Virginia council approves bids, hires, grants and event permits; tables fire marshal travel

The City of Virginia City Council approved a package of routine measures including construction contracts, several police hires, grant agreements, event permits and a large fund transfer at its April meeting, but tabled a travel request for the city fire marshal for further review.

The council adopted the second reading of an amendment to Chapter 11 (Subdivision 11.5) of the city code to allow the fee schedule to be set by resolution. Council members said the change aligns the code with a revised fee schedule already adopted by the city. "This is for the fees for the permits," a staff member explained during the item. The council voted to adopt the ordinance amendment on second reading.

In personnel actions, the council approved hiring three patrol officers contingent on successful testing and background checks: Alexander Bridal, Sarah Holappa and Samantha Christie. The resolution to hire Sarah Holappa passed by roll call, 6-1; the other hires were approved by voice vote.

The council moved several construction- and infrastructure-related items forwarded from the Committee of the Whole. The council approved awarding the bid for phase 2 of the 2023 street improvement project to KGM for $5,296,442.50 and authorized an agreement with NTS for construction material testing for the same project. The council also approved the Rotary Park sanitary sewer and Seventh Street storm sewer project award to Casper Construction for $297,000, and approved the Active Transportation Program grant agreement for the Midway Area Multi Use Trail Improvement Project.

The council approved payment of the city share invoice for Highway 53 improvements to MnDOT in the amount of $651,952.24. Councilors also approved a transfer request (identified as transfer request number 4) from the investment account to the 4ms fund for the Virginia Public Safety Center project; the transcript records the figure as $560,558,520.

The council approved several community event and traffic actions: staff will support the Revive Virginia Food Truck Festival on Sept. 20, 2025, including street closure and in-kind services; the city approved road closures requested by the library for Big Truck Day (July 10) and the summer wrap-up party (July 31); and the city approved the consent form for the Iron Range Half Marathon on Aug. 16, 2025.

Other routine items approved included posting externally for digital multimedia technician positions, updating the utility worker job description, declaring surplus items for auction, and approving municipal support for Rotary Park and other local projects. Staff were also directed to follow through on actions discussed during a closed session; the transcript records only that staff were given direction and does not specify the closed-session subject.

Votes at a glance (items explicitly recorded in the meeting record): - Ordinance (Chapter 11, Subd. 11.5): second reading adopted. (motion moved by Councilor Bach Schneider; voice vote recorded as "Motion carries") - Hire: Patrol Officer Alexander Bridal — approved (motion moved; voice vote recorded as approved) - Hire: Patrol Officer Sarah Holappa — approved, roll call 6-1 - Hire: Patrol Officer Samantha Christie — approved (voice vote) - Bid award: Phase 2, 2023 Street Improvement Project to KGM — $5,296,442.50 — approved (motion carried) - Agreement: Construction material testing with NTS for Phase 2 — approved (motion carried) - Bid award: Rotary Park sanitary sewer & Seventh Street storm sewer to Casper Construction — $297,000 — approved (motion carried) - Grant: Active Transportation Program agreement for Midway Area Multi Use Trail — approved (motion carried) - Payment: City share to MnDOT for Highway 53 improvements — $651,952.24 — approved (motion carried) - Transfer: Transfer request No. 4 to 4ms fund for Virginia Public Safety Center — transcript records $560,558,520 — approved (motion carried) - Event permit: Revive Virginia Food Truck Festival, Sept. 20, 2025 — approved (motion carried) - Event road closures: Library Big Truck Day (July 10) and Summer Wrap-up (July 31) — approved (motion carried) - Consent: Iron Range Half Marathon (Aug. 16, 2025) — approved (motion carried) - Personnel/process: Post for digital multimedia technician positions; update utility worker job description; declare surplus items for auction — all approved (motions carried)

Several items were acted on as part of the consent agenda; the council pulled specific travel requests for separate consideration (see separate article). The meeting record shows the council moved several items that originated at the Committee of the Whole on April 21, 2025, and approved them by voice vote or roll call as noted above.

The meeting closed after staff directions to implement actions discussed in the closed session; no additional details on the closed-session subject or required follow-up were included in the public record.

Ending: Councilors set the remaining closed-session item for the Committee of the Whole meeting next Tuesday and adjourned at approximately 6 p.m.