[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6230439,"mediaKeyId","3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0","parentId",3442235,"title","Council awards Altman Park turf field contract to Peterson Companies at $2.07 million","audioSeconds",95,"startMs",3080000,"endMs",3175000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0&start=3080&end=3175","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0/thumbnail_3080000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6230439/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/Council-awards-Altman-Park-turf-field-contract-to-Peterson-Companies-at-207-million","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230439-6981f95ff9247db72fc87ffe03fab69f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112576&Signature=kGvC~-7JccaTCxrizCKc0MMrOJgxbuXU3gvlAQHn5Zfk45iL6lAmhhYJmI2V6McRw~TIkTen5q7FFZ5MH1hbSBjey1Q56DmoY3Fv2NJGOxgLUW5pBAf3e4ZJP8Twjgb7PQGz4zwmMYRpdLvVTXAAL7222K3j-dEdw5agaIzBxPvvwEhvBSKUyj0NF1xrXwMhmDq4HRxF3M5MBD0OYT9gqmvOXyrJGgV5fqIj7TPCqMYEpZJuqEqCy1Nyrf5fX6nXJca3zEnnte1ymcCiyMb1zW89G2JR6cjjQb0Uaf-yzYEP12xjlbps2OIIpDOe07S6cmQ9H4IBOKSggmnVC60O9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Cottage Grove, MN","date","2025-05-22T08:58:43.057Z","article","The Cottage Grove City Council on May 21 awarded a construction contract for Altman Park improvements to Peterson Companies for $2,072,507.40.

Parks and Recreation Director Zach Doctor told the council the project includes three full-size multipurpose turf fields with irrigation and drain tile, a large parking lot, trail connections, electrical service and conduit for future scoreboards. “The engineer's estimate for this work was $2,200,000. We’re happy to report that it was competitive bidding return with Peterson Company submitting a low bid of $2,072,507.4,” Doctor said.

Doctor said Peterson has performed similar work in the city, including the Glacial Valley Park project, and staff recommended awarding the bid to Peterson Companies. Councilmember Garza moved to adopt resolution 2025-575 awarding the project to Peterson Companies Inc. for the bid amount; Councilmember Thiede seconded the motion and the mayor announced the motion carried.

The award authorizes the city to move forward with construction of the fields and associated parking and utilities; staff did not provide a start date in the public remarks recorded in the transcript. Council did not record any amendments to the bid award at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cottage Grove City Council Meeting 5-21-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council awarded a competitive bid to Peterson Companies for construction of three full-size turf fields, parking and associated work at Altman Park for $2,072,507.40; staff said the bid was the low of the returns and recommended award.","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},6230444,"Gateway Fiber introduces plans to build fiber in Cottage Grove; council approves consent agenda",177,2761000,2938000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0&start=2761&end=2938","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0/thumbnail_2761000.jpg","/articles/6230444/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/Gateway-Fiber-introduces-plans-to-build-fiber-in-Cottage-Grove-council-approves-consent-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230444-a083eac81510fabc477e6b6933fc301b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112576&Signature=Loson0hWbsemJtMwFe5RBPyiZUjHT2LpcZVyThjTtPkpUHa35eo99quUSbYgSm~ceJ3op3un83GdsAq9TWuaEhhGS9xd~i4blk4Wf2Jp2vsQrIBpauhenE8KK5GVVWs7qT3JfBYcc84Bv70lyAP0SykV0bnOoODux0MiNsvBgsvtNWOCJElvnJtJTkYQht6wFRDYitw-k8sRifc1lwedn3ZxtuAFgNGvj6NWqONrwD19pM8BQX5rk4oayMB24dQNeAHPJfCBa55I-ejSjqcpV1RHmcOpfo3Fffzyyo~U9cO-mXH6tlmUR3vY4BxhMfC7ahP3lhn4RAVanSWQAYmLIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gateway Fiber representatives told the Cottage Grove City Council on May 21 that the company plans to expand fiber-to-the-home service to the city, promising community-focused outreach, flat-rate pricing and no contracts.

Derek Leffert, who introduced himself as head of government affairs for Gateway Fiber, said the company began in 2019 with the stated aim of bringing high-speed internet to underserved communities and has since expanded to multiple Twin Cities–area municipalities. “We’ll be making significant investments here in Cottage Grove to bring high speed Internet to the residents and businesses,” Leffert said.

Leffert outlined customer-facing policies the company uses in other Minnesota communities: no introductory pricing, no installation fees and no contracts, with communications and restoration plans to limit disruption during construction. “We do realize that this process can be disruptive. Anytime there’s any sort of a utility project, it’s disruptive. Our intent is to make it the as least the least disruptive as possible,” he said.

Leffert said Gateway Fiber prioritizes community partnerships and regular updates during construction, including door hangers and sandwich boards in neighborhoods where crews are working, and emphasized a focus on restoration where work is completed.

The council moved and approved the consent agenda, which included items related to the RFP process Gateway participated in. Councilmember Olson moved approval; Councilmember Garza seconded. The mayor announced the consent agenda motion carried.

The meeting record did not include contract terms, construction schedule, or a detailed map of initial service areas; Gateway representatives said they will communicate construction plans directly with neighborhoods once projects begin.","Gateway Fiber’s head of government affairs introduced the company’s fiber‑to‑the‑home plans for Cottage Grove; council approved the meeting’s consent agenda after the presentation and Gateway representatives said construction will focus on minimizing disruption and include flat-rate pricing and no installation fees.",{"_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},6230448,"Resident raises wetlands, inspection and Xcel Energy concerns ahead of Lockridge final plat approval",68,1123000,1191000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0&start=1123&end=1191","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0/thumbnail_1123000.jpg","/articles/6230448/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/Resident-raises-wetlands-inspection-and-Xcel-Energy-concerns-ahead-of-Lockridge-final-plat-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230448-11d829478d17457d5c659c2f06669548/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112576&Signature=S85GycRa--jah5t60tuAmH4woFAfje0esnkqAb~TGhf8wxiUdf6fNrvj9s3VyMjEpXrQcGq-OhwrWEmx5idJdKxpPgB9e7T~3hXdfnVlJVE5gLfz~2P4CBsmakM8x9iuT6UK-F65zD62kgd3Nt1jORwMGXsPaqlC9ogKGyHhHfG9VjX-kq4DCzxkGFwczTojp4j~jTTVCZbqSLPK5dHXCYtAIXiSrqUdjM7avm3In0izxlBdIZVV2hFxxWsf8rue9XrtkRR4kxuPeCaXYNSLUwsP4wAcMuzj0rlIQpZ8JwLnORmy4KLGEvjlciCiu1T1clB-I65iklXp6q8-g2W8XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident urged Cottage Grove council members on May 21 to address outstanding engineering and environmental concerns before final sign-off on the Lockridge development’s final plat.

Bonnie Matter told the council the engineering consulting firm Bolton & Menk had submitted multiple letters on the project, including one dated Jan. 17 and a later letter she said was dated May 15, and she asked the council to ensure items in the later memo were resolved before approving the plat. “There were quite a few issues. There’s issues around high water level, wetland issues,” she said.

Matter asked who performs physical inspections and signs off on items listed in the engineering attachments and how the city coordinates with Xcel Energy on utility planning for new developments. “Does Bolton and Menk send somebody out? Does the city do something and who would that be? And then my other question is, how does the city interact with Xcel Energy?” she asked.

The Lockridge final plat appeared on the meeting’s consent agenda. The council moved and approved the consent agenda; the mayor signaled staff would prepare responses to resident questions. Mayor Myron Bailey told the audience staff would take the information and return a response to residents and the council.

At the meeting there was no separate public hearing or standalone council discussion on Lockridge beyond the resident’s open-forum comments; staff did not provide a detailed technical response during open forum. Council members indicated they would have staff follow up on the specific engineering and utility coordination questions after the meeting.

The resident’s request emphasized avoiding later conditional use permits (CUPs) or planned unit developments (PUDs) by addressing technical concerns now, and asked the council to clarify which agency or consultant holds the inspection sign-off and where sign-off documentation is stored.

Outcome: The Lockridge final plat was included in the approved consent agenda; staff were directed to follow up with the resident with the Bolton & Menk findings, inspection and sign-off procedures, and Xcel Energy points of contact.","A resident asked the council to resolve outstanding engineering issues before final plat approval for the Lockridge development and requested clarity on inspection sign-off and Xcel Energy coordination; the Lockridge final plat was on the consent agenda and approved, and staff pledged to follow up with details.",{"_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},6230453,"Cottage Grove residents, many seniors, urge council to limit rent increases",1310,357000,1667000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0&start=357&end=1667","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3442235-6363cdf19c9cf5648cb32e0da1c8fec0/thumbnail_357000.jpg","/articles/6230453/Cottage-Grove/Washington-County/Minnesota/Cottage-Grove-residents-many-seniors-urge-council-to-limit-rent-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230453-1a6b7c1c084d459784e95e593c2fdb8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112576&Signature=Qu9FGcPapx~JgQ8SfqwwVNBHSawR0SISmefeHkfuDAcd955YQLkQSzUyrgd1yqP9qEHC2Y9B6C6pClk54WqerpUEI0EGcWrZh9f23zbXxsOOTDD8jxv~r-oA3sfyquv6L5PFwI6QVQkZmmQlIdivBNUqLfUoReXfNRjWprQbKhpTnjCGboRK1eRxYqodWpMuzxdfq9Tq9vlEXY01FJEtiWVdvftSArI-7ixiTOhmTMfpHk0lFhfnIHH7izYQ8lrmYZt5z3YKdxS9dU~GhCMghGIj9F7I7SO0PAkEurU6fZ74nU1LMLeUC531HRC4WtQz6U3m8EqFionf~aSg8ssNsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Cottage Grove residents urged the City Council on May 21 to draft an ordinance to limit rent increases after a string of hikes at local rental communities that speakers said fall heavily on seniors.

Residents at The Cottages and at Legends reported increases they described as steep and recurring. “We have seen our rent increase up to 7.85,” a resident identified in the record as Cheryl said during the open forum. Sharon Tashner said her rent rose “9 point some percent.” Julie O’Brien and Rita Isker described repeated increases and property maintenance problems they say accompany higher rents.

The speakers said many residents are on Social Security or fixed incomes and cited difficulties covering medicine and food when rent rises. “If rents keep going up, you’re going to have a tremendous amount of homeless people and seniors living in their cars,” Marjorie Williams said, describing the pressure on people with fixed incomes.

City and outside participants told the audience the city’s authority to act is limited. Tony Khambatta, who identified himself as chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the St. Paul Association of Realtors during remarks, cited a state law and procedural constraints: “Minnesota statute 479.99 subsection 2, states that statutory or, charter city, which is Cottage Grove is a statutory city, does not have the authority to enact rent control without, basically a referendum vote in a major election,” he said. He also said state statute requires at least 60 days’ notice for rent increases above 10 percent.

Council members said staff will gather information and provide a formal response. Mayor Myron Bailey told the room staff will take residents’ comments and return recommendations: “We will get a response back to you both from our staff and our, obviously legally, so we can tell you kind of what the big step is or what part you can play, should you decide to do that, in rent controls.”

Speakers and council members discussed alternative approaches that do not require immediate ordinance changes, including the city’s leverage when it has a financial interest in a property, or coordination with the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). Gary Spooner, who has advocated on the issue in the region, described repeated attempts at the Legislature and the use of alternative metrics to calculate allowable rent increases.

No motion or ordinance was introduced at the meeting; council members said staff and city attorneys will prepare a response and follow-up. The council plans to provide information to the residents on what actions the city can legally take and any next steps for petitioning state changes or pursuing ballot measures.

Residents asked the council to consider caps linked to Social Security COLA and to review how area median income (AMI) calculations affect rent, a point Mayor Bailey noted: “AMI is based off of the county. And so if you’ve got the majority of the county which has a high AMI, that is having effect on, the rents that are happening at Cottage Grove.”

The council closed open forum after collecting comments and indicated staff would respond in writing and at a future meeting.","Multiple Cottage Grove residents told the City Council during open forum on May 21 that recent rent hikes — some as high as about 7.8–9% — are forcing seniors to make difficult choices; speakers urged a city ordinance capping increases, while city and outside speakers noted state limits on municipal rent control.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council awards Altman Park turf field contract to Peterson Companies at $2.07 million

Gateway Fiber introduces plans to build fiber in Cottage Grove; council approves consent agenda

Resident raises wetlands, inspection and Xcel Energy concerns ahead of Lockridge final plat approval

Cottage Grove residents, many seniors, urge council to limit rent increases