St. Peter City Council — Transcript
Monday, August 24, 2026
Urban Development and Affordable Housing
Critical Infrastructure Maintenance and Upgrades
Public Facilities Enhancement and City Services
Community Events and Support
Local Government Administration and Training
Votes (6)
Approval of Consent Agenda Items
Dissent: None.
Moved by Unknown [0:05:01] · Seconded by Unknown [0:05:01]
A council member questioned the timing of approving construction services for the 2026 North for Street improvements after construction had already begun. Staff clarified that the approval covered essential oversight, quantity verification, and contract finalization, which can proceed concurrently with initial construction activities.
Co North Development Agreement for New North Development
Dissent: None.
Moved by Unknown [0:15:37] · Seconded by Unknown [0:15:37]
The Council considered a resolution to enter into a development agreement with CO North for a new high-density manufactured housing co-op. This project aims to address affordable and workforce housing needs, featuring city-owned infrastructure and updated electrical requirements for reduced carbon footprint. Council members debated the innovative nature of the project, location selection, and financial implications for the city.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Switchgear Replacement
Dissent: None.
Moved by Unknown [0:21:49] · Seconded by Unknown [0:21:49]
Pete, Public Works Director, requested authorization for the emergency replacement of a failed switchgear transfer switch at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for $283,251.76. This unit is vital for backup generation, load shedding, and ensuring the plant's continuous operation, particularly during power outages, and is critical for public health and upcoming facility improvements.
Front Street Substation Switchgear Upgrade
Dissent: None.
Moved by Unknown [0:24:28] · Seconded by Unknown [0:24:28]
Pete, Public Works Director, presented the final approval for the Front Street Substation switchgear upgrade. This project, completed by Harold Schultz on schedule and budget ($250,900), involved replacing a transformer and upgrading six electrical circuits to improve dependability and redistribute load, particularly addressing previous outages caused by wildlife.
Library Flooring Replacement Project Bid Acceptance
Dissent: None.
Moved by Unknown [0:28:17] · Seconded by Unknown [0:28:17]
Ryan from Recreational Services presented the bid acceptance for the library flooring replacement to Burger Interiors for $100,189.85. The project includes moving services from All Furniture and will allow library staff to rearrange the space. The library will experience temporary closures in mid-September, but the project is approximately $30,000 under budget.
City Assistance Requests for the St. Peter Art Stroll
Dissent: None.
Moved by Unknown [0:30:08] · Seconded by Unknown [0:30:08]
The council considered formalizing city assistance for the annual St. Peter Art Stroll. This support includes authorizing Public Works to install specialized promotional banners in the downtown area, with an estimated cost of around $500, for the event scheduled on September 26-27th, 2026.
Notable Quotes (16)
We're approving the add the manage the contract uh for construction services, but construction has already started on it. Correct. Is this something that should have been done before we started construction?
It would have been fantastic had we done that. However, a lot of the construction services can occur really started today and so there's ample time. This is a lot of making sure that the quantities are right. Making sure that staking is appropriate. Make sure that the right amount of thickness all of those types of things are done.
Coor is a not for profit that's located in Minnesota. Its home bases in Minnesota. Its primary mission over the past more than a decade has really been in the acquisition of troubled manufactured housing communities and developing them into a co-op model where residents of the neighborhood are folks that manage, own, and make sure to take care of the the spot that they're in.
one of the council's goals related to housing has certainly been to reach as far as we can to ensure that workforce and affordable housing is available for the entire community and frankly for folks that want to come to your community and network and live here.
I think it's important to note that this mixture of tools and resources is untested. This is new. These are all tools that you've used previously. They've been used in different types of applications. They've been used at different levels. It's a different kind of cake. The ingredients are there, but in different proportions compared to what you've seen previously.
What we didn't agree upon was where we were going to do it. And simply put, after looking at all of the other viable options, this was the most appropriate fit because we've owned the land for so long. And I think it's important for people or anyone who's viewing this to know all other options would have required us to raise taxes to fund this project.
we also have backup generation [snorts] which we rely on heavily to uh help us load shed during the summertime to try to keep our peak and coincidental peak with our electrical provider at its lowest point that we can possibly manage.
This is the thing that helps keep that waste water plant going, which is still treat waste water. Yes, sir. Helps keep sewage out of your basement.
This is the kind of stuff that will support that going forward. So, There won't be any modifications that are necessary as you move forward with the improvements that are really necessary for that wastewater treatment plant.
We got the areas that were basically causing us outages because of the squirrels that would get in there. Went to a more dependable system.
The original contract price was $250,900 and the construction cost came in at $250,900 and so it was right on schedule.
the library flooring is in need of replacement and um after u the uh it was out for bid burger interiors was the successful and sole bidder at a total of 100,18985.
it's great to see it 50,000 under budget but does that include the moving or how much does the move or how much is the moving going to cost approximately?
the move uh cost is $20,000 on the head. So, so basically uh 30,000 under budget.
This really includes authorizing Pete's crew to put up some specialized banners in the downtown area related to promotion of the stroll.
Just want to say thank you to public works for assisting uh this uh annual event and for all the businesses that participate, including the community members that put it on
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
Meeting agenda that was approved.
Minutes from the previous council meeting that were approved.
Financial document approved as part of the consent agenda.
Resolution approving the development agreement with CO North.
Legal statute governing the funding source for CO North development infrastructure.
Resolution authorizing emergency replacement of wastewater treatment plant switch gear.
Resolution accepting switch gear improvements at the Front Street Substation as complete and authorizing final payment.
Resolution awarding the bid for 2026 library flooring replacement project to Burger Interiors.
Resolution authorizing city assistance for the St. Peter Art Stroll on September 26-27th, 2026.