[0:00] Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the [0:05] republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and [0:11] justice for all. >> Roll call. Trish. [0:16] » Mrs. Brew >> here. [0:17] » Miss Langless >> here. [0:19] » Mr. Managini. >> Mr. Moro [0:22] » here. >> Mrs. Stagwall [0:23] » here. >> Do I have a motion to excuse Mr. [0:27] Managini? Motion we excuse Mr. Man >> support [0:32] » Miss Langwis? >> Yes. [0:34] » Mr. >> Mr. Moraro? [0:36] » Yes. >> Mrs. Dawald? [0:38] » Yes. >> Mrs. Brew? [0:40] » Yes. Move on to approval of the agenda. [0:45] Is there any questions on the agenda or additions? If not, I need a motion. [0:50] » Motion we approve the agenda. >> Support. [0:53] » Mr. Moraro. >> Yes. [0:55] » Mrs. Tigerwall. >> Yes. Mrs. Brew. [0:58] » Yes. >> Miss Langley. [0:59] » Yes. Move on to approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of January 21st, [1:05] 2026. >> I make a motion we approve the minutes [1:08] for the regular meeting of January 21st, 2026. [1:13] » Second. >> Mrs. Sagwald. [1:16] » Yes. >> Mrs. Brew. [1:17] » Yes. >> Miss Langley. [1:19] » Yes. >> Mr. Moraro. [1:20] » Yes. >> Move on to [1:23] uh the manifest. Sarah, did you have any questions? [1:28] » I did not know. >> Ricky, [1:30] » no. Jeff, >> none. Mine were [1:33] » um I had a couple [1:46] page three of six down towards the bottom. [1:51] Um, under electric [1:55] it says uh maintenance on number 203, 204, 208, 210. [2:02] Um, can you find out what them are for? >> Custom truck one source. [2:07] » I almost want to say it was a DOT inspection things. Um, but I'll verify [2:11] what those are. >> Yeah, just just so you know, guys, it's [2:14] to the tune of about Oh, >> I know it's a lot. [2:17] » $15,000. >> That's why I'm asking. [2:19] » Yeah, good good question. Okay. >> And then um under [2:24] four of six 1 2 3 4 um [2:31] slow cooker $116.99. [2:38] » Do you see it there? It's under Zoro Tools. It's a slow cooker under [2:45] electrical utility. >> Oh. Um, I can ask. It might be a slow [2:52] cooker for something or it could be combined with a bunch of other little [2:55] things. Um, like >> Well, an expens it's an expensive slow [2:59] cooker if we bought one. I >> mean, often times it's combined with [3:04] another tool or two, but we can only have so much room to put the uh [3:08] descriptions. >> I didn't know we were in the business of [3:11] slow cooking, but >> Well, you know, who knows what's going [3:14] on down in that little cabinet. Candy, [3:20] » do I have a motion on the approval of manifest 2026-03? [3:27] » I'll make a motion that we approve manifest [3:30] 2026-03 in the amount of 234,1448 [3:38] » support. [3:42] » Mrs. Brew, >> yes. Miss Langless. [3:45] » Yes. >> Mr. Moro, [3:46] » yes. >> Mrs. Fagwell, [3:48] » yes. >> Move on to public comment. Any item of [3:52] interest. Anyone in attendance wishing to address the council on any item of [3:57] interest shall do so not at the podium. State your name and address for the [4:01] record. Comment shall be limited to three minutes per person. [4:08] Agenda items. Anyone in attendance wishing to address the council on an [4:12] agenda item only shall do so now at the podium. State your name and address for [4:17] the record. Comment shall be limited to 3 minutes. [4:22] We'll move on to action items. Item number one, special event breastfeeding [4:26] awareness walk. So, this is something we've done every [4:32] year, at least in the last three or so years since I've been here. Um, [4:35] » we've been doing it for >> Yeah. I can't remember when we haven't [4:38] done it. It's at Strawberry Lake. Um I don't believe there is much of a [4:42] difference between the previous years. We've never had any issue uh down there [4:46] with this walk. Uh we do recommend that council approve the special event. [4:53] » Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the special event application [4:58] for the Dickinson Iron District Health Department for breastfeeding awareness [5:02] walk. Support >> Miss Lang. [5:06] » Yes. Mr. Moraro, >> yes. [5:08] » Mrs. Stagwald, >> yes. [5:10] » Mrs. Brew, >> yes. [5:14] » Item number two, special event adventure bike club. [5:18] » So, this is year three, son, if I recall. Um, so this is where the um the [5:25] 906 adventure team has been utilizing Marian Park for you call youth kind of [5:31] involvement, training on mountain bike riding in the trails. Uh they're also [5:35] the group that put up those lights that everyone has enjoyed immensely down [5:39] there. Um S is there any major differences this year between the [5:44] previous years? >> No, everything's the same. I know last [5:47] year we moved. Um our first year we were closer to the tennis courts. Last year [5:51] we plan to expand. So we moved a little bit more between the tennis courts and [5:56] like the softball field and that big area there. We'll reuse that again. Um, [6:01] once again, our goal is 50 kids or more. So, it'll be about the same traffic as [6:07] we've had the last several years. Um, hopefully we can get more volunteers. [6:12] Okay. Uh, council also recalls, uh, we approved them to have a storage shed in [6:18] that area. So, if you're down there during this time of year, it it it's [6:23] busy, which is very good to see. I've never had a complaint or any conflict of [6:28] interest or conflict of of event or anything like that uh with this group. [6:33] Uh we would recommend that council continue to approve this. I think it's [6:36] very good for the community and we are the city of trails. I think it just adds [6:40] uh to what we're trying to become >> and I'd like to thank you guys for what [6:44] you do down there. I think it's a great thing. I think it's great for kids and [6:47] everybody else and uh you know it's nice that people step up and hopefully you'll [6:52] get some more volunteers. I know that's always hard to get, but we do appreciate [6:57] you using the facility and um it's a great thing. [7:02] » Well, we we appreciate the support of the city. Without, you know, the support [7:06] of you guys, we wouldn't have anywhere. So, we're very thankful. [7:12] » Do I have a motion? >> I make a motion we approve the adventure [7:16] bike club special event for this year. >> Support. [7:22] » Mr. Moraro. >> Yes. Mrs. Digwal, [7:25] » yes. >> Mrs. Brew, [7:26] » yes. >> Miss Langley, [7:27] » yes. >> Move on to item number three, Nights [7:31] Kingdom playground replacement funding. >> So, just wanted to get this kind of back [7:37] on the table and for discussion again. Um, [7:41] the last time we discussed it, we had discussed the [7:46] uh set that we got a price for when we did the spark grant. Um, and at that [7:53] time that one was 675,000. We took about 250 off because we would [7:57] be doing it a little differently. Um, what I brought tonight uh from a cost [8:06] comparison, I have in here the what's been going on at the Lake Antoine uh [8:13] park project there. They had a two-phase project, a 200,000 phase one and a [8:18] 400,000 to finish uh phase 2. over the 400 total. What I kind of wanted to [8:23] point out is is to show you, you know, the the project we're looking [8:29] at, it's not out of line from a cost perspective. It's not apples to apples. [8:34] It's just it's difficult to do that. Um, but you can kind of see what they've [8:38] done in their phase one and their phase two uh for what they're looking to pay. [8:42] I I think we are in the ballpark um of what ours looks like. the the play by [8:49] design. I I think it's first I think it's imperative that we we look at that [8:53] play by design style and that's what we commit to. It's what was done currently. [8:58] It's the same group as what was done 35 years ago. I think it's for our [9:03] community. I believe it's very important to have that same feel and look as what [9:08] was original. Uh you know I do think it's a draw from outside of the [9:12] community. People used to come here specifically for that. I think of the [9:15] playgrounds of Norway. I think that is a bigger deal than what we have at Marian [9:21] Park. Uh we travel ourselves to different playgrounds uh with our son. [9:26] Uh we probably would travel less if we had, you know, what we're looking at at [9:30] Strawberry Lake. So, where we started with the playground, we had started [9:35] discussing the using uh three rounds of the wreck money and that kind of got [9:40] tossed around back and forth with council several different times with a [9:43] bit of uncertainty of wanting to allocate those funds uh because of [9:49] expensive electric department projects down the road and uncertainty of of [9:53] certain grants. Um the very very original discussion for funding to get [9:58] it kicked off was about $200,000 uh reserve fund for uh recreation [10:05] capital improvements and they have it under the fumei lake headline. I can't [10:09] tell you exactly why it says fume or where it came from. [10:13] It was part of that original deal way back when. I'm uncertain but it is [10:17] restricted for park recreation uh capital improvement. And so I I'm [10:23] circling back at that original plan because at the time when we originally [10:29] proposed that we realized it was being calculated as part of the general fund's [10:33] fund balance and at that time that was a big percentage of that reserve cash and [10:38] therefore not comfortable utilizing it. the general fund family fund balance is [10:43] in a very different spot now and so we are far more comfortable with that [10:48] 200,000 that is already reserved for this purpose type of purpose uh to have [10:54] the ball rolling on this project. Uh now that 200,000 is in an investment CD that [11:00] is not um it it isn't mature until October of this year. Um, so you know [11:08] what I'm what I'm looking for from councel uh hopefully tonight is is kind [11:13] of a two two approval point. It's it's committing to the 200,000 even though we [11:19] can't use that until it comes due in October. So we're looking at a a summer [11:24] likely of 27 uh to get this bill. Well, if we can't touch it until October and [11:31] it's 200,000, we, you know, we still need to do a significant amount of [11:34] fundraising to to finish off um the the cost of [11:41] the equipment part. So, if you look at the breakdown from the original [11:45] proposal, and it is likely is up a little bit more. We originally budgeted [11:49] 475. 386 386,000 [11:53] was essentially all of the material, the playground material, uh the structural [12:00] plastic, the um cost for the the the company, the engineering designs. So it [12:07] was 386. So say 400,000. And the rest of the money is that's a bit of the [12:12] unknown. that is all the things that are oftentimes donated as part of these [12:16] projects. We have a lot of uh local materials and screws, bolts, things like [12:21] that that uh that is part of that that fundraising effort. Um but what I've [12:27] struggled with is is when do we kick off this this fundraising effort to get [12:32] there? And for me the the barrier has been what is the city's commitment and [12:37] what is the city's commitment to which pro which plant which design [12:43] because I feel like it's hard to go to people to donate and start that process [12:47] when we when they don't we can't say what we're putting in. If it's zero at [12:50] least we can say zero. If it's 200 we can say we we're out putting in 200 and [12:55] this is the design. The design can change over time, but the big point I'm [12:59] making is that play by design style to emulate the style that's there to me is [13:05] important rather than like, you know, a Lake Antwine [13:10] what you normally see everywhere else. You know, the the play by design was was [13:14] they came up here, they met with the school children, we got input from all [13:18] the schools of the Norway Valkan School, and that's what's incorporated here. Um, [13:23] again, it can change as we go the type of slide and things like that. [13:28] » Um, >> and I know like when we looked like [13:31] remember the slide being that's expensive. That slide's $20,000 and it [13:35] seems crazy when you look at the Lake Anttoine things of some of the things [13:38] they want to purchase this little worm that they want to crawl in is $14,000. [13:44] It's expensive. [clears throat] I don't know why, but it is. It's so what we [13:48] were showing it's not crazy. Uh so my request tonight is to look at that [13:56] 200,000 to commit to that and commit to the play by design. So you can call the [14:01] concept as we get rolling with fundraising and in kind things like that [14:06] we can start developing and seeing where we're getting to. Do we have to scale it [14:09] back? Do we have to do a phase one or phase two based on kind of where we are [14:13] financially and when we start to need award material? Um, [snorts] so it's not [14:17] set in stone 100% in that design, but I want to make sure we look at [14:23] that style. I think it's important to have that look. [14:26] » And you have to have that cuz people are already asking me. [14:28] » They're saying we want to donate or we want to buy equipment. Well, you can't [14:32] if you don't have a design, it's pretty hard for them to donate for part of the [14:36] equipment. >> Yeah. And we've been pushing that [14:38] design. That's what we posted at the park. Uh, that's what we posted here. [14:42] Uh, cuz that's kind of where we all started. Um, [14:46] » thank you for doing your, you know, uh, looking at the other design. Um, I know [14:52] I was one of the ones who asked for that. Um, just remind me, um, for the [14:58] British, the BP money that we get, we call it wreck money, but what does that [15:02] acronym stand for? >> It's the energy I don't know if the [15:06] wreck it's it's the energy credits. >> Okay. So, it's like renewable energy. It [15:11] has nothing to do with recreation. >> No, no, not at all. Just wanted the [15:16] public to know that >> the green energy credits that we [15:20] produce. >> Mhm. [15:21] » But we have used that before, allocated that money before because that money [15:28] always before long time ago always went into the general fund and we have [15:34] allocated that money to pay for other things. [15:38] » I just wanted to make sure I was clear on that. M [15:41] » um as as far as the the ground, are we looking at putting in a a poured um [15:49] rubber or anything? >> No. [15:51] » Okay. >> So, the the poured in place rubber [15:54] pushed us way out of our It was It was around 250,000 [15:58] just for that. >> What's in here now uh is not ideal. It's [16:05] It's your engineered rubber. Now the one thing and that we had that figure around [16:10] 25 [snorts] or 30,000. Now what the Lake Antwine park is using is a [16:18] um turf and they have in there I think I [16:22] wanted to say was 50 or 60,000. So that that's another angle as we would move [16:26] forward that we start looking at if we can you know maybe not the entire [16:31] Strawberry Lake playground area but around you within where the playground [16:36] structures are uh and then we can have pathways to get to those. So then it is [16:41] fully ADA accessible. The playground structure itself is it's wide. It's [16:46] meant to be two double wheelchair to go back and forth. So it is uh [16:50] all-incclusive. Uh, but the the engineered rubber is not the best. [16:55] » Um, but it was to get the price down. And looking at the turf, I I think it'd [16:59] be more feasible. Um, cuz it's not crazy more. There you go. Synthetic turf is [17:05] 52,500 for the Lake Anttoine project. >> But overall, we don't want to use mulch [17:10] anymore. >> No mulch. [17:13] » I mean, that engineered rubber is a better version of mulch. Um, but as we [17:19] go and and and part of the why I I don't like pushing things off to like the 27. [17:24] This is this was my fear in the beginning when we started talking about [17:27] this that we wouldn't uh the funding idea would [17:31] change and then we would get lost and it maybe we'd have a empty site and never [17:36] get >> you know my fear in the beginning was [17:38] » how the hell do we $400 $600,000 park in a town at 2900. [17:43] » Yep. And it shouldn't be the 600 >> as your parking rep [17:48] » representative. I sat there last week and guess what? Zero support for [17:52] $600,000 park. >> Sorry, there was none. [17:57] » I was >> the chairman said I agree. Yes or no? [18:00] » John Beck said that and prior to that John Beck and all of them recommended to [18:05] council this playground. >> Yeah. Well, [18:08] » like I told them and we agreed, we definitely want to do something with [18:14] Nights Kingdom as a council. The question is what's the financial [18:19] commitment from the city? >> That's where we're at right now. [18:22] » Yeah. And that's what I'm saying. Um the 200 grand is great. If and if that's [18:27] what it says about the 200 grand, I'm 100% with that, right? that we put that [18:31] 200,000 from from fumy the fumey sale as the starting point for nights kingdom. [18:39] [snorts] >> Mhm. [18:40] » Now the question is how do we get the other $3 to $400,000 and and what does [18:45] the park look like? I mean um it's a that's a big big ask right from the [18:51] community. We've got an unbelievable facility at Marian Park that we support. [18:56] » It's not the same. >> Totally [18:58] » not the same. But it's not the same, Ken. [19:00] » It's not at Marian Park. That down there was used way more. I'm [19:06] not going to say what the baseball and that. [19:08] » Oh my god. It's not even close how what the usage is. Mary Parks used tons. [19:12] » I said what else the the fields and that. I'm talking the playground. [19:16] » Okay. >> I'm saying down there that park itself [19:21] was used a lot more when it was in good shape. [19:25] » Yeah. >> And and it it's an ice. [19:28] Yeah, as a playground. I'm not talking to sports. I said that once to you. [19:32] » I said it is used down there more than Marian Park. Maybe not lately because it [19:39] wasn't kept up. I think it looks like an eyesore. I'm not saying what amount of [19:44] money got to go in there, but if you don't think that the kids in this [19:47] community deserve to have a good park to put there, I think you're wrong. [19:52] » Great. And I'm just going to throw out that how many parks do you think 2900 [19:59] people can support at >> and more people go there than that [20:03] because we get people from out of town too. [20:05] » Yeah. Great. >> Who pays no taxes? [20:08] » I don't care if they pay taxes. They bring money into the community. Don't [20:12] you have a business? >> I have a business. [20:14] » Yeah. Do you think maybe a couple people might stop and buy meat or something? [20:18] See, Right. >> They have. [20:19] » So, you're supporting your community, too. I think Strawberry definitely needs [20:24] a playground back. I remember the days um when my kids got old enough where [20:28] they played on the playground and I did a lap walking around the lake at the [20:32] same time. Um it's nice safe place to um have them even as [clears throat] [20:37] toddlers because of the fence. So that's something that Marian does not have. [20:42] There are not those walking paths. Marian's playground's great when there's [20:47] softball or baseball going on, but other than that, it's in the middle of the [20:52] sun. There's just nothing else >> and there's lots of traffic there. [20:55] » Terrific. I'm not arguing that. I want to rebuild Knight's Kingdom. [20:59] » Mhm. >> My question is, how much money, taxpayer [21:03] money, do we have to put into rebuilding? [21:06] » That is not taxpayer money. >> Yeah, it is. [21:09] » No, it's >> Candy. Don't you want to go? You want to [21:12] go and record around a Rex right now? Me and you. [21:16] » Seriously? >> Yeah. Seriously, Candy, we don't want to [21:19] do that. >> That's taxpayer money. [21:21] » Are you threatening me? Don't do it. >> I'm not threatening you. [21:25] » Can Can I interject? Just just to break it up a little bit. Okay. So, from my [21:28] understanding, the CD is going to come into fruition in October, this year. [21:33] Correct. And it's $200,000 that needs to be allocated towards parks and wreck, [21:37] » right? So why would we not take that and use that and make that a jumping off [21:42] point? I mean that's that's perfect, right? And and then we go forward from [21:46] there, you know what I mean? Just trying to figure out and I will say like when I [21:50] moved here, you know, from Massachusetts, um, Nights Kingdom was [21:53] huge for my children. My my children are now in their teens and my oldest is 27, [21:58] but even as a teenager in middle school and then as I slowly watched it decline, [22:02] it was like almost this pressing and it is an eyesore. Um, but it is a really [22:07] nice spot to have that. And also I also went to um the um I think Dan that was [22:13] the first time I ever met you was when the kids had um put a collection of like [22:18] what they had designed that certain things about this playground are [22:22] actually designed and asked for by the kids in the elementary school and the [22:26] middle school. I think I don't know about the high schoolers if they were [22:29] involved at all but maybe they were. But I know that the high schoolers, you [22:33] know, they don't have anywhere to go either. It's a very small town. It's [22:37] very um kids need. Our children need this. And also, when my daughter comes [22:42] up from Oshkosh, we always used to go over there. Although the last time we [22:46] went over there, I actually connected with Dan cuz I was like, there's screws [22:49] popping out of everything we need to. And then, you know, it it just was shut [22:53] down. So, yes, this would be fabulous. And it would be a tourist. It's a [22:57] tourist attraction as well, which does bring money into the town. I agree with [22:59] that. When you have something like this, it's something that people look at and [23:03] they go to and they they come up to visit their families, whatever it is, [23:06] it's something to do, you know, there isn't a lot to do. No. [23:09] » Especially not for kids. So, um I'm you know Yeah. So, if that's what that money [23:15] is for and it's allocated for parks and wreck, why would we not use that for [23:19] that? >> Right. And then then we go ahead and we [23:22] try to fund raise. If we have to scale it back, we have to scale it back. And I [23:27] know a couple of places that have agreed already even just just been me talking [23:30] about the the you know when I first learned about this that are willing to [23:34] like maybe they can buy a brick you know what I mean with their name on it. [23:38] There's different ways to do things. >> The fencing we talked about that for the [23:42] fencing to go around. >> Yep. So people like to like donate if [23:46] like their name is mentioned or like their names on a brick or you know what [23:49] I mean different things like that. And there are lots of ways to raise [23:52] » 100% agreement. So >> that's all I'm saying. Let's not make it [23:56] a city only funded project. Right. >> Right. I% I 100% agree with that. [24:03] » Yeah. What what I was looking for is just that 200 and the design. I mean [24:08] » what's [clears throat] the design? >> It's the same one that we've had uh for [24:13] I don't know a year or so, a year and a half. Um play by design. [24:18] » Do you mean that we stick with play by design concept but some things might get [24:23] scaled back and scale back. I'm just saying stick to, [24:26] you know, the play by design concept cuz that concept, remember play by design, [24:32] that company, >> the founding members of that company [24:34] worked for the company that came in and built what we have today. [24:39] » Now, are we involving the people of the town also in building it too with this [24:44] community? >> So, it is so that's added into this is [24:47] that the community will help build this as well. Does that bring the cost down [24:50] at all or is that what we're estimating here by looking at what we're looking No [24:54] cost in this for actually building. >> The only cost for the construction part [24:58] is what the company would bring their one or two people down that basically [25:03] supervise the groups we put together. >> So I would imagine with the people in [25:07] town with the amount of dads and parents and grandparents, we would be able to [25:10] get a collective to be able to put that on. [25:12] » Yeah. I mean once we start moving forward I have to we organize several [25:16] different uh committees of volunteers that oversee food, tools, children. Yep. [25:23] » Um, so there there's a lot of that that goes into this. [25:27] » So it's a really community bringing together the community to build [25:30] something as well, which is super positive. [25:33] » Yeah. And that's a good thing cuz then we're all in it together, right? So [25:35] that's a good thing, too. I mean, you know. [25:37] » Yeah. Okay. >> So ground for the design. [25:41] » Yep. >> Yeah. [25:43] » And like I had said, a lot of these a couple of these designs are like the [25:47] kids themselves had said we you know what I mean? And they were they were [25:49] really cute. They had drawn them out. It was adorable. Absolutely adorable. I [25:53] love that presentation. >> And so far, our investment has been [25:58] 3,000. That's when we originally had the play by design architect come up here, [26:03] visit the site, and then went to the school and then did her initial [26:07] drawings. And then that's what we have right now. And that's kind of where um [26:13] we stopped. Now, lucky like Antoine, they raised 200 plus,000. Um, you know, [26:20] there's we've been reached out to by uh large companies, uh, whether it's for [26:25] labor help or financial assistance. We have a whole playlist of how we will try [26:32] to fund raise with the bricks or the pickets for the fence. Um, and I think, [26:38] you know, summer of 27, that's going to have to be cuz there's a lot [26:42] » to do, but we got to get on it now. We've been talking about it long enough. [26:46] » Yeah. Do I have a motion? [26:49] » I'll make a motion to approve the allocation of 200,000 Fumi Lakeake [26:54] monies to the replacement of Knights Kingdom and approve the play by design [26:57] concept as its replacement. >> Support. [27:02] » Mrs. Digerald. >> Yes. [27:04] » Mrs. Brew. >> Yes. [27:06] » Miss Langless. >> Yes. [27:07] » Mr. Morano. [27:11] » Yes. [27:15] move on to mayor council comments. Sarah, did you have anything for [27:19] tonight? Um, no. I'm just really thankful that we could all come into [27:22] agreement and we all unanimously voted for that. That makes me happy. It's [27:26] exciting for the kids. It's an exciting like a new adventure and I think it'll [27:30] be really positive. I look forward to being able to bring my granddaughter [27:33] there and be a part of building it. Maybe they can come up and help with [27:36] that. It's it's future generations and it's just really cool. So, that's all. [27:41] Ricky, >> no comments. Thank you, [27:42] » Jeff. No, no, ma'am. >> Um, I want to thank uh my uh council [27:49] members. I've been out for a few months. I've had like tragedy after tragedy. And [27:55] um I just want to uh thank my uh council for all the support that you've given me [28:02] during this time. That's all I have. [28:05] » Of course. [28:08] » Do I have a motion to adjurnn? Motion we do want to do close session or do you [28:13] want to wait for Rico to be present? >> Oh [28:16] » yeah, let's wait for Rico. That's fine. Agreed. [28:18] » Sorry about that. I didn't see that there. [28:21] » So I'll second the adjourning then. Okay. Motion by Jeff. Second by Sarah. [28:27] All in >> favor? I [28:28] » I