St. Peter City Council — Transcript
Monday, September 28, 2026
Proposed Changes to 2030 Census
Climate Smart Municipalities and Regional Treatment Center Resources
State Historical Preservation Office Grant for Downtown Standards
Ambassadors and Oktoberfest Economic Impact
Votes (8)
Public Hearing: State Grant for Park View Manor
Dissent: None
Moved by N/A · Seconded by N/A
A public hearing was conducted regarding a state grant of approximately $500,000 from DEED for HVAC and roofing improvements at Park View Manor. The hearing addressed a requirement for community comment on a potential conflict of interest involving a council member and a resident on the board, which is permitted under existing city ordinance. No public comments were received during the hearing.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:07:56] · Seconded by Unknown [0:07:57]
The consent agenda included purchases from Shidles Nursery Inc. for trees, the appointment of election judges for the August and November 2026 elections, the appointments of Daniel Netto and Jack Harvey as employees, and the schedule of disbursements for September 12th through 23rd, 2026. No discussion was raised by council members.
Highway 169 Sanitary Sewer and Manhole Lining Project Final Payment
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:12:47] · Seconded by Unknown [0:12:48]
The council reviewed the final phase of the Highway 169 sanitary sewer and manhole lining project, which was completed by Insituform. The project came in under the authorized budget by $8,400 due to efficiency in traffic control and manhole lining by city staff. The project is eligible for a grant reimbursement, stemming from the 2025 flooding events that highlighted inflow and infiltration issues in the collection system.
Donation Acceptance: St. Peter Baseball Association for Veterans Field #1 Turf Improvements
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:15:37] · Seconded by Unknown [0:15:38]
The council considered accepting a donation from the St. Peter Baseball Association for turf improvements at Veterans Park Field #1. The project involves installing turf in the mound and home plate areas and leveling work between home plate and third base/pitcher's mound, with Flickfield Renovations as the contractor. The Parks Board was in agreement with the project.
MnDOT Truck Station Lease Agreement
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:19:15] · Seconded by Unknown [0:19:16]
The council discussed an interim lease agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for their existing truck station at 415 Rit Street. This agreement facilitates MnDOT's continued use of the site until their new facility at Klein and Mason is completed next year. The lease outlines responsibilities for site cleanup, maintenance, and utilities. The city's temporary ownership of the Rit Street property aims to market and sell it for a beneficial community business use.
City Building Roof Repairs and Bid Solicitation
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:24:59] · Seconded by Unknown [0:25:00]
The council authorized the solicitation of bids for hail repair projects on approximately 18 city buildings impacted by a substantial April hail storm. The work, fully covered by LMCIT insurance after the city met its $100,000 aggregate deductible, will be divided into four packages, including City Hall, Scholarship America building, and Minnesota Square Park. RW Carlstrom will serve as the construction manager, and a wider bidding window aims for competitive pricing and opportunities for local contractors.
New Tree Worker License for Feifer Tree Services
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:27:32] · Seconded by Unknown [0:27:33]
The council reviewed and approved a new tree worker's license for Patrick Feifer of Feifer Tree Services. The Police Department conducted the required background check and found no issues that would prohibit the issuance of the license according to city ordinance. A lighthearted comment was made by Council Member Brad regarding business name creativity.
Executive Session for Property Transfers
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [0:40:15] · Seconded by Unknown [0:40:16]
City Administrator Todd requested an executive (closed) session under Minnesota State Statute to review potential property transfers for 105 East Brown Street. He indicated that no action was anticipated after the session, only adjournment of the meeting.
Notable Quotes (12)
Madame Mayor, the issue before the council tonight is not one that is voting. It's a requirement for a state grant that the city of St. Peter received through um deed. The grant funds approximately a half million dollars were intended for use by Park View Manor.
Specifically in this instance related to providing opportunity for the community to comment on on the issue related to whether there's a conflict of interest that there is a council member that sits on the board and a resident that sits on the board.
Uh your uh water resources superintendent was able to save about $8,400 um by doing some traffic control and on some of the lining of the manhole. Uh so the total project came within budget.
this was from flooding of 2025. If you remember uh we had a June July kind of event that happened um with heavy rains similar to what we just experienced. And uh our staff was informed that there was some grant funds eligible for areas that had high inflow and infiltration along our collection system.
Um the initial scope was to do the mound in the home plate area by um taking out the a lime and installing turf. And so that will help the two areas be maintained a little better.
Part of that agreement included your temporary ownership of the location on Rit Street, which is their current truck station, for you to market and sell that.
Again, the overall goal is that while the city will own it, it's not necessarily something that you're going to use. Our goal to make sure that it gets to a good use for a business that wants to be or is currently within our community.
Your insurance is paying for the work on these buildings. And um right now the plan is and as it's articulated within your packet, we're going to divide this work into four packages.
And so um that's that's how we get there.
We want to give kind of a wider window for contractors to do this work. Um that way we hope to get the best price. We don't have anything that's leaking and so we're okay from that perspective. And also it gives an opportunity I hope and how we have this broken up and how we're looking on the timeline for maybe some smaller local contractors to be able to get this work.
And um the police department has done the background check as is articulated within your ordinance and we found nothing that would prohibit issuance of the license to Fifer Tree Services.
I do have a request um for an executive session um under Minnesota State Statute for review of potential property transfers for 105 East Brown Street.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
Approximately $500,000 grant for Park View Manor HVAC and roofing improvements, requiring a public hearing.
Pertaining to conflict of interest for council members/residents on boards, relevant to the Park View Manor public hearing.
Approving items on the consent agenda, including purchases, election judge appointments, and employee appointments.
Authorizing final payment and acceptance of the Highway 169 sanitary sewer and manhole lining project.
Reimbursement grant received for the Highway 169 sanitary sewer and manhole lining project, related to 2025 flooding.
Approving the acceptance of a donation for turf improvements at Veterans Park.
Previous agreement where the city sold property to MnDOT for a new truck station.
Interim lease allowing MnDOT to use its current truck station while a new one is built.
Approving the solicitation of bids for city building roof repairs following a hail storm.
Approving a tree worker's license for Patrick Feifer of Feifer Tree Services.
Federal population count with proposed changes that could impact cities.
Legal basis for holding an executive (closed) session for property transfers.