Inver Grove Heights council approves assessments, CIP, equipment purchases and utility-rate resolutions

The Inver Grove Heights City Council on Nov. 10 approved a package of administrative and budgetary actions including a special assessment to recover abatement costs for a vacant hazardous building, adoption of the city's 2026'—''2030 capital improvement plan (CIP) with support for Dakota County's CIP, replacement of central equipment and the adoption of 2026 water, sanitary sewer and stormwater rates.

At a public hearing, Chief Building Official Steve Johnson told the council that the city secured and abated a vacant hazardous structure at 3095 65th Street East (the former Buggy Car Wash) after repeated nuisance complaints dating to 2022. Johnson said the city completed the work on June 6, 2025; contractor and administration costs totaled $9,650 plus a $50 administrative fee and legal costs of $3,676.57, leaving an unpaid balance of $13,326.57. Staff recommended, and the council adopted, a resolution authorizing a special assessment to recover those costs.

Public Works Director Brian Conley presented the city's five-year CIP (2026'—''2030), which Conley said focuses heavily on pavement-management projects (about 85% of the CIP over five years) and identifies roughly $22 million in pavement work over the period. The council voted to adopt the city CIP and a separate resolution supporting Dakota County's CIP.

Street Superintendent Barry Underdahl described five central equipment purchases funded from the central equipment fund (street, utilities, parks and a police vehicle replacement); staff said the allocation for those replacements was $638,943 and the purchases leave roughly $120,994 in the fund. The council approved the equipment resolution by roll call.

Public Works staff also presented proposed 2026 utility-rate adjustments. Director Conley said the city has deferred capital maintenance and must increase funds to cover aging infrastructure; staff proposed multi-year increases including about 10% on water fees in the near term and smaller increases for sewer and stormwater as the city continues to align stormwater rates across service areas. Staff provided sample bills showing a typical single-family quarterly utility bill increasing by roughly $20 under the proposed rates. Council voted to approve three rate resolutions for water, sanitary sewer and stormwater.

Other formal actions at the meeting included approval of five rental housing licenses and the summary publication for the rental ordinance.

Votes at a glance - Resolution adopting special assessment for 3095 65th Street East: approved after public hearing (assessment to recover $13,326.57 in abatement/legal costs). - City of Inver Grove Heights 2026'—''2030 CIP: adopted. - Resolution supporting Dakota County 2026'—''2030 CIP: adopted. - Central equipment purchases (five vehicles): approved (central equipment fund allocation $638,943). - Resolutions approving 2026 water, sanitary sewer and stormwater rates: approved.

The council moved into other regular business and took several policy items up later in the meeting, including action on a rental licensing ordinance and a series of first- and third-reading ordinances.