During the public forum, Gimple addressed the council regarding a Facebook post alleging she had been burning illegal garbage. She claimed the post was a smear campaign, asserting that her opponent, ER Anderson, had access to the post through the Active 911 app, which is exclusive to firefighting personnel. Gimple expressed concern over the misuse of the app in a political context and emphasized the risk of exposing sensitive information about residents. She urged the council to disable the app, arguing that firefighters could rely on pagers. The mayor acknowledged her concerns but did not provide a detailed response.

Gimple highlighted issues within the fire department, citing a culture of intimidation led by the fire chief, Rod Sano, who she claimed referred to the council derogatorily. She criticized the fire chief’s high salary and lack of an emergency management plan, pointing out that 84% of firefighters reportedly felt bullied. The council discussed procedures for addressing staff complaints without elaborating on specific measures.

The council also discussed the establishment of a facility access policy, prompted by concerns about the potential violation of regulations and liabilities related to unauthorized access to city facilities. The need for a policy was driven by an incident where sensitive information was inadvertently shared publicly. The council considered implementing access control measures similar to those in neighboring cities like Andover, emphasizing the importance of restricting facility access to current employees and ensuring visitors are accompanied.

There was discussion about the fire department’s facility access, particularly regarding the use of the 911 app. Concerns were raised about former or unauthorized individuals retaining access to sensitive information. The council agreed that access should be limited to active personnel and supported an amendment to include all active public safety personnel.

In addressing broader city operations, the council reviewed financial matters, including the approval of the consent agenda, which included significant expenditures related to city services. The council scrutinized the high monthly bills, pulling items for further discussion, such as costs associated with the city’s septic system repair and delinquent utility accounts. Concerns about concentrated delinquencies in certain areas prompted requests for further investigation.

The meeting also covered new business, including a conditional use permit application for exterior storage by North Country Concrete. The council deliberated zoning compliance issues, as the proposal lacked a principal building on the site. They reviewed conditions recommended by the Planning Commission, which included addressing drainage concerns raised by a neighboring resident.

Additionally, the council approved the final plat for the redevelopment of the Viking Meadows golf course, a multi-phased project involving 47 single-family units. The developers, Capstone, met all city requirements, including environmental considerations. The council discussed the timeline for construction and financial aspects.

City staff highlighted recruitment challenges for key positions, such as building permit technician and city planner, noting ongoing efforts to attract qualified candidates. They emphasized the critical role of the planner in managing city ordinances and code enforcement.

Finally, the council addressed storm cleanup strategies following recent weather events. With substantial debris management costs and limited resources, they considered options like curbside pickup and designated drop-off points. The council acknowledged the need for a structured response plan, potentially collaborating with nearby communities to improve storm debris management.