Newport City Council — Transcript
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Community Tributes and Memorials
Fire Department Operations and Staffing
Major Infrastructure Projects and Payments
County Road Construction and Detours
State Legislative Priorities for Small Cities
Community Development and Planning
Sewer System Infrastructure Funding
Threatened Litigation and Closed Session
Votes (3)
Approval of Partial Payment #7 for 2025 Street Utility Improvements Project
Moved by Council member Sumner [0:24:26] · Seconded by Council member Ingamman [0:24:27]
The City Engineer clarified that this payment was for reconciling unpaid quantities from work that had already been completed by Meyer Contracting, ensuring subcontractors could be paid.
Approval of Partial Payment #5 for Water Systems Interconnect Project (Cherrywood Development)
Moved by Council Member Sumner [0:25:52] · Seconded by Council Member Ingamman [0:25:53]
This payment was for electrical service to power a water meter, a pass-through cost from Excel. Mayor Elliot emphasized its critical nature for supplying water to homes in the Cherrywood development on Century Avenue, noting the long time it took to reach this point.
Motion to Enter Closed Session Regarding Threatened Litigation
Moved by Council member Sumar [0:38:59] · Seconded by Council member Ingamman [0:39:00]
The Mayor read a formal statement outlining the necessity of a closed session, citing Minnesota Statute Section 13D.05, subdivision 3B, due to threatened litigation by Isla Clingb regarding property at 1657 2nd Avenue. The purpose was to allow candid discussion for legal strategy without compromising the city's position.
Notable Quotes (5)
neither of which are under active construction. So these uh both payments are uh reconciling some unpaid quantities that the contractor brought forth documentation and then we had reviewed that and then so we like to keep up with those quantities so they can pay their subcontractors.
This uh work is related to the electrical service that's going to be powering the water meter. Essentially we we require the contractor to do all the coordination work with Excel and then get that service uh integrated in with their work and it's essentially the pass through cost.
this is for the Cherrywood development up on Century Avenue. And we need this meter before we can supply water to the um homes that will be going in there. So, it's a it's a missionritical um item that we needed to get done.
The agenda item is a close session pursuant to Minnesota statute section 13D.05, subdivision 3B, due to uh threatened litigation by Isla Clingb in regard to property located at 1657 2nd Avenue, Newport, Minnesota.
Absolute confidentiality is necessary so that the city council and legal council can have a candid and open discussion to determine the available legal options to handle threatened litigation including strategy and any possible areas of resolution.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
Previous state fire reporting system, replaced by Nearest.
New state fire reporting system, started January 1st, 2026.
Incident Command System (ICS) for which Newport Fire Department has 'train the trainers'.
Ongoing project for which Partial Payment #7 was requested.
Ongoing project related to electrical service for a water meter in the Cherrywood development, for which Partial Payment #5 was requested.
Subject of a rescheduled public hearing for the East Ridge Heights development.
Subject of a rescheduled public hearing for the East Ridge Heights development.
Statute cited for closing a meeting under attorney client privilege.