Roundabout on schedule for October; council supports native prairie plantings if state mix rules met

City staff and the project representative gave a construction update on a state-funded roundabout and discussed landscaping choices for the center island.

The project representative reported the intersection had been closed and work was progressing, and said phase 1 (the roundabout itself) is "looking like, hopefully, before the October" with two-way traffic restoration expected before November. "We're sub grading out, cutting out the road right now for the next couple days," the representative said.

Council discussed replacing the original concrete center with native prairie plantings. Staff asked whether the council wanted to include rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan), the city's flower, in the seed mix; the project representative cautioned that state-aid-funded work must follow state-approved seed mixes and contractors. "It's a state funded project, and we have to follow state approved mix designs, seed mixes, you know, suppliers," the project representative said, adding that MnDOT publishes a native-prairie mix that is salt tolerant and suited to the site.

Members generally supported pursuing a low-maintenance native seed mix if it meets state criteria and asked staff to provide seed specifications for review. Staff said the contractor would be required to sublet seeding to a state-approved contractor as part of the project. No formal landscaping contract was approved at the meeting; staff will follow up with seed-mix details and confirm compliance with state rules.