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Residents submit reverse‑referendum petition on $58M central maintenance facility; council says referendum cannot appear on November ballot
Summary
Residents submitted 2,227 signatures seeking a reverse referendum on the council’s decision to pursue bonding for a proposed central maintenance facility; council staff said the petition is under review and that a referendum could not appear on this November’s ballot because the filing deadline had passed.
A group of Inver Grove Heights residents submitted 2,227 petition signatures to initiate a reverse referendum challenging the council’s decision to pursue bonding for a proposed central maintenance facility (CMF). Petitions were presented to the clerk for validation; the city confirmed the submission is under review to verify signatures.
Why it matters: Residents said they were surprised by the size of the project and the timeline and raised concerns about process, transparency, and the tax impact of an estimated $58 million bond. Multiple commenters at the council meeting described the petition process as a rapid, volunteer‑run effort involving more than 75 volunteers and argued that voters should decide whether the project moves forward.
What the city said and timing City officials told the meeting that the petition is being validated; the clerk and staff will confirm the number of valid signatures. The mayor noted that the deadline to place a measure on the November ballot had passed, so any voter referendum resulting from a validated petition would be scheduled in 2026 at the earliest.
Resident viewpoints Several residents who addressed the council described the process that led to the petition: they said the project was not well explained in initial city communications, that cost estimates and property‑tax impacts had not been sufficiently publicized early in the outreach, and that the council’s July action authorizing bonding came as a surprise to many. Speakers asked for a thorough review of communications and the project’s outreach process and requested additional transparency on scope and cost.
City response and next steps City administration said the city will validate petition signatures and outline the next procedural steps in accordance with state law, including options that would follow if the petition meets the statutory requirements. The mayor and council acknowledged the community’s engagement and noted the timeframe constraints for the November ballot.
Ending: The petition process is underway; signatures are being validated and staff will report back with recommended next steps and timelines after the city completes the review.
