[0:00] Let me take the head off with it and
we'll I'll call the meeting to order. Uh
[0:04] we'll start with uh a roll call. McKe
here. Lantern here.
[0:09] » Friedrich
>> here.
[0:10] » Veron
>> here. Nicholls
[0:12] » also here.
>> Perfect. You like to stand and join me
[0:16] in the pledge of allegiance.
[0:20] » I pledge to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic
[0:25] for which it stands. One nation under
God. Indivisible with liberty and
[0:31] justice for all.
[0:40] » Mr. Mayor.
>> Yeah.
[0:41] » I'd like to ask for a moment of silence.
Uh just to acknowledge the recent loss
[0:47] of life in Minneapolis.
Moments like this should remind us that
[0:51] justice and liberty demand our constant
care and restraint. A free society is
[0:56] judged by whether liberty and justice
are truly secured for all under the rule
[1:00] of law and with respect for human
dignity. So I ask that we observe a
[1:04] moment of silence and reflect on our
common principles.
[1:24] Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[1:27] » Appreciate you bringing that up. It's
sad. Anytime there's a loss of life for
[1:30] sure and definitely keeping I hope many
are um Minnesota residents and and um
[1:38] federal agents and everyone that
temperatures can cool down and and uh
[1:43] hopefully everyone stays safe.
for sure. Thank you. All righty. Um on
[1:49] to agenda approval. Um
so does anyone the staff have any
[1:56] changes for staff?
>> Uh we just had an update to the city
[1:59] council schedule which was put on the
dis and it's now uh published.
[2:03] » Okay.
>> No other changes besides that. Mr.
[2:06] Mayor,
>> any changes from council? I had one
[2:09] suggest.
[2:12] » Okay. My suggestion was we'd move 9A
to six to be part of 6C. And
[2:18] process-wise, I would recommend that we
just eliminate 9A. When it gets to
[2:23] consent, I'll pull 6C. We can amend it
to include acting mayor, discuss that,
[2:32] and then approve all the annual
appointments together like we usually
[2:36] do. Um, and then get do the rest of
consent, and then we just have the one
[2:41] item remaining.
If that works for council, I will
[2:44] entertain a motion to approve the agenda
as amended.
[2:47] » So move.
>> Second.
[2:49] » All those in favor say I.
>> I. I.
[2:51] » I.
>> Hi I.
[2:52] » No gets to pick.
>> Okay.
[2:57] No presentations. And now we have open
forum for uh items not on tonight's
[3:04] agenda. NJ.
>> Uh, so this is an opportunity for
[3:08] anybody who wants to speak on something
that's not on this evening's agenda. Uh,
[3:12] need to fill out a white card which is
over on the table over there. Bring it
[3:16] to me. Uh, when called upon, state your
name and address at the podium. Uh,
[3:21] limit your remarks uh to three to five
minutes. Um, and make sure that you
[3:26] address the dis uh address the council
with your remarks. Uh, Mr. Mr. Mayor, we
[3:31] only received one email of which you
have uh and uh no other emails.
[3:37] » Sounds good. If there's no one else, I
will go ahead and read uh the email that
[3:40] was sent in and requested to be read
from I'm assuming he'd want his name uh
[3:47] stated with it. Uh Wendell Brainer,
uh who wrote in um stating that he is
[3:55] I'm unable to attend the January 8th
city council meeting. So, here is my
[3:59] emailed comment. Uh, read Mayor McKe's
public memo regarding adding government
[4:04] space. It is my opinion that adding a
new government building to Corkran
[4:08] landscape is asking too much from the
citizens of Corkran to support this tax
[4:12] liability, particularly on the heels of
a significant city tax increase payable
[4:17] in 2026.
There is a is there a comprehensive
[4:21] uh rationale to the need? is a Corkran
fire department and needed facilities
[4:26] going to benefit the residents over
hiring local fire department. Just
[4:32] saying we need more space is tough.
Where uh where can people see the exact
[4:37] reasons why it's necessary? Thank you,
Wendell Brainer uh on Le Pond Lane.
[4:44] That's what he had to say. And I and
that just does remind me um probably a
[4:48] good time to mention a couple things. Um
in terms of the process and public
[4:54] engagement opportunities, we do have a
number uh council. It's in your and I'm
[4:59] assuming in the packet online. It's in
the updated um schedule looking ahead
[5:05] » which will also be published in the
quarterly newsletter.
[5:07] » Yes. Cool. And there'll be a whole bunch
more coming out about it I'm sure on the
[5:10] website and all sorts of stuff. Um but
just off Off the bat, we do have public
[5:17] engagement, input, opportunities, open
houses, that type of thing already
[5:21] scheduled for January 27th, 6:30 to 7:30
in the council chambers. February 12th,
[5:28] 10:30 to noon at the Bellweather
Clubhouse.
[5:31] March 3rd, 6 to 7:30 at St. Thomas.
April 28th, 6:00 to 7:30 at Public
[5:37] Works. May 5th, uh, TVD for the time and
location, but that should hopefully be
[5:43] figured out soon. June 2nd, 6:00 to 7:30
at Hope Community Church and August 4th
[5:50] at night to unite at public works. And
then there'll be some other stuff. I
[5:54] think one other thing will be mentioned
later today in the meeting. Um, that uh
[5:58] will be part of the public engagement
process. So, it will be pretty
[6:01] extensive. Um, and and we really look
forward to the feedback because it'll be
[6:05] super helpful to figure out exactly what
the future campus looks like. So, just
[6:11] wanted to get those data out there
earlier. Like Jay said, it'll be online
[6:16] and all over the place. It'll be hard to
miss. So, uh, but just wanted to get it
[6:19] on people's radars early.
And with that, seems like that's it for
[6:25] open form. So, we will move on to
consent, which consists of 6 A through
[6:32] six uh J.
I will pull 6C. Does anyone like to pull
[6:39] anything else?
[6:43] » Okay. Uh then I will entertain a motion
to approve consent agenda items A, B,
[6:49] and D through J.
>> So move.
[6:51] » Second.
>> All those in favor say I.
[6:53] » I.
>> Perfect. Thank you guys. And then six C.
[6:59] First of all, I'll go ahead and um
make a motion to amend the annual
[7:06] appointments list to include the acting
mayor for 2026.
[7:10] Um
and then
[7:14] well, I guess maybe we should have that
discussion now to amend the whole thing
[7:17] in there with the name. My
recommendation if you're interested,
[7:21] Jeremy, would to have you continue in
the role um kind of as we've done with
[7:25] past president um seniority. Uh John
served in that capacity uh when he was
[7:31] on council and uh then since then which
was just this past year you have and I
[7:38] try to keep it as a minimal commitment
so it's not having to do meetings all
[7:43] the time but
>> I hope you remain healthy and in office
[7:47] » do my best but are you interested if
>> I will be
[7:52] » um then I would make uh the motion to
amend 6C the annual appointments to
[7:58] include clude 2026 acting mayor of
Jeremy Nichols.
[8:03] » Second.
>> Second.
[8:06] » Uh, did I make the motion? Actually,
>> you can.
[8:08] » I entertained it.
>> Move made. Seconded. There we go.
[8:14] » That works. Um, any.
>> No. Uh, all those in favor say I.
[8:18] » I.
>> Opposed.
[8:21] » Abstain.
>> For God's sakes. Vote for yourself for
[8:26] once. Would you
>> pull the bottom up?
[8:30] » All righty.
>> Yeah.
[8:33] » All right.
>> Okay. And then on to our remaining item.
[8:37] Um,
we have a public hearing for Woodland
[8:40] Hills Event Vacation. So, I will go
ahead and open the public hearing. If
[8:46] anyone would like to speak on this item,
now is your opportunity.
[8:51] And not looking like it. So, I will
entertain a motion to close the public
[8:55] hearing.
Go ahead.
[8:58] » Second.
>> Second.
[9:01] You can There was three people that your
choice.
[9:05] » I got one.
>> Good deal. Um
[9:10] and then yeah into the item itself.
>> Sure. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah. Item
[9:14] 7A is a ease vacation uh for a lot
within Woodman Hills. This is a request
[9:20] from Hansen Builders who are requesting
indication for a portion of a drainage
[9:25] and utility easement around the
perimeter of lot 8, block three of
[9:30] Woodland Hills. Um when this property
was platted in as part of the Wooden
[9:35] Hill subdivision in 2024, uh the
developer and surveyor u dedicated what
[9:42] would be considered probably a generous
amount of DNU around the perimeter of
[9:47] the property and um exceeds what our
typical um DNU requirements are um for
[9:54] this law. Mr.
>> Yes,
[9:56] » DNU means what?
>> Sorry, my apologies. Drainage utilities.
[10:00] Thank you. Just for anybody that doesn't
know.
[10:04] » Yeah, thank you for pointing that out. I
alphabet zoom. Um, so this has resulted
[10:10] in um a little bit of a constrained
buildable area within this lot. And now
[10:14] the builder uh is requesting on behalf
of the property owner that a portion of
[10:20] that drainage utility easement be
vacated so that they may be able to
[10:24] construct uh that bump out on the back
side of of the proposed house there. Um
[10:30] So staff, planning staff, and
engineering have had a chance to review
[10:33] the requested vacation and have no
objections with it. So at this point, um
[10:39] staff would recommend that you move to
adopt resolution 2026-04,
[10:44] which would approve that, uh easement
vacation for lot 8, block three of
[10:48] Woodland Hills.
>> Great. Thank you. Any
[10:52] » Yep. Mayor Council, I just actually
realized I there's an I just caught this
[10:58] in the figure. The 5 foot sideyard DNU
easement at the bottom of that shade
[11:03] needs to be kept in place. So it's just
a little bit of a er erroneous emission
[11:08] there.
>> Okay.
[11:10] » So if we can if I'm allowed to amend
that verbiage so that we maintain a
[11:16] fiveyard sideyard
ement. So I think if they just a sketch
[11:21] goes all the way to the property.
>> Okay.
[11:25] » Do we need to amend anything in the text
of the resolution?
[11:29] So basically this yard
should go all the way through
[11:35] here. I apologize.
>> No worries.
[11:39] Amend that.
My recommendation.
[11:43] » I'll go ahead and make a motion to amend
per Kevin's
[11:47] direction there.
>> I'll second that.
[11:50] » Any discussion?
>> Oh, go ahead.
[11:53] » N I got questions.
>> So that Okay. Sorry. That's the right
[11:56] angle tree there. So that's where what I
so they just had an issue. So this is
[12:00] actually I don't know how we want to
deal with it. This is the correct
[12:05] » that's the correct figure.
>> So that's yeah that's the leg the
[12:08] proposed legal description of the um
vacation area. So that would address
[12:13] Kevin's amendment to the to the previous
exhibit. So if if council were to
[12:20] approve the resolution as drafted, it
would reflect the exhibit that's on the
[12:24] screen right now.
>> Gotcha. Sorry about that. I just saw
[12:27] that on my figure and I wanted to make
sure.
[12:29] » It's all right. My my question is the
effect of that easement to neighbors. No
[12:34] real effect other than we notified the
neighbors saying
[12:38] there was a change in that easement but
no effect to neighboring properties.
[12:44] » No, they they basically have excess
easement. So we just make sure it meets
[12:49] our rules. They have excess easement.
Sometimes that happens when the grading
[12:52] plan changes. They just don't go back
and modify it. Our engineering looks at
[12:57] what's needed and if they give us more,
we don't comment on it.
[13:00] » Um, in this case, we did look at this
closely with the new plan and there's
[13:03] enough room to maintain the drainage.
So, we don't need this. We wouldn't
[13:07] require it. So, we're okay releasing it.
>> And I understood that, Mr. Mayor. That
[13:15] makes sense.
>> Yeah.
[13:18] » I don't mean to involve, but they're the
only neighbors that showed up. So,
[13:23] » there is a
the property line setbacks remain
[13:28] unchanged. Yeah.
>> So,
[13:29] » yeah.
>> Okay.
[13:33] » I I did have one question. This is I
think back in the corner where when we
[13:37] did the sidewalk, I think there was a
fair number of like dead and dying ash
[13:41] trees and buckthornne and things like
that. Do we know if the developer is
[13:47] planning to mitigate any of that before
they construct the home sites?
[13:53] » I could follow up on that. I haven't
been to the site in a while, so I think
[13:56] they're still This doesn't change any of
the conditions of the development
[14:00] contract, so I don't know what's been
completed or not. I can look into it
[14:05] follow.
>> Thank you.
[14:07] » And then we did have a so I think maybe
further questions if there are any might
[14:12] we should do the finish the vote on the
amendment first. So, I'll call that
[14:16] vote. Um, which was just amending it to
Kevin's changes or uh language.
[14:22] » I I think Dwight actually clarified that
that the description.
[14:26] » So, do we not need
>> So, the amendment is not necessary.
[14:28] » Correct.
>> Yes.
[14:30] » Yeah. Just I was looking at this markup.
So, there's this figure is inacc This
[14:34] figure is correct which has the legal.
>> Okay. So, we don't need it. Then I will
[14:40] » take that back.
>> Take it back.
[14:41] » Yep.
Um, then if there's no further
[14:45] questions, I will entertain a motion to
approve resolution 20264
[14:50] approving the easement vacation for lot
8, block 3 of Woodland Hills of Corkran.
[14:55] » I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
[14:58] » All those or any further discussion? All
those in favor say I.
[15:02] » I.
[15:06] » Then on to staff reports. Uh, two
exciting things. Uh, mayor and council.
[15:11] Uh Matt Selmmeer, our new finance
director, will begin on Monday.
[15:16] » And I am thrilled. Uh
>> he sounds like uh
[15:21] » he's he's coming coming to us from
council. We'll have him here in front of
[15:24] you so that you all get a chance to meet
him soon enough. Uh but um yeah, staff
[15:30] staff uh did a great job about finding
us a good person and I'm really excited
[15:34] to get him started. I had the
conversation with Abdo about our
[15:37] transition plan on Wednesday. Uh, and at
this point, I think it's wisest for us
[15:42] to let Matt kind of drive the train when
he's comfortable to let them go. Uh, but
[15:48] right now, the plan is roughly at about
uh 3 months. So, that that gives us a
[15:53] left seat, right seat, and uh I'll call
you if I need you. And then so uh by
[15:59] March 31st, we we should be done. When
they're no longer consulting,
[16:05] do we want to make them our auditor
again instead of the newer vendor we
[16:09] use?
>> They're a lot more expensive.
[16:11] » Are they?
>> I thought the new group actually did a
[16:14] fantastic job.
>> And and and also it's very interesting
[16:17] that they were offsite. They they were
faster. They were thorough. Uh so I
[16:22] wouldn't recommend that.
>> Okay, great.
[16:24] » But someone we can give in the back.
>> They EDTO did a good job for us when we
[16:27] needed them. Yeah. uh to do the things
that we needed them to do and then when
[16:30] we had to go out for another auditor I
think we found a great one.
[16:33] » Okay. Excellent.
>> Uh and then the other comment is uh um
[16:37] staff met yesterday with a company
called community perceptions uh which is
[16:41] going to conduct the community survey
for us as part of the um facilities
[16:45] analysis and so we're working on the
timeline but uh I confess I was
[16:49] skeptical about surveys and they're
going to mail the surveys to every home
[16:54] and then the home gets a unique code.
So, one of the reasons I don't like it
[16:58] is there's been ballot stuffing when
I've done surveys before in which people
[17:02] not even in the community are engaged in
the survey and in influencing the
[17:06] results. So, in this case, it's limited
to our residents and then even if they
[17:11] have special, it's only for a household
that can vote and they can only vote
[17:15] once.
>> So, uh very excited. That's all we have
[17:18] to say.
>> I was I was on that meeting as well and
[17:20] I was somewhat skeptical at first, too.
And I was really impressed with the the
[17:25] breadth of their process uh the accuracy
of some of the stuff they process.
[17:30] » 94% accuracy in terms of the feedback
that they get and what the outcome will
[17:34] be.
>> Yep. in terms of public
[17:36] » and the kind of unique team they have
there of
[17:40] everything from construction people to
or you know previously construction
[17:45] people to uh data analytics people to a
former reporter who reported on small
[17:51] med you know to similar municipalities
like us in I think Wisconsin yep
[17:56] previously um so it's just a lot of
different perspectives that kind of
[18:00] together
>> could have a pretty cool um outcome and
[18:05] and get us some really useful data and
it was um quite affordable. Honestly, I
[18:11] think the price was fantastic. Um so
yeah, I think it's it's a no-brainer.
[18:16] That coupled with our public engagement
opport you know, meetings that I talked
[18:21] about and um kind of putting all that
together, I think will give us a really
[18:26] good robust process and get us to the
best possible solution for the
[18:30] facilities.
>> Yeah, I'm excited, Mr. Mayor.
[18:33] » Likewise, Mr. Mayor. Yeah.
>> And a big thank you on this new hire.
[18:38] Thank you to all the staff
that put another sardine in the can, if
[18:44] you know what I mean.
By by the movement around in the email
[18:49] you sent out already tight places.
Please thank staff for their patience
[18:55] while we step through all of this
>> offered. Is that still the case with
[19:00] that?
>> So, so we did make musical chairs. Uh
[19:03] there's a lot of people in new spaces. I
I think I sent that note out to you uh
[19:07] as of Wednesday and also super awesome
that staff did it and I had nothing to
[19:11] do with it.
[19:15] » A mutiny. I
>> I was going in to check on like, "Hey
[19:17] Kevin, uh how are things going?" And his
office was already set up and I was
[19:22] like,
>> "What?"
[19:24] » It was it was amazing.
>> We have an
[19:30] uh anything else for Sacramento?
>> Oh, sure. Anything for council reports?
[19:35] » I can never shut up. You guys already
know that. Um, tremendous number of
[19:39] responses to my cell phone on how public
works handled the ice.
[19:47] Um, even going above and beyond in one
case, but I'm not going to share that
[19:51] one. But, uh,
that team
[19:56] is doing a great job.
>> Yeah. on very difficult weather
[20:01] conditions.
>> Any issues this here in town?
[20:03] » I left my driveway tonight and spun out
and
[20:07] whatever. But that's not their fault.
That's just me driving onto my icy
[20:12] gravel road. But uh
>> Sounds like driver error.
[20:15] » It was It was I was I was distracted by
>> by the by the cow looking at me out the
[20:21] garage door window as I was driving out.
calls looked great this evening. But uh
[20:28] again, great job. And then I already
shared with you Jay on the comments from
[20:32] one the one person. Um that was very
neat. And anybody wants to hear that, I
[20:38] can tell you later. But that that's
great. Kudos to you.
[20:44] » Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Anything
else?
[20:46] » One question. Yeah.
>> Um I just want to confirm because I'm
[20:49] starting to do some cleanup. Um, Corkran
cleanup day May 2nd.
[20:54] First Saturday in May. Yes.
>> Right. Okay.
[20:58] » Sounds first Saturday.
>> Okay.
[21:00] » I may not
>> I'll be adding some of those other
[21:02] things more on the schedule.
>> Yep.
[21:06] » I don't think I'll be here.
Unfortunately, I almost always miss I
[21:09] made it last year. It was fun.
>> It's fun.
[21:13] » It's a great thing to be at because the
stuff that comes is just interesting to
[21:18] see what
>> There was like two couples that had like
[21:20] They're trying to beat each other for
the number of runs I did. That was like
[21:23] eight or nine rounds. It was
>> remember it was something crazy. You and
[21:26] I and and JCB and Malicia, I think, were
out front in this.
[21:31] » Tom, it's okay if you're not here. We
have a great acting mayor.
[21:35] » There you go.
>> There you go. You got to figure out the
[21:38] whole system of what's allowed and what
they get
[21:42] » they can drop off.
>> Two years ago than it looks. Two years
[21:45] ago, I salvaged the John Deere side by
side battery operated
[21:49] and the kids that ended up with that are
driving the wheels off of that.
[21:53] » Nice.
>> Added some electronics and it works
[21:55] great.
>> Love it.
[21:57] » Awesome. Well, with that, um, we have
our 2026 schedule as touched on before
[22:02] in the packet. Um,
I believe it's goal setting is our next
[22:09] meeting, a 5:00 start for the work
session. Uh other than that, as Jay
[22:13] mentioned previously, 5:30 unless
otherwise noted uh for future work
[22:17] sessions. Um
and
[22:23] I think that's all I had on that. Could
be a record.
[22:27] » Could be a record.
>> You said 202, correct?
[22:31] » Yes.
>> Okay.
[22:33] » For the goal setting.
>> Yep.
[22:34] » All right. And with that,
>> can I make a motion to adjurnn?
[22:37] » Yes, you may. Do you have a second?
>> Second.
[22:39] » All those in favor say I.
>> I.