Mahtomedi council approves design services for new dog park, moves forward on park boardwalk bids

The Mahtomedi City Council on March 3 approved a professional services proposal from WSB to design, bid and provide construction administration for a proposed dog park in Southwest Park, with total fees not to exceed $33,200 plus reimbursable expenses. The consent motion to approve the consent agenda, which included the dog park authorization, passed unanimously.

The motion to approve the consent agenda was moved by Council member Jeff Charlesworth and seconded by Council member Lilly Melander. The consent agenda also included the promotion of Kevin Bartholomew to full‑time Lead Maintenance Operator in Public Works, effective March 3, 2026.

In council comments following staff reports, Council member Jeff Charlesworth said the dog park approval moves that project forward and that the city has begun soliciting bids for a planned floating boardwalk in Katherine Abbott Park. "The dog park was approved and is moving forward and we have begun to solicit for bids for the floating boardwalk," Charlesworth said.

Public Works Director Bob Goebel, who presented the promotion of Kevin Bartholomew during the consent agenda, said Bartholomew has worked for the city for 11 years and had five prior seasons as a seasonal employee, and the promotion responds to departmental staffing needs.

The consent agenda contained other park‑related and public‑works items (see separate coverage of consent approvals). Next steps for the dog park include design work by WSB, bidding and construction administration; the council did not set a construction start date at the meeting.

The council took no separate roll‑call vote on the dog park authorization; it was approved as part of the consent agenda that passed unanimously.