The council unanimously passed Resolution 16-2025, which involves seeking federal funds for the Main Street County State Aid Highway 48 project. Public Works Director Sean Murphy explained the strategic reallocation of federal aid initially intended for the East Side Corridor to the Main Street project. This decision was made to ensure funds remained within the district and supported a more ready-to-execute project. The timeline for the Main Street project is now set to commence in 2026, earlier than its original 2028 schedule. Concerns were raised about the potential delay of the East Side Corridor project, but Murphy clarified that the reallocation was driven by the deliverability of the Main Street project, rather than causing significant delays to other projects.

The council also addressed the 2025 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) overlay project, with Sean Murphy presenting the need for bids to cover 1.65 miles of streets, including parts of Ridge Road, Riverwood Place, and Tenth and Eleventh Avenues Northeast. This project is part of a larger strategy that includes self-performed overlays by the streets crew, funded by street reconstruction bonding. After a brief discussion, the council approved the motion to proceed with advertising for bids.

In addition to the overlay project, an annual crack sealing and seal coating effort was introduced to maintain roadways, covering just over five miles. Bids for this project are expected by early April. The council swiftly approved this initiative following its presentation.

The meeting also highlighted public safety initiatives, with Chief of Police Jeff Mundell providing a report on department activities. He emphasized community engagement efforts, such as Public Safety Day on March 11, and reported on staffing updates, including two officers currently in field training and a conditional job offer extended to a part-time Community Service Officer. This position is intended to serve as a recruitment strategy, particularly targeting college students in early academic stages. Despite being short three officers, the department plans to keep the application process open to attract candidates.

Chief Mundell further elaborated on the police explorers program, which is set to compete in a national conference, and discussed upcoming grant opportunities like the IC POET grant aimed at enhancing recruitment efforts for lateral hires of experienced officers. While some promising candidates have been identified, not all have passed the necessary conditional background checks for hiring.

The implementation of the FLOC program, utilizing camera technology for public safety, was also discussed. Chief Mundell assured the council of the system’s effectiveness regardless of weather conditions, citing positive experiences from other police departments. Community engagement efforts included a K-9 demonstration at a local elementary school and planned fraud prevention presentations for seniors.

Community concerns were brought to the forefront as two residents voiced their apprehensions during the public comments section. Gail Jorgensen, a homeowner, expressed her concerns about the Main Street project and its potential eminent domain impacts on her property and accessibility. She urged the council to consider the implications of design choices on local residents. Melissa Zimmerman requested timely updates on the East Side Corridor project, seeking clarity on potential timeline adjustments and expressing concerns about delays.

In other council actions, Mayor Matt Jessop announced the designation of April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Following a ceremony where ribbons were tied on trees in Central Park, this declaration supports the efforts of the Owatonna Exchange Club. Additionally, the council approved two ordinances: one to increase the number of charitable gambling premise permits from five to eight per liquor licensed establishment, and another adopting the S-8 supplement to the 2025 ordinance code.