Cottage Grove approves $2.74 million pavement contract after resident raises contractor, park concerns

The Cottage Grove City Council voted March 19 to award the 2025 Pavement Management Project to McNamara Contracting Inc. in the amount of $2,739,406.95, after hearing public comment from a Hidden Valley homeowner who urged the city to reconsider the low bidder because of third‑party online reviews and raised separate concerns about planned park additions.

The resident, Kelly Dawn, told the council she had collected “the reviews that I was able to get” about McNamara and asked what the city’s contract requires if a contractor damages personal property. Dawn also said the second‑lowest bid was about $57,906 higher — “about $255 per homeowner” by her calculation — and asked whether the city would consider paying that premium for a contractor with better reviews. She asked the council to review the planned park addition for Hidden Valley, saying the neighborhood was not consulted and that the $78,000 in park additions included features many neighbors do not want, such as a basketball hoop.

Public Works Director Ryan Burfine responded at length, saying the pavement award is governed by a state low‑bid statute and that the city’s role is to pick the lowest responsible, responsive bidder under that statute. “This is a low bid process that is a state statute,” Burfine said. He told the council staff had reviewed online reviews but called those sources a small sample for firms that do large, multimillion‑dollar public projects. He said McNamara and the other firms on the bid list are “ones we’re very familiar with and have done quite a bit of work in town.”

Burfine described the city’s oversight practices and contractual protections: the city uses a hired design consultant and project manager, Bolton & Menk, and staff inspectors who enforce working hours and specifications. He said the formal contract document with builders “is like a 300‑page contract” that addresses warranties and liabilities, and that the city holds contractors accountable if issues arise. Burfine added the city will provide a project hotline and email for resident concerns while work is under way.

Council members pressed for details. Councilmember Thiede asked how many times McNamara has worked for the city; Burfine said he quickly found nine projects over several years. Councilmember Moroz noted that when problems occur the city can withhold payment until work is corrected and that the city has previously blacklisted contractors after very poor performance. A city representative also said the League of Minnesota Cities has assisted homeowners in past incidents where a contractor caused large‑scale damage.

On the park question, staff member Zach confirmed Hidden Valley did not receive a neighborhood survey for the playground redesign and that the city now uses neighborhood surveys as one tool among others when choosing playground equipment. He said the additional park work is financed from the city’s park improvement fund and “residents do not pay any assessment related to the actual park improvements.”

Councilmember Olson moved to approve the resolution awarding the 2025 Pavement Management Project to McNamara Contracting Inc.; Councilmember Thiede seconded. The council voted in favor; the mayor called the motion carried.

The city did not record a roll‑call vote tally in the public transcript for the resolution; the motion passed after the council voiced unanimous “aye.” The council also approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda earlier in the session and voted to pay the bills by voice vote.

What’s next: City staff will proceed with contract execution and preconstruction coordination with Bolton & Menk and the contractor, maintain the project hotline for resident concerns, and carry out the pavement work per the contract schedule. Staff also said they will continue community communications about the Hidden Valley park features and accept donations for additional park amenities.