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Oak Park Heights council approves employee handbook, water‑main repair and IT services
Summary
The council approved an employee handbook and repeal of a code section, authorized a cured‑in‑place water‑main repair approach with a not‑to‑exceed $150,000 authorization to stay under bidding thresholds, and approved selection of Computer Integration Technologies for managed IT services pending references and attorney review; routine consent items also passed.
The Oak Park Heights City Council took several administrative and procurement actions during its meeting, approving a final draft employee handbook and associated drug, alcohol and cannabis testing policy, authorizing a repair approach for a complicated water‑main break, and approving staff to proceed with a managed IT services agreement pending references and final attorney review.
On personnel matters, staff presented a consolidated employee handbook developed with the city attorney and department directors. The council voted to approve the handbook and to repeal a section of city code (ordinance 203). Staff explained the repeal will be effected by a short signed ordinance document (signed by the mayor and city administrator) that would be published, and the council directed staff to prepare that document rather than republishing all code text.
On infrastructure, staff recommended a cured‑in‑place pipe solution to repair a problematic water‑main break near 6400 Lookout Trail; the site has topographical challenges and an adjacent residential garage that complicate open excavation. A contractor quote discussed at the meeting was roughly $178,000, but the council approved moving forward with repairs authorizing the city administrator to finalize work up to $150,000 so the procurement remains below the statutory public‑bidding threshold. Council emphasized staff discretion to combine in‑house work and lower‑cost excavation options to reduce overall cost.
On information technology, the council authorized staff to sign an agreement for managed IT services with Computer Integration Technologies, Inc. of Woodbury, Minnesota, contingent on favorable client references and final attorney review. Staff reported they solicited 15 RFP responses, interviewed two finalists and chose the recommended vendor based on public‑safety experience; the first‑year cost was described as slightly over budget and any overage would come from fund balance.
The consent agenda passed and included approval of bills and investments, approval of minutes from March 25, 2025, a kennel permit for Tara Kensley, and appointment of Jennifer Van Djk to the planning commission for a one‑year term extension. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
Notes: Vote tallies on several motions were not recorded by name in the transcript; where specific votes or dissent were noted the meeting record used a voice or roll‑call confirmation or a general "motion passes" statement. The contractor name for the water‑main repair appears inconsistently in the transcript; the council authorized repair approach and spending parameters rather than final contractor award at the meeting.
