Two Harbors council approves consent agenda, grants CUP for 402 1st Avenue and authorizes MnDOT airport grant

The Two Harbors City Council met on Sept. 25, 2023, and approved a broad consent agenda that included payroll, professional services invoices and sizable construction pay applications, authorized a conditional‑use permit for 402 1st Avenue, denied a homeowner request for a city‑built access road, and authorized city officials to execute a MnDOT grant agreement for airport pavement maintenance.

President Ben Redden called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.; Administrator Patricia D. Nordean delivered the administrative report, summarizing recent work on the John A. Johnson school property planning, the Liquor Store Project (including an appraisal), contract language for the sixth‑avenue storm and water project, and coordination with the EPA following a recent storm.

Why it matters: the consent agenda approved several large construction payments and professional services invoices that move capital projects forward, and the MnDOT agreement secures state grant funding for airport pavement work that the council said will not include land acquisition. The approval of the conditional‑use permit for 402 1st Avenue allows a meeting hall and artisanal industrial workshop at that address, but Councilor Glaser abstained from that vote, stating a conflict because she owns the property.

Key approvals and actions - Consent agenda: By motion the council approved multiple resolutions and invoices, including Bolton & Menk professional services invoices and environmental review work, a Braun Intertec invoice for the Water Treatment Plant, and pay applications to Lakehead Constructors: Pay App #3 for the Chlorine Tank & Building Repairs ($365,236.85) and Pay App #23 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant ($940,164.70). The council also approved leasing a loader from Ziegler Cat at $5,580 per month and other routine personnel travel and training requests. - Conditional‑use permit: The council approved Resolution No. 10‑265‑23 to grant a CUP for 402 1st Avenue to host a meeting hall and an artisanal industrial workshop. The motion passed 5–0, with Councilor Glaser abstaining due to ownership of the property; the abstention was recorded on the docket. - MnDOT airport grant: The council adopted Resolution No. 10‑266‑23 authorizing the mayor and administrator to execute a MnDOT grant agreement for airport pavement maintenance; the motion specified the agreement excludes land acquisition. - Other new business: The council voted to receive the final layout for Trunk Highway 61 reconstruction (State Project SP 3804‑62) and scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 23, 2023. It voted not to accept a Bolton & Menk quote for an alley improvement and referred the matter back to Public Works. The council denied a request from Steve and Kristi Wasko for the City to construct an access road off Omtvedt Drive. - Closed session: Under Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.052(b)(3) the council briefly closed to consider an offer from ACRE Development LLC to sell land to the city, then reopened the regular meeting.

What was NOT decided / next steps - Several items remain administrative or for further review: the alley improvement quote was referred back to the Public Works Committee for additional consideration, and the council scheduled the public hearing for the TH‑61 reconstruction layout on Nov. 23, 2023.

The meeting adjourned following a motion by Councilors Glaser and Erickson.