Council approves final plat, tourism grants, utility contract and equipment leases; moves into closed session

The New Richmond City Council approved several routine and project-specific items on Sept. 8, including a final plat for a 55-plus development, tourism funding awards, a utility construction contract and a two-year lease for an automated field striping machine. The council also voted to enter closed session under state statute at the end of the meeting.

Consent agenda and donations: The council approved the consent agenda, which included two donations to the canine fund: $1,500 from Jane Larson and $500 from Steven Takach. The consent agenda motion passed by voice vote; no roll-call names were recorded in the transcript for this item.

Final plat: The council approved a final plat application from Saint Croix Homes for a 2.3-acre development to be called Cattel Villas, a 55-plus community composed of 10 twin-home lots to be accessed by a private drive onto Ponderosa Lane. Staff recommended approval with nine conditions listed in the staff memo; stormwater, utilities and landscaping reviews were reported as approved by staff and consultants. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all voting members recorded as yes.

Tourism funding: The tourism committee recommended funding three applications: Northwood Technical College (community connections event) requesting $4,223; New Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce (park art fair) requesting $83.13; and a city staff request for $2,000 to expand Visit New Richmond marketing. The committee recommended a total of $14,536.73 from an available $42,008.28, leaving roughly $28,000 carryover. The council approved the committee's recommendations by roll-call vote; all members present voted yes.

Utility contract (underground conduit and fiber): The council approved awarding the low bid to TDI for $46,902 to install conduit and fiber serving three wells and the wastewater treatment plant. Staff noted in-house hardware and conduit supply costs of about $7,100, bringing total project costs slightly above the $50,000 CIP estimate. The utility commission had reviewed the bids and recommended award; the council approved the award by roll-call vote with all members voting yes.

Automated field striper lease: The council authorized a two-year lease for an automated field striper at $16,000 per year; the lease includes 280 gallons of paint. After two years, the city would have the option to purchase the machine with reductions (a credit described in the memo as $11,500 per year), yielding a potential purchase price of $38,000. Staff and the public works committee recommended the lease; the council approved the item by roll call.

Closed session: Toward the meeting's end the council voted to go into closed session "per state statute 19.85(1)(e)" (executive deliberations). A roll-call vote recorded yes votes from all aldermen listed; the council went into closed session.