[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6329873,"mediaKeyId","2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206","parentId",2315443,"title","Woodbury council affirms north-side trail alignment for Afton Road segment, 3-2 vote","audioSeconds",725,"startMs",3736945,"endMs",4461980,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206&start=3736&end=4461","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206/thumbnail_3736945.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6329873/Minnesota/Woodbury-council-affirms-north-side-trail-alignment-for-Afton-Road-segment-3-2-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329873-cab150cad70832f97d751608f443758d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142256&Signature=eF6b9ErZJNKdTOcTvUiyxyXrWwWU0pcekorsi6hfSnQ3Qd7PIx7jTENlvjLuXOlsaFpaFscq2NOjW8dKq~YKcEn7RdxmDr6COfIeyr48zfdWzXBeGkv8uR71J7rYInIhtMehUOssbx3Lvk2W2fhV2Gc3qRMjA7x0dqdBxhNrBptUDEbS0aH4wFhFvmdueZrMGYndg-5B7~oPCtrZlxJvf--hIT09n0ME7J2Mt9Mqug3XvX~rYoL24kvC1zuPji154rP35MEwntPj-5LImbGwgyQ8XRxHi7VRrkmRKdOoXf0bXSq~uyMnzwZEPHSBQ2FBTP6C7JYDgOfoJB6VsAf1ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Woodbury, MN","date","2025-02-13T14:52:46Z","article","The Woodbury City Council on Feb. 12 affirmed a staff recommendation to pursue a north-side trail alignment for an Afton Road rehabilitation segment ahead of public engagement, voting 3-2.

Staff asked the council to endorse a preferred alignment before outreach and said final design and any formal improvement hearing decisions will follow public engagement. Engineering Director Chris Hartsell told the council the north-side option has fewer utility impacts, lower estimated cost (staff cited roughly $150,000 for that alignment in summary materials) and better pedestrian-safety characteristics because it avoids multiple mid-block crossings.

Council members debated impacts to driveways and whether a south-side alignment with fewer driveway crossings but higher utility impacts and higher cost (staff cited up to $250,000 for some south-side options) would be preferable. One councilmember called the relocation of a fire hydrant a minor, solvable issue; others noted the neighborhood has had little prior outreach and urged robust public input.

After discussion, the council member sponsoring the motion to affirm the north-side alignment was seconded and the motion passed 3-2 (Councilmembers Santini and Stafford and Mayor W. Burt voted aye; Councilmembers Morris and Wilson voted no). Staff will proceed with neighborhood engagement and return to the council for a public improvement hearing and final decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Woodbury City Council Meeting 2-12-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council directed staff to proceed with public engagement on a north-side trail alignment for the Afton Road rehabilitation segment between Tower Drive and Radio Drive, citing cost and pedestrian-safety considerations; the decision passed 3-2.","taxTitle","Woodbury City, Washington County, Minnesota","taxId",5011,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329875,"Woodbury advances $30 million water infrastructure work; $20 million from 3M settlement to help fund new treatment plant",179,2520700,2700190,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206&start=2520&end=2700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206/thumbnail_2520700.jpg","/articles/6329875/Minnesota/Woodbury-advances-30-million-water-infrastructure-work-20-million-from-3M-settlement-to-help-fund-new-treatment-plant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329875-a224c356a67e1d3fe47c64cd24a66df3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142256&Signature=NLzcy71HNTD2~gUMxnU1LV4yWRDtlrmGNHjy~sMhNJneuAyilzOWVB7ttBeYceNU-ZsxUp5SylEPVhVONE2JejTtkXKjLP0CEb2xW4tPimMiSrBMX6jYqWrI3xA63fm4F5WooAhoc0M--~6Kgc5Z5t2CYPN5dlipg~7qZvwsdbzmJbZ7LyUfDz9xBevM6UUtVxXxQgmqHgxkbBxukWk8kFXgbBwe6~cqM3WsKKuZ4~0B9oWoMe3IEB52pP-P--B3bRPpWksVVGajI3mdDIIKdPRseUFVNP~ydUiKwKJPSgqp8dEWLPBG8eSZz8jSido7NivDHCu0CWbGqkPFiMghag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Feb. 12 meeting the Woodbury City Council approved consent-agenda items that move forward an approximately $30 million set of actions to construct a new water treatment plant and associated pipeline work to meet drinking-water regulations.

Mayor W. Burt told the council that roughly $20 million of the work will be funded from state-distributed funds related to the 3M settlement. \"These actions are worth approximately $30,000,000 with $20,000,000 coming from the state's settlement money from 3M,\" the mayor said. City officials said the new water treatment plant will be built south of Harkers Parkway near Eastridge High School.

To treat the city's full supply, staff said the project requires linking existing wells to the new plant with roughly 17 miles of new water main to be installed through existing roadway corridors over the next three years. Construction will require lane and trail closures and is expected to be disruptive at times; staff asked residents to attend an open house planned for Wednesday, March 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall to learn more and speak with project staff.

Project staff identified major 2025 work zones including Radio Drive, Valley Creek Road, Bailey Road, Cottage Grove Drive, Settlers Ridge Parkway, Interlochen Parkway and Pioneer Drive and said they will provide regular email and text updates via the city's InTouch notification system. The council moved the consent agenda items by a roll-call vote; the consent motion passed.

Staff said most of the plant and pipeline work is being funded with grants and state-distributed settlement funds and that final project phases and timelines will be developed as construction proceeds.","Council-approved consent items advance construction of a new water treatment plant and about 17 miles of distribution main; roughly $20 million of the project funding was identified as coming from state-distributed funds tied to the 3M settlement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329881,"Woodbury council establishes private ash tree removal assistance program with $500,000 allocation",1190,2746220,3936460,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206&start=2746&end=3936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206/thumbnail_2746220.jpg","/articles/6329881/Minnesota/Woodbury-council-establishes-private-ash-tree-removal-assistance-program-with-500000-allocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329881-282d32b109fb127d06d880f2f425dcc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142256&Signature=CUxtoe5-DVw1qpJy34UC2SJkvm4gf8tLqqnhVKj9g2GWmcncZzRRkyMGPmuh6zc53LmQqv1uKlY8WECi4fgb3lYKuglvv-V6V4jyn5kadFWrfDaBOMy0SNipN0X3UAI4ZdiQa7UzEW3equRb-abj~~Xk5Jcku93fbKvziPB0bwlkbwnbNJmm-k3EkaDEDdjrIstTZqadLX7KF8AQ2li5IF8VkU1plyLpGkcQE0TeyD~wP~WByE0dRCqCWkIVk0-NYZzb4Gj5xOBKISiDksZZog-SEvGFfXLOMO2IwUgXwykqMqAyJu-Eeq3xvi2j9xJbhHZwzG1kFEt8Z-PJSQCU6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodbury City Council on Feb. 12 approved Resolution 25-207 to establish a private ash tree removal assistance program and an associated $500,000 budget amendment to fund initial loans, the council said.

The program is a financing tool to help property owners pay to remove hazardous ash trees; assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis until allocated funds are exhausted. The council approved repayment terms of 3, 5 and 10 years depending on the assessment amount and set the interest rate at 2% above the city's municipal borrowing rate, as clarified by staff during the meeting.

City staff framed the program as a temporary, pilot-style tool. \"We will have up to $500,000 to use, first come first serve,\" a staff member said during the discussion. Staff said the council would review the program after roughly a year and could return with adjustments based on uptake and outcomes.

Councilmembers debated loan term lengths and protections for seniors and low-income residents. Councilmember Wilson proposed lengthening terms (initially discussed as 3, 5 and 7 years) to reduce annual cost burden; the city's labor and legal review noted nuisance-assessment statutes limit the standard assessment term to about 10 years and that any senior-deferral language would need to be expressly adopted into the program.

Several councilmembers flagged a fiscal-conservative concern about extending terms too long because the city is managing multiple large capital projects, including a new water treatment plant. Staff said the program is not intended to be permanent: it carries a set $500,000 allocation and would be revisited after implementation.

The resolution passed on a unanimous roll call. The council also directed staff to include clarifying language about first-come basis, interest calculation and a plan to return for evaluation.","The council approved Resolution 25-207 to create a private ash tree removal assistance program and a $500,000 budget amendment; terms and repayment periods were debated before the unanimous vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329885,"Woodbury City Council votes to dismiss probationary employee Michael J. Fletcher",818,676410,1494740,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206&start=676&end=1494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315443-0d9da5919ab526a1c1938b9cce24b206/thumbnail_676410.jpg","/articles/6329885/Minnesota/Woodbury-City-Council-votes-to-dismiss-probationary-employee-Michael-J-Fletcher","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329885-5ea562036f4095203921f1f4c8d605fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142256&Signature=ZPXT5dX-2cvdFoLN8oAL3UuTU75notpYVjcXypB7viJpK8llw16p76mguC2~ywpy8RukwleJrTPq2xFKusnvhSxa2gizKOpYnrf2cpaDrp6akqPTGZAj807k1YMj0YEYs3ESzraEW074SlBE79n5AOs-tz6r9SNhMUdMQVOvS67UxEm0IDcMDRsiDBXfa6nltOpG0Gig0UXgRcIp9oblIv43CGpRL2HGUVZgRpHKbVmIMm8xehCkqLx7DaZVsjemV8vetSUmv25679VqOPjZs5FJ4LFJYbolLjdz775u-Nn~guHAG5udsukZmKLzh2EOcol1wYLFNMH68pCrem4jbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodbury City Council voted on Feb. 12 to dismiss Michael J. Fletcher from City employment, effective Feb. 12, 2025, after a motion from Mayor W. Burt and a second.

The dismissal followed a recommendation from City Administrator Clint Gridley and review by the city's labor and employment counsel. Mayor W. Burt moved the motion; Councilmember Steve Morris seconded it. City staff told the council that they received documents from Fletcher's union representative by email at about 6:45 p.m. the same day and that the documents did not present new information relative to what staff had already reviewed.

The council discussed whether to delay consideration and take the documents up in closed session, but the council proceeded to a roll-call vote. Councilmember Wilson abstained, citing insufficient information; Councilmembers Santini, Stafford and Morris and Mayor Burt voted aye, and the motion carried.

City Administrator Clint Gridley told the council that Fletcher is a probationary employee and that the city had offered a pre-termination meeting as a courtesy. \"Just note for the record at, 06:45 tonight, I did receive via email, 3 documents from [the union representative],\" Gridley said, adding that the material was consistent with prior submissions. The council's labor and employment counsel advised that if members wanted to review the late-submitted materials together, the council should go into closed session.

The council did not go into closed session and did not take further public testimony on the matter; the action before the council at the time was the termination motion. No additional remedies or appeals were described publicly at the meeting.

The dismissal was presented to the council as an employment decision arising from ongoing personnel processes handled by city staff and labor counsel; the city attorney's memorandum and other detailed legal materials were described as private work product and were not included in the public packet.

The council did not adopt any additional policy changes or direction related to personnel authority during the meeting, though members discussed the broader question of whether the city's current form of government and division of authority between the council and the city administrator should be revisited in the future.","At its Feb. 12 meeting, the Woodbury City Council voted 4-0 with one abstention to dismiss Michael J. Fletcher, a probationary City employee, effective Feb. 12, 2025, following a recommendation from the City Administrator and review by labor counsel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Woodbury council affirms north-side trail alignment for Afton Road segment, 3-2 vote

Woodbury advances $30 million water infrastructure work; $20 million from 3M settlement to help fund new treatment plant

Woodbury council establishes private ash tree removal assistance program with $500,000 allocation

Woodbury City Council votes to dismiss probationary employee Michael J. Fletcher