City Council ends closed session on litigation at 8590 Greenfield Road; members report residents’ complaints about truck routing and missing permit signage

The City Council said it concluded a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subdivision 3(b), to receive attorney advice in ongoing litigation related to 8590 Greenfield Road and reported having given direction to the city attorney, with no further public detail released.

After resuming open session, Council member Mache told colleagues that several residents had complained about trucks using routes north of County Road 10 near 8590 Greenfield Road as temperatures warmed. Mache said the complaints prompted a review of conditions in the property’s conditional-use permit and that she found required signage was not in place.

"I had several residents who complained about trucks coming north of 10," Council member Mache said, and added that some drivers' pick tickets did not show route restrictions. Mache said she spoke with operations staff at New Look, which runs the site’s gravel operations on behalf of Superior Sand and Gravel, and that the company "were very much on top of this" and told her they were prepared to implement signage and update scale tickets.

According to Mache, the operator said it wanted to coordinate with city staff — specifically asking to work with "Ron" — to determine who supplies and pays for signs and how high and where to place them. The operator also said some of the trucks involved were not the operator’s regular carriers and had been hired for a single job, and that several drivers were traveling back and forth from Plymouth.

A staff speaker, identified in the meeting as John, and other council members said a draft letter had been circulated and that email follow-up had occurred; John confirmed he had emailed the draft. No formal enforcement action or vote was recorded during the meeting.

Council member Brown provided guidance for residents seeking to file complaints. "Call the Hennepin County sheriff's non-emergency line and start a police report if you want to," Brown said, noting the county’s contact information and an email option are available on the Hennepin County website.

Council members and staff indicated they want the permit conditions enforced and that staff and the operator will coordinate on signage and ticketing. The agenda noted a sheriff’s liaison report is expected next week. The council adjourned with no public vote recorded on enforcement or penalties.

Next steps: staff will continue follow-up with the gravel operator to finalize sign placement and ticketing language and will seek the sheriff’s liaison report at the next meeting.