City Council - Regular Meeting

That should be over that. That's what I'm thinking.

How those moves doing? Well, my husband has a new zippity-doo-dah pole, so he has gone crazy at the house. Like, he couldn't do a thousand different things, but he decided to do that. It's like, whatever.

Michelle, we didn't have any problem with change or did you bring it up at all?

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to offer an opening prayer? Anyone like to offer an opening prayer?

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Is there any council comments regarding the agenda?

Yes, sir. If you don't mind, I ask that we... And it was my mistake on how I informed the city clerk regarding the America 250 celebration recap. I was having Roger from this county come and do the presentation, so I asked for... us to go ahead and put him up to presentations, possibly to everyone you all want to put him after. It would be fine with me if you're all right with that, Mr. Mayor.

I see no issue. Rex, any problem? Tim, any problem? Okay. We will call on you, Valerie, at that point. Thank you, sir. Okay. Any other council comments considering the agenda? Anything, Rex? Tim? No, sir. Okay. Are there any public comments on non-agenda items? These are items that do not appear on the agenda for the meeting tonight. Non-agenda items. Do we have anyone signed up? Mandy. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak on a non-agenda item? All right. Welcome, Danny.

There was this public comment. This is not going back and forth.

Okay. Is there an objection that Councilman Lambert be allowed to ask the question if it's something the council wants to hear? Do you have a problem with it, Valerie?

Just as long as it's a very, very, very short answer.

can this be done in a short probably not okay all right thank you i can answer it you already asked the question i can answer it quick sir we have a danny we can't go any further okay that's fine all right thank you thank you very much is anyone else like to speak on a non-agenda item

Thank you, Shane. Anyone else? Non-agenda item? Anyone else? Okay. We'll move on now to the consent agenda. Entertain a motion on the consent agenda.

I move the consent agenda be approved as recommended.

Is there a second? Second. There's a motion on the floor. Second. Discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Is there anyone who would like to comment on the consent agenda? Anyone in the public like to comment on the consent agenda? We've already done that. Let's see here. Sorry, we should have done that earlier, but you had the opportunity, and I failed to give you that, but you did have it. That's my problem. We'll move on now to the regular agenda. Item number one, and these are presentations, and I will refer to our illustrious city clerk to carry out these proclamations

Yes, thank you, Mandy. We'd like to go ahead and recognize Commissioner Kathy Bryant, and we do want to recognize that her husband is in the audience this evening as well. So we would like to recognize you for your 16 years of civil service to your community. So if you would please come up. Oh, she's going to read this first to you. Sorry. You might want to sit down.

Go play with those grandbabies. All right.

Can we go ahead and do, oh, I guess Constitution. Do you want to go ahead and do yours now? That way they can go ahead and get out. Roger, you want to go ahead and come on up? Yes, ma'am. Please, sir. For those who don't know, Roger. is with the county, Marion County. He and many, many, many others worked diligently on the 250 fire extravaganza that we had this year, the fireworks. We had it in four different locations, and Roger, and they were just amazing. They really spearheaded it and got us all to a place that – It was just one of those feel-good evenings that you just, just like I did in

Thank you. It was a lot of fun. Thank you all.

Y'all have safe travels back. Thank you.

Do we have anyone here from the Daughters of the American Revolution? And I do see you.

I'm thinking that red, white, and blue back there might be the contact clue. I don't think so.

It's not in the backup folder? It is. I just didn't, you know.

Madam Clerk, can we move on to the next item?

Okay, that would be fine. We have guests here tonight.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we'll now move on to our quasi-judicial hearing statement. Madam Clerk.

Okay, we'll move on to item number two in this procedure. Quasi-judicial hearings. Quasi-judicial hearings application PZ-202-60003 by David and Sandra Dykstra. for variance VAR 2026-01 from the dimensional standards requirements in Appendix A, Article 11, Section 6.2 for R3 zoning minimum lot width requirements. It is now, 5.49 p.m., and I close the regular meeting and open the quasi-judicial hearing to discuss application PZ20260003 for variance VAR2026-01 notification to applicant and adjacent property owners on August 20th, published on the city's website on August 19th and in the Riverlan

Michelle. Is there any council member who has individually have anything to disclose, ex parte, of this communication?

The only thing I will say is that I do know the Cowan family for majority of my life, but I've not talked to them about this situation. But I just wanted to make sure more is less or more is better.

Okay, Rex? Nothing. Tim? Nothing. I, too, have known Paul all my life, and we've both gotten old together. But I know this issue has come up, but we've not talked about any of the proceedings. Madam Clerk.

Not at this time. And just one clarification. Did you say that the meeting for our one would be October 9th? I'm sorry, November 9th. November, okay. I was thinking that was a, okay, sorry, that's not really truly relevant, but thank you.

Tim? Thank you, Amelia. We'll move on to public comment now. Who would like to speak first? Yes, ma'am. Ms. Dykstra, welcome.

Valerie, do you have any quick concerns?

Sorry. I just want to make sure that I heard what you said. Yes. The two feet, you're willing to shrink your square footage by two feet, correct?

Okay. So if we, lack of a better word, shrink the size of your home by two feet, that means that instead of asking for four feet...

Yeah, four feet. You're looking for four feet. So you would have a six foot barrier, setback. Thank you. You'd have a six foot versus a 10 foot.

And so the noise level, wouldn't it be different at 10 feet versus six feet?

Rick, do you have anything? Tim, do you have any questions? Okay, Mr. Ashby, thank you. We'll go on now with public comment. Paul, did you have a comment?

And I'm just trying to gather. Can we do the aerial view, if you don't mind?

Okay, so on this picture, and this is what I haven't quite figured out yet, where would the air conditioner be? So the air conditioner is going to be back here? Ten feet. Well, no, no, no, no, no. And I guess, and I'm sorry, I'm asking where is the air conditioner going to be in location to... To your mom's house.

So about 150 feet back is where the air conditioning unit's going to be approximately, if I read that right.

Paul, so would that make a difference to you, sir, if the air conditioning unit's not going to be near the house?

Mr. Chairman, I interject something about a site setback. It's not just for an air conditioner.

Well, you could, but I think we're trying to resolve something, Tim. Can you wait just a minute until Paul has a chance to see what he asked to see? Paul, do you see what you'd like to see?

I was just – you see where my question – I mean, you know where I was coming from.

Yes, we're going to get into that. We've got a councilman that wants to make a comment, but I wanted to kind of clear this up with what you were trying to see, Paul. I know maybe it's not as clear as we'd hoped. I can see this, I just can't see that. I don't know if you're trying to compare your home to where this home is located.

Amelia, do you have anything that has to do with that?

Anything else, Valerie? Rex? Now, Tim, please.

You got it. If a setback goes from 10 feet to 8 foot, 6 foot, regardless of number, I don't think it works like you've got a 10-foot setback, and then where the air conditioner goes, it's going to be a 4-foot setback, come back in, and a 10-foot setback. Once the setback is set, I'm just going to pick a number, six foot, eight foot, that whole thing is six foot, eight foot, and at that point anything can be put in within that setback.

I want to clear something. So let me see if I understand, Tim. You're talking about if the house is set up with an eight-foot setback. Take, for instance, an eight-foot setback. All right. Once the house is completed, then an air conditioner pad and an air conditioner could be located within that setback?

Well, the setback is 10 feet. Okay. So everything has to be within that setback is my understanding. House, air conditioning, whatever it is. If the setback is reduced to 8 foot or reduced, I think we're talking to 6 foot in this case, then that gives, we'll use 6 foot versus 8 or versus 10, that gives 4 foot along that whole property line that will be varianced, if I'm probably in the right term, that anything can go in. It could match.

You could match that same distance, what you're saying along the whole side of the house.

So now I can put a generator in, I can put in anything I want in that space and be only six foot away from the neighbor's property.

And, Tim, I understand where you're coming from, and I would say yes, and I look to our experts as well. I sold a home on the Rainbow River, and it was that exact same type of issue, and they gave only, and I don't remember the number now, two feet, three feet, four feet, whatever that variance was, and it was literally $4,000. only that section of the how, of what was needed for. In other words, it almost kind of went like this, Tim, like doot, doot, doot, and then it was all back to 10 feet. So I don't know if that's... That sounds pretty convoluted. Well, the convoluted was... And that's no

Does that answer, Valerie, that answers what you were talking about with the county specs?

That it happened, yes, at the property that I had.

Was there anything else that you had on that? Just... Rex? Tim, we'll go back now. Is that a problem? I think that clears up what you were pointing out about the use of the property on that entire length of that east side of the house. He's talking about it could be specified and that's going to be a legal term to do that. Right. And that's under you. No, I understand. Okay. All right. I just want to be sure we're all on the same page. Thank you. Okay.

Okay. Paul, you still have the floor if you have any other thoughts.

I mean, I know that variances have been given within the city for people that have needed setbacks where, I mean, there was one over in Nine Island Cove one time where the people, because of the property layout, we had to give a special variance for the railroad track that had been there. So they went up, they went back. I don't remember. It was 100 years ago. So, yes, variances have been given. I know we've had variances on properties that have been so small in the city because of the way they were platted back in the day that we've had to give.

That there were variances given. So they have been, maybe not in recent years, but, yes, there have been variants. I just want to make sure the public knows it's not that we always say no to everything, that we have given variances in the city before. So I just want to make sure that's a statement that's recognized.

Right. No, I understand, but I just want to make sure that everybody knew that they have been. We have given out variances before.

Greg, do you have anything? Tim, do you have anything follow-up?

Yes, I just have one thing. The way I understand whatever the six elements were that had to be followed, if this variance were to go through, then basically we have set precedents, and that can be done anywhere. So at that point, the 10-foot setbacks don't mean anything.

Can I ask the attorney to... talk to that?

All right, thank you. Anything else from council to?

I don't see this as being the issue is not because of the uniqueness of the land. The issue is because of the size of the home that somebody wants to put on this particular property. I understand your point. Does anybody understand what he's talking about?

Okay. Paul, did you have anything else at this point? That takes care of it for me.

Ms. Doxford, would you like to follow up, please?

How wide is your air conditioner? How wide is your garage?

So it's a normal, basic two-car. I was just wondering if we could shorten the garage by two feet, or four by two. I don't know.

I'm just trying to think of something to satisfy everyone and not give the hardship to you. I mean, I understand. Just trying to think outside the box.

Okay, thank you, Ms. Doctor. Thank you. Is there any, were you sworn in, Joe? Yes. Okay, you're welcome to speak. I didn't notice who all got up when it was time. If you were sworn in, you can speak.

Thank you, Joe. Anyone else that was sworn in wish to make a statement or any follow-up? Yes, Ms. Dockstrap. Okay.

We take it very seriously. Every issue that comes before the Planning Commission and the council, you can see how serious we are about this. Okay, thank you, Ms. Dockster. Anything else?

The setback would be 6 feet, 8 inches, so they're looking for a variance of 3 feet, 2 inches?

So it would be a six-foot setback versus a ten-foot. Just doing the math. Just doing the math.

Are there any further public comments? Anyone else?

They just said they don't need that much. They just need 4 feet.

I think the point O'Neil was making, we don't have any information in front of us that specifies the number. We have enough information to vote on the width, the 96 feet versus the 100, but until we have something in writing or something like that that spells out exactly what somebody's asking for side setback, we really don't have enough information, in my opinion, to vote on a side setback.

Valerie, you understand that we're at a point of understanding what we're lacking is this portion on the east side of the house and exactly what we're talking about.

And especially now that we're thinking about a square out of the ten feet.

That's right, four feet. Rex, Tim, anything else? And no other public comment? No one else responding? It is now 6.46 p.m. and I close the quasi-judicial hearing held to discuss application PZ2026260003 for variance VAR2026-01 and reopen the September 9th City Council meeting. We'll move on to item number 2B, consideration of application PZ202-6003 by David and Sandra Dykstra for variance VAR2026-01 from the dimensional standards requirements in Appendix A, Article 6, Section 6.2 for R3 zoning, minimum lot width requirements. I'll entertain a motion.

Second. There's a motion on the 4 to approve. Further discussion?

I just want to clarify, and just reading it right from the variance, PZ2026-0003, this is only for... The 100 foot width versus the 96 and a half, whatever that number is, has nothing to do with the site setback, just for clarification. I agree.

Make a motion to approve. We've got a motion on the floor.

I'm saying concurrence with our city attorney. Okay. Development order. Gotcha. Okay. Thank you. I move variance VAR 2026-01, which meets the criteria for approval to be approved.

With the – because it meets the standards.

Sorry. Okay. Does everybody understand the motion? Is there a second? Second. There is a second. Further discussion? Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. All right, ladies and gentlemen, we will move on now to Item 2C, Quaggiat Judicial Hearing for Site Plan Review for the Waffle House Restaurant.

So may I ask a question, Mr. Mayor? So do we need to ask them to go back to get us exact numbers so that they know what to do next? for the remainder of their variance? Because we didn't put it up as a proposal or a consideration tonight. So can we have them go back or can we give them direction?

Well, I don't know that we could take council action on it. We could always do that, but I think that would be whoever wants to further this issue to go in that route to start with. Well, I just wanted to let them know what to do next, I guess is what I'm... Yeah, but that would be up to whatever they want to present to the planning commission, and then that would go over to the council at some point.

I just wanted to let them know that we weren't going to be voting on the other two issues tonight. is what I guess I'm trying to say.

Yes, we just throw it on the one and show it was on the table.

and if there was any way that this could be modified that you could think of and i don't know that there is at this point the drawing shows a bigger pad than we need so we need to modify the drawing that's the footprint of the house for the path and and i and i i think what i heard this evening was and just kind of make sure that it's you're just asking for that pad area not for the The whole length of the property. Right. Okay. Is what I heard.

Why is that onus on the council? I'm kind of with Walter. I would think that whomever the property owner is, you know, would get with their builder or whatever.

I think she's referring to the legality of how it's presented to the council once it's established. I think that's what she's talking about, Tim. rather than instructions to the applicants.

Right, right. Yeah, I know we don't give instructions to the applicant, but what we just did is we just approved Variance VRA 2026-01. I guess what I envisioned is folks would go back, regroup, and then we would be seeing a – I'm just going to make up a number – VAR 2026-02.

The conditions are totally different. Why wouldn't they?

Okay, so what's the recommendation of staff on this, Mandy? What do you and Andrew request the council to take place at this point now?

Okay, there's been a request. Does anyone in the council want to take action on that request?

So I will make a motion that we continue to consider the variance regarding the air conditioning pad and continue this, what's the word I need? Continue the public hearing? Continue the public hearing to the October 14th meeting with the new information needed.

For variance three only. For variance three only. Yes.

Very well. All right. There's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Second. There is a second for the discussion.

This should go back before the planning committee. We should not be bypassing the planning commission. You know, they listened to all the, you know, they listened to everything, they heard everything that we heard, and they should be privy to this new information to be able to give us a recommendation. That's what they're for.

So they will be hearing this before it comes back to us?

Oh, okay, okay, okay. I got you. I understand. Okay. So now I understand what we're trying to do. Okay. But it's a lesser request than what the planning council heard.

That doesn't mean the planning commission would be okay with this reduction. We'd like them to think about it. Again, that's what they're for. Think about stuff. Give it to their recommendation to us. We take their recommendation based on their thought process. We have our own thought process and then come up with a decision. Okay, Tim.

Anything else on council comments? Does anybody in the public wish to speak on this item that we're discussing? Anyone? All those in favor say aye. Aye.

It just passed. There was opportunity to speak.

Go ahead. I'll give you the floor. For the record, I'm a no.

Well, Tim, let me address. What was your question, please?

Okay. Any other clarifications that we need to make before we move on? Right now, we'll move on. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. To agenda item 2E, quasi-judicial hearing for site plan. 2C? I skipped the page. Quasi-judicial hearing for the site plan review for the Waffle House restaurant.

Mandy, we don't need to recite the statement again?

Item 2C. I got another one later on. For site plan review of application PZ20250003 by Mercedes Field for a project described as the Waffle House Restaurant. It is now... 7.01 p.m., and I close the regular meeting and open the quasi-judicial hearing to discuss applications PZ202-5003 for the site plan review submitted by Mercedes Field for a project described as Waffle House Restaurant notification to applicant and adjacent property owners on August 20th, published on the city's website on August 19th, and in the Riverland News on August 28th. I will ask the mayor to sign in all witnesses. The

Thank you, Andrew. All right. Council members, individuals, individually to disclose any ex parte communications. Valerie, anything?

Okay. Valerie? None. Rex? Tim? No, sir. I have none. That's our staff report. Does anybody have any questions for the staff report? Okay. Council discussion. Do we have any discussion on this? Alright, public comment time. Does anyone wish to speak on this particular item? Welcome.

I think you told me that if we approve this tonight, you're shovel-ready when?

So in about how many months does it take? And it takes about four months. Okay. Okay. Anything else?

Eric, thank you very much. We look forward to being part of the city. Yes, sir. Welcome. Any public comment on this particular item? Anyone from the public wish to speak?

It is now 7.11 p.m. and I close the quaggiat judicial hearing held to discuss application PZ2025003 for the Waffle House Restaurant Site Plan review and reopen the September 9th City Council meeting. We'll move on to item 2D, consideration of site plan application PZ2025003 for Waffle House Restaurant. Call for a motion.

I move to find site plan PZ20250003 consistent with the city's comprehensive plan.

Second. There's a motion on the floor. Second. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. We'll move on now to item 2E. Quasi-judicial hearing for site plan review of application PZ202.

Do we have to approve this? There's two motions.

Under 2D, I'm seeing two motions, one to approve. This says it's consistent with the comprehensive plan, and then another motion to approve the site plan.

Or was that just the Mr. Prince? My 2D does not show that.

And then we go to 2E. Correct. I don't have that. It's not on here.

Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize. I missed... and action. We will revert back to item 2D.

Site plan PZ20250003 for Waffle House Restaurant be approved. So moved. There's a motion on the floor and a second. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. I apologize, ladies and gentlemen. We'll move on now to item 2E.

Quaggiao's judicial hearing for the site plan review of application PZ20260004 by Davis and Laura McKee for a project described as the Rainbow Springs Creamery Restaurant is now adjourned. 7.14 p.m. and I close the regular meeting and open the quasi-judicial hearing to discuss application PZ20260004 for a site plan review submitted by Davis and Laura McKee for the project described as Rainbow Springs Creamy Restaurant notification to applicant and adjacent property owners on August 20th, published on the city's website on August 19th and in the Riverland News on August 28th. I'll ask the mayor

Is there any council members individually who have anything to disclose as far as any communication on this issue? Valerie?

No, sir, and they haven't given us any samples either.

Rex, anything? Tim? No, sir. None for myself also. Ready for the staff report. All right.

Rex? Tim? No, sir. I don't have any. Would the applicant like to speak?

Yeah, it's just for the line parking spaces on the right, in and out the same, the other one.

Isn't that the Burke-Halter property, Mr. Mayor?

Anyone else wish to speak on this, what was sworn in?

Anything else? Anyone else in the public wish to speak that was sworn in?

It is 7.25 p.m. and I close this judicial hearing held to discuss application PZ20260004 for the Rainbow Springs Creamery Restaurant site plan review and reopen the September 9th City Council meeting. We'll move on now to item 2F, consideration of the site plan application PZ20260004 for the Rainbow Springs Creamery restaurants. And I'll entertain a motion.

There's a motion on the floor and a second. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries.

Sir, if I might ask like Valerie did, when do you guys see breaking ground?

As soon as we get the permit and we can get the...

Looking forward to samples. Right across the street.

Tim will be getting exercise going back and forth. Don't worry. It's going to be OK. I'll be trying to beat Paula. OK, ladies and gentlemen. Well, we're going to move on now to another public hearing. Just what we want to hear. Mandy, do you want to recite this one or do we have to go into it?

It is now 7.29 PM. I apologize, ladies and gentlemen. This is item number three, public hearing tentative FY2026-2027 budget. This is a public hearing on the tentative proposed millage rate and tentative budget for the city of Dunn-Ellen for the 2026-2027 budget year. It is now 7.31 p.m. And I open the public hearing for the staff to first make a presentation and then to anyone wishing to address the City Council on either the proposed millage rate or 2026-2027 budget advertised on the property tax notice.

The 4.4598... Would this supply what we need with our demands that we're looking at?

And the other difference between these budgets are Shawna added $50,000 in expense. For the roof here, so that's in the budget now. Yeah. Yeah, I mentioned that.

Well, that was a concern because, you know, like you said, our buildings are getting older and we have to be prepared. Correct.

But that wouldn't include, because I know you've, aren't you having some issues with the roof over at your building, Chad?

Yeah, because, I mean, I don't know how insurance is with. But I know insurance with residential homes, they, you know, either go up on your insurance payments or they'll cancel you if you don't replace your roof after 10 or 15 years.

And that's what the – yesterday was $93,000. And, again, I don't understand what's happening. It's – The addition to the capital funds, which would take care of anything like that, at the rollback rate, is $108,000 now going into that to take care of those kinds of things.

Right. That's the 4.4598 rate. Yes, I understand. Valerie, do you want to?

I just still like to hear the recommendation from our finance officer of what, She looks for the future, too, for what the millage rate she feels safe with. Noting that, of course, it's all of our taxpayer money, including all of us who sit up here and that sit down there in the audience or at the desk.

And that's with the 50,000 set aside for the roof on the city hall. So that's already set aside in the budget. Correct. So we would have the 108, you know. We would have the 108 plus the 114,000.

Okay. Further questions? Rex? No, I'm fine with that. Tim? No, sir. Thank you. Thank you, Shawna. Thank you.

May I ask a quick question, Mr. Mayor? Let's just say, I don't know, something catastrophic happens between now and our next meeting. Can we go, if we had to go back to the 4.65, 685? No. No. Okay.

That's what I was scared of. Okay. Mr. Mayor?

Public comment? Any public comment on this particular item? Anyone wish to speak? All right. Council, what is your preference? Give us an idea of what you want to do. Do you want to go down? You want to go with the 4.4598 or the 46850? We're down to two suggestions at this point.

My preference would be to go with the staff's recommendation, and I've been through the budget.

Okay. Well, then I will entertain a motion. Let's see here now. Mandy, help me with this just a minute. I have the choices, but I've got another agenda on this side to go by. What am I doing here now? We're going to use this one.

Down over this one, because this is what we're supposed to be doing. All right, stop interfering. So this is where we go then? Don't even...

That's where we want to go. All right, ladies and gentlemen, with a clarification as to our procedures. It is now 8.50. 7.50.

Yeah, 7.50. Excuse me. I think it's 11.50 as far as I'm concerned. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm getting a little tired. You all can see that. But we're going to get this done. All right. It's actually 7.50. uh 4.4598 the tentative millage rate for the city of dunnellan is 4.4598 mills which is equal to the rollback rate 4.4598 meals the tentative budget proposal is three million six hundred thirty three thousand five hundred twelve dollars and as i said it is now And I close this public hearing, held to discuss the proposed millage rate and 2026-2027 budget. We'll move on now to item 3

I move Resolution RES 2026-20 be read into the record.

There's a second. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries.

I move Resolution RES 2026-20, setting the tentative tax billage rate at 4.4598 be approved.

There's a motion on the floor and a second. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye.

Move on now to item 3B, proposed resolution RES 2026-21, adopting the tentative FY 2026-2027 general fund budget council discussion. Any discussion? Public comment. Anyone wish to speak at this point in time? I'll entertain a motion for this item.

I move Resolution 2026-21 be read by into the record.

Second. There's a second. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye.

I move Resolution RES 2026-21, setting the tentative fiscal year 2026-2027 general fund budget in the amount of $3,633,512 to be approved. Thank you, Tim. There's a motion on the floor. Second. There is a second. Further discussion? Second.

All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. We'll move on now to item 3C, approval of the tentative tax increment financing district budget, FY2026-2027, further council discussion. Any discussion?

Oh, we can lower the price by keeping the air conditioning a little bit higher. Freeze it. All going to have to buy me a Fur Park and put it in the budget.

Okay. Thank you. Mandy, was there anything else on that? Okay. Further council discussion? Public comment? Anyone in the public wish to speak?

I'll call for a motion to approve. Move the tentative fiscal year 2026-2027 tax increment financing district budget in the amount of $599,700. Second.

There's a motion on the floor. Further discussion? And a second. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Move on now to item 4, item 4A, first reading, ordinance ORD 2026-08, special events. Staff comment.

Oh, I'm sorry. Which line are you on, babe? I'm sorry. Oh, okay. I see.

Was there anything else, Andrew? No, sir. Okay. Anybody have any questions for Andrew on that? No, sir.

Yes, sir. About the billing, and I know it's three, and I didn't get a chance to write down the other number in front of it. The billing at current electrical usage, I think, is the words that you used, Mandy?

Rates. Okay. Sorry, I couldn't read my own handwriting. I was trying to write it quickly. A, I don't know how. This is my thought on that. If I am renting the pavilion or whatever building it might be, it might be this building for all we know. And if you go and rent any other location, any civic building, and trust me, I've rented plenty of them through my years, you're not paying for the electric bill. You're not paying for that. seven hours, ten hours of you being out there. The bill, the electric, the water, the insurance, the, well, not in our cases, but taxes are all part of the fee that

Yes, yes. We still have to approve that. We have to approve that plan before anybody can use it. So if John XY hands us the plan that he hired Mr. Johnson to do for him, It's still upon the city to approve it. So we're not really getting rid of our liability by doing that.

We're doing the same thing that FDOT does, the same thing that Marion County does, because there's three different slots on there. We're basically doing the same thing that the Marion County Sheriff's Office does when they look at the detail thing. Okay.

So let's say we have the barricades available and we determine that we want to start renting them out. I'm just making something up, guys, okay? If we take that out, does that prevent us from being able to do it?

And I understand that. And I guess I'm just still going back to where we are a community and we're trying to help. I mean, you know, I don't know. When a little league has to spend $2,000 or $1,500 to get all these – things done, where does it start affecting them? When do we stop having parades because the city won't put up barricades for a little league baseball because they're having to spend the money

That hasn't been how I understood it, because I know that was a concern that Little League was having discussions with me about. So maybe we had misunderstood that.

And Marion County Sheriff, as are patrol officers, they're going to be the ones that are doing that, correct? That would be me.

Right. No, I understand that. Again, I'm just trying to think, though, of we want to keep Dunellin small. We want to keep those charms. And I'll tell you, there's a lady that, Sue Mosley, who I could not remember her name, the last meeting I was here, and I talked to her at the county. We've been trying to catch up with her to have a meeting because she's in charge of of the parades and the Christmas parade and those things. And she said she has some great ideas how to help us kind of uniform all the – you've worked with her, I'm sure. Yes. So – We were trying to get before this ordinance came

Okay, this is... Ocala is where we got this from.

This... It's... She doesn't work for the county.

This... So... Like we had discussion before, this is exactly... One meeting, please. This is exactly... where Mike has sent me. He sent me to the exact right person. And then this is where the verbiage is coming straight out of theirs. It also, when we benchmarked other cities that have made events all the time, what's the one by Leesburg? Mascot.

We went through it right. That's where else we benchmark. They're more like us, a small town, and ours mirrors exactly what they have also. Okay.

Well, I'm still for getting rid of the billing of the current electrical rates.

Okay. We don't charge rent for the building. Everybody gets to use that for free, all right?

I mean, how much has the electric bill been in previous...

It's not complicated at all. When Public Works goes and turns it on, they'll take a picture of the meter when they go because the application has the time for starting the electric and turning the electric off. So Public Works will be there at that time to turn the electric on. They'll take a picture of the meter. When they go turn the electric off, they'll take a picture of the meter. That form will probably end up in Shawna's lab. Electric rates are real simple. It'll be however many kilowatts or how many watts have been used times the rate.

It's not true. It's all Facebook garbage.

And a meeting where everybody goes your way and goes Danny's way.

Danny, we're not going to have it. He's not going to do that. Tim, go ahead, sir.

It's your turn to speak. Okay, it's about taxpayer risk, and that's what we've been talking about. All this Facebook stuff, all the lies that Danny has come up here. Mr. Mayor? No, it's on record. We have shown where that's true. I can say anything as long as I'm in the guidelines of the law and I'm representing my constituents. They're tired of hearing Danny come up here and lie. I get phone calls. I get texts. I get everything. Everybody knows it. We have shown it up here nonstop. Rex keeps bringing Facebook stuff up here, and he keeps repeating Danny's lies. We are here to represent the tax

So, Mr. Mayor, he is slandering people again up here.

It is not slander if it's true. I am done with this.

Mr. Mayor, stop. Everybody just stop. Just stop. It's late. I don't want to hear... anyone referred to other than within the facts of what we're discussing. We're discussing this ordinance. I don't want to get into a discussion about anybody else's personal relationships or where they get their information. We're all going to talk about this particular item, and we're not going to get off subject. So I want to stick to this proposed ordinance. I don't want to get into anything else. Please, let's continue. You have the floor.

Okay. For the electric, we don't get – we went through that. We do not charge rent for that building. The taxpayers should not be paying rent for the organizations because they're fundraising events. This, where everybody's city gives out their, instead of saying that, we have all the documentation that Mount Dora does. We have the documentation that Ocala does. We have the documentation for two other cities. I can't remember who they are. Excuse me, who they are. They have already experienced issues. They do not loan out, give out their barricades anymore because they had issues before. Here'

Does this have anything to do with the ordinance? Yes, it does.

No, it doesn't. Because the... The restaurants pay for DCBA services through their property tax dollars, et cetera. And the DCBA brings in competition to our very taxpayers. And they also advertise more for outside Dunn-Ellen than inside Dunn-Ellen. So the whole thing is just... To let the DCBA dictate to us, and that's exactly what's happening, and not listen to our constituents and our taxpayers, we're violating our oath, what we're supposed to do for them. This event, this ordinance is very clean with the changes. We have bent over backward to listen to everybody. Anybody that had a technic

Thanks. I think what we've done is we have personalized this whole effort to the point that it has created a great deal of friction within our community. I am not satisfied with that friction. I do not appreciate it, and neither do the citizens that I know. They're not happy about the way this whole process is taking place. As far as I'm concerned, I would entertain a motion that this item should be tabled. Second. I'm saying I would entertain a motion, but I'm not done yet because public has to comment. I'm making my comments now. This is how I feel about it.

And that's my personal feeling. I have listened to this now for months, and I have seen it be tilted towards another organization or individuals, and that is clouding the entire issue and creating friction in the community, and it is unnecessary. It is not productive for us to do that, in my opinion. Now, is there any other council discussion before I ask the public to participate? It is now time for the public to participate. Is there anyone who would like to speak on this issue? Yes, come up, Paula.

And that's part of what I think the mayor, may I, Mr. Mayor? I'm sorry, I think that's part of what the issue is, is that we're putting a name on the ordinance and it's not about DCBA. It's about anyone who comes in to the city and asks for a special event permit. It's not just DCBA. And I would expect that our lieutenant back there could explain why we can't just put up a pretty yellow barricade like we used to be able to, that they have to be FDOT regulations and such and so forth. Great idea, but as always, there's the back story.

Any other public comments at this point? Yes, Joe.

Thank you, Joe. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Anyone else in the public wish to make a statement? Welcome, Danny.

Anyone else wish to address the council meeting at this point?

I'm telling you. Wait a minute. Please just stop just a second.

No, this is not tolerable at all. I am aware of that. If you'll give me the chance to rule, I am trying to run this meeting. Rex, stick strictly to what... Oh, too late for that. No, sir. Too late for that. Okay, basically, I'm going to bring this up. Tim, let... I'm going to bring this up. He does not get to. Not after that. But this, Rex, it has to be pertinent to the discussion of this current event we're talking about. Okay. Please, stick to the subject of this ordinance. That's all we're talking about right now. Only the ordinance.

Mandy, ethically, this is not right. I want to hear from Andrew that this, what do we do so that this person is not allowed to sit up here and lie, and he certainly is not allowed to sit up here and talk to our department heads and our staff like that.

Point of order, Mr. Mayor. Look at you. Rex, Rex, we all know who's calling the kettle black. We all get it. We all get it.

Now, let's get back to the subject at hand.

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make an order. Now, listen.

Let me finish. Yes, sir. I'm done. Thank you. You are finished. Thank you, sir. All right. We've had council discussion. We have had council. We've had public comment. And I will entertain a motion on this particular item. Well, we've got to read it by title only. All right. Well, then, make your motion.

I move that we table this ordinance 202608 until November.

There's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Second. There is a second. Further discussion? Yes.

I'm leaving. I will not tolerate this ludicrous behavior up here. This is embarrassing. You all are liars. You entertain liars. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor. And you don't give a shit about this public.

Danny, Danny. Stop, stop. There's no need in that.

It's already recorded. This is a public meeting. Everything in here is recorded. And I am trying to conduct this meeting in a proper manner. And I need to get some help. I need help from my fellow council members, and I need help from our public. And they see such as this. It's unnecessary. I've lived in this town a long time, and I've never seen such behavior. And I don't like it, ladies and gentlemen. I don't like it.

All right, let the record show that Councilman Enkeep has currently left the meeting, and I wish to continue with the discussion that we had prior, and it was in relation to a motion to table this ordinance that we're discussing. I move we table the ordinance.

We have a motion on the floor, and we have a second. Any public discussion? Any more council comments? No, sir. Motion carries. All right. We'll now move on to item number five, resolution RES-2026-25, building department fee schedule. Who wants to take this off?

Let me ask you this, Ron. What we're doing is we're giving them the opportunity to apply their assets and their abilities in order to comply with our ordinances and regulations. Okay, that's what I thought the thing was. I understand now. I'm in here.

And bring us in compliance with the law. Absolutely. So that's basically what we're doing?

Okay. Thank you, Ron. Questions, Valerie, for Ron? I bet you have anything. Good with this. Any person from the public wish to speak on this? All right. I'll call for a motion. Let's see. I am getting tired, ladies and gentlemen. All right. We don't have any public comment on this particular item. Let's move for a motion to be read by title only. There's a motion on the floor to be read by title only. Is there a second? Yep. Any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries.

There's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? There's a second. Further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Item number six, regular agenda item, fire department building repairs. Who wants to take this one on?

And Chad, do we have, I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, I apologize. No, no, go ahead. Oh, okay. I had a moment. Do we have a, like, if they, you know how it is when you do construction, you always get in there and you find the widget and the wadjet need to be fixed that we weren't expecting. Is there, like, any buffer in this at all? Or if we needed another, I don't know, $3,000 to fix something, would we be able to do that without having to come back to the city council? No.

Okay. I'd just hate for that a month to go by.

I just, I mean, you just know how stuff goes.

I think that's reasonable. That unties your hands to get the job completed, and that's what we want. And we're dealing with emergency management. So we want to be sure once we get into this there's adequate funds. We don't want any delays because once we get started on their repairs to this building, we want to get them completed as soon as possible. Okay. So your point is well taken, Valerie. Thank you. I think that's a good idea. Manny, we could conclude that in the motion on this item?

Okay. Rex, does that sound agreeable? Chad, would that give you some leeway to work with these people and get this? Because like I said, this is an emergency management building. We don't want any delays, as Valerie said. We want to get the thing completed.

Okay. All right. So is there any public comment on this? This is on the repairs to the fire station. Any comment? No public comment. I'll entertain a motion.

I move to authorize staff to contract with A.L. Milton Construction for the fire department building repairs in the amount of $19,600.