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Next, Bria Shaminski. And after that, Mary Bergen. And you are—Thank you. After that will be then Megan Elling. He'll start it when you start talking. Thank you. [38:25] Bria Shaminski: Uh Bria Shaminski, 3483 Stark Junction Road. Uh hello. I'm speaking here today as an extremely concerned citizen, community member, and most importantly, mother in regards to the proposed data center. A little bit about me. Uh, my husband and I found our dream home 5 years ago. Throughout these five years, our family has grown. I have a seven-year-old daughter who is creative and loves to explore nature, a 4-year-old daughter who is my strong willed and competitive one, and my 2-year-old son who is sensitive yet an absolute daredevil. You guys, we loved raising our family here thus far. Would you like to take a few seconds? [Pause for emotional speaker] [39:31] Wayne Boucher: You stop the clock. [39:32] Joe Peterson: Whenever you're ready. [39:34] Bria Shaminski: You can find us exploring our woods, going on bike rides down the road. [39:38] Wayne Boucher: Go ahead, Joe [Wicklund]. [39:39] Bria Shaminski: Checking on the river, or playing in the yard. We love living in the country. Recently, our lives have been shaken hearing about the proposed data center and the serious effects it will have not only on our family but the environment and surrounding communities. The data center proposed is less than a half mile from our home. Many of my concerns, sorry, this is very—I'm not good at this. One serious concern I have is a little research on what kind of long-term health effects this data center could have not only on adults but my children. Do we know the long-term health effects? From what I've found so far, the sound of them can be a lot of harm as well as pollutants filling the air. I feel we should take the time to see what other communities are experiencing from these data centers before we even think to jump on this bandwagon express. There were a handful of people that have spoken at past meetings, have worked in data centers or with AI, and have said that they would never want to live near an AI data center. Why is this? What could happen in terms of the sound decibels? Were these decibels calculated in summer or winter where sound travels much further? What about the sound when the hundreds of backup generators and air coolers are going? What will the decibel be then? How will the sound affect the wildlife in the area? Is it going to scare away the bees? I have a feeling many of you have children or grandchildren. Do any of them live close to this proposed data center? Would you want this for your children or grandchildren? Do you think it's fair that the surrounding communities directly affected by the data center will not receive any benefits when it's completed? I have some requests. Please say no to the data center. Please vote no to the permits. Please gain our trust back by listening and taking care of your constituents. Please don't destroy our earth and its resources and please don't make my children and family an experiment. Thank you for your time. Sorry I had to deal with the crying. [41:36] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Next is Jackie Donuts. And that completes our list for this evening. Jackie, name and address, please. [41:51] Jackie Donuts: Yes, sir. Jackie Donuts, 5842 Old Highway 2. Good evening and hello again. My comments and questions are in random order, but all equally as important to me. Hopefully, they will plant some seeds and give you some things to think about and ask about. To be clear, I'm against the data center. As the city council now knows it's a data center, what research have you been doing? Are you doing your homework? Does it concern you that city staff signed NDAs and hid this hugely controversial project from you for well over a year? or did they let it slip and you knew all along? Either way, it's not good and reflects poorly on the city. Construction, dust, and noise. How will you limit? What penalties will be in place? And oh my god, 8 to 10 years. Seriously, Midway Road is already a disaster with trains stopping traffic 20 plus times a day. And now you want to add hundreds of construction related vehicles to the mess. Cooling technology is new, so prime for issues. What contingencies for when it fails? Will wells, rivers, streams be safe? What recourse will there be when a coolant leak happens? Remember several man-made disasters like Exxon Valdez, Three-Mile Island, BP Deep Water Horizon, the Love Canal, Gulf of Mexico dead zone, and the Flint water crisis, just to name a few. What I'm trying to get at is data center technology is new and the risks not fully understood. Unions, I'm a union member and have been for many years. Studies are starting to show that AI will replace jobs, not create them. We will get short-term gain for long-term loss. Human labor, union labor may build, but are there any guarantees regarding union jobs after? Will these jobs be here or remote? How many? For how long? Remember that Minnesota Power is no longer Minnesota Power? It's BlackRock. They are no longer locally owned. I don't believe they have the Northland's best interests at heart. Minnesota Power's Julie Pierce was quoted as saying in a recent WDIO article that the more customers that Minnesota Power has, the more customers we can share the costs of electric service with. Why should I have to share the cost of this monster project after it's built? How many times have our power bills risen in the last 10 years? We are not as protected as Minnesota Power wants us to think. Why do we keep building these electricity slurping behemoths? So we can use AI to mine Bitcoin or help us write reference letters or resumes or to run budget documents through them to make them better? Can't we think for ourselves anymore? Minnesota's clean electricity standard becomes state law in 2023 and requires electric utilities to provide 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. What will Minnesota Power have to build or destroy next to meet this goal? and how much will rates have to increase to raise the money to do so. They were recently denied a double-digit rate increase but still managed to get a hefty increase approved. And finally, wetlands are beyond important and play a crucial role in our world. The EPA states on their website that wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world comparable to rainforests and coral reefs. Wetlands play an integral role in the ecology of the watershed. These are just a few of my many thoughts and questions I have that I hope you will thoughtfully address and ultimately use to say no to the data center. Stop wasting all of our time and dollars pursuing this. We don't want it. Just say no, please. [45:13] Wayne Boucher: Is Mr. Graves, is there any any other list back there? Is anyone who's not on the list that signed up that wishes to speak who hasn't spoken? If so, please step forward and state your name and address. [45:37] Tim Resburg: My name is Tim Resburg, 3646 Midway Road. And I don't know if any of you got that letter from Mortonson for a neighborhood meeting at the Grandview and they had the little QR that you were to call in and mention it and they said within a half a mile. The original letters that came up before 350 ft of this project. Well, there were so many people that called in for that meeting at Grandview, they not only cancelled that one on the 12th and then on the 13th, they cancelled the one at the YMCA in Hermantown. Now, can you imagine any reason why they did that when they're having so many people that were coming in to ask them questions and find out what was going on because of all the lies they've been telling everybody and the mistruths on a lot of things. You've had questions, mayor, coming up a few times about what happens when they do that blasting there for that database for what's going to happen to people's wells for a few miles around that are going to come home from work, no water or wake up in the morning with no water. Nobody has come up with a plan on who's going to replace the water for these people. And it's been brought up in front of you guys before about the property value of people's places going down. Taxes up, price electricity, it's going to be way up and you, the city councilors, have decided not to answer anybody's questions. And now is Mortonson going to come up and tell us some more fibs about what's going on on this project? They wouldn't come out and tell us the width, the length, or anything on any of these buildings. They finally did come up and say the height might be 50 feet after they destroy all the woodlands around. So, people are going to see the light pollution and hear the noise pollution. And you guys don't seem to have a care concern about it. and can't understand why cuz maybe it isn't happening in your backyard or whatever. [48:13] Wayne Boucher: 30 seconds, Tim. [48:15] Tim Resburg: But there's a lot of people within a few miles, more than a half a mile to 350 ft. It's going to be a few more miles wide around the people and citizens of Hermantown, Solway Township, Midway Township that are going to be affected by this. And it would be nice if you guys would try to listen to some of the residents that are going to be suffering through this for a little bit of gain. And then plus, we've also heard that— [48:46] Wayne Boucher: That's three minutes, sir. [48:48] Tim Resburg: Sales tax. They're not going to have to pay it, but the rest of us people in Hermantown are going to have to pay the sales tax. [48:54] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Okay. Does anyone else wish to speak? Name and address, please. [49:11] Bruno Zagar: 4454 Mackey Road, Brookston. Bruno Zagar. [49:25] Wayne Boucher: How is that first name spelled? [49:26] Bruno Zagar: B-R-U-N-O. Just like Bruno Mars. Zagar, Z-A-G-A-R. I came today because uh I'm just concerned. Um I've done environmental reviews for a good part of my life, 28 years. I'm an environmental specialist, an environmental policy and planning degree. So I review a lot of projects. Uh I work for the Fond du Lac Band. I've worked for the Oneida tribe in Green Bay for 30 years doing environmental reviews, environmental impacts reviews for projects. And has this project only received like an alternative urban area review? Is that all that they did for this project or did they do an environmental assessment? [50:09] John Mulder: AUAR. [50:11] Bruno Zagar: Okay. It should minimum have an environmental assessment, uh if not an EIS environmental impact study because it's not considering water use, electric use. You know, when you look at any environmental review for a project of this size, it's like the study that was done is like doing a review for a subdivision. When you have an industrial operation going in like Silver Bay, you know, it's the residents are going to pay for this in water usage. They're going to pay for this in the impact to the roads, the traffic, the noise in the future. You're all going to be paying for this. Each one of you on the board. Uh I feel bad for you and for all the residents. That's why I'm here today. I saw this and I was just appalled that it's not being reviewed at a higher level so that it protects you, you and your job. I know you try and do the right thing like I do. I've served as a member on boards um on a couple of state and I'm on the Midwest Tribal Energy Board for the Midwest. I am on a public utility commission for all the tribes in the in the Minnesota. I think you should look at this further as far as a next step up for an environmental review. And then the people behind me won't be as pissed off at you as they are right now. I can I can feel what's in the room and I could see it on your face that you're concerned. I see everybody concerned in this room and I would just kick it up a notch. Just let a full environmental review be done for this project and then it will everybody will be feel a lot better about the whole project and that's all I have to say. I just came here because I was concerned and saw what was going on and I thank you for your time. [52:17] Wayne Boucher: Looks like we're going to have at least two. Uh, name of address, please. [52:23] Megan Elling: I'm Megan Elling and I'm at 5969 Morris Thomas Road. E-L-L-I-N-G. Um, I think this is less an argument about being for or against data centers and more an argument about public employees and officials trying to push a heavy industrial facility into a residential area and seeming to rewrite the rules to fit their needs and desires. The planning and zoning commission changed zoning definitions on March 18th of this year to include communications facilities as part of the light manufacturing zone. Immediately in that same meeting, after approving the zoning ordinance text amendments 5 to 0, the city of Hermantown brought forward the proposal to rezone 14 parcels from S1 suburban zoning to business and light manufacturing, which we all know ended up being approved last month. In both of those proposals, the meeting minutes say Eric Johnson, who is the community development director of Hermantown, stated that the city of Hermantown has been working on an update to the comprehensive plan. As part of that work, the city is proposing an expansion of the BLM, business and light manufacturing zoning district in the southwest area of the city. The city of Hermantown changed the comprehensive plan to accommodate their needs for a data center in this location. They changed it without the steering committee who should be required to be the group that presents the city's comprehensive plan. This could potentially be a violation of the law. Additionally, to be able to fit a data center in the area they wanted, it appears it needed to be zoned as light industrial instead of what it really is, heavy industrial. Hermantown's zoning code says of heavy industrial areas, this district and its uses should be located away from residential districts or natural areas subject to environmental concerns. If it was zoned as heavy industrial, it seems objections could be raised to the proposed location since it is both in residential districts and natural areas where they can't be for a light industrial communications facility. I also argue that it is not at all a light industrial facility but very much a heavy industrial facility. Heavy industrial facilities are classified as such based on their large size, high energy and water consumption and that their impacts extend beyond the property boundaries. It appears the city of Hermantown rewrote their zoning ordinances specifically for this project, classified it incorrectly as light industrial to avoid objection, and rewrote the comprehensive plan without the steering committee to attempt to push this project through by any means necessary. I argue this proposed facility does not belong in this location with an area of mom and pop businesses like Stokke's and among residential areas as it is a heavy industrial facility. Thank you. [54:55] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Anyone else? name and address, please. [55:03] Sarah Lopald: My name is Sarah Lopald. I live at 5502 Hermantown Road and I am here once again to express my concerns over the proposed data center. Uh, and at this point, I feel like a broken record. Uh, I could rehash my dissatisfaction on how this project was handled. uh how the city was approached with an idea to build a large data center over a year ago. How certain members of city's administrative staff uh manipulated the process to have every step leading up to now ready, paving the way to accommodate an easy approval for this project. I could bring up my concerns for the environmental impact of replacing wetlands and forests with four four and a half story buildings and non-porous concrete surfaces. I how the cold water trout streams in the areas uh would be negatively affected. How sound and light pollution will affect neighboring residents both uh in and outside of Hermantown. and how the size of this project is unprecedented uh in this area outside of mining and airports. Uh but in all truth, my biggest disappointment is that the city council seemingly didn't expect the massive response this project has garnered. That the residents of Hermantown and surrounding communities wouldn't have a vested interest in who is trying to build here and for what. And instead of getting in front of something that could be so dividing, long before landowners were being courted, comprehensive plans were being modified to conform to zoning ordinances, and environmental reviews were being approved. Our city council is now trying to play defense against their own constituents. Instead of having a public hearing at the beginning of this process, residents have been left speculating, worrying, and attempting to gather as much information as we can based off of other communities' experiences. Instead of having a public meeting with residents to allow them to ask their questions, residents have been left to interpret what little information is on the city project website. I believe it would be prudent to have a real discussion to allow for question and answer that these city council meetings and individual meetings do not provide for the wider public. This process could have been handled much better than it has been. And it's not just the proposed project that leaves much to be desired. So again, I am going to ask you if residents of Hermantown show up to three city council meetings and voice their opposition in inviting a Fortune 50 company to build a 1.8 million square foot data center complex in the middle of a rural area, will you stop the project? Will you stand by your own words and listen to your constituents? Thank you. [58:05] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Please start with your name and address. You're the only one, I guess. Come on. Name and address, please. [58:15] Allison Zagar: My name is Allison Zagar. I live at 4454 Mackey Road, Brookston, Minnesota 55711. Zagar, same as my dad over there. Z-A-G-A-R. Um, so Brookston, what does it have to do with me? Um, well, this data center affects us all. Water is life. Um, we must protect it for generations to come. Uh, I work in Piedmont area. I drive past the proposed data center daily. Uh, my family and I have been getting our drinking water from Midway Well for over half of my life. The Midway Well is just adjacent to the data center coming in. Um, so yes, this data center is concerning to everyone, not to mention the environment and those without a voice or a say, wildlife, wetlands, etc. Um, I'm not good at public speaking, so I'm getting nervous. Uh, I'm just going to continue. I want to share something that happened in our neighborhood. Um, the county wanted to cut down uh 60 plus year old pine trees to maintain the road. Um, those pine trees speak to you if only you sit and listen. Those pine trees are our history, our future. Um, it was not necessary to cut down the pine trees. So, we objected. Our neighbors objected. And when we did, they told us uh not to take it personally. Well, I'm here to tell you that this is personal to us all because water affects us all. So, um, a lot of us up here are getting passionate and emotional, um, nervous, etc. because um this is passion. This is our future. This is important to us all. Um just like the pine trees that they wanted to cut down, water is our history. Water is our future. Um one more thing, they didn't tell us about the pine trees or they didn't tell us about cutting down the trees. We found out that they were cutting down the trees when we saw them cutting down the trees. So again, just this like not knowing what's going on until it's actually happening. Um my address is 24 miles away and frankly that's not far enough and this is only the beginning. So um just look at what's happening and look and listen to everything that everyone is telling you. That's all. Thank you. [1:00:39] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Anyone else? name and address, please. [1:00:54] Isabella Dinicola: Hi, my name is Isabella Dinicola. D-I-N-I-C-O-L-A. I live at 102 South 17th Avenue East in Duluth. Um so I came to the last planning and zoning commission meeting. Um I want to talk about the data center. So, usually when I talk in front of city council, I prepare something to say. Um, but I didn't do that this time because I kind of thought, well, you guys probably aren't going to listen to us anyway. So, why spend my hard time um crafting a response that um appeals to your emotions or um gives you facts that you guys already know. Um, I just want to say that all these folks in red, all these people, we don't want this data center. There are over, I think, around 4,000 people in the Stop the Hermantown Data Center Facebook group right now. None of them want it. I'm speaking for all those people who couldn't attend. Um, and there's really not much I can say because all of you already know the negative impact that this data center is going to have. You already know. I don't have to rehash it. Um, and signing NDAs to not discuss the project was absolutely disgusting. You are here to serve your constituents. I said this last time. You are here to serve your constituents, not to serve massive Fortune 50 companies so you can get some sort of monetary kickback because why else would you go forth with this project? There are almost no benefits to building this data center. Um, so I hope that all of you actually listen to what we are saying and vote no on this data center. Thank you. [1:03:08] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Anyone else wish to address the council at this time? Last opportunity for anyone who wishes to speak to the city council at this time. Okay, we'll close our public discussion. We have motions and ordinances ahead of us. Why don't we take a 10-minute break to allow the chamber to clear of anyone who wants to leave. If any of you want to stick around for the ordinances, you're welcome to do that. We'll just take some time uh so we aren't trying to do business while people are trying to leave. [Pause] Moving on with the consent agenda, it contains minutes approval or correction of November 3rd, 2025's city council continuation minutes and accounts payable approved general city warrants from November 1st, 2025 through November 15, 2025 in the amount of $844,293. Do we have a motion relating to the consent agenda? [1:04:21] John Geissler: Make a motion to approve. [1:04:23] Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [1:04:27] Andy Hjelle: I'll second. [1:04:28] Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Hjelle. Roll call, please. [1:04:30] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler. [1:04:31] John Geissler: Hi. [1:04:32] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle. [1:04:33] Andy Hjelle: I. [1:04:34] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc. [1:04:35] Brian LeBlanc: I. [1:04:36] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson. [1:04:37] Joe Peterson: Hi. [1:04:38] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher. [1:04:39] Wayne Boucher: I. Ordinances. We have the second reading of ordinance 2025-9. An ordinance amending Hermantown Code of Ordinances by amending section 350 accepted and opened streets and roads. Is there a motion relating to this ordinance? [1:04:55] Brian LeBlanc: Move to approve. [1:04:57] Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor LeBlanc to approve. Is there a second? [1:04:59] Joe Peterson: I'll second. [1:05:01] Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Peterson, Mr. Mulder. [1:05:03] John Mulder: So, this is an update of an existing uh section of the code where we put all of the roads that we've accepted over time so that we have a standard list for that. So, we're just updating that based upon some uh recent new roads in the city. [1:05:18] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments from council? Is there any public input on this ordinance? Any public input on ordinance 2025-9? Last opportunity for public input on ordinance 2025-9, an ordinance amending Hermantown Code of Ordinances by amending section 350, accepted and opened streets and roads. Roll call, please. [1:05:56] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle. [1:05:57] Andy Hjelle: Hi. [1:05:58] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc. [1:05:59] Brian LeBlanc: Hi. [1:06:00] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson. [1:06:01] Joe Peterson: Hi. [1:06:02] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler. [1:06:03] John Geissler: Hi. [1:06:04] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher. [1:06:05] Wayne Boucher: I. The next three ordinances are first readings. We will not be voting on them tonight, but there will be a period of time for public discussion if anybody wishes to address them. Ordinance 2025-20, an ordinance renewing a franchise granted to Mediacom Minnesota LLC to construct, operate, and maintain a cable television system in the city of Hermantown, setting forth conditions relating to the continuation of the franchise, providing for the regulation and use of the cable television system, and prescribing penalties for the violation of its provisions. Is there any public input on this ordinance? Now, this is an ordinance renewing the cable TV franchise fee for another 10 years. Is that correct, Mr. Mulder? [1:07:07] John Mulder: That's correct. Uh, we've had a franchise agreement with Mediacom for in excess of 20 years. Um, this is just renewing that for a 10-year period. And this does contain a franchise fee covering cable TV subscriptions but not internet use. [1:07:19] Wayne Boucher: That's correct. Any public input on the Mediacom Minnesota ordinance? Any public input on the cable television ordinance to Mediacom Minnesota LLC? Last opportunity to comment on ordinance 2025-20. Anyone moving on to 2025-21, an ordinance granting to Minnesota Power, a non-exclusive franchise to construct, operate, repair, and maintain in the city of Hermantown, Minnesota, an electric distribution system, and transmission lines, including necessary poles, lines, fixtures, and appurtenances for the furnishing of electric energy to the city, its inhabitants, and others. and to use the public ways and public grounds of the city for such purposes and prescribing certain terms and conditions thereof. Mr. Mulder. [1:08:35] John Mulder: So again, this is a franchise agreement with Minnesota Power. We've had a franchise agreement with Minnesota Power in the very same form in excess of 20 years. It just allows Minnesota Power to use our right-of-way for their infrastructure. [1:08:55] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Is there any public input on ordinance 2025-21? Name and address, please. [1:09:05] Eric Inberg: Eric Inberg, 5425 Morris Thomas Road. The franchise fee for utilities, electric utilities, has been used in many cities for uh green energy for clean energy uh purposes. How much money are we getting from the franchise? [1:09:22] John Mulder: The franchise fee is the next ordinance that'll be on the agenda. They were separated this year from this franchise agreement. So, this covers the poles and equipment and things. But the quick answer to the question, it's about $160,000 a year. And it's used primarily for um street lights and the power that goes to um for street lights and for um traffic signals. That's the primary—historically that's been the primary use. [1:09:51] Eric Inberg: It was a street light fee. I see. It may be a little bit late in the game, but honestly, I think you might be able to do a little better than that. Minneapolis, Duluth, etc. have bargained for quite a bit more, I think, if I'm not mistaken. [1:10:03] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. That's something worth looking into. Are there any other comments on the ordinance granting to Minnesota Power a non-exclusive franchise? [1:10:24] Clarissa A: Can I just ask a couple questions? Is that allowed? [1:10:27] Wayne Boucher: Sure. [1:10:28] Clarissa A: Is that in any way related to the data center, like constructing lines for the data center? [1:10:33] John Mulder: It's not other than the wires and the lines go to the Minnesota Power Substation at some point. [1:10:39] Clarissa A: Okay. Um, is this like a yearly readoption of an ordinance or what is— [1:10:44] John Mulder: every 10 years. [1:10:45] Clarissa A: Every 10 years. Okay, that's all. Thank you. [1:10:54] Wayne Boucher: Any other questions and comments? Anything else from the public on ordinance 2025-21? We'll move on to first reading of ordinance 2025-22, an ordinance imposing a franchise fee on Minnesota Power. Mr. Mulder. [1:11:15] John Mulder: again, this is um has for the last 20 years, this has been included exactly directly into the franchise agreement. Uh this year, we have separated it out. Um, and just to be clear, the franchise fee is actually passed on to the residents um on their annual—on their monthly bill. [1:11:34] Wayne Boucher: and and is that still a dollar per month? [1:11:41] John Mulder: It's $2 for both residential and commercial. [1:11:48] Wayne Boucher: But the fund that it pays for is the street light fund at this time, which initially several years ago allowed us to put street lights at every intersection when we had none in the complete darkness. And that's been our policy to have those lights at every intersection. And also this has been used to pay for traffic signals um stop and go lights and it also pays for the power that goes to them that's used by them. [1:12:35] Joe Peterson: And Mr. Mayor, I have a question for Mr. Mulder when he's done looking. [1:12:40] John Mulder: Yes, it's $2 for both residential and commercial. [1:12:44] Joe Peterson: So, Mr. Mulder, just to clarify, the franchise fee is really just a pass through and it's paid by the residents. [1:12:51] John Mulder: really for the most part. Yes. Yes. [1:12:53] Joe Peterson: So raising—getting trying to get more money from them would just raise people's bill. [1:12:58] Wayne Boucher: Can we lower it? [1:13:02] John Mulder: Um we can ask for an accounting and look for ways to see if that's a possibility. Certainly. We again um we've used this in the past for the street lights um and traffic signals. [1:13:21] Wayne Boucher: Any other questions from council? Is there any public input on this ordinance? Hearing none, we will move to resolutions. Resolution 2025-171, resolution approving pay request number 17 for the Northstar Ford Arena to Krauss Anderson Construction Company in the amount of $727,041.87. Do you have a motion relating to this resolution? [1:13:58] John Geissler: Move to approve. [1:14:00] Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Geissler to approve. Is there a second? [1:14:04] Brian LeBlanc: Second. [1:14:06] Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder. [1:14:08] John Mulder: So this is for work done at the Northstar Ford Arena during the month of uh October. Usually we see that in the first meeting of the month, but because of uh some vacation on the part of KA, they uh didn't get it done in time for the first meeting. So that's why you're seeing it tonight. [1:14:20] John Geissler: Well, Mr. Mayor, I'd also comment that I toured the building last week and uh it's looking great and uh it's going to be a great asset to our community and look forward to uh first games in early January. [1:14:37] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Anything else from council? Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on resolution 2025-171? Roll call, please. [1:15:05] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc. [1:15:06] Brian LeBlanc: I. [1:15:07] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson. [1:15:08] Joe Peterson: I. [1:15:09] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler. [1:15:10] John Geissler: Hi. [1:15:11] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle. [1:15:12] Andy Hjelle: I. [1:15:13] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher. [1:15:14] Wayne Boucher: I. Resolution 2025-172. Resolution repealing an assessment from parcel number 395-0010-05738 related to road improvement district number 541 and 542 Hermantown Road and Bridge and Old Midway Road. Is there a motion? [1:15:40] Joe Peterson: I'll make a motion to approve. [1:15:42] Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Peterson to approve. Is there a second? [1:15:45] Andy Hjelle: I'll second. [1:15:46] Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Hjelle, Mr. Mulder. [1:15:48] John Mulder: So, at the last meeting, you approved the assessment roll for Hermantown Road and Old Midway Road. Um, during that conversation, uh, I was reminded that I had forgotten that we had talked about the issue of, um, this particular parcel is contiguous and is a single use of another parcel. And we have done that in the past where if one owner has contiguous parcels, it's one use. We've combined those. We had talked about that. I had not caught it when we adopted the assessment roll. So, this is just correcting it by repealing it for the one parcel. [1:16:34] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Hearing none. Is there any public input on this resolution? Any public input on the resolution repealing an assessment for the Hermantown Road project number 541 and 542. Roll call, please. [1:16:58] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson. [1:16:59] Joe Peterson: I. [1:17:00] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler. [1:17:01] John Geissler: I. [1:17:02] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle. [1:17:03] Andy Hjelle: I. [1:17:04] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc. [1:17:05] Brian LeBlanc: I. [1:17:06] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher. [1:17:07] Wayne Boucher: I. Next. Resolution 2025-173. Resolution approving the removal of restrictive covenants on city of Duluth property and placing them on city of Hermantown property. Do we have a motion relating to this resolution? [1:17:23] Brian LeBlanc: Move to approve. [1:17:25] Wayne Boucher: Motion to approve by Councilor LeBlanc. Is there a second? [1:17:28] John Geissler: Second. [1:17:29] Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Geissler. Mr. Mulder. Do you want Mr. Johnson to explain this one? [1:17:39] Eric Johnson: Great. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. members of the council. Um, this is a 2009 resolution which added uh conservation purposes, restrictive covenants onto properties within the city of Hermantown. Unfortunately, at that time, there was a typo in the legal description. It listed section one as opposed to section 12, which it should have been. So, what ended up happening is those covenants were placed on city of Duluth owned land inside the airport proper. So uh city of Duluth recently came across this and they are requesting the removal of that covenants and staff will uh verify and make sure that those restrictive covenants are placed on the proper uh city Hermantown owned parcels. [1:18:22] Joe Peterson: Is there any development on the parcels that will be getting the restrictive covenant? [1:18:27] Eric Johnson: No, there is none. [1:18:28] Joe Peterson: Making sure we're not putting anything in violation. [1:18:36] Wayne Boucher: Any other questions or comments from council? Any public input on resolution 2025-173? Roll call, please. [1:19:12] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler. [1:19:13] John Geissler: Hi. [1:19:14] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle. [1:19:15] Andy Hjelle: Hi. [1:19:16] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc. [1:19:17] Brian LeBlanc: Hi. [1:19:18] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson. [1:19:19] Joe Peterson: Hi. [1:19:20] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher. [1:19:21] Wayne Boucher: I. Next is resolution 2025-174. Resolution approving the release of memorial associated with parcel 395-160-000030. Is there a motion relating to this resolution? [1:19:35] Andy Hjelle: Make a motion to approve. [1:19:37] Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Hjelle to approve. Is there a second? [1:19:40] Joe Peterson: I'll second. [1:19:41] Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor Peterson. Mr. Johnson. [1:19:51] Eric Johnson: Great. Thank you again, Mr. Mayor, members of the council, uh, in 2016, as part of the development of Square 37 by Titan Premier, uh, there was a development agreement that was entered into uh, that basically outline the requirements for road, utilities, setbacks, lot sizes, uh, that had been approved. So, as the project went forward and the land was eventually platted, those agreements actually transferred over to the individual lots within that development. So, city staff recently uh received a request by one of the property owners within that development to remove those covenants uh associated with that development plan. Uh they're going to keep the existing special use permit uh that was also associated with this. They're just looking for the removal of that development plan i.e. once again road utility setbacks etc. That way uh there are uh eight other properties in this uh development. Uh city staff can look to uh remove those from those those properties as well at a future date. I would also like to uh state that in the um staff report there was a erroneous map it listed Hermantown road and it should have been Ugstad road. [1:21:00] Wayne Boucher: Thank you. Any questions or comments from council? Any public input on resolution 2025-174? Roll call, please. [1:21:37] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle. [1:21:38] Andy Hjelle: I. [1:21:39] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc. [1:21:40] Brian LeBlanc: I. [1:21:41] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson. [1:21:42] Joe Peterson: I. [1:21:43] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler. [1:21:44] John Geissler: Hi. [1:21:45] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher. [1:21:46] Wayne Boucher: I. Next, we have resolution 2025-175, resolution authorizing the city of Hermantown to provide municipal support of a St. Louis County grant funding request via the Minnesota Department of Transportation local road improvement program associated with the reconstruction of Ugstad Road, CR 284, and Levake Bypass County State Highway 48 as part of the Hawkline Business Park. Is there a motion relating to this resolution? [1:22:17] John Geissler: Motion to approve. [1:22:19] Wayne Boucher: Motion to approve by Councilor Geissler. Is there a second? [1:22:21] Brian LeBlanc: Second. [1:22:23] Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor LeBlanc. Mr. Mulder. [1:22:25] John Mulder: I'm going to try and then we'll have Eric or uh David jump in if necessary. Um so we have talked about uh some possible infrastructure changes at the Hawkline Business Park um going on for about two years. Um and more recently the landowner um in discussion with the landowner we looked at um the possibility of changing some of those infrastructure plans and what we've kind of come up with is um a uh proposed change to um the county road Levake Bypass. Um and we want the county to apply for a local road improvement program grant to help fund that infrastructure change. Thank you. [1:23:18] Wayne Boucher: Any questions or comments from council hearing? None. Is there any public input on resolution 2025-175? Roll call, please. [1:23:54] Alissa McClure: Councilor LeBlanc. [1:23:55] Brian LeBlanc: I. [1:23:56] Alissa McClure: Councilor Peterson. [1:23:57] Joe Peterson: Hi. [1:23:58] Alissa McClure: Councilor Geissler. [1:23:59] John Geissler: Hi. [1:24:00] Alissa McClure: Councilor Hjelle. [1:24:01] Andy Hjelle: Hi. [1:24:02] Alissa McClure: Mayor Boucher. [1:24:03] Wayne Boucher: I. Mr. Mulder, is there any reason for a close session this evening? [1:24:06] John Mulder: There is not. [1:24:07] Wayne Boucher: Uh, next then we have a motion to recess. [1:24:09] Andy Hjelle: Make a motion to recess. [1:24:11] Wayne Boucher: Motion by Councilor Hjelle to recess. Is there a second? [1:24:13] Brian LeBlanc: Second. [1:24:15] Wayne Boucher: Second by Councilor LeBlanc. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed? Same sign. Thank you.