Council approves development extensions, public works bids, stormwater report and other routine items

The Watertown City Council on March 3 handled a series of routine but substantive actions: extensions for multiple development completion dates, awards for pavement preservation work, a final change order on an airport project, the establishment of a cost‑recovery method for utility work tied to an airport project, authorization to bid a zoo renovation and accept a large donation, a budget supplement for an airport fuel-tank replacement following a failure, and authorization to submit the city's annual MS4 stormwater report.

Key outcomes (summary):

- Development completion extensions (9a): Council approved one-year extensions to the completion dates for multiple residential developments (Andrews Third; Harmony Hill Third; Isabelle's First; CAC's Fourth; Dakota Dunes Fourth; Prairie's Edge Estates; River Ridge Estates Seventh; Lake Willow Creek First; Valley View Second; Valley View Third), moving the deadline to March 3, 2026. The motion was moved and seconded and later recorded as carried.

- 2025 Mill and Overlay bid award (9b): The council awarded the 2025 asphalt mill-and-overlay large patches project (project 2502) to Dunick Inc. in the amount of approximately $1,406,000. City staff said the bid was about 43% below the city estimate; the landfill-road portion is budgeted in the solid waste fund (~$454,000) and the remainder (~$952,000) is from street funds. The motion carried on roll call.

- 2025 crack seal and chip sealing bid award (9c): The council awarded project 2506 to Asphalt Preservation Company for approximately $536,000. The project is budgeted across streets, airport, bike trails and includes a county parking lot reimbursement. The motion carried.

- Change order for taxiway and ag‑arena improvement (9c change order): Council approved change order No. 3 to JTA Earthworks, decreasing the contract by $66,505 for a revised contract price of about $2,684,000; staff said the majority of the project is FAA‑eligible and the city remains under budget.

- Water main and sanitary sewer cost-recovery resolution (Res. 25-09): Council approved a resolution to recover approximately $431,000 of water and sewer work tied to the taxiway/ag‑arena project by splitting cost recovery across four future benefitting areas. Staff said cost recoveries are paid when a building permit is applied for and before it is issued.

- Wolf exhibit renovation and donation (12b): Council authorized proceeding with bidding for the wolf exhibit renovation at the zoo and accepted a donation of $431,431.94 from Lake Area Zoological Society (LAZS). Park and Recreation staff said the donation represents roughly 60% of the project total and that the renovation will improve animal handling and operational efficiency.

- Budget supplement for 100LL fuel tank (12c): Council approved a budget supplement of roughly $70,000 to replace a 12,000-gallon aviation fuel (100LL) tank at the airport after a partial failure; staff said insurance will offset much of the cost and no injuries occurred during the incident.

- MS4 annual report authorization (12d): Council authorized the interim city manager to sign and submit the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) annual report to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources; staff described required program areas including public education, illicit-discharge elimination, construction-site runoff controls, and post-construction stormwater management.

How votes were recorded: For most items the meeting recorded unanimous approval among council members present; where roll-call votes were taken the clerk read ayes and the mayor or deputy mayor announced “motion carries.” No item was defeated or tabled during the March 3 meeting.

What the council asked for follow-up on: Council members requested staff return to a future work session to recommend how to use savings from lower-than-expected bids and to provide detail on capital needs linked to items such as the zoo accreditation recovery effort. The hiring-process and zoning items were discussed elsewhere on the agenda and will return for further action.