Willmar City Council Addresses Flooding, Infrastructure, and Comprehensive Plan Amid Busy Agenda

The recent Willmar City Council meeting focused on addressing multiple issues, including the impact of recent flooding, infrastructure projects, and the adoption of a plan. Mayor Doug Reese opened the meeting by acknowledging the severe flooding over the weekend and commending city staff, particularly the wastewater department, for their effective response. The city faced an extraordinary challenge as the wastewater treatment plant, which typically processes about 4.5 million gallons of water daily, peaked at an overwhelming 24.5 million gallons during the storm. The department managed three lift stations manually overnight to prevent sewer backups, highlighting the resilience and dedication of city workers.

22:55In addition to addressing immediate infrastructure concerns, the council discussed a financial matter involving the issuance of general obligation bonds. The finance director introduced an ordinance for issuing up to $7 million in bonds to fund the city’s 2025 improvement program, which encompasses essential infrastructure projects like the reconstruction of 20th Street Southeast. The bond issuance required public hearings, with a detailed presentation provided by consultants from Baker Tilly. The discussion touched upon the city’s bond rating and financial standing.

01:00:19Another major highlight of the meeting was the adoption of the city’s comprehensive plan, titled “with Wilmer,” which aims to guide future growth and development as the city approaches its 125th anniversary. The plan emphasizes Wilmar’s historical significance as a regional hub and outlines strategic goals for land use, mobility, housing, and economic opportunities. The comprehensive plan was developed with extensive community input, with over 700 survey responses and participation from city staff in more than 30 public events. The plan seeks to revise zoning codes, streamline development reviews, and enhance neighborhood engagement to support small businesses and diverse housing options.

51:51Public comments during the meeting expressed strong support for the plan, highlighting its role in fostering community engagement and addressing diverse needs. Letters read into the public record underscored the plan’s focus on equity, opportunity, and inclusive growth, with contributors urging the council to integrate the plan into regular agendas to ensure ongoing dialogue and accountability.

01:27:45The council also discussed various grants related to wastewater management, including a pilot study for treating landfill leachate containing PAS chemicals. The study, funded by a $275,100 grant with a 10% match requirement fulfilled through staff time, aims to explore the feasibility of foam fractionation for PAS removal. The council noted that the city currently accepts leachate from several landfills, with the potential to expand treatment services contingent on the study’s success. The session also addressed a municipal grant for addressing inflow and infiltration (INI) issues within the sewer system, emphasizing the importance of preventing clear water from entering the sanitary sewer system.

01:08:52Additionally, the council reviewed bids for the airport runway lighting system replacement, awarding the project to Design Electric, the low bidder.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

is discussed during:
in these locations: