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Thief River Falls council approves street improvement plans, promotion and refuse-bag purchase
Summary
The council approved multiple routine measures including a promotion of an SRO to juvenile investigator, purchase of refuse bags for $39,441.25, a parallel-parking requirement tied to a County project, and adoption of plans and a call for bids for the 2026 Street and Utility Improvement Project (engineer estimate about $2.42 million).
The Thief River Falls City Council on Monday approved a set of routine and project-related motions ranging from personnel to procurement to calling for bids on a major street project.
Council action highlights: the council approved the meeting agenda and consent items, adopted a requirement that on-city corporate limits vehicles park parallel to curbs on State Aid Route 11 to meet state-aid standards, approved the promotion of SRO Justin Arlt to a juvenile investigator role, authorized a $39,441.25 purchase of refuse bags from Revolution Materials, and adopted plans and called for bids for the 2026 Street and Utility Improvement Project.
On the street project, staff presented plans for storm sewer replacement on 6th Street, curb-and-gutter and sidewalk work near the Ralph Anglestead Arena, trail and roadway improvements and potential mailbox relocations. Staff reviewed expected funding sources including municipal state aid (about $624,465), federal aid ($400,000), and CRP grants (listed at $300,000 and $135,000) and provided an initial engineer's estimate of about $2,420,000. The council approved moving the plans forward and calling for bids; staff emphasized that approving plans and calling for bids is not final project funding approval.
Personnel and procurement: the council approved the promotion of Justin Arlt from school resource officer to juvenile investigator; the police chief said Arlt would continue SRO duties for the remainder of the school year while the department seeks a replacement. The council also approved the sanitation department's low bid to continue buying annual refuse bags from Revolution Materials for $39,441.25.
How the votes happened: motions were made, seconded and approved by voice vote on each item; the meeting record does not contain roll-call tallies by member name. Recorded motions included "Motion by Councilman Arstead" (agenda approval), "Motion by Councilman Priem" (parallel parking), and "Motion by Councilman Preem" and second by Councilman Arstead (street project call for bids).
What comes next: for the 2026 Street and Utility Improvement Project, staff said bids will be solicited and funding details will be refined; the council did not vote to bond or expend the full project amount at this meeting.
