City Council - Regular Meeting

CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ELBERLY CITY COUNCIL FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2026. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

COUNCILOR CHRISTIANSEN. HERE. COUNCILOR BAKER. HERE. COUNCILOR HERMAN.

HERE.

COUNCILOR OLSON.

HERE.

COUNCILOR VAN BEEK.

HERE.

COUNCILOR ANDERSON.

HERE.

MAYOR MURRAY.

HERE. WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WELCOME TO EVERYONE TONIGHT, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON OR ONLINE, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE WITH US. NEXT ITEM IS A CEREMONIAL ITEM. TONIGHT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION, C-TRACKS THINK TRAIN RAIL SAFETY WEEK. SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION. MINNESOTA OPERATION LIFESAVER DECLARE C-TRACKS THINK TRAIN WEEK IS SEPTEMBER 21ST THROUGH THE SEPTEMBER 27TH, WHEREAS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS A LEADER IN SUPPORTING HIGHWAY RAIL GRADE CROSSING AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROGRAMS, AND WHEREAS FIRST HELD IN THE U.S. IN 2017, THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, FORMALLY KNOWN AS RAIL SAFETY WEEK, IS NOW CALLED C-TRACKS THINK TRAIN WEEK THROUGHOUT THE U.S. THIS INCLUDES PREVENTING RAILROAD CROSSING AND TRESPASS INCIDENTS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND CONCENTRATING PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE NEED FOR ALL SAFETY EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS DURING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 27TH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ALL CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OBSERVE ADDITIONAL CAUTION AS MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS NEAR TRACKS OR TRAINS. AND WHEREAS IT'S NEVER SAFE TO STOP CLOSER THAN 15 FEET FROM THE RAILS AND A TRAIN IS AT LEAST 3 FEET WIDER THAN TRACKS ON BOTH SIDES, 95% OF ALL RAIL-RELATED DEATHS INVOLVE DRIVERS TRYING TO BEAT A TRAIN OR PEOPLE TRESPASSING ON RAILROAD TRACKS. AND WHEREAS OUR TRAIN VOLUNTEERS TELL PEOPLE TRAINS ARE QUIETER AND MOVING FASTER THAN THEY APPEAR, AND BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE A MILE OR MORE FOR A FULLY LOADED TRAIN TO STOP BY THE TIME AN ENGINEER SEES A PERSON OR A VEHICLE ON THE TRACKS AND APPLIES THE EMERGENCY BRAKES, IT IS OFTEN TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. AND WHEREAS THIS IMPORTANT OBSERVANCE SHOULD LEAD TO GREATER SAFETY AWARENESS AND REDUCTION IN HIGHWAY RAIL GRADE CROSSING CRASHES AND PEDESTRIAN RAILROAD INCIDENTS. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICH MURRAY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ALBERT LEA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 21ST THROUGH 27TH AS C-TRACKS THINK TRAIN WEEK AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE CROSSING CRASHES AND PEDESTRIAN RAILROAD TRESPASS INCIDENTS DURING THIS WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WITH THAT, I'LL PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION.

LIKE I SAID, I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY IT WENT.

All right, and on that page, I've got real cards with the emergency notification sign, which is posted at every rail crossing in Minnesota and the United States.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Next up, public forum. THANK YOU. YOU'RE NOT DARING. AND TONIGHT, WE HAVE DON BLAKE. HE'S GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE EDDIE COCHRAN 2027 CAR SHOW AND STATUE PROJECT. COME ON UP. WELCOME.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. WELL, MY NAME IS DON BLAKE AND A MEMBER OF THE LAKES CORVETTE CAR CLUB HERE IN ALBERT LEE. And I've been working with John Schipper, who put together this year's Eddie Cochran Car Show. I am also on a committee of a group of people here in Albert Lee on the design and construction of the Eddie Cochran statue. And as you know, all of you are fully supportive, 100% support in having this statue made. and put in the northwest corner of Marion Ross Street and North Broadway. In any event, in my discussion with John Schipper after this year's event, he told me that he had about 490 cars show up for this year's event. And he had to turn away over 120 of them. We ended up with 368. And so he's very concerned about having available parking area for next year's event, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 12, 2027. And so anyway, what we talked about was where we might be able to accommodate additional cars, especially that's when we're going to have the unveiling of the statue at noon on that Saturday, the 12th. John is estimating that we are going to have probably close to 700 to 800 cars for next year's event, and we are going to have people from not only all over the United States, but also from England and possibly other countries. We already have commitment from the Baldy Holly Band in England, that they are going to be back here for the events that week. And in addition, there was a hour and a half documentary that came out on June 23rd in England called Don't Forget Me. And it was a documentary about Eddie Cochran. And in this documentary, over 30 famous musicians talk about the huge impact that Eddie Cochran had on their musical careers. In that documentary, Alice Cooper, Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, and a host of other individuals. And as a result of that, one of the members of our committee has already reached out for Alice Cooper and spoke with his manager. conveyed to him what we have planned for the unveiling of the statue next June 12th. And so they were excited to hear that. We anticipate we're going to have a lot of very famous musicians in attendance here for next year's event. So that brought up the issue with available parking, especially with John estimating about 700 to 800 cars. He has been going all over the United States attending various events and communicating our event next year, and especially with the unveiling of the statue. As a result, I figured what we needed to do was to take a look at having the available parking, which, of course, kind of centers on the North Broadway parking lot, especially with given that's where the statue is going to be. and having all those famous people in attendance. So what I figured I needed to do was to meet with the committee for the farmer's market. And because on Saturdays, they've got their event scheduled there. So I happened to drive by on Wednesday, August 19th, and I happened to see they had a sign up. So I stopped and there were just a few vendors But the very first table I went to to find out when I could go and talk with the committee that manages that, she told me that the meeting that they were going to have, their monthly meeting, was scheduled for the following Thursday on August 27th. And, of course, that was the same event as the Wedgwood Cove car show. So I had my wife pick me up and take me up there for the meeting at 4 o'clock that afternoon. So I went up, and they were gathered at a picnic table there. And I went up to talk to them about the Eddie Cochran statue project as well as the Eddie Cochran car show. And as I introduced myself and I started to talk, I was immediately interrupted and told to shut up. And I went, excuse me, but I'm here just to convey information and everything and talk to you about this project. It's going to have a huge impact on our community. And so as I started to talk and convey more information, one after another, I was told, shut up, that's it, we don't wanna hear any more. And it was just so rude, I just thought, my gosh, this is for a benefit of the community, and that we needed to look at what we could do. I have had a discussion with Rich, And we talked about the parking lot off of St. Mary's to utilize that. But it's going to be critical. And they told me as I was talking, they said, why don't you just do it out to the fairgrounds? I said, the statue is going to be right here next to the North Broadway parking lot. I'm sorry, Rich, go ahead.

No, one minute.

IF YOU COULD TIE IT UP FOR US, PLEASE. OH, OKAY, OKAY. SO ANYWAY, I SAID IN A DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD, THE OPTION CAME UP of having you folks move to the old high school parking lot on West Clark, across from where Bonner Ups used to be. And they said, nobody would even know that we're there. I said, you got nine to 10 months to convey that message to everybody. And they just said, just shut up, we don't want to talk about it. one of the other members then came up and spoke up and said if we were to do that the only way we would do that is if you paid us five hundred dollars per vendor to move to a different location i said we're not a business we're not an organization we don't have DEWS COMING IN. THE MONEY WE ARE TAKING IN IS STRICTLY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE EDDIE COCHRAN STATUE. AND THEY JUST SAID, THAT'S IT. WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE. WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO CONSIDER IT. AND I JUST KIND OF WENT ON AND TALKED ABOUT THE INFORMATION. THEY SAID, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO OUT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS? I SAID, BECAUSE THE STATUE IS RIGHT THERE. So anyway, I figured the only other thing that we could do for the event coming up and how huge we expect this to be is to come and talk with you folks, to come up with an option that's going to be available to have them move to that old high school parking lot for just one day out of the entire spring, summer, fall. and don't know what can be done. I don't know what their contract looks like. that they have with you folks, but it's of huge benefit to our community for the growth. The amount of information that we heard from people visiting Albert Lee at this year's event, from people from Florida and the Carolinas, Pennsylvania was like, wow, what a great community. The more we can expose this, especially if we get famous people here to help, in the honor of Eddie Cochran and the statue. And for those of you that weren't aware, Eddie's family moved to Albert Lee from Oklahoma in the summer of 1938, two and a half months after they had moved to Albert Lee and THE FATHER, FRANK, WAS WORKING AT WILSON COMPANY. IN ANY EVENT, TWO AND A HALF MONTHS AFTER THEY HAD MOVED TO ALBERT LEE, EDDIE WAS BORN OCTOBER 3, 1938. AND THEY LIVED HERE IN ALBERT LEE UNTIL 1951. AND SO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HISTORICAL VALUE OF THAT, I THINK IS GOING TO BE A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

DON, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING TONIGHT. SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE SOME MORE WORK TO DO.

VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU, RICH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL.

ALL RIGHT. YOUR HONOR, COULD I ADD ONE THING? YES. BEFORE I FORGET, SOMEBODY SHOULD MAYBE TRY AND REACH OUT TO THE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE THEIR TOURNAMENTS AND STUFF SET UP FOR NEXT SUMMER ALREADY, BUT I KNOW LIKE LAST YEAR, THEY USUALLY HAVE A TOURNAMENT AROUND THAT TIME THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT OF HOTEL PROBLEMS. because they bring in, you know, they bring in 20 teams and probably, you know, they're probably filling up 50 to 100 hotel rooms themselves. So if we could alleviate some of that congestion, it might be worth a reach out if they haven't scheduled tournaments with the state already. Good point. Thank you. Yeah.

All right. Okay. We'll move along to... Yep. Thank you. CONSENT AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA. A IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 24, 2026 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. ITEM B IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 24, 2026 WORK SESSION. ITEM C IS LICENSE AND PERMITS. ITEM D IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE GAMBLING PERMIT FOR THE TWIN LAKES FIREMAN RELIEF ASSOCIATION. AND RESOLUTION DECLARING, ITEM E IS A RESOLUTION DECLARING 2026 HOMETOWN PRIDE FALL CLEANUP DAY IS OCTOBER 10TH FROM 9 TILL NOON. COUNCIL. MOVED TO APPROVE, YOUR HONOR. MOTION BY COUNCILOR BAKER. IS THERE A SECOND?

I'LL SECOND, YOUR HONOR.

SECOND BY COUNCILOR HERMAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED, NAY. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM SEVEN IS PETITION, OR SIX IS PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS. WE HAVE NONE TONIGHT. SEVEN IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS. WE HAVE NONE TONIGHT. EIGHT, NEW BUSINESS. ITEM A IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION REGARDING THE MAIN CORRIDOR URBAN RENEWAL GRANT AND REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS AGREEMENT WITH THE CARINGTON COMPANY. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE STAFF REPORT. CITY MANAGER? THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

While not legally required, the resolution for the corridor grant is going to be held in a, we'll hold a public hearing for that. And as for the corridor grant renewal, it is intended to assist property owners in making facade and site improvements that preserve the architectural character of the property, improve the curbside appeal and other, and or spur economic development along the city's main commercial corridors. Carrington Capital LLC, a limited liability company under the laws of Minnesota, applied for a matching grant for lighting upgrades and improved parking areas. The total project cost is $30,400 and the property owners are eligible to receive a matching grant of $50,200. Item A2 is a resolution permitting an agreement for the economic development revolving loan to Carrington Company. The City of Albert Lee considers loans for up to 10 years on a case-by-case basis with the criteria of creating and retaining permanent private sector jobs and to fuel above average economic growth, increase tax base, and improve employment and economic opportunities within the community. The Carrington Company has sought to enter into an agreement with the City of Albert Lee for an economic development revolving loan fund for $50,000 over five years at 5.23% interest per annum to create and retain five jobs until November 1st, 2031. The reason why it's five jobs is that these are considered the upper management jobs within the Ross Dress for Less company moving in.

ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? CAN WE DO THESE TWO RESOLUTIONS TOGETHER OR DO WE NEED SEPARATE HEARINGS?

I WOULD DO ‑‑ YOU CAN DO ONE HEARING FOR BOTH, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC CAN COMMENT ON EITHER OR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THEY SHOULD BE TWO SEPARATE VOTES AS RESOLUTIONS. OKAY.

GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, THEN. We will talk about both of these, and so first of all, would anyone like to speak regarding either the resolution authorizing a Main Corridor Urban Renewal Grant Agreement with Carrington Capital LLC, 2610 through 2618 Bridge Avenue, or the resolution permitting an agreement for an economic development revolving loan with the Carrington Company? For the second time, would anyone like to speak? FOR THE THIRD TIME, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK? WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A RESOLUTION, FIRST OF ALL, FOR A1, THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAIN CORRIDOR URBAN RENEWAL GRANT AGREEMENT. MOVED APPROVED, YOUR HONOR. MOTION BY COUNCILOR BAKER. IS THERE A SECOND?

I'LL SECOND, YOUR HONOR.

SECOND BY COUNCILOR HERMAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE RESOLUTION? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED, NAY. MOTION CARRIES. I would then also entertain a motion for a resolution permitting an agreement for an economic development revolving loan with a quarantine company. Council? Move to approve, Your Honor. Motion by Councilor Baker. Is there a second?

No second, Your Honor.

Second by Councilor Herman. Any further discussion? City Manager. City Manager.

Yes, thank you, Your Honor. I would just like to say that the amount and type is not a precedence that we are setting or will be likely continuing in the future. And I would just like that expressed in the minutes. Okay, thank you.

Any other? Councilor Christensen.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR MENTIONING THAT BECAUSE WE DID DISCUSS THIS IN OUR WORK SESSION, AND I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONCERN AND HESITATION, BUT GIVEN THESE THINGS, I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED, NAY. MOTION CARRIES. Item B is a resolution approving a joint letter with Hayward and Freeborn County to the Minnesota DNR to finish the Blazing Star Trail. City Manager.

Thank you, Your Honor. As explained in the resolution and joint letter with the City of Hayward, Freeborn County, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has delayed completion of the Blazing Star Trail once again. The trail reached a major milestone in 2025 when the DNR connected the segments between Meyer Big Island State Park and Hayward, including the bridge over Albert Lee Lake. However, the DNR pulled the last half mile of gravel from last year's project, leaving a major obstacle to attracting more trail users. attracting more visitors to our communities, and boosting our tourism industry. The trail has been more than actually 30 years in the making, and a total of 8.1 miles has been completed. There's only a half mile left to pave. The resolution and letter urge the DNR to finish the job for everyone's benefit. The Hayward City Council is also voting on the resolution tonight, on September 14th, with Freeborn County Board voting on it September 15th, tomorrow. Council? Staff recommends approval.

All right.

Council? Move to approve, Your Honor. Motion by Councilor Anderson. Is there a second?

All second.

Second by Councilor Christensen. Any further discussion by the council? I would just like to say that this has been going on for an awful long time. I'VE BEEN OUT TO THE PARK PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE TIMES FOR CELEBRATIONS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS TRAIL, AND IT HAS STILL NOT BEEN COMPLETED. I WON'T MENTION ANY NAMES, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR MIDST TONIGHT THAT HAVE WORKED ON THIS TRAIL FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GET DONE. AND SO THANK THEM FOR BEING PART OF THIS FOR ALL THESE YEARS. WE APPRECIATE IT. BUT IT'S TIME TO TALK TO THE DNR. WE ARE HAVING A CONFERENCE TOMORROW. THE COUNTY WILL BE THERE, HOPEFULLY THE CITY OF HAYWARD AND OURSELVES, AND WE'LL BE EXPRESSING OUR DISPLEASURE WITH THIS NOT BEING COMPLETED. IT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS WAY TOO LONG. THE DNR HAS DEVELOPED AND ENGINEERED THIS WHOLE PROJECT OUT THERE, AND SO THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO WRAP THIS UP. SO WE'LL BE TALKING TOMORROW. AND WITH THAT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED, NAY. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM C IS THE APPROVAL OF THE 2026-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN.

Thank you, Your Honor. This is the final draft after suggestions from the Council with changes to the vision statement. There are also some final edits from staff that were more grammatical or spelling. City Commission and Board members had ample time to review and provide responses or questions to the plan. At the suggestion of the Mayor, a few of the implementation items were deleted or edited as they no longer match the goals or were redundant. And then staff are set to meet in late October to go over the final stages of implementation and the dashboard to track implementation. A strategic plan is a living document that can be updated, changed, and reported on to the council. It starts with the council's high-level view, goes to the city manager's mid-view, and is better defined and implemented by the staff on the ground level. Staff recommends approval.

Council? Move to approve, Your Honor. Motion by Councilor Baker. Is there a second?

I'll second, Your Honor.

Second by Councilor Herman. Any further discussion by the council? I have a question for the city manager. So you know how I like studies, and I like to see them actually be used. How are we going to monitor this going forward? AND HOW OFTEN CAN WE EXPECT THAT STAFF OR YOURSELF WILL BE COMING BACK TO US SAYING, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT, SO THAT WE GET A LITTLE UPDATE FROM TIME TO TIME?

CITY MANAGER? There should be quarterly or biannual reports given to the council based on that implementation plan and the dashboard that we are looking at finishing up by the end of this year. So starting either within three to six months of next year, we should have our first report on what has been done to meet those goals, what implementations have taken place, and also to show what remains. And I think annually the council should most definitely review not just only the report given, but then have a discussion in general as a group to talk about any other potential future changes or any other questions or concerns about implementation as we continue to move forward. IS BY THE ACTIONS OF BOTH STAFF AND COUNCIL IS WHAT MAKES IT A LIVING DOCUMENT. AND THAT IS THE GOAL, IS TO KEEP THAT GOING.

YEAH, SO JUST AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT. WE WILL BE MONITORING IT. WE'LL BE MAKING CHANGES AS WE GO. BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE US GETTING BEHIND IT. WE PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS IN HERE THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE WORKING ON. SO LET'S, THE STAFF KEEP WORKING ON IT AND THE COUNCIL KEEP WORKING AND MAKING SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IT AND EXPAND ON IT. WITH THAT, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED, NAY. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NINE IS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS. AND WE'LL START TONIGHT WITH BOARD FOUR, COUNCILMAN REED-OLSON.

ALL RIGHT, DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TONIGHT. JUST ANYONE THAT WAS OUT AT THE FOOTBALL GAME LAST FRIDAY, THE TIGERS BEAT THE PACKERS, WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE. And again, always get out and try and support our youth kids when they're out doing their sports. That's it, Your Honor.

All right. Ward 5, Councilor Van Beek. Thank you, Your Honor. I have two ward items I'm currently working on. And the last thing, September 19th, the Parade of Flags will be here in Albert Lee honoring the Nation of Patriots. It will be leaving Bongars at 1230 on Saturday and arriving at Bergdale's Harley-Davidson at 1 p.m., ON BEHALF OF THE GLENVILLE LEGION RIDERS AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT AND WITNESS TWO TO 400 MOTORCYCLES ROLLING THROUGH ALBERT LEE. THAT'S ALL I GOT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WORD SIX, COUNCILMAN ANDERSON.

Your Honor, since the last time we were up here, we had an HRA meeting. I thought it was a very productive HRA meeting. I'm sure Larry will expound on that a little bit, but I finally feel like the HRA has gotten past the point of putting out fires, and maybe we're moving on to more being productive. I'll let him characterize it in any way he sees fit, since he's the man that holds the gavel on that committee. We also had a budget meeting. I'm on the budget committee, so we've been working on this a lot of small meetings leading up to the point where the whole council was brought in on the budget, and After we're looking at the numbers on Thursday night, obviously we have some more work to do, but we still have time. And then I hope everybody had a happy Labor Day. I don't have any ward items, so that'll be all, Your Honor.

All right, thank you. Ward one, Councilor Christensen.

Thank you, Your Honor. No ward items for me at this time. Some things that are upcoming. Thursday, a cradle to career meeting at the high school, it's a collaborative effort put together with the Blue Zones Committee, Riverland, and Southeastern Minnesota Initiative Fund, looking at initiatives to help with education and up to not only just early childhood, but also into young adult and job placements and such. So that's gonna be an interesting opportunity to learn Age-friendly Freeborn County is meeting this Thursday. And on Friday, Mayo Health System is providing a lunch to certain people to provide organizational updates, talk about their priorities and initiatives. uh... and then i want to give a shout out to the class of seventy six which had their fiftieth class reunion this last week this last weekend i should say and uh... that's my class i was happy to be a part of it it's wonderful to have people come back to town to hear their impressions and i heard lots and lots of positive comments about albert lee and honestly we've got a lot of great uh... great people that have come through here and they're out in the world doing wonderful things so THANK YOU, CLASS OF 76, FOR GATHERING. AND THAT'S IT, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU.

WARD TWO, COUNCILOR BAKER.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF WARD ITEMS, BUT I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE CITY ENGINEER ABOUT THEM. AND I HAVE ANOTHER ONE I HAVE TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT. WE'LL DO THAT AT A LATER DATE THIS WEEK, HOPEFULLY. OTHER THAN THAT, I ONLY HAVE, AS COUNSELOR ANDERSON SPOKE AT AN HRA MEETING, AND HE'S RIGHT. WE'RE FINALLY STARTING TO, THE BOARD IS STARTING AND THE HRA BODY IS STARTING TO WORK TOGETHER AND GET THINGS FOCUSED AS TO WHAT OUR GOALS ARE AND WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO. And I really have to say that Dr. Mitchell, the executive director, she has really come around as to what our goals as a board are and actually what the goals of the city. And so that marriage is kind of working out right now. So I just have to say I appreciate the work that everybody else has done in helping us move this thing forward. One thing I would like to report on, and that's the house that the HRA is putting up. They were putting up the forms for the foundation being today rained all day. I would imagine sometime this week the foundation would be finished. I know they have some other things they got to do before they set the house. But if anybody wants to look at the house, it's sitting out on the old farmland. property. The house was finished earlier than the foundation, so they had to put it someplace. They couldn't leave it at the factory. They don't have room, so they brought it here and it's sitting out there. So if anybody wants to go out and look at it to see what it's going to look like, help yourself. It's a nice looking house. So we're really excited about the fact that We can be part of the city's effort and everybody else's effort to start working on this housing shortage that we have to kind of coincide it with the new businesses that we've had in the last five, five and a half years and with the possibility of new businesses coming in. Yeah, there's a lot going on and people are going to, as time goes on, people are going to understand what the involvement with all of the entities that are working toward the same goals. I'll just tell you a little story that when I first got on the council, They were the same entities. They had the same goals in mind, but they had different directions on how to get there. And it was really kind of tough because nobody was going, everybody was going the same directions, but on a different road. And it just seemed like at times some things never really got done. So from that point on, To this point, it's light years away and I'm really proud to be a part of this and I'm proud to be on this board with the people that I work with. I have a great deal of respect for everybody on this council and everybody that I work with throughout the city. With that, that would be it, Your Honor, thank you. All right, thank you.

Ward three, Councilor Herman.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. I HAVE NO AWARD ITEMS AT THIS TIME, BUT I DID ATTEND SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SEPTEMBER 5TH, I ATTENDED THE DAISY FESTIVAL AT CENTRAL PARK. THERE ARE NUMEROUS VENDORS WITH HANDMADE CRAFTS, LIVE MUSIC. SEPTEMBER 5TH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE FLEA MARKET AT THE FREEBURN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. I MET WITH TWO BLACKSMITHS OUT THERE. THEY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN OLDER THAN 20. AND THEY'RE MAKING HANDCRAFTED KNIVES AND HORSE SHOES AND OTHER THINGS OUT THERE. IT'S VERY INTERESTING. And then September 10th, I attended a luncheon that was put on by Pastor Marin and coordinated with the Breakthrough Ministry for the EMS throughout the Freeborn County. They provide us a free lunch, which is very nice. I appreciated that. THAT'S IT, YOUR HONOR.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO A BUSY COUPLE WEEKS. LOTS GOING ON IN ELBERT LEE. I HAD THREE ELITA PROJECT UPDATES DURING THE LAST THREE WEEKS. AND THEN ON AUGUST 25TH, WE HAD A COMBINED HRA-EDA-ELITA JOINT MEETING. WHERE THE HRA AND ALITA WERE ALL TOGETHER THERE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THINGS WE COULD WORK ON TOGETHER. ON AUGUST 27TH, I WAS ON A TOUR OF THE OATMILL, AND WE HAD THE USDA UNDERSECRETARY, GLENN SMITH, HERE IN TOWN. HE'D BEEN IN OFFICE, I THINK, FOR FIVE DAYS, SO HE WAS JUST GETTING ACCLIMATED TO THINGS. BUT HE CAME ON FOR A TOUR. WE WERE ABLE TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BUILDING, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. IT'S UP THERE A LONG WAY. LET ME TELL YOU, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE CITY FROM UP ON TOP OF THE OATMEAL, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO START MOVING SOME PRODUCT THROUGH THERE, SOME TESTING OF IT, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE FULL PRODUCTION COMING UP VERY SOON. AFTER WE WERE DONE THERE, WE ALSO WENT ON A TOUR WITH THE WTCA, SO THE WINNEBAGO TELECOM, AND THE USDA SECRETARY AND HIS STAFF ALSO WENT ALONG, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON A PROJECT CALLED THE RECONNECT PROJECT, AND IT'S A $25 MILLION PROJECT A PROJECT WHERE THEY'RE HOOKING UP A FIBER OPTIC LINE FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS AREA. AND SO THEY WERE OUT, THEY TOOK US OUT, SHOWED US WHERE THEY WERE LAYING SOME CABLE AND HOW THEY PUT IT IN THE GROUND, AND IT WAS PRETTY REMARKABLE HOW FAST THEY COULD LAY CABLE GOING DOWN THE FARM DITCH THERE. SO THEN ALSO ATTENDED A THURSDAYS ON FOUNTAIN. I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE MORE AFTER THAT, AND SO WE'RE AT THE END OF THAT SEASON NOW, BUT WHAT A GREAT SEASON. A LOT OF GREAT CONCERTS DURING THE PAST DOZEN OR SO THURSDAYS HERE IN ALBERT LEE. WE HAD OUR ALITA MONTHLY MEETING ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF SEPTEMBER, AND JUST TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON, WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THEM, AND HOW WE CAN MOVE SOME MORE THINGS FORWARD. ON THE 5TH OF SEPTEMBER, I ALSO ATTENDED THE DAISY FEST, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE, A LOT MORE BOOTHS THAN EVEN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. AND SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE. I TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM ROCHESTER, THE TWIN CITIES, DIFFERENT PLACES THAT THEY'D COME TO ALBERT LEE JUST FOR THIS DAISY FEST. SO IT WAS VERY NICE TO HAVE THAT. AND THAT ALSO MADE OUR FARMER'S MARKET VERY BUSY THAT MORNING, AS SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE FOR THE DAISY FEST WERE ALSO ATTENDING THE FARMER'S MARKET AND CHECKING THAT OUT. SO GOOD FOR BOTH GROUPS. MONDAY THE 7TH, LABOR DAY, THE BAYSIDE SKI SHOW, FINAL SHOW OF THE SEASON. THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO WATCH ALL THE SKIERS OUT THERE. THEY PUT ON ABOUT A TWO-HOUR PROGRAM. AND THEN, LIKE COUNSELOR HERMAN, I ATTENDED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION LUNCH THIS PAST THURSDAY, PUT ON BY BREAKTHROUGH MINISTRIES AND PASTOR GEORGE MARINE. AND ANYWAY, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, EMS, FIREFIGHTERS, ALL THE GROUPS WERE ALL TOGETHER THERE FOR A MEAL. SO JUST A NICE WAY TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEM. AND THEN LAST THURSDAY NIGHT WE HAD THE ELBERLY CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING AND MET FOR ABOUT, I THINK WE WERE THERE FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS. WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORTER, BUT THE CITY MANAGER WANTED TO KEEP TALKING. ALL RIGHT, ANYWAY, I THINK WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO YET ON THE BUDGET, BUT I THINK THE COUNCIL IS READY TO DIVE IN AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT. AND THEN THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS AT A RECOVERY EVENT IN CENTRAL PARK, AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. I GOT TO SPEND A HALF HOUR IN THE DUNK TANK, SO THAT WASN'T SO INTERESTING, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE COOL OUT ON SATURDAY WITH THAT WIND HOWLING. SO MYSELF AND THEN, LET'S SEE, SERGEANT STROM, HE WAS ALSO IN IT. SO HE DID IT FOR HALF AN HOUR, TOO. BUT JUST THE STORIES THAT YOU HEAR FROM THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH DRUGS IN THEIR LIFE OR OTHER ADDICTIONS, ALCOHOL, DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND THEY'RE TURNING THEIR LIVES AROUND. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S HEARTBREAKING WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND WHAT THEY TOOK THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH, BUT IT SURE IS NICE TO SEE THEM COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE. AND SOME OF THEM HAD BEEN CLEANED FOR SIX YEARS, AND SOME FOR THREE YEARS, AND ONE GUY FOR SIX MONTHS. AND SO ANYWAY, WE HAVE TO KEEP ENCOURAGING THEM, AND HOPEFULLY THEY STAY ON THAT ROAD TO RECOVERY. AND THEN YESTERDAY, I WENT OUT TO KNUTSON PLACE, AND THEY HAD A CELEBRATION OUT THERE FOR GRANDPARENTS WEEK AND ALSO ASSISTED LIVING WEEK. AND THE HOUSE OF PRAYER, DID A CHURCH SERVICE AT 3 O'CLOCK FOR AN HOUR, AND THEN THEY DID A CONCERT FOR AN HOUR, AND THEN THEY FED EVERYBODY. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE TO VISIT WITH, AND BOTH FROM THAT HOUSE OF PRAYER GROUP, AND THEN ALSO PEOPLE LIVING THERE AT CONNUTSON PLACE. SO THAT WAS A GOOD TIME. A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE. IT WAS A VERY NICE DAY, BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT THERE. And with that, I think I'll move along then to the calendar of events coming up. Councilor Christensen mentioned the Cradle to Career, which will be out at the Fieldhouse this Thursday. And the City Recreation Department, along with Police and Fire, are also hosting Safety Day. IN MORN PARK TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 15TH FROM 4 TO 6 PM. THIS IS A COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENT WHERE RESIDENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGHOUT ELBERT LEE. KIDS CAN EXPLORE EMERGENCY VEHICLES, MEET POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS. On Friday, September 18th, from 12 to 8 p.m., it's Viva La Independence Day. Celebrating the independence of the Latin American countries, there will be food trucks in the North Broadway lot from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., crafts, games, and from 4 to 6 p.m., and then also music from 4 to 8 p.m. So get on out there and enjoy the food and the music and the good time. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, THERE ARE A FEW EVENTS. SO THE WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S WILL BE GOING ON AT FRANK HALL PARK. REGISTRATION IS AT 9, THE OPENING CEREMONY IS AT 10, AND THE WALK STARTS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OPENING CEREMONY. EVERY DOLLAR RAISED WILL HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. THEN ALSO THAT DAY, THE OUT OF DARKNESS WALK FOR SUICIDE AWARENESS WILL BE AT CENTRAL PARK THIS YEAR. EVENT STARTS AT 9 A.M. WITH A WALK STARTING AT 10 A.M. RESOURCE BOOTHS WILL BE SET UP AT CENTRAL PARK FOR SUPPORT AND SUICIDE AWARENESS. AND THEN AS CONSULTANT VAN VEEK MENTIONED, THE NATION OF PATRIOTS HOMECOMING STARTS ABOUT NOON WHERE THE MOTORCYCLES WILL BE GATHERING OUT AT BOMB GUARDS. And then they will be heading across, are they coming down West Main and then heading north on Broadway and out Bridge Avenue. Let's get the community out there and cheering these guys on. That's a big path that they'll be making through the community. Let's get out, bring your flags, let's wave some flags and just show them our community support. We announced this group leaving back in the middle of May.

Correct.

AND SO IT'S BEEN MAY, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, FOUR MONTHS THEY'VE BEEN OUT RIDING. THEY'VE BEEN TO ALL 50 STATES CARRYING THIS FLAG. SO LET'S GET OUT AND SUPPORT THEM. THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. THEY'RE RAISING MONEY TO HELP VETERANS. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF VETERANS OUT THERE THAT NEED OUR HELP. AND SO LET'S GET OUT AND SUPPORT THE GROUP. AND IT'LL BE OUT AT THE HARLEY-DAVISON, BERGDALE-HARLEY-DAVISON WILL BE WHERE THE PROGRAM WILL BE. AND A LUNCHEON PROGRAM WILL FOLLOW ONCE THE MOTORCYCLES GET OUT THERE. AND THEN ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, IT'S THE ELBERT LEE HOMECOMING PARADE IN DOWNTOWN ELBERT LEE. THE PARADE WILL LEAVE CENTRAL PARK AT 3 PM AND TRAVEL FROM CENTRAL PARK TO BROADWAY AVENUE, FROM BROADWAY AVENUE TO WEST WILLIAM, AND FROM WEST WILLIAM TO EUCLID. HOMECOMING ROYALTY SPORTS TEAMS AND SCHOOL CLUB TEAMS WILL BE ON THE FLOATS. AND AS COUNSELOR OLSON MENTIONED, ELBERT LEE NOT ONLY BEAT AUSTIN, THEY SMEARED AUSTIN ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST GAMES I'VE EVER SEEN. WHAT WAS THE FINAL, 35-6? 42-6, I THINK. YEAH, 42-6. IT WAS A LOT. IT WAS A GREAT GAME. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I SEE THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN AGAIN. I WILL BE REMINDING HIM OF THAT. BUT GET OUT AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH IN THEIR SPORTS. SO WE GOT FOOTBALL GOING ON, SOCCER, CROSS COUNTRY. THERE WILL BE CONCERTS AND DIFFERENT CHOIR THINGS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE FALL HERE. THESE KIDS ARE OUT THERE WORKING HARD TO ENTERTAIN US, AND LET'S GET OUT AND SUPPORT THEM. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ALONG TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

Okay, thank you, Your Honor. Currently working on a couple of different items related to Blazing Star development. I've got a punch list to go over on the two houses that we have constructed with GFY. We continue to work on the budget and simultaneously are going hand in hand is also our union negotiations and contracts. THERE ARE SOME OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEMS I'M WORKING ON WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL BOARD OR THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. AND INTERNALLY, WE ARE GOING TO START LOOKING AT SOME SUCCESSION PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF, LIKE, IN-PLACE DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF AS WELL. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON INTERNALLY ARE GOING TO KEEP US VERY BUSY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ITEM 11 IS APPROVAL OF CLAIMS. A IS A RESOLUTION OF APPROVING CLAIMS, AND ONE IS A PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS OVER 25,000. CITY MANAGER?

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. WE HAVE $26,670.01 TO FREEBORNE MIREL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE FOR THE SANITARY STORM LIFT STATIONS. We have $32,081.03 to Platinum Plumbing Solutions. This is the lead service line replacement project. $34,155.04 to Albert League Convention Visitors and Bureau. This is lodging tax. $42,284.12 to H&M Underground Solutions. This is lead service line project replacement. This is $47,030 to Tress Incorporated for a 26 GMC Sierra 1500 for the street department. $48,221.44 to 10 Verdu Ford Incorporated for a 26 Ford and Scepter for the wastewater treatment plant. $48,221.44 to 10 Verdu. I'm hoping I'm saying that correct. 10 Verdu. Okay, 10 board. Incorporated for a 26 interceptor for the engineering department. $48,825.75, the Bolton Incorporated. This is the AWAS replacement, phase three, final payment. $50,080.90 to Midwest Playscapes Incorporated. This is Wedgwood Park playground equipment. $50,215.88 to Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative for electricity at the wastewater treatment plant. $77,317.17 to Ulin Brothers. This is the street aid overlay, payment number three. $99,196 to League of Minnesota Cities Insurance. This is our fourth quarter workers' compensation insurance premium. $226,368.76 to Southeast Service Cooperative. This is our health insurance, approximately 87% employer, 13 employee. $349,428.43 to Icon LLC. This is St. Valley and Marshall Street Reconstruction. $829,222.01 to Ulin Brothers. This is Neighborhood Improvement Project. Council?

MOVE TO APPROVE, YOUR HONOR. MOTION BY COUNCILOR ANDERSON. IS THERE A SECOND?

I'LL SECOND, YOUR HONOR.

SECOND BY COUNCILOR HERMAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. CLOSED NAY. MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, AND WE WILL BE DISCUSSING UNION NEGOTIATIONS UNDER STATE STATUTE 130D.03.

And, Your Honor?

Yes.

Just so that way everyone knows in advance, if you want to stick around, you can, but at the conclusion, it'll just basically be stated that council will have given me instruction on proceeding with the union negotiations.

Correct. All right. Is there a motion to go into closed session? Move to the motion by Councilor Baker. Is there a second? Second, Your Honor. Second by Councilor Anderson. Clerk, please call the roll.

COUNCILOR CHRISTIANSON? AYE. COUNCILOR BAKER? AYE. COUNCILOR HERMAN? AYE. COUNCILOR OLSEN? AYE. COUNCILOR VAN BEEK?

AYE.

COUNCILOR ANDERSON? AYE.

AYE. WE ARE NOW IN CLOSED SESSION.