The selection of Tyler Payments as the city’s credit card processing vendor was a focus of the meeting, with discussions revealing differing opinions on the best approach. The initial recommendation came after a thorough evaluation of proposals from various vendors, including InvoiceCloud, whose revised quote offered a zero-cost solution. However, the council leaned towards Tyler Payments, citing a preference for their established service and favorable annual fees. A council member expressed concern over the per transaction fees, highlighting that these fees, when accumulated, could impact customers significantly. The member questioned the urgency of finalizing the decision within the month.

The council’s decision was guided by a desire to maintain a clear and efficient bidding process, which they believed could lead to more competitive pricing in future contracts. While some members felt that signing a contract now could demonstrate seriousness to vendors and potentially lead to better pricing in the future, others emphasized the importance of considering customer impact. Ultimately, the motion to proceed with Tyler Payments for a year-long contract was approved without opposition.

In a notable moment at the meeting, the Tower Award was presented to Kelly Dean of the public utilities department. Recognized for nearly 28 years of service, Dean was celebrated for her contributions to the city. Dean expressed her gratitude, stating, “It’s been a privilege to work for the city of Brainerd and all the customers. It’s really been enjoyable.”

The council also received a report on utility reliability, which highlighted commendable performance benchmarks for the year. The average outage restoration time was noted to be just under 42 minutes, with a reliability rating of 99.981%.

In discussions related to the Rotary solar project, financial implications were examined, with the finance manager confirming that the project’s cost remained unchanged since its approval in July 2024. Questions were raised about the lack of a competitive bidding process and the project’s contractual terms, perceived as favoring the contractor. Despite these concerns, the finance manager reiterated the stability of the project’s cost.

The meeting also addressed ongoing utility matters, with reports on renewable energy production and water line repairs. The operations manager presented a report comparing renewable energy production to overall load demand. The report was well-received for its clarity, with a suggestion to include additional metrics for informed decision-making on future renewable investments. Additionally, the operations manager provided an update on repairs to a leaking water line on Washington Street, acknowledging the challenges faced by staff during the late-night repair efforts.

Personnel matters were briefly discussed, with the HR director seeking approval to expedite the hiring process following a resignation. The director emphasized the need for strategic staffing changes and the value of conducting exit interviews, although such interviews were not consistently performed.