Stewartville City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Property Cleanup Enforcement
Lead Service Line Replacement Project Bid Approval
North End Traffic Signal Project Agreement
Wastewater Collection System Hydraulic Model Development
Traffic Signal Soil Boring Testing Subcontract Approval
Annual Equipment Agreement with Homestead County
Maple Brook Subdivision Water Main Deterioration
15th Street Project Funding and Ownership Workshop
Fire Department Operations and Reimbursement
Public Safety Incidents and Enforcement
Votes (7)
Public Hearing: Property Cleanup at 134 Street Southeast
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:03:04] · Seconded by Unknown [00:03:08]
The City received complaints regarding the property condition. City staff confirmed contact with the owner, who has initiated some cleanup but still requires further action. The owner was unable to attend due to a family emergency. The council discussed declaring the property a nuisance to continue working with the owner on full compliance, noting pictures from today still showed issues like a pile of cement.
Public Hearing: Property Cleanup at 154 Street Southeast
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:04:54] · Seconded by Unknown [00:05:00]
Complaints were received regarding this property, with pictures attached. Unlike the previous property, the owner, Michelle Hansen, has not responded to the attorney's letter. Staff indicated some cleanup has occurred, but significant work remains. The council expressed concern over the lack of response and moved to declare the property a nuisance to continue the enforcement process.
Lead Service Line Replacement Resolution Approving Bids
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:08:24] · Seconded by Unknown [00:08:31]
The City advertised for bids for the 2026 Lead Service Line Replacement project, receiving six proposals. Staff recommended awarding the project to Ellingson Drains for $96,840, which was significantly lower than other bids and the engineer's estimate. The favorable pricing was attributed to Ellingson's trenchless equipment capability and the city's allowance of polyethylene service lines, which are cheaper than copper. Grant money is also involved. Discussions touched upon the large bid variation and the possibility of Ellingson extending their work if more replacements are identified.
Construction Service Agreement: Traffic Signal Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:12:11] · Seconded by Unknown [00:12:13]
The City is entering into MnDOT Agreement Number 1062326 for a new traffic signal project at Trunk Highway 63 and Schuman Drive Northwest. The resolution authorizes the Mayor and City Administrator to sign the agreement. Discussion included specific ADA improvements (two pedestrian ramps and a crosswalk) and the project timeline, aiming for completion this fall, possibly by year-end. A council member proposed exploring an amendment for battery backup systems for the signals, citing past power outage issues, acknowledging the associated upfront cost and long-term maintenance.
Supplemental Agreement: Wastewater Collection System Model
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:16:04] · Seconded by Unknown [00:16:08]
The City Council considered a supplemental agreement for professional services from City Engineering to develop a hydraulic model of the wastewater collection system. The city currently lacks such a model, which is crucial for assessing capacity, planning for new developments, and identifying areas for future upgrades. The estimated cost is $73,380, with staff assuring that they monitor costs and typically come in under budget for such design projects.
Supplemental Agreement: Traffic Signal Project (Soil Boring Testing)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:19:15] · Seconded by Unknown [00:19:17]
This supplemental agreement covers a subcontract for soil boring testing by Braun Intertec, which was already completed between April and June 2026. The testing was necessitated by a new MnDOT standard, implemented last December, requiring geotechnical foundation designs for signal pole locations. The fee was estimated at $20,000 but will come in slightly under. The work was critical to meet bidding deadlines, and the item was presented as a supplemental agreement because it was inadvertently omitted from the original design contract.
Yearly Equipment Agreement with Homestead County
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:21:42] · Seconded by Unknown [00:21:49]
The annual equipment agreement with Homestead County was presented for review and approval, with an expected increase in line item costs. Public Works Director Sean recommended approval. Discussion focused on the reciprocal nature (city charges county differently), cost differences (e.g., sweeper costing more than a dozer due to maintenance), and the agreement's primary function as an emergency backup, as it has rarely been utilized in the past.
Notable Quotes (13)
So I have been in contact with the property owner and they have done um a lot of cleanup. Um she wasn't able to be here tonight. was coming but her father isn't doing well. So, um, so I still would like you to declare nuisance and then we'll continue working with her.
So, we're going to say that we got to clean this up.
They have not even responded. Okay. Well, that that's kind of concerning, isn't it?
Yep, that one. They have done some, but there's still more to be done. So,
So these blood service line replacements are kind of newer for contractors and Alexson has been doing these in some other locations and is we did talk to them. They are very confident on their pricing and what they are going to be doing here. Um, and some some companies don't have the equipment to do trench list themselves, but Allison does. Um, so that's one of the reasons why we believe uh pricing is so favorable. The other reason is here in Stewartville, we allow for polyethylene um service lines where other cities will only allow copper. And that is giving us favors. So, um,
This is like this could be the biggest uh variation I've seen on any bid that we've thrown out there. It's quite
So there's just two peds on the very on the left side of the intersection. And so there will be two PE ramps and a crosswalk for them to be able to cross Schuman Drive from south and north
I think we should make sure that we have the battery backup on these also. We'll have to look into that. I think amendment to the contract.
So this is this model is what you have today and every time we add to the system we add to the model and it will be good as long as it's kept up.
When we get to 80% of that fee, we will we would talk to you on can we finish it, can we not? You know, what where were the overages, how much would we get done? Um, from what I know on these guys and what they do for the collection system models and stuff, they they're very good at estimating it. And majority of the time, the estimates I do give you for like my projects, I usually come in longer. I don't end up using that whole budget on the design. So, we do try to give you good budgeting numbers and not undercut you.
Yeah, I was going to say why is that an estimate? Well, that's our form in our contract, but it was already done and it will come in under 20,000. The actual amount is $4 under um just to make things not so confusing. But yes, this was work that has already been completed in order to meet that bidding deadline. Um the Mindot changed their standard for signals. Um, and that went into effect in December of last year. And at that point, then for them to approve a signal design, it had to go through having a sword at each pool location and a full geotechnical foundation design, which is what we which is what the FDR is. So, we did that foundation design report. in the amendment I gave you last month. I forgotten to include that portion in it.
They pay what ours is set up.
We approve it every year and I don't think in all the years I've been here we've ever used questions. That's why it's not a this is what they're charging. We can just agree to Yeah. We absolutely have to. These are the rates we're going to have to pay. But if we don't like the rates, we can rent or do something else if we have to.
Ordinances & Resolutions (13)
City code pursuant to which property cleanup public hearings are held.
City code pursuant to which property cleanup public hearings are held and nuisances are considered.
Resolution approving bids for the 2026 lead service line replacement project.
Cooperative construction agreement with the State of Minnesota (MnDOT) for the North End traffic signal project.
Resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Administrator to execute the MnDOT agreement and amendments.
Agreement for professional services for the wastewater collection system hydraulic model.
Agreement for soil boring testing subcontract with Braun Intertec for the traffic signal project.
Yearly agreement with Homestead County for equipment and operator services.
Annual city budget currently under development.
Financial accounting structure being updated with new software.
Requirements for data collection for the fire department's record management system.
Foundation Design Report, required by new MnDOT standards for traffic signals.
Funding source being utilized for the lead service line replacement project.