Mister Krasinski, a city staff member, told the Hibbing City Council on Oct. 1 that the city has engaged Bar Engineering to prepare plans and specifications to address repeated flooding at 40 First Street and expects to present the package to the council in October for approval in November.

The update matters because the block has experienced recurring flooding for several years and the city is advancing three coordinated measures to reduce future events: dredging the storm drainage at the site, accelerating sanitary-sewer lining work for the neighborhood to reduce inflow of fresh water into the sanitary system, and piloting manual valves at affected homes to prevent sewage backflow.

According to Krasinski, the engineering package should be ready in October, with council approval targeted for November and construction likely in late fourth quarter 2025 or the first quarter of 2026. "We hope to have that to the city council, by the October. Approval in November. Project probably either last part of the fourth quarter, first part of the first quarter in 2026," he said.

Krasinski described the work as three parts: dredging the storm system, sanitary sewer lining to keep fresh water out of the sanitary system, and a pilot installing manual valves at several homes. On the pilot, Krasinski said the initial list includes two homes; he told councilors the city will adapt the pilot if additional houses demonstrate need. When a councilor asked whether the city had reached out to the Tyson family, Krasinski said he had contacted one resident and would reach the others.

The council did not take formal action on the report; the item was presented as a department update and staff said they will return with plans and any requests for formal approval. The update included a commitment to communicate with affected residents and to bring a formal approval item to the council later this fall.

Details flagged during the discussion: the pilot currently lists two homes, outreach to affected residents is underway, and the city expects to submit engineering documents prepared by Bar Engineering for council review next month. No cost details for the dredging, lining or pilot were provided during the Oct. 1 update.