Year 3

This week

I-94 West Corridor Coalition

Earlier today I attended the I-94 West Corridor Coalition: Legislative Preview breakfast in Rogers. The Coalition is a group of local cities, businesses, and elected leaders who work towards advancing projects along I-94. The most recent project is actually the expansion of the roadway from Albertville to Monticello, including Otsego, known as the I-94 Gap Project that just started last year.

The next priority for the Coalition is the Fish Lake Interchange, where I-94 and 494 merge in Maple Grove. Long term, the group is also looking to connect Saint Michael and Otsego with the Naber Street Interchange. However, that project is only in the early planning stages. Eventually, Naber will connect with Nashua in Otsego and run all the way to I-94 through that interchange.

I was surprised to learn from the speakers that I-94 sees over 160,000 vehicles per day. The list of speakers included:

• Sen. Limmer (SD37)

• Sen. Anderson (SD29)

• Sen. Dibble (SD61)

• Sen. Hoffman (SD34)

• Sen. Lucero (SD30)

• Rep. Koegel (39A)

• Rep. McDonald (29A)

Although all the representatives shared a desire to see infrastructure projects funded, they did take the opportunity to highlight the contentious nature of the MN Senate and House this year with the control currently being evenly split in both places.

Next Week

City Council Meeting

The City Council will be meeting on Monday at 7:00p at Prairie Center for its first meeting of the year. Prior to the regular meeting, the Council will also be taking photos and a quorum will be present.

The agenda for this meeting is rather brief, with the standard annual business on the main agenda, and swearing in the new Council Members. The main agenda is as follows:

1. Consent Agenda:

   1. Approve Claims List.

   2. Approve Prior City Council Meeting Minutes.

   3. Approve City Council Special Compensation for December 2024.

   4. Adopt Resolution 2025-01 Designating an Official Newspaper.

   5. Adopt Resolution 2025-02 Designating Depositories and Investment Brokers.

   6. Accept the Wellhead Protection Plan Annual Report.

   7. Adopt Resolutions 2025-03 and 2025-04 Accepting Public Improvements – Magnolia Landing 1st and 2nd.

   8. Approve Hiring for the Utility Operator Position.

   9. Approve a Vacant Land Purchase Agreement.

   10. Adopt Resolution 2025-05 to Sponsor an ISD 728 Safe Routes to School Grant Application.

   11. Approve Pay Application #29 and Change Order #53 for the West WWTF Improvements Phase 1 Project.

   12. Approve Pay Application #3 for the Wellhouse 4 Treatment Improvements Project.

2. Annual Business:

   1. Appoint Acting Mayor.

   2. City Council Appointments for 2025.

(Link to meeting packet)

Public Safety Commission Meeting

On Tuesday at 6:30p, the Public Safety Commission will hold a regular meeting. This meeting has the standing agenda of reviewing monthly reports from each of the contract fire agencies, as well as the Sheriff. There are also reports from the local EMS providers.

(Link to meeting packet)

Heritage Preservation Commission Meeting Canceled

The Heritage Preservation Commission meeting that would normally occur on Tuesday has been canceled this month due to a lack of agenda items.