St. James council adopts assessment, insurance and wage changes, annexation and service-line mailer

The St. James City Council on Nov. 4 approved a package of routine and project-related measures, including final assessments for a street-improvement project, changes to employee benefit timing, 2026 wage and insurance terms, a marketing agreement for optional service-line warranties, and a four-parcel orderly annexation.

A staff presenter identified in the meeting as Amanda said Resolution 11.25.01 adopts the final assessment roll for the 7th Street South/13th Avenue South and Molton and Parson Drive improvements (project 24x135115.0000) and directs final assessment notices to property owners. "The final assessment hearing was held at our last city council meeting ... there were no objections to the assessment amounts," Amanda said. The council dispensed with the reading and approved the resolution by voice vote.

Under Resolution 11.25.02 the council asked the county to convey four tax-forfeited parcels to the city through the non-public-conveyance process to protect public health and safety. Amanda told the council the properties have lacked utilities since 2019 and "should not be on the market for sale," and she listed the addresses as 717 6th Street North; 405 6th Street North; 411 4th Street North; and 315 4th Avenue North. Councilmembers expressed support and the motion carried.

On employee compensation and benefits, the council approved Resolution 11.25.03 to make staff cost-of-living adjustments effective Dec. 1, 2025 instead of Jan. 1. Amanda said the change aligns COLA timing with benefit-rate renewals on Dec. 1 and is intended to help staff absorb an 18% increase in health insurance rates. She noted the negotiated COLA is set at 3.5%.

Closely related, Resolution 11.25.04 accepts the 2026 major medical insurance plan and the 2026 wage scales negotiated with the union. Amanda said the city continues to cover 100% of single premiums and 75% of employee-plus premiums (employees cover 25%); for police the city covers 90% of single and 70% of employee-plus premiums. She said the deductible will rise by roughly $450, the city's annual HSA contribution remains $2,750 (police $3,000), and overall premium rates increased about 18%.

The council also approved Resolution 11.25.05 authorizing the city manager to enter a marketing agreement with Utility Service Partners Private Label Inc., d/b/a Service Line Warranties of America, a program the presenter said is sponsored by the National League of Cities. Under the program a third party will mail offers to residents for optional service-line warranty coverage: water and sewer line claims are capped at $8,500 per call and in-home plumbing at $3,000 per call. The presenter said the city would receive a 10% royalty on premiums if the program proceeds.

Planning staff (Brianna) presented Resolution 11.25.06 to amend the joint orderly annexation agreement with St. James Township under Minnesota Statute 414.0325, adding four properties (about 21 acres) tied to the 12th Avenue South highway expansion project. Brianna said three parcels already receive city utilities and a fourth will become urban in character once streets are connected; the township approved the joint resolution at its Oct. 21 meeting, and public notice was published Oct. 23. The council approved the annexation resolution by voice vote.

All action items were approved by voice vote during the meeting; the minutes show the motions carried with the council answering "I" when asked for those in favor. Specific individual vote tallies or roll-call votes were not recorded in the transcript.

The council adjourned at 6:03 p.m.