A point of discussion during the public comment segment involved the city’s ongoing struggle with blight. Resident Kurt Wagner criticized the current approach of handling blight through court referrals, which he deemed ineffective. He proposed a proactive strategy: hiring personnel to handle blight issues directly and billing property owners through their water bills, with the option of shutting off water services for non-payment as a means to enforce compliance. Wagner articulated his frustration with the existing methods, stating, “Your blight people, their hands get tied when you send it to court.” He advocated for city officials to have more authority to manage these issues effectively. Wagner also voiced criticism of the “No Mow May” initiative, calling it a mere excuse for residents to neglect their lawns, referencing evidence from the University of Minnesota that challenges the necessity of the policy.

The need for a dedicated police facility was another significant topic. Thomas Worth, a resident, urged the council to consider constructing a permanent home for the police department instead of continuing to rent space. He highlighted the long-term financial benefits of owning a building, arguing that taxpayer money could be better spent on a city-owned facility. Worth noted, “If you build something yourself for the city police, at the end of 10 years, you partly paid for it, probably almost completely paid for it, and it’s your own.” His comments emphasized the importance of investing in infrastructure that would ultimately belong to the city, rather than perpetually paying for rental spaces.

The meeting also featured a presentation by Judge Jared Shimone on the treatment court program, which marked its 20th anniversary. The program, celebrated during National Treatment Court Month, aims to address addiction as a disease and provides an alternative to traditional incarceration. Judge Shimone introduced his team, including a treatment court coordinator and a graduate of the program, Katie Degan. He highlighted the program’s success in reducing recidivism rates, with statistics showing a significant drop compared to traditional judicial processes. Nationally, traditional offenders have a recidivism rate of 40 to 65%, whereas those who go through treatment courts have a rate of 16.4%. In Minnesota, the rate is even lower at 13% as of 2022.

The treatment court program operates in five phases, focusing initially on crisis stabilization and eventually transitioning participants to greater independence. Rewards and consequences are used to encourage progress, with probation officers playing a role in supervision. Degan, a certified peer recovery specialist, shared her personal story of overcoming addiction through the treatment court, emphasizing the transformative impact of the program on her life. Her testimony emphasized the broader goal of the program to facilitate long-term lifestyle changes and community reintegration. Degan concluded her remarks by expressing gratitude for the treatment court, noting her successful sobriety for over three years and the positive changes it brought to her family life.

The council expressed appreciation for the treatment court’s positive impact, acknowledging the hard work of Judge Shimone and his team. A motion to approve a proclamation for Treatment Court Month was passed unanimously.

In other business, the council approved several mayoral appointments to the charter commission and discussed a request from the Packaging Corporation of America to suspend calendar parking during their annual outage. Despite concerns from Fire Chief Manassa regarding increased fire calls during this period, the council approved the suspension. They also moved forward with a contingent offer of seasonal employment for an office clerk position in the police department, despite some disagreement about the necessity of the hire. Chief Kick justified the position as a response to community complaints about availability during peak tourist season.

Additionally, the council approved the purchase of new vacuum splints for ambulances and resolved to adopt a fee schedule for the laydown yard. A taxi license for Taylor’s Taxi was also approved without debate. Reports from various boards and committees were presented, including a successful pancake feed event hosted by the fire department.

A resident raised concerns about specially marked police vehicles. The council also addressed an ongoing issue with a trailer on Avenue and planned to revisit the matter in the next meeting.

As the meeting concluded, the council reminded attendees about an open book meeting hosted by the County Assessor’s Office and confirmed the date for the next regular meeting. An update on an insurance claim related to a band shell was provided, with expressions of frustration over delays in processing.