[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6122824,"mediaKeyId","2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52","parentId",2694025,"title","City staff outlines street, signal and water-main projects, and asks for patience on snow-plow damage repairs","audioSeconds",198,"startMs",2077000,"endMs",2275000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52&start=2077&end=2275","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52/thumbnail_2077000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122824/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/City-staff-outlines-street-signal-and-water-main-projects-and-asks-for-patience-on-snow-plow-damage-repairs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122824-897bf00958b0c2d78c30f6e70d7477a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149505&Signature=XAuZ3JHcsMGu41vGqizGgQjIcFvgh2CuxXOxpstbHI2YVJX9UE3p3YVPjwJuKf3hgTV0IV1q50klouzvoPaLQb~1fjaqOH-hUQQmUEREaYC-0KZsz1yASbphnSvOU3wkDPcGJFap44ws16XbnSnGhEWnaZw3-lOmNTw1fIbZhaLhjIc9pnRouic0BYtKLY4FCIuxjRvdKMMUs6ZpCfllyqXYfhPAE5GENqsV5urkjw9bKQEz3e~pwnpQtBAc04TtOeHae9rGjyE9ycRMBffaCb1j5rzPAYsPKkP-BIc0aa~jLPY8CTTt8UFnNGUmShiJHfYxxAdE0SzFWPU4BW8QAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Cottage Grove, MN","date","2025-03-18T12:50:29Z","article","City staff briefed the Public Services Commission on a series of public-works projects and operational issues, including pavement management, a planned traffic signal, a multi-million-dollar water-main installation and winter-maintenance follow-up.

Ryan and other staff said the city’s 2025 pavement-management project is out to bid and came in roughly $400,000 under the engineer’s estimate, and a separate mill-and-overlay package covering Timber Ridge and Hardwood Avenue will be bid soon. Ryan said a traffic signal at the Hardwood Court–Hardwood Avenue intersection is planned for installation this summer; the intersection was originally designed for a signal and staff concluded a roundabout would require excessive right-of-way and was not feasible.

Ryan also described a large water-infrastructure project: a roughly 2.5-mile, large-diameter raw water main to connect wells 11 and 12 to a new treatment plant near the fire station. He said the contract is out for bid, the project is about $7 million, and funding is provided by a 3M settlement so it will not be charged to the city’s operating budget.

Public Works staff discussed winter operations: crews began spring sweeping and pothole repairs, and the public works division will transition from cold mix to hot mix asphalt now that a nearby hot mix plant has opened. Staff asked for residents’ patience after a recent heavy, wet snowstorm that caused extra curb and boulevard damage during plowing and said the city will repair plow damage — typically by replacing soil and seed — if residents report it through the city website or phone line.

Ryan said directional drilling will be used in one short segment that crosses private property where the trail is too narrow for an open trench; staff said the homeowner will be compensated for a small easement. Other work, including most pipe installations in parks and streets, will be open trench with ductile iron pipe as usual.

Staff said the Hardwood Court signal and several paving projects should have limited construction impacts, and the large raw water-main work is planned for this summer with funding in place.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cottage Grove Public Services Meeting 3-17-2025","oneSentenceSummary","City Public Works staff updated the Public Services Commission on several transportation and utility projects, including bids on paving programs, a planned traffic signal at Hardwood Court, and a roughly $7 million raw water main funded by a 3M settlement.","taxTitle","Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota","taxId",52786,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122834,"Girl Scout Troop urges crosswalks, signs and lower school-zone speeds to improve Cottage Grove pedestrian safety",948,650000,1598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52&start=650&end=1598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52/thumbnail_650000.jpg","/articles/6122834/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/Girl-Scout-Troop-urges-crosswalks-signs-and-lower-school-zone-speeds-to-improve-Cottage-Grove-pedestrian-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122834-a24d993b902b089ca0dce67117476535/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149505&Signature=TAgspzFa6pItGhM9B17W4Dyrzcb2PrkvQtLrAv3ntP1eEsKuYR2sRuXl0FzfpUFk3O~6nulfKPRqLGVMzVrVm2uxAnXL7NxCcsobsLmF44RnEvIctZIrm9qqAfklF-SmFoWO94mbGXxEncPjkM-m~QQHvhApHflq-vO5RYZl5XV9-MLr1W9Ook2KOJFoatpNcmOS2rFfy1kHQcRe6lOHY07a1l5cYf83QwzJQUFMqpAgyPRn8vfS6To6NcSN1USy~FBuTAF~rQJ0SViwxXNNS7sWz3SQp2RBRB7--zpEI5-1QLM7m-45F4Ttfhpk5twL4LfT7-THouvKBaCQBTm0pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Girl Scout Troop 57482 presented a pedestrian-safety plan to the Cottage Grove Public Services Commission, asking the city to add crosswalks, flashing signs, stop signs and lower speed limits near schools to make walking routes safer for students.

The troop’s presenter, Kinsley, said the take-action project — tied to the Girl Scouts’ Silver Award — focuses on “kids who walk to and from school” and on “inform[ing] the community and drivers of unsafe walking patterns.” She and other troop members said they want shortcut trails formalized where students already walk and additional marked crossings near Cottage Grove Middle School and Oatman Middle School.

“Because of the seasons, it's a lot darker in the morning, and when kids need to cross, it's harder for cars and other vehicles to see them, which can increase the risk of crashes and injury,” Kinsley said. The troop also supplied price estimates for signs, noting, for example, that a 24-by-24-inch stop sign cost $37.75 in their research.

City staff said the troop’s local knowledge is useful for targeting problem locations. Ryan, a city staff member in Public Works/Engineering, told commissioners the city will incorporate the students’ suggestions into an ongoing pedestrian-safety effort funded in part by a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant. Ryan said the city received $352,000 in federal SS4A funding and matching state funds to reach about $440,000 for a citywide pedestrian-safety study and pilot projects.

Ryan said the SS4A-funded program would create a technical committee across departments, include study work in the summer through winter, and allow for pilot installations — such as marked crosswalks or flashing signs — if federal funding restrictions are resolved. He said some locations may be straightforward to implement while others, such as improvements on a county-owned 60th Street/60 Fifth Street (a 50 mph road mentioned by troop members), will need cooperation with Washington County.

Commissioners and staff thanked the troop and said staff would keep the girls informed as the city evaluates which measures to implement and when. Ryan said his engineering division staff would continue communication with the troop while the SS4A work proceeds.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the troop’s recommendations during the meeting; staff described the presentation as input to ongoing studies and possible pilot work.

The commission closed the discussion by encouraging the troop to stay involved and said staff would provide follow-up contact information.

","Girl Scout Troop 57482 presented a proposal to the Cottage Grove Public Services Commission requesting new crosswalks, stop signs, flashing signs and lower school-zone speeds to improve safety for students walking to and from local middle schools.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122829,"Commission favors nine dedicated perpendicular parking stalls at Granada Park as compromise to preserve green space",150,1605000,1755000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52&start=1605&end=1755","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52/thumbnail_1605000.jpg","/articles/6122829/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/Commission-favors-nine-dedicated-perpendicular-parking-stalls-at-Granada-Park-as-compromise-to-preserve-green-space","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122829-6d0bb129aa6662d18652e1e8aa62b183/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149505&Signature=RcC5wTApIpfBBRDxKcbeZlgU7ZCcTAGWEtMwEoNMRiD9Fxkc7zO0l3kV7jS1ZIY4gJAD3zj0Bd9innGupHF47MYDTHBYx-4toyCSTxoFhQey7IwYsy9fl9HtgWRP3RQfqW1XFyRLTZ92ky6hjDH1QHIUFT85gQVq7DB854lWkjkTA469M7pYNBOWjmm-LkCbRF1k6hPl63~7Zj7-BX0F6GJ4heDIYcA-9JnyX2eXjptJGY17VRUH0o-XVYAr5AZNSOVhouDoX7idWsOIu8cyFwk0BwtX31LlQJDD7jL~gIBy-SpNOxl-tzjguiNUAPXPE8W02GVU17m~SoKs4zdS~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the Public Services Commission on proposed parking changes at Granada Park and said the current staff recommendation is to add dedicated perpendicular parking stalls along Granada Avenue rather than create a new paved parking lot or impose a no-parking restriction.

Ryan, a city Public Works/Engineering staff member, said the parks department and Parks Commission discussed options last fall after a resident requested a no-parking zone on the west side of Granada Avenue near pickleball courts. Staff proposed a cost-effective perpendicular-stall layout similar to work done on Indian Boulevard that would preserve most of the park’s open green space and avoid dedicating large areas to paved parking.

The current concept would accommodate about nine stalls while minimizing impacts to boulevard trees and park character. Ryan said the city would hire a contractor for curb-and-gutter construction and perform paving in-house, keeping costs lower than a full new lot. He said the parks department believed the approach struck the “best” balance between serving park users and keeping green space intact.

Commissioners asked about winter maintenance and resident notification. Ryan said the perpendicular stalls would likely be plowed in winter and that the city will send a follow-up mailing to nearby residents to summarize the decision and monitoring plan. He said the parks department will monitor whether additional stalls or other measures become necessary.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the matter at the meeting; staff characterized the item as an update and budgetary note that will be included in future council communications when needed.

","City staff presented a plan to add nine perpendicular parking stalls at Granada Park as a lower-cost alternative to a dedicated parking lot or curbside parking restrictions; the Parks Commission and staff said the change can be implemented in-house with limited contractor work and will be shared with nearby residents and the City Council.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122815,"Public Services Commission approves tonight’s agenda and accepts Jan. 27 minutes",36,578000,614000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52&start=578&end=614","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52/thumbnail_578000.jpg","/articles/6122815/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/Public-Services-Commission-approves-tonights-agenda-and-accepts-Jan-27-minutes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122815-d7130f581774cdee750184ea4ab02b39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149505&Signature=BsiILooyhnfKqPwRkuk6sahNI8jah7ypD0b-R5Xsg8l6J42W9rwsP104dHu2bJm5Vb-zbfbaHSV3lm09lqWcOSG9NQRXpmKajCbqY~aOtZu85GVDaOx8g5PIJcLAUraSF5KjgdHM0FfVt2maZo24wKVKm8so61WQtMDDWBooNZW-hzrqA01tfC~mVS5nCx22lyRT6vyTYQFCTHlxzNkbNZnsHKqAp4lX5SQP-o7zVofUTtSCPfjmvfOzQGK18sG04prEcEm6SDs-5o-lK2ekmRQldOzkXEkoDmUgO-laZ53eHSMP7TCwv8EHjHlaY~wG2tzTCCQeXzKGoLkPm2xJiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cottage Grove Public Services Commission voted by voice to approve the meeting agenda and to accept the minutes from the Jan. 27 meeting.

An unnamed commissioner moved to approve the agenda and another commissioner seconded; the commission approved the motion by voice vote. Later, commissioners moved and seconded acceptance of the Jan. 27 minutes; the motion passed by voice vote.

The transcript records the motions and the chair’s announcement that the motions “pass,” but it does not record a roll-call vote tally or list individual yea/nea votes by name.

","The commission moved, seconded and approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the Jan. 27 meeting by voice votes; the meeting record does not contain a roll-call tally for either motion.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122820,"Fire department to contract community risk assessment; police add six hires and therapy canine",195,2672000,2867000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52&start=2672&end=2867","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694025-940194b2781eadfac90d3403505c8e52/thumbnail_2672000.jpg","/articles/6122820/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/Fire-department-to-contract-community-risk-assessment-police-add-six-hires-and-therapy-canine","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122820-8f0f5bcf08eaf84e6476c52cf3ad4a6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149505&Signature=fEhH17oZWGXgiT2ZUYnTAXWsBxazDSkLL3orBB~V~1fkgQ70ZKOLt3A2KqR9fHk7kX6mWrVEHJxG-cDTDSMAUqq~gQZ7LopxFHNLypqgSPQbvQUO8WgOntcnRN-hSGDLRhabyJg7c3tE4QxFqxGrnk5AxnQCxBcBA8iajsWRi50r-6ttOmkYF8I2q~7euabEkbWfkizT-jb0TnUiS46iWupex6qcaJnMAJ61zqR6WSTY0z7UGRM9bki2LYOWyeC7AvR6bYvLSIFZ8oBtziCLAlUl0VqrIDegC~kZsfcYBLdkRWoUyT89AYFiUa7MZYmz9XSLajcL44PhAUEXwYvq8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City public-safety staff reported personnel and planning updates to the Public Services Commission, including a planned community risk assessment for fire services and recent police staffing and program additions.

John, a city public-safety official, said the fire department ran a request for proposals and selected a finalist to perform a standards-of-cover and community risk assessment. The contract drafting is underway and staff expect to take the contract to the City Council in early April. John said the consultant will conduct a roughly six-month study to assess how the city delivers fire and emergency medical services and to recommend changes, including options for Station 4, which staff said is not currently staffed as a full response station.

Detective Sergeant Justin Hensler of the Cottage Grove Police Department said the department added six hires this year — including three lateral hires and three recruits who will start after licensing — and expanded community programs. Hensler said two employees are current CSOs (community service officers) and one is in the CSO cadet program. He said the department will swear in a therapy canine, Riggs, and noted the department continues to embed a social worker (staffed by Washington County) who responds to persons-in-crisis calls in partnership with police.

Hensler also said the department is updating officer equipment with new Tasers (Taser 7 models).

Staff did not request nor take any formal action at the meeting; the items were presented as updates and forthcoming contract actions that will appear before the City Council for approval where necessary.

","The Cottage Grove fire department selected a vendor for a community risk assessment and standards-of-cover study to review service delivery and Station 4’s role; the police department reported six new hires, a new therapy canine and an embedded social worker, plus equipment upgrades.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff outlines street, signal and water-main projects, and asks for patience on snow-plow damage repairs

Girl Scout Troop urges crosswalks, signs and lower school-zone speeds to improve Cottage Grove pedestrian safety

Commission favors nine dedicated perpendicular parking stalls at Granada Park as compromise to preserve green space

Public Services Commission approves tonight’s agenda and accepts Jan. 27 minutes

Fire department to contract community risk assessment; police add six hires and therapy canine