[0:32] I'll go ahead and call the meeting to order. We'll start with the Pledge of

[0:34] Allegiance.

[0:38] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:43] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:49] justice for all.

[1:03] » We have two sets of minutes, one from the special meeting.

[1:09] And then one from the regular meeting. Make sure we're approving

[1:13] ones that were handed out, not the ones that are on email.

[1:50] Do I have a motion to approve the minutes?

[1:54] With one change on the special one.

[2:21] Do I hear a motion to approve the minutes?

[2:26] » So moved. >> Is there a second?

[2:32] » Second. >> Moved by Paul, seconded by Jason. Any

[2:35] other discussion? All those in favor say aye.

[2:39] » Aye. >> All those opposed?

[2:42] Motion carries. Everybody had a chance to look at the

[2:45] bills?

[3:00] If so, do I have a motion to approve?

[3:11] » So moved. >> Paul makes the motion. Is there a

[3:14] second?

[3:17] » Second. >> Seconded by Jason.

[3:20] Any other discussion? All those in favor say aye.

[3:24] » Aye. >> All those opposed? Motion carries.

[3:27] We have payroll. I have a motion to accept payroll.

[3:33] » I'll make the motion to accept payroll. >> John makes the motion to accept. Is

[3:37] there a second? >> I'll second.

[3:41] » Seconded by Paul. Any other discussion?

[3:45] All those in favor say aye. >> Aye.

[3:48] » All those opposed? Motion carries.

[3:53] Is there anybody in the public who would like to address

[3:56] the commission tonight for something that's not on the agenda?

[4:03] Okay. Uh

[4:05] if you guys are okay with it, we'll go down to city officer reports first.

[4:09] And we can start with uh E2S and I see Steve's here from the

[4:13] sheriff's office as well. So.

[4:19] Steve, do you have anything for us tonight?

[4:21] » I do not. >> Okay.

[4:23] » You got anything for me? >> You guys have anything for Steve?

[4:29] Okay. Thanks.

[4:33] We'll let the other Steve have it. >> Well,

[4:38] um I thought I'd bring you a little bit of a diverse show you a little bit of

[4:41] diversity of E2S. We not only have engineers from UND, we also have NDSU

[4:47] engineers. So, we've got to bring them up

[4:51] to experience the whole thing. Um Kellen will share and talk about

[4:55] capital improvement planning. He's uh been with E2S for

[4:58] 10 years and doing a lot of projects like this. So,

[5:05] Sounds great. >> Thanks, Steve.

[5:06] » Good evening, Mayor and the Commissioners. Um how do I just let you

[5:10] know if I got to mess slides, okay? Um as Steve mentioned, my name is Kellen

[5:14] Grubb. I'm out of our Fargo office and I serve as our utility planning practice

[5:18] leader. Um what that title means and what our

[5:21] practice is is really helping communities and systems invest in their

[5:25] infrastructure systems. So, you can go to the next slide. So, first thing I

[5:29] wanted to touch on quickly is just some infrastructure management best

[5:33] practices. We typically frame this as two core

[5:36] components. The first being asset management, so that's the physical

[5:41] management of your physical hard assets. So, understanding what you have,

[5:45] assessing the condition and risk, and then prioritizing projects to optimize

[5:49] maintenance activities and really enhance that

[5:53] asset useful life. The second side of that equation is financial strategy. So,

[5:58] that's understanding the full cost of asset ownership,

[6:02] full cost of providing service to your residents, having that long-term plan,

[6:06] and ensuring affordability for your customers. Or really, combined, it's

[6:11] doing the right projects at the right time with a plan to pay for it.

[6:15] Go to the next one. And then the other thing I Yeah, I

[6:17] talked to Lucas in the Public Works office. I talked to Stephen Yarda.

[6:21] Hillsborough has really good GIS data. Ask Lucas when it kind of started.

[6:25] 8-plus years of established GIS data where all of your core infrastructure

[6:30] systems are mapped, designed for continued evolvement, and

[6:35] continued field updates and data collection.

[6:38] It's got all your your core infrastructure systems, so water, sewer,

[6:41] streets, electrical subdivisions, and parcels mapped, and already being used

[6:45] to help support decisions. So, if you go to

[6:48] the next one. Then, just one more recent case study

[6:53] where ATS helped the city through a capital improvements planning is

[6:56] Crookston. So, Crookston had a lot of infrastructure needs, but they didn't

[7:00] really know where to start. So, I just want to walk you through kind of that

[7:03] process, and then show you what the final deliverable looked like for

[7:06] Crookston. We started with a pavement condition

[7:09] analysis, so scoring their streets, and you know, from a 1-5 scale, one being in

[7:16] excellent or new condition, five being very poor.

[7:19] So, this is the surface-level understanding of streets. You can go to

[7:22] the next one. Then, the the more challenging one is is

[7:27] is always water and sewer because it's buried.

[7:30] So, we do we frequently do a risk analysis.

[7:33] And what risk analysis is, when we're talking about infrastructure, it's

[7:37] really evaluating how likely that asset is to fail, and then what would happen

[7:42] if it did fail. So, you know, uh uh for example, a

[7:46] 1950s cast iron pipe with a a series of breaks

[7:50] on it is going to be more likely to fail than a, you know, a 2010s PVC sewer

[7:55] pipe. And then consequence of failure is all um looking at how many how many

[8:00] people does it serve, how how much flow does it carry. So, really understanding

[8:05] those two components, we evaluate um on basis of risk. Go to the next one.

[8:11] And then now we have an understanding of all of the really core asset systems

[8:16] independently, so then we do a corridor analysis and develop priority corridors

[8:20] because the actual, you know, construction that's going to

[8:24] take place is generally in terms of a corridor, but you wouldn't want to

[8:27] replace a street or improve a street if the street's in good shape, and the

[8:31] water and sewer are bad, maybe you just reline or rehab the water and sewer. Um

[8:36] if it's all bad, maybe it's a full reconstruction of that corridor. Um so,

[8:40] really trying to figure out the best improvement for the best corridor, and

[8:45] then we prioritize those. Go to the next one.

[8:48] This is an example of what the deliverable or or one of the

[8:52] deliverables looks like. We call these cut sheets. So, we commonly develop

[8:56] these. These can look a variety of different ways depending on,

[8:59] you know, a city's needs or how they want it to look, but generally it shows

[9:03] a map of the project, outlines the scope of the project, the costs, what year

[9:07] it's probably going to take place, how the project's going to be funded. Um

[9:12] these can be as simple as you want them or as complex as you want them. Again,

[9:15] we tailor them uh depending on the on the city or the client.

[9:19] Go to the next one. And then we also

[9:23] frequently utilize dashboards. So, this is a dashboard, for example, that is

[9:27] built on the the Esri GIS uh platform in which um your guys's GIS system lives.

[9:33] Um this is a way to visualize and so forth

[9:36] to see the map, but the projects by year, you can filter by year, you can

[9:41] filter by system type. It shows the cost there. You can outlay the costs on, you

[9:46] know, on a graph or a chart. Um so, it's just a really nice visual

[9:50] tool. You can filter by projects over the next 10 years. You can

[9:54] look 1 year out. There's a lot of flexibility here.

[9:57] So, just wanted to highlight this as an example of deliverable. Um

[10:02] you know, if you're ever interested in a visual CIP dashboard. You can go to the

[10:06] next one. And now, just to wrap up a couple closing slides.

[10:11] Um you can go to the next one here, too.

[10:13] So, at E2S, we also developed an in-house tool so that that previous one

[10:18] I showed you for Crookston, that's really built on the Esri platform, which

[10:21] is, uh you know, a very prominent software in the GIS industry.

[10:26] This one is is is similar in the fact that it's a visual dashboard, but what

[10:32] we developed with this is there's some more robust financial tools built in to

[10:36] where the the GIS dashboard that I just showed you on the last slide is more

[10:41] just a visual representation. Here are your projects, here are the costs,

[10:44] here's where they're at. This one you can run different scenarios and model

[10:48] different revenue sources or revenue funds and actually use it somewhat of a

[10:53] budgeting tool. And we'd never say that it would replace like your your

[10:57] financials within your city, but you can run different scenarios and and really

[11:01] evaluate finances a number of different ways and figure out what the impacts of

[11:05] certain projects are going to be. Go to the next one.

[11:10] I've only got a few left, so um this will be quick, but just want to touch on

[11:15] that uh project funding and affordability are generally two

[11:19] different things. So, we always try and help clients and, you know, we encourage

[11:23] clients to pursue funding. Funding is is great and and critical, and we always

[11:27] say that funding creates the opportunity, but affordability uh

[11:31] determines what is realistic. So, you might get grants um

[11:35] you know, to to build a project, but there's generally a local share. So,

[11:39] what does that mean for your residents? Um so, our focus is to help

[11:44] our cities that we work with understand the funding aspect, but also

[11:47] affordability and what the impacts to your uh residents might be.

[11:53] And then the last one, um software isn't the same as capital improvements

[11:57] planning. So, generally we say capital improvements planning is a strategy and

[12:01] software are tools and we utilize the tools to help us along the way. Um

[12:06] but ultimately at the end of the day, um you as a city and as a commission uh

[12:10] make important decisions and have to use judgment, and the software and the data

[12:15] can help inform those decisions, but people still have to make it. So,

[12:19] software supports the process, but doesn't replace it.

[12:23] I think I got one more left. And this was one where I was going to

[12:27] hand it over to to Yardo, um

[12:30] but he you know, I haven't worked personally with Hillsboro, but he said

[12:33] that condition assessment and asset evaluation has been completed. There's

[12:37] been some preliminary project construction cost estimates provided.

[12:41] And as a future need or next steps and public and stakeholder engagement is

[12:45] needed to talk about the size of project and funding strategy.

[12:50] So, that's all I have. I want to thank you for your time tonight and I'd be

[12:53] happy to answer any questions if you have any.

[13:00] » Any questions?

[13:05] I don't have any just I guess our next step is I guess

[13:09] » Yeah, we thought we thought we'd just give you that kind of

[13:12] um some ideas on what you can do for

[13:14] capital improvements planning, you know, as projects come up here.

[13:17] Um Yardo was going to come and just uh

[13:22] check in and see if there was any uh updates or if you guys need any other

[13:26] information on the payment utility improvements or if

[13:31] that's made any farther yet.

[13:37] Planning or targeting for that?

[13:41] » I just I just been waiting to see a plan. I thought you were working on

[13:43] that, so. >> Well, we are.

[13:45] We brought up the what needs to be done and stuff, but

[13:49] then the next step would be to uh um if you guys want to move forward with

[13:53] it and we would um

[13:56] start with uh you know, engaging um if you guys want to engage the community

[14:00] and show some costs and stuff and um you kind of talked about it'd be nice

[14:05] to get the paving done by 2030 before the uh

[14:10] um city's big event. So, that would be

[14:14] you know, if we did design in '27,

[14:19] construction '28, '29, you know, it kind of gets you there.

[14:22] But, um

[14:24] if you want us to proceed to the next step, you know,

[14:28] that's something we can do. We can talk about what next steps are.

[14:32] » Cuz I kind of see our next step is either we're going to

[14:35] do this as one large project or do we do it as a capital improvement

[14:39] where we split it out a little bit over time?

[14:43] So, that's kind of our decision.

[14:47] Um

[14:50] Also, with the water and sewer with the bit

[14:53] That's not quite done or ready yet, but we're getting close on that, too. So,

[14:58] to see what we need to do cuz we still haven't started potholing yet,

[15:02] correct? Is that >> We're looking at for

[15:05] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[15:07] That's going to be a big push this next year. Next fall is when

[15:10] we can get as possible. But, within next year, that's what we're going to work

[15:14] and focus on that. >> Once we get that, then that can lead

[15:18] into our what we need to replace as far our water side.

[15:25] » But I think we need to have a plan. If you didn't even design everything

[15:30] for 2017 next year or whatever. >> So

[15:39] What do you need to have What do you What do you need that you don't have

[15:42] to start a plan?

[15:46] » See the chart proposal. How much money do you think it cost?

[15:51] » Yeah. I mean, we talked about uh um what the costs are and

[15:57] try to come up with the uh you know, what what the average You

[16:01] You were going to have a public hearing or public meetings, right? Have some

[16:05] engaged community on it. >> At some point, yeah.

[16:08] I think we need some more hard numbers of like

[16:13] We have all this, but do we need to put it all together and say this is where we

[16:16] need to do full depth repair. This is where, you know, some of that

[16:20] stuff to figure out. You know, can we do it within a year?

[16:25] Or is this a 2-year or 3-year project?

[16:31] » Yeah. Um

[16:32] as you are I was going to talk about when he got here, but he didn't quite

[16:35] make it yet. Um but I just wanted to bring it up to

[16:39] you guys to think about it again and if you want to dive into it more detail at

[16:43] the next meeting, you can um

[16:46] make sure Yardo is here and you can have him address some of that.

[16:50] What do you think we want to do? >> How do you guys I mean, how do you want

[16:53] to proceed? Do you think you want to proceed as one large project or do you

[16:56] want to do more capital improvement where we look

[17:00] at it and say, you know,

[17:03] we'll get $4 million here we could work on

[17:08] first, second, third, fourth, and fifth on the northwest part of town.

[17:16] » I guess I'd have to see the the to do the whole complete thing.

[17:20] versus, you know, just pairing where we where we need it the worst, obviously.

[17:27] » Yeah, some of the some of the problems with doing just neighborhoods is you can

[17:31] really only special assess that neighborhood and then

[17:34] um then you get to the next neighborhood

[17:36] then you special assess them so then you might as well

[17:38] go citywide and special special assess everybody at the same time.

[17:44] But um

[17:46] there was stuff all over town, utilities all over town that need to be replaced

[17:49] and some were worse than others and and some

[17:52] pavements worse than others. You already had a plan where

[17:59] you were looking at the the where the pavements need to be replaced or if

[18:02] utilities need to be replaced and that automatically made that road

[18:06] a full street repair and replacement

[18:09] project.

[18:13] » Well, then that's what we should do.

[18:17] » And do you want to plan for the storm water in there as well?

[18:20] » Everything. >> Everything?

[18:24] » Okay. >> So, we'll need a task order for that, I

[18:28] would assume, and Jared come back with us maybe at the next meeting.

[18:31] » Yep. >> Okay.

[18:35] » I'll have Kevin come up with the scope and bring that to the next meeting and

[18:38] then talk to you guys about

[18:42] make sure that's what you're on on board with.

[18:44] » Okay.

[18:46] I'll look forward to that.

[18:50] Any other questions for Steve?

[18:56] You're quick tonight.

[18:59] Yeah. >> Okay, thanks.

[19:01] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[19:05] » Uh Casey, do you have anything tonight?

[19:08] » Um the only thing extra that we're doing is working on a grant through MRES for

[19:14] Christmas lights over at Riverwalk Park. Um, the grant is a $1,000 grant and we

[19:20] are having a PA discuss what they'd like to see over there as far as lights or

[19:24] Christmas displays. Um, so yeah, that's what we're working on.

[19:29] » Okay. JR, anything?

[19:32] » Uh, just that email I sent regarding the Riverwalk items. I'm not sure if you

[19:35] want to discuss that tonight or what the plan should be.

[19:38] » Everybody get a chance to read that email?

[19:41] » I read it quickly.

[19:44] » Um, the gist of it was that

[19:50] they potentially would pay for half of the new trees and then

[19:54] um

[19:57] we would be responsible for

[20:18] » What is the skid steer work that is? >> What's that?

[20:21] » The skid steer work. >> The skid steer work, yeah, and then they

[20:24] wanted the um

[20:28] on the back side along the river that needs to be fixed. There were some

[20:33] tree work that has been damaged so we might we should be able to look into

[20:37] that. Um, we did get

[20:40] the majority of the weeds got pulled out of most of the beds.

[20:44] Um, and I think Jay, you put some um

[20:49] mulch down in the center one. Yeah.

[20:56] And then they wanted they said they would come and fix the irrigation

[21:00] » Mhm. >> at no cost to us

[21:04] to get that back up and running. >> I think we need to put a plan together

[21:08] and put it on the agenda for next meeting and

[21:11] what all them questions were and how you're going to address them.

[21:17] John? >> Yeah.

[21:18] What kind of lighting system is going to be?

[21:22] It didn't last very long last very long either.

[21:25] » Not that you can talk to him about you and Jake can get together and talk to

[21:29] Roy and let him know what's going on here.

[21:33] It's obviously what was put there wasn't very high quality.

[21:37] If we're going to be responsible for it, we better do it right.

[21:41] But get it on the agenda for next time and

[21:46] come with some information and some numbers. That's my view. I don't know

[21:49] what the rest of you feel. >> John?

[21:52] Thoughts? >> Okay.

[21:54] » Thoughts on that? >> Yeah.

[21:59] Jake, you're This is through GreenWorks and

[22:02] Lowry, yes? Yeah.

[22:08] » That doesn't necessarily mean they agreed and said they're going to do it

[22:11] for free. And there's no sign of that necessarily

[22:13] have to go with them. Right?

[22:16] » I can't remember what I wrote.

[22:20] » You got to kind of know what you're doing, what we're doing, what the plan

[22:23] is. What we're responsible for, what they're

[22:25] going to be responsible for.

[22:30] Might be a little gray area in that. >> Well, I thought

[22:34] but what was wrecked by the contractors was actually fixed, but

[22:40] » There's nothing >> I don't think anything was

[22:44] » water, nothing fell through anymore. >> Yeah.

[22:48] No, but I think that was he was referring to a different spot

[22:52] where that we had gotten that fixed.

[22:55] So.

[22:58] Or tried to.

[23:01] Jason, any thoughts? >> I agree with Paul.

[23:04] » Okay. You work on that?

[23:07] » Yep. I I can reach out to him first to say that and if he wants to be a fourth

[23:10] person on that one, I can reach out to his attorney so they can reach out to

[23:15] Laurie to >> Okay.

[23:17] » refine the quote. I'll say it that way. >> Okay.

[23:19] » With the details, for sure. >> Mr. Mayor, I want a clearer picture of

[23:23] what exactly is our responsibility going forward.

[23:26] » That is something they want to know as well. It's worth going over a checklist,

[23:29] if you will. >> Mhm.

[23:31] » Cuz I think >> first steps for Harvard.

[23:33] » Cuz we had I had asked them several times in emails and conversation like

[23:36] there was no nothing was said or a handover that said

[23:41] this is what they want or this was expectations.

[23:46] And then >> And what is considered out of normal

[23:49] maintenance? That's what we really got to determine. What's considered normal

[23:52] maintenance and what isn't.

[23:57] » Uh um and then you had the road agreement, correct, that everybody got?

[24:01] » I didn't send that one off, actually. I had that one just after this one and

[24:05] » Okay. I couldn't remember. I thought you had sent it off, but you sent it to me,

[24:09] not everybody. >> I was quite busy today. Um I forgot to

[24:12] do a follow-up on that one, so >> Okay.

[24:14] Um so see that that's the road agreement with the township so that we know

[24:20] » I'll send that one out after this work, probably tomorrow morning or tomorrow

[24:23] afternoon. >> So we'll just look at that at the next

[24:25] meeting. All right.

[24:28] JD, anything that's not on the agenda? >> Um Casey, did you discuss anything on

[24:33] that backhoe?

[24:37] I was just going to see if we could get an approval. Um

[24:40] if we ordered the backhoe right now, we wouldn't have to pay for anything or do

[24:44] anything with it. But at least I can get it on order so it

[24:47] can show up by December, January. If we wait until the

[24:51] end of the year to order it, we won't have to pay until next June.

[24:56] So I was just thinking of ordering it at the beginning of the year. That was

[24:58] our big purchase.

[25:02] » That was in the budget for this year. For this coming

[25:06] for 2027. >> Um for 27 we have it in the budget,

[25:10] yeah. >> Yeah.

[25:11] Cuz we had it in 26 but we bought the >> We bought the trucks.

[25:14] » the two trucks.

[25:18] So it's just the okay if you guys are okay purchasing it ahead of time or

[25:22] giving the okay to buy it and we don't have to buy it until

[25:25] next year.

[25:30] » I think if we can wait two weeks that we go through the budget finally.

[25:33] » Okay. >> And make sure everybody the numbers and

[25:35] everything cuz that's what $1,000 $2,000?

[25:40] » for a backhoe? >> Sure.

[25:43] We'll get three of them. >> for the front end.

[25:45] » Add a couple zeros to what you just said.

[25:47] » Yeah. >> No.

[25:48] » That sound good to everybody? >> Okay.

[25:50] » Okay. >> I just I need to ask you but what's the

[25:53] backhoe for? >> To replace it, right?

[26:01] » It's just I mean like just as a bystander in the meeting, you guys I

[26:04] know this You guys are here joking and laughing

[26:07] about it, I get it. But like we're talking about real dollars in the

[26:10] sense that you have to pay for this stuff.

[26:13] And so it's just it's hard to sit here and

[26:16] participate and not say anything cuz I know how much backhoe costs.

[26:20] And I know how much everything else costs that I don't

[26:23] purchase in my company. And I'm sitting here to try to defend

[26:28] but almost a 3x multiple on my electrical bills and helping with the

[26:32] backhoe, so. >> It's used daily. Used it for the garbage

[26:36] department to the electric department to the water department.

[26:39] » Sure. >> Dig in all the water mains.

[26:42] Dig in all the electric lines. >> Sure, I just I understand. You don't

[26:46] have to defend your position. I'm just saying sorry. Just sitting here and

[26:49] listening to the the common people with common hearing on conversation. I

[26:52] understand the purpose, but

[26:56] » I guess we have a sense of humor here. >> That's totally fine, sir. Yep, I'm fine.

[27:02] » Anything else, Jay? >> Um

[27:04] not as of right now. >> Okay. Zach, did you have anything?

[27:07] » Um No, I just

[27:09] really turned the flashlight into the next couple weeks. Um and after that,

[27:13] we're going to go full blown party and give as much time

[27:16] as possible to the town. And then

[27:20] until freezing up in the spring again next year. And we need to

[27:24] give as much notice as possible next year with that group numbers. So

[27:29] that's um >> Okay.

[27:37] Moving on to commissioner's reports, I'll start with Jason tonight.

[27:40] » I have nothing. >> John?

[27:43] » I have nothing. >> Paul?

[27:46] » Just on the electrical side, we're still waiting for the bid sheets to come. Uh

[27:51] boy, I don't know if you have seen them. I've told Brian, but I haven't. And uh

[27:56] on economic development, of course, we're still building the homes out there

[27:59] in in the Riverwalk. Um I think they started their fourth

[28:04] fourth one they've started on out there. So

[28:08] they're also I think there's another one being built

[28:11] out there, too. Uh so some of the incentives that the economic development

[28:15] has put out there to help build the homes is

[28:18] is apparently enticing some people to to build out there, so

[28:24] so that's that's always good. Uh economic development, of course, I

[28:27] mentioned a while back about uh potentially hiring somebody with uh

[28:32] to work for community organizer or type of thing or or um

[28:37] not directly with economic development cuz Jim does that, but somebody to help

[28:41] help with that, help with the needs of economic economic development group has,

[28:45] needs or concerns that they want addressed. And uh that they can have

[28:49] somebody that can spend more time to that. So, right now

[28:52] we're we're still working we're still working on the job description for that

[28:55] and a dollar amount. And then that would be then once we got

[28:59] that, we would bring that to

[29:02] the commission, so. >> Okay.

[29:05] » Paul, would there be somebody that uh a local business could reach out to to

[29:11] actually target to market somebody? >> I don't know what the business would be,

[29:15] but >> Uh

[29:18] come from me probably day one. Uh

[29:21] we just have a we have a few uh very specific employees that we're

[29:25] trying to hire right now. >> Mhm.

[29:27] » And if that that position if it was mechanically sound enough,

[29:33] » Mhm. >> um we would definitely appreciate that.

[29:36] » Mhm. Is it possible I can get a chance?

[29:42] There's nothing concrete yet. Like I said, we're still we're still getting

[29:45] the job description and once we have the job description, we'll

[29:48] find out of okay, what kind of range are we working with here?

[29:52] So. >> Well, anything would be better than a

[29:54] recruiter. Which is 20% of the salary at least.

[29:59] They can decide.

[30:03] » They'll mainly deal with the things that are economic development that are more

[30:07] time consuming at the board per se just their individuals don't have time to

[30:10] address that they want addressed. So, that would be that person's job, so.

[30:15] » But those individuals like Jim or like the first we described have a black book

[30:19] of a bunch of contacts that have a wide reach.

[30:23] » Mhm. Yeah.

[30:24] » I'd rather spend the money here than have somebody out of state.

[30:30] » Right.

[30:33] Thank you. >> Anything else, Paul?

[30:36] » I don't think so.

[30:38] » Um first

[30:41] I got a request from Our Savior's Lutheran Church to close down

[30:46] the street to the west of the church on this coming

[30:51] Sunday and from

[30:55] about 7:00 till 3:00 for their block party

[31:00] that they normally have.

[31:04] Just need a motion to approve that. >> I'll make the motion.

[31:07] » Jason makes the motion. Is there a second?

[31:11] » I'll second. >> Seconded by John. Any other discussion?

[31:17] Paul? >> Yes.

[31:18] » John? >> Yes.

[31:19] » Jason? >> Yes.

[31:20] » Any else for me? Motion carries. >> Did they request from American Legion?

[31:26] » He hasn't yet, but I'll see if I'm sure he will once a couple probably four.

[31:34] Um there was a USDA loan that came out

[31:40] for electrical.

[31:47] It is the It's a rural development affordable loan.

[31:53] It is due

[31:58] September 30th. Um and this is through 2031.

[32:04] So, you apply now and then you're able to use those funds through 2031.

[32:10] Um minimum award is a million, the maximum

[32:14] award is 100 million. Um

[32:18] there is potential for forgivable as part of that as well. So,

[32:24] my question is is um

[32:29] shall we apply for it? And to

[32:32] um Abby Ritz is willing to help us put the project together.

[32:39] If you guys still choose to want to do that.

[32:42] I don't see it on phase one, but it would be more phase two, three, and

[32:45] four.

[32:49] » I'd be curious. Apparently, somebody's looked at it.

[32:52] I've looked at it and I don't really see how it's going to fall into ours, but I

[32:55] don't know when you know it all, so I'd be curious as to what section of that

[32:59] grant is our project is going to fall under.

[33:02] » It's the transmission.

[33:09] It's not all of it, but it is part of it, so

[33:14] But like I said, we can't It's due at the end of the month, so if

[33:19] you want to apply, we need to get going on it now.

[33:22] It just came out.

[33:30] » I think if there's stuff that would fall under our scope, it'd be worth looking

[33:34] at.

[33:37] » I would say the same thing as Floyd. I mean

[33:41] if we don't have something to fall under, then certainly I'd apply for it.

[33:47] » Correct. It'd be the parts that um it does fit into.

[33:54] I'm on that page again.

[33:58] Two types of project connection of eligible hydro audio

[34:01] and But there was a section in there for

[34:07] merchant power projects with non-utility with generating power.

[34:15] That was one part of it, but there was another There's a transmission part,

[34:18] too.

[34:26] So, you have to move forward on on it

[34:31] and see what can fit. >> I have more than one grant I can move

[34:36] them up move forward with it. And to make sure that we had

[34:40] and that uh there's brought there's something in that project that'll

[34:43] qualify. That's just

[34:47] Not that I'm not going to turn away that but I just don't know if it'll

[34:51] it'll fall in that I don't know what the cost would be to

[34:55] have her write that grant.

[34:59] » She hadn't gotten back to me. Like I said, we just got this on

[35:03] Thursday or Friday. So. And then the loan term is for 35 35

[35:08] years. So.

[35:12] We'll keep working on it but like I said >> From a

[35:15] private enterprise perspective the grant writing process with both the

[35:20] state and federal has it's been

[35:24] a little arduous. They've been a lot a lot more flexible. But there's money to

[35:29] be had. You've already paid your taxes. Go out

[35:32] and chase them.

[35:34] I don't know what the cost for somebody in your guys's pool to write a grant but

[35:39] might be a little bit more paperwork but the money's there.

[35:42] » Mhm. >> There's money to be found. Just take

[35:44] them. It's uh a lot more hoops but uh

[35:50] they haven't been turned down a whole lot either.

[35:53] » I was wrong. It's October 9th is the due date. So.

[35:58] » First thing I'll say is no problem. You've even done them before.

[36:05] » So we do have two meetings in before. So.

[36:08] If we do it, it'll be a tight turnaround for then the next meeting to get it by

[36:12] the 9th but I'll work with Abby on it. Casey and I can work on it.

[36:19] Um and then we were going to have as part of our

[36:23] tree grant, we're going to have the city crew but we have blackman employees

[36:28] right now. So, I'm just requesting to get help with

[36:31] those 100 trees to get them taken out. There is money in the beautification

[36:35] budget to fulfill that so that we can get the rest of the grant.

[36:40] The 25,000.

[36:45] I haven't looked into anything yet cuz I didn't want to get the okay, but it is a

[36:49] requirement to get out 50 trees for the 100 that were planted. So,

[36:54] like I said, it was planned that we're going to use

[36:57] public works to help get them out and then do the stumps later.

[37:06] If you guys are okay with that.

[37:16] » What do we have in the beautification?

[37:20] » At the beginning of the year, we had budgeted 25 grand for facade /

[37:25] beautification. Um

[37:28] » And I think we've taken out one demo grant.

[37:31] » Mhm. And then you'll have a facade grant.

[37:36] I think that was on this last set of bills.

[37:39] » Yep. >> Let me I'll double-check, but

[37:42] my memory is saying that you've got quite a bit left. Um probably 20 grand

[37:46] based on a demo grant and a facade grant. So, let me look.

[37:49] » And I'm guessing we can probably get them taken out for about 10 if we can

[37:53] get the right company based on what we've done in the past. So,

[37:58] » They just removed a bunch of trees around the courthouse. I don't know if

[38:01] people know who those are or not, but

[38:04] might be something they're looking at. >> Possibly.

[38:08] As long as they were elm trees. Ash trees. Or ash trees, not elm trees. Ash

[38:12] trees. As long as they're ash trees. >> They were ash trees.

[38:15] » Talk to Kyle. He'd be the one to know. >> Okay.

[38:19] » Does it matter how they get them out?

[38:23] » It has to be on public property, so it can't be in your backyard.

[38:27] » They appreciate the community involvement.

[38:29] » But no. >> If if if

[38:31] we need help, like we have a We have a couple of people within our

[38:35] organization that are pretty handy with a chainsaw and a

[38:38] want to Steve know if you have some camera equipment.

[38:43] » Um it doesn't matter how they come down um because it's not

[38:49] when we wrote the grant, it's not Previously, we've had to use certain

[38:52] companies because it's part of the grant. This one is not part of the

[38:55] grant. Our agreement was is that we for every tree that we planted

[39:00] we would for every two trees that we planted, we

[39:02] take out one. >> So, we have some

[39:05] I obviously have some capable people with chainsaws. So, we have some deep

[39:08] subsoilers that would take the roots out 20 ft out from the base.

[39:13] Um something we'd be willing to put We just We can talk about that if you can

[39:17] do a little community exchange here. >> Yeah.

[39:22] » As long as Steve knows. >> Yes.

[39:25] But as long as you guys if we can't get that, I just need the okay so we can get

[39:28] that done this fall cuz when is it? November 1st when it has to be done?

[39:32] » Yeah. And there is 20 grand left in there. So,

[39:36] you've spent 2,000 on a demo grant. You You just

[39:40] spent 2,000 for the facade for the banner building.

[39:45] And then uh riverwalk bed cleaning. So, you've spent 4,900 bucks. And we have a

[39:50] $25,000 budget on that line.

[39:59] » I just need a motion if you guys are okay with that.

[40:09] Thoughts, Paul?

[40:17] » Don't remove them and then we don't get that funding. we don't get the 25,000.

[40:25] » I guess I'd like to know what it costs to get the tomato appearance and

[40:28] estimate on it.

[40:31] Do we know if it's 10 or if it's 15 or if it's 20?

[40:36] Just for sure, just to make sure.

[40:44] » John.

[40:53] » I don't know this for Do we know if

[40:56] all trees have been removed yet? >> Mhm.

[40:59] » They're talking 15. After noon.

[41:02] » 50 have to be removed yet.

[41:09] And the only requirement is that they're ash, and so

[41:12] » And on public boulevard >> On boulevard property.

[41:15] » Boulevard property. >> Public property.

[41:19] » Then is there a deadline when we have to have it removed by?

[41:22] » No, November 1st.

[41:27] » If you got somebody who can give us a cost by next meeting

[41:31] I'd be happy to know when that would be. Will you move forward with

[41:35] And then >> Okay.

[41:36] » Get something. >> Jason.

[41:40] Does that sound okay? >> Yep.

[41:42] » Okay, I will get cost put together.

[41:47] All right. Would you guys like to go down to old business first or go through

[41:50] new business?

[41:53] » Maybe go to new.

[41:56] » Okay. Um so

[42:00] as the motion states from previous

[42:04] meetings, um we had held a stay until this commission meeting

[42:09] that were implementation of the um

[42:14] demand charge. Cuz at the the original motion back in

[42:20] December

[42:23] » Back in Sir, when you approved the rate sheet?

[42:26] » When we approved the rate sheet. That would have been December. We

[42:30] approved the rate sheet in December, which had those demand charges on it.

[42:35] And so we held it off for until

[42:39] the Tyler Tech was able to come in. Then we held it off for 2 months, and

[42:44] now and we held it off again for 2 weeks and an additional week after last week.

[42:50] Or till this is commission meeting, so.

[42:55] Thoughts on that?

[42:59] Paul? >> I think I think we move ahead with it.

[43:06] That would be my recommendation. >> Just to clear to you this is just for

[43:11] 2026

[43:14] rates. >> Correct. 2026 rates.

[43:18] My uh position on it would be to keep the

[43:21] 2026 rates in for at least a year before we go up at any point.

[43:27] And it all depends on what how far we are along in the project as

[43:32] well. So

[43:35] potentially you wouldn't see an increase until next year. I would even say till

[43:39] the 20, you know, this

[43:44] the 250 and 350. Is that what it is? >> For the charges?

[43:49] » Demand charge. >> Demand charges would have been done in

[43:52] August. Um the lower winter rates would start.

[43:55] » So today or now? >> Yeah.

[43:58] » Um so I would say go with those rates until

[44:02] 2028 would be my thought.

[44:06] That's totally up the commission.

[44:11] » And then how would that play if we got that

[44:14] grant? >> If we get the grant, I mean then you

[44:18] could adjust and say we're not having to spend as much.

[44:23] So you can say, well, we don't need to implement the rates. The rate sheet is

[44:27] are the rates that MRR SC has was just suggestions

[44:32] if we had to do the full amount of how we would pay for it over time.

[44:38] We're also, you know,

[44:43] starting behind from what what thought was I think we were

[44:46] standing land already or already be in the ground

[44:49] already, so we're not behind by any means.

[45:00] Does that make sense?

[45:09] So yeah, I would say that sorry, it was 310 and 260. You know, keep that all the

[45:13] way up to to the beginning of 2028 and then look at the 2027 rates for 2028.

[45:20] At that point in time. >> I think Kyle wanted to say something if

[45:24] that's okay. >> Do you have time for that?

[45:26] » Yeah.

[45:29] » So I had sent an email out to the commissioner's

[45:32] emails I had. One of the questions I did have was a

[45:36] couple of questions that I wanted some answers to is and one of them was uh

[45:41] what does what does Daggett and Hillsborough cost to be a customer from

[45:45] the city? And that that was actually a question

[45:49] that was posed to me from yourself Levi from from the last meeting was what are

[45:54] you what are you what can you afford and what are you willing to spend

[45:58] kind of deal from the last meeting. And to really unpack that, I'd like to know

[46:03] what what it cost us or cost you to provide power to Daggett Glen as a

[46:11] its own sole entity. And really what I'd like to do from that

[46:14] is from from your verbage is let's let's

[46:18] find a a happy medium and middle ground from what we cost as a consumer. Totally

[46:23] want to pay our fair share. I want to know what that fair share is

[46:27] and what it costs to be a be a customer of yours.

[46:31] And then we want to spend X amount over that cuz we like nice things too and we

[46:36] want to we want to be good stewards of the power grid, be good stewards of the

[46:39] community. Uh I just don't want to

[46:42] I don't want to be in a position where there's a gun to my head and

[46:46] here's your bill kind of deal is where it's the same story. I'm on repeat, I

[46:50] understand that. But it's uh if we can understand what it cost the city to

[46:55] provide us what we need and then we want to pay over over and above that cuz we

[47:02] like nice things too and we know everything takes money to uh

[47:07] to uh make the world go round. So I'd ask you again if if we could

[47:12] postpone, delay until we have some of those questions answered.

[47:16] Uh we'd really like to be able to be part of the community, be really good

[47:18] stewards here and we we want to pay more than what it cost the city to provide us

[47:24] electrical. Truly do

[47:26] and uh we know that costs money. We know there's going to be a demand charge, we

[47:30] know there's going to be some sort of a an influx here.

[47:34] And uh I I come to that conclusion based off our last conversation at the last

[47:39] commissioner meeting of the question to me when I was at the

[47:42] podium of what can Daggett Glen afford. I probably wasn't prepared for that

[47:46] question. I was kind of on the spot and uh

[47:50] I can acknowledge that and that's that's kind of my downfall. We we budget 2 and

[47:54] 1/2 to 3 and 1/2% increase across the board for all of our budgets based on

[47:59] the inflation. And when we start to see 6, 7, 11, 12, 26, whatever it is,

[48:05] escalating up there, that's where it puts a little

[48:09] damper in what I've had budgeted for 5 years cuz every year I'm I've had I've

[48:14] been asked to to put together a 5-year plan.

[48:18] So, again, I ain't going to sit here in front of you guys to ask you

[48:22] let's let's postpone it one more time and I'd like to ask some of our

[48:25] questions answered of what does it cost for us to be a customer of yours?

[48:29] And let's let's gather around the round table and

[48:33] and understand what what both sides have to have to offer here. I know you guys

[48:39] are in the driver's seat and

[48:43] just cuz you can raise the rate doesn't mean you should. Like, Everett and I are

[48:47] here because it was affordable to be here. That's why we chose to be here.

[48:52] And uh yeah, I guess I'll leave it at that and

[48:56] ask for ask for everybody to postpone it till we

[48:59] get some a few more answers or a few more answers

[49:02] to questions here and uh yeah. Do you have any questions for me or

[49:08] » I can tell you that's what it costs us to to provide power to you.

[49:13] That's why we did the rate study. And the reason that we're doing the

[49:19] upgrade

[49:22] and I think the commission understands it now.

[49:25] It It's in our we are losing 40% of our electricity

[49:30] because of the system we have. So, we have to.

[49:34] We will be more efficient when this comes out.

[49:40] So, it's not if we keep going the way we're going,

[49:45] like we keep staying it off and pushing it off,

[49:49] it's end up costing more and more. >> This doesn't tell me what it what it

[49:54] cost to provide electricity just to Dagleman.

[49:58] That's for a large group of over 50 kW users.

[50:03] And if I'm 3 to 11 kW over, I'm lumped into the

[50:09] same category as everybody else. That's tough spot to be in and I think

[50:13] it's a different uh it's a different scale.

[50:17] So, I'm I I guess I'd ask a two-part question.

[50:20] Is there a way to separate that? Is there a way to acknowledge what it truly

[50:25] cost? I don't know what it When you say we're

[50:28] inefficient today, I don't know I don't understand that, I guess. I don't have

[50:31] those answers. >> It means for every megawatt that we buy,

[50:36] we're losing 40%. Correct, Paul? >> I don't think it's that high, but I

[50:40] can't say for sure. I don't have it off the top of my head. I don't think it's

[50:43] that high. >> We're losing a lot.

[50:44] » We're losing a lot. We should be there. >> And then there's a little bit of

[50:47] indecisiveness amongst the commissioners on what it truly is. Again, I'd ask,

[50:51] let's let's know what those numbers are when we make a decision.

[50:55] I mean we We're we're talking We're talking

[50:58] $100,000 more for me or for more for Dagleman, and average probably quadruple

[51:04] that, and he's a major consumer. Uh

[51:08] I think we need to have a a consensus of what the the dollars and cents are here

[51:12] because this is This is a huge amount of money that

[51:16] we're we're talking about here. >> So, right now, Kyle, we're losing money

[51:19] on here. >> Could be, I don't know that. I I haven't

[51:22] had three commissioners say the same answer twice.

[51:25] » Right now, we're losing money.

[51:28] Because we've held off the rate this long.

[51:32] » Could be.

[51:35] » It's not a could be, it is. We are spending more for our electricity

[51:39] than we're taking in right now. >> Let's Let's sit down and look at some

[51:42] options. That's all I'm asking, and then let's get a consensus of what we're

[51:46] actually costing. We're sitting here on public floor right

[51:50] now and we don't we don't have the two people

[51:53] two people talking right now that have the same answer.

[51:56] » But it's not us that are experts in this. That's what we

[52:00] hired Missouri River to to do for us.

[52:04] » Yep. >> And that's what they're telling us it's

[52:05] costing us. >> That's what they're charging you, yes.

[52:10] » No, that's what they're telling us it's costing us to

[52:15] make the electrical

[52:19] system with an upgrade

[52:22] work for the next 30, 40, 50, 60 years.

[52:28] » I guess I guess I'll hop in here. Um, do you want to take the podium?

[52:32] » Sure. Yep.

[52:38] » Um, thank you for your time today. Thank you for voting at the polls today. It's

[52:41] beautiful. Um, sorry about the dig on that though.

[52:44] Um, to Kyle's point, like it it is quite a

[52:47] bit of money, obviously. Um,

[52:51] if we got a concession through 2028 and we reevaluated 2027 and Anker can help

[52:57] with the USDA loan progress and working with Abby, too. Um,

[53:01] we're more than willing to help try to get some additional funding or grants or

[53:04] forgivable loans or whatever we can do to help as well. Um, to Kyle's point,

[53:09] we are very deeply rooted in Hillsboro. We want to see this city do well. Um,

[53:16] you know, we're we're here we're here together. Um, if I got a concession

[53:19] through 28 without a rate adjustment, I would be okay with that because it's and

[53:25] I it's about 20,000 bucks. I know what I need to pay and re-budget at this time

[53:30] of year and I'm doing my RFPs for next coming 12 months. Like I'm okay with

[53:34] that. I can't I can't keep kicking this down the road here. You're regretting it

[53:38] like I know the city needs the money because I look around. We've got E2SH

[53:42] here saying I don't know how many millions of

[53:44] dollars to go back through Hillsborough. I guess a concession I would ask

[53:50] Yes, I will not I'll pay more for my power today, but when we look at doing

[53:55] residential and residential improvements in the coming

[53:58] 12, 24, 36 months, how does Anchor Ingredients not pick up the special

[54:03] funds and fees and taxes to redo the sewer pipes? We're not a big

[54:08] water user at all. We use less than any residential household.

[54:12] Uh we're not a big garbage user, we don't pay a whole pile of trash. Um we

[54:17] run some trucks through through town. Our truck traffic will be going down

[54:21] inherently in the next 12 24 months. So it's like yes, I'm I'm on board. Like if

[54:25] we want to do this Levi, I would love to lock in a rate

[54:31] 12 months, 18 months review for the certain 2020. That'd be awesome.

[54:35] Hopefully in the meantime anything can help with the USDA grants. I'll

[54:39] I'll do whatever it takes to help in this situation.

[54:42] My concession would be when the city has to do a $5 million residential water and

[54:49] sewer improvement pave the city streets, redo

[54:54] whatever it may be in the housing part of town, I don't want that as an

[54:58] industrial user. I don't want to

[55:01] be added specials, more taxes, more property taxes. I'll pay more for power.

[55:06] I'm a huge user. I'll be the first to admit it. I will pay my fair share of

[55:09] the air and help improve the infrastructure. I don't think I should

[55:13] have to redo city streets, sidewalks

[55:17] pipes, water, sewage. I don't think that's applicable to me. For the power

[55:21] upgrade, 100% I'm on board. Lock in a rate, that'd be great.

[55:26] When it comes to the next 5 years, the next 5 million, 10 million to get the

[55:30] city where it needs to be, I don't want to keep going through this process as

[55:33] the biggest person in Hillsborough. Yes, I pay the most taxes, employ the

[55:38] most people, I use most energy. I don't use the most water. Half of my spaces

[55:43] don't even have a bathroom. They got porta-potties that we're we're

[55:46] utilizing. I don't want to be looked at the same. So, if that would be my ask to

[55:50] put that on paper for future goals and residential city improvements.

[55:57] That's all I have. So, that's my stance. Like we got to be able to lock in a

[56:01] price and that'd be great. I mean, I would just I need to know. I I

[56:05] I'm in budgeting. I'm in budgeting. I'm in sales. We're locking into our next 12

[56:09] months of sales. Like, this can't keep going forward cuz

[56:13] I have no idea where we're going to end up 12 months from now. So,

[56:16] » Cuz your other option, if we don't do a demand, we'd have to go to residential

[56:21] rates and you're at 10 and 1/2. >> On residential?

[56:25] » To 9 and 1/2. I think there's two different rates. I

[56:29] can't remember off top of my head. >> Um let me find my rate slides.

[56:34] Um hold on.

[56:38] So far, it's still large commercial per this rate study was to keep the same

[56:43] energy charge. Um uh 8 and 1/2 is what the energy charge

[56:48] is for a large commercial. Um residential

[56:52] is uh

[56:56] June through August, it's >> That's dual heat.

[56:58] » Oh, sorry. Here we

[57:00] » Oh, no, they're right there. >> Yeah, yep. Dual heat's down below. Yep,

[57:03] it's just under 10 and 1/2 cents. Um June through August, September through

[57:08] May, it's 9.99. Um their rate increases started at the

[57:13] beginning of the year. >> I mean, if you wanted to share with me

[57:16] the math, I could have with your resident math tomorrow morning and get

[57:19] your feedback. >> The math on that, it's in at the long

[57:22] run, it'll cost you more. Is what what we've done.

[57:26] » Yeah, I just I think Paul did the math when we were

[57:30] sitting in the other room in the session.

[57:32] » At just the two dollar two three dollars.

[57:36] » Yeah, I would I mean like I said I'm okay with

[57:40] the 2026 demand charge if we can lock that in until the start of 2028 and go

[57:47] and review that and like I said angle whatever we can to help the city with

[57:51] the USDA grant and then if we work with Abby we've got some great people that

[57:55] work at Anchor I've done a lot of stuff myself too so we will help contribute to

[57:59] that. I just I don't I just hope my son

[58:03] probably won't be here tonight and I don't want to I'm not home a lot so I

[58:07] don't want to keep missing things to be here so

[58:12] Either way I would like to say before there's a bunch of residential

[58:15] improvements that need to be had. I don't want to be the same special the

[58:19] same tax property tax the same I don't want to be

[58:23] in that same group of people because I'm not a water user I'm not a sewer user

[58:28] like I don't want to have like everyone gets 10% I don't

[58:33] want 10% my 10% 20% bigger than a residential so

[58:38] that would be my ask. >> If you've been wrong JR though I don't

[58:42] think we can do that can we? We can't change the special

[58:46] percentage on a

[58:49] see a lot by lot. >> If an industrial zone versus residential

[58:53] versus >> That's based on each project. That's

[58:56] different questions completely to this cuz it's based off of it's it's meant

[59:03] how much you use how much does it benefit your property.

[59:07] Completely different hurdles than the electric rates.

[59:09] » Yep. So if it was we just did the total east

[59:14] side of town we couldn't

[59:17] We couldn't special We couldn't special this side.

[59:19] » He would have to have some improvements at his facility in order to get special

[59:23] credit. >> Correct.

[59:27] » Either way I just I just that the thing I'm great with. I totally support it. I

[59:30] know I understand

[59:33] our system's outdated. I've lived with it for

[59:36] 9 years. I I get it. I mean, probably done this. Me and Jamie used to do it

[59:40] weekly. We'd take the whole west side down.

[59:43] Um I support it. I know it's a need. I know

[59:46] there's growth development that money's going to go

[59:49] to a good place. I don't want to be here every year,

[59:51] every 3 years, every 5 years when the city has to keep doing more and more

[59:55] to maintain and house more people and accommodate more people. Like I don't

[59:58] want to keep coming back here being asked to pay more taxes, more

[1:00:02] water. Like I just Yeah.

[1:00:05] That's all I got.

[1:00:08] » Well, I'd I'd be very appreciative if you guys are able to help with any

[1:00:13] I'm trying to get money for that cuz the more money we can get, the lower we can

[1:00:16] keep it. >> I just need four or five days' scope and

[1:00:20] ability of the electrical pro- project and a link to the USDA grant.

[1:00:25] » Abby has all that. >> Yeah. Just so you have to put it in

[1:00:27] contact with Abby and then I can get this get to work on it this week, you

[1:00:31] know.

[1:00:39] » Okay. Anything else? >> All of us year till

[1:00:43] 20 till the >> in the next year, so

[1:00:48] just taking this time to say we're going to hold it till next year and we'll see.

[1:00:54] I don't know what that would be in your rates. Updates this winter.

[1:00:58] » The only rates that I would see that we would need to do is move the residential

[1:01:03] over in 2027. >> And small commercial.

[1:01:06] » And small commercial. >> Mhm.

[1:01:12] » Cuz we're seeing rate increases on WAPA and Missouri River this year as well.

[1:01:20] So, you could make that motion that we hold

[1:01:24] the 50 kW customers at

[1:01:27] the 2026 rate starting today until January 1 of 2028.

[1:01:34] » My question to you though, since you're asking us to hold it,

[1:01:39] you're asking us to hold off on the demand charges.

[1:01:45] » No, the demand charge >> No, the demand charge is the demand.

[1:01:47] » It's the demand charge. It's the demand charge.

[1:01:49] » The 2026 demand charges. >> Yeah. All right. But you're asking us to

[1:01:53] hold off on You're asking us to hold off on doing the demand charges right now

[1:01:59] that they're going to be starting this next month.

[1:02:01] » Correct. >> Correct.

[1:02:03] » Yep. >> But if we're if we make this motion

[1:02:07] to hold that charge all the way through the end of 2027,

[1:02:12] is that >> And then are you going to come back and

[1:02:15] do this again? >> I mean,

[1:02:18] from from our seat at the table, >> we'd be happy with either decision.

[1:02:22] » I think a cohesive uh train of thought from our seat at the

[1:02:27] table is to know what we are as a customer and what it costs you.

[1:02:33] And as Levi asked the last meeting, what are we willing to pay?

[1:02:40] I don't know if I'm willing to pay more or less than what that charge is for

[1:02:44] 2028. I'm okay with conceding that today and

[1:02:48] locking the current rate in through 2028.

[1:02:51] Um like I said before when I was at the

[1:02:54] podium, uh we we'd like to definitely pay what we

[1:02:58] cost the city as a consumer. And we'd like to pay more than that cuz

[1:03:02] we like nice things. And have a a and a

[1:03:07] defined 5-year schedule on what that looks like.

[1:03:11] Just so I don't have to come back here again and don't

[1:03:15] I don't want to have to argue get into an emotional

[1:03:19] event here a lot more often than I have to. So,

[1:03:22] that's that's where I'm looking for a little bit more of a long-term play.

[1:03:25] This is a as ever described is a if it's the 2028, I would concede to that. And

[1:03:31] yeah, I I don't know if we're leaving money on the table or off the table

[1:03:34] depending on which seat we're sitting in cuz we haven't been able to

[1:03:38] uh off the table a little bit understand

[1:03:42] what they might cost you specifically.

[1:03:47] How much more are we willing to spend? >> I appreciate that. And

[1:03:51] we did we did discuss that question. >> I'm sorry.

[1:03:54] » I said in that meeting in that meeting we did discuss that question of how much

[1:03:58] does it cost to supply you specifically. Um

[1:04:03] and per Roy's expertise and I would say MRS

[1:04:07] is going to say the same thing. I don't know that that's the number that

[1:04:10] could be um

[1:04:13] properly calculated accurately because how much does it cost to supply this

[1:04:18] station? >> When you when you go pay them to travel

[1:04:21] back home. >> And I'm willing to pay for that. So, I

[1:04:25] have the peace of mind so I can sleep at night knowing that I paid my fair my

[1:04:29] fair share plus put some back in the kitty so we can have nice stuff.

[1:04:33] » So, we got my opinion is 14-month runway if we lock in through 2028. We try to

[1:04:37] chase after the USDA dollars and we work with Missouri River in the meantime. I'd

[1:04:41] be just try to try to figure out what Missouri River they

[1:04:46] they give they funnel information to you and then you funnel it to us and then we

[1:04:49] try to work it backwards. It'd be nice just to meet meet them. They have to

[1:04:52] have some economic development planning people as well to work with. So,

[1:04:57] in the meantime I it would be it would give us 12 months to work through a lot

[1:05:00] of questions, I think. And yeah, like I said like

[1:05:04] at one point like I'm a large energy user. I have a lot of people that live

[1:05:07] in Hillsboro that live around Hillsboro. I'm here to help Hillsboro. So, I I get

[1:05:13] it. Like I I get that the need. I don't want to keep kicking this down road cuz

[1:05:17] the money is going to go towards a good use next month, the extra $1,000 I paid.

[1:05:22] So, it's that's a great compromise to to move

[1:05:25] move forward with talking about it. So. >> And we're not like just spending that

[1:05:30] money. It's meant to save to pay off the bonds and the loans that I mean that's

[1:05:35] ultimately what we're doing is preparing for this. So, if we can get

[1:05:40] on this first phase the around 5 million and we can pull in

[1:05:44] 4.2 million and on the US energy grant, then

[1:05:50] we can stay back that even farther, but until we can see those funds.

[1:05:56] We don't know. >> Yes, the other

[1:06:00] Carl and I talked about this offline. But the new water treatment plant that

[1:06:04] is coming online that this heavy industrial electrical upgrade is going

[1:06:08] to help support phase one. I mean, last I heard the dairy was on

[1:06:13] pause. I'm assuming that their usage is

[1:06:19] booked into the calculations of paying off.

[1:06:22] » Correct. >> Okay.

[1:06:23] » That's already booked in and that was calculated into this.

[1:06:27] » Right. And the other thing like you know it's a

[1:06:30] it's a state funded federally funded project.

[1:06:33] They came to Hillsboro or the water treatment plant

[1:06:37] or Trail County water, whoever came to Hillsboro and said, "Hey, we need more

[1:06:40] water. We need more power from you." You guys said, "Hey, we don't have the

[1:06:45] power. We have to spend 5 million for phase one to get you the

[1:06:50] power." Was there ever any talk like

[1:06:52] conversation or talk to the dairy or to their state or

[1:06:56] federal funding like maybe you guys should pony up an extra

[1:06:59] million dollars to go in on this phase one that is

[1:07:05] 80% supporting the water treatment that supports the new dairy farm

[1:07:09] versus just just raise it across the board for everyone.

[1:07:12] » Have we asked for money? Yes. Have we gotten money? Not yet.

[1:07:17] Okay. I mean, we pushed for that and basically

[1:07:20] we went to the industrial commission and said, "This is why we need money for

[1:07:24] phase one." >> Yep.

[1:07:26] » Um we've

[1:07:29] asked others, you know, we're East Central came to us and wanted

[1:07:33] cheaper power. We said, "No, we can't We're not going to give you cheaper

[1:07:37] power compared to everybody else is going to pay.

[1:07:39] » Yep. >> You're going to pay the same as

[1:07:40] everybody else. We're not here to

[1:07:44] make it benefit any We're not a for-profit business.

[1:07:47] » Yep. Uh okay. No, I was just curious. I know

[1:07:51] that they're going to be a mega user when the new industrial

[1:07:56] phase one comes online. So, I always It's just been rolling around in my

[1:07:59] head. >> No, we've

[1:08:02] We've been looking everywhere we can. >> Okay.

[1:08:06] Either way, like I said, um if I can get you in contact with that,

[1:08:08] yeah, it will help power that thing. Um and thank you so much for your

[1:08:12] patience. This has been drug out much longer than it needed to be. So, thank

[1:08:16] you.

[1:08:18] You got anything else for me? >> Thank you, guys.

[1:08:21] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[1:08:24] Anybody else?

[1:08:27] » Zack Killian.

[1:08:32] I'll make the motion to go with the the service rates until 2028.

[1:08:37] » Is there a second?

[1:08:44] » You want to clarify that? Large commercial.

[1:08:47] » Large commercial.

[1:08:50] » And implement the 2026 demand charge rate.

[1:08:53] » The 2026 demand charge. >> Today or this month and then

[1:08:57] that would stay until January 1 of or December 31st of 2027.

[1:09:03] » Correct.

[1:09:06] » Do I have a second? >> I'll second it.

[1:09:10] » Seconded by John, moved by Jason. Any other discussion?

[1:09:13] » I don't I don't I think we should just go a year and come back cuz if we're

[1:09:17] going to go one year cuz we're going to be doing budgeting

[1:09:20] and we don't know what we're going to end up with

[1:09:23] to service this debt. And you know, that would give us some

[1:09:29] time to know when we're doing our budgeting, kind of where we're at.

[1:09:33] » I think it would, Paul, because we're saying

[1:09:37] we're locking this in for the rest of this year.

[1:09:40] I'm locking them in for next year. And then when we come to budgeting next

[1:09:44] year, that's when we're going to start discussing

[1:09:47] the 2028. >> Yeah, but don't we do budget talks in

[1:09:50] September? >> That doesn't mean that we can't do it,

[1:09:52] but generally we don't put our rate increase in until the first of the year.

[1:09:59] » Typically, that's what you guys do.

[1:10:06] » So, we're just basically saying next we're putting this in now

[1:10:10] and we'll keep it at this rate until next year.

[1:10:13] » I'm concerned that we're going to be way under budget next year, Paul.

[1:10:16] » Yep. >> I mean, that's just that But you don't

[1:10:20] But obviously we have a lot of variables too. We don't know what we're going to

[1:10:22] get for grants and things like that. So, I'd rather

[1:10:25] » I don't think we'll be under budget cuz we're not going to start

[1:10:31] When's the first payment? >> First payment's in May.

[1:10:34] » In May. So, I mean, we're going to we'll start saving for that first payment.

[1:10:37] » But you also realize we're not going to get much off of this demand charge

[1:10:41] increase. >> No.

[1:10:42] » It's not going to It's not going to amount to much.

[1:10:44] » What we need to start doing is start saving. We need to get back where we're

[1:10:48] in the black every month and then start saving every

[1:10:52] month. budgeting

[1:10:54] » And the variable that wasn't talked about is obviously the demand.

[1:10:59] And that's what we have a problem with. That's where our problem is, demand.

[1:11:04] And you pay a lot for demand. And that's what's that's what's losing us money.

[1:11:09] And if you don't push this demand charge hard,

[1:11:12] where's their where's their incentive to have work on demand?

[1:11:18] Because we're the whole town is paying and the city's losing money because of

[1:11:22] demand charges, correct? >> In the past, demand charges from large

[1:11:27] consumers have been calculated into all rates, residential and small commercial

[1:11:32] included. >> yeah, I know that. But but there are big

[1:11:35] all our our big users obviously are the ones

[1:11:38] that contribute most of the demand. >> Majority, yeah. Yeah.

[1:11:42] » So. >> When when I say we're losing money we're

[1:11:44] losing money in the wint- in the summer months when

[1:11:47] the demand goes up and our demand charge is higher.

[1:11:51] » And that's my big That's That's the purpose That's the To me, that's the

[1:11:55] bigger purpose of demand charges is to get demand under control.

[1:12:01] That's the purpose of demand charges. Not so Yes, you you need it to obviously

[1:12:07] you know, help with this project, but it's more so to me is is is demand is

[1:12:11] demand charges that we pay through Missouri River

[1:12:14] are pretty high. So.

[1:12:17] » And it's not saying, Paul, in 2028 we could go to the 2028 rates if that's

[1:12:21] where we need to be. >> Yeah, I understand that.

[1:12:23] » I think there's still something there to hold them to wanting

[1:12:26] to get better. >> Right.

[1:12:30] » Like it's I would look at it as you know, they wanted to know in the

[1:12:34] next 5 years to Okay, next year we can say to them

[1:12:39] here's what it's looking like, we lost money this year

[1:12:43] because we went with what you suggested and what you're asking us to do.

[1:12:48] You know, and you know, I keep saying this because

[1:12:51] they should be involved in end, too, and it sounds like they want to be.

[1:12:55] But, you know, they on their end, they they need to come in

[1:13:00] when you're trying to lay out that 5-year plan for them. Again, this is

[1:13:05] I don't know that we want to go 5 years, say in 2027, because

[1:13:10] we don't know what's going to happen in 3 years.

[1:13:13] » You know, what can happen in a year? >> But, we can give them something like,

[1:13:17] this is our proposal. But, these are not locked in concrete.

[1:13:22] » But, I also think they need to know and be aware when they're budgeting, they

[1:13:26] need to be aware that they need to budget for the 2028

[1:13:30] potential demand charges. They need to budget for that.

[1:13:33] » I think what we need to do is when we come around to this time next year,

[1:13:38] we need to send out letters saying, this is what the new rates are going to

[1:13:42] be in 2028 for everybody.

[1:13:45] » I'd even say do that in June, kind of similar to when we put that letter out.

[1:13:50] And they're probably going to get the same.

[1:13:51] » Right. >> Come on.

[1:13:53] » Whenever we know we're into the budget season, we know what we need to do is

[1:13:58] is when we would need to put out, these are the new rates.

[1:14:06] If this would have been in February, I wouldn't have said give them

[1:14:10] till 2028. But, at this point, we haven't spent any money on our

[1:14:15] I mean, besides design facings, we haven't

[1:14:19] bought anything yet for the project.

[1:14:25] » But, that's why two things is that the the the reason for the demand and that

[1:14:30] they they should be they should be made aware

[1:14:33] that when they're budgeting,

[1:14:36] that it may or may not go up. We don't know. So, don't don't come out in here

[1:14:40] and say, well, I thought we were I thought you were in charge of saying,

[1:14:42] well, no, we don't know that until we know what we got for grants.

[1:14:46] So, as long as it's made clear to them that

[1:14:49] a plan for the 2028 budget, you know, at the very minimum of

[1:14:55] 2027. And then so they're aware of that, so

[1:14:59] they don't come in and say we didn't you guys didn't even

[1:15:02] tell us that that was potential. And I just I'm not going to say it's going to

[1:15:05] happen, but I want them to be aware that it could happen

[1:15:09] if we come in short.

[1:15:12] » I would go on record saying that I would definitely be looking at that.

[1:15:16] 20 28 charges that they probably need to look at.

[1:15:21] Like very likely. >> And what were those again?

[1:15:24] Eight 78 over the 2020 charges? >> 995 and 845.

[1:15:29] » Mhm. >> And $41 on the

[1:15:34] » There you go.

[1:15:36] » So

[1:15:39] that's what we're going to notice that. That's why they got to plan for that.

[1:15:42] So and by saying that now, they they know

[1:15:45] that, hey, we got to potentially plan for this

[1:15:49] coming up in 2028. Don't I don't want them to come in and say,

[1:15:53] well, we didn't even know that was on the

[1:15:55] table. We thought we were going to just get put back in at the $2 or $3

[1:15:58] rate. So

[1:16:02] you know, and I'm not like I said, I'm not saying it's going to happen, but I

[1:16:04] want them to be aware when they do their budgeting

[1:16:07] that that's a potential that may happen.

[1:16:14] » Any other discussion?

[1:16:17] John? >> Yes.

[1:16:18] » Jason? >> Yes.

[1:16:19] » Paul? >> Yes.

[1:16:20] » And he asked for me. Motion carries.

[1:16:25] All right. Uh we have a lodging tax request from

[1:16:30] On the Caboose for paint. Correct, JR? >> Mhm.

[1:16:34] » Correct. >> That's just an approval if you guys are

[1:16:37] okay with it.

[1:16:45] » What's the timeline on that? Do you know what I mean? Has anybody got a timeline

[1:16:48] on that? >> I thought he was supposed to have it

[1:16:50] painted already, but I guess not. >> Well, he washed it, but what did he wash

[1:16:53] it for if he ain't going to paint it? You're going to have to wash it again.

[1:16:58] » The original timeline was >> I was just looking at that the other

[1:17:02] day. I checked on the papers going through my

[1:17:05] stack here. Meeting papers.

[1:17:11] » Uh, let's see here.

[1:17:19] Oh, Saturday, September 12th, he's planning on painting.

[1:17:25] » Saturday, September 12th, when they got their street permits on?

[1:17:31] It told me to be scuffed. >> Yeah.

[1:17:35] » It was chalky. If you put paint on that right now, it's going to fall right off.

[1:17:40] » See. >> Yeah, I don't think that they understand

[1:17:42] what they're getting into when it comes to painting.

[1:17:44] » I wanted to be there for that.

[1:17:47] » He did say Thursday they're going to start working on it.

[1:17:51] Wipe it down, degrease, tape, and then scuff it.

[1:17:55] Friday, they're picking up their air compressor to use it, and then they're

[1:17:58] going to prime it on Friday, and then hopefully paint.

[1:18:01] » I'd even go so far as to have Ben come over and take a look at it and say, "Is

[1:18:04] this ready to paint?" >> So, I know he

[1:18:10] So, no. >> Because

[1:18:14] » I do bodywork for a living.

[1:18:17] And if the prep ain't right >> 99% of it

[1:18:21] » 99% of it, yeah. And I just, you know, that's a

[1:18:25] that's a centerpiece. If they're going to use that as a draw, I don't need We

[1:18:28] don't need people coming in and and in 3 years the paint's falling off and it

[1:18:32] looks like heck and we just invested all this in because of

[1:18:36] » I would suggest that you reach out to Eric on that one.

[1:18:39] » So. Do I have a motion to approve?

[1:18:44] » I'll make a motion to approve. >> John makes a motion to approve. Is there

[1:18:47] a second?

[1:18:54] Bueller?

[1:18:58] » These would be dollars out of the lodging taxes funds and not the city

[1:19:02] funds. >> If that helps.

[1:19:06] This is just approval. >> Generally we approve whatever the

[1:19:09] recommendation comes from the lodging tax committee.

[1:19:13] » I'll second. >> Seconded by Paul. Any other discussion?

[1:19:17] Jason? >> Yes.

[1:19:18] » John? >> Yes.

[1:19:19] » Paul? >> Yes.

[1:19:20] » Any else for me? Motion carries. Um I'm going to do C first only cuz

[1:19:26] that'll help with follow into

[1:19:31] B. Uh there is a demo permit for the

[1:19:35] property in question for complaint B, which is on here.

[1:19:40] Um but that doesn't include everything on this, but

[1:19:44] uh the demo permit and grant they applied for the grant, correct?

[1:19:49] » I don't think so. >> Just the permit?

[1:19:52] » I don't think so. Let me double check.

[1:19:56] Yeah, just the permit. >> So technically the permit will go to

[1:20:00] planning and zoning, but just so you're aware of that

[1:20:03] on the complaint for 314 Second Street Southeast with uh three vehicles, two

[1:20:08] unlicensed on the property, a sailboat, three trailers loaded with personal

[1:20:11] property, all kinds of items making it look like a

[1:20:14] junkyard. >> We don't need to do anything on the demo

[1:20:18] permit, then? >> No, that will go to planning and zoning

[1:20:20] first. I thought it was an application for

[1:20:25] » Yeah, no. >> a grant, which then you guys could have

[1:20:27] approved and then you would have approved.

[1:20:28] » They're doing it themselves, I think. That's why they didn't That's right.

[1:20:32] » That's right, cuz they didn't >> They couldn't put in cuz they're

[1:20:34] expensive. >> That's right.

[1:20:38] That's for 45 days to rate. >> Within the next 45 days.

[1:20:46] » Anything you guys would like to do on the complaint?

[1:20:50] » What can we do? >> Uh the process would start with JR

[1:20:55] starting the clock and then

[1:20:59] give them time to come in and talk about it.

[1:21:03] And then if they don't do that, when we publish, then we have another

[1:21:08] » It's the process. I'll summarize. >> It's the process.

[1:21:11] » I move that we start the process on that.

[1:21:14] » There a second? >> I'll second it.

[1:21:18] » Seconded by Jason. Any other discussion?

[1:21:27] Paul? >> Yes.

[1:21:28] » Jason? >> Yes.

[1:21:29] » John? >> Yes.

[1:21:31] » And yes for me. Motion carries. Um Public Power Week, would you guys

[1:21:37] like to do anything for that week?

[1:21:40] » Me and Roy visited with it a little bit today. We'll We'll see where it goes.

[1:21:45] We're going to try to do something. The way it sounds, so exactly what it'll

[1:21:49] be, we don't know. Unless he's talked to you more about it.

[1:21:52] » No, did you see the email I sent you guys back?

[1:21:55] » Okay. >> So, we'll wait to hear something next

[1:21:57] meeting. >> Yep.

[1:21:58] » Potentially. >> If anything's happening.

[1:22:02] » Um and then the next item is the wage and wage structure.

[1:22:07] Um we kind of handed that out earlier.

[1:22:13] Said we had three applicants for public works positions. We're in need of two

[1:22:17] positions at the current time.

[1:22:21] Both of those that they would like to offer to

[1:22:24] ask for more than what our current starting is at. We

[1:22:30] usually start at 20 and go up from there. And Chris was nice

[1:22:35] enough 21? >> 21 and then

[1:22:38] 22 after 6 months and then >> Okay.

[1:22:44] Um and if I remember right, one was closer to 30 or they're both

[1:22:50] » One one requested between 28 and 32. >> Yeah.

[1:22:55] » In lieu That was also in lieu of insurance though.

[1:22:58] Um they would be willing to come back to

[1:23:02] the table if that's not an option. So

[1:23:10] » Um

[1:23:14] I asked Casey met with all the employees a while ago last week.

[1:23:19] » Yeah, Wednesday last week. >> Wednesday and talked with them a little

[1:23:21] bit about different things. Um

[1:23:24] they definitely didn't want the

[1:23:28] no insurance and somebody just gets paid for it.

[1:23:32] Like into the salary or into their Um

[1:23:38] the one suggestion that Zack had brought up was a stipend so we

[1:23:43] could look at that. I don't think I said or looked at, you know, could we do

[1:23:49] if you don't just take a single policy $7,500

[1:23:54] and if you didn't take the family plan What is it?

[1:23:59] » 15,000 I think is the >> 15,000

[1:24:03] And that would be a one like a stipend over

[1:24:07] 12 months so it'd just be added. Divide You take that amount divided by

[1:24:11] 12. If you could be an option.

[1:24:19] Which both of those are about half of what we pay now for

[1:24:23] both of them. >> Yeah.

[1:24:26] » So, it would cover taxes and all that along the lines.

[1:24:32] And they would see about the honest 7,500 did it's about $5 an

[1:24:38] hour is what it works out to on a 40-hour work week.

[1:24:42] If it's a stipend. It won't go on to that if I don't have

[1:24:46] overtime. It won't go on to that. Just be

[1:24:49] » That's a >> separate line item. So, it'd be

[1:24:53] you'd put in your regular 40 hours and then it'd be 7,500

[1:24:57] divided by 12 and that's just a lump sum payment.

[1:25:08] » Can you go through this?

[1:25:12] » Uh which one? >> All the ones you got here.

[1:25:15] » Uh so, yeah, I came up with >> I just step one What is step one, step

[1:25:18] two, step three? What is >> Hold on.

[1:25:20] » Hold on. What is step >> So, I tried to base um

[1:25:23] kind of off of like military {slash} GSA type pay

[1:25:28] scale. >> Second.

[1:25:30] » Which one are you >> It's It's to basically like an automatic

[1:25:32] progression longevity. Um so, as long as you're if

[1:25:37] within the company, you're going to get an extra pay raise each year. That's

[1:25:41] not guaranteed. There's two different ways to do it. You

[1:25:44] can just do straight guaranteed right across the board so every

[1:25:49] every 2 years there'd be an automatic pay raise plus whatever the cost of

[1:25:52] living rate is, which I figured right around 2% was kind of a

[1:25:56] fairish deal. For 2% it was anywhere between 2 and 3,

[1:26:00] but if I was going to do the step every other year, then it came out fine.

[1:26:04] Um so, that step

[1:26:07] you can do it one of two ways. You can go every year or every other year and

[1:26:11] get that automatic 1% pay increase or 2% pay increase

[1:26:15] along with the cola raise or you uh depending on performance. So, if

[1:26:20] someone does not perform as well, um and it's

[1:26:24] documented that they have not performed very well, you don't you can hold that

[1:26:27] step back, and then you can make them wait the next 2 years at that same rate.

[1:26:31] You can do it two different ways that way. So, if someone's getting paid 24,

[1:26:35] and they get the Cola increase of 2%, and then um

[1:26:39] their reviews weren't very well, or they're

[1:26:42] not learning as well on the job, then you can just hold that 2% step back, um

[1:26:47] or that 1% step back, and then they they wait till the

[1:26:51] fourth or sixth year, whatever, uh down the road. I did multiple, so one

[1:26:56] uh I did for the I guess you're starting out, I did a

[1:27:00] step increase for the first 3 years on some of them.

[1:27:03] Um so, that would be your uh entry-level positions. So, they would

[1:27:07] get a 1% um step increase each year plus the

[1:27:12] Cola, so that would be a 3% increase. And then after that, it goes 2 years,

[1:27:16] and then at the 8-year mark, um they no longer get the step increase. So, it's

[1:27:20] like a it's almost like a performance-based. So, if you don't meet

[1:27:23] a certain cri- criteria at your uh entry-level position,

[1:27:27] so move down to like a a skill a higher skill uh level as an administrative

[1:27:32] position or deputy auditor, then you move down to that next

[1:27:36] uh payroll, and then you can uh continue with steps again

[1:27:41] uh along the way. Um you would just cap out, and the only

[1:27:44] thing you would uh after that 8 years, you would just receive Cola after that.

[1:27:48] Um you would just your cost of living increase.

[1:27:52] » So, what moves you from the entry-level position to the experienced position?

[1:27:56] » Job descriptions. >> Yeah, we'd have to create specific job

[1:27:59] descriptions descriptions for each one, um depending on what you're um

[1:28:04] like if you had you wanted them to go to certain schooling, you could put that in

[1:28:08] there. Um not, but certain schooling for each one,

[1:28:12] um >> Certifications.

[1:28:14] » Certifications, things like that. So, it wouldn't be you wouldn't get a

[1:28:17] certification for a pay raise for each certification. You'd have to meet all

[1:28:21] certifications or all schoolings in order to move down to that next

[1:28:25] position. >> Would there have to be an opening?

[1:28:28] » No. It wouldn't have to be an opening

[1:28:30] specific. You could If you only have the room for one administrator

[1:28:35] administrative position, you just have it and then if they meet that criteria

[1:28:38] on the way, you can you can move them down. And when you do move them down, so

[1:28:42] if they're like a step six, you don't move them down to the step six,

[1:28:48] you would move them down to right around

[1:28:52] like GS pay. You would move two steps up and then move basically down to whatever

[1:28:58] the closest pay was. So, if they were a step six, which is the

[1:29:03] uh maxed out, you'd find out what their

[1:29:05] current pay rate is and then give them when you move down to that next uh

[1:29:10] administrative position, it'd be it whatever's equivalent up to a 3% raise,

[1:29:16] basically. Within that. So, you're not going to

[1:29:18] drop down from 36 or 25 bucks an hour to 31 of an hour. You're going to be close.

[1:29:24] » if you were at 30 at step six at $30 >> Yep.

[1:29:27] » you would go down if you went up you would go I guess I I look at it as a

[1:29:32] increase. You would You'd go to like step three then.

[1:29:35] » Yep. You'd go to that step three. >> Okay.

[1:29:41] » And then the three options under that one, there's it was just different um

[1:29:46] different What was it?

[1:29:49] The step increase was different and then I think the cola was different. They

[1:29:52] They were just like three different var- variations of the same thing.

[1:29:56] So, you could just see kind of what the cost was for each position.

[1:30:02] And then option four got really uh

[1:30:06] They got really expensive the farther down the road you went.

[1:30:12] Cuz they had longer step increases and I they they

[1:30:15] stepped up a little different. So, depending on how long someone does stay

[1:30:19] it can get a little bit more costly that way.

[1:30:24] And then the last option was just a Cola increase every year with the option for

[1:30:30] still doing um uh

[1:30:34] » Step >> Performance based raises.

[1:30:36] So, that that one didn't have any step increases at all. That was just

[1:30:40] basically a Cola increase each year and then

[1:30:43] based on performance based raises that way your

[1:30:46] supervisors or however that works.

[1:30:52] And that was a 2 and 1/2% Cola raise each year for that one.

[1:31:03] The biggest The hardest thing was trying to find out the

[1:31:06] starting starting wage. Um based off of

[1:31:11] the North Dakota job description for each position within the state.

[1:31:15] Um they varied from depending on your position it was your your starting

[1:31:22] position was 22 to 27 dollars an hour for admin.

[1:31:26] Um even if you look somewhere around between here and Grand Forks, Fargo it

[1:31:30] was similar to the 20 23 to 27 an hour. So, I That's what up

[1:31:36] on the very far right I kind of put like what the actual starting wage is. So,

[1:31:41] within each one it I a common ground for each one I came up

[1:31:45] with 25 whether that's um too much as a starting

[1:31:50] starting spot but that between all of them that was kind of the common area

[1:31:54] where each one of them had hit um through all the like entry-level

[1:31:58] positions. And then from there I just had to kind of use

[1:32:02] um like what would a

[1:32:06] proper increase for someone in that next level, and it came out to right around a

[1:32:11] 11 to 12% raise between these positions. To get to my next um pay bump

[1:32:17] for a starting role for like a skilled administrative person or

[1:32:29] » Under this format, uh how many people would go up then?

[1:32:34] Obviously our our our

[1:32:37] laborers would go up, correct? >> Yeah, your entry level

[1:32:41] » Entry level. >> When I did look at where our most of our

[1:32:45] starting wages and kind of where um

[1:32:49] supervisor are at they are at or close to where they currently where

[1:32:53] they currently came out on some of these >> Okay.

[1:32:56] » models, it was hard to find specifically um but I did find starting

[1:33:02] starting positions um for a lot of them. I I know there was a couple concerns

[1:33:07] about um

[1:33:10] of some of the positions where it seemed like it was a little less than what it

[1:33:14] should be, but looking in the state of North Dakota, it's kind of hard to

[1:33:18] determine. >> It's all over the board.

[1:33:20] » Yeah, where electrical um

[1:33:23] we're within that area for what the state of North Dakota has. If you're

[1:33:26] somewhere else, it might not be be the same, so.

[1:33:33] And I did go look up GS scale for each of these positions, too.

[1:33:37] Um we're at 20 between that 23 and 27 for most of

[1:33:42] them. That's kind of about where the starting is cuz

[1:33:45] the GS pay for North Dakota, um it's a base pay and then they add 17% of it.

[1:33:50] They try and base it off of uh what the national average is.

[1:33:54] So, it's 17% higher than or they increase it 17% so they can keep it

[1:34:00] competitive for the coming positions.

[1:34:14] » And we both know this is a lot to take in. Um

[1:34:18] it was Chris spent about the entire week last week doing research and putting

[1:34:24] aside a few things. Um

[1:34:28] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[1:34:30] Um >> Looking at it, it just um

[1:34:33] as an outsider coming in, they just didn't like progression for like some of

[1:34:38] your entry-level people or if I want to say it didn't it was

[1:34:42] inconsistent, but it seems inconsistent on um

[1:34:45] kind of harder to keep guys that just are the

[1:34:49] younger guys that start out. Um there's always places to go. There's no

[1:34:53] There's not that next um possible raise. I don't want to say it,

[1:34:58] but that um there's no outlook for when the next

[1:35:02] raise becomes. So, it's just kind of hit and miss and

[1:35:05] depending on how well um

[1:35:08] your supervisor documents on your evaluations,

[1:35:12] um that can also hurt you in that way, too, for not getting a raise. So, I

[1:35:15] figured uh something structured would probably help and it would give someone

[1:35:18] more outlook and um probably maybe keep people a little

[1:35:23] bit longer than what we have recently. That's some of them. So.

[1:35:27] » Yeah. I mean, we've had four employees resign

[1:35:31] over the last 2 years in public works. It'd be nice to have a little better

[1:35:36] retention than that, I think.

[1:35:43] » My My biggest concern is, and I think I talked to you about this, is how do you

[1:35:47] is is we want we obviously want to keep good employees, but I don't want to

[1:35:52] reward a bad employee if they're not, you know, so I think it's important that

[1:35:56] we figure out how we're going to evaluate these people and do a good job.

[1:36:00] Supervisors doing a good job of documenting what these what they're

[1:36:04] doing because you know, we can't we can't afford to

[1:36:08] spend 2 3 years to train somebody and then they're gone and they're a good

[1:36:13] employee. >> I think we have a good process.

[1:36:17] They're just not done. >> Right.

[1:36:19] » Or it's done by Casey, which is not day-to-day with everybody.

[1:36:23] » Right. >> Yep. And we we had that discussion on

[1:36:26] Wednesday, too. So, supervisors know that it's expected of them to fill out

[1:36:31] evaluations for their employees, which is another reason why we're

[1:36:34] departmentalizing a little bit more. Um

[1:36:37] Zach, Greg works under Zach majority of the time. Zach would be expected to do

[1:36:42] Greg's eval. Same with Roy doing Brian. Jay at full capacity would have to that

[1:36:48] he'd have to do. So, then I would do evals on the supervisors and then on my

[1:36:55] own employees as well. >> Is it enough to do them just once a year

[1:36:58] though? >> You know, that's a good question. Is

[1:37:02] that something that you guys would like to see more of?

[1:37:05] » curious cuz if you have issues, that'd be a good time to correct any issues or

[1:37:08] concerns you may have at 6 months per say.

[1:37:11] » Well, >> you're supposed to have one at the

[1:37:13] 6-month evaluation, but then we also expect

[1:37:16] if there's something that happens in the meantime that

[1:37:21] Casey has a nice form that you would fill out and that gets turned in, so

[1:37:24] that is part of the evaluation process when it comes.

[1:37:27] » Yep. There it goes. They're supposed to be completed. It's We We do have a

[1:37:31] process. It's um It's It's like an assistance form. I

[1:37:35] can't remember the name of it right now, but I'll pull it up. The form is

[1:37:39] intended to assist our employees in areas that they may not be um

[1:37:45] excelling at. Um you know, we we use it as a growing

[1:37:49] opportunity, not as a punishment opportunity.

[1:37:52] Um, and it's it's st- you know, step one of

[1:37:56] documenting what are these employees doing? Are we Are we progressing where

[1:38:01] we need to with areas that they may be having troubles in?

[1:38:05] Um, then we come back. There's a game plan, come back within a 4-week period,

[1:38:11] whatever the supervisor feels is appropriate.

[1:38:14] Um, and we reevaluate and see how they're doing at that time. If it's

[1:38:19] improvement, then great. Then it's just a just a light mark on their year-long

[1:38:25] record. If it's something that needs to continue to be worked on though, then

[1:38:29] more documentation is had and then you hope not to get to the point of

[1:38:33] termination, but if there's just no improvement and these are vital things

[1:38:37] that need to be fixed, then termination is a discussion at that time.

[1:38:42] » Do you guys have expectations? Do you have Do you have

[1:38:46] Do you have written down expectations that if I have a guy starting in public

[1:38:50] works today in your area, I expect you in 6 months you should be able to do X,

[1:38:56] Y, Z. >> We don't have it written down though.

[1:38:58] » I think you should. I think it all should be expressed to them

[1:39:03] you know, when you when when you're hired so that they know, hey, this is

[1:39:06] this is where our expectations are. And uh

[1:39:10] otherwise, they don't really know that that gives them the goal to know what

[1:39:14] they're what what what is expected of me, you know?

[1:39:17] So, just a thought.

[1:39:19] So, I don't know how that would be

[1:39:21] implemented, but >> We could change that counseling form

[1:39:25] completely around if you wanted to. It doesn't have to be just negative. We can

[1:39:29] you can do one for the start of the year.

[1:39:33] Here's where I think you should be and we'll reevaluate in the next 6 months.

[1:39:37] It doesn't doesn't have to be negative. We can we can create it as a

[1:39:41] kind of an an everything, so >> Yeah.

[1:39:43] » you could say, "Here's where I think you're at right now. Here's where I'd

[1:39:46] like to see you 6 months from now." And then you could follow up in 6 months and

[1:39:51] go through and say, "Here's the things you've met so far.

[1:39:56] Here's the next few things you can work on." And then you do your yearly

[1:39:59] evaluation rather than trying to remember what everyone what someone did

[1:40:03] for an entire year. >> Speak up a little bit.

[1:40:05] » Well, this would give them with that this would give them this would give

[1:40:09] them a scale of what if they meet these expectations, this is what you'll be

[1:40:13] your pay will be increased, correct? >> Ideally.

[1:40:16] » Right. >> Ideally, one of those five options,

[1:40:18] yeah. >> But you could use you wouldn't

[1:40:20] necessarily have to recreate this. You could just use the evaluation form and

[1:40:23] say, >> Here's the goals, yeah.

[1:40:25] » Because it's listed as goals. Of this is what we

[1:40:29] This is This is your strength, this is your

[1:40:32] weaknesses, this is what we what goal we want you to work on.

[1:40:38] » And then uh you have to make sure that you Yeah, okay, what what is expected in

[1:40:43] order for you to get that? You have to have that have to be a clear whether

[1:40:47] it's whatever that might be just as long as

[1:40:50] that's clear that you have to meet the you're expected to meet these goals or

[1:40:53] these things in order to qualify for the next one.

[1:41:02] » Don't expect that by the next meeting. >> So next week?

[1:41:06] » Or next week. It's going to take time to put together.

[1:41:10] » I was in the meeting. Hopefully you were involved, but

[1:41:12] So what was the consensus of the employees? Did they like

[1:41:17] the like step process or did they like a performance-based

[1:41:21] process? >> I think the consensus was a little bit

[1:41:24] of both. Um here's what they here's what the consensus was that I recall, and you

[1:41:29] guys correct me if I'm wrong. Um they'd like to see a structure. They

[1:41:33] want to see a plan. Um Um, they actually, correct me if I'm

[1:41:38] wrong, didn't think that a uh probationary increase wasn't a wasn't

[1:41:43] necessary if there's a plan in place. Um, right now for new employees, if you

[1:41:50] get through your first 6 months with positive reviews, you get a dollar

[1:41:54] increase. Not necessary.

[1:41:57] Um, yeah, just a game plan would be nice.

[1:42:01] Um, just to show future employees, "Hey, here's the minimum where you'll start

[1:42:06] at. Um, here's the game plan for your future

[1:42:10] endeavors if you do well with the city." Um, but yeah, positive reviews were

[1:42:16] were seen as a beneficial thing.

[1:42:20] » I think the step plan once the goals are down, we have

[1:42:24] something to shoot for. I guess we go off of the performance.

[1:42:29] Less structure, you know, less steps on where where that's out there.

[1:42:33] That's how I get more money. I would I would go with that.

[1:42:37] That's >> But I think you almost have to use the

[1:42:40] the the evaluations to say if you're not

[1:42:44] meeting these goals, you still can't make the the next step.

[1:42:48] Like if cuz that we're rewarding the bad

[1:42:52] behaviors, which we don't want.

[1:42:57] » I think maybe we should add if you guys thought so, but

[1:43:04] maybe add more levels, if that makes sense. Like,

[1:43:09] rather than I might be looking at this wrong, but

[1:43:13] » Which tab you looking at? Yeah, I'll come back to it.

[1:43:17] » with the military one, the first one. >> The first one? Okay.

[1:43:20] » But, just like with any of them that are doing that structure though, is maybe

[1:43:24] have like a a streets level 1 2 3, and if you get

[1:43:31] you know, if you do different things and you go get other trainings that benefit

[1:43:35] your job, you know, like maybe that would be made maybe don't even require

[1:43:39] like you go get your CDL, all that moves you up to a level two automatically.

[1:43:44] And that can happen throughout the year as well. It doesn't have to be it

[1:43:47] necessarily at your review time. >> What's correct me if I'm wrong? If

[1:43:51] » that kind of build into? >> That's So, if you started at an entry

[1:43:54] » Yep. >> and then you go to level two and then

[1:43:55] you go to level three. So, this is more of a tiered step program. So, if you

[1:43:57] meet certain requirements, you move down. So, I had to set it up that way

[1:43:58] cuz there was there was too much on there. So, all the entry levels I had to

[1:44:00] set it up that way cuz it was too much on there. So, all the entry levels are

[1:44:05] grouped together and then all the like the more experienced positions and then

[1:44:08] lead positions I have cuz another group. So,

[1:44:12] like if you had I was thinking I was more looking at

[1:44:15] more like big picture maybe down the road if you have more employees, but

[1:44:19] you'd have like that lead street supervisor, the lead water not

[1:44:23] supervisor, but lead water person that they would kind of base off that

[1:44:29] way. So, there three steps for each position and then three steps for

[1:44:33] supervisors. I wasn't sure if I needed three steps, but I was already going

[1:44:36] with three. So, I figured there could be different

[1:44:39] levels of supervisors depending on what qualifications you have in there as

[1:44:42] well. So, >> Yeah, sure. So, yeah, you sounds like

[1:44:45] you probably you're saying what you're thinking just worded it differently.

[1:44:48] » If you look at coal of five, I think it you'll see it better.

[1:44:51] If you look at this coal of P5, it's more grouped together.

[1:44:56] » And I think the use of job descriptions once they're created to

[1:45:02] you know, kind of fit a game plan of what you guys are kind of leaning

[1:45:06] towards, that's going to help distinguish

[1:45:08] where employees would fall into. Once they hit, you know, a separate job

[1:45:13] description than what they're currently at, then we look at

[1:45:17] a new rate. >> So, like

[1:45:20] if Zach was a in year four of waste water entry

[1:45:26] at 2760 and then he gets certifications to go down, you go over two

[1:45:31] and so then he'd be at year

[1:45:36] probably year two of of wastewater skilled.

[1:45:41] And then you'd start working your way over and if he goes to the next he goes

[1:45:44] two years there and then he gets into the next level of the lead, then you go

[1:45:50] down to probably year two you go over two

[1:45:55] and then down, so we're probably at three of wastewater

[1:45:59] lead. >> See I

[1:46:01] I'm on this thing and I don't understand it, so

[1:46:07] » I will tell you the school was much easier. We just go down every year and

[1:46:10] you jump over a lane. >> Yeah, and that's that's what so military

[1:46:14] you just jump straight down and then that's where you're at.

[1:46:17] GS was like I kind of base them off of both.

[1:46:22] » But in reality we don't need to necessarily decide on this tonight. What

[1:46:25] we do need to decide on is what we're going to start people at because

[1:46:32] that's where we're getting the hiccup right now is getting quality people to

[1:46:36] come in. >> And what's that number going to be would

[1:46:39] you determine? >> Both employees

[1:46:43] did say they would start at 25, no less if

[1:46:49] full insurance was offered. They're willing to work with us there.

[1:46:55] Or actually I should both employees that are favorable from the interviews.

[1:47:01] » I This is my personal opinion. I think if we started at 25

[1:47:06] for new employees, got them in as the base level, we plan that in and if you

[1:47:11] added in if they don't take insurance and then we move our current employees

[1:47:16] that would be which would just be Greggy that would be behind

[1:47:20] move him up to that point as well.

[1:47:26] And I mean

[1:47:28] » I want you to move him to the one with the scale I guess I want you to move him

[1:47:31] to that. >> I would, but I'd also I think he's more

[1:47:34] of a waste water skilled labor which would probably be at 28.

[1:47:38] » Okay.

[1:47:44] » And then I mean I think we could it's budgeted so if we don't use the

[1:47:48] insurance we save it so we could offer that as a statement

[1:47:53] if you they want it if we wanted to which would

[1:47:57] also help bring those in other employees in.

[1:48:04] » How could you figure it out on that individual was on five bucks maybe

[1:48:08] actually at every level they'd be making 30 if they didn't take the insurance.

[1:48:12] » If they yep if they just well they'd be making 30 if they took a single

[1:48:16] insurance not a family insurance. >> Right.

[1:48:19] » And they'd be making >> They wouldn't be paying that on

[1:48:23] overtime. >> You wouldn't Yeah it

[1:48:25] » get the 25 it'd just be cuz if you made it as a an actual

[1:48:32] um payroll increase >> Right.

[1:48:34] » then if they decided they wanted insurance you can't really go back and

[1:48:36] » Right. That's where if it's a statement

[1:48:39] » Yeah it's got to be a statement no other way of really doing it I don't think.

[1:48:43] Cuz you're right then you got things really goofed up.

[1:48:52] » Um >> Any issues doing that Jared?

[1:48:56] » I'm sorry? >> Any issues with giving a statement

[1:48:59] something like that is there? >> Yeah.

[1:49:02] » That's >> That's how maybe the government would

[1:49:03] use a different word than statement you know.

[1:49:07] » Call it whatever you want at the end of the day it's still the same wages so

[1:49:13] » It's about $7.22. >> And they have to deal with the tax side

[1:49:18] of it. >> Right. We're not going to address any of

[1:49:20] that. That's going to get a They're going to get a

[1:49:24] a 1099 for that. >> No.

[1:49:26] » On the stipend, it'd be worked right into their payroll.

[1:49:30] Yep. >> Put it in their income.

[1:49:33] » Yep.

[1:49:35] » You could make So, >> I think that should be on them because

[1:49:38] if you're going to work it into their payroll, now you're paying more on the

[1:49:41] On our side, we're paying more on on FICA.

[1:49:44] » So, here's my thought behind it. Instead of

[1:49:48] if making it 7,500, that covers us to pay the cola

[1:49:53] or pay all the other stuff. Cuz it's actually costing us 12.

[1:49:58] » For a single policy? 980-some bucks a month.

[1:50:05] For a single.

[1:50:08] » So, it's costing us $11,000. Almost 11,760

[1:50:14] for a single.

[1:50:19] » What do you call it with the 7,500 number then?

[1:50:23] » Cuz that stays underneath

[1:50:28] what um

[1:50:30] Honestly, I went off what the school does.

[1:50:33] » Yeah. I'll I'll look it up for you. I have a

[1:50:35] » pays a stipend out. Now, their rule is is that if you don't if you take it

[1:50:41] it needs to be um

[1:50:45] If you take it out as cash, you have to pay

[1:50:48] the taxes on it. >> Mhm.

[1:50:50] » But that's the max they pay out on insurance is 7 grand.

[1:50:54] » Okay. >> Or And so, if you go over that

[1:50:59] if you take it out as an HSA or anything else as something that's pre-tax, then

[1:51:03] you don't have to pay tax.

[1:51:07] This number I It covers the 33%

[1:51:11] of what we would be need to put in to cover. So,

[1:51:16] » That That's my big thing is that it's not costing us more than it is the

[1:51:21] the new health insurance side of it. >> And we don't need to change this. I

[1:51:24] mean, this would be a one-time It sets at 7,500 and it stays no matter what our

[1:51:29] insurance costs go up unless we want to reevaluate it.

[1:51:32] » Mhm.

[1:51:38] » I also just This is

[1:51:41] Excuse me, a starting point.

[1:51:47] Let's do the hard part first. What would you like

[1:51:49] to start new employees at?

[1:51:53] » If we think we can get them for 25, I wouldn't

[1:51:56] As long as the auditor can just can do the numbers.

[1:52:03] Uh >> Is there a motion to start new employees

[1:52:05] at 25? >> I'll move.

[1:52:07] » Is there a second? >> the discussion.

[1:52:09] I'll second that. >> Seconded by Jason. Any other discussion?

[1:52:12] » Okay, so we start So, if we're going to start the new employees at that, then

[1:52:15] what do we do with the current ones? >> That would be another separate motion.

[1:52:20] So, like Chris said, everybody besides

[1:52:25] The only one we have to worry about is Greg E.

[1:52:27] » Okay. >> Everybody else fits into what this

[1:52:30] » I just didn't know if you wanted it in that motion or the current

[1:52:32] » No, I'd like to do two separate motions would be our best.

[1:52:43] Any other discussion? John?

[1:52:47] » Yes. >> Jason?

[1:52:48] » Yes. >> Paul?

[1:52:49] » Yes. >> Yes for me. Motion carries.

[1:52:53] I'd entertain a motion to move Greg E. into the wastewater skilled

[1:52:59] starting position, which is 28. Would that be okay with you?

[1:53:04] » Water wastewater, correct? Water wastewater skilled.

[1:53:08] » water skilled, yeah. >> Two.

[1:53:10] » I'll second that. >> Moved by Jason, seconded by Paul. Any

[1:53:14] other discussion?

[1:53:17] Paul? >> Yes.

[1:53:18] » Jason? >> Yes.

[1:53:19] » John? >> Yes.

[1:53:20] » Any abstentions? >> Um would that be applicable to city hall

[1:53:26] staff, too, or no? >> Yeah, for now.

[1:53:29] So, that would be uh we'll go separate on that as well.

[1:53:34] So,

[1:53:37] it's Chris comparable

[1:53:42] in the deputy auditor position? >> Mhm.

[1:53:45] » Okay. So, we'd have to worry about Abby. >> Well,

[1:53:49] Chris or um sorry, I misinterpreted the

[1:53:52] question. Um right now,

[1:53:55] he'd be You're making 25 and 1/2 an hour?

[1:54:00] Yep. And then Abby's at 23 something, 23 84, I think. There's

[1:54:06] something Yep.

[1:54:13] » So, you're looking at the 25 and the 28 potentially?

[1:54:17] If I'm reading that right. >> Correct. If you moved to Chris to a

[1:54:21] deputy auditor two and a

[1:54:24] You left Abby at the administrative assistant.

[1:54:28] » That would be my request. >> Do I have a motion to that request?

[1:54:35] » So, you want to move So, you need to I'll I'll move to move Chris to the dep-

[1:54:39] deputy auditor auditor two.

[1:54:43] » Two. >> Two.

[1:54:44] » Okay. >> And Abby to

[1:54:47] » would be assistant >> admin

[1:54:49] » administrative assistant. >> Mhm.

[1:54:51] » Not a specialist. >> Okay.

[1:54:55] » That's my motion to move uh Chris to the deputy auditor two

[1:54:59] and uh and Abby to administrative assistant 25.

[1:55:04] » So second. >> Second.

[1:55:08] » Seconded by Jason, any other discussion?

[1:55:15] John? >> Yes.

[1:55:17] » Jason? >> Yes.

[1:55:18] » Paul? >> Yes.

[1:55:19] » And he asked for me. I'm clarifying this would go into effect

[1:55:22] this payroll or this new payroll cycle.

[1:55:26] » If that's okay with the commission, that'd be great.

[1:55:30] » Based on cuz we're starting the new people coming

[1:55:33] in, I would assume we would move our employees at

[1:55:37] that time, correct? I'm just clarifying. Okay.

[1:55:42] Would you like to do anything with the >> Are we good?

[1:55:46] Are you happy with that? We can do both of those at that time if

[1:55:50] you want to do that. >> Offer it to both of them.

[1:55:54] » That'd be costly. Both of them, right?

[1:55:57] » Uh that's yeah, that's what was discussed at the special meeting was to

[1:56:02] hire two. So.

[1:56:06] No motion then, but just discussion. >> We also talked about putting out

[1:56:10] with the higher wage to see if

[1:56:13] » You got more, yeah? >> More applicants.

[1:56:15] » Um

[1:56:20] Would you want to do that first?

[1:56:24] » Can I have to hire somebody in? >> Huh?

[1:56:26] » Can I have to hire somebody in? >> Well, I'd like to hire at least one.

[1:56:31] » It says yeah, it it is your call. >> I know.

[1:56:33] » I know it's not. >> Jay's going to be gone in a couple

[1:56:37] weeks. I would like to have

[1:56:41] Not as much as Reggie would like.

[1:56:44] Um >> And Zach.

[1:56:46] » But >> And Brian.

[1:56:47] » Like do we want to do anything with the

[1:56:49] statement part of it for the health insurance that might entice?

[1:56:55] » As long as it doesn't cost you guys any more on the FICA side, I'm okay with

[1:56:58] this stipend.

[1:57:01] » I think we're we're bringing in people a lot easier with this stipend.

[1:57:06] I think that would be >> No, it's like you figured a

[1:57:09] guess-estimation is another $5 an hour. >> Right.

[1:57:13] We're going to make great people. There's not just people out there.

[1:57:16] » So, it's 8823. >> Yeah.

[1:57:18] » And it's costing us 11,800. >> This is a single plan.

[1:57:21] » Yeah. >> So, we're we're covered.

[1:57:29] Well, we're looking at this wrong. It's

[1:57:32] technically the difference between

[1:57:36] the single and the

[1:57:40] family plan. So, it'd be

[1:57:43] what's the family plan cost us? >> Uh 2377

[1:57:47] a month, I believe. 2377. >> 2377.

[1:57:52] Here's 12 is 28,524 minus 11,800.

[1:57:58] Which is 16,724.

[1:58:02] » What if I get married? Don't you think what?

[1:58:05] » Yeah. >> So, we're still good.

[1:58:06] » Only thing that

[1:58:09] » It's 16, 724 is the difference

[1:58:14] between a single plan and a family plan. Does that make sense, Paul?

[1:58:18] » Mhm.

[1:58:21] » Did you say something?

[1:58:24] I know there's a difference.

[1:58:39] » Fingers. Helps when I have my normal keyboard.

[1:58:47] » So, in comparison, a single plan, if somebody just take a single plan,

[1:58:53] it saving

[1:58:57] 11 or 16,724, and we're giving back 8823.

[1:59:02] If they don't take any insurance, we're saving 28,000, we're giving them back

[1:59:06] 17. So, they're not getting the full amount.

[1:59:15] on those two. >> What's the second column? Is that family

[1:59:18] now? >> Yep. Yep.

[1:59:19] » Yeah. >> So, if you don't have no family

[1:59:21] insurance at all.

[1:59:24] If their spouse had it,

[1:59:32] » That's a good question. >> Yeah.

[1:59:34] » Why would you offer the family option? >> Why did we offer the family?

[1:59:38] » Yeah. Cuz if you're hiring one person,

[1:59:42] a lot of places that I worked in the past,

[1:59:47] they only pay it for the employee and the family.

[1:59:51] So, I'm just curious, cuz >> Cuz that we offer it currently. We

[1:59:55] started that back when we started it, it only cost us

[1:59:59] $15,000 a year for family health insurance, and that was

[2:00:03] » I mean, >> And that was a big thing to bring people

[2:00:05] in at that time. >> But I'm just wondering as far as this

[2:00:08] type of bills, why

[2:00:11] » If that if the um

[2:00:15] family option, if that person already has a family, would you still offer them

[2:00:19] the family? So, if their spouse has the family

[2:00:24] option, would you would you offer it? >> If they want to take it.

[2:00:27] » Okay, I wasn't sure. Or if you would have if you would just

[2:00:30] offer them the single.

[2:00:33] » No, we've always offered >> Okay.

[2:00:35] » If you need a family plan, we give a family plan. If you need a single plan,

[2:00:39] you take a single plan. >> what he's saying though, so

[2:00:41] » I know. But if we did that, we'd have to change

[2:00:44] everybody. >> Yep.

[2:00:48] Which might happen if insurance keeps going up.

[2:00:54] » Yeah.

[2:01:11] What do you pay it out for the both? >> We plan for family, for any employee

[2:01:17] that we hire. >> But I mean

[2:01:19] like say I'm the employee, if I need a single, it's full, everything's paid,

[2:01:24] there's none that I pay for me employee side?

[2:01:26] » Correct. >> And same with family?

[2:01:28] » Correct.

[2:01:33] » And my family wasn't the 1.2 that you what did the raise for like 2 years?

[2:01:40] » That was when we first put it into place. That was not

[2:01:43] » That's still not in place, right? >> No.

[2:01:45] » No. >> Cuz that was there was

[2:01:48] it was to help mitigate at that time a benefit that some were

[2:01:53] getting and some were not.

[2:02:06] » Do the current employees think that's fair?

[2:02:12] » I want to see one head nodding.

[2:02:17] » They don't want insurance, though. What I'm What I'm getting is the family

[2:02:20] plan is worth more than the three guys. >> Mhm.

[2:02:24] » We're going to save the people who don't take it, I think.

[2:02:28] » We are. >> Mhm.

[2:02:29] » We would benefit if they don't take it. >> According to those numbers.

[2:02:34] » Yeah. If you break it down by hour

[2:02:37] you know, if a single plan is what you guys wanted to offer, going

[2:02:42] to be an extra $3.60 per hour.

[2:02:45] You know, take it times your average hours

[2:02:49] uh per month. And then, the family plan would be an extra $7.21.

[2:02:56] Am I right? Or are you right? >> When you get that number, can you share

[2:03:01] it with us? >> Yeah.

[2:03:02] » Thank you.

[2:03:05] Just in case somebody asks.

[2:03:09] 10 4 >> would be

[2:03:12] » It's 7,500 divided by >> 2,080.

[2:03:18] » I guess I did 52 weeks a year. >> Oh, okay.

[2:03:21] » Divided by 40 hours. I got you right. 60.

[2:03:26] I don't know why I was thinking five. What is

[2:03:28] » That's okay.

[2:03:32] Yep. So, am I right in thinking to offer is the motion to offer position

[2:03:40] » No motion. No motion needed. >> Um but is the general consensus to offer

[2:03:45] two positions or one position? What would you guys like to do? Do I

[2:03:49] need to set up more interviews or no? >> I think I think I would.

[2:03:55] Unless you're really happy with the two people you got.

[2:03:59] I mean, you got questions or not? You never know. This is quite a boost

[2:04:03] from my first offer, correct?

[2:04:06] » I'm just wondering what kind of response we'll get with a higher wage.

[2:04:09] » Yeah. >> What are the differences in medical

[2:04:13] qualifications or no? >> They don't know.

[2:04:16] » That's why I'm saying, if you at least do one, you'll know one for sure.

[2:04:21] » Do you have a request of which one you'd like to hire first?

[2:04:24] » I would like to talk with Casey.

[2:04:35] » Do you want to hire this week or do you want to wait until you're on vacation?

[2:04:39] That's the big question I'll throw back to you. Cuz we're taking vacation at the

[2:04:44] same time and I'm not doing this before my

[2:04:47] figure it out real quick. >> I think if you want somebody hired by

[2:04:52] next week, you better

[2:04:55] » Okay, so is there a motion? You're requesting a motion to hire

[2:05:02] Dustin? Is that the consensus?

[2:05:06] » Yeah, it was. >> Okay.

[2:05:09] » Before we get to that, do you want to put this in

[2:05:12] Do we want to do the family insurance

[2:05:16] as an offer?

[2:05:19] » The stipend you mean or the family insurance?

[2:05:21] » The stipend is for Yeah.

[2:05:25] » Yeah, I do we need a motion for that? >> Yes.

[2:05:27] » Okay. So we can make a motion for both the

[2:05:30] single and the family or do we do the single or

[2:05:31] » Single or family? So you only take a single, you get 7,500. If you take a

[2:05:36] fam- If you don't take any insurance, you get 1,500. One time our stipend

[2:05:41] break off across 12 months. >> They would have to be eligible for a

[2:05:45] family. >> They would have to be eligible for a

[2:05:48] family, yeah.

[2:05:51] » So the single person has to request the family.

[2:05:53] » Right. Right.

[2:05:57] Which most would be. I mean, if they're if they're taking insurance from

[2:06:01] somebody else, they are

[2:06:04] they have a spouse that is paying for it. Unless they're paying out of their

[2:06:07] pocket and I can't imagine anybody paying out of pocket for insurance right

[2:06:10] now.

[2:06:13] Is that your motion, Paul? >> Yes.

[2:06:15] » Is there a second? >> So the stipend would be 750 for a single

[2:06:19] and 1,500 for a family, correct? >> Correct.

[2:06:21] » That'd be my motion then. >> I'll second.

[2:06:28] » 750 if you only take a single policy and 1,500 you don't take any policy, then

[2:06:33] you're eligible.

[2:06:37] Moved by Paul, second by >> 7500 and 15.

[2:06:40] » Yeah, 7500. Moved by John, or second by John.

[2:06:44] » Yeah. >> 7500

[2:06:47] » No, 7500. >> Are we talking monthly or yearly?

[2:06:52] » That's yearly. >> I'm talking monthly.

[2:06:56] » Well, you're going to get more. >> Here, you per month

[2:07:00] » 1250 1250 >> 7500

[2:07:03] » I can't see that far. >> It'd be a stipend of 625 a month for a

[2:07:07] single, and then a stipend of 1250 for a family.

[2:07:13] » Which is double.

[2:07:17] Okay. >> Yep.

[2:07:18] » Any other discussion? Jason?

[2:07:21] » Yes. >> John?

[2:07:22] » Yes. >> Paul?

[2:07:23] » Yes. >> Any nays from me?

[2:07:25] Motion carries. And the last motion for tonight,

[2:07:28] hopefully, is to hire huh?

[2:07:32] » I'm motioned out. >> To hire Dustin

[2:07:36] as public works employee with those offers, and if he doesn't take the

[2:07:40] offer, we could offer it to Colt.

[2:07:44] » Mhm. >> Who's the second?

[2:07:46] Do I have a motion for that? >> I move.

[2:07:50] » Second?

[2:07:53] » I'll second it. >> Moved by Jason, second by John. Any

[2:07:57] other discussion? Paul?

[2:07:59] » I better abstain from this one, probably.

[2:08:01] » You probably should. >> Okay.

[2:08:03] » Jason? >> Yes.

[2:08:05] » Yes. Any nays from me? Motion carries. >> If it's the Dustin I'm thinking of.

[2:08:09] » It is. >> It is.

[2:08:12] » They don't talk to me, so I'm just suspecting that.

[2:08:20] » Anything else?

[2:08:25] Um Pay to remind her.

[2:08:28] » Pay to remind her, yes. League of Cities conference is the 17th

[2:08:32] and 18th. Actually, it starts on

[2:08:36] Wednesday. If you want, uh,

[2:08:39] if those that are signed up, and probably if you're not even signed up,

[2:08:42] if you want to go to um,

[2:08:46] » A2S's? >> A2S's party up in Grand Forks on

[2:08:49] Thursday night. >> Yep.

[2:08:51] » Just email Steve and you can get into the

[2:08:55] » Rhombus Guys. >> We're on

[2:08:57] » second floor. >> second floor. Yep.

[2:09:00] Any of you are interested. Budgeting is or at our next meeting.

[2:09:06] We'll schedule that >> Yes.

[2:09:07] » for um,

[2:09:10] right away. >> Yeah.

[2:09:11] » And will we see that ahead of time so we can peruse it, do things?

[2:09:15] » Budget? >> Yeah, has anything changed?

[2:09:18] » Well, now it will. >> Yeah, can you send that to you

[2:09:21] for slow people like me trying to get that a little bit?

[2:09:25] » You might be able to see it on Sunday after my fundraiser in Galesburg's done.

[2:09:30] That fair? >> Tuesday deadline.

[2:09:33] » Okay, got it.

[2:09:36] » Give you a week. >> Okay, got it.

[2:09:38] » Before League of Cities. >> Uh-huh.

[2:09:41] Yeah, we can do that. >> Uh, Casey's on vacation the 22nd through

[2:09:47] the 1st. HBA trick-or-treating is the end of

[2:09:50] October. We're closed on Veterans Day the 11th,

[2:09:53] we're closed. The other holidays which are way down

[2:09:57] the line, so. Anything else for the good of the order?

[2:10:02] We don't have any call tonight, so anybody like to pick up on that?

[2:10:05] » I'll do it on my name. >> Yeah, you don't have to do this.

[2:10:08] I can't, so.

[2:10:13] » You're going to have to nominate Casey to make a call or

[2:10:16] something. >> She can't.

[2:10:17] » I'm not a city resident. >> Thank you.

[2:10:22] Thanks for all the work you guys put in on this on this payroll stuff. All of

[2:10:26] you. And we had a good year. We did a lot

[2:10:29] from

[2:10:31] » You made it easy on us, though. >> He probably wishes he never stopped in

[2:10:35] the shop.

[2:10:38] » I motion to adjourn. >> So moved.

[2:10:41] » Second. >> Second it.

[2:10:43] » All those in favor signify John. Any other discussion? All those in favor?

[2:10:48] » Aye. >> Meeting is adjourned.

[2:10:57] » Chris. >> Chris.

[2:10:59] You got to miss the car guy. >> Uh yesterday.

[2:11:04] » I knew I knew that I knew that would be too

[2:11:06] easy. It just didn't

City of Hillsboro City Commission Meeting 9.8.26

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