Hastings Public Schools — Transcript
Monday, July 6, 2026
Highway 61 Project Update
Public Works and Strategic Plan Update
Votes (4)
Approval of Consent Agenda
Moved by Council member Pembo [00:00:54] · Seconded by Council Member Verichoff [00:00:54]
A motion was made to accept the consent agenda without any discussion from the council.
Highway 61 Project Update (Awarding of Contracts)
Dissent: Council Member Lefield and Council Member Beck expressed significant concerns about specific intersection designs, safety for pedestrians and residents, and the project's evolving scope and impacts on local traffic flow and businesses.
Bryant Fisc and Robert Jones from MINDOT provided a detailed update on the Highway 61 project. The project's purpose focuses on multimodal safety, efficiency, and community connections. Key statistics highlighted double the expected crash rate and significant southbound congestion. The project is in the final design stage, with construction now planned for 2028-2029. Several design changes from the initial vision plan were presented, including modifications to specific intersections (5th St, 10th/55, 11th/12th, 12th-14th, 16th, 18th-19th, CR 47, 21st-23rd, 316, Canon St) to balance safety, mobility, and business access. Challenges include funding gaps (currently $21.7M of $41M secured, with several grants pending) and right-of-way acquisition. Construction will involve one lane in each direction, potentially in three segments, with possible early work packages in 2027. Community engagement efforts are ongoing, including a dedicated business liaison and public meetings. Municipal consent is required, with a formal request expected late summer/fall.
PAS Update
Dan, the City Administrator, provided updates on the city's Public Works initiatives. Water rate projections were positively impacted by anticipated full funding for the Eastern Water Treatment Plant. The council decided against raising water rates in 2026 but will review 2027 rates. The Western Water Treatment Plant project faces a site challenge as St. Catherine's Church is no longer interested in collaborating. Other sites are being explored, maintaining the goal of keeping plants out of residential areas. Construction on the Central Treatment Plant is progressing, with exterior work and roofing underway. Bids for the Eastern Treatment Plant are set to open soon, with construction expected to begin in late summer/September. The Met Council's wastewater treatment plant construction (a separate but related project) has been delayed, as they are now exploring pumping the wastewater west rather than building a new facility immediately east of town.
Introduction of Strategic Plan
Dan presented an update to the city's 2024-2027 strategic initiatives. In 'Financial Resilience,' revenue analysis and asset management strategy were completed. Budget system evaluation is delayed to late 2026/early 2027, focusing on identifying cost drivers and benchmarks. For 'Operational Effectiveness,' full recruitment/staffing and organizational training were completed. Emergency preparedness is a new priority, involving an in-depth review of the Emergency Operations Plan, including cybersecurity. In 'Community Development,' a housing needs analysis was completed, and site development strategy for Block 28 is nearly ready for RFPs. Redevelopment of Block 1 is delayed. Major facility additions at Vets Park and the Arena are not financially feasible currently, but economic impact analyses are planned. A new inclusive park is fast-tracked, with a DNR grant submitted and construction planned for 2027. Under 'Infrastructure Sustainability,' planning for the water treatment system continues, with the Western plant design starting this fall. The Met Council's wastewater project is delayed.
Notable Quotes (12)
Basically, we want the corridor to be safe. We want it to move traffic and we want to make sure it works within the community and is not a barrier to the community. It doesn't split you into sides.
I guess what I'm wanting to get at is that if a business had a concern and said, 'Hey, I really do need this baggage road back there.' what would that process look like to get it up and running and how quickly could something like that be done?
The backage road stuff is actually, I believe, contemplated in our 2040 comprehensive plan. So really it's more laying out for future redevelopment of the area more than existing businesses along there currently. ... it would most likely be a local project and almost entirely local cost.
This just feels like a very far away from where we started. This seems to me like the topic of conversation over the years has been to increase safety and to slow down speeds and to help pedestrian movement. And now it's like, so this is already a lane there.
It's my job to make this project right. Okay. And we're trying to make this one right. ... But I'm going to try to make the majority of people happy. And this is going to be a great project at the end.
We know you're going to try to do the best thing you can for safety. But when we have questions like this come up, these are because these are the questions we're going to have to answer to our community.
I mean, that's why we're here is to have the discussion and get more input. Correct. And you are correct. As much as I have been here, will continue to be here, I do not live here. So, this is where your experience comes in and helps us craft this project.
Our schedule just got blown up. I know Met Council wants to um do the utilities here. Not only do you guys have a huge what $4 million utility um lift that you're trying to do and we're putting it in our project, but Mech Council now wants $5 million worth of deep lime sewer to put in here and we want to put it in this project because we don't want you coming back and having mech council in five years digging up Highway 61 that we just put in brand new.
So, it's going to come over the summer um next summer. So, this summer sometime as we approach the 60% in the fall. We're I think we're going to have to make some decisions. So, that is where this is a preview of where we're at. We're waiting on some of these funding announcements.
I'm just a little confused as to how um it got to that amount um from just going from milan overlay. But again, it hasn't been done since 77. So, I'm just confused as to how we thought it was only going to be milan overlay.
We've hired Gooff and uh James is our main business leaison contact with them. So, he'll be the liaison to contact with anyone. And then Jenny Hines works for Mandot. She's our main public engagement. ... So those four people any question goes into James. He gets a consensus from us four. So he's got MDOT's the PM and the city's coordination first before he makes a decision. Then he gets back to them right away.
just a couple of years ago when we increased our funding for mill and overlay and doing some of the skimm patching at house. I remember the presentation from our one of our engineers at that time it was 23 24 years had seen asphalt increases increase 50%. tough to do road projects at a 3% inflation when there's 50% increases in in the the cost for the basic input of the road material.
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Previous meeting minutes mentioned for approval.
Initial high-level study for the Highway 61 corridor, now being compared to current design layouts.
City plan contemplating future backage roads in certain areas.
A grant application that secured some funding for the Highway 61 project.
A federal grant application for $19 million for the Highway 61 project, awaiting announcement.
An $8 million grant application for the Highway 61 project.
A MINDOT grant application for the Highway 61 project, currently under review.
A recent federal grant application for $19 million for the Highway 61 project.
City document being reviewed and updated with cybersecurity and communication templates.
A study completed by Dakota County in early 2025, identified as a need in the strategic plan.
A grant submitted for funding an inclusive park project, awaiting announcement.
Formal letter from MINDOT to the city requesting approval for the Highway 61 project.
Required after a public hearing to approve or disapprove municipal consent.
Documents outlining cost share and responsibilities between MINDOT and the city for the project.
The city's updated list of goals and projects to guide operations and development.