Little Falls City Council awards $570,187 water-clarifier contract, approves policy changes and fire-department investment move

Little Falls City Council approved a series of contracts, policy updates and resolutions at its Oct. 20, 2025 regular meeting, including a $570,187 low-bid award for a water-clarifier project and the fire department’s transfer of relief-fund investments to the statewide PARA plan.

City staff reported that bids for the water-clarifier project were opened Oct. 8; Greg said the low bid from Lakehead Constructions of Superior, Wisconsin was $570,187 and that the work would be charged to the water improvement fund, with portions budgeted in fiscal years 2024–25 and 2025–26. The council moved, seconded and approved the contract award.

The council also amended an Oct. 6 motion to adopt Resolution 2025-44, authorizing the city to enter a Minnesota Department of Transportation joint powers agreement to use MnDOT funds as the local match for a Federal Railroad Administration bridge project on Trunk Highway 27. Staff said the amendment was to ensure the prior action was recorded as a resolution; the council approved the amendment.

On electric-vehicle charging at Maple Island Park, staff recommended terminating the existing license agreement with ZEF and authorizing Elite Inc. to operate the site and install equipment, both actions contingent on city-attorney review. Council members discussed the term length (one comment referenced a 10-year term) and approved the recommended steps.

Council authorized easement agreements with Burlington Northern Santa Fe for pedestrian upgrades at First and Fourth streets, noting the work is planned for 2026 and will be done one crossing at a time. Staff said BNSF is charging a $2,500 processing fee for the easement paperwork; during discussion a council member questioned that fee and called it opportunistic. The council authorized the agreements contingent on attorney review.

The council adopted three policy updates: Policy 15 (renaming an events license to "large-scale street and sidewalk sale license"), Policy 40 (utility-billing language clarifying that shutoffs for nonpayment will not be scheduled on Fridays or the day before a holiday), and Policy 90 (a written federal-grant-award policy required by a 2024 audit). Staff said Policy 40 is intended to be fairer to residents and reduce administrative burdens.

The Little Falls Fire Department requested and the council approved Resolution 2025-45 to participate in the statewide volunteer firefighters plan administered through PARA. The fire chief and the relief association president (Chris) said the move reduces audit costs, automates administration, and could secure an incentive estimated at just over $50,000; they said departments that switched since 2009 have been satisfied. The resolution passed on roll call.

Council also approved a shared-services agreement with Sourcewell to shift planning-and-zoning support from a $3,000-per-month flat fee to $60 per hour beginning in 2026, with a $5-per-year increase thereafter; staff estimated current usage at roughly 32–40 hours per month and said the change should save the city money under normal workloads.

The meeting opened and closed with standard agenda procedures and consent items, including acceptance of third-quarter donations under Resolution 2025-46 and multiple reports and memoranda of agreement related to Minnesota Paid Leave and local bargaining units. With no further announcements, the council adjourned at 7:52 p.m.