During the public comment section, several residents voiced their apprehensions regarding Project Skyway. Aubrey Dirkson was particularly vocal, emphasizing the need for financial transparency. Dirkson criticized the council for not providing an economic benefits analysis or financial impact statements that residents had requested. He pointed out that similar analyses had been conducted for neighboring towns at no cost and urged the council to prioritize community needs over profit. Dirkson shared an anecdote from a recent trip to Guatemala, where he witnessed a local mayor engaging directly with residents during a infrastructure project, contrasting it with what he perceived as the Pine Island leadership’s failure to engage adequately with the community.

Rod Lanners continued the discourse on Project Skyway, stressing that residents’ concerns were not based on misinformation. He cautioned that the developer’s promises of economic growth and job creation might not materialize, citing national trends where communities housing data centers often did not experience the anticipated benefits. Lanners called for a thorough cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact statement, urging the council to rely on concrete evidence rather than developer assurances. He also raised concerns about non-disclosure agreements, which he believed could hinder transparency and erode trust between the city leadership and residents, advocating for open dialogue and criticizing any dismissive behavior from council members during public comments.

Reverend David Dirkson expressed appreciation for the council’s decision to take more time to consider the project but highlighted potential increases in energy prices linked to Project Skyway. He questioned the enforcement of state laws intended to protect residents from such increases, noting that definitions for heavy energy users would not be established until December 2026, leaving residents unprotected in the interim. Dirkson warned that the project could lead to rising electricity rates and urged the council to consider these implications seriously.

Shifting to other matters, the council moved to administrative topics, starting with the approval of Resolution 2551, which addressed business licenses for the year 2026. The council unanimously approved the resolution. They also passed Resolution 2552, designating the fire hall as the polling location for the upcoming 2024 elections, again with unanimous support.

The council then addressed a request to update the city’s data practices policy, a requirement by the Minnesota Department of Administration. The updated policy, which includes naming responsible authorities, passed without opposition.

Another topic was the approval of a facade improvement loan application through the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for the Oddfellows building, housing the post office and an old embroidery shop. The request was for a forgivable loan of $2,500, contributing to a $46,000 renovation project. The motion to approve the loan passed, although one member abstained from the vote.

The council also discussed a request to purchase a grapple attachment for a loader to manage the city’s brush pile. The proposed attachment from Midwest Machinery was lower in price than competing quotes, and members supported the decision, recognizing its potential to enhance efficiency during emergency storm responses. The motion to approve the purchase was passed.

During the meeting, a council member attending virtually due to a medical procedure provided an update on processing applications related to Project Skyway, noting adherence to statutory timelines and reporting that everything was proceeding quietly.

The council reviewed claims and approved them without dissent, then turned to the 2026 budget. Staff recommended maintaining the preliminary levy due to higher-than-expected health insurance premiums, while acknowledging that the city still had the lowest levy increase compared to neighboring areas.

In the library report, upcoming programming was detailed, including a new monthly event focused on learning granny squares, set to begin in January. The library would provide materials for beginners while welcoming participants to bring their own supplies. The current program, “Books and Brews,” was noted to be ending due to declining participation, while a spelling bee event was scheduled for December 11. The council also discussed a board opening on the library board of trustees due to a member’s term ending after nine years.