City Council - Regular Meeting

It is uh 5:30. I will call this city council meeting at Fergus Falls. Um well, I won't call it to order. The first thing I will do, in fact, is ask uh Kate Burns Burns if she will do the invocation. We'll follow that with the pledge of allegiance.

Let us pray. Oh Lord our God, source of wisdom, refuge of the weary, bringer of light into dark places. May you be present here as the leaders of our community meet to conduct the business that is set before them. Theirs is honorable work but oftentimes challenging. So guide their discussions. Let their minds and hearts be in accord and its residents be well served. And so, oh Lord, we pray that you strengthen them in their resolve to do good work to benefit all. And Lord, may the road rise up to meet them. May the wind be always at their back. May the sun shine warm upon their face. The rains fall soft upon their fields. And until we meet again, may God hold them in the palm of his hand. In Jesus name, amen. Amen.

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.

Now I'll call the meeting to order. Roll call, please. Here. Here. Here. Here.

We have a quorum. The uh first item on the agenda is open forum. Anybody wishing to speak to the council, please uh step forward, state your name and the city in which you live. as there is no one this evening. Um the next item on the agenda is approval of the agenda. [snorts] Um the uh Laura Kildy had asked for item number six to be pulled off the consent agenda and Mark had asked for the item three, five and six to be pulled off the agenda. And is there anything other else on the agenda?

And Al Al wishes to add uh Royy's an update on Roy Z property purchase and naming rights of something. Would somebody care to make that? I'll offer that. Thank you, Laurel. I'll second it. Thank you, Mark. All those in favor say I. I. I

all those against same sign hearing none the agenda is approved. There are no public hearings this evening. There are no bids to award and there are no petitions and communications. The consent agenda um is now down to a motion approving the minutes from March 2nd uh 2026 city council meeting and the March 11, 2026 committee of the whole. the a motion approving the licenses and a resolution authorizing the submission of a drinking water state revolving fund grant application to fund phase one of the lead service line replacement project. Would somebody care to make that resolution? I'll offer that.

Thank you, Scott. Would somebody care to second that? Second. Thank you, Al. Roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. The resolution is approved. Um the first item on the consent agenda is a resolution authorizing the submission of an LCCMR grant application for a multi-use recreational facility at the Pebble Lake Golf Course. Mark, it's over to you.

Uh thank you for uh accommodating me this this evening. I'd like to hear more a little bit about um the application. Um we discussed it in the past, what obligations the city will end up with once we have it. Um and the time frame to spend the money. Uh I guess just a little more information on the benefits and and maybe some of the hidden factors of this grant. M

sure. Yeah, I'm happy to try to address some of those questions. Uh, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by hidden hidden issues with the grant. So, if you have some specific questions that you want answered, I will um try to answer those. But the application that we're making is for the design and construction of a multi-use recreational facility on city-owned property, which is at the golf course. Um the facility would be used to uh house a a rental program for outdoor equipment etc. The idea is to be increasing use of the golf course um throughout months when it's generally not open. Um so winter months in particular things like snowshoeing, skating, uh crosscountry skiing, etc. So, kind of building on some programs and partnerships that we already have in the community, specifically related to cross-country skiing, using some um uh machinery that we already have to do things like build trails, uh renting out equipment for outdoor use. And um as a reminder, I guess to what you are agreeing to if you do submit an application, the resolution that is in your packet, the draft language does state that you are agreeing that you will accept the funds that are coming from the state of Minnesota through the legislative process and you are um upholding your end of the grant. So you are building what you say that you are going to build. So that's that is what we are agreeing to if we choose to go forward with the submission. What we are getting then is money appropriated through the legislature for specific projects through the LCCMR program. Um in this case, we're applying again for outdoor recreational um multi-use facility so that we are encouraging outdoor recreation here in the city of Fergus Falls. Um is that kind of an helping to answer

some of your questions? Yeah, Mrs. Beck, that does. Thank you. Um who ultimately then will design it? We are applying as as the city of Fergus Falls. So the city of Fergus Falls would be in in the leading role on design and construction. And are is the design necessary before the the application or upon the grant? We're we're including it as part of our application that we will do the design process. So no, the design will not be done before we submit.

Okay. Uh, I didn't want to be, you know, ahead of the golf club and ahead of the city council designing a course facility to accommodate the grant. Are there any other obligations that the city would have? Uh that's what I mean by the you know the hidden factors other than it being built perspects and as we've applied for that the monies can be spent and is there a time frame that money needs to be spent?

Yeah, generally legislative legislatively approved money I think has about a five-year time frame. So 20 we couldn't we could not start spending money before 2027. So, this project cannot start before July 1st, 2027 um or before it's accepted by the legislature, but those are the dates that are given in the in the process itself. I can't speak for the golf club nor the council, but that seems appropriate. I mean, there's a lot of work to be done. Uh I like the idea that it starts in 27 and we got five years to do something because it's it's a big project and it needs to be planned properly. Uh once the monies are spent there's a what kind of match?

Um so this is a capital construction grant that we're requesting. There is a required 25% match. I think what we've discussed internally and with outside partners is that we are are likely aiming to hit that 50% match threshold. Is that in the grant or do are we going to stick to the 25? Um it's it's not specifically referenced but what you're saying in your resolution is that you will provide that match 25

you will provide the required match yeah I don't the language is accept the award enter the into the agreement all applicable laws and that we can have with that we have the financial capability to ensure adequate operation and maintenance. So, it's all in there as part of your agreement with the LCCMR program. Yeah, it would be nice to have a clarification if if the obligations by grant match is 25 or 50%. Obviously, 25 is beer much easier to

the required match by the grant is 25%. Again, what we've discussed internally is that we would like to hit that 50%. So, 50% coming through state funding, 50% through local sources. Scott, I think the piece of that puzzle is that local sources wouldn't necessarily be all city funding. It could come from other sources. One other piece that is probably helpful just to point out is among the many uses that you listed with outdoor activities in the winter. U the assumption I believe is that this new building would replace the existing golf course clubhouse. That's the way that I understand. Is that correct?

Yep. I would say that's correct. Thank you. Anybody else? Mrs. Mack, I appreciate your time and I appreciate the ability of the city and um staff to go looking and working to get this grant with it. Uh the the two things that I think the citizens of this community should know is that if we do go forward to get this grant, and correct me if I'm wrong, once that money is set aside for us, we are committed to spend that money. Is that correct? Or is there any back door that we return that back something happens? But otherwise, we're committed to that plus 25%. So we're committed to the $3 million for our community. Is that correct?

Yeah, I would say that that is an accurate assessment. Okay. And then the other thing it talks about is it talks about this is kind of a reimburseable type grant. So we have to have some of our money up front first to pay for it, take care of it. Is that kind of a general fund thing or do we not know where that'll come from today or where where would that come from? I guess I'll let Bill answer.

Yeah, we would um run that like our other capital projects where we would spend that out of the capital project fund. In essence, we'd upfront the money um and carry that. Um you'd run actually that project into a deficit cash balance, but we have cash over here that would, you know, help keep it. We'd be afloat in the in the checking account with it. And then, you know, we would submit grant reimbursements to get reimbursed. Um it's typically how all our projects have worked. Um there's just maybe a few if we use um state construction aid that we get a upfront portion, but I'd say and Kyle correct me if I'm wrong, but probably 80 90% of projects are usually cost reimbursement like this. So it would be our standard procedure. So

good, good. I appreciate that. Two more things. Uh one is uh the LCCMR and I know Mrs. Becca is more familiar with them on that end. And in the committee of the whole, I kind of asked what was the catch because what they say they have interest in is to help maintain and enhance Minnesota's environment, natural resources, safeguard Minnesota's air, water, land, and wildlife. What's this going to do? Or is there anything in the paperwork of this that will control part of what we have out there as an asset? Do we know? Are we going to be limited to the amount of trees we cut? Are we limited to different things? Is there anything that will come back later on us as a entity to to run that uh golf course that we'll be not happy about that you know of?

Yeah. No, not that I know of. The a grant agreement generally doesn't go into minutia like that, you know, tree control, things like that. However, we are writing an application to a program that has very specific goals and aims. And we are going to write our project to try to match those goals and aims the best that we can. So, in this case, you'll note I'm not referring to it as a golf clubhouse. I'm talking about it as a multi-use recreational facility because that's what this grant program is looking for. They're looking for ways to be getting people in Minnesota out enjoying nature. And so, that's what our ultimate goal is going to be through this grant project.

And I think it would be fair to say there are no if we go for it as a golf course, then then we're dead in the water. I mean, so if the golf club wishes to have a new clubhouse and they want the city to contribute to it, then the the citizens of Fergus Falls will be paying that bill. This is an opportunity to apply for a grant to get some money to fund a building that has greater use than just a golf clubhouse. And therefore, it, you know, the and the partners in this are obviously have stated that they would they would cover the match.

Yeah. And I appreciate that, your honor. One last question I have is um as we look at this building, I'm thinking a3 4 million building is quite substantial to what we have out there at this time. We have a pretty razor thin margin of profit on that that ability. Are we hopeful that the extra winter activities, the extra rentals, the extra things will offset some of the cost to run this building or or do that or are we setting aside something different uh from Mr. Sonor's end that says, "Hey, this thing's going to cost 50% more to run 24, you know, 12 months out of the year." Do we know that or we have have we thought of that yet or went down that route? Talk a little bit. [snorts]

I don't have a lot to say about that, but as we have met with the Gulf board and looking at that, um, you know, there are needs for operating that building. We haven't talked specifically as far as getting a multi-use building. would we actually make anything on that to help offset? Now, hopefully we'd cover, you know, heat and utilities, things like that, but um we haven't delved into any of that. Um as far as in general out there, I know um under the current use with the golf board, um more funding is probably needed is what they've looked at um for operating the buildings and maintaining, you know, equipment, things like that. So, don't be surprised if something comes in the future of saying, you know what, we'd like to see more help from the city on that. We've kept that pretty stable over the years. Um, not much growth at all. And of course, with [snorts] inflationary costs, that's kind of what they've looked at. So,

Bill, would there be uh the the restaurant in there then year round? [snorts] Someone else help me with that. Did we talk about I don't know if we really know. I mean, I think it would be a hope, but that's a hope. Yeah, these are so we're at a point in the process where long-term partnerships with groups maybe outside the golf board are not set in stone at this point, but I think from the city perspective, the hope would be that we could find some kind of a tenant or long-term user in that restaurant space who would be open year round. Has has anyone talked to Palmer about it? I know the golf board had and and Palmers were not interested to go year round.

Correct. Wow. I think that's going to be a pretty key item to have something like that year round. But I think maybe if it was like Thursday, Friday, Saturday or kind of Friday, Saturday, Sunday type of thing. I think if it was focused on the potential time of use as opposed to kind of trying to be open seven days of the week in the winter. I I just want to just a question. You know, you talked about rental things like skis and skates. Now, let's say if they were skates, does that mean that we were going to clean off part of Pebble Lake and that's where the skating would be or

Well, what we talked about on Wednesday morning is having some sort of an outdoor rink, potentially something with a cement bottom that could also be used for a roller rink when it's not winter. Um, we we haven't sat down with Kyle yet to really go through what costs could look like for some of these things, but yeah, if if we're going to have, you know, if we're going to offer more outdoor recreation, I think we should consider things like an outdoor rink.

I appreciate your time, Mrs. Beck, and I appreciate this project, and I'd like to see this go through. I'd like to see us get the grant. I'd like to see us do this for the golf course and the community if we can going forward. I just those couple things that I talked about was you know what is what does it cost to fund this 5 10 years down the road. I just like staff to be kind of thinking about that as we go forward with this because the only thing that concerns me and I'm not a grant person is is once we hit on the dotted hit the send button and they come back with this. We're we're committed to this. So I just want to make sure there's nothing that is major surprise that comes back to the taxpayers on that the maintenance end of it as it goes forward. That's it. All right. with that. Would somebody can make the resolution? I'll offer that. Thank you, Laurel.

I'll second. Thank you, Scott. Roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. [clears throat] The resolution is approved. The next item on the agenda um is a resolution approving change order number two in the amount of $3,138 for PI5367, the trunk highway 210 utility relocation project. Mark, you had a question on that? Uh yeah, I would like to see uh I guess just hear a little explanation on it, Kyle.

You bet. Okay. So, this uh change order in talking to Alex over at Interstate Engineering uh when Flatland Excavating, who's the contractor that was doing the work, they were installing sanitary sewer. Uh so, you know, 10 ft or so in the ground when they were installing this new sewer, they ran into uh wet soil uh high groundwater table in this spot. And so they typically when we lay pipe, we put a bedding material under it to hold the pipe up. And normally we use sand uh to put to bed the pipe in this area because it was wet. They tried to lay the pipe. Uh it was too wet. So uh the pipe settled too much and we we don't allow that. Uh so they dug it up, tried it again, didn't work. So they had to use a different material. they had to put rock in in this location to install it uh to keep that grade up and keep it keep it level. So that was an additional cost from the contractor. So they came to interstate and asked for for the city to pay for that cost to put that uh material underneath the bedding so we have a good stable uh bedding underneath the pipe.

Is is sand the normal? Sand is normal. Yep. Wow. Um, you know, all the pipe I've seen laid has always got the P rock as a base. Prock basically when we use P rockck, that's when we're putting it, you know, shallow berry or um drain tile type pipe because we want the water to seep through the P the P rock to get to the drain tile to get under it. Um, that's typically what we use that. So, if you're seeing that like around your buildings, underneath your parking lots, uh, we do use PROC for that. But normally when we're normally when we're doing underground water man sewer man that's typically bedded in sand and they're going to put in what again?

The change order wash. They they put in rock. Yeah. Yep. They just ran then that goes in the water and that get that that gets hardened and and gives a nice concrete foundation for that. Uh and you've inspected it. Do you believe they went far enough east and west or north and south? Uh interstate inspected it. Okay. I did not. Okay. I'm, you know, I'm sensitive to these change orders, but for 3,000 bucks, we've

Yep. I understand. Um, moving forward, we won't have this issue. Uh, in our plans and specs, we do put in there that the contractor is responsible for any type of bedding, no matter what it is. So, we won't have those changes moving forward. I kind of figured the contractor just throw the three grand at it and be happy, but I can understand where he's coming from. Y I'll make a motion to approve the resolution. Thank you, Mark. Would somebody second the second? Thank you, Al. Roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

The resolution is approved. Um, the next item on the agenda is a resolution authorizing Interstate Engineering to advertise for bids for a trail through the former dairy property. I think we got a bigger picture on the screen. Laurel, [snorts]

I asked to have this pulled off. Thank you, mayor, and thank you for uh obliging on that. [clears throat] Uh we've had a lot of citizens or multiple citizens I should say in uh Ward 4 that are have adjoining property to this that have brought up this trail multiple times. And because this didn't go to committee of the whole, I just thought we should have conversation so everyone knows what's going on. I think we need to clarify that the $534,000 is state money, not tax levy money from citizens of Fergus coming off of our levy. Um some specific questions I have. This is kind of a trail to nowhere until we get those railroad crossings done. And I think we should talk about timeline on that. Um the width of the trail. Um some questions I have benches. Are we going to have benches out there and trash recepticles? It's a lot large area so we don't want littering out there. And then will there be snow removal or will it be only a summertime trail?

Okay. Yeah. Let me uh touch on the funding first. So the funding for this project is uh coming from the state uh legislature. We got bonding dollars to to purchase that property, put a trail in, put some parking uh areas in and do the rail crossings. So, this is part of that. So, that portion $534 $534,000 will be covered uh through that funding. Okay. So, now touching on the trail where we have it now is uh as you can see here uh on St. Andrews, this is St. Andrews Street uh on the east side. And then uh we'll have just off the page here is or excuse me Broad Broadway on this side and St. Andrews on this side just off of the sheet. Uh and then uh Barefoot Park is right down here on the south side of the of the railroad tracks. So, uh, right now the design for the for this piece of the project is is to start, uh, down south of the tracks. And we spaced it south of the tracks so that when we designed the street in the future that we'll be able to do that, finish the the trail at that time. We didn't want to go uh further to the north with the trail today and then it be in the way in the future because we have not designed the road coming through there yet. So um so we're doing that and then we've designed it well short uh of um the tracks over here because today the city owns a piece of property on the north side of the tracks uh to the uh it would be the east of St. Andrews and depending on how we fit that road in there, east or west, we'll decide then how our street and the trail uh goes up and crosses. So, we've we've left it

back to uh be able to design that in the future with the with the road. Uh we did talk about adding some uh benches along the trail here. I think we were going to uh include that in the bid as a alternate. I haven't seen the total final package after they we talked about that yet with interstate, but there's potentially going to be some uh park benches in there to to look out. I think they might actually be showing on here, Kyle. There's little tiny squares. I was trying to figure that out. I think they could some that are some south of the trail. Yeah, one there. There's about a half dozen of them.

One there. We talked about putting them in locations um higher spots along the trail. So when you're looking to the south, you can maybe sit down and look over the river a little bit. See? So then are we thinking trash will be there'll be some plan for trash down there? And then um is there going to be snow removal? And how wide is the the path? The path is a 10 foot wide path. Uh it'll be asphalt. So it is a it's a wider biking path, what I would call it. Uh, and as far as snow removal, I would say yes. I would Yeah. Okay. Once it's connected, right? Yeah. Yeah. We're not going to remove it while it's not a complete trail.

And from a timing standpoint on the railroad crossings, we're working with a company called Benes, who is the engineering firm working for the railroad. Uh, we're getting them a drawing. Uh shortly after that uh we're going to have what we call a diagnostic meeting where all entities involved the city uh Mandotenish the railroad we're going to go meet at these sites and determine exactly what the crossings will be and look like what uh where will the arms be what what lights will be there and that type of stuff. So we'll determine that at that time. Once once we know that and agree to that then they start design and then we can bid it. And as far as timing goes, we're working with the railroad. It takes a while.

How much are those benches? Do you know? I don't I don't know. Okay. No.

The the thought process was that we would see obviously after the bid came in on the rail crossings, we got $4 million from the state of Minnesota. Obviously, 1.2 Two of that has gone from the city to the to the port authority to pay for the land. The trail itself is basically following pretty much the border of the land. That's south of that to the river is owned by the city. North of that is owned by the port authority. And and basically we figured we wouldn't we'd put the benches in when we see what money we've got left. The other thing too is what I'd like to see is, you know, maybe some type of a get others involved with this. You know, get some of the service groups, maybe they want to donate a bench or something like that. Um, you know, that's what I would like to see. Get people with the skin in the game because that's going to just draw more attention to the whole project. um they're going to feel part of it and uh I think that would be a wise idea if we could get more people the better involved with it.

Let's go. Just as a clarification again, the description that's in the packet says the project will build a walking trail through the dairy property south of the road tracks. And as this has been talked about over the last couple of years, there was concern about just exactly where it went. And I think it's clear that you show it is traveling along the river side of this lot and following kind of the perimeter of the river and it's not following the railroad tracks. Correct.

And and the location of where it's at does follow topography. Uh so we we pushed it as south as far as we could go. If we go any further south, it really starts getting steep. And so we're we're kind of at the top of where the topography allows us to be out there. So has this gone to drawing other than this? Any [snorts] specs? Yes, there is. Yep. Okay.

Yep. There's there's plan sheets and and specifications that go along with it. Yep. My concern on over time it just it goes bad and I really don't know the difference if you were and I don't even want to say this out loud but the difference between the asphalt base or cement I mean we're talking one to four definitely more expensive to put in concrete for sure [clears throat] because the bedding you know asphalt just starts to buckle and trees grow through it and etc. Sure. I trust that you've got the design well well mapped. Yeah.

Um if we may or I don't know if it would be allowable or not, but you know, I'd like to hear um Mr. Cookman's thoughts on some of this. He that's where he lives. Is there any way that could Dwayne say something? If Do you have any thoughts, Dwayne? What do you think of this? I know to the west of it over there. Come would you come to the mic, Dwayne? [snorts] Dwayne Cookman, Fergus Falls. Uh, I live on Stanton Avenue. And with this print and layout to the way to the west side there, I know that there's a bay and it's really shallow. You're going to be building that up.

Nope, we're not going to touch it because it's a really big bay. And uh I walked out there last week and uh luckily I I took Onyx and I went to so I could see exactly where the property line was and we'll be able to get across before we go through that drainage ditch. Um so we would so we the trail would and crossing would be prior to going across that bay that's over there. There's some storm sewer that that crosses the railroad tracks, dumps in there. [clears throat] It's it's a big cut out. We want to avoid that.

Um, another item is where to the east where the trail ends. I know that there's a big culvert there. [snorts] I don't know if it's strain drain sewer or whatever, but that if you plan on moving that as well as because you put the road in. Okay, let's say you put the road between the tracks and the east end of that trail, how much you need for the road right away parking and making that turn because it doesn't appear to be a lot. [snorts] Yeah, I I've seen the storm sewer there. Uh I we haven't designed it yet, but we'll take all that into account. Yeah, for sure.

That's that's the reason that it's a long way short of the because accommodating that turn as you say with the available land this side of the track is going to be tight. Yeah. Storm sewer is about in this location right here. [clears throat] Because there's probably storm sewers about right there. We don't have a lot of room. You have that old road that was here, but I don't know what because that goes directly down to the river. Correct. Yep. Then would somebody can to make the resolution? I'll offer that. Thank you, Laurel. Somebody can to second it.

Second. Thank you, Scott. Roll call, please. Joe. Yes. Yes. Yep. Yes. Yes. Yes. The resolution is approved. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is the second reading of ordinance 77 8th series boards and commissions. [clears throat] This was kind of adjustments and obviously removal of uh and and combining of the natural resources and by compared in park and removing the other one. Yep. Public safety. Public safety. Thank you. Can remember. Getting old. Um would some It's roll call. Yes.

Yes. Yep. Yes. Yes. Yes. The resolution is approved. Um [clears throat] the next item on the agenda is presentation of claims in the amount of $1,149,16. Would somebody care to make that resolution? I'll offer that. Thank you, Laura. Would somebody care to second it? Second. Thank you, Laurel. Any questions for Bill? If not, yeah. Y [clears throat] Bill and I have had some great conversations in regards to the the council being able to get into the budget. Mark, this is a resolution to approve this. It's not about Yep. All right. Thank you very much.

Roll call, please. Joel. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. The resolution is approved. The next item on the agenda is um Al Kramer wanted to talk about Roy Z update.

Yeah. I guess uh some questions have been coming up. Uh where are we at with the uh cannabis uh property out by the uh liquor store? Um, I've been in contact with his attorney recently. Him, his attorney and I just need to find some time to sit down and go through the proposed purchase agreement that I've drafted. Uh, make sure that we're all on the same page and see if there's any edits that they would like to be made. But it's just we're at a point now it's just the two attorneys need to kind of figure out some time to talk. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Does Royy's want to move forward after this if you come to an agreement or is there a time frame? Sounds like it. Okay. Thank you.

Otherwise, I don't think you would continue to spend money on an attorney. So, then the next item is uh naming rights.

Yeah. The and that was brought up some quite a while ago. Um I'd like to, you know, kind of experiment and and kind of dive into something as is trying to get some naming rights out there for some of these attractions throughout town. and uh to create some um goodwill and revenue uh for the city and uh goodwill for those who are uh going to be doing that. Um any thoughts on that? Any ways that uh anybody have any suggestions that they would like to see or or uh any amounts? I think it needs somebody to lead it,

which probably would be better if it would be somebody like you that knows people in town that could actually make those [laughter] contacts. A lot of the people I know are no longer with us. Well, you know, this might be a good time to talk to them. Yeah.

Um I I just think that it would be [snorts] I want to see a revitalization. I really do. especially this year, you guys. You know, here we're celebrating our 250th as a as a nation, and I'd like to see um some new things come through, and this would be one of them. Also, too, um you know, when somebody has their name on something or a business does or some type of a individual, um you know, they're probably going to go that extra mile to really keep that up, too, to kind of uh support it and to uh make it succeed. And uh so I would really like to see something like that and um you know I would be uh very well uh happy to help out with that along with uh anything else that we can do for our city to uh brighten it up a little bit and to uh move forward.

Uh thank you your honor. I agree with Councilman Kramer. The naming rights have been mentioned uh initially by Councilman Mortonson some 12 14 months ago. So um any assistance I can get or we can get from uh the the mayor or the administration uh to to to move on this I I'm I'm strongly in favor of it. Uh we've tried to review the the 26 uh [clears throat] schedule of fees and naming rights and it's kind of dead in the water. I I think uh maybe yourself, Mike, and Al would form a committee and actually look at it to see how it could get done.

I'm just going to do it. Go ahead, Mr. Mson. No, I'm honored to be on that. No, I mean I think you know it's it's about knowing people

you know and and staff you know you know it's probably better that staff aren't involved because I mean things that do get named like now the city ends up actually looking after. So I mean if you go around the city and you look at all the parks that have a name on it, you know, um it's very very kind of people to give money, but that obligation then becomes that of the city to maintain. So every part that's pretty much got a name on it. you know, somebody very generously donated it to the people of Fergus Falls, but the rest of the people of Fergus Falls then end up having to pay the maintenance cost of that particular whatever it is. So, you know, it's a double-edged sword in in terms of, you know, how how that naming right probably contract or obligation gets written.

Yeah. And I think that what we're looking at is things like the splash pad, the the pool, the you know, whatever. Um these larger things that are already there. Yeah. Um you know, it's no different than having a target stadium. Yeah. You know, um same idea. It's it's already there. Hey, they're just going to put their name on it. Yeah. And help help and help defay some of the Yep. And then the people of the city can be very thankful for those people who are doing that because it might cut their pool fees down or it might cut different things down and u you know, hey, then everybody's happy. Yep. No,

appreciate it, your honor. I'd love to be part of that committee to try to try to work with our local businesses to do some of that. Uh question for Mr. Taylor. Did you guys through the parks department have kind of a something set up kind of a template you were looking at with naming rights or was that something I just kind of heard maybe 6 months ago or something? I can't remember.

Yeah, it was discussed at the park board and what we came up with there was um sponsorships and that we just talked through and we're actually selling a lot of banner sponsorships for the pool. None for the splash pad per se. Um I don't know actually where we'd put any banners at the splash pad, but um the pool specifically, we're looking to put quite a few up there this this season.

Okay, good. If we could uh with the the mayor and administrator's permission, we'd like to work with you and see kind of what you've got going on that end so we uh we don't trip over some of the sponsorship stuff. I think what we're looking for, at least I don't want to speak for the other two, is we're looking for a bigger bigger type of long-term, you know, 10 15year naming rights for a facility. And then I'd like to make sure that we uh work with Mr. Niko so we don't overstep our bounds of what we can do and can't do on that that end as well. And I should say we talked about this as being advertising, not sponsorships, because we can sell advertising, but we can't raise money for sponsorships. Okay, good. We would have an agreement in place for larger Yeah.

matters and you you're going to have to think about duration of this agreement and [clears throat] the anticipated expect expected money that you feel would be appropriate but yeah I mean there will there will be would be an agreement for a long-term u sponsor of the plaque or whatever it might be. Your honor the pool was mentioned. Can I ask a quick pool question? I got asked and I'm going to ask I was going to ask you after the meeting, but um it might do good to do this while we're televised. Can people buy pool passes for Easter baskets at this time? And how do they go about doing so? Or punch cards? Yeah, pool passes can be purchased at any time.

And how do they go about doing that? Can do it online. Online. Okay. Or on the but too if they want to go in person or the park and wreck.

Park and wreck. Okay. Yes. Perfect. Thank you. Yeah, any other discussion on that topic. The uh is no new business. Um or there was kind of thing I suppose miscellaneous announcements. Uh 7:00 committee of the whole meeting on April 1st, fool's date. Uh April the 3. Most city offices and buildings will be closed in observation of Good Friday. The liquor store will be open. Garbage and recycling normally picked up on Thursday will be picked up on Wednesday and Friday's collection will be picked up on Thursday, April the 2nd. Next council meeting is here April the 6th at 5:30. Um and then on Friday, um the historical society is going to have some event where yours truly will be moderating at 10:00 at the uh historical society. And for those that uh haven't seen the Facebook post, obviously Chris Schuli is retiring from the historical society and there will be a retirement party for him on April the 10th at the Eagles at 5:00.

So I was just corrected by Pam. The passes will be available along with all registration starting April 1st. April 1st. Thank you. Is that a joke? With that, we are adjourned. Thank you very much. Thank you, mayor. Have a good night. Yeah.