[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6308091,"mediaKeyId","2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f","parentId",2425089,"title","Council outlines 2025 priorities; water funding and lobbying efforts take top billing","audioSeconds",318,"startMs",3024000,"endMs",3342000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f&start=3024&end=3342","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f/thumbnail_3024000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6308091/Mound-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Council-outlines-2025-priorities-water-funding-and-lobbying-efforts-take-top-billing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308091-b22804a1556ab419f9bcef45c31f5627/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178691&Signature=npBzYxzv9EmGvrrsqVA606q5bgyhGIBzKIatdHToo7kzGo3ro05bwPsDw8nIp9b5r5lrvLESvNkPxgU7rWuNXLfWC9~MJ~yH5Y1i7YGhweGEcZqVrKHcO29-ZNMHvBPS7LOJmX9HvyjCf8doc50L8Y4wrAJGlbURhMOa0fg8pv5eICi~-08RFikdrAobPH~a16BMiA9ksssbDbFw4igLJqz~luUY7alOVTE1uMX5qp7ztLYSKac-4hRTWBcfevBV0ohaCD0wm0sg4UJ8mCIT7PnW9~LHfWDvB34~URchkG735M4rE080P-Ccj87ReAJUO1DJPPOCkhDXb1HaA9kScA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mound, MN","date","2025-02-27T00:18:04Z","article","The Mound City Council reviewed its 2025 priorities list on Feb. 25 and emphasized water funding and infrastructure as the year’s principal focus.

Mayor Holt (speaking for council leadership) said the city’s technical water need is $26 million and noted staff had made requests to state elected officials and submitted a federal request for $3.1 million through the congressionally directed spending process. He announced a \"State of the Water\" presentation at the council’s March 11 meeting and said staff and council members will attend City on the Hill advocacy meetings with state legislators; the city plans to hand out Mounds candy bars with a QR code and briefing materials to visiting lawmakers.

Council members discussed contingency planning if state or federal funding does not materialize and directed staff to continue exploring alternative funding paths after the legislative session. Council also reviewed communications and engagement priorities — including a new website, social media presence and an updated newsletter — to keep residents informed about construction timing, detours and long‑range financial planning.

Other items on the priorities list that council discussed included parks and Lost Lake Commons phase planning, wayfinding signage, code enforcement for rental units, development outreach to property owners and a proposal to have council interview candidates for boards and commissions rather than having commissions hold the initial interviews.

Council asked staff to coordinate a joint council–parks workshop to refine plans for Lost Lake Commons and to consider temporary traffic and speed controls on West Edge during upcoming construction detours tied to the water projects.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mound City Council Meeting - 2/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mound’s council on Feb. 25 placed water funding and infrastructure at the top of its 2025 priorities and said it will press state and federal lawmakers for support while increasing resident communications about program impacts.","taxTitle","Mound City, Hennepin County, Minnesota","taxId",71061,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6308106,"Council accepts low bid for Phase 1 water work, authorizes Phase 2 and lift-station bids",1100,1695000,2795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f&start=1695&end=2795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f/thumbnail_1695000.jpg","/articles/6308106/Mound-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Council-accepts-low-bid-for-Phase-1-water-work-authorizes-Phase-2-and-lift-station-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308106-e200be3f700d627433852c0d49ab27b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178691&Signature=glDmdwjxc18pCZOWSuJY~jVJXYA-gE~Z6wbPciLx-aFdDYKXRl677m6X~PqLj2MOaye3Ix0bEJvx8Yn3fFJRDR~PtFozLwJ8EARJZLeS4buHvXOglNyY-Wmb~Hde4F2-H~sdljOPf7cpu7Pli81IWYG8xkWuDxh2pn6Xoea7gCALZLO04kCI9ieWBGIpCUsQwGnpeg3bKv5N47c-hlhb77LTy9LeS3ZGinCI~MTGpEeWzZnsaPS194gpTSokSisBgae1TUnwT~T4cvjrFatfkQNsT5SKzLCTl1zVFYy7YoUQV4NhKATrvCVO8HV225SP1BQurKaaTz1NsAL633~7kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mound City Council on Feb. 25 voted to accept the low bid of $715,000 from Widmer Construction for the Phase 1 portion of the city’s water treatment infrastructure improvements and authorized advertising for bids on Phase 2 and 2025 lift-station improvements.

City Engineer Matt Bauman recommended awarding the Phase 1 contract to Widmer and said the bid was substantially below the city’s engineer’s estimate. “We definitely recommend approving the bid,” Bauman told the council.

The Phase 1 award follows the city’s broader water program that includes $10.3 million in previously secured grant funding. Bauman told the council the Phase 2 portion is the largest remaining package; the engineer’s estimate is $4,750,000 with an alternate that would bring the total to $5,135,000. Council members were told the alternate would add battery backup to a sump-pump system to provide additional redundancy.

Bauman said crews need to complete parts of the Phase 1 work before Hennepin County performs milling and overlay work on Highway 15. For Phase 2 he outlined a staged approach intended to preserve local access while completing trenchless work where possible; he told the council Stage 1 may require a full closure for about four to five weeks to complete critical crossings.

On the 2025 lift-station improvements, staff reported an updated engineer’s estimate of $891,000 and said the city will purchase major equipment items (generators, pumps, control panels) directly and bid the construction portion. Council members approved moving those plans to advertisement for bid.

All three motions passed by voice vote. Council members voting were recorded as saying “Aye.” The council did not record individual yes/no names in the motions' roll calls that were read aloud.

Clarifying details: the Phase 1 low bid from Widmer was reported as $715,000; the city engineer’s Phase 1 estimate was reported in the meeting packet as $950,000. Phase 2 engineer’s estimate: $4,750,000; Phase 2 alternate (battery backup/sump redundancy): $5,135,000. Lift-station updated engineer’s estimate: $891,000. Staff emphasized parts of the Phase 2 work will be trenchless (pipe bursting, directional drilling) with limited open-cut work at crossings. County traffic will be encouraged to use county roads during extended closures.

What’s next: staff will return with bid results and a recommendation for the Phase 2 contract after the advertised bid period; staff said timing of Stage 1 will depend on bidder schedules and county milling dates.

","The Mound City Council on Feb. 25 voted to accept the low bid of $715,000 from Widmer Construction for Phase 1 of the city’s water treatment infrastructure improvements and to advertise bids for Phase 2 and for 2025 lift‑station work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6308096,"Hennepin County embedded social worker reports steady referrals, rising elderly needs and one housing success",146,1146000,1292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f&start=1146&end=1292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f/thumbnail_1146000.jpg","/articles/6308096/Mound-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Hennepin-County-embedded-social-worker-reports-steady-referrals-rising-elderly-needs-and-one-housing-success","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308096-c5f93f8ee08ab8ddb9819fc4cea79d8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178692&Signature=Ha9qEm9f46AIm~OHR39YMOEdFiLv00pMKz7GNWMnr3V7wYDJek0ghQDpM6ls6OyMV9aTpfHarmV43xE-yZXdP4xx14i3fokWiBsiRH1f5Z1QHmnwEiR6K7y5HUOi~zpn8Rl-TQBfW6VLitcoRtA~r3QcaXtlCvakdkrPXCDAtvz-bIrwz6kNh8qLZoPZMTQp-LsWcu3INMLI8YI62TlLB3NSj2Hps-5~qNyytji23U6LlQA-GNtTv9TXQ46J5uoxjPPQb0Kyj66pRIKlXjkkvwdcQdqpwdTmTSNrAvzS8BunaRPe90JDxF9vXUbjc2ehfe7XLOGiEpvfIcZoaWVozw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jen Withrow, the Hennepin County embedded social worker assigned to Orono and six neighboring departments, briefed the Mound City Council on Feb. 25 about the program’s referrals, caseload trends and local housing work.

Withrow said the program recorded 545 referrals in 2023 and 561 in 2024 across the seven departments she serves. In Orono specifically she said referrals increased from 109 in 2023 to 130 in 2024.

She told council members a recent pattern is more elderly residents experiencing falls and functional decline; many people want to continue living independently, and Withrow said her role is to connect them to resources such as home safety options, food benefits and health‑care navigation. On homelessness, Withrow said at least one person she worked with has been placed into housing and remained housed for several months; she said other people are “on the verge” of homelessness because of rent arrears and eviction risk.

Withrow described collaborations with local partners: referrals are routed to a new housing navigator at We Can (a local agency) for longer‑term housing work and the county has staff available to help residents apply for SNAP, health care and general assistance. She also discussed expanding co‑responder models in other counties — social workers who accompany or replace police responses in some calls.

Council members thanked Withrow and discussed the city’s interest in sustaining funding for the embedded social worker model and coordinating referrals with local nonprofits.

","Jen Withrow, Hennepin County embedded social worker who covers Orono and six other departments, told the council she handled 545 referrals in 2023 and 561 in 2024 across seven departments. She said Orono referrals rose from 109 to 130 and highlighted rising needs among seniors and some progress placing one homeless person into housing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6308101,"Orono police update: new evidence K‑9, traffic enforcement tools and recruitment plans",135,534000,669000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f&start=534&end=669","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2425089-ef39a025885d24dba2ae692d1823739f/thumbnail_534000.jpg","/articles/6308101/Mound-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Orono-police-update-new-evidence-K9-traffic-enforcement-tools-and-recruitment-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308101-6014b8ed32edbf1e65eaf3d84174bcde/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178692&Signature=oWTKZwAWfGs5SkLtAo1eBHH0lC~fbywUo1CMgQX9I4kO-t0rIseJxrt0n5nRPLtUdD9CZW16A8F5kqCSYeEqeA~rATgrQytp~LOFeRGsz8F8roknO7eXvJIzq3IdHVXzl~vWuJ3-ArDMmdiS~3KrAOA8z4ShR-DPLbkPjuhlwiWZX7izRPrketSLf2QRNXWeCd-pKGKSrfunuJ7Yi5Bli69~EkV6NAP41dRSOfUkaN7UJWIxnP~8RnycdeF6chk11S8stZ0iwPWpnxQGLbliUJARXMUq016OX0LwEF-hxiwcjxCYXJuGq6hW92S-fhTnnY09-LvRVDh~Y1X4wireEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Orono Police Sergeant Ryan Spencer updated the council on patrol activity, an incoming evidence-search canine and traffic enforcement tools the department is using to collect data and reduce unsafe driving.

Spencer said the department expects the new canine to arrive in late February or early March and that the handler and dog will train through June; the dog is intended for evidence search and tracking — for locating missing or vulnerable people — not for suspect apprehension. “This dog is gonna be evidence search dog… we will not be using him as an apprehension dog for criminals,” Spencer said.

On traffic, Spencer said the department has placed a speed‑data trailer by the Seahorse Condos to gather westbound data and can redeploy or add a second unit to capture eastbound traffic. He described the state‑granted, unmarked “traffic enforcement education” car (an unmarked white Mazda) as both an education and enforcement tool; Spencer said it produced about 24 hours of enforcement results over a recent weekend, including DWIs and narcotics contacts.

Spencer also said the department’s dedicated recruitment process is active: the police department’s application window for a new officer closes the upcoming Friday, and department representatives will recruit at a Mankato university career event for future openings and internship candidates.

Council members asked about long‑term K‑9 staffing, scheduling of the new K‑9 in community outreach (schools and public events) and how the speed data trailer could be positioned to produce more useful measurements on problem corridors.

","Orono Police Sergeant Ryan Spencer briefed the Mound City Council on Feb. 25 about the department’s incoming evidence-search K‑9, use of a traffic enforcement education car, speed-trailer data collection and an upcoming recruitment effort.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council outlines 2025 priorities; water funding and lobbying efforts take top billing

Council accepts low bid for Phase 1 water work, authorizes Phase 2 and lift-station bids

Hennepin County embedded social worker reports steady referrals, rising elderly needs and one housing success

Orono police update: new evidence K‑9, traffic enforcement tools and recruitment plans