Faribault City Council Makes History

On a night when the Faribault City Council passed an interim ordinance imposing a moratorium on Cannabis Businesses it was another issue that made history.

At least since records have been kept the city had never settled a bids resolution by flipping a coin.  Until August 22, 2023.

A representative of Met-Con Construction of Faribault and a representative of Brennan Construction of Minneapolis and Mankato stood before the City Council while Mayor Kevin Voracek flipped a coin.

Met-Con won the flip giving them the bid for City Hall improvements.

When bids were opened August 3, 2023 it was learned both companies had bid the exact same $563,000 amount to be the low bidders.  There were six bids received.

The others ranged from $576,621 to $817,000.

The companies agreed the best way to resolve the tie was to flip a coin.

The project will include making the City Council Chambers ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.  Restrooms on the first floor ADA compliant.  Adding a wellness room.  Renovating a conference room and office on the third floor.

The Council had budgeted $590,000 for the project.

The Council also unanimously approved authorizing a study and imposing a moratorium on the operation of Cannabis Businesses within the City of Faribault.

The four page interim ordinance is in effect until June 1, 2024 or until the Council repeals it whichever happens first.  Violation would be a misdemeanor.

The study would cover, "the adoption or amendment of reasonable restrictions on time, place and manner of operation as well as other potential local regulations allowed."

The interim ordinance refers to the establishment of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) established as set forth in Minnesota Statutes.

Also during Tuesday night's meeting:

• Officer Jason Witt was introduced.  His wife and daughters pinned his Faribault Police badge while Police Chief John Sherwin told the Council he was a veteran officer serving in other departments prior to returning home to Faribault.

• A Proclamation was read by Mayor Voracek designatin August 22, 2023 Ian Matakis Day in Faribault, Mn.  Matakis is, according to the Proclamation, "a rising poker star."  The proclamation states the Faribault man began his career online and has expanded to traveling across the country playing in live events.  Matakis won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet in the second online event of 2023.  He has placed well in other in-person and online events according to the Proclamation which concludes, "Whereas his continued success resulted in being crowned the 2023 WSOP Player of the Year, and will now have a Player of the Year banner in the Horseshoe Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas, and a seat at the WSOP Main Event in 2024."

• Faribault City Council passed a resolution establishing a bid date for 2023 Hydrant and Valve Replacement.  The resolution calls for the replacement of Hydrants and Gate Valves that are approaching the end of their useful life.  $120,000 has been budgeted from the city's water fund.