Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lakeville public works director details street, water and park projects; goats deployed for buckthorn control
Summary
Public Works Director Paul Lomi briefed the council on multiple projects: county and local road overlays starting in late July/August, trail paving, water-tower recoating, completion of 2.5 miles of sewer lining, a water-efficiency rebate program expected to save ~4 million gallons per year, and use of goats to control buckthorn in Caspersen Park.
Paul Lomi, Lakeville's public works director, told the City Council on July 20 that the department has several active and upcoming infrastructure projects and environmental efforts. He introduced new staff members and then reviewed road, trail, utility and forestry work planned or underway.
On streets, Lomi said a small county overlay project on County Road 46 is expected to start Aug. 10 and finish in early September; the city is doing a little more than five miles of mill-and-overlay work in the Dakota Heights area and about 2.5 miles of additional surface work downtown and near Cedar Avenue. "We're overlaying a little over 5 miles of streets on these local streets," Lomi said. A city surface-seal program covering about 18 miles is scheduled to begin July 27; residents will be notified before construction.
Utility work includes a recent recoating of the Dakota Heights water tower, with work planned next at the Hamburg and Holyoke towers. Lomi reported the city has produced roughly 1,290,000,000 gallons of water through the end of June this year and completed about 2.5 miles of sewer lining to extend the life of the system. The 2024–2026 water-efficiency rebate program had 286 applicants and returned nearly $30,000 from the Metropolitan Council; Lomi said the program is estimated to reduce water use by "a little over 4,000,000 gallons" per year.
On parks and environmental work, Lomi said restoration phases are underway at River Farm Park and East Lake Park improvements are out for bid. For buckthorn management in Caspersen Park, he said the city has deployed about 30 goats to graze invasive plants and plans additional fall management. He also outlined forestry work: 310 private properties were identified with infected ash trees, 261 properties were inspected on-site, and crews have removed nearly 300 trees so far while continuing compliance work with about 15 remaining owners. Oak wilt has been identified in four areas, and the city plans treatment, trenching or, where necessary, removals.
Lomi highlighted community programs including a plant sale (orders accepted through Aug. 28) and a fund-raising event Oct. 8 to support Ritter Farm Park. He closed by standing for questions; council members thanked staff for the report and noted the visible results of rebate and trail work.
