Marshall council approves High Street reconstruction, wastewater planning and $6.6M bond sale

Marshall City Council on Monday approved a package of infrastructure and financing measures, including a complete reconstruction of High Street from 4th to Oak, lining work at the wastewater collection and treatment system, acceptance of a wastewater facility planning proposal, and a resolution ratifying a general-obligation bond sale.

City Engineer Jason Anderson told the council the High Street project is a complete reconstruction — water, sanitary and storm sewer and alley work — and that four bids were opened March 17. Anderson said the low proposal from RNG Construction of Marshall, with a 5 percent contingency and a 16 percent engineering allowance, brought the project estimate "up to $1,118,000" (he also described the total as "just about $1,200,000"). Staff recommended two resolutions: one declaring the city's official intent to reimburse expenditures with tax-exempt bond proceeds and a second to accept the low bid and award the contract to RNG. Council moved and approved both resolutions; the mayor announced the motions passed (no roll-call tallies were read into the record).

On sanitary-system maintenance, Anderson presented two quotes from the city's wastewater vendor for Spectra Shield manhole lining. He said lining five collection-system manholes was quoted at $77,032.40 (the collection-system line item budget was $110,000) and lining seven structures at the treatment facility was quoted at $108,407.60 (budgeted at $145,000). Councilmember Jim moved to approve both quotes; the motion passed.

The council also approved a Bolton & Menk proposal for a wastewater treatment facility plan to address a new, lower phosphorus discharge limit in the city's renewed permit. Anderson said the $195,000 proposal fits within the $200,000 capital budgeted amount and that completing the plan is necessary to pursue point-source implementation grant (PSIG) funding and to be placed on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) priority list. Council voted to accept the proposal after committee endorsement.

Director of Administrative Services EJ Moberg introduced Mikaela Hewitt of Baker Tilly to present the results of the city's 2026 general obligation bond issue. Hewitt said the initial financing purpose amount was $6,620,000 to fund street reconstruction, airport improvements, wastewater and surface-water utilities, park work and issuance costs, with a 10-year term. She reported the market produced six bids and the winning bid had a true interest cost of 3.264 percent; S&P reaffirmed the city's AA rating with a stable outlook. Staff recommended approving a resolution awarding the sale to the successful bidder; council moved and the mayor announced the motion passed.

Council handled routine consent-agenda items — event permits, introductions of several zoning-related ordinances and bills/project payments — in a single approved motion. In other business, Sharon, the EDA director, updated the council on childcare-site work with a consultant, workforce roundtables and preliminary developer conversations about Block 100. City Attorney Pam Whitmore briefed the council on several pending legal matters and introduced an associate who will assist on city projects.

The council set a public informational meeting for affected property owners on the East Lyon Trail project (Thursday at 5:30 p.m.) and noted an April 10 bid opening for South 5th Street reconstruction. The meeting adjourned after the final reports were accepted.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of March 10 minutes — motion moved by Jim; passed (mayor announced motion passed; no roll-call tally in the record). - Resolution declaring official intent to reimburse expenditures (tax-exempt bonds) for High Street reconstruction — moved and approved; outcome: approved. - Resolution to accept low bid and award High Street reconstruction contract to RNG Construction — moved and approved; outcome: approved. - Approval of manhole lining quotes (collection system: $77,032.40; treatment facility: $108,407.60) — moved and approved; outcome: approved. - Acceptance of Bolton & Menk facility plan proposal for wastewater phosphorus compliance ($195,000) — moved and approved; outcome: approved. - Resolution approving award of the 2026 general-obligation bond sale (proceeds ~ $6.62M; winning true interest cost reported as 3.264%) — moved and approved; outcome: approved.

What happens next

Staff will move forward with contract award processes and notify affected property owners about the East Lyon Trail informational meeting. The Bolton & Menk facility plan will be used to pursue MPCA funding opportunities and to inform design of future wastewater treatment projects. Whitmore said litigation scheduling remains active, with a mediation deadline set for June 15, 2026, in one matter.

Sources and attributions

Quoted or summarized statements in this report come from council meeting remarks as recorded in the public transcript, including Jason Anderson, city engineer and director of public works; EJ Moberg, director of administrative services; Mikaela Hewitt, Baker Tilly; and Pam Whitmore, city attorney. When the transcript did not provide a formal roll-call, the minutes indicate the mayor announced motions passed without individual vote tallies.