The meeting commenced with Mayor Brandon Voit expressing gratitude towards the police and fire departments for their participation in a local event. However, the mayor quickly shifted focus to a pressing traffic concern at the intersection of Sixth and Dewey. The intersection, deemed hazardous for pedestrians, prompted a request for the installation of a four-way stop. The mayor noted prior communications with the Department of Transportation and local representatives, emphasizing that the city must now take action.

The council then turned its attention to a major undertaking: the approval of plans for the replacement of 39 lead service lines as part of the 226 lead service project. City Engineer Jared Griffin outlined the project, noting that it was ready to proceed with bidding, with an opening scheduled for April 15th. Griffin assured the council that the inventory of service lines had been updated, and only a few lines would remain after the project’s completion. The project had already received approval for funding of up to one million dollars from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA). The council unanimously approved motions to authorize the application for these funds and approve related expenses.

Following the lead service project discussion, the council addressed the condition of the area surrounding an ongoing construction project. Concerns were raised by residents about telephone poles with debris and exposed wires, as well as a protruding pipe in a resident’s yard. The council acknowledged these issues and planned a walkthrough in spring to ensure that all outstanding items on the project’s punch list were addressed. The financial aspect of this project was discussed, with a request for payout number eight, amounting to $52,580.27, representing about 95% of the total work certified to date.

In addition to infrastructure matters, the council reviewed updates from Chief McMillan regarding the police department’s activities. February saw an increase in calls for service, although accidents, thefts, and medical calls had decreased. The chief noted an uptick in school-related calls and suspicious activity reports. The department was preparing for a transition to a new records system, set to take effect on March 31st. This change would impact the categorization of traffic stop data, complicating reporting metrics.

Community updates were also provided, including the approval of downtown banners designed by the Economic Development Committee. The banners aimed to revitalize the downtown area, with funding coming from the general fund. A facade application for a property at 1614th Avenue North was approved, with council members recognizing the potential benefit of having a historic business occupy the space.

Further administrative updates touched on grant funds from Minnesota Housing, with additional information required for submission. The industrial park land was discussed, with plans to begin a wetland delineation to assess potential uses for the property. This process would wait until spring for appropriate weather conditions.

Library updates confirmed that it would not be closing at the end of the year, despite some cutbacks in hours. The ongoing discussions between county commissioners and the Great River Library Consortium were highlighted, with assurances that any changes in library hours would be communicated effectively. A meeting was scheduled for the following week to continue addressing library matters.