2022-11-15 CC Meeting MinutesMOUND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
November 15, 2022
The City Council of the City of Mound, Hennepin County, Minnesota, met in special session on
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers in the Centennial Building.
Members present: Mayor Ray Salazar; Council Members, Paula Larson, Sherrie Pugh, and
Jason Holt
Members absent: Phil Velsor
Others present: City Manager Eric Hoversten, City Clerk Kevin Kelly
Consent agenda: All items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine in
nature by the Council. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a
Councilmember or citizen so requests, in which event it will be removed from the Consent
Agenda and considered in normal sequence.
1. Open meeting
Mayor Salazar called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m.
2. Roll Call
Larson, Holt, Pugh, Salazar in attendance. Velsor absent.
3. Pledge of Alleqiance
4. Approve agenda
MOTION by Larson, seconded by Holt, to approve the agenda. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
5. Kevin Kelly City Clerk, requesting action on a Resolution to canvass returns and
declare the results of the municipal election of November 8, 2022
Kelly said he wanted to acknowledge the excellent work of the volunteer election judges who
served on November 8th. Kelly said due to their quality work Mound was one of the earliest
reporting cities in the County.
Kelly read the results of the November 8 General Election. Kelly said the results for Mayor
showed Jason Holt as the top voter getter at 2113 votes. Kelly said that the City Council result
showed that Sherrie Pugh received the highest number of votes at 2072 followed by Kathy
McEnaney with 1886 votes.
Salazar asked about the full total of all the votes for the Mayoral election and the total number of
persons voting. Salazar said there were 4895 total ballots cast with 4595 votes for Mayor and
he wondered about the 300 ballots which didn't include a vote for Mayor. Kelly said the ballot
counter only counts ovals which are filled in by the voter and 300 ballots didn't include a
vote/filled in oval for the Mayoral race.
Salazar asked about the votes for Council which also didn't add up to 4895 ballots voting for two
candidates. Discussion ensued regarding voter intent and voter preference in marking their
ballot, which could include marking one or two ovals, no ovals (undervote), or three or more
Mound City Council Minutes — November 15, 2022
ovals (overvote) in the City Council race. Kelly said the ballot counters are tested by staff
preliminarily and then tested publicly by election judges.
Larson said as far as Council votes she said she only voted for herself in 2020 for Council and
not another candidate. Larson said the voting numbers are very interesting as there were a
smaller number of registered voters in 2022 than 2020 and how did this happen. Kelly said the
County verifies the residence of voters to determine registered voters.
Larson said the turnout in Mound was 72% which was a very good number. Larson asked
where the 1298 absentee ballots were received. Kelly said the County takes in all the returned
in the mail ballots and the City receives ballots brought in by voters and absentee ballots
completed by voters at City Hall. Kelly said the ballots filled in prior to the week before the
election are then couriered weekly to the County to be held there for counting. Kelly added the
ballots voted on and then placed in the ballot counter at City Hall (direct balloting) for the 7 days
leading up to the election stay at the City as do the ballots voted on election day. Kelly said
there were 518 ballots which were fed into the ballot counter at City Hall from November 151
through November 7th. Kelly said 10 voters brought in absentee ballots on Election Day which
were fed into the ballot counter.
Larson asked if the absentee ballot procedures changed from 2020. Hoversten said they had
due to Covid-19 and the greater numbers of absentee ballots voted in 2020.
Discussion ensued about voters receiving a ballot in the mail and then voting with a different
ballot. Kelly said some voters applied for and received their ballots in the mail but chose to vote
absentee at City Hall or on Election Day. Kelly added a voter cannot bring in an outside ballot
to a polling place and those ballots needed to be turned in to City Hall by 3:00 p.m. on Election
Day. Kelly said staff look up absentee voters in the Statewide Voter Registration System when
they vote at City Hall and spoil those mailed ballots in the system so a voter cannot vote twice.
Kelly said election judges at the polling place will have voter information on the poll pads they
use to check in voters. Kelly added the poll pad will tell the election judge if the voter has voted
absentee or if they voted earlier in the day. Kelly said the County updates voter balloting
information three times during voting on Election Day only after which an absentee ballot can be
counted at City Hall.
Larson said the number of voters at each polling place were pretty even on Election Day, noting
the election went very well.
Salazar asked again why 300 voters didn't mark their ballot for Mayor. Hoversten said a voter
completes their ballot in secret and their vote is secret. Holt said a buddy of his told him he was
only going to vote for local races and discussion took place which touched on voter intent and
the option not to vote in every race on the ballot.
Salazar said voting is important and is our right.
Larson asked what is the Council doing with the canvass. Kelly said the Council is making the
determination that the voting data is accurate.
MOTION by Larson, seconded by Holt, to approve the following resolution. Salazar, Holt and
Pugh voted in favor. Larson abstained. Motion carried.
Mound City Council Minutes — November 15, 2022
Larson said she abstained from voting because she personally didn't audit the results of the
election.
RESOLUTION NO. 22-102: RESOLUTION TO CANVASS RETURNS AND DECLARE THE
RESULTS OF THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 8, 2022
Salazar gave his personal thanks to the election judges and everyone else who helped at the
polls. Salazar also thanked staff for their work on the election. Salazar wished to congratulate
both Pugh and Holt on their elections to their seats.
6. Adjourn
ACTION by Larson, seconded by Holt, to adjourn at 9:03 a.m. All voted in favor. Motion
carried.
Mayor Raymond J. Salazar
Attes : evin Kelly, Cler