A primary focus of the meeting was the council’s decision to approve a wastewater handling agreement with Excel Energy. This agreement allows Excel to discharge ash leachate into the city’s wastewater system, following a trial period in 2023 to assess the compatibility of the discharge with Becker’s treatment processes. The agreement sets a charge of $45 per thousand gallons, a reduction from the initially proposed $60, which was notably higher than the $21 charged by nearby St. Cloud. The council emphasized the need for this arrangement to serve as a viable revenue stream and ensure compliance with environmental regulations, particularly given Excel’s significant discharge volume. The council also retained control over monitoring and could cease operations if necessary.

In addition to the wastewater agreement, the council discussed infrastructure projects, including the replacement of pumps and a control panel at Lift Station 17, with an allocated budget of $747,702.23. The lift station’s refurbishment was prompted by previous damage caused by mice and concerns about the outdated control panel. The council unanimously adopted Resolution 2529 to proceed with the upgrades, which had already been budgeted for 2025.

The meeting also addressed the city’s street improvement plans, specifically the bid award for Central Avenue’s enhancements. The council received five bids, with the lowest at approximately $1.8 million, undercutting the highest bid of over $2.4 million. The council expressed satisfaction with the selected bidder, OMG Midwest, and highlighted the importance of maintaining resident access during construction. The project is part of a broader effort to improve the city’s infrastructure, with a focus on strategic planning and effective communication with the community.

Another topic was the proposal for a response time requirement for critical city personnel. The council deliberated on a policy requiring personnel to reside within 30 minutes of the city limits for emergency purposes, later amending the proposal to 45 minutes. This decision was made to account for various scenarios, such as vacations or being away from home.

The council also reviewed an encroachment easement for TR Properties LLC, the owner of Charlie’s Bar and Grill. The business sought permission to expand freezer space, encroaching on city-owned sidewalk space. After assessing the proposal’s impact, the council approved the easement under conditions of maintenance responsibility and voidance if the building is demolished.

Housing development featured prominently in the meeting, with discussions on infrastructure grants for potential projects. The council explored possibilities for extending utilities along Luan Drive to support future housing, with costs estimated at nearly $1.995 million. A grant could potentially cover $430,000 of this amount. The council considered the implications of housing types on grant scoring and discussed the need for clear definitions of affordable and workforce housing to enhance grant applications.

Additional infrastructure discussions included a proposed remodel of a local gas station, with plans to improve safety through sidewalk and crosswalk installations. The council emphasized the importance of these improvements for pedestrian safety and expressed willingness to support redevelopment efforts without imposing financial burdens on developers.