Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the transcript, here is the speaker-identified version of the townhall meeting. [0:04] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: I'll call the order of the June 11th, 2025 regular city council meeting. Start the 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. [0:37] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Next, we have the approval of the agenda. Does anyone have any additions? Anybody have any additions to the agenda? [0:46] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Motion to approve. [0:48] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second. [0:49] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. [0:53] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Consent agenda. We have the regular minutes from May 14, 2025, city council meeting. The financial reports, city accounts payable, May of 2025, city financial statement, May of 2025, and the liquor store profit and loss statement May of 2025. [1:15] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Questions, comments, or motions? [1:18] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I'll make a motion to approve. [1:20] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second. [1:21] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. Next is public comment. This time is reserved for comment from the public on matters not listed on the agenda. Please keep your comments to two minutes. [1:46] **Bill Hellwig**: Hello, my name is Bill Hellwig. Uh I am an attorney with the Friberg law firm in Cloquet and Duluth and I am also uh the city attorney for the city of Colquet. I'm very experienced with city issues and I wanted to talk to you a little bit about uh you have a uh upcoming ordinance that the city is reviewing and I want to give you some understanding of the need for the ordinance and maybe some ideas as to what should be included in it. Uh I would like to provide a handout for everybody your honor. [2:32] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: That's fine. [2:33] **Bill Hellwig**: May I approach? [2:34] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yes. [2:36] [Applause] [2:43] **Bill Hellwig**: And I would also uh indicate that I am here representing uh six different residents uh of the city of Moose Lake, 709 Birch Avenue, uh residents at 135 7th Street and residents that live at 129 7th Street. Um and so uh in light of that uh I may uh need to run over the two minutes by a little bit. Uh again I'm speaking on behalf of six different residents. Uh so let me proceed. And this is a map of uh the block between 8th Street and 7th Street. And it shows the property in red is the property that is creating a noise issue. The properties in yellow are the properties that have called in complaints uh to 911. I have provided you a copy of a list of the complaints and which residents they came from. You can see on the drawing the number of complaints from each residence is underneath the uh address number. [3:59] **Bill Hellwig**: So this is not a matter of a dispute between two neighbors. It's a matter of a single neighbor who is trying to control the peace and enjoyment of all the properties on that entire end of that block. And to me, that's a clear violation of city noise ordinances, but you have a very vague noise ordinance and therefore it's very difficult to enforce. And so what you need to do is to be considering what you can do to protect the neighbors. I mean, they all own properties and they want to enjoy uh the peaceful living in on their properties. And at this point, and if you look at the complaints, the music is so loud that all of these neighbors have complained of windows vibrating, of feeling the bass from the giant speaker that they have outside through their bodies while they're inside their homes with all doors and windows closed. And that's absolutely not acceptable. And that's one of the things I want you to consider in a noise ordinance is specifically talking about if the vibrations from music are felt within the home with all the doors and windows closed and the home's more than 50 ft or 100 ft away from the speakers. That's an obvious violation and should be enforced. In this case, the homes to the south, uh, from the back of the home, from the back of the home at 228 8th Street to the back of the homes on 7th Street, it's a, um, 175 ft distance. It's 50 ft from the back of the home on 8th Street at 228 8th Street to the back or to the side of the home on 128 8th Street. [5:56] **Bill Hellwig**: So that's 50 ft clearance between those homes, but 175 ft to the houses to the south, 150 ft to the house to the back of the house on 709 Birch Avenue. So these homes are all considerable distance from the speaker, but the music is played so loud. When deputies have arrived, they have announced that they could hear the music three blocks away before they arrived. And yet the residence keeps insisting that she knows her rights and she is not going to turn the music down. And on times where the deputies have talked her into turn the music down. Once they leave, she turns the music back up. Uh in one evening they when they went there they found that she had gone to bed and went to sleep and left the music blasting outside because she is intentionally intentionally trying to disrupt the peace and enjoyment of her neighbors. So it's she's not playing the music to enjoy it herself. And to me, she can wear set up she can wear wireless headphones and play the music as loud as she wants, but she chooses to have a gigantic speaker that she mounts up on a ladder so it's up in the air and points it at the neighbor's houses. And that's the type of activity that to me is intentional and harassing. And your noise ordinance should be considered in such a way as to prevent that type of activity from taking place. Now, there's of course there's special circumstances. [7:27] **Bill Hellwig**: Someone has a party uh a birthday party or whatever and and it's during the day, there should be exceptions for that type of activity. But for it to go on every single night and go until 10 or 11:00 at night is unacceptable. Uh some of these some of these residents say they can no longer sleep in their bedroom and they have to sleep out in their living room and they still hear the music coming through the walls. And people with young children that they want to have go to bed before 10:00 and they can't get their kids to go to sleep because of the noise. And again, it's so loud that it's vibrating windows and it's just sending these vibrations through the house. So, noise ordinance needs to be crafted to uh take those things into consideration. Um, I will say that this individual has uh uh been flaunting uh city of Moose Lake ordinances in my opinion uh not just with the noise but the fact that she has more than 10 animals within a small one-story house and to me uh and and apparently she has had them all licensed. But it's a violation of the city's animal ordinance. Now, I know somebody told me that they were that she was grandfathered in because she had that many animals before that ordinance was passed, but there's no grandfather clause in the ordinance. Typically, if you're going to have an animal ordinance like that, you have a grandfather clause that says you can keep all the licensed animals that you had at the time this ordinance was passed, but through attrition, sale, whatever, as you lose your animals, you have to work down to the allowed amount. You can't go out and buy new ones, uh, which apparently, uh, this resident has. Uh my understanding is she's had more than 10 dogs in the backyard in the fenced area within the last three weeks. Uh so obviously she believes as she's she believes she's grandfathered in and not that it means that she has to work down to the what the ordinance allows. She believes it means that she's allowed because she had more animals than the ordinance allows when it was passed. She's also allowed to have more animals for any number that she wants. And that is also a violation of the city kennel ordinance. Uh to have more than three dogs, she should have a kennel license. And to get a kennel license, she has to be on a 5 acre parcel. But this entire block is 4 acres in size. So, if she was the only house on that entire block, she would still not be allowed a kennel license at her location. And the I mean, I'm sorry, that little one-story house, it may have been nice when she bought it, but my guess is that it's probably a tear down to the studs now uh if anyone ever did an inspection of that property, and to keep that many animals in there, she probably needs to be inspected by the Humane Society. Okay. the ordinances. [10:50] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: We're going to discuss ordinances after. So that's part of the agenda. [10:55] **Bill Hellwig**: So okay. And so again, these are things that right that you should be considering uh when you're looking at ordinances. So um I guess uh with that said, if if there's any questions, I'll answer questions. [11:11] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Anyone have any questions? No. Some of these answers will come as you stated with the noise ordinance at the first reading or consideration that we're looking at tonight. [11:21] **Bill Hellwig**: Thank you. [11:23] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: I do have one question. Not for you necessarily, but this these 10 dogs and two cats. Are they all licensed? [11:30] **Bill Hellwig**: Not cats. I don't think dogs. Thank you. [11:32] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you. Any other public comment? [11:34] **Rob (Resident)**: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. My name is Rob. I live on Seventh Street behind the house that that's having the issues. Um, I just want to ask you guys to enforce the ordinances that we do have on record as far as animal ordinances go. Uh, these are not friendly dogs. I've encountered them in the alley. Uh, and they left me scared for my life. Uh they've been this is hearsay, but I have heard they've killed uh ladies chickens in town. Um I just heard today they've actually been inside uh the Federated Country Store over by us. And so as far as the noise ordinance goes, I don't want it to just be about the music. Um these individuals have had conversations that we can hear from our backyard where our children play and they're talking about dildos and orgies. They're making claims that I beat my wife every single day. So hopefully this ordinance can do something to address the noise coming out of their mouths as well. Okay, that's the ordinance. [12:46] **Rob (Resident)**: I'd like to show you a picture. This is a screenshot I got on my phone. I can show you guys. It's a picture of a speaker on top of a six-foot ladder in the very back corner of Britney and Heather's yard pointed directly at our house. Okay, this isn't just a noise issue we're dealing with. This is plain cut harassment. Okay. [13:09] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment? Hearing none. We'll move on to department reports. Carlton County Sheriff's. [13:30] **Sheriff Kelly Lake**: Thank you. Uh you should have received in your packet uh the May 2025 report for the calls for service and the self-initiated activity um that occurred by both the contract deputies, the two contract deputies as well as the other county deputies when contract deputies are not on. So they're broken out to self-initiated activities as well as below that um calls for service. As you can see, there was 236 total calls for service that were responded to by the contract deputies for the month of May and 72 that were um responded to by the of the other deputies during that time frames on the breakdown of the calls. Um they're broken down to extra patrol, traffic stops, business checks, community engagements, um public assist, paper service, and then medicals, um assisting other agencies, and then just the general calls for service that people call in to 911 requesting service. [14:39] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Questions, comments? [14:41] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I just appreciate the amount of traffic stops. 71 total. When we have an influx of traffic this summertime, people notice and they'll slow down. So, thank you. [14:52] **Sheriff Kelly Lake**: Yes, I have received comments that they are appreciative uh along the business corridor specifically to see the the traffic slowing down um when they see the lights out there. So, that will continue. Um as an update, I did extend conditional job offers to four individuals for um deputy positions. So, those are early on in the pre-employment uh background and whatnot evaluations and things that we have to get done. Um, but we anticipate hopefully being able to put all four of them on again depending on the pre-employment and how that shakes out. Um, and then they'll go through the field training process. So, we're getting closer to having all four of the contract positions filled. But again, I I will reiterate what I have before. We want to make sure that we get, you know, the right people hired. So, it might take a little bit longer on the the front end, but hopefully in the long-term investment will pay off. [15:55] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Anything else for Sheriff Lake? Thank you for your work. [16:03] **Sheriff Kelly Lake**: Thank you. [16:04] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you. Next, we have superintendent Phil with the department report. [16:12] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Mayor, administrator Owens, members of council. Um busy month of May. Uh but uh we're we're getting there. We're we're full staff now in public works group. So that's really helping things out. Uh water department will start there. Water department distributed 6.6 million gallons drinking water in month. Um still doing some uh some investigative work on a couple of water breaks I believe we have in town here. So there will be uh there'll be more to come on that. Uh sewer department collection system collected 14.1 million gallons of waste water in the month of May. Um station service checks. We're going to talk about that later in the meeting. That's going to be a lot more detailed on some of the uh some of the um situations we have going on for those stations. Uh annual uh sanitary sewer maintenance cleaning program that is underway right now. That'll be finishing up later this summer. Uh the wastewater treatment facility. Uh the June discharge is a total of 25 million gallons this month. Um that's going currently right now should be wrapped up by the beginning of next week. Um still looking at other upgrade options for increasing capacity at the wastewater facility. I'm uh going to be attending a couple of trainings this this summer to to look at some other options very similar like what what the broke the bug program that we started that was became one of these trainings. So see what we can do there. Uh streets and right-ways. [17:31] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Uh pothole filling is happening almost weekly. Road patching that's we did a little bit of that that started here last week. Half mix plants are up and running. So we're so we're doing our thing there. Uh the fourth cedar sidewalk, that was a pretty good size project for our crew. That's that's completed now. Um equipment standpoint, nothing to uh report. Cemeteries, those are being mowed and taken care of on an annual b or on a weekly basis. Uh still uh plenty of burials happening there as well. Campground, there's nothing to currently report right now. Um and I think everything else we're talking about later. So does anyone have any questions for me? [18:11] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you. Liquor store department report and special event discussion. [18:24] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Members of the council, Mayor Michalski, Administrator Owens. Uh, yes. So, things at the liquor store have been extremely busy. Mari's doing a great job. We're still looking at internal processes. Uh, we're we're staying busy making efficiencies and things better and more smooth down there. Uh, let's see. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the Alcohol and Gambling Division was in last week for a spot inspection. We passed with flying colors, so that's great. I don't have the official report yet, but everything went well. [18:54] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Um, and then brings me to the tents. Um, we brought this up at the last liquor committee meeting. Uh, this is something we spend—we rent tents every year for our Fourth of July stuff and occasionally something else. Um, but it's usually around $2,000. And I just thought and Mari thought, why don't we get our own kits? Um, obviously some other liabilities and stuff can come with that sometimes, but there's plenty of, you know, other entities that have their own tents like the Chamber of Commerce or the Humane Society does tents and all sorts of places. So, what there are some quotes in your packet, just some quotes we've got of some tents that we would like to purchase. And again, this isn't like a capital item. This would just be in lieu of renting something that we normally rent every year, something we would have and potentially, you know, save us thousands a year. So, um, open for questions or dialogue about it or... [19:43] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yeah. which is the one that you guys are, uh, looking at? [19:54] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: I would propose the two that are from Amazon. So, the Green Party 20x 40 and the 16 by 32. [20:07] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Okay. to um they have holes down the middle. Support pools down the middle. This one of the sides I can't tell. [20:20] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yeah, I guess I'm not 100% positive if they have holes down the middle or not. [20:24] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Just so I I think it's good to purchase one we do spend a lot in. Um I believe they're very similar to the ones the chamber uses. So yeah, just so we get a good quality one. So it's not... [20:39] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yep. [20:40] **Council Member Kris Huso**: So I don't know if we need a I would probably go with a frame one that takes the poles away from down the middle and they're easier to... Yeah. maintain once they're up. [20:55] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yeah. [20:56] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: When would these be purchased? [20:58] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Well, if we want them for the fourth of this year, we would need to purchase them here within the next week, I want to say. [21:13] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: And the other consideration is city staff's going to put them up for... [21:18] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yep. All stuff we would have to figure out. This is more for dialogue, I guess. [21:26] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yeah. Any plenty of storage space? [21:28] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Uh yeah, I think we can find space. We have a old building that's behind by the Little League field that I think the chambers sometimes store stuff in there. Maybe even their tents. I'm not sure. Or we'll find a spot for it at the liquor store. [21:50] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: I would recommend the one that is the but sturdy the sturdiest one and um that has and the least amount of poles going down the middle but if that's for support um then obviously you can't get around and some when they get real big you need some support. So, I guess check into um those. I do like the fact of the side windows just in case, you know, it's raining, you could put door inside up, you know. Um so, I I like that idea. Um I think they roll up because another, you know, one of the cons would be if the walls up and then it's windy, could be easier to blow over. So, all things to consider. [22:49] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yeah. So yeah, any dialogue with it is appreciated and we'll just go from there. [22:58] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: So if we weren't buying this year, we'd have to rent again this year. [23:02] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: We would have to rent again this year. Yep. And the quote is about $2,200. The quote you have in there was just for visibility. That's what we paid last year, so it's going to go up a little bit. [23:18] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: So basically the rental price is what you could purchase two for. [23:25] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yeah. It's more expensive than purchasing two things in that ballpark. Yeah. [23:38] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Further discussion motions. [23:41] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I guess I would make a motion to spend up $2,000 on tents and the ones that you need. [23:49] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second that. [23:51] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any further discussion? [23:56] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I would just recommend that if they can't be here by the 4th, we have... [24:01] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Oh, yeah. It would be different a different plan, but we can wait if that's the case. [24:08] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: All right. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. [24:14] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Quick question for you. Where are we at on the bottoms up? [24:19] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: So, yeah, we just been really busy. I know that we were trying to get a demo for the next liquor committee meeting, but I'll follow up on it. [24:26] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Another question is about the liquor store uh technology and library department update. [24:34] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yeah. Um those who have driven by the arena, the First National Bank Arena, will notice the new digital sign is up. It was just installed. Power was just ran to it yesterday. And now it's just a matter of getting connectivity, internet, and then programming into it. So, it'll be up and running hopefully here in the next couple days. And then working on some new DMB workstations. That's about it. I mean, little miscellaneous stuff here and there. [25:17] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any other items? [Pause]. Congratulations on the basketball coach. [25:31] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Ah, thank you. Thank you. For those who don't know, I accepted the role as the head coach of the Moose Lake River basketball team for the boys. [25:44] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have the city engineer pre-construction meeting minutes and the monthly update minutes. [26:01] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: I wanted council to have visibility to the pre-construction meeting minutes uh just for additional information regarding the development. Um this pre-construction meeting was predominantly between our city engineers and the developer. Our developer is engaging with the city engineers outside of our current collaboration for items specific and relevant to the developer's contribution to the development. Um it does provide a lot of cohesiveness. Um so that their uh collaboration I think builds efficiency into what is currently happening. Um I would encourage council to review section three with the development agreement requirements. Uh those requirements are pertinent just to uh phase one of the development. So they'll they'll change as this project continues to evolve. Um but um things are moving at the development and um construction is underway. So really exciting. Uh pertaining to the uh regular monthly meeting update and the meeting minutes provided for such there are a couple of items further along on the agenda that we will um discuss relevant to the engineering meeting. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to let me know. But other than that, we'll be covering items within the rest of the meeting agenda. [27:16] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any questions? Monthly chamber report. Anybody here from the chamber? Do you have anything? [27:26] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: With nobody here from the chamber, I did want council to have visibility to upcoming events and schedules uh within the council packet. You did receive the um 4th of July schedule for Thursday, July 3rd through Sunday, July 6th. Um these flyers will be distributed around the city and posted on um public boards for visibility. In addition, uh council received information on the um egg days activities and festivities for this year um occurring July 19th and July 20th and the um nine and dine golf event that is occurring Friday, July 25th as well. Um, anybody with questions that are event specific, I would encourage you to go to the chamber website. Um, feel free to um, contact the chamber and Michelle, the executive director regarding the events and there's a lot going on this summer. [28:30] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Questions comments on the previously discussed business, the Lake Hider West fire update. [28:38] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Yes. So reoccupation of the HR um has been approached with a um you know a phase approach so to speak. So phase one was getting half the building reoccupied on the side or undamaged side of the building. Uh that did occur. Once the phase one occupation uh or reoccupation of the building um occurred, we transitioned away from the Red Cross shelter. um all of those who needed housing accommodations were offered an opportunity to have um hotel accommodations through the HR um for to meet resident needs. Um I'm excited that as of yesterday, the second phase of reoccupancy was established. Um an additional seven units were able to be uh reoccupied by residents at the manor. um that leaves the nine units that were specifically damaged by the um the fire and uh the water. And so what we're looking at at this time is uh now transitioning from abatement and mitigation activities to reconstruction activities. So this is the final phase of um repairs and uh occupancy. the nine um units, residents in the nine units that uh were affected are currently being offered accommodations uh through the HR for to meet housing needs. And we are going to as we transition now um as of yesterday into this last phase, uh we will look at now getting units one by one um completed and having the reconstruction work occur and then getting them reoccupied. So, uh, working through that. If there's any questions, please feel free to reach out. Um, I know there's been misinformation swirling. Um, but all residents have been offered housing, um, accommodations. We'll continue to get housing accommodations throughout the remainder of this process. Um, the Red Cross was absolutely fantastic to work with. Uh, Carlton County um, stepped up with multiple departments and, um, were involved and engaged the entire time and and have been extremely helpful in dealing with this crisis. Um, in addition, the United Way has set up a way to um to donate. Uh, if there's a desire for anybody to donate, the United Way is facilitating accepting donations and also distributing donations so that it is out of um HR process um and our city process. So, uh very helpful from the United Way. uh Salvation Army was providing meals for um at the shelter for uh residents at the shelter, but also any resident who uh wanted to utilize the food service throughout this crisis. Uh that was fantastic as well. [31:32] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Um and uh at this point in time, agencies are still involved. The Red Cross is still involved uh staying in contact with residents. The uh Moose Lake Food Shelf and Food Bank has been spectacular. uh they are helping residents get their um refrigerators restocked upon reoccupying uh the building and that's been fantastic. So, lots and lots and lots of help and resources uh donated and processes underway that have have been a a collaborative community effort. And so, I would like to thank everybody involved and we're going to continue to work diligently to get the remaining nine units reoccupied. [32:14] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any questions comments? If not, city gardener Bennett Avenue beautification update and the tree inventory grant update. [32:27] **City Gardener Raenee Bennett**: Council, mayor, city administrator, couple of very brief updates. Uh we're moving forward uh on our um grant perfectly. Um, we're getting a lot of our numbers straight and the next steps are going to be the contract is going to be submitted to you guys for approval and signature. So, everything is going along perfectly there. Um, of course, I wish we could have done it three months ago, but everything takes time. Um, and so um yeah, that's all I really have for updates with that. I've been working with Madison uh with the DNR who's the contract person and it's it's all been going really really well. Um as far as the tree and the um Elm Street beautification project, we got all of our um planters in that we got approval for last year. So, they're in the process of being unboxed and we're learning about the soil that's got to go in them and where we're going to place them and all those things. And we have a plan in place to replace four of the trees that were downtown. There were eight. We're going to replace them with four. Um I'm actually meeting with a couple of different nurseries to make sure that we get the right trees to put in there. And um we're working with a couple of different tree services to get those the the ground prepped and ready to go for that. So we're moving forward on everything. I know there a lot of people want the trees back. So we're working on that. Any questions? [34:06] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you. [34:07] **City Gardener Raenee Bennett**: Thank you. [34:08] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you. White pole discussion. [34:10] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Oh yes. So, brought forward at uh last month's city council meeting, there was a request made from the American Legion Post 379 regarding uh the city's gambling fund. Um and so wanted the opportunity to gather additional information for council that was presented in the packet. Um within that, the uh the Legion's initial request that was submitted was for $8,685. Uh what city administrative staff did in the background was um put a value and dollar value to the hours of work and services that the city has contributed to the project already. I just wanted council to have visibility to that. That total came in right around $3,200. Um again, not an invoice, just a mechanism to um inform council of of um the monetary value of contributions thus far to the project. In addition, I wanted council to have a snapshot of the contribution fund. Again, our audit in-house has occurred. We have not got our financial statements back yet from the audit firm. So, this is an unaudited figure from the end of 2024. The uh contribution fund at this time has a balance around $25,000. I've wanted council to have visibility to the expenses and and a history or track record of how those have been approved and facilitated um from 2015 on. Um so with that you'll have the uh the description of what the expense was and the dollar value associated with such. In addition, at the top of the page, um, yearly contributions from 2015 on were also provided just to give council an idea of how much the contribution fund builds on an annual basis. So, it's any it's the past, let's see, from the past four years, an average of about $6,000 comes into the contribution fund on um an annual basis. And then the last page provided to council was a guide for cities regarding um spending of the contribution monies and and what items are um lawful uses for those monies. So as we discussed the the legion's request does meet all of the criteria and qualifications for those monies. Um, I wanted council to have visibility to the fund balance, um, previous expenses and or contributions and then what we've provided thus far just to give, um, an idea for, uh, further discussion regarding the legion's request. [37:00] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Questions comments motions? [37:08] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: You said it was $8,600 and something was the original request. [37:12] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: $8,685. Uh the city has contributed around $3,200—$3,154. That's an approximate uh based on wages and hours and and uh equipment hours and our engineering services. Uh the difference between the two is about $5,500 between what we contributed and uh what the request was. [37:35] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yes, Chris. [37:37] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I guess as I look at this um for what they're asking and for what we've already contributed I would um my opinion would be to to um give them $5500 as the difference what um their request is and what we've already um given to them through our services and employee services city um equipment. [38:07] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Is there a motion? [38:09] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I'll make that a motion. [38:11] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Is there a second on that motion? [38:13] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second. [38:14] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any further discussion? Hearing not. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. [38:29] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Next we have city ordinance. Looks like city ordinance amendment discussion administrator. [38:36] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Yes. So um in the past weeks the city has been uh notified by residents of um experiences being had in the community. Um those notifications uh sparked internal engagement from an administrative perspective. Uh we've had staff engaging with uh those community members in discussions regarding um what those experiences were and then as they pertain to our city ordinances um what you know the responsibility of the city is to make sure that the ordinance are meeting the needs of the community and are in effective are effective and enforceable as well. Um the effectiveness and enforceability have been prioritized. uh we immediately engaged in uh research for other ordinances of similar nature in other communities. Um we've also engaged with the Carlton County Sheriff's Office on the matter and the Carlton County Attorney's Office as well. So, we're working in the background to make sure that our ordinances meet the needs of the community. What was presented to uh the city council is just for visibility and discussion purposes. Um these uh identified ordinances—there are I believe five uh separate that were included in the packet. Um some proposed changes have been highlighted. Um those are the identified needs that have come forward based on dialogue. Um however uh that we are not at the final phase of this. So, what needs to occur moving forward is um having city attorney review of some of the um modifications or recommendations um just to make sure that um they can be upheld and that it's the best way to approach the situation. and we need to have further dialogue with the uh county attorney's office and the Carlton County Sheriff's Office regarding uh enforcement and what that looks like and the process that the city can engage in to make sure that they are enforceable. Um for example, um the nuisance ordinance and and noise violations have been um a topic that has uh been uh highly discussed in recent weeks. Uh what we've looked at doing is um adding quiet hours into the ordinance to just define specific time frames for enforceability um or for enforcement that has been aligned with the county's quiet hours stated uh within you know county ordinance um and also aligning with other city ordinances like the short-term rental vacation um section of the zoning ordinance and things like that. So, uh, what council received was a recommendation that will be vetted throughout city process here that would include the, um, establishment of quiet hours within that ordinance. And then the other mechanism there is a way to, um, define sound and sound levels. Um and initial discussions are what was presented within the council's packet talks about um you know distance away a 50-ft distance away um as far as some type of mechanism to measure um outdoor sound and then defining what is a loud noise and what is um unnecessary noises or vibrations as well. So, we're working through the language. Uh we are um definitely listening to community uh input and feedback in this process, but then also doing our due diligence on our end to make sure that uh we're we're um utilizing the resources that we have to increase the effectiveness and enforcement of our ordinances as well. [42:52] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: So, if uh council has any questions, open to dialogue right now. Um what will have to occur moving forward is um vetting some of these highlighted changes that were included in the packet um with our our legal team and then um presenting an official amendment um to council as part of the public hearing um and um ordinance amendment process as questions. Chris? [43:30] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Um, well, first of all, I guess I would like to see that um quiet hours extended, at least on the morning side because I wouldn't want to be woke up at 7 a.m. with what's going on now. I mean, at least 8:00. Um, I mean, that wouldn't be good, but push that out to at least eight o'clock. And if they've got residents that are what 175, 150 ft away that are getting this, I mean 50 ft is just the meter. So um I guess have to see how far we can push that. [44:11] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Well, it would be it would be anything outside of 50 ft would be the violation. [44:18] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Oh, the violation. Yeah. So, the neighbor at 50 ft going this way wouldn't have any recourse. [44:27] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Nope. Radius. So, a radius of 50 ft um or more or more a violation. Yep. So, it's establishing the initial perimeter. [44:38] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Just yep. Worried that if it's 49 ft that you know... [44:42] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Understood. So, we looked at decibels um in our discussions with our law enforcement partners—there are really strict um guidelines for enforcement of decibels. You have to be trained. You have to have equipment that's certified. There are things that have to be in place from a decibel reading um mechanism in order for that to be enforceable. And that's not something that is um available at this time. Uh what other cities have done which is what research um alluded to is a distance um because distance can be measured um relatively easy versus using some type of um decibel mechanism for sound. Also uh including vibrations and specifics to what our unnecessary noise was important because the the ordinance as it reads now is very vague. Um and so trying to cover all those bases with any modifications that are being uh recommended for amendment. [45:54] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: I just want to be clear, too, the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. aligns with other quiet hours we already have established and with the Carlton County uh noise guidelines as well. So, if we're if we are deviating, I just want to be clear that then we are in misalignment with other ordinances that we have as well. [46:17] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Maybe we need to look at them too. Um, I just think 7 a.m. is is um pretty early. Um, to be undoubtedly I I really feel for you guys cuz I I can't imagine living in that kind of situation. So, we need to do something and we do we need we know we need to have where we have to define what we're looking at doing too. Yeah. But I... [47:04] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: So, it's not going to be a super quick process. No. But what um so as these calls are coming in and the sheriff's department is responding, she's just what turning the equipment down or off or so has she been ticketed or anything yet? As of yet? Kelly, can you come up? I can address that please. [47:28] **Sheriff Kelly Lake**: Yes, she has—there have been uh several citations that have been issued already. Um has not come before a judge or had any resolution to them yet, but um there have been citations issued and we are doing everything that we can. I mean, I do feel for you guys, too. I really do. And I know the deputies do. It's just these are very challenging, especially when if we have certain things that are very easy—drunk driving, oh you're a whatever, whatever, you're drunk, you're going to jail. That is very easy. Stuff like this is a little bit harder to deal with and enforce. Um, and the ordinance, you know, that was problematic—how you define unnecessary noise because what's unnecessary to me is probably different than everybody in this whole room right now. So trying to get those pieces and make sure that whatever we are enforcing doesn't get tossed out because that isn't going to help anybody either. Um if it if it does go through the legal process and ends up being thrown out in court. Um, another question I guess I have is, um, so some of these seem like they're harassing. Can they do something civilly? [48:47] **Sheriff Kelly Lake**: So, and yeah, I think they've all—I can't speak for all of them because I know I've only talked to a couple—but I think they've all been made aware of a harassment restraining order process and how they would go about obtaining that through the court. That is not through our office, but um, I think they've all been made aware of that. [49:04] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Okay. Thank you. [49:06] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any other questions? [49:08] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: I would just like them to know what D is in E on that ordinance because they showed up here. I have—have they—this is the first time we've seen it. I know it hasn't gone to our attorney, but this is what's being, right? [49:23] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: So, I mentioned um uh the implementation of quiet hours. So, um outdoor sound that can be heard above conversation over 50 feet away during quiet hours 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. unless um caused by a city permitted event. So, trying to build in like a city permit process for exclusions or variances from um the standard or the normal. Um and again, this verbiage is not official. We're just in that process of of working through it. um any loud or unnecessary noises or vibrations including but not limited to shouting, rioting, loud music, electronically amplified noise or disorderly conduct which disturbs um another person in the vicinity of said dwelling or building. And since um providing this, we've talked about how even utilizing "another person" needs to be um needs to be modified. Um, a lot of what is being utilized for citing right now, if I'm understanding correctly, is state statute. And state statute is also um vague. Um, and so we're we are trying to make sure that if we're going to engage in this process that we're doing it the right way and that it's not something that can have holes poked in it. Um, nothing is perfect, but we want to do our due diligence on it. So, even from what I'm reading right now, uh there will most likely be changes before it comes forward to council, but we'll go through the public hearing process for an amendment um and the communication today was just that we engaged immediately. We're going to continue to engage. Um and the ordinances are the the city's involvement in the matter. Uh there's law enforcement involvement, there is, you know, civil court and then we, you know, have our ordinances from a city perspective and we have our partnership with law enforcement. Um, so doing what we can uh in the background is important and that we are actively engaging. [51:26] **Sheriff Kelly Lake**: If I could just add one more thing. Yes, go ahead. I just wanted to—and I know that they have also been told this—but I know it feels frustrating like, oh, nothing's being done and we are trying to do something. But I still encourage everyone to call 911 and report it because if it's not reported to us, it it's like it never happened as far as when we bring it maybe in front of a judge saying, "Hey, look at this is what we've got." So, I still would encourage that to continue. Um even though you know we clearly can't bust the door down and drag people out for um playing loud music, but um you know we're we're doing what we can moving forward and and the more information we have. The more times it's reported that bolsters the case. [52:12] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: So what what will trigger the the penalties? Seems like penalties usually get people's attention. [52:18] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: So, we've talked about it our in our coordination meetings with the sheriff's office and and the county attorney um identifying um the fines um and making sure that the fines and penalties are clearly defined within the ordinance. And then those need to essentially be um not registered but essentially reported to the uh state court system to then be able to be um cited and enforced from the sheriff's office perspective. So we're going to continue to engage on that side of things as well. [52:54] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Some housekeeping things. [52:56] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Correct. And again, the challenge with some of these is um a large population will turn the music down when they're asked by a neighbor and even larger when a uniform shows up and then when they get a citation that usually gets the attention, but there are some that that doesn't work either. So, unfortunately, we're at that point right now where we're still trying to figure out what that is that is going to get the attention so that uh the neighborhood can have some... Any other questions? If any questions come up or upon, you know, additional review, please feel free to let me know. We're going to carry on with our process internally and then have um an official um ordinance amendment recommendation through a public hearing process for council to review and and potentially adopt. [53:54] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Thank you for your office response. And the uh ordinance issue too is the the weakest link that we have. So if you are being harassed and get a harassment order, the violation of that has criminal um repercussions where we're dealing with the ordinance, it's going to be a $1,500 fine. So, I think the more people that understand that you're being violated, get in front of a judge, get the harassment order, and that gives law enforcement actually something above that we can do because we're going to have first reading, second reading, third reading of this ordinance once it goes to the attorneys, comes back to us, we could be looking at September. Just keep that in mind. So your immediate protection is a harassment order and that is the ordinance one the main ordinance we're looking at but there are a few others on here that we're looking at amending too but yes that is the main questions and ordinances next moving on to independent school district 97 First National lease agreement. [55:12] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: You guys can leave. You're welcome to stay or you can leave. Thank you. [55:31] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Okay, just a quick synopsis of this. Um it's time to renew the lease with the school district in regards to the lease to the arena. Um we have done so without giving actual figures. We did increase the lease amount um roughly $13,000 and we shortened it from a 5-year lease to a three-year lease. So they've been great to collaborate with. They got really creative with how they're going to fund this and all is good and signed off on as far as their part. Um, which leads us to our part and then there are some other minor modifications like titles and stuff like that in the in the lease agreement but minor very minor things. [56:14] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any questions on that? Sorry, we are looking for a motion to approve this. [56:20] **Council Member Kris Huso**: We are and then we'll need some signatures. Have we done our review of the cost hourly to run what it costs to run have ice electricity things? I mean I don't know if we've ever done a review of that. [56:37] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: We haven't recently that I'm aware of and we did just put in new compressors too. [56:43] **Council Member Kris Huso**: So probably something we should look at. [56:45] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yeah. Sure. [56:46] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Thank you. An audit on the cost of keeping it. [56:52] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yeah. Because it's nice to have know that we're getting 13,000 more but we're losing 60,000 a year. Any other comments or motions recommendations? [57:08] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: What's that? The recommendation is that we approve this. [57:12] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yeah, it's quite a big jump from where they were at. So, we you know, we pushed as much as we could, I think. [57:19] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Okay. I'll make a motion we um approve the lease agreement with this Independent School District. [57:30] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Is there a second? [57:31] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: I'll second. [57:32] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. [57:43] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Next, we have the Short Elliott Hendrickson Incorporated Highway 73 phase 2 trail project. A letter of recommendation. [57:52] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: So on June 5th, the bid opening occurred. Um Um, regarding the last phase of the trail project or Hwy 73 uh phase 2 trail project, um, the lowest bid was $598,733.43. The highest bid was $902,380.75. Uh the city engineers have engaged with Carlton County who is the fiscal agent for this project based on all of the grant monies involved. Um there they have made a recommendation to award the low bidder Sinnott Contracting LLC in the amount of $598,733.43. there is a contingency recommended and that is contingent upon um approval from MNDOT Office of Civil Rights and Carlton County. So, we'll go before the county board as well. Um the contingency is important because there was one line item within their bid that didn't align with the um a requirement of the MNDOT Office of Civil Rights and they are currently working that out. Um, and so right now we're looking for approval to the lowest bidder with the contingency highlighted in this uh second to last sentence on the uh recommendation letter. [59:17] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I'll make that motion. [59:19] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Is there a second? [59:20] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: I'll second. [59:21] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Further comments. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. Lift station inspection discussion. [59:38] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Start this off. Okay, so this has been kind of a hot topic for a couple of years now. Um, a couple of you may not be too familiar with some of these past conversations we've had. Our biggest concern—we do have seven lift stations in town—our biggest concern is the main lift station is about 500,000 gallons of water a day. Um, there are parts and components of that tailer that need to be replaced. Um, about a year and a half ago, I stood up here and told you guys that the replacement options were like $400,000 that we do not have. Um, I think I actually had the support to to do that and I didn't believe we should and so I didn't try. Um, some of these trainings that I go to and some of these things we see, we bump into new vendors. New vendors come on the market. Found a new vendor who can actually offer a replacement and a repair for us to the tune of um $13,000 per wall. So 40 grand for the whole station, which is way better than what we were originally thinking. Um in your packet starting on page uh 124 there is lift station um lift station calibration records and lift station check records in here. Uh my biggest one is still the main station. Um from our last communication about this we went from 400,000 to about 40,000 right now. I I just want that to sink in for a month or two. I don't need anything done right now. Nothing is broken right now. What I would like to see happen, um, I would recommend we order an impeller and a wear ring because they're all that one impeller and one wear ring will fit all three pumps in the main lift station. Doesn't matter which one. They're all universal. I'd like to have those parts on the shelf. They're they're about a month out. So, when a pump fails, we call the pump company. They fix the day of for the back of the hall. We order new parts. We're out very little time instead of waiting two to three months to have the back of um like I said, I don't need anything to happen tonight. I would like to see something happen in July. As far as some movement, whether we get some parts coming, that kind of thing. Um to go from 400 to 40,000, it's a big deal. So that's huge. Um that's it in a nutshell. [1:01:46] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Yep. One thing that um Phil and I are going to do in the background over the course of the next month is just take a look at the budget. This is something that we should build in on an annual basis as far as at least monies for uh one set um to make sure that we're we continuously have budgeted enough to have on hand for for repairs. Um, I think um awareness from the perspective of you know Superintendent Entner has continued to try and um engage in new dialogue, new vendors, new opportunities regarding the city's infrastructure. Um and that's been invaluable. So just without that type of engagement, we don't know that there are other options out there that people are trying new things or there's other equipment available. Um and so as eye-opening as it was, um I also want to highlight that that activity is continuously happening in the background and it's going to save the city a significant amount of money. So um good news. We're going to do some budget work in the background. We'll bring forward um some proposals for council review uh in July. But um good news, it's also a little scary that if you don't ask questions and don't continue to engage, you could um be stuck replacing with new um and be out hundreds of thousands of dollars. [1:03:10] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: So um it's just a reminder for us to continue to um you know knock on doors and ask questions. We're talking about the entire the the lower end of the pumps. So the loops—wearing. Everything electrical from the midline up is totally fine. That's in the report they checked out. No problem. Um yes, to budget to replace absolutely especially to at least have a pair—or one or a pair or all three off the shelf so when they do decide to give up, we can fix them immediately instead of a month later. We played that game when I first got here for many many years and that was that was a mess. And I I'm not playing... [1:04:18] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Yes. What is—it just says "wear on impeller and wear." What is wear to you? [1:04:24] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Uh wear to me is 50% gone. 50% is life expectancy is gone. [1:04:31] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Okay. And we are there. [1:04:33] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Okay. [1:04:34] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: So, is this something that—getting a pair of this or having this on the shelf before July would be a good thing? [1:04:41] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Um, you know, I've been told by one vendor that I that that they're going to they're going to give up and and that was two years ago. So, of course, I'm a firm believer of especially parts like this running them until they fail if we have ones on the shelf. If you guys want to make a motion tonight for that, I am all in and I I I love it. I just wanted you guys to... last time we had this conversation, we went we went from 400,000 to now and we all walked out of here with holy cow, how are we going to pay for this? [1:05:15] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Well, my feeling is if it's a month out to get something like that, it's two months here. Why would we wait another month when it's showing 50% and you know... that looks like $11,460 to me, right? [1:05:32] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Uh, it's going to be $13,460 with including the labor. [1:05:36] **Council Member Kris Huso**: We would pay the labor yet. No, we wouldn't pay the labor until buying the the ring in the impeller. [1:05:43] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: That's correct. I was just talking about the... [1:05:45] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Yes, I'm I'm sorry. the 11460. I guess I I would like to see them sitting on our shelf now rather than later because at 50% um you know I agree with that same you know 50% could go to zero like I I could agree with you more absolutely so I guess I will make a motion that we um purchase the impeller and wear ring right now and for for future use. And then you guys continue your um talk about how we're going to put this in the budget for um but at least have one on the shelf to protect us be ready to go. [1:06:44] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Yeah. Thank you. [1:06:46] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Is there a second to that motion? [1:06:48] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: I'll second that. [1:06:49] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any further discussion? [1:06:51] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Would these work in the other lift stations or they just for the main? [1:07:00] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: This is just the main. Yep. The other ones I'm not as worried about. Those we have—we have tricks of the trade to bypass if need be. It's not ideal, but but it is approved in certain situations. Um this we do not. When this goes down, it's it's bad for everyone. [1:07:14] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any other discussion? It looked like it was more than one pump. [1:07:18] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Three pumps we have in the main. Yep. Yep. So, this is to repair just one. Does that make sense? [1:07:26] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: What would the chances be that they all blown at one time? [1:07:29] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Um, not great. Not great. And we have—when one fails, we have two more at home for that reason. So, I I wouldn't—if you want. Absolutely. Well, we all know the the the situation the sewer fund is in financially. [1:07:47] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: I I think one set is a wonderful step forward. Great. Any other discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. Uh beach house electrical quotes. [1:07:59] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Yeah. So the beach house is capital project for 2025—it is moving on very nicely. It is probably it's over 75—it's probably 80% right now complete and that's going to be a huge asset to us down the park. One part of that is the electrical work that we wanted to do in that building. On page uh 132 you'll find a start of two quotes. One from Benson Electric for $7,500. Three pages later, you will find a quote for Regional Electric for $6,400 for the same work. Just need a motion for that. [1:08:50] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Motion questions comments? Do you have a recommendation? [1:08:58] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Um, when we have the ability to go uh to stay local and save money, absolutely 100%. [1:09:07] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Mr. cheaper and save money. You bet. So, you want Regional? [1:09:12] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Yep. [1:09:13] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Make a motion to go to Regional Electric for $6,400. [1:09:16] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Is there a second? [1:09:18] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second. [1:09:19] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. Uh, campground attendant hiring approval. home run club batting cage discussion. [1:09:43] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Yes. So the um president of the Home Run Club um approached the city with um a request to install batting cages at two different locations. One at Twilight Ball Field and one at the Little League field. Uh the maps in the packet have the locations identified with orange rectangles. Um, also in the packet was an example. Um, they are actually looking to utilize some other resources in the community to establish batting cages. Um, but the Home Run Club will be um covering the entire cost of the batting cages. They came to city staff and also it went through the park board regarding um a recommendation and potential approval of batting cages. So the final step is now city council. Um again this would be at no cost and they are continuing to engage and improve um the facilities um and and using their uh monetary contributions to do so. So it's really been um a good partnership. [1:11:00] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Alex discussion. Go ahead Chris. [1:11:12] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Um we would not be responsible for any damage to these if it occurs. Um, just knowing where the one is with people at the school making all that—the old school making all that damage—we wouldn't be—if these got damaged, we're not held liable to fix them. [1:11:32] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: No, we... So, they're on city property. All the property is covered by city insurance. Um, however, what the partnership that we currently have established with them, anything that's happened to the to the facilities that they're utilizing, they have covered in the past. [1:11:47] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: So, any other comments? Question that first one on 130. It looks pretty tall. We just had to pay a bunch of money for a light that was donated to the city for engineering costs. Those poles look pretty tall. Would we be required to have engineering going to do any of this work? [1:12:03] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: someone's just doing the work. So those are examples of visuals um not going to be what is actually constructed. This is what was provided to us for dialogue regarding general concept. Um they have talked about utilizing um some additional poles that they already have um and have had access to through water and light. Is that correct? I'm not sure where... [1:12:35] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: So, working in the community and collaborating. Uh, the Home Run Club has already established poles and and whatnot. Those are visuals that were provided for examples. [1:12:44] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any other questions, comments? Is there a motion? [1:12:50] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I'll make a motion we approve that. [1:12:52] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Is there a second? [1:12:54] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second. [1:12:55] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Further discussion. to start our insurance just to make sure that the city administrator said it covered under the insurance. Yeah. So there's a clause in there—that was a question—or somebody gets hurt. [1:13:12] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. [1:13:14] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Campground attendant hire approval. [1:13:21] **City Superintendent Phil Entner**: Yes, we are in need of one additional campground attendant. We hired um—or we hired—we interviewed Sean Dunders last week. Uh went very well. That is our recommendation to the city council for hire for him. [1:13:38] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Make a motion we hire Mr. Jumpers camp. [1:13:42] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Is there a second? [1:13:44] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second. [1:13:45] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Further discussion hearing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. Uh Moose Lake Area Chamber of Commerce temporary on-sale liquor license approved. [1:13:58] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: Uh yes. Uh one change from what was included in the packet is upon review um noticed that the date of the event listed on the application was incorrect. We did contact the executive director Michelle Anderson of the chamber and have now received a new um permit application with July 19th, 2025 being listed as the um date of the event and so all is well there. Um this is um an annual event now. Um it and continues to be—it's changed locations. There's never been an issue from the city perspective. [1:14:40] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Comments, concerns, motions. [1:14:43] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Motion to approve. [1:14:45] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Is there a second? [1:14:46] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second. [1:14:47] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. Moose Lake Brewing Company temporary on-sale record license for Moose Lake Buzz on July 28th. [1:15:02] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yeah. So, uh, exciting news. Uh, the Moose Lake Buzz is the City of Moose Lake semi-pro baseball team. Their home games have been scheduled at the City of Moose Lake Olds, uh, baseball field, high school field. That's where their home games are played. They ask the brewery to come down and sell beers, uh, on a specific game that's in front of you on the the request. and part of the uh proceeds will go back in form of a donation from the brewery to the semi-pro Moose Lake Buzz team um to help them be successful and keep going and growing and stuff like that. So that's what that's all about. And is this date correct? I do not—I would not know that because I believe it is 6/28—their game—because their season ends before 7/28. Okay. So I don't know when... I would not know the date before 6/28. That's why I assume it's in front of us. [1:16:13] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Two of them come in with the properties. They don't have a lot. Yeah. Um, my only concern is we have houses right there and the timeline and should we be talking to the neighbors about having alcoholic beverages being sold right next to their home? What if we haven't done this before? It was always a school or in a residential neighborhood. I I'm just playing devil's advocate of what you know all a sudden we have little kids running down there. People are drinking beer. I don't want... [1:17:02] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yep. I think you know and ideally this would go before the park board first as well. So um I think maybe just a breakdown in process—if the... I'm not sure if Moose Lake Buzz was aware and how it all worked out and it just kind of a last-minute type thing. I know it's happened quickly and it's great to have it here. [1:17:15] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: I just noticed like you have 300 people doing this one. So tell me a little bit more about this Buzz Buzz thing. [1:17:21] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: It's a semi-pro baseball team uh for the city of Moose Lake. So basically a town team similar—down there, Southern Minnesota, they're more prevalent. Hinckley has one. Ogilvie has one. Semi-pro. Well, it's a town. It's a town team. Sounds great. They didn't classify. I mean, they're on a website for, you know, it's just a town baseball. So, it's older. That's a league. They're in their league. [1:17:50] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Who are you going to try out? [1:17:52] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: It looks like the top people are in their 30s. No, early 30s. I think I'll pass. [1:17:58] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: That's my only concern on Saturday. I I would really like the the residents to be talked to and I'm I'm for this. I just don't want to start something wrong. [1:18:12] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: So, correct me if I'm wrong. So, is it Nichads that will be serving that? [1:18:18] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Could be the brewery. [1:18:20] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Okay. So what's is there... [1:18:24] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: I think the games played there... [1:18:28] **City Administrator Ellissa Owens**: yeah I I I agree with Jim in that um since this is also in the neighborhood of where the other issues are going on with the noise and um that would be prudent to maybe send them a letter—or is this—is this activity you're requesting from a city perspective or that we go back and and talk to the the league or the event staff or the brewery who's serving? What is your mindset on what you'd like to see happen moving forward? [1:19:10] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Well, I'd like to have the neighbors be told that, you know, we have this town league here and um they are requesting an application to serve alcoholic beverages and beer during the event. Please give us your input and talk to anybody that's within a couple block radius of the event that that's just... and I don't know if we can do that even, but I'm just saying it's an alcohol permit in a residential area. I don't know how often we've done that. I think that I—the concerns are extremely valid. I just want clear direction. Like—are we door-knocking? I know we would love it at the city park for... and that is probably considered part of the city park but you know... [1:20:10] **Council Member Kris Huso**: I'm not saying I'm for or against it. I just go—would it just be prudent to send that um Seventh Street block facing the and maybe the people that are back the vats to the thing just a letter just stating that this will be occurring just to give them just a warning that it's happening and I mean even a discussion or door knocking just on those those two streets and we could make this contingent upon I guess no negative feedback from them otherwise we'd have to hold it off a month. [1:21:05] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: well so is this event—my only concern is—is I believe it's for 6/28 which their purpose is for 7/28. [1:21:13] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yeah. [1:21:14] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Because I don't believe they have games going that way cuz their playoffs start July 20th. So sure, you know, I think they just put the wrong date on there. They do have a game versus from on June 28th 2:00 at Moose Lake. [1:21:26] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yeah. [1:21:27] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: That's why that's why I'm assuming it's the wrong date. I mean, I think the best thing would be is yes, we could door knock and ask everybody, but I I guess just if it's a time constraint, just doing the um the appropriate approach, giving them just the um that the event is happening. There'll be alcohol being served. Um, you know, when will what time will it be finished? [1:22:04] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Starts at two. It'll be finished by, you know, such and such a time. And, um, you know, I guess information would be fine, too. Just give them information and if they, you know, starts at two and maybe we put it contingently—it has to be done by seven or they can't serve after. [1:22:23] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yeah, sure. We can do that. [1:22:26] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Yeah. Easier. If we get negative feedback then we'll have to revisit it. [1:22:30] **Finance Director Ryan McKeon**: Yes. [1:22:31] **Council Member Kris Huso**: But I think knowledge is is important for them and mostly like I said situations going on now um for us to then that's going to cause a lot of noise and um it'd be prudent for us to send out a letter to and I know I know they had a game last weekend down there. [1:22:52] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Double. [1:22:53] **Council Member Kris Huso**: Okay. So they—but they didn't have the alcohol as far as I know they didn't have alcohol—but and I didn't have any negative feedback from... now they cleared out pretty so there—so there has been games. They had a doubleheader last weekend. yeah I guess to say that there will be alcohol served and and please come to the next city council meeting if there's an issue or give us your feedback is there—is there a motion with all this—so this will beer served somebody... [1:23:33] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: It's the brewery, so they'll be... that might be important. I know that—it would make a difference to some people, but maybe some... Yeah, I guess I'd make that motion. I would approve it with I guess the confirmation of the date—like confirmation of the date—and then that we just reach out and let the let them know they could come here and put an end time on it. [1:23:55] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Sure. [1:23:56] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: Is there seventh street? I'm sorry. Any further discussion? Um, extent of notification. You want Seventh Street and the next... I think the the houses that back the parking lot—East side... know which ones they are. All here. [Laughter]. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? [Silence]. Carried. Um next we will have to go into closed session to discuss the—how do I say it?—threatened litigation and a request for arbitration. [1:24:50] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: The agenda item for this portion of the regular meeting is to discuss legal strategy regarding threatened litigation and request for arbitration received by the City of Moose Lake from the Moose Lake Wood Area Sanitary Sewer District portion. This portion of the meeting will be closed pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.05 subdivision 3B under the attorney-client privilege exception to the Minnesota open meeting law. The city needs for confidentiality outweighs the purposes served by the open meeting law and in this case based on the following: absolute confidentiality is necessary so that the city council and legal council can have a candid and open discussion to determine available legal options to handle threatened litigation including arbitration, general litigation strategy and possible areas of resolution. The purpose of the closed meeting is not to make a decision behind closed doors, but instead is to determine all legal options for handling demand—the demand for arbitration and threatened litigation. The only business to be discussed in this meeting is the demand for arbitration and threatened litigation. An open session would be detrimental because it may take place in the presence of individuals involved in the threatened litigation. A closed session would benefit the public because the alternate outcome of the threatened litigation may impact the finances of the city. I will now entertain a motion to close this portion of the meeting. [1:26:40] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: So moved. [1:26:42] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Is there a second? [1:26:44] **Council Member (Unidentified)**: Second. [1:26:45] **Mayor Jim Michalski**: All in favor? Aye. [End of audio excerpt].