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City of Montrose awards Clement Avenue contract to Knife River; council moves to closed session on easements and pending litigation
Summary
City engineer Jared Volge recommended and the council approved a $1,229,208.40 contract to Knife River Corporation for the Clement Avenue improvement project; council then voted to go into closed session to discuss easement offers for the project and a possible settlement in Herzog v. City of Montrose.
The City of Montrose council voted July 13 to award the Clement Avenue improvement contract to Knife River Corporation of Sauk Rapids for $1,229,208.40, the low bid on a project that drew six proposals.
City engineer Jared Volge told the council the bids ranged from about $1.229 million to $1.778 million and said the low bid covered the base work plus Alternate A (mill and overlay on Energy Drive and some curb repairs). "The low bid was submitted by Knife River Corporation of Sauk Rapids in the amount of $1,229,208.40," Volge said. He told the council the overall project cost is below the original estimated budget of roughly $2 million and that the city plans to pay for the contract in cash.
Council member (speaker 3) moved to approve Resolution 2026‑35, awarding the contract; the motion was seconded and the council voted 4–0 to approve the award.
After approving the award, the council voted to enter a closed session under Minnesota statute to discuss two related matters: offers to purchase easements needed for the Clement Avenue project (specific parcel IDs were read into the record) and a potential settlement in a lawsuit brought by the Herzogs against the city. Justin Temple, who said he was appointed by the League of Minnesota Cities to represent the city, asked the council to go into closed session under Minn. Stat. §13D.05, subd. 3(b) to discuss the Herzog matter. Chair Sam Solarz made the motion to close the meeting under the cited statutes; the council voted 4–0 and asked the audience to step out.
What happens next: the council approved the contract and will proceed with the project procurement. The easement negotiations and any settlement discussions will be handled in closed session per state statute; the council did not announce outcomes before adjourning to closed session.
Actions recorded: Resolution 2026‑35 awarding the Clement Avenue improvement project to Knife River Corporation for $1,229,208.40. Council voted 4–0.
Sources: City engineer Jared Volge; Chair Sam Solarz; attorney Justin Temple.
