Maple Plain Council Approves Lead Pipe Replacement, Gambling Fund Policy
The Maple Plain City Council unanimously approved a $297,000 project to replace lead water service lines and adopted a new policy dedicating all gambling revenue to public safety, though one council member dissented over governance concerns.
At its August 4 meeting, the Maple Plain City Council took action on several infrastructure and policy matters. The council unanimously approved awarding a bid to Precision Utilities for $297,000 to replace 19 known lead and galvanized water service lines throughout the city. The project will be entirely funded by state grants, meaning no local tax dollars are required. This addresses a significant public health concern, as lead in drinking water poses risks particularly to children and pregnant women.
In a more contentious vote, the council approved a new policy dedicating all lawful gambling proceeds exclusively to public safety by a 3-1 margin. Council Member Visel dissented, expressing concerns about fiscal stewardship and governance consistency. "My concern is not with prioritizing public safety," Visel said. "It's already a foremost priority in our city policy. My concern is with fiscal stewardship, governance consistency and maintaining resident trust." The policy explicitly excludes using gambling funds for community grant programs, a shift from a previously discussed framework that would have allowed broader public benefit uses.
The council also approved a resolution to grandfather the senior sewer rate discount for current recipients, preventing a significant rate increase that resulted from changes to the city code in 2023. This passed 3-1, with one unnamed council member dissenting. Additionally, the council unanimously approved a $6,000 supplemental benefit payment to fire relief pension members over 50 as the fire relief organization dissolves due to legislative changes. City Administrator Schillinder recommended the city pay this amount upfront and seek reimbursement from the Minnesota Department of Revenue in spring, which would avoid requiring the fire relief organization to conduct another audit during its dissolution.
The council also unanimously approved updates to the city's cannabis ordinance to reflect changes in state law, including new terminology for licensing such as "macro business combination license" replacing "medical cannabis combination." All votes on routine matters, including accounts payable approval and staff reports from public safety, engineering, and planning departments, passed unanimously.
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Votes (8)
Accounts Payable Approval
Dissent: None
Moved by Berack [0:27:01] · Seconded by Duca [0:27:01]
Council member Duca inquired about a specific USI consulting group actuarial bill, clarifying it was for the fire relief audit and would be charged to the Maple Plane Independence split.
Receive Staff Reports
Dissent: None
Moved by Berack [0:37:34] · Seconded by Duca [0:37:34]
Staff from West Hennepin Public Safety, City Engineering, and City Planning provided verbal updates on their respective departments' activities, including community events, infrastructure projects, and development proposals. Other reports were submitted in writing.
Ordinance 2026-354 Amending the Cannabis Ordinance
Dissent: None
Moved by Duca [0:38:40] · Seconded by Bureer [0:38:40]
The ordinance was updated to reflect changes in state cannabis laws, including new terminology for licensing, such as 'macro business combination license' replacing 'medical cannabis combination.'
Approve Summary Publication for Ordinance 2026-354
Dissent: None
Moved by Duca [0:39:27] · Seconded by Berk [0:39:27]
A motion was made to approve the summary publication for the recently passed cannabis ordinance.
Resolution 2026-0727-02 Payment of Fire Supplemental Benefit
Dissent: None
Moved by Visel [0:40:54] · Seconded by Duca [0:40:54]
The resolution addresses the dissolution of the fire relief pension due to legislative changes. It proposes the city pay a $1,000 supplemental benefit to each member over 50 ($6,000 total) and seek reimbursement from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, streamlining the dissolution process for the fire relief organization.
Resolution 2026-0727-03 City Policy for Use of Gambling Funds
Dissent: Council Member Visel
Moved by Duca [0:42:07] · Seconded by Berack [0:42:07]
This resolution establishes the city's policy to dedicate all lawful gambling proceeds exclusively to public safety, ending consideration for community grant programs. Council Member Visel expressed dissent, arguing the policy departed from a more balanced and accountable framework previously discussed, which would have allowed for broader public benefit uses with oversight.
Resolution 2026-0727-04 Awarding Bid for the 2026 Lead Service Line Replacement Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Berack [0:48:30] · Seconded by Duca [0:48:30]
The council considered bids for replacing 19 known lead and galvanized water services. Precision Utilities was recommended as the low, responsive, and responsible bidder at $297,000, with the project entirely funded by state grants.
Resolution 2026-0727-05 Grandfathering the Senior Sewer Rate
Dissent: One unnamed council member
Moved by Berack [0:50:49] · Seconded by Duca [0:50:49]
The resolution aims to maintain a senior sewer rate discount for current recipients, which was inadvertently removed in the 2023 city code, preventing a significant rate increase. The discount will phase out as individuals become ineligible or sell their property.
Notable Quotes (8)
it is my recommendation to the council that the city pay that $6,000. we will get reimbursement from the Minnesota Department of Revenue um in the spring. Um one of the reasons for recommending this is if we leave it to the fire relief, it just means they have to be uh an organization longer, which means they have to do another audit.
Um after previous workshop discussions in which we discussed um a policy um in how to use the gambling proceeds that the city gets. Um the council directed that we um use those funds for public safety. Um and that is this resolution is then setting that as our established policy.
My concern is not with prioritizing public safety. It's already a pri foremost priority in our our city policy, our proposed policies. Sorry, my concern is with fiscal stewardship, governance consistency and maintaining resident trust.
I think it's important to remember that upwards of 55 to 60% of our budget, six out of every$10 dollars we spend are for police and fire. So, I don't understand the argument you're making, council person, that we're not being transparent.
gambling money is a source of revenue that um it helps the entire budget which helps every resident in our city that pays taxes and I do not want to be in the business of setting a precedent and deciding which 501c's in our community.
it is to replace 19 known leader galvanized water services from the main at the street up into where the service enters the house.
all the funds are covered by state grants. So we have to follow the grant polic procedures and policies. Um but otherwise the city isn't paying directly for any of the work.
When the 2023 code was adopted, that um discount for sewer uh was no longer in the the city code. Um, and rather than changing the rate because that would raise the seniors, the people that were on that program would their sewer rate would go up by $70. So rather than making that change, we would be grandfathering them in.
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Routine start to the meeting
Meeting agenda for August 3rd, 2026
City council statement on Collision Corner matter
Mentioned by John Gabas in his review of Collision Corner issues
Mentioned by John Gabas in his review of Collision Corner issues
Agreement giving the council authority to revoke IUP for Collision Corner
Community petition supporting Collision Corner
Previous council meeting minutes referenced during public comment
City policy for use of gambling funds (requested to be re-evaluated)
West Hennepin Public Safety report
Amending the cannabis ordinance
Payment of fire supplemental benefit
City policy for use of gambling funds
Awarding bid for the 2026 lead service line replacement project
Grandfathering the senior sewer rate
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
City Policy for Use of Gambling Funds
Water System Issues and Cybersecurity Incident
Senior Sewer Rate Grandfathering
City Infrastructure and Development Projects
West Hennepin Public Safety Community Engagement
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