At the City Council meeting on May 20th, Anthony Witkowski from Xcel Energy gave a short presentation on the upcoming Hydro Abutment Stabilization Project at the hydroelectric dam on the Red Cedar River.
The dam was constructed in 1958. The original grout bags on the south bank of the river between the dam and Wilson Place Museum need to be replaced to control soil erosion. The existing riverbank will be covered with a layer of solid shotcrete. During this project, the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge will be closed and there will be occasional lane closures.
Xcel Energy will also be renovating the Tainter Gate Historic Lookout Plaza by the Wilson Place Museum.
The project is scheduled to begin in June and be completed by October.
In other business:
MFD Chief Denny Klass presented the fire department's annual report. The report can be found HERE.
The Council adopted an ordinance amending Title 3, Chapter 23 of the City Code regarding inspections and licensing of Mobile Food Establishments (“food trucks”). The licensing period was modified to January 1 through December 31 and penalties were added for operators that do not comply with the city’s regulations.
The Council approved a resolution authorizing submission of a DNR Urban Forestry Grant application. This grant would provide over 100 trees to be planted in a portion of the city that qualified as a low-income area.
The Council approved the Sewer Utility’s 2023 Compliance Maintenance Annual Report. This report is submitted to the DNR on an annual basis. The sewer utility received an “A” grade in all categories.
The Council approved the appointment of Steve Lindberg to the Plan Commission and Barbara Bauer Chen, Grady Richartz, Kat Wagner, and Ryan Verdon to the Tourism Board.
