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Council approves multiple construction contracts, grant agreement and personnel postings; franchise ordinance pulled for more review
Summary
At a committee-of-the-whole meeting April 1, the Virginia City Council awarded several construction contracts, approved a federal/state grant agreement and several personnel and event items, and deferred a proposed Mediacom franchise ordinance for further review.
The Virginia City Council took action April 1 on a package of construction, grant and personnel items, approving several contract awards and resolutions and moving a franchise ordinance with Mediacom to a later meeting for further vetting.
Major contract awards and finance items - The council awarded the traffic-signal construction project (Fourteenth Street, Fourteenth Avenue, Twentieth Street, Southern Drive and Chestnut Street) to KGM Construction. The motion was made by Councilor Johnson and supported by Councilor Freeleb; the measure carried on a voice vote. Staff said a majority of the project will be paid with state aid and that the city will issue a bond to cover the funding gap; officials estimated state aid funds at roughly $1.5 million to $2.0 million but said the exact bond amount had not been finalized.
- The council approved a construction materials testing contract with NTS for that same signal project. That resolution was moved by Councilor Johnson and supported by Councilor Freeleb and passed on a voice vote.
- The council awarded the 2025 rotary sewer and Seventh Street storm sewer project to Casper Construction; the motion was moved and supported and carried on a voice vote. Staff said bids were close to engineer’s estimates, the projects were accounted for in the sewer fund and that FEMA funds were not involved.
Grants and related payments - The council adopted a resolution approving the Active Transportation Program grant agreement (about $198,000) for multi-use trail improvements associated with the Highway 53 work. Councilors were told that active-transportation and municipal-state-aid funds should cover project costs. The motion to approve the grant agreement was moved by Councilor Johnson, supported by Councilor Beyondich and approved by voice vote.
- Separately, the council approved payment of the MnDOT invoice tied to the cooperative construction agreement. Staff explained MnDOT invoices the city up front under the cooperative agreement; the city can request reimbursements later and already has 95% of State Aid available to cover the up-front requirement.
Other actions - A resolution was approved to transfer funds from the city’s investment account to the public safety center fund (transfer No. 4). Motion by Councilor Johnson; supported by Councilor Friedeep; voice vote carried.
- The council approved the library’s requests to close Fifth Avenue South on July 10, 2025, for Big Truck Day and July 31, 2025, for a summer wrap-up event. Motion by Councilor Johnson, supported by Councilor Paulson; voice vote carried.
Personnel and events - The council authorized staff to update the utility-worker job description (personnel committee recommendation) and approved external posting for a 20-hour/week digital multimedia technician position. The posting motion was moved by Councilor Freidip and supported by Councilor Johnson; by roll call the digital multimedia posting passed 5–1 with one member absent.
- The council approved consent for the Iron Range Half Marathon to use the Mesabi Trail within city limits; the motion carried.
Surplus and other routine business - The council declared certain city items surplus and authorized disposition; councilors asked for a list of items prior to the next council meeting.
Franchise ordinance deferred - Councilors expressed concerns about a proposed five-year franchise ordinance with Mediacom, including loss of local services, customer-service changes and channel/signal issues. Multiple councilors asked that the city attorney (Kennedy & Graven) and the cable commission representatives be invited for further review. The council voted to move the proposed franchise ordinance to a future meeting for additional vetting; motion carried.
Closed session - The council recessed into closed session to discuss attorney–client privileged matters related to potential litigation under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subd. 3.
Where recorded vote counts were available, they are reported; most measures passed on voice votes and were recorded as "motion carries," per the meeting record.
