09.g City Administrator Report1
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: November 19, 2024, City Council Meeting
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kyle Morell, City Administrator
Re: City Administrator Report
______________________________________________________________________________
Gateway Trail Project
City Engineer Ryan Goodman and I met with Nathan Moe and Kent Skaar from the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Monday, July 10, 2023. We discussed the next steps in the
work plan, including the environmental review, soil borings, and topographical survey. Ryan and the
DNR are working to complete these items before the end of the year. This group plans to meet monthly
to ensure the project stays on schedule.
Kent explained that the LCCMR funding has a hard deadline of June 30, 2027. All spending must be
completed before that date. The City plans for 2026 construction to complete the project before the grant
funding disappears. Our DNR Grant Administrator has also contacted me. LCCMR administers the
project, and the funding comes from the DNR.
I have submitted our first required update to LCCMR. I will have to file a budget amendment to
redistribute the funds we received from construction to engineering, as the money allotted for
engineering will not cover the projected cost. The City’s first reimbursement request has been processed
and received by the County and will be forwarded to the City.
Water Tower Barn Project
The City’s LCCMR proposal was selected to move forward in the review process. I presented it to the
LCCMR committee on June 28. The Committee met on July 31 to determine funding amounts for all
projects. The City received $907,000 of the $998,000 it requested. Or request will now be moved into
the LCCMR bill that will be presented to the Legislature for approval in this upcoming session. IF
approved, we have until 2028 to complete the project.
2
Bliss Stormwater Project
The project is complete. We are awaiting the final bill.
Midco Border 2 Border Grant
Midco was awarded $689,700 for its Scandia Broadband project, which will cost $1,379,400. The City
has pledged $300,000, the grant money, and Midco will pay the rest. The grant will provide high-speed
internet to 161 unserved and underserved locations along the St. Croix River in Scandia. The project
must be completed by June 30, 2027.
Bliss Sewer Project
The City’s presentation to the Senate Capital Investment Committee went well. The Committee
Chairman, Senator Pappas, understood our unique situation. Senator Housley was also on the call. If a
bonding bill is considered, she will continue to push for funding in the upcoming session. Staff will
contact newly re-elected Representative Hill to affirm our desire to be included in any upcoming House
bonding bill.
Wastewater Committee
The Wastewater Committee will meet on Monday night, November 18, to discuss the 2025 sewer bills.
I will present a draft letter that can be sent out to all Bliss and A&E sewer users, inviting them to a
meeting in December, during which I will present the revised billing plan. I want to hold the meeting
before the Council’s regular meeting on December 17 to finalize sewer budgets before the end of 2024.