City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon.

It's 4.30 p.m. Tuesday, August 18th, 2026. We will call the City Council meeting of the City of New Ulm to order. First item of business is the consent agenda. Councillors, what are your wishes? So moved.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion does carry. Item 2.1 is a public hearing on the final plot of Oak Bluffs 11th edition. Mr. Schoenberg.

Yes. Madam President, members of the City Council, first thing I would like to note is that the final plat is identical to the preliminary plat that you previously have approved. The property in question has a street address of 1438 to 1444 Sixth North Street. Sixth North Street represents the south boundary. OF THE PARSEL OF PROPERTY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. NORTH HIGHLAND AVENUE REPRESENTS THE WEST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY. IF YOU WERE TO STAND ON 6 NORTH STREET AND LOOK TO THE SOUTH, YOU WOULD SEE THE DIOCESAN CENTER. Okay, the owners of the property, and we're talking about two lots, lot two and three, which is the existing lot one is owned by M&D Properties, LLC, and lot one, or the future lot three, is owned by Dale Bushard. Okay. The current legal description of the property is Lot 1, Lot 2, Block 1, Oak Bluffs, 10th Edition. Property is zoned R3, Medium Density Residence District. Utilities are located in North Highland Avenue and 6th North Street. And all three lots meet the development standards that we have. There are three outstanding conditions. The first is to pay the plotting fee at $290. THE SECOND IS THAT LOT TWO, THIS IS THE FUTURE LOT TWO, WILL NEED TO PAY THE PER LOT UTILITY CHARGE OF $3,000 FOR SANITARY SEWER AND $3,000 FOR WATER MAIN AS FOUND IN THE CITY'S CURRENT FEE SCHEDULE. THE REASON THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT IS THAT WE'RE ADDING A NEW LOT TO THE SUBDIVISION, WHICH GENERATES THAT REQUIREMENT. uh the final uh condition is that we need to revise the development agreement for the subject property and that was uh last approved uh january 20 or excuse me june 26 2023 that would conclude the staff report one question dave number two you don't want that as one of the conditions the electronic file no okay that's some kind of a standard practice we always put it on but the plant surveyor knows that they need to provide that to us thank you at this time the public hearing is open if you would like to be heard please state your name and address for the record

Being nobody's coming up, I'm going to motion to close the public hearing and offer a resolution of approving with conditions the final plat of Oak Bluffs 11th edition located at 1438 to 1444 6 North Street. Seconds.

We have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councilor Christian. Yes. Councilor Warnke. Yes. Councilor Schmidt. Yes. Councilor Mack. Yes. President Becker. Yes.

That motion carries. Item 3.1 is a temporary on-sale liquor permit for Herman Monument Society, Herman Fest.

I'll offer a motion. Go ahead. I'll offer a motion to approve the issuance of temporary on-sale liquor permit for Herman Monument Society to sell alcohol at the Herman Fest on Saturday, September 12th, 2026, subject to compliance with all city and state requirements. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion does carry. Item 4.1, summary of business conducted during board and commission meetings.

I attended the Park and Rec Commission meeting. You'll note that there'll be a couple items down the agenda that we'll deal with with the Park Commission. Light month for me, I was unable to attend the EDA meeting, but I know that President Betker will give that update, and that's it for me.

Yep, light month for me, too. Nothing to report.

Okay, thank you. I've got nothing. Okay.

President and counselors, heritage preservation has not met and same with cable communications. I do have a program brochure and some information I'm going to review with staff and others. The National Heritage Preservation Convention in Minneapolis in late July was a fantastic convention and I learned a number of items and I hope to bring some of those forth in the not too distant future here.

Fantastic. EDA was a very short meeting. I do see something that's on the mayor's desk here. Just want to highlight last month we hosted the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and our city staff and leadership received an award in excellence and service from the CGMC. So just wanted to highlight that for everyone. Outside of that, I didn't have any other updates either. Anyone else? Chris? All right, thank you. Item 5.1, 2027 MSAS Improvement Project Engineering Report. Mr. Sotheim.

All right, thank you, Madam President, City Councilors. Just quick background on this proposed project. The city has been programmed to receive in fiscal year 27 and 8 about $3.7 million to reconstruct Garden Street between Center Street and 5th North Street for approximate length of 0.4 miles. City contracted with SEH on June 4th of 2024 to deliver the project through the bidding process. We conducted an open house for the project on February 26th of 2025. We were granted the variance from the MnDOT Commissioner of Transportation on April 9th, 2025, and that was to allow a reduced traffic lane setback for the angled parking adjacent to Harman Park. The Intersection Control Evaluation Report was approved by MnDOT for the 5th North Intersection on April 18th, 2025. The project received an environmental categorical exclusion on March 26th of this year. SEH has prepared the 95% plans for the project and we have the public hearing scheduled for September 1st for the next council meeting for the project. Chris Knutson, project manager for SEH is here to present the engineering report for the project. He has a quick presentation he'll go through and we'll have time to answer any questions council may have about the proposed project. So at this time, I'll turn it over to Chris.

Thank you, Joe. So yeah, just repeating, my name is Chris Knutson with SEH. I'm located in our office here. So I've been working with the city staff towards completion of bidding documents towards the 2027 MSAS improvement project. So with your packet, you should have a feasibility report. And this report outlines a lot of the improvements that are to be completed with the project, along with some background information and cost estimates estimated funding and so on so so today i'm going to kind of do an overview of the report through this powerpoint and you should each have a printed copy if you want to follow along take notes or or whatnot so um project improvements are located on north garden street between uh first north street and fifth THERE WE GO. OKAY, THANKS. SO PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS ARE LOCATED ON GARDEN STREET BETWEEN 1st NORTH STREET AND 5th NORTH STREET, ADJACENT TO HARMON PARK, COMING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NEW ALM MEDICAL CENTER. Project area does include some minor improvements to adjacent streets along with the roundabout at 5th North Street. The project improvements do vary throughout the corridor, so I'm going to kind of work from south towards north, kind of describe those improvements on the south side adjacent to Harmon Park. We're proposing to match the existing condition in the south end, understanding that future improvements may take place south of that going towards Center Street. There is a proposal to widen the west side of the street slightly to accommodate diagonal parking, and this is what Joe alluded to earlier with the variance that was requested. With that, there's also a recommendation to narrow the east side slightly. So when I'm referring to the west and east sides, I'm basically referring to the center of the road, crown of the road. So one side will be slightly wider, one side will be slightly narrower. There is a proposal to do curb bump outs and RRFBs at 1st North Street and 2nd North Street. So the RRFBs are the flashing beacons. They're an enhancement to the crosswalk. And the curb bump outs would also reduce the crossing for pedestrians from what's currently about 60 feet down to about 32 feet. With the park location, there's a proposal to construct an eight-foot sidewalk on the west side of the road near the park and a six-foot sidewalk on the east side of the street. Moving north to the next section between 2nd Street, 2nd North Street and 5th North Street. There's the recommended improvement is to narrow the road from 60 feet face to face down to 44 feet. That'll accommodate a 12 foot drive lane in either direction and a 10 foot parking on either side as well. There would be six foot sidewalks on either side of the street at a similar location to where they are today. And again, there'd be a curb bump out at 3rd North Street on this location would not have an RFP. So that's the difference between this bump out and the other two locations. At the 5th North Street intersection, a mini roundabout is proposed. This would be a smaller size roundabout that allows Most vehicles to traverse through the roundabout like it would any other, but larger vehicles would be required to drive over the islands. So splitter islands at all the sides would be mountable along with the center island. There is a proposal to do treatments to those islands with colored concrete, colored and stamped concrete to give a little bit more of an enhancement. Aesthetically and then also have colored concrete within the crosswalk One thing that's a little different with the roundabout versus the rest of Garden Street is it is proposed to be concrete Which is a little bit different than the rest of the roadway, which would be just regular bituminous blacktop Typical sections probably tough to see from a distance here, but The bigger things I'll kind of mention on this one, this is where the diagonal parking is located next to Harmon Park. So this would allow a 20 foot parking area on the west side of the road along with a four foot buffer space and then a 12 foot drive lane. So there's gonna be a little bit more space than there is today on that west side as I mentioned earlier. And then on the east side of the road with a 12 foot drive lane and 10 foot parking area. and for the rest of Garden Street to have a typical section with two 12-foot drive lanes, two 10-foot parking areas, six-foot sidewalks on either side, and a boulevard of just less than 14 feet. So fairly wide boulevard, but that's largely where all the road will be changed over to the existing 60-foot road. Getting there about eight feet on each side with that space given to the boulevards. The overall right-of-way on Garden Street is about 120 feet. So certainly on the wider side, but plenty of room to work with. Again, just kind of showing everything visually for the improvements. So on this image, the gray areas are the new blacktop areas. The purple magenta type color is the sidewalk. So in most areas having that boulevard as mentioned before. And then showing those kind of neck down areas through these three intersections at First North Street, Second North Street, and Third. The two locations received the RFBs are also shown with the yellow crosswalk signs. And then working its way towards the north, the cyan blue area on the north side being the mini roundabout. As I mentioned before, that's also going to be all concrete through there. Bump outs are proposed at most of the intersections with the exception of North 4th Street, or 4th North Street, and that will just be a standard crossing there. Crosswalks are proposed at each of the sides of the approaches to the mini roundabout. With roundabout designs, those are pushed back a little bit, so those are about 20 feet away from where the splitters come through, just allow a little bit of a room for vehicles to queue up in there without blocking the crosswalk. WHEN THE MINI ROUNDABOUT WAS DESIGNED, CONSIDERATIONS WERE MADE TOWARDS TURNING MOVEMENTS FOR ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES. SO THE DESIGNED VEHICLE IS A SCHOOL BUS, 40-FOOT BUS, WHICH WOULD BE ALLOWED TO TRAVERSE THROUGH THE ROUNDABOUT WITHOUT HAVING TO MOUNT ANY OF THOSE ISLANDS OR CURBS. LARGER VEHICLES, just a tractor trailer type combination vehicle would need to mount those areas, but would be able to do so without causing any issues for the outside curb. So it's meant for designing for the vehicles that are largely using it versus the tractor trailers, which are probably need to be able to make it through, but are less common. In addition to the proposed improvements, there are also multiple utility improvements proposed. So lighting is to be replaced throughout the project corridor. With the project, the foundations and conduits will be installed while the utility will come through later and install the lighting units. Sanitary sewer is proposed to be left in place. That's already been replaced at one time with the connections just made to the old services. So with the new project, the services would be replaced from the main up to not quite the right of way, but probably around five feet behind where the sidewalk's located. It is also proposed to replace the two water mains that are located on Garden Street. One is a transmission main, that one's a distribution main. The main difference is just all the services are located on that eight inch main. The 14 inch is more about getting water to different areas of the city. So both those water mains will be replaced and slightly upsized from what they are today. And then also the service is replaced to about that same distance, about five feet behind the new sidewalk. And then for storm sewer, there are dual storm sewers through most of this area as well. One is a pond discharge pipe to the pond located at Fifth Street. That is largely meant to be left in place, but we are proposing a rehabilitation of that main through an alternate bid. The alternate bid is to allow rehabilitation of that storm sewer if there's enough funding to cover it. replacement of a collection storm sewer so everything on the surface catch basins manholes and Just the the general collection for drainage on the street. We'll be going into the collection storm sewer which is proposed for Replacement throughout with an exception of the south area where part of that pipe has already been replaced Showed a general overview all the utilities on here and Again, probably a difficult one to see on there, but the red pipe being storm sewer, blue being water main, and green being the sanitary sewer, which is, again, just for the services. So throughout the whole area, most of the utilities will be replaced except those that have been replaced in the past or just due for rehabilitation. COST ESTIMATES FOR THIS PROJECT. THIS IS SPLIT WITH A NOTE HERE SAYING FEDERAL ELIGIBLE. SO WITH THE GRANT DOESN'T COVER LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS AND SOME SPECIFIC TYPES OF STREET IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL, BUT WE HAVE SPLIT THIS UP SUCH THAT THE STREET IMPROVEMENTS AND STORM SEWERS NOTED HERE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM. Sanitary sewer, so just going through those, I guess, street improvements, $2,950,000. Storm sewer, $560,000. Sanitary sewer, $260,000. Water main, $760,000. The bid alternate, which is to do lining of the pond discharge pipe, is considered to be federal eligible at $550,000 for a total estimated construction cost of $5,080,000. And getting into why the federal improvements are split off there, the program does require a 20% match. So items may be eligible for federal funding, but only for a capped at an 80% amount. So with that, we have an estimate for $3,248,000 to come from the federal grant with a local contribution of $812,000 towards those types of improvements, which would typically be the street and storm sewer. Non-federal eligible are going to be most of your local improvements. And that's for local utilities, just over $1,020,000. Again, adding up to that total estimated construction cost of $5,080,000. I WILL NOTE THIS IS ABOUT 500,000 LESS THAN WHAT THE GRANT AMOUNT IS. SO WHEN WE KNOW WHAT THE FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION, OUR ESTIMATE IS BELOW WHAT YOUR MAXIMUM GRANT IS. THAT DOES LEAVE SOME CONTINGENCY OF BIDS COME IN IN A DIFFERENT THAN ARE BEING ESTIMATED. AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, I THINK THOSE GRANTS ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS, SO I DON'T THINK YOU'D BE ABLE TO USE IT TOWARDS ANY OF THE ASSOCIATED SOFT COSTS OR PROJECT-RELATED TYPE COSTS. Better to have a little bit of a buffer there, I guess. With that, I am open to questions. We're a long show here.

I just have one. I did catch you explaining about the semi-traffic because weekly the hospital has their CAT scan, whatever that, but they shouldn't have any issues with that?

No, round the ball would be fully transversable, similar to up by the high school, same design. All right, thank you.

What would be the timeline from start to finish on a project like this?

FOR CONSTRUCTION. YEAH. THIS IS PROBABLY ABOUT A FOUR-MONTH CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. I GUESS JOE AND I PROBABLY NEED TO GET INTO SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT WE WANT OPEN AT CERTAIN TIMES. SCHOOL TRAFFIC'S ALWAYS ONE THING OF CONSIDERATION IF IT'S GONNA BE, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THIS WORK TO BE, TO START AFTER SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER. AND THAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT THING. WE'RE ALSO HAVING TO MAKE CONSIDERATION TOWARDS THE MEDICAL CENTER AND NOT HAVING THAT INTERSECTION AT FIFTH STREET CLOSE LONGER THAN IT HAS TO BE. WE DO HAVE THAT accommodated through phasing so our expectation is if you can't make it through fifth street there'll be another way to get get through uh so but timing wise it's it's probably about four months It'll most likely impact school on one end or the other.

Or the other, yeah, for sure. I know, and I think about all these kids, even once it's done navigating the roundabout down there, you know, too. And then my other question is, it's a Joe question, I guess. Like the assessments, are the folks that live in that area going to see like higher assessments because of all the work that's being done?

No, it'd be standard assessments for reconstruction per standard policies. So it'll be that we're proposing at $4,750 for a roadway reconstruct for a single residential parcel.

Okay, good. So like if you live on a corner where you have the bump outs going, you won't be assessed for those things.

Correct. It's on a per parcel basis on the reconstruction project.

All right, perfect. Those were my questions. Thank you. Anyone else?

So the residences there, their storm or their sewer lines, are they cast iron typically or were they ever replaced?

uh i think the vast majority of them are cast iron there's going to be some oddities and they're most likely due to the age of the existing utility infrastructure but um i would guess a lot of them are cast iron or clay okay just curious any other comments if there's no other questions i'll motion to adopt that acknowledge receiving the proposed 2027 msas improvement project engineers report second

We have a motion and a second. Thank you. Thank you. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion does carry. Thank you, Chris. Thanks for joining us today. Item 5.1 is the 2027 MSAS Improvement Project Engineering Report. Oh, sorry. 6.1, old business. Ordinance number 2026-115, second consideration, amending Appendix A of the City Code.

Good evening, Council President, Councilors, John Isley, planner with the City of New Ulm. This is the second consideration of this ordinance. Nothing has changed since the first consideration. We've also received no comments from the public on this ordinance amendment. If it were approved tonight by the City Council, we'd publish it in the newspaper, and then it would go into effect 30 days from publication.

and there's no other questions and we've gone through it no changes i'm going to offer a motion to conduct the second consideration adopt the ordinance number 2026-115 amending appendix a to the new alms city code to amend r3 medium density residential district development standards seconds we have a motion and a second any further discussion doesn't favor signal by saying aye aye that motion does carry

Thank you, Mr. Knisley. 7.1, under new business, Sioux Valley Gun Club lease agreement. Mr. Shugle.

Yes, thank you, Council President Petker, City Council. Joey Shugle, Park and Rec Director at the City of New Ulm. This is asking you to authorize City Manager and Finance Director to sign an updated lease agreement with the Sioux Valley Gun Club. So this is the next step in working on getting a new clubhouse out at The Trap and Skeet Range, our old lease, although very, since the year 2000, met the standards of between the city and the Sioux Valley Gun Club's agreement. However, it didn't allow the gun club to modify or construct anything on site. So this lease now addresses that as the next step in that process is the Sioux Valley Gun Club is interested in constructing a clubhouse and then turning it over to the city of New Ulm. In this lease, it kind of meets those standards of pausing the rent for a while if they do construct that, but it does give them the option. And I'd be happy to answer any questions that any of you may have.

And again, at the park meeting, Mr. Shugle did a great job explaining it. They unanimously approved it. If there isn't any other questions, I'm going to authorize the city manager, finance director, to sign the lease agreement with the Sioux Valley Gun Club for the Trap and Skeet Range, located at 214 21st North Street. Second.

Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? That motion does carry. Thank you. Item 7.2, Municipal State Aid Street Roadway Designation.

All right, thank you, Madam President, city councilors. Just quick background on what exactly a MSAS designation is. So the purpose of the MnDOT state aid system is to provide municipalities with dedicated sources of state funding, along with dedicated engineering standards and technical assistance to help construct, maintain, and improve local roadways. 20% of a local roadway network can be designated as a municipal state-aid street. Currently, German Street between 7th North and 20 South Street, except for a three-block stretch between Center Street and 3rd South, is designated as a state-aid route. In order to complete that route fully, staff feels that it is appropriate to remove the designation of 5th North Street between Broadway and German Street. When looking at traffic counts, 5th North has a significantly lower AADT to German Street, and that would provide a continuous roadway network on the state aid system on German Street. Staff feels it's appropriate due to the heavier traffic loading and at some future time as more mileage is added to the city's roadway networks, it's possible that 5th North Street could be re-added to the state aid system. A map is included showing those two segment revisions. So the city does have an allocation that's currently unused of about .04 miles. So that in conjunction with this removing German Street would allow us to fulfill that three block stretch on German Street. So with that, I would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have about this. And then, like I said, as more roadways are added to our local network, UP OUR STATE AID ELIGIBLE MILEAGE, AND AGAIN, WE COULD ALWAYS READD FIFTH NORTH AT A FUTURE TIME, IF DEEMED FIT.

I THINK THAT MAKES GOOD SENSE. YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR JOE? I'll offer the resolution revoking the designation of 5th North Street between Broadway and German Street as a municipal state aid street and establishing the designation of German Street from Center Street to 3rd South Street as a municipal state aid street and requesting the designation changes with the Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councilor Christian. Yes. Councilor Wormcuff. Yes. Councilor Schmitz. Yes. Councilor Mack. Yes. President Becker. yes that motion carries item 7.3 is a special assessment interest rate for projects financed by the 2026 bonds counselors this is something we do every year after the bonds are sold this year the true interest costs on the bonds that we sold was 3.419 percent so we are recommending 5.25 percent be the interest rate on any assessments done related to these projects

Madam President and Councillors, I'd like to offer the resolution authorizing to set an interest rate at 5.25% for special assessments levied for projects financed by the general obligation permanent improvement revolving fund bonds series 2026.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councillor Christian. Yes. Councillor Warnke. Yes. Councillor Schmitz. Yes. Councillor Mack. Yes. President Becker.

Yes, that motion carries also. Item 7.4 is support for revenue sharing with the Deputy Registrar Office.

Council President, Councillors, before you is a resolution that the county had asked us to show support for. And this would request the Minnesota legislature to establish revenue sharing with the registrar's office. That would actually help their office sustain so with the DVS sending out their registration the mailing goes straight to the state and the local office doesn't get any of that revenue and then If for whatever reason, the stuff gets lost in the mail and they come into the DVS office, then the county has to provide that at no fee. So this would actually help make that office a little more sustainable. And it's really us just supporting the DVS office to stay local and then ask the legislature to look into that revenue sharing.

Yeah, anything to support that local DBS. It's awesome having that in our community and for the county. So I'll go right ahead and offer the resolution requesting the state legislator to enact a driver and vehicle services revenue sharing fund with deputy registrar offices. Second.

We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councilor Christians? Yes. Councilor Wormcuff? Yes. Councilor Schmidt? Yes. Councilor Mack? Yes. President Becker?

Yes. Motion carries. Item 7.5 is regarding forgiveness of the Georgia's ballroom demolition loan.

Council President, Councilors, this is just forgiving the loan that we had given for the demolition of Georgia's ballroom. Fisher Group and I had gone back and forth for a while trying to figure out what that completion date was and how to kind of make that project continue to go forward. And while the original documents had stated that it would be forgiven when the project was complete, both Fisher and I determined that it was actually, the intent was for the actual project to be completed. We're looking at when they put a shovel in the ground that we would forgive the loan. But in speaking with Robert, The intent was when the demolition was done, then it would be forgiven. So we're now just closing that to say, yep, it is forgiven. You have completed the task that was done in February of 2025. And his investors can get on board with a lien not hanging over that project and they can get the ball moving forward. Just on a side note, when they submit for TIF and or tax abatement, that's when we'll incorporate a timeline for them to start and finish the project and have the property potentially revert back to us if they do not follow that timeline.

Chris, does the county have to take the same action because they were contributing as well to this?

Yes, they have the documents. Their attorney was out and didn't review the document, but it will be on their next agenda.

So basically these are the two things, just a little cleanup.

Yep.

Basically so.

Madam President, Councillors, I'd like to offer the resolution approving the forgiveness of the demolition loan with Fisher Development Company for George's Ballroom. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councilor Christian? Yes. Councilor Warmkow? Yes. Councilor Schmitz? Yes. Councilor Mack? Yes. President Becker?

Yes, that motion does carry. Item 7.6 is a letter of support for the Protect the Community Forest for Community Resiliency Grant. Mr. Knisley, hello again.

Good evening. Yeah, that grant title is a mouthful, isn't it? So staff is seeking a letter of support from the city council to apply for up to $150,000 from this. Department of Natural Resources grant program. Specifically, we'd be applying for these funds to remove the remaining 175 ash trees that are in the city's boulevards. We would also be wanting to remove approximately 18 ash trees from city parks and then replacing each one of the trees that is being removed with one of seven different species of trees. that wouldn't be susceptible necessarily to diseases like ash and or elm. Also, in addition to that, we would be looking for funds for replacement teeth and replacement blades for the stump grinding equipment that the city street department uses each winter to grind out those stumps in the boulevard areas. There is no match requirement for this grant program. If we were awarded, the city would be required to update our Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan, which was adopted in 2018. And also if we were awarded, we would anticipate sending out letters and notice to all those homeowners who would have ash trees removed in their boulevard prior to removing those. So. BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THOSE WOULD BE THE ONLY TWO STRINGS ATTACHED WITH THE DNR GRANT RIGHT OKAY YEAH THIS THIS THIS GRANT IS ACTUALLY SURPRISINGLY UH STRAIGHTFORWARD THERE'S NO MATCH AGAIN THOUGH I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR THESE FUNDS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WE DID RECEIVE GRANTS AGAIN IN 2019 AND 2021 So our odds may be a little bit less. I would also note, though, too, that city engineering staff recently sent out a letter to all those homeowners who do have ash remaining in their boulevard areas, informing them of the funding that the city has to help with the removal cost and replacement cost. And that's actually been pretty successful. And we'd anticipate that by the time this grant were, if it were awarded, we'd have significantly less than 175 ash trees in our boulevard areas because of that notification.

Thank you.

Let's throw our hat in the ring. I'll go ahead and make a motion to approve the letter of support for the Protect Community Forest and Community Resiliency grant application and instruct the City Council President to sign the letter on behalf of the City of New Ulm. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion does carry. Thank you. Item 7.7 is fire department donation.

I'll offer a resolution to accept $500 donation from Jeanne Kretsch. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll.

Councilor Christian? Yes. Councilor Warmka? Yes. Councilor Schmitz? Yes. Councilor Mack? Yes. President Becker? Yes. The motion carries.

Item 7.8 is park and recreation donations.

I'll offer the resolution to accept donations offered to the City of New Ulm through Park and Recreation Department, totaling $1,075 for the identified purposes. German Paverstones from Steve Weier, in memory of Kathy Weier, for $225. German Paverstone from Tracy Mauen Beckman, in memory of Ruth Mauen and Rita Bartle, $200. German Paverstone for Virginia and Darwin Tyson, in memory of Bridget Tyson, $200. Herman Run... Sponsorship, Christensen Family Farms for $150. Herman Run Sponsorship from Mike's Collision, $150. Herman Run Sponsorship from Friends and Bank for $150, totaling that $1,075. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Director Jorgensen, please call the roll. yes counselor warmka yes counselor schmitz yes counselor mac yes president becker yes that motion does carry with no additional business this meeting is adjourned we will move into a work session to discuss the upcoming 2027 budget