[0:03] Good evening everyone. Welcome to the

[0:05] Hutchinson City Council meeting for

[0:07] Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026.

[0:12] I call the meeting to order. Approve the

[0:15] council agenda. Any agenda additions or

[0:18] corrections?

[0:19] >> Mayor Council, I don't have any

[0:20] additions or corrections for you.

[0:22] >> Motion to approve.

[0:25] >> Second. Motion by Tim and second by Dave

[0:28] to approve the agenda as presented.

[0:32] Any other discussion? All in favor say

[0:35] I.

[0:36] >> I.

[0:37] >> Say nay. Motion carries implications

[0:39] from the river church.

[0:42] >> Good evening.

[0:45] >> Pastor David Blair at the river church.

[0:47] Uh let's pray. Father, we just thank you

[0:50] again for this uh wonderful evening. And

[0:52] Lord, we thank you for this beautiful

[0:54] weather and thank you for everyone

[0:55] represented here tonight. Lord, our city

[0:58] council members, mayor, uh faculty,

[1:00] administration, um fire department,

[1:03] police. Lord, we just thank you for

[1:05] everyone that is a part of of the city

[1:07] government. Lord, that you just continue

[1:09] to protect each and every single person.

[1:11] Uh Lord, as they're serving, doing their

[1:13] duties, Lord, thank you for their

[1:14] faithfulness. And Lord, we just thank

[1:16] you for wisdom upon them uh as they make

[1:18] these decisions, Lord, weekend and and

[1:21] you know, throughout the month that

[1:23] Father God, in everything everything

[1:24] that we do, every decision we make, you

[1:26] would be glorified and we give you the

[1:28] praise in Jesus' name. Amen.

[1:30] >> Amen.

[1:31] >> Thank you.

[1:32] >> Next, the pledge of allegiance.

[1:38] I pledge algiance to the flag of the

[1:40] United States of America and to the

[1:43] republic for which it stands. One nation

[1:46] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:49] justice for all.

[1:53] » Recognition of gifts, donations, and

[1:55] community service to the city. Does

[1:58] anyone have anything tonight?

[2:02] I just wanted to uh Lynn, is that

[2:05] sentence to serve that is cleaning up

[2:07] the river bank? Do you know?

[2:10] >> I am not sure.

[2:12] >> I did reach out to Sarah. Okay.

[2:16] >> Asking Yes. And she was going to do some

[2:18] follow.

[2:20] >> Okay. Just want to throw out a thank you

[2:22] that they've been cleaning up the north

[2:24] bait there. Looks nice. Um all right. We

[2:28] do have two resolutions underneath

[2:30] there. We have resolution number 16067,

[2:34] resolution accepting $2,000 donations

[2:38] from Walmart for the Hutchinson Police

[2:40] Department future equipment purchases.

[2:44] And uh

[2:47] B is resolution number 16073

[2:51] resolution accepting donations from

[2:54] Joyce Hoffsprung as a variety of D liies

[2:57] to the park department.

[3:00] >> Motion to accept resolution 16676073.

[3:07] » Second.

[3:09] Motion by Pat, second by Dave to accept

[3:12] those two donations. Any other

[3:14] discussion? All in favor say I. I.

[3:18] >> Post say nay. Motion carries. Public

[3:21] comment uh just please come forward and

[3:25] uh ask to be recognized by the mayor.

[3:27] State your name and address for the

[3:29] record. Please keep your comments under

[3:32] five minutes.

[3:36] All righty. Moving on.

[3:38] Uh, we have the approval of minutes. We

[3:41] have the regular meeting minutes of

[3:42] September 8th, 2026.

[3:46] >> Make a motion to approve those minutes.

[3:49] >> Second.

[3:50] >> Motion by Chad, second by Pat to approve

[3:53] those minutes as presented. Any other

[3:56] discussion?

[3:57] All in favor say I.

[3:59] >> I. Oppose. Say nay. Motion carries.

[4:02] Consent agenda. This will be done with

[4:04] one motion unless somebody pulls

[4:06] something off for discussion.

[4:10] A is consideration for approval of

[4:12] resolution number 1666

[4:16] resolution

[4:17] to dispose of surplus

[4:20] park and recreation department property

[4:24] and that's a 2011 Ford truck via

[4:28] consideration for approval of resolution

[4:31] number 16071

[4:34] resolution to sell at auction surplus

[4:37] police department property.

[4:39] And that's a 2017 Chevy Suburban.

[4:43] Uh C is consideration for approval of

[4:47] resolution number 16072

[4:51] resolution supporting the pursuit of a

[4:56] Minnesota environment and national

[4:59] natural resource trust fund grant for

[5:02] funding of the otter and Campbell Lake

[5:06] accessibility recreation opportunity

[5:08] project.

[5:10] B. Uh D is uh consideration for approval

[5:14] of design services for clarificator

[5:19] clarifier

[5:20] merchant merchant

[5:22] >> mechanism There you go. Thank you.

[5:25] patent replacement agreement with neuros

[5:29] engineering is consideration for

[5:32] approval of replacing of the handicap

[5:36] lift at birch arena that's in the east

[5:40] uh f is consideration for approval to

[5:44] accept proposal from the Larsson

[5:46] engineering to proceed with the next

[5:48] step for outdoor basketball court

[5:52] project at JC women's Park. G is

[5:56] consideration for approval of a 2026

[6:01] Chevrolet Tahoe for the Hutchinson

[6:04] Police Department.

[6:06] H is consideration for approval of

[6:09] airport hangar grant fund closeout.

[6:13] Um

[6:15] I is consideration for approval of

[6:18] spooky sprint event on October 31st,

[6:22] 2026.

[6:24] Jay is a appointment of Josh Wetland to

[6:27] the Hutchinson Utilities Commission

[6:30] until December of 2030

[6:34] in case uh claimed appropriation and

[6:37] contract payments.

[6:39] Anything anybody wants to pull off?

[6:43] >> I'll make a motion to approve the

[6:44] consent agenda.

[6:46] >> Second motion by Chad, second by Pat to

[6:50] approve the consent agenda.

[6:53] Any other discussion?

[6:56] All in favor say I.

[6:57] >> I.

[6:58] >> Say nay. Motion carries.

[7:01] We do not have a public hearing. Nothing

[7:04] under commission communications,

[7:07] requests, and petitions. No unfinished

[7:10] business. New business. We have uh

[7:14] resolution number 16068

[7:18] approving the

[7:20] uh 2027

[7:23] H preliminary tax levy. Um mayor and

[7:27] council, I'm really going to kind of

[7:29] just do a brief summary for items number

[7:32] eight, nine, and 10 having to do with uh

[7:35] the proposed uh budget for the um or I'm

[7:39] sorry, the preliminary tax levy for

[7:41] 2026. This is kind of a summary of the

[7:43] workshop meeting that we had um on the

[7:45] 8th of September, but I thought it'd be

[7:47] a good just for um for the council and

[7:51] for the public just to kind of have a

[7:53] brief summary of that. Then we can get

[7:54] into the action items on your agenda.

[7:56] And so as we look at the preliminary

[7:58] levy and budget for 2026, I'd say um as

[8:03] it's being presented to you tonight,

[8:05] there's kind of three goals that that

[8:07] budget accomplishes. One, to keep city

[8:08] services as is. That was kind of the

[8:10] discussion we had back in May when we

[8:13] got together on their budget. Um it

[8:15] looks to improve the city's ability to

[8:16] communicate with the public that that's

[8:18] in reference to the communications

[8:20] position that we've added to the budget

[8:22] for next year and then invest in future

[8:24] infrastructure needs uh for the

[8:26] community. That includes things like the

[8:28] fire truck um the update of uh the city

[8:31] center project that's included within

[8:34] that.

[8:36] Um, included in your packet for action

[8:38] tonight, these are the preliminary

[8:40] levies that are in front of you for

[8:41] discussion and for approval. Um, and

[8:44] those how those have changed since last

[8:46] year. There's been some minor

[8:48] adjustments made since our

[8:51] um, September 8th meeting. Some of that

[8:53] had to do with the general fund going

[8:54] down a little bit. Um, the EDA

[8:57] maximizing their levy amount based off

[9:00] some of those valuations. And so what's

[9:02] being put in front of the council

[9:04] tonight for consideration is a general

[9:06] fund levy where it's at 9.5% increase

[9:09] with a debt fund at 8.1% with an overall

[9:13] um preliminary tax IV increase of 9.1%.

[9:16] Remember um once this is set

[9:18] preliminarily we can't go above that. We

[9:21] can only go lower than what's been set.

[9:22] And then the when you combine the EDA

[9:24] and the HA levies on top of that, you're

[9:26] looking at a total tax impact of about

[9:28] 8.9% increase um from a preliminary

[9:32] standpoint. And so included in that is

[9:34] the debt fund. Um as a portion of that,

[9:37] and if you go back and you look at this

[9:38] slide, you can see that's projected to

[9:40] go up about 8.1%.

[9:42] That includes uh to help fund the cost

[9:45] associated with the new fire truck along

[9:48] with the city center debt. Some of those

[9:50] numbers could change specifically with

[9:51] the city center depending on how goods

[9:53] come in. If they come in lower, if

[9:54] there's a lower cost, the there's a

[9:56] potential for that debt amount to to

[9:58] decrease as well. Um, and I think the

[10:01] important thing that we wanted to look

[10:02] at and so we took we went and we did

[10:05] adjust some of the mean home values.

[10:07] We've seen a seven or I think it was a

[10:09] 7.4% increase in the market value. We

[10:12] assumed that that most likely then most

[10:14] people saw their home value increase.

[10:16] And so I think when we met on the 18th,

[10:18] we said that this was going to have a

[10:19] tax impact of about $17. That that

[10:22] really didn't take into account um a

[10:24] property owner's uh value increase. And

[10:27] so we we tried to do that here, show

[10:29] that increase. So with this preliminary

[10:31] tax levy increase, we're looking on on

[10:33] average. And so this is a median home

[10:34] valued at 285,000, which is what it

[10:37] currently is estimated at based off of

[10:40] sales. It's about a $7 $79 increase or

[10:43] roughly $6.58.

[10:46] um per month based off of if you've got

[10:49] that uh um mean home value at 285,000.

[10:52] Once again, this is just the city's

[10:54] portion. We're not responsible for the

[10:55] county, other school districts, but

[10:57] that's the city's portion of proposed

[10:59] tax levy for next year. You know, a lot

[11:02] of times we always talk about the tax

[11:04] levy increase and very few times do we

[11:07] talk about the tax rate because the

[11:08] important thing to remember is that the

[11:09] tax rate is what gets assign is what

[11:11] gets assigned to the properties. what

[11:13] establishes

[11:15] um the actual tax levy on the individual

[11:17] property. And so that's a combination of

[11:19] yes, we are raising the tax proposed

[11:22] taxes by 9.1%, but we also are seeing a

[11:25] market value of 7.4%.

[11:27] So some of that is being absorbed in

[11:30] that expanded growth of of the value.

[11:32] And so overall, we're looking at less

[11:34] than a 1% increase in our tax rate to an

[11:37] individual's property with this proposed

[11:40] uh tax before next year.

[11:43] Then just some general fund notes. Um

[11:46] general fund revenues include a 9.5% tax

[11:49] levy increase. We've got some uh very

[11:51] minor increases in LGA. Um the pilot

[11:54] payment for HU is going up next year.

[11:58] One of the things that we're seeing is a

[11:59] significant decrease in our cable t

[12:01] franchise fees. A lot of that's due to

[12:03] the the cord cutting. We've had some

[12:05] there's been some conversations at both

[12:07] the state and federal level about

[12:08] potentially looking to address that to

[12:11] some through some changes in the

[12:13] franchise fees, but that that's

[12:15] currently not in place. Um some

[12:18] miscellaneous revenue increases along

[12:20] with some uh increased contributions

[12:22] from the water, sewer, and compost fund,

[12:24] but a 1% tax levy increase to the

[12:26] general fund is equivalent to just over

[12:28] $72,000.

[12:30] Um some of the notes on our expenses

[12:32] with this preliminary budget. Our

[12:34] largest impact is associated with wages

[12:36] and benefits. As we've shared, it's

[12:38] roughly 70 wages and benefits are about

[12:40] 70% of the city's general fund budget.

[12:44] You know, we are an organization that

[12:45] hire and work with people. We don't have

[12:47] machines or equipments. We do, but not

[12:49] at the level like uh you know, a

[12:51] manufacturer may have. So, our biggest

[12:53] expense is

[12:55] people. Included in that is a 12%

[12:57] increase to health insurance. We're

[12:59] still exploring ways to potentially

[13:01] reduce that cost. Also included in that

[13:03] is that new communications position.

[13:06] Um in the preliminary budget, there is

[13:08] that $20,000 budgeted for the Center for

[13:10] the Arts. Um you know, pretty

[13:13] significant increase is our new a new

[13:15] police body cameras contract that's

[13:16] going in effect next year. Um then we've

[13:19] got with with us not hiring a new

[13:22] engineer, we're looking at our

[13:23] professional services going up a little

[13:25] bit to offset that. We're saving some of

[13:27] those costs on the employee side. And

[13:31] then uh currently our preliminary budget

[13:32] is balanced.

[13:35] Um so in review our preliminary city tax

[13:38] levy increase is at 9.1%. When you

[13:41] combine that with the EDA and HR the

[13:43] total impact hers and residents is about

[13:45] a 8.9% increase. Um our our current

[13:49] budget is balanced. If you remember

[13:50] going back to our workshop we are

[13:52] looking at a rate increase within the

[13:53] garbage rates.

[13:55] Um, a large increase in our market value

[13:57] will ease the the tax burden increase to

[13:59] our property taxpayers with the median

[14:01] home seeing a $7 million a year

[14:04] increase. Um, there's obviously still

[14:06] some decisions need to be made between

[14:07] now and December which could impact it.

[14:10] Once again, that number can only go

[14:11] down. It can't go up when we're looking

[14:12] at our preliminary levy. And I always

[14:15] disclaimer, you know, actual property

[14:17] values

[14:19] will vary for property owners. And so I

[14:21] always encourage you take a look. Has

[14:23] your value gone up? Has it gone down?

[14:25] Has it stayed the same? Because at the

[14:26] end of the day, that each and every

[14:29] individual's property is going to be

[14:31] impacted a little bit or slightly

[14:32] different. You know, we show kind of

[14:34] that median. This is what your home

[14:37] value is at. If anybody in town wants to

[14:39] know, okay, what's this proposed tax le

[14:41] going to do to my home? If you want to

[14:43] call me, tell me, hey, this is what my

[14:44] value is going up to, I can give you an

[14:47] estimate on, okay, this is what that

[14:49] city's portion of that tax is going to

[14:51] be.

[14:52] So that was just a a quick five minute

[14:55] presentation on the hour and 15 minute

[14:58] workshop that I had um prior to our our

[15:01] last meeting going through this budget.

[15:03] So I encourage people if they have

[15:04] additional questions go back and take a

[15:06] look at that. But in front of the

[15:08] council tonight for consideration are a

[15:09] couple different action items um with

[15:12] the first one being um the resolution

[15:14] that's in front of you for the HR. Um

[15:17] that's set at 173,000. And that's a the

[15:20] preliminary levy is a 0% increase from

[15:22] the 2026 levy.

[15:27] » I'd make a motion to approve the H

[15:29] preliminary levy.

[15:32] >> Second

[15:35] by Chad, second by Pat to approve the H

[15:38] preliminary tax levy. Any other

[15:41] discussion?

[15:43] All in favor say I.

[15:44] >> I. Post say nay. Motion carries.

[15:48] Um the second item resolution 16069 is

[15:52] setting the preliminary tax levy for the

[15:54] EDA. Both the HA and the EDA there's a

[15:57] formula that's used by it's a

[15:59] combination of what your your value is

[16:01] within the community and then there's an

[16:03] actual rate that's set by the state. Um,

[16:06] and so what the EDA is proposing is to

[16:08] set it at the max amount, which is

[16:10] $37,752,

[16:13] which is I think just over a 7% increase

[16:15] from 2026.

[16:19] And make a motion to approve the EDA

[16:20] preliminary preliminary tax levy.

[16:25] >> Second.

[16:27] >> Motion by Chad, second by Pat to

[16:29] approve. Any other discussion? All in

[16:32] favor say I. I oppos nay. Motion

[16:36] carries.

[16:38] >> And then the last item, resolution

[16:40] 16070.

[16:42] That's the general fund um tax levy

[16:44] along with the debt service levy. Um a

[16:46] lot of the information that I showed

[16:48] briefly on the screen tonight was also

[16:50] included in your council packet. And so

[16:52] what's in front of you tonight includes

[16:54] the general fund along with the tax

[16:56] abatement and our debt levy. Um, so

[16:59] we're looking at a preliminary tax levy

[17:01] of 10,761,270,

[17:04] which is a 9.1% increase um, from 2026.

[17:13] » Motion to approve.

[17:16] >> Second.

[17:17] >> Motion by Tim, second by Dave to

[17:19] approve.

[17:21] >> Any other discussion?

[17:23] >> I just want to ask when you said 2026,

[17:25] you went 2027. Well, it was increased

[17:28] from 26 to 27. Sorry if I misspoke on

[17:32] that. So,

[17:34] >> any other discussion?

[17:36] >> All in favor say I.

[17:38] >> I. Both say nay. Motion carries.

[17:42] Thanks, Matt. Mhm.

[17:45] >> Uh

[17:47] setting annual city recognition event

[17:50] for November 5th, 2026

[17:54] at 5:30 p.m. at the Hutch Event Center.

[17:57] >> Mayor Council, this is that first

[17:58] Thursday in November, which is kind of

[18:00] what we've historically

[18:02] done. And so

[18:04] >> it's kind of early. You You need extra

[18:07] time for your bad

[18:08] >> my bad jokes.

[18:09] >> Yeah, your dad jokes.

[18:10] >> Depends on how long how long you want me

[18:12] to go. Oh, okay.

[18:13] >> We're kind of looking since you have

[18:14] this much time.

[18:15] >> Yeah.

[18:16] >> A little improvement in the humor.

[18:21] » You know, I always say you guys are

[18:22] welcome to be a part of this. So, if you

[18:24] guys want to get up and and share some things, you can act factual things.

[18:30] >> Factual.

[18:31] >> That would be well advised.

[18:33] >> Ill advised.

[18:35] >> Well, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

[18:37] So, I'll make a motion to approve

[18:38] sitting that is a meeting.

[18:40] >> Second.

[18:44] Seconded. I'm sorry.

[18:47] Okay. Motion by Chad, second by Pat to

[18:50] approve. Any other discussion? All in

[18:53] favor say I.

[18:54] >> I.

[18:55] >> Oppos. Motion carries. Uh setting truth

[19:00] and taxation hearing for December 3rd,

[19:03] 2026 at 6 pm.

[19:07] Um,

[19:08] I sent this out to Matt and uh, that day

[19:12] is the same day as the Hutchinson Health

[19:14] does their Christmas or holiday kickoff.

[19:20] This is a personal request. I'll be your

[19:22] alarm because I I think it's important

[19:23] for a councilman to be there. Last year,

[19:25] this felt the same way and I took the

[19:27] role of Santa Claus. Hope there's no

[19:30] kids.

[19:34] I'm wondering or I'm asking if we could

[19:36] do it Wednesday the second. So,

[19:38] >> um Pat reached out to me. The first is

[19:40] when the county board is doing theirs,

[19:42] which is that Tuesday. Um Wednesday is

[19:44] fine by me if we want to move it to

[19:47] Wednesday at 6:00. So,

[19:49] >> I'd be fine with that.

[19:51] >> The December 2nd then

[19:54] >> December 2nd at 6.

[19:57] >> Okay.

[20:00] You want to make a motion of that, Pat?

[20:02] >> Motion to approve truth and taxation

[20:04] hearing for December 2nd at 6 PM.

[20:08] >> I'll second that.

[20:10] >> Motion by Pat, second by Chad to set the

[20:13] truth and taxation meeting. Any other

[20:16] discussion? All in favor say I. I.

[20:20] >> Most say nay. Motion carries.

[20:24] Hi Hutcherson, Aquatic Center, Waterlide

[20:28] Restoration and Repair.

[20:32] » Good evening, Mayor and Council.

[20:34] Included in your packet this evening is

[20:36] a memo from myself and Randy Carter, our

[20:39] facility maintenance manager with Parks

[20:40] and Wreck. Um about the aquatic center

[20:43] water slide restoration repairs. Um, the

[20:46] Hutchinson Family Aquatic Center water

[20:47] slides have been experiencing some

[20:49] deterioration, leaking seams, alignment

[20:52] issues, loose hardware, and premature

[20:54] interior and exterior coating wear. Um,

[20:58] throughout the summer, we were trying to

[20:59] get in contact with Fiser Brothers, and

[21:01] they were able to come out and view the

[21:04] water slides firsthand with an on-site

[21:06] visit. Fisher Brothers is a highly

[21:08] reputable um, company that specializes

[21:11] in water slide inspection and also

[21:13] restoration and repair. Um included in

[21:16] your packet is the comprehensive um

[21:20] report that they put together where they

[21:22] found um some issues with our water

[21:25] slides mainly in the slide joints um

[21:29] which resulted in numerous leaks and we

[21:32] were losing approximately 10,000 gallons

[21:34] per week of our heated and treated

[21:36] water. Um, city staff was asked to come

[21:39] on site and view some of the issues we

[21:42] were having and demonstrate the need for

[21:44] these repairs. Um, also to get another

[21:48] quote, we received um, another quote

[21:51] from another company which was

[21:54] considerably higher than Fischer

[21:56] Brothers and Fisher Brothers is again a

[21:58] really um, reputable company that a lot

[22:00] of the aquatic centers across the state

[22:03] of Minnesota rely on. Um there was

[22:07] numerous things listed in the report

[22:09] which is included in your packet if you

[22:11] want to um view that and see some more

[22:14] of what we're what we're working with.

[22:16] Uh but we also included in the CIP for

[22:19] next year um we had allocated about

[22:22] 125,000 to look at doing some new water

[22:25] features at the aquatic aquatic center.

[22:28] Um, with these new play features, um,

[22:31] this need for the water slide repair and

[22:32] restoration is a higher priority for us,

[22:35] taking care of what we currently do have

[22:37] instead of adding new ones. So, we're

[22:39] um, requesting that we can allocate

[22:41] those funds a little bit differently.

[22:43] Um, instead of adding new play features,

[22:45] we would look to do this restoration of

[22:48] the slides. Um, but instead of using

[22:51] community improvement dollars, we would

[22:52] fund this through capital projects. Um

[22:55] the quotes that were received Fisher

[22:56] Brothers was the lower quote at

[22:58] $133,500.

[23:01] Their proposed work would um start this

[23:04] winter already in November. Um they

[23:06] would do some of the site some of the

[23:08] repairs on site and they would take some

[23:10] of the slides back to their shop and

[23:12] then they would reassemble and finish

[23:14] the restoration in spring of 2027. Um if

[23:19] approved this evening, this anticipated

[23:21] work would not impact any of our

[23:23] operations for next year. Um giving them

[23:26] enough time to complete the work. Um so

[23:29] staff is recommending the approval of

[23:31] the 133,500 restoration with Fiser

[23:34] Brothers and I don't know if anyone has

[23:36] any questions.

[23:38] >> You answered it already. I was just

[23:40] wondering if it was going to be, you

[23:42] know, the work would have been done

[23:44] already for next season and you said

[23:46] that. So

[23:47] >> yes,

[23:47] >> that's really the only hold up for me is

[23:50] that would be ready to open up right

[23:53] away.

[23:57] » Entertain a motion.

[23:59] >> I make a motion to approve it.

[24:01] >> Second.

[24:02] >> Go ahead. Second.

[24:04] >> Motion by Chad, second by Pat to

[24:07] approve. Any other discussion?

[24:10] All in favor say I.

[24:12] >> I say nay. Motion carries. I'd like to

[24:15] state that one of the loudest screams

[24:17] was myself and my granddaughter going

[24:19] down the blue slide.

[24:22] >> Thanking God that it was covered.

[24:25] >> You know, I'll just say we I know staff

[24:27] several staff went out and looked at it

[24:28] and and I can't believe how bad it was

[24:30] leaking. I know for those of you that

[24:31] were there.

[24:33] >> Yeah, it was uh um and it's unfortunate.

[24:36] You know, it's 10 years old. I suppose

[24:38] you start thinking it's probably going

[24:39] to start having to have some wear and

[24:41] tear. I don't think we were this much.

[24:43] Um I think we're starting to realize how

[24:45] expensive aquatic centers are. But um

[24:48] yeah, obviously this is a main feature

[24:50] and

[24:52] >> it and I I will say there was no you

[24:54] know fear of harm for users but

[24:57] obviously there's a need to address it

[24:59] now because if we don't then that

[25:01] >> that will become a problem

[25:03] >> especially losing that much treated

[25:05] water.

[25:06] >> Yep.

[25:09] >> All right.

[25:10] uh governance. We have uh city of

[25:14] Hutchinson financial report and

[25:16] investment report for August of 2026.

[25:22] Chief Ger said you got anything for us?

[25:25] >> All right. Thank you, Mike.

[25:28] >> A couple quick project updates if I

[25:30] could.

[25:30] >> Sure.

[25:31] >> Unfortunately, uh uh conclusion uh

[25:35] project. So, mayor and council, um our

[25:36] paving project finished up this time

[25:38] last week or Wednesday of last week. So,

[25:41] that completed about 25 blocks um of

[25:43] city streets that got done and um happy

[25:46] to say both projects, paving projects

[25:48] came in under budget this year. So, um

[25:50] really good season that way. The lack of

[25:52] rain helped um both of those projects.

[25:55] Um so, those are wrapped up. Um uh

[25:58] Council Member Simoski's neighborhood uh

[26:01] got paved today, Miller Avenue. Um that

[26:04] was a emergency repair that we had uh

[26:07] scheduled here. Um and that'll open up

[26:10] next week. We have had some concrete

[26:11] curing there and a little bit of

[26:12] restoration work um to do, but that

[26:15] should be opening up soon. And if you've

[26:17] been by the landing recently, um they've

[26:19] got the landscaping um done there, uh

[26:21] generally speaking. So waiting for

[26:23] restoration to occur and the paving will

[26:26] get done probably tomorrow or Thursday

[26:28] um depending on the rain. So but by

[26:30] weeks end that should be complete. So

[26:32] >> yeah, I seen they patched up on Michigan

[26:35] today too

[26:37] that. So

[26:38] >> perfect. The crew is still out doing a

[26:40] little bit of patching. Uh the worst of

[26:42] the worst is done, but um the hope is

[26:44] after the paving and then a little bit

[26:46] more work is done around the landing,

[26:47] we've got a little bit of additional

[26:49] paving we'll do on some of the side

[26:50] streets there, including cedar. So looks

[26:53] nice going there.

[26:54] >> Landing landscaping looks fantastic.

[26:56] >> What's that? The landing landscaping

[26:58] looks

[26:59] >> really good. Yeah, they've got a lot of

[27:00] sod put down. The trees of course are in

[27:03] and then um some hydro seating. But

[27:04] yeah, looks good. And the rains were

[27:06] very timely for hoping that uh to

[27:08] restore. So

[27:10] all right, thank you

[27:15] Lynn.

[27:16] >> Got nothing more for you.

[27:17] >> Thank you Matt. No, Mark.

[27:20] >> Nothing tonight.

[27:21] >> Nothing. Well, he sometimes he surprised

[27:24] me but a while.

[27:25] >> Okay. once in a while. Matt, what do you

[27:27] have?

[27:27] >> Um, the only thing is to announce the

[27:30] second um portion of our annual holiday,

[27:32] which is this Saturday. That's the fall

[27:35] cleanup that, you know, our spring clean

[27:37] up and a fall cleanup that the the

[27:39] community looks forward to. But the our

[27:41] fall one is this Saturday. So, have

[27:43] items out by 6:00 a.m. Um, they usually

[27:47] get here bright and early. And um

[27:50] remember uh no more than two items. And

[27:53] uh you know I know people have already

[27:55] started setting stuff out and some

[27:56] people might grab some of that. So you

[27:58] might get lucky and put something else

[27:59] out afterwards but yep that's this

[28:01] Saturday. You have stuff out by by 6:00

[28:03] in the morning. So that's it otherwise.

[28:05] >> All right. Thanks Matt. Chad, let's

[28:08] start with you.

[28:09] >> I do not have anything extra this

[28:11] evening.

[28:12] >> All right, Timmy.

[28:14] >> Well, some of you know I missed a couple

[28:17] meetings, so I apologize for that.

[28:19] Sometimes the body doesn't hold up and

[28:21] the brain does. So, uh, some of the

[28:24] nurses asked what I was reading and

[28:27] >> did you say that in the right order?

[28:28] >> I told them city council.

[28:30] >> Okay. Well, just as

[28:32] >> they looked at me and said, "No wonder

[28:33] you're sick."

[28:36] >> I stopped by the library today and

[28:38] Katie, the director, will be presenting

[28:40] here. Uh, I asked her to kind of give an

[28:43] update on, but there's so many programs

[28:46] going on down at the library. uh

[28:49] especially for our youth and people

[28:51] complain all the time about there's

[28:52] nothing for our youth in the community.

[28:54] Uh drop by the library and look at what

[28:57] they have there. There's a lot of great

[28:59] programs. So they normally with arts and

[29:02] crafts they have that book sale. Did

[29:04] they reschedu that?

[29:06] >> I asked her about that. They were

[29:07] looking the board met yesterday and were

[29:10] talking about doing that. Uh, I think

[29:13] their biggest question was advertising

[29:16] it and getting it out into the community

[29:18] people. Yeah, that was too

[29:21] bad.

[29:24] >> Anything else?

[29:25] >> That's it. Thank you.

[29:26] >> Dave, nothing tonight. Thank you. All

[29:29] right, Pat

[29:30] >> had a bike and pedestrian meeting last

[29:32] week and we went over, you know, like

[29:33] Matt, you've been working on the what

[29:36] we're going to do for ebikes and that

[29:38] type of stuff and and was it was a good

[29:41] thing to go over. There's a sheet done

[29:43] up that Lynn handed out and I think

[29:45] we've gotten one before. So, good to see

[29:47] something moving forward on that. And

[29:49] then October 7th this year will be the

[29:53] fall bike and walk to school. So, you

[29:57] know, I'm going to be part of it and if

[30:00] anybody else wants to step in, we can

[30:02] get a hold of Lynn, I think, and let her

[30:04] know or or Sarah and uh

[30:07] >> walk the school, right?

[30:09] >> I think chief person, you always

[30:11] participate in that.

[30:12] >> Mike's always been in there. So, and I

[30:14] think he's doing it. So,

[30:16] >> it was a good meeting. Um talked about

[30:18] uh Blake was there and talked about the

[30:21] safe roads thing and the progression on

[30:23] that, the school project. So, it was a

[30:25] good meeting.

[30:26] >> Just a kind of a a heads up for the

[30:28] council and the public. I think that

[30:30] first draft of that ordinance is going

[30:32] to get presented at your next council

[30:34] meeting. Um, I don't think I'm going to

[30:36] present it as a first reading. It's just

[30:38] to present that kind this is what we put

[30:40] together. Um, so the council can look at

[30:42] it. You know, I think one of the

[30:43] conversations I want to have is that

[30:45] something we want to look to have maybe

[30:47] an open house or an open forum on for to

[30:50] take some input from um from the public.

[30:54] it mirrors a lot of what some of the

[30:55] other communities have started to do.

[30:57] But, uh, you know, I'm ready, I guess,

[30:59] to present that to the council and the

[31:01] public to at least look at, provide some

[31:03] feedback, and then we can potentially

[31:05] have a first reading of that or either

[31:07] later October, early November.

[31:08] >> I think that's what we talked about and

[31:10] Lynn can attest, just getting the word

[31:13] out to the parents. That's the hardest

[31:14] part. What what avenue do you use, you

[31:17] know, and and that's the hardest part

[31:18] because they just they're not aware of

[31:20] what age requirements are. And I will

[31:23] say, you know, and I and I'm sure we'll

[31:25] have some comments and we've had a

[31:26] little bit already. Most of this is

[31:28] already actually it's a copy of state

[31:30] law.

[31:30] >> So it's not like we're necessarily

[31:32] reinventing the wheel. It's already

[31:33] stuff that's been established in state

[31:34] law that I don't think most parents even

[31:37] realize are in place. So,

[31:40] >> you know, we had talked a little bit

[31:41] about if it could even if you could post

[31:43] stuff at places where they're sold. Chad

[31:46] knows them, so I mean he can inform his

[31:48] people, but like the Walmarts of the

[31:50] world and that, but I don't know if we

[31:52] can do that if we

[31:53] >> It might be something they'd be willing

[31:54] to voluntarily. So,

[31:58] >> anything else, Pat?

[32:01] >> Well, Mike took care of our resource

[32:03] allocation meeting, Chad, so don't have

[32:06] to talk about that. We did have a I did

[32:08] have a HA meeting, of course, the same thing. If uh you have a fix up or

[32:16] something that you need to for your

[32:18] house, uh check with them to see if you

[32:21] can qualify. Um did have a airport uh

[32:25] meeting. Uh we have one open sided

[32:27] hanger. Um and we had a sample agreement

[32:31] pertaining to aircraft in progress and

[32:34] vehicle storage out there because we've

[32:36] been working on that trying to clean up some of the hangers. And um

[32:42] actually I had uh Cynthia Strutdder

[32:46] Sutter I think that's something Sutter

[32:49] uh she put in for the sustainability

[32:52] board and I think they said that uh

[32:56] would uh welcome her aboard if uh we can

[32:58] put her on for next meeting.

[33:02] Otherwise uh did uh go to the Highland

[33:06] Games. Uh uh Pat was down there. Kind of

[33:10] interesting to see a guy carry a 18 ft

[33:13] pole and try to flip it over. And so it

[33:16] was interesting.

[33:17] >> It was good entertainment.

[33:19] >> No, I didn't wear a kilt to watch. So

[33:22] >> you did have shorts on.

[33:24] >> I did have shorts on.

[33:25] >> They're going to do a uh practice the

[33:27] 24th and I don't know are they going to

[33:29] did they talk to the city about they're

[33:31] going to do it in Hutch but I'm not sure

[33:33] where they're going to do it. So, uh, if

[33:36] we can find that out, I don't know.

[33:38] >> I haven't heard anything yet. So, I

[33:39] mean, I know they've reached out to us

[33:40] about, um, next year already.

[33:44] >> They were pretty fired up. It was

[33:46] >> there was a good I bet there was 75

[33:48] people there.

[33:48] >> Yeah.

[33:49] >> So, probably more. There was quite a few

[33:52] family.

[33:52] >> Well, a lot of people come coming

[33:55] >> from hearts and crafts. I think that

[33:57] help too.

[33:58] >> Came and win. So we did have a police

[34:01] officer flex his muscles and throw.

[34:04] Yeah, I talked him into that very cheap.

[34:07] So workman's comp.

[34:10] >> Was it the workers camp that we're

[34:11] dealing with?

[34:15] » No, he was walking fine.

[34:19] >> Let me

[34:23] motion to adjurnn.

[34:24] >> Second.

[34:25] >> Motion by Pat, second by Chad to

[34:28] adjurnn. Any other discussion? All in

[34:31] favor say I.

[34:32] >> I. Nate. Motion carries.

Hutchinson City Council Meeting September 22nd, 2026

Transcript