City council approves engineering, geotechnical and right‑of‑way contracts for major street and utility projects

The Hermantown City Council authorized several professional agreements intended to move forward a multi-year street and utility program.

Council approved a professional services agreement with Bolton and Mink Incorporated for engineering on the Lightning Drive and Thunder Chief Lane reconstruction, sanitary sewer extension and trail extension; staff described the engineering contract as approximately $669,000 for design work on a roughly $10 million project, with design through the end of 2025 and construction anticipated in 2026–27. The council also approved a geotechnical services agreement (material/soil borings) tied to Street Improvement District 452; the contract amount on the record was stated as "about $52,840." Staff emphasized the work is needed to evaluate soils, rock and wetland constraints for rebuilding the road and placing sewer pipe.

In a related vote, the council approved professional services with Kimley Horn & Associates to support right‑of‑way and easement acquisition for extending public utilities to the adopted southwest urban services area. Staff described an initial, planning‑level scope that assumes roughly 9.5 miles of new water main (8–10 inch), approximately 12,000 lineal feet of sanitary main, up to four lift stations, a water tower and initial title and appraisal work to support acquisition of roughly 30 permanent, 15 temporary and five fee‑title parcels as needed.

Councilors asked about payment processes and oversight; staff said the city will be invoiced as work is performed, and where developer funding is available invoices will be submitted to the developer for approval before city payment. The authorization puts the city on a path to complete design, property investigations and right‑of‑way activities needed to bid construction in early 2026.