St. Paul council adopts emergency-routes ordinance, clears fire station final payment and OKs gym divider funds

The St. Paul City Council on Nov. 17 voted to amend the city’s emergency-route ordinance, approved the final pay request for the new fire station and authorized a $5,000 keno-fund contribution for gym dividers at the Civic Center.

Mayor Mike Feeken opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and reminded attendees that “the City of St. Paul abides by the Open Meetings Act,” which is posted in the council chamber. Council members Katie Kowalski, Bill Peters, Mark Wilson and Jerry Woodgate were present.

The council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 1064, introduced by Council member Mark Wilson, to amend Section 5-1001 of the St. Paul Municipal Code pertaining to emergency routes. The council waived the three-reading requirement and voted 4–0 for final passage. The city will publish the new emergency-route designations on its website and Facebook page and in the Phonograph Herald.

Council member Katie Kowalski moved to approve Bierman Contracting Inc.’s Pay Request #14 — the final pay request for the Fire Station Construction project — in the amount of $114,011.67, representing the remaining five-percent retainage. The motion passed unanimously 4–0.

The council also approved two Olsson work orders for 2026: Master Agreement Work Order No. 3 for general engineering consulting services (not-to-exceed $5,000) and Master Agreement Work Order No. 4 for Street Superintendent services ($3,000). That motion passed 4–0.

On community projects, the council approved Back Alley Graphics (Liz Busch) for new sign faces at a cost of $1,244 from the LB 840 sales tax fund; property owner Delcie Lukasiewicz spoke in support of the application. The St. Paul Development Corp. requested city support for gym dividers at the Civic Center; Parker Klinginsmith presented the request and the council approved $5,000 from city keno funds. Council members Kowalski, Peters and Wilson voted aye and Council member Woodgate abstained on that item; the remainder of the funding was noted as coming from the Howard County Foundation, the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul Development Corp. and St. Paul Public School.

The consent agenda — Treasurer’s Report for October 2025, minutes of the Nov. 3 meeting and the Nov. 17 disbursements — was approved 4–0. The minutes and disbursement list record a $350,000 transfer from Heritage Bank to Homestead Bank to pay bonds and disbursements, and multiple vendor payments for utilities, supplies and services.

Utilities Superintendent Helzer reported that the tennis/pickleball courts will be painted, a utility shed is scheduled to be delivered Nov. 18, 2025, and electrical work has completed lighting from L Street north. Mayor Feeken also said the police department was awarded a $700 League Association of Risk Management (LARM) grant for an armor vest.

The council approved a St. Paul Chamber of Commerce request to close 6th Street (between Indian and Jay streets) for the Chamber’s Christmas event on Dec. 6, 2025, from 4–9 p.m., permitting hayrack rides; the council required a Certificate of Insurance to be provided before the event. Mayor Feeken adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Olsson 2026 work orders (engineering and street superintendent services): approved, 4–0. - Street closure for Chamber Christmas event (Dec. 6, 4–9 p.m.): approved, 4–0; Certificate of Insurance required prior to event. - Ordinance No. 1064 (amend Section 5-1001 — emergency routes): waived readings and approved, 4–0. New routes to be published and posted. - Bierman Contracting Pay Request #14 (final pay, fire station): approved, 4–0; amount $114,011.67. - Back Alley Graphics sign faces (LB 840 funds): approved, 4–0; amount $1,244. - SPDC gym dividers (keno funds): approved, motion passed with three ayes and one abstention (Kowalski, Peters, Wilson — aye; Woodgate — abstain); amount $5,000. - Consent agenda (Treasurer’s Report, minutes, disbursements): approved, 4–0.

Next steps: the city will publish the emergency-route changes on its website and social channels and in the Phonograph Herald; the Chamber’s Christmas event is scheduled for Dec. 6, 2025. No additional hearings or votes on these items were announced at this meeting.