Fergus Falls council approves Junius reconstruction contracts, awards landfill demolition and adopts library art policy

Fergus Falls — The Fergus Falls City Council on April 7 adopted final special assessments and approved construction and related contracts for the Junius Avenue (CP5961) street and utility reconstruction project, awarded a separate landfill demolition contract, and approved the Fergus Falls Public Library art policy after lengthy council debate.

The council’s most consequential action was on CP5961, the Junius Avenue Street and Utility Reconstruction Project, a full-reconstruction job that includes water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, curb and gutter, new pavement and municipal lighting. Alex (Interstate Engineering) presented the final cost summary and asked the council to: (1) hold the final special-assessment hearing; (2) adopt the final assessments contingent on awarding the construction contract; (3) award the construction contract to CNL Excavating for $1,041,093.95; (4) accept the municipal lighting agreement with Otter Tail Power; and (5) accept Interstate Engineering’s proposal for construction administration services for $153,460.

The council opened a public hearing on the assessments. Ruth Heistead, who said she represents First Lutheran Church on Junius, asked when the church would get a written assessment amount and who is responsible for replacing water service lines from the street to the building. Alex said notices with the preliminary assessment amounts had been mailed previously and that First Lutheran’s two assessments total $16,038 ($12,798 and $3,240). Alex noted that work in the public right-of-way—water main, curb, sidewalk where indicated—will be paid through the project; individual service-line replacement inside private property is the property owner’s responsibility and can be done under separate contract between the owner and a contractor.

City staff described the project total at $1,509,667.53, with utility fund amounts and special-assessment bonds allocated to cover specific portions. Bill (city staff) explained the financing approach includes use of the Permanent Improvement Revolving (PIR) fund under Minnesota Statute 429 to combine bonding for this project with a Shoreview project; staff estimated assessed-property owners would generally be offered a 15-year repayment term and estimated an annual levy of roughly $51,000 in 2026 when combining the two projects.

Council action on CP5961 included: - Adoption of the final assessment resolution contingent on awarding the contract (resolution approved by roll call). - Award of the construction contract to CNL Excavating in the amount of $1,041,093.95 (resolution approved by roll call). - Acceptance of the municipal lighting agreement with Otter Tail Power (resolution approved by roll call). - Acceptance of Interstate Engineering’s construction-administration proposal for $153,460 (resolution approved by roll call).

Alex told the council the contractor is targeting traffic control and erosion-control setup the week of April 21, pipe work the week of April 28, and substantial work running through the fall with an October 31 contract end date; the final wearing course of pavement is expected the following spring.

In separate business the council awarded bid PI-99774, Landfill Demolition Veil Phase 3B, to Central Specialties Inc. The low bid was $492,660.25; staff noted the engineer’s estimate was about $710,000 and recommended award. The resolution awarding the contract was approved by the council.

Library art policy

The council debated revisions to the Fergus Falls Public Library art policy after Councilmember Kwame moved to delete three lines that referenced “equitable access,” “diverse perspectives,” and language saying permanent-collection art “should not reflect one’s opinion or style.” Library Board President Matthew Lake spoke to the council to explain the board’s intent: the lines are meant to guide staff and the board when developing a circulating and permanent collection so the collection serves a broad range of community tastes and does not simply reflect individual preference.

After discussion the motion to delete the three lines failed. The council then voted to adopt the library board’s submitted art policy as presented. During debate several council members said they respected volunteer boards and the board’s repeated work on the policy; others expressed concerns about particular wording.

Downtown alley and parking-lot engineering

Councilmembers removed item 11 from the consent agenda for separate discussion and then directed staff to proceed with the Lincoln Avenue alleyway project (PI-5855) and to have Interstate Engineering prepare alternates for three downtown parking lots so the council can consider those repairs when staff returns with engineering estimates. Several councilmembers urged staff to revisit the city’s capital improvement plan to consider earlier repairs on Cavour Avenue, which residents and members said is heavily used and in poor condition.

Other votes and ordinance actions

- The council approved a resolution amending the 2025 fee schedule to add a $350 permit fee for temporary private cannabis events; staff said the fee is within state-authorized limits tied to Minnesota licensing rules (Minn. Stat. 342.39). - The council directed the city attorney to draft a sign-ordinance amendment to allow pylon signs in B-2 and B-3 zoning districts subject to conditional use permits; that motion was approved. - The council introduced on first reading an ordinance relating to THC product sales (Ordinance 658, series), as part of its packet business for zoning and regulatory updates.

What it means

Taken together, the council’s approvals advance a multi-million-dollar infrastructure program in the near term (the Junius project and a separate landfill contract), keep options open for downtown parking-lot work while the alley is rebuilt, and formalize several regulatory steps (library policy, cannabis-event fees, sign ordinance drafting). Several items were described as contingent on later financing steps (bonding for PIR-backed work), and staff said more detailed financing documents will return to the council before bonds are issued.

Councilmembers asked staff for additional cost breakdowns and timeline details (for example, the cost split if the project were pared back to alley-only work), and several members emphasized the need to revisit the capital improvement plan to prioritize high-traffic pavement such as Cavour Avenue.

Votes at a glance

- CP5961 Junius Avenue reconstruction: final assessment resolution adopted; construction contract awarded to CNL Excavating, $1,041,093.95; Interstate Engineering construction-administration proposal accepted, $153,460; municipal lighting agreement with Otter Tail Power accepted. - PI-99774 Landfill Demolition Veil Phase 3B: contract awarded to Central Specialties Inc, $492,660.25. - Library art policy: council voted to adopt the policy submitted by the library board after rejecting an amendment to delete three lines about equitable access/diversity and collection guidance. - PI-5855 Lincoln Avenue alley/parking-lot project: council authorized engineering work and asked for alternates for three downtown parking lots to be returned with estimates. - Resolution to add a $350 temporary private cannabis-event permit fee adopted (per state statute guidance). - Motion directing city attorney to draft an amendment to allow pylon signs in B-2 and B-3 districts (subject to conditional use permit) approved.

Council members and staff said they will return with financing plans, bond documents where required, and more detailed engineer estimates for alternates before committing additional construction dollars.