Election integrity took center stage as the council debated a resolution to support increasing the number of precincts selected for post-election reviews from four to six, with a potential rise to eight. Pamela CI, a seasoned election judge with three decades of experience, addressed the council to clarify that the discussion was about post-election reviews, not recounts. She cited Minnesota statute 206.89, which mandates hand counts of ballots for specific eligible elections by randomly selected precincts. Pamela recalled the 2020 audit in Anoka County, where 22 discrepancies were found between machine counts and hand counts, primarily due to improperly marked ballots. She stressed the importance of transparency and encouraged residents to independently verify election results and audit findings.

Frost noted that East Bethel’s wages for election judges had not kept pace with neighboring municipalities, contributing to a volunteer shortage. She emphasized the significant strain of the long hours required on election days, with some shifts lasting up to 16 hours. Frost mentioned plans to experiment with shift work for the upcoming general election to reduce burnout among judges and ensure smoother operations.

The council members discussed the increased workload and costs associated with expanding the post-election review process. While some supported the increase to ensure election integrity, concerns about the feasibility of staffing additional precincts were also raised.

In addition to election-related matters, the council heard from Lieutenant Derek Peters of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, who reported a slight increase in calls for service in July, totaling 442 compared to 422 in June. Among the incidents were four assaults, four thefts, two damage-to-property cases, 31 custodial arrests, and 135 traffic stops resulting in 45 citations. Peters highlighted several notable incidents, including the arrest of a suspect hiding in a pullout couch and a delayed burglary where residents mistook intruder sounds for their new puppy.

Peters also reported two driving under the influence (DWI) arrests. One driver, who had not used headlights or tail lights, exhibited signs of alcohol impairment and recorded a blood alcohol content of 0.13. Another individual, found with a glass pipe, admitted to using methamphetamine shortly before being stopped. A subsequent search yielded methamphetamine, leading to charges for both DWI and possession. Peters noted that while assault calls had decreased, traffic incidents remained consistent, which he viewed positively given ongoing local construction.

Chief Sanau from the East Bethel Fire Department provided an update on the department’s activities, reporting 105 calls in July, making it one of the busiest months on record. The calls included 80 medical emergencies, seven accidents, five fires, and three alarms. Sanau emphasized the importance of caution during the upcoming Labor Day holiday and the start of the school year, particularly in residential areas with increased school traffic. He also reminded residents about the requirement for open burning permits and announced an upcoming training session with the Anoka County Marine Unit.

The meeting also briefly touched on a recent dog bite incident, with Peters confirming that standard procedures were followed, including gathering statements and photographs and preparing a potentially dangerous dog form for further council review. Additionally, there was a brief inquiry about alleged assaults on children at a bus stop, which Peters found no documented incidents of but offered to investigate further if provided with more details.