Council approves active-transportation grant, sets manufactured-home-park hearing and clears multiple consent items

The Marshall City Council took several procedural and project actions including: awarding an active-transportation construction contract under a state active-transportation grant, setting a public hearing for a manufactured-home park closure, approving MnDOT/BNSF construction agreements for a rail crossing on Trunk Highway 68, and approving multiple consent-agenda ordinances and event permits.

Active transportation: Jason Anderson, Director of Public Works and City Engineer, told the council that bids opened March 12 for the Marshall Active Transportation Improvement Project and that the low responsive bidder was RNG Construction for $288,777.70. "We did have a $360,000 active transportation state grant for this project," Anderson said, noting that construction would be fully grant funded and that the city expected to use municipal state aid funds to cover engineering and any overages. The council voted to accept the bid award and to authorize execution of the MnDOT grant agreement.

Manufactured-home-park hearing: City Attorney Whitmore told council staff received an updated notice of closure for Broadmoor Valley Manufactured Home Park on Feb. 18, 2025, triggering the city's responsibilities under chapter 327C, specifically "327C0.095" as cited in the packet. The council set a public hearing for May 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the Marshall Middle School theater and discussed that the hearing will allow public comment and that the council must appoint third-party arbitrators as the statute requires.

BNSF / Trunk Highway 68: Public Works Director Jason Anderson explained that BNSF will replace crossing panels and MnDOT will install drainage and a culvert beneath the tracks; some work will occur on city right-of-way because MnDOT lacked full easement on the roadway shoulders. The council authorized three items: (1) execution of the agreement with BNSF/MnDOT, (2) a resolution approving MnDOT construction plans and authorizing work on city right-of-way, and (3) a detour agreement using City Street/Channel Parkway. City staff said no local cost participation is required. All three motions passed on roll call.

Consent agenda and events: The council approved the consent agenda items en bloc after removing items 6 and 7 for discussion. The packet listed ordinances to amend graffiti regulations and to regulate temporary cannabis events, service agreements for an amateur-sports-complex concessionaire, several event permits, a notice of assessment related to South Whitney Street reconstruction, and approval of bills and project payments. The council then discussed and separately approved: - Shades of the Past car show street-closure request for June 6 (cruise) and June 7 (car show) on Baseline Road and Susan Drive; Councilmember Craig Schaefer said he is a member of Shades of the Past and abstained; the motion passed with one abstention. - South Whitney Street reconstruction project: council approved a resolution preparing the assessment roll; Councilmember Lesinski abstained from that vote; the motion otherwise passed.

Nut Graf: The meeting combined project approvals that enable active-transportation improvements and a rail-crossing coordination with larger policy and procedural items including a state-mandated public hearing for a manufactured-home-park closure. Consent-agenda business advanced routine ordinances, event permits and service agreements that will proceed as standard city actions.

Council comments and next steps: Councilmembers and staff encouraged affected stakeholders to attend the May 7 public hearing for Broadmoor Valley Manufactured Home Park; staff will post statutory notices and supply mailed notices as required. For the active-transportation project, staff will execute the MnDOT grant agreement and proceed with contract administration; for the BNSF/MnDOT work staff will coordinate right-of-way use and implement the detour plan during construction.

Ending: The council closed the meeting after liaison reports and routine staff updates. Several members noted upcoming appearances at the state capitol for legislative hearings and ongoing community work.