City Council - Regular Meeting

Call to order for the Watertown City Council meeting. Big shoes to fill tonight. The mayor is traveling, so I'm pinch hitting here. Um, let's rise while Hank Roso leads us in prayer. Thank you. If you join me, please. Our God in heaven, as we come to you this evening, we thank you for your love for us. We thank you for your grace and your goodness, all gifts we take for granted. God, as we gather here together, we thank you for your presence. We thank you for wisdom and understanding that you bring. And Lord, as we pause to give thanks, we thank you for all the many services that we enjoy here in Watertown. It's not a perfect town, but it's a pretty wonderful place to live. It's pretty tough to be. Thank you for our first responders, the police, firefighters, paramedics, the ones that watch over us. We thank you for all the city services. God, we thank you for these servants here of yours who committed themselves to leadership and making this city run. We pray for your kindness to them and your grace to them. We thank you for this thing we share together, this love for Watertown. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Thank you. All right, Miss Bob Zen, can you please call the role

microphone? There we go. Look at that. Okay. Allan here. Hoyer here. Helen here. Mormon here. Jirens here. Peters here. Chy here. Thank you. All right. Before we approve the agenda, any conflict of interest to disclose? Councilman Hoyer, I'll be abstaining from 12A. 12 A. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. I'll need approval of the agenda. Moved by Journs. Second by Mormon. All those in favor?

Opposed. Motion carries. Uh, next up, open forum. Is there anybody here to speak to us about something that's not on the agenda? Go ahead. Yep. Right up there to turn the mic on that that microphone will turn red. The button. There we go. Yep. Yeah.

I I usually don't write everything down, but in the sense of essence of time and uh want to keep it short and to the point and then I didn't want to miss anything. So, so here I go. [clears throat] My name is Dave Id. I'm the manager of Cottage and Clark Electric. Uh, we're a member-owned utility, a cooperative utility, and I live in Watertown. Okay. On November 3rd, the city council passed a resolution annexing the Burger second edition over by Titan Machinery, just east of Titans. And uh, when that happens, that's an annexation u of Cottage and Clark Electric Service Territory. And I would respectfully ask that Cottington Clark Electric retain our service territory in this annexed area [clears throat] instead of that going to Watertown Municipal. In essence, what happens when this goes on, it's a government taking of private uh business. That's what it is. And this has happened multiple times uh since I've been the manager at Cottington Clark Electric. We have a three-phase line buried right through that property. And uh we also have a loan on on that line that's buried there. And so what happens is we end up with a stranding of our assets. We spend money on something that doesn't do us any good. So, and by the way, we carry a debt of about $34 million. Our cooperative does. Another thing is is when annexations occur, we don't even receive notice. And we'd ask that we receive notice when

these kinds of things happen. We spend millions of dollars every year installing new power lines. If there's an area that will eventually be taken away from us, we don't want to spend money on infrastructure in that area. That's a waste of our members money. And I'm coming before the city council because you're the only elected officials I can talk to about this. The Watertown Municipal Utilities Board is appointed. I think that's a problem. That's not good. We have an appointed board overseeing I'm just guessing at this, but a $50 million plus or minus yearly revenue and that's just not good governance. [clears throat] I I think they should be elected. And by since I'm on that, what is the vetting process to be on that board? How does that occur? Does anybody know? We're just

How are they chosen? We can't debate back and forth in open forum. We can take your comments and get back to you though.

Okay. So, okay. I'll I'll leave with three asks then tonight. One is a notice on these annexations. We should get notice. Two is addressing the election process for for the Watertown Municipal Utilities Board. And three would be to retain that area that was just taken from us, that burger annexation. And I know you guys aren't the Watertown Municipal Utilities Board, but I don't see anything wrong with you guys passing a resolution asking them for that to happen. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. ID. Anybody else? Okay, moving on to uh contracts and change orders. 10A is a lease award for golf maintenance equipment and approval to surplus tradein equipment. We'll go to Miss Bob Zen for more.

Okay, thank you. Yes, in front of the council is the option to lease some of our golf uh mowers at the golf course and then also to surplus our old um tradein option. So, part of the reason that we brought this forward is after doing some consideration um a lease seems to be our better option. We've been probably purchasing between one to two more annually. Um, this does get us an opportunity to kind of establish more of a fleet system from the beginning. Um, our heavily used equipment at a more productive pace. Um, we've been able to establish that the mowers based off of their seasonal use um, can sometimes go faster or slower just off of that. um the short-term lease will still give us the option at the end of that lease to own the equipment and be able to assess if it has any remaining life at the end of that. Um what else can I say about it? Um I think what we're experiencing is some of our mowers were hanging on to a longer period of time and then our maintenance costs are rising. So this just gives us a better opportunity to really establish that fleet system. So, if there's any questions, I can answer them and I know Estee's here as well. So, thank you.

Thanks, Kristen. Anybody here to speak on this item tonight? If not, I would look for a motion to approve. We'll move by Hoyer, second by Shuy. Uh, council questions, thoughts? Mr. Hoyer? Um, I was just wondering with it with leasing the equipment, um, does that then open it up that the company we lease it from will do the maintenance on the machines throughout the year? I know how this works in the restaurant industry, like when you lease, you know, a dishwasher, they're responsible for it. They'll service it. If it explodes, they replace it right away. It's a pretty good deal. I'm just curious, is that how this functions as well? microphone. Okay. Could you just state your name for the record?

Scott Shunter, golf course superintendent at Cattail Crossing. Uh, no, we would still be in charge of all maintenance, the day-to-day stuff. With this equipment bid, we get a three-year lease or a three-year comprehensive warranty. So parts and materials we will get reimbursed. They will do on their dime, but we do the actual work. Okay, perfect. Any other questions? Council insurance. Thanks for showing up, Mr. Scott, superintendent or um a groundskeeper superintendent. Is that

whatever who we get to see? You'll go by anything? Yeah. Okay. [laughter] Um, I'm not sure if you or if Kristen has or CM has run the numbers. I know as an individual when it's time to purchase versus lease, it doesn't take long to, you know, pound those numbers through and go, what's a better deal? Or is this just a way to get newer equipment quicker? Because that's kind of fun, too, sometimes. Want me to answer

please? So, I think when we we did sit down and we looked at it, I think with the amount of equipment and some of the the age of the ones that we're trading in, we kind of needed almost like a fresh start when we're only turning over one to two. And because of the useful life life of this equipment, we felt that leasing was the best option. We've talked about like we've done leasing on some of our bigger equipment that has a pretty long life like our loaders and stuff. These tend to have more of that about seven years is it. So we think this is our best option to get and be able to maintain the quality we want out at the golf course.

So followup is I hear good things about what you've done for our golf course and I've seen some good things. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. Have a good staff. Thanks Scott. Any other questions? If not, Kristen, will you please call the vote? Okay. Allen. Hoyer. Hi. Helen. Hi. Mormon. Hi. Jiren. Hi. Peters. Hi. Shuty. I. All in favor?

That's going to pass. Thank you. Moving on to 10B, approval of a change order for the wastewater collection system and treatment facilities improvements project 2317 with Rice Lake. Uh Justin, please tell us more.

Uh thank you. Uh this change change order is related to the project at the wastewater treatment facility. When we bid this project originally uh there was uh a bunch of collection work that um we ended up having to pull out because the the bids were just coming in higher than our estimate. So um and and we hope that as the project progresses that we'll be able to add some of that stuff back in. And this is kind of an opportunity now to to add at that um some collection work back in utilizing some contingency within the existing GMP. So when we set up the GMP there is buckets of money and there's contingency in there and that's what we're proposing to use for this uh this uh work and so there'll be no increase to GMP. Um the station six is includes lid replacement, pump replacement, controls and pump bypassing and it uh came in under the engineers's estimate and we recommend uh approval to use contingency funds without a standby for questions.

Thank you. Anybody here from the public that wishes to speak on this item? If not, I need a motion for approval. So moved by Councilman Allen. Need a second. Second by Councilman Mormon. All questions. Councel. Councilman Hoyer. Um I would just ask kind of a little bit further on the so what. So like what what does this do for us doing this refurbishment? Um what's the advantage of doing it now?

Lift the station. Well, there's several lift stations, but lift station six is one of the the higher priority lift stations at the wastewater have have needs. Um biggest thing is they need to upgrade the pumps or you know it's nearing their end of useful life. So um you know there's potential that uh the pumps could quit and then we end up having to replace them anyway. Sure. Um sorry I should clarify a little bit just uh for the public who probably aren't even so keen on what the pumps do um our lift stations what their function is. What part of town does this service and who does that assist by making sure we keep this up? Um, I can share my screen.

Okay. Uh, it's just north of the the city uh city park and station six is this dot right here on Paradise Drive. So, what it does is it collects all the the sewer in in the area and pumps it to upstream basically and eventually ends up to the wastewater plant. Thank you, sir. Other questions? Councilman Allen?

Uh, I guess it's a question. I I'm I noticed the other day that the state still ha still has several million dollars uh to spend on sewer, wastewater, etc., etc. I'm assuming that we've applied for every single red scent that we could possibly get from the state. Is there any opportunity for any additional monies or is that just going to probably not the I guess uh when when we applied we actually applied twice. We applied first batch of money and then we applied for some more to try to get more of the the treatment process uh upgraded. Um I I I could look into a little bit more. My assumption is that if we would apply for more money, it'd be additional. It'd be more of a loan. So then

it' affect rates. Okay. Thank you. Mormon. Having worked for the sewer department um and actually having been down in uh lift station 6, I can tell you it's very wore out and the lids are very wore out. Um just one quick question. Do you know which brand of pumps are going in there? I I don't.

Okay. I I was just curious there there's a handful of different brands, but I know there's two main brands that uh um the city has, and I won't I won't name them, but um one brand is so much nicer to work on and does so much better job than another brand. So, I was just curious. Any other questions? All right, Kristen, please call the vote. Okay. Allan, hi. Hoyer. Hi. Helen. Hi. Mormon. Hi. Jiren. Hi. Peters. Hi. Shuty. I. All in favor.

Motion carries. On to the next item here. 10 C. Approval of a change order number one final for the 2025 solid waste improvements way scale project with Timman's construction for an increase of 15,782 for a new contract price of $315,000722 and adjusting the substantial and final completion date to November 14th of 25. Uh Justin, please tell us more on this one as well.

Uh thank you. This is the final change order related to the landfill scale project. Uh the change order addresses uh some utility adjustments. Um scale scale and scale houses the location was changed slightly. Uh and then we uh um kind of we added some uh concrete and retaining wall just kind of match everything in better. Uh the contractor finished be behind schedule and so this address this also adjusts for liquid related damages. And uh I guess for that we'll stand by for questions. Thank you. Anybody [clears throat] here from the public would like to speak on this item? If not, need a motion for approval. So moved by Councilman Shotty, second by Councilman Jern. A discussion council. Any questions? Okay. I feel comfortable as the mayor would say with a voice vote. All those in favor say I.

I. Oppos. I. Motion carries. Thank you. [snorts] Uh moving on to 12A. 12A is an application for a new retail wine and cider license to SS Retail LLC Smoke Solutions. We will go to finance officer Bob Zen for more. Okay, thank you. Yes, in front of the council is an application of a new retail um onoff sale wine and cider license. I will say they've had this license before. It was a little bit of a timing. They missed the cut off to just renew. So that's why you see it here in front of you. All fees have been paid. Notice published. location is still good. So, if you have any questions, I can answer them. Thank you. Thank you, Kristen. Anybody here that would like to testify on this item?

If not, I'll need a motion uh for approval. So, move by Councilman Allen. Need a second. Second by Councilman Jurn. Council discussion. Seeing none, comfortable with the voice vote. All those in favor say I. I. opposed. Motion carries. Moving on to 12. And we should note that Councilman Hoyer abstained from that one. Uh 12B, second reading of an ordinance 2518, a zoning tax amendment to chapter 2124, residential storage district of the revised ordinances of the city of Watertown. Uh Brandy, please tell us more on this.

Okay. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. So, this is a second reading. Um, if you recall at the first reading, I explained how this is a uh really a clarifying to this ordinance that was created for residential storage or the zoning district. So, it defines what type of structures can be located um and and the type of structures that are typically used for storage structures. Um and then it also includes um screening requirements to protect adjacent or abuing residential districts. And it also defines shipping containers which we have not included in ordinance um since or thus far. But since they are becoming a more popular type of structure for storage units, uh we wanted to be clear that within the residential storage district, they the use of shipping containers is prohibited. So with that, I'll stand by for any questions.

Thank you, Brandy. Anybody here that would like to testify from the public on this item? Seeing none, we'll need a motion for this item. So moved by Councilman Jiren's, second by Councilman Mormon. Uh council discussion. Any questions. Okay. Seeing none, we'll do a voice vote. All those in favor, please say I. I. Oppose.

Motion carries. We're on to 13A, which is an approval of resolution number 2602, a resol resolution of support of an application for financial assistance to the state of South Dakota Housing and Development Authority by SCI Development LLC. We will go to Allan uh for more information on this one.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh the item before you is similar to resolutions of support we have done for other projects in the past. Uh this particular developer is planning to develop an apartment complex on the east side of Watertown. It actually came uh before the planning commission a couple of months ago uh regarding the density of that development. U this is actually going to be known as the Oaks 2. Um and it's right behind the Oaks on 19th Street. This resolution just uh provides support from the council indicating that there's a need for multifamily housing in the community and will allow the developer to be able to potentially utilize some state housing funds in the development of this project. Recommend approval.

Thank you, city manager. Is there anybody here from the public that would like to testify on this item? We've got some faces here, so don't be shy. Yeah, go ahead. You just state your name for the record, please.

There. Yeah, I'm Seth Frier. I'm with SCI Development. Um, just to give you a little background on this. So, um, we're looking at we've we're working with the sisters up at Harmony Hill to, um, go through and get a a it's actually a single family housing development. Um, 10.2 acres, 40 lots. um achieving affordability. So, what we're asking for tonight, this evening, is is that we get that approval letter to go forth to the South Dakota housing to get some funding to actually fund our TIF. We've been working with Tobin Morris to get that that moving. Um if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Thank you, Seth. Stand by.

I I did describe the wrong project just for clarification, but there is another one coming. Thank you. Okay, we'll move on for council action. We'll need an approval. Moved by Shotty. Second by Councilman Hoyer. Council discussion. Okay. So, I just want to clarify this is out then to the north of town where we're thinking it is then. Okay. Um, is this just the next phase in

south? South south. Sorry, now I flipped it. Great. We're doing awesome here. clear as mud. Pull up a picture. Um but no, is this just the next phase in the de development? Okay. Just making sure um we are familiar with that development. So okay, sounds good. That's easy. Other questions council? Okay. Hearing none. Christian, would you call the vote on this one? Actually, I will. Okay. Allan Hoyer. I Mormon. I J I Peters I Shuty I All in favor?

All in favor? Motion passes. We're on to 13B which is an approval of an amendment to the development agreement with Steven T. Horning for the Isabella first edition development. We will go to city engineer Peterson for more. Uh thank you. Uh I pull up my screen and show where this area is. Um so as part of the Isabella Edition project, developer installed a private road um for the properties in Isabella edition which is in this area here specifically these three uh properties. Um this is where the Dollar General is on the corner. Uh and this this is really just a formal acknowledgement that the the private road is uh is complete and that the adjacent land owners will maintain that private road. So it's just formal acknowledgement and the developer and uh Mr. Roy's here as well. So we'll stand by for questions.

Thank you. Anybody here from the public that would like to testify on this item? It was off. As a city engineer said, we're we are present. If you have any questions, but we really don't have anything to add. It's kind of a formality that we're doing this. Thank you. Thank you.

All right. We'll move on to council action. I get an action from the council on this, please. Motion by uh Councilman Mormon. Need a second. Second by Councilman Jur. Any questions for the staff or applicant? Okay. Hearing none, I'm comfortable with the voice vote. All those in favor, please say I. I. I.

Opposed. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you guys. Uh we're on to 13C, which is an authorization for the city manager to approve Watertown Fire Rescue to hire an additional plus one firefighter staff position. We have Chief Roland here to speak more about this topic. I believe we are. Take it away, Don. Thank you, Deputy Mayor, uh and members of the city council. So, I'm here tonight to ask permission to authorize Watertown Fire Rescue to add a temporary relief plus one position at our department. What this basically entails is if we have an extended military deployment, medical leave or other extre, you know, circumstances that issue with training or something like that, we would basically put that person on as a temporary role until that physician member that comes back on deployment or medical leave. And what this will entail for us is when that staff member comes back, we will continue to hold that position uh until we have resignation or retirement. The advantages are when we have somebody that we bring in uh there's a lot of recruitment, there's a lot of training, and there's a lot of certifications that come with being a firefighter paramedic. With that stated, this will allow us to hold that individual because in general we have two to three and sometimes four hires in one calendar year. Uh when a military deployment is occurring, there's no budget cost. When there is a medical leave-term, there probably will be a budget uh issue with that. We would have to come before you at the end of the year for a supplement to offset that. So, in general, what this will do, we'll hold that individual. Uh, we'll go back to our 40 staff. We'll have that one person

for a short period of time until we have attrition happen. So, with that, I'd stand by for any comments or questions from council. Thank you. Is there anybody here from the public that would like to speak on this item? Seeing none, we will move forward with uh council action. Can I get a motion for approval, please? So moved by Councilman Hoyer, second by Councilman Shuddy. Any questions for the chief or the staff? Councilman Mormon.

I don't have a question. I just wanted to mention that I think this is a very very important, very valuable um not only for our fire department. I think too like for our police department, the amount of money that goes into training individuals in those two professions is incredible. And once they get those certifications, once they get that training, um they also become incredibly marketable. And so we want to do everything we can to keep our employees. And having an extra one on staff um when one either gets deployed militarily, which there's lots of uh lots of people in that profession, whether it's fire department or police department, are also in the military. Um having having a extra extra hire really alleviates the pressure that then would get put on others when somebody is missing for extended period of time or if there's a retirement for the amount of time that it takes to get somebody up to speed um to where they're fully operational. And one other thing I would mention too um I think it's also important to like I mentioned earlier that they they become highly marketable. something we should look at as a city too is to make sure that our salaries are competitive um with these other agencies because definitely one thing that's going on out there right now whether it's within the state of South Dakota or other states coming in is every department's looking to hire people and if you're certified law enforcement or if you're trained in fire department um it becomes very easy to jump to a different department for in some cases is an incredible amount of money more. So, I think something just a comment, just something we need to look

at is to make sure we're paying our guys enough so that way we're not training them and then in two and three years down the road we're we're losing them to somebody else just because they're paying a whole lot more. Thank you. Comments. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Allen.

Uh, not so much relative to this position, but I guess I'm thinking about it citywide. Are there other departments where we would see the same kind of issue where it might behoove us to do this similar thing? I'm thinking about uh like wastewater for example, multiple certifications there. uh I imagine the situation is the same that people once they're trained and and certified you know they could probably move to other places. The other thing I would add is about um the systems that we have in place for when people that are trained um have an opportunity to rise in the organization. And you know, it seems to me that sometimes we um we don't reward the people that have put in many years of service here. They decide to take a higher position, but they're they're capped in terms of how much money they can make. Uh you know, in terms of salary adjustments, uh that we kind of hold the line on that. um which seems to motivate people if they really want to make more money to move somewhere else uh rather than for us to hang on to them. And I'm sure it's a you know I'm looking at city manager staggers. I'm saying all that. I know he he's aware of it. Kristen's aware of it. Everybody's aware of it. But I'm just curious about that and whether we'd employ particularly this kind of situation in other departments or maybe it doesn't make sense. I don't know.

I I'll maybe comment. There's there's a lot there. All great comments, Councilman Allen. Um, what I would add is we do have this in place in the police department. It's actually been the model that we are replicating in fire. Um, the next area of risk in terms of of employees leaving is really anybody with a commercial driver's license required in the job today, which is quite a few positions in the city. as the requirements for a CDL job have changed, those positions are in high demand in in other areas. So, we're we're considering what we can do to make sure that we retain those valuable skills. And also, as you mentioned, uh wastewater um we do have some turnover in wastewater, but it typically is before they get the certification. Um but it's another area that we are looking at.

Thank you. Other comments? Yeah, just to confirm there's not that we like seeing that, but there is a turnover two to three to four times on average. So, this isn't a position that'll be sadly be hanging out there for too long. So, that kind of helps justify it, I guess. Um, one idea I guess I had in in looking this over was the whole um build South Dakota, you know, program. I'm just wondering if there's something with that that could be done to oh, I don't know, help retain, help um because we're putting time and money into training and and certifications and so can there be something uh can we look at that as well, I guess, for for future reference?

Well, that that's a good point, Councilman Shotty. I have uh I'm part of the LATC Med Fire Rescue Board and uh a lot of other agencies do have the Bill Dakota up there and we have not had to entertain into that just as of yet, but it's looking like it's going to be more and more of a struggle for us to get uh uh highly trained paramedics through the program because they're obviously very competitive throughout the the uh the market. But that stated, that's something that myself and city manager stagger will probably be looking at in the future. Thank you. Any other discussion? Seeing none, we will need a vote on this. Uh Kristen, can you please call the role? Allen. Hi. Pen. Hi. Mormon. Hi.

Jirens. Hi. Peters. Hi. Shotty. I. All in favor?

Motion passes. Uh, next up, city council member announcements and introduction of topics for future discussion. Does anybody have anything that they wish to discuss? Councilman Allen. uh just topics for future discussion. Um one of which is uh communication and I think the um we have a a communication officer now with the city uh Kelly Fritz and I think we're all struggling even though we live in this age of instantaneous communication. It's very hard to get the word out. uh broadly and completely. And I think uh that we as a council ought to have a conversation about things that we could do um to improve that. Uh you know, right now we do variety of radio shows. we do some other things for the community, but I'm wondering if it isn't time for us to look at a more comprehensive approach to that uh and perhaps do something press gatherings out of a regular basis, something like that. And I think we ought to discuss that at some point.

You councilman Councilman Mormon.

Uh just a couple quick shout outs. Um, I was going to mention these at the last council meeting, but didn't get didn't get a chance. So, I just want to mention them this time. Um, I just want to say thank you to the Sharp family and the anonymous donor uh here in our community that donated a total of $20,500 to reduce the school lunch debt on outstanding uh meal balances. So, I just want to say thank you and give credit where credit is due um in that area. Another one uh another person I want to give a shout out to and uh mention to the public. This has been in the media also, but I just want to say congratulations to Malia Cray uh the daughter of Ray and Julie Crayons. I know Ray and Julie are well known in this community. um their daughter Malia received a principal nomination to the US Air Force Academy and was selected by uh their a member of uh our United States Congress. And I looked up I was curious what principal nomination meant and it says a principal nomination if you receive that to one of thesemies that means you are at top candidate for appointment allowing the academy to consider them first for an available slot. So, I just want to congratulate uh Malia and also to her parents. Um getting to getting getting selected to a military academy like that brings a tremendous amount of honor to your family name. And then last, I also want to just congratulate Owen Mueller. Um he broke the uh age 15 and 16 200 meter fly state record for our Watertown swim team. So, congratulations to him.

Awesome. Thank you, Councilman. Anybody else? Mayor, anything from you online? No, you did a good job, Kyle. Thank you. [laughter] Yeah, that's right. Vice Mayor. Oh, uh, city manager report. Keep the I'm coming back though, Kyle. [laughter] I I think that's the deputy mayor Peters. [laughter]

I have a a couple of items. Um, first of all, uh, we recently made a change to the city website. There is now in the homepage a button that you can click if you choose to um, put your name in the hat to serve on any city boards or commissions. We've been struggling to get a slate of people and as uh, I browse the website, I think I may know the reason why. is you had to go into a bunch of different areas to apply. So hopefully this helps get a a broader slate of applicants of people that are are willing to serve our community. Um just want to call out an item that was on the consent agenda. uh the item uh regarding the deed uh for airport property under the national emergency use provision that has been uh a release that has been in the works for a long time that actually goes right back to the end of World War II where we had restrictions on what we could do with airport property and now we are at the final stage of releasing that so we can officially dedicate property for economic development and other purposes. Finally, we do have a couple of tax increment financing uh requests that will be moving forward. Uh those requests will actually originate with the planning commission and then after the planning commission, they will be brought forward to you uh for consideration as a council. Uh I anticipate the first one will be going to the planning commission the meeting of the 19th of February and then to the council meeting shortly after that time. Thank you, city manager. Okay, there's no reason to go to executive session, so I would There is a reason. Councilman Allen,

there's no reason for executive session. Um, I just wanted to comment on uh City Manager Stagger's uh when when those tips come to this uh body. I think it would be a good idea for us to give uh an overview to the public about what a TIFF is, how many we have in the city. In other words, to do a little bit of background because I as I talk to people, there's a lot of confusion. Oh, it's a tax, you know, no, they don't have to pay taxes. No, that's not it. So, I think it would behoove us to do a little bit of public education when those [snorts] uh tiffs come forward to us.

We certainly will, Councilman Allen. And I'll I'll just actually put in a plug for another educational opportunity on TIFFs. Uh the Watertown Development Company is hosting a housing conference on the 12th of February which which will include a presentation on TIFFs put on by uh Toby Morris with with Kier's uh one of the primary consultants in the state on tiffs. Thank you. Okay. Look for a motion to adjurnn. So moved by Councilman Allen, second by Councilman Jur. Thank you and good night Watertown. Is that what the mayor says? Something like that.

God bless. God bless you. [laughter]